My Favorite Things

(A Sunday morning breakfast in January.

No photo from this morning.)

I woke up to my favorite kind of morning. Purple lightening was flashing through the early morning darkness, and thunder rumbling in the distance. Then came the pitter-patter of cool raindrops. I was so elated with the stormy August morning that I didn't even mind when the punk woke up early, probably by the same strange atmosphere that awakened me. We snuggled under my covers for a while, punk watching Sesame Street and mama dozing. Then we got up and had breakfast: Cheerios with banana slices for the punk and hot chocolate with buttered whole wheat toast for mama.

You know how you feel when the first warm, sunny day appears after a long, dreary winter? You hear the birds chirping and feel the yellow sun streaming in through the windows, and you take a deep breath and thank Mother Nature for this new season? Well, what spring is to many people, fall is to me. I feel happy, even giddy, when I pull on a sweatshirt and start warming my milk on the stove while the rain falls outside.

In honor of the first rainy day this season, I hereby present a list of my favorite things. I would love it if you would share your list with me too!

Rainy days

My dad's fresh tomato soup

A good book

The soft spot under the punk's chin

Hot chocolate

The Sound of Music

Falling leaves

Clean sheets

A long hug

Morning at my grandpa's ranch

Talking with a friend, one on one

Throwing a really great party

An hour to myself

Fall sweaters

My purple rain boots with skinny jeans

Have a lovely, wet day!