Lilacs, Aprons, & Teacups: A Few of My Favorite Things

Like many, when I think about or work with my favorite things, I don’t feel so bad (yep, pretty much the same idea as in the movie The Sound of Music).  And it’s all about taking time to think about what I enjoy because my spirit is renewed when I take time to reflect and reconnect with my thoughts and dreams.

I grew up in northern Illinois and everywhere we lived had lilacs … I love the smell of fresh lilacs … no perfume but the real deal.  They were always planted right outside bedroom windows and their fragrant aroma would waft in on cool spring mornings when the windows were open.  I’ve been told they don’t do well here in Florida where I now live.  I sure miss them.

Both of my grandmothers enjoyed being in the kitchen.  One fixed huge farm meals which always included a pie.  The other loved to bake … cookies, cinnamon rolls, and cakes.  Do you remember those cut-up cakes that were covered with frosting and coconut and looked like kids, animals, etc?  She made those for us for birthdays.  Anyway, they both had quite a collection of aprons and I always loved being able to tie one on when I helped.  For me, aprons were kind of magical for some reason.  The bookworm in me loves to research this kind of thing and you’ll find a history of aprons at this link.

And last (but certainly not least) is teacups.  My grandma, the one who baked, loved tea … with a little milk and sugar.  I’ve always enjoyed tea but didn’t become enamored with teacups until I got hooked on a TV show a few years ago where one of the lead characters often discussed the civility of tea time and had beautiful teacups even in her dangerous line of work … have you seen Hetty on NCIS: Los Angeles?  I don’t have a big collection, but I appreciate their tough but delicate nature … did you know china is very sturdy despite looking so fragile?

I love most tea and am especially fond of herbal and fruit teas.  That’s not to say that I skip my morning coffee … which is almost a requirement.  But teatime is at 4, thank you.  And where would tea leaf readings be without teacups?

So there you have it.  Just a few of MY favorite things and why you’ll see images of them spread throughout the website.