My Ten Essentials

A few weeks ago, I was tagged by Anne over at Is Anyone There? to list my Ten Essentials in life.  That required some thought to narrow it down because there are so many things that I truly can't live without!!!!  Except for #1, the rest are in no particular order.

1.  First and foremost, my sweet, loving affectionate, kind, handsome, hard working fiance'. 

I truly don't know what I'd do without him.  Every day I fall more in love with this amazing man.  I spend my days daydreaming him and our future, like a lovesick teenager.  We're closing in on two years together and the level of attentiveness hasn't dropped off at all.   I'm dancing with happiness when he comes home and I weep every time he leaves.  

2.  Doggies.

I love my furbabies and I can't imagine not having a dog.  Our next one will be a beagle.  I have come to love doggies so much that when I'm walking along the Canal and someone is coming the other direction with their dogs, I always say Hi to the pups first before I even remember there's a human standing there.  By 'say Hi' I don't mean that I'm stupid enough to approach and pet a stranger's animal, I literally mean I say, 'Hi puppywupsters! Aren't you cute? Oh yes you are! Oh yes you are!"

3.  Craft Supplies.

I have always been the first to admit I have a hoarding problem with craft stuff.  Back in WA, I hit Ben Franklin in Bonney Lake at least twice a month; it was an unfortunate coincidence that they shared a parking lot with my grocery store....and if I was in Puyallup, I had to go to Michael's Crafts or Bead Boppers.  And the annual pilgrimage to Shipwreck Beads every January with my Christmas Bonus and gift cards burning a hole in my pocket.  I figured I should buy stuff that I liked when I saw it, 'just in case' I didn't get the opportunity again.  That strategy has paid off big time, now that I can't be spending gobs of money shopping like that.  I've been able to make stuff, mostly with the stuff I had on hand, thus reducing my need to shop with abandon now that I'm here.

4.  Travel/road trips.

I have to see stuff.  I wish I had done more traveling when I was young but there never seemed to be the money or a good time to do it.  I never did get back to England like I wanted.  I haven't seen near as much of Canada and the US that I should have by now.  So yeah, besides the unrealistic Bucket List I have, there's also the more attainable 'Local Bucket List' that sates the need to spend money to go long distances. So much is in your own backyard.  (The above photo shows all the states I've been to in colour).

5.  A camera.

Must. Record. Everything.  Well not everything but close to it.  Only my cousin Diane trumps me in this category. I have a crappy memory and have relied on journals, photos and scrapbooks to keep things fresh in my mind since the age of 12.

6.  My San Francisco 49ers blanket.

It's about 20 years old now....getting a bit worn and tattered, but I love it and love to snuggle under it while watching TV.  It rests on the back of my chair when not in use.  Even if it's not cold enough to use, I still find comfort in it just being on my lap.

7.  Glass.

I can't get enough.  Well, actually that's not true...I've been VERY good about not buying more glass bottles and trinkets, simply because we have zero room for any more knick knacks in this house. But I've surrounded myself with a lot of beautiful and special pieces which is probably better than having a huge collection.  At least I can still look at the marbles, bottles and other pieces and remember where they were purchased and when.

8.  Art.

I get lost in the art pieces I've chosen to purchase and display.  Interesting to note, nearly all of them were created by North American artists and illustrators, except for one by Belgian artist Rene' Magritte.  I especially love the landscapes by the artists of the Hudson River School. (above picture:  'North Point' by Andrew Wyeth).

9.  Music. 

I confess that I don't listen to it as much as I used to or want to.  I just really find myself preferring the peace and solitude of a quiet house, but for the white noise of the a/c or fans.  My honey has been lobbying hard for me to disconnect the stereo so that we will have more space in the livingroom but I have been reluctant to put it in storage in the back room.  It's true I don't use it as much as I used to, but I like having the option when the mood strikes me.  A lot of people have turned to the free music site called Pandora where you can make your own playlists, but I don't like the sound quality that comes out of my laptop.  It's not the same as having a stereo.  And how will I make mix tapes without a stereo?

10.  Friends. 

As much as I love my alone time and solitude, I also love to chit chat with friends, in person and online (I'm not a telephone person...I don't like talking on the phone and it's really rare that I'll even answer my phone).  My friends have always been my family, loving me for who I am without judgment or criticism.

What are your Ten Essentials?