Miracles and magic

I thought this lovely flickr photo by sMacshot was a perfect bridge between Christmas and New Year's.

On this last day of the year it's good to talk about blessings and gratitude--shove any doubts and worries about the future deep into the nearest snowbank. And there are PLENTY of those around. What a winter--the snow is already half-way up our tall fence. Even that's a blessing for all the trees next summer, and for lifelong hockey players like my husband who get very moody when temps go above 20 degrees.

I'll start. The list is long and yet only partial! Have patience and think about all these wonderful people and things that give us joy. Sometimes I feel like a queen with too many crowns...

Some of the things I love and am grateful for…
Lilacs and peonies
Historic photos
Afternoon tea and biscuits
Delftware tulip towers
Hiking down the mountain after hiking up
Japanese lanterns
Very dark chocolate
Topiaries
Slow soft snow
Farm tables
Old French velvet flowers
Open markets
Puccini
Ocean beaches—all kinds
My mom’s sauerbraten and my dad’s Yorkshire pudding
Lavendar
Outdoor fountains
Sheepskin slippers
Autumn in the woods
Heirloom tomatoes
Italian and Japanese papers
Fairisle sweaters
Ethnic and antique costumes
Antipasta and risotto
Vintage fabrics
Blue flowers (Virginia Bluebells, Lupine, Delphinium, Hydrangea, Bachelor Buttons)
Portuguese and Italian ceramics
Silk ribbons
My wonderful partner and my wonderful mother and father
Interesting postcards
Ballet
Pear tarts
Persian carpets
Decoupage
Globes
Stillness
Carved doors
Antique prints
Indian novelists
Dioramas
Lakes at night
Fireworks, fires, and fireplaces
Hearing other languages spoken
Being able to sew and knit
Maytag blue cheese
Huge light pink roses
Old growth forests
Seville orange marmalade
Suede, velvet, cashmere
Growing up in Iowa where people value land
Folk music
The Office and Eastenders
Zydeco bands
Meditation
Baroque opera
Seeing kindness
Digital cameras
The French Quarter
The blinding green of English or Irish grass
Antique Kashmir shawls
Odd and obsolete words
Winding streets
The Beatles, John Denver, and Bob Dylan
Toy museums
The alternative press
Wildflowers
Yoga
The Garment District in NYC
Indian and Thai cuisine
Thrift stores and flea markets
Norweigian sweaters
Jane Eyre
Making soup
Hedgehogs
Elderly people’s stories
Islamic architecture
Books and movies that change your life
Fly fishing
Sitting in a park and guessing the stories of people passing by
Somerset and Devon
The big hearts of women
Chamber music
Buddhist and Hindu temples
Pinot grigio
Seeing parents hold their children’s hands
Singing
Stained glass
Fresh bread
Monet
My computer
Celtic music
Intaglios
Braids
Massages
My Norwegian and German ancestors
Summer squash sauted with garlic
Mosaics
Sno-cones
Friends I loved but will never see again
Friends I love and still see
T.S. Eliot

Now start your own list!