Six Favourite Comforting, Satisfying Things

 I think we all know what we like and need to make our days feel productive and enjoyable. Here are six of the many things that make me feel satisfied and content with my life even in a continuing lockdown state.

１...Good Food

I love how my appetite is still strong for good food. I love finding a new way of cooking something that I've been eating all my life.  Take eggs for instance.  Lately I've been making scrambled eggs alongside rice and veggies with a little sauce of balsamic vinegar, dash of soya sauce and honey. This makes a quick nourishing lunch and I don't think I've ever eaten these two dishes together this way before. Like a new comfort food dish for me. 

No eggs in this one but I love this video from Ree, the Pioneer Woman. Her Top Ten Comfort Food list. I also love the tops she is wearing in this one especially the pretty red/pink one while making Corn and Cheese Chowder.  

I also enjoy seeing your photos of food in your posts and following any foodie links you share.

２...My indoor garden

I enjoy everything about gardening and feel rewarded with the smallest little growing things.

 Keeping these plants healthy throughout our rather dark winter months is a challenge. Remembering to keep the geraniums pinched back so they don't get too leggy reaching for the scant light is important.

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Getting to this stage of later winter and seeing most of the plants still hanging on and growing a little too is satisfying.

３...My Books with the addition of Audios nowadays

I've written that I thought of having a blog about books but being eclectic in my tastes and hobbies, I would find it constraining to stick to just one topic for posts. I realized the blogs I loved the most were ones that showed various aspects of life not just one hobby. So I've kept this space as one where I can natter on about whatever interests me or crosses my mind. 

Where ever I sit, a mound of books grows around me. I try my best to keep it neat and tidy. But I want at hand my thesaurus, my daily journal, my blogging notebook, whatever poetry book I'm reading, the novel that I'm reading, my bird books, and in season my gardening books -yes, a lot of books.

I also love my laptop desk.

One of my worst dreams was one where I couldn't see and realized I wouldn't be able to read. I woke in a state and then thought, how foolish; I would learn braille I told myself- you ninny. That wouldn't be so bad. 

I'm pretty sure that dream was triggered by seeing a girl at the university library use what looked like a powerful and complex monocle of some sort that she passed over every line of a book she was reading. I was a little fascinated as I watched her progress across and down the pages with this monocle pressed to her eye and the book pressed to it. 

４...Sharing my life with another species, something David Suzuki says we humans should all do. 

 In my present case, a dog is living with me though there have also been cats in the past. Murphy is great company and loyal (though not in the way that Rex was as I always felt he was guarding me); she is always by my side. Getting me up and outdoors walking is just one of the ways she is benefitting me. 

Here we are down by the pond last August (the pond was getting quite dry at that stage). Oh my eyes are loving all the green growing things in this photo. I also remember how warm that grass felt to be sitting on it.

５...Taking photographs

Thanks to this blog, my interest in photography has grown. I've realized how much fun there is in taking photographs especially in my case, of nature.  And out of that has grown an interest in macro photography. Though I don't have the kind of equipment to be super macro, my little camera affords me the opportunity to at least dabble in this field. Here is a tiny Kalanchoe plant, a Christmas gift, that is obligingly blooming just now. Reminding me of sweet Easter like blooms.

Last but definitely not least  #６ on this list is...My Stitching Hobbies and these I count on to keep my hands busy and my mind free from worry.

Drawing and possibly appliqueing Tulips are on my mind this week. The only thing I'm sure of is that I want them to be biggish, possibly bright and maybe colourful.  Okay so I'm still not sure of what exactly they might be...more combing the stash and scrap bins today before settling on colours. The only thing I know for sure is that I want an appliqued project to see me into spring...hand stitching being my favourite way to roll.  

I admired Quilty Folk's Audrey's chunky tulip project to be seen here  and also her Autumnal Tulips here and downloaded the pattern that she generously shared for a while. Then I admired Little Penguin Quilts Diann's pretty tulips to be seen at this post.  So I've been percolating some tulip ideas. As a motif, they appeal to me and I like how they can be vintage or modern, small or large. And how there is an abundance of totally tulip inspiration on the net. For instance, Lynn Dykstra alone has collated over 300 tulip quilt patterns for her Pinterest Board...well worth a visit.

This is one of my favourite Spring time appliqued finishes and I look forward to putting it on the wall again soon. 

Meanwhile, the Sawtooth Stars are growing in number. Thanks to all who kindly offered suggestions as to how these are winding up with differing points and sizes. Also nice to know I'm not the only one who grapples with accuracy from time to time. 

There you have it...six of the many things I'm enjoying while basically confined to home for over a year now. Writing about them helped me see that though I've had my hard times long before the pandemic, life is good just now. I'm so thankful my days are filled with personally rewarding and interesting activities. And thankful to you, dear readers, especially those who kindly comment and encourage and offer help and inspiration. 

Always wonderful to link with Not Afraid of Color, Jaipur Gardening, My Quilt Infatuation, So Scrappy, Applique Quilting Patchwork, Life in Pieces, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Kathy's Quilts, Floral Friday Foto, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, In the Jesh Studio and Brian's Home Blog.