As usual, my To-Do list is approximately 100 items long, but despite that fact, I have decided to take a few moments to reflect on the goodness in my life, as there is a just-as-long list of things I am thankful for. I am writing this more as a journal-entry, so bear with me or just skip it and know I am one Thankful girl this holiday season. Yes indeedy. ’specially for you, dear readers. Thankful for your interest in my work and your patience with my on-and-off-again posting schedule. Love ya!
Laurie’s Thankful List 2008, in no particular order, and certainly not all-inclusive:
1. My darlin’ husband, John.
2. Our fantastico furry and feathery menagerie, HappyDog, JaneCat, Lulu Belle and Pepper the Goats and Chickens 1-4
3. A gorgeous old slanty, drafty, character-filled century-surviving farmhouse of our very own.
4. Forests
5. Wild creatures
6. My mom, dad, three brothers, and John and my big, gregarious, funny Italian families (both of my Grandmothers are Italian, and one of John’s was! Did you know?)
7. Holiday traditions.
8. Decorating the Christmas tree, then lying under it and looking up through the twinkly lights.
9. New fallen snow.
10. First buds of spring.
11. Green grass and fresh air in summer.
12. Fancy vibrant fall colors.
13. Watching dogs play.
14. Art. Buying art, admiring art, watching people make art.
15. Making art.
16. Having the opportunity to sell my crafty goodness at fairs and on Etsy.com! So thankful for Etsy.com!
17. My friends.
18. Being friends with the same people for almost 14 years.
19. Reconnecting with old friends.
20. Artist retreats and the idea of Squam #2 in 2009!
21. New England lakes, streams and rivers.
22. Camping.
23. Not camping. 
24. Cozy blankets, and conversely, my parents’ pool in the summer!
25. The option of “tofurky” and a cruelty-free holiday.
26. Digging in the ground and growing my own food from tiny seeds.
27. CSA’s and the people who grew our food at Farm Girl Farm.
28. Museums, ’specially Mass MoCA, the Berkshire Museum and The Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
29. San Francisco. I <3 you.
30. Theatre Degrees.
31. Seattle and Tacoma and Mt. Ranier and the gorgeousity of the Northwest.
32. Road-trips and Train-rides.
33. Popcorn, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Water, Cranberry Juice, Granola Bars and other life-giving foods.
34. My body’s ability to work for me and heal in astounding ways.
35. The Harvest Festival, The Sheep and Wool Festival, the Stationery Show and other places where I can be a big geek about things like squash soup, wool roving and greeting cards.
36. The Berkshires, in all its splendid natural glory.
37. The Berkshires, for cultivating one of the most creative communities on earth.
38. The in-the-works “Berkshire Made” Etsy Street Team! …and the possibility of many new connections with people working in this awesome place.
39. Knitting.
40. Hosting our friends for an evening of fun and food in our warm house.
41. Living close enough to my mom to help with Thanksgiving preparations….
and on that note, I’m off to lend a hand. The holidays are hosted by my parents in their wonderful house that my dad built (maybe that’s #42) back in the early 80s. They’ve added to it a few times, taking walls down to accommodate our growing extended family on days like Thanksgiving. They host anywhere from 20-40 people; it’s the least I can do to pitch in! The smell of Lemon Pledge always brings me back to days getting ready for the holidays with my brothers and my mom, listening to her favorite records, tapes and then cds, including the always-good-for-a-laugh Kenny Rogers. :> He’ll always have a place in my heart, oh that Kenny and Dolly Christmas record is a classic!
Hey, what’s your favorite holiday music? Anything new to share that you’ve found recently? My latest faves are the Home Alone Soundtrack and The Peanuts Christmas. I better bring them over to my mom, she’ll love ‘em!
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Love your list! Thanks for sharing!