Hearts on the refrigerator

More favorite things:





Children's art made at school and pre-school. Although there could be less of this as a future school funding trend, we have received great tree ornaments with kids' pictures, handmade crafts, and more well worth saving and enjoying. Beautiful sheets to adorn refrigerators, and holiday-themed decorations such as turkeys and flag stands - cheerful things to bring back memories and rituals of holidays past.





I've saved the good stuff the children have made, and I just took a bunch of rectangular art off the fridge and put up about 5 hearts - all of different patterns and sizes. One is mosaic of tissue paper squares sealed in wax paper. Another is painted and layered, another a collage. So sweet.




The movie Giant, starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. The iconic story of ranching, oil and prejudice in Texas. James Dean's portrayal of Jett Rink is simply brilliant. The scene where Rock's Jordan Benedict offers to buy JR out of the land sister Luz willed him - great scene. And the drenching oil gusher first struck on Little Reata - a classic. There's a lot going on, a lot to see in this movie - one of AFI's best 100 of all time.



Christmas cards that depict a night scene, with men on camels and shepherds with crooks. A starlit sky and desert roof lines. Put away other decorations but leave a few choice cards around.


Kids sitting around, doing their homework, reading. Settled in after a vacation, in the evening - it still gets dark before 6 p.m. A cold night, but I feel familiar and grounded while watching them do their work. I might get to read the featured fiction in The New Yorker magazine.





Kids ready to stay after school and play basketball in the gym. It's Indiana in January. A reason to justify a cell phone and texting. The sport of Hoosiers and its time of year.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July in Leo-Cedarville, Indiana.

These are photos of them in 2010. There's a great street party with a hometown feel, river cruise and fireworks reflecting out over the St. Joe River.

Komodo Dragon Blend coffee from Starbucks. We buy Starbucks coffee in bags and make it at home. This one comes from Asia, and I've grown very fond of it - it has a slightly spicy aroma. The dragon on the label looks auspicious.

The movie The Princess Bride. Rob Reiner's classic with Sean Penn's Robin Wright and Mandy Patinkin. The 'voice of Kermit' guy, Cary Ewles, Christoper Guest, other stars. A loving grandfather reading a fairy tale to his grandson. A funny story and star cameos. "My name is Inigo Montoya and you killed my father. Prepare to die." Hilarious. I love this movie, and it's clean. As you wish.