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Hijo and friend

favorite things #13 ~ apples left when all the leaves are gone

golf balls are coated too, but nobody tries to swallow them

I do not like to swallow pills. I am filled with trepidation at the thought of taking a pill. Wee little sudafed-sized things are about the only pills that I can swallow as casually as most everyone else seems to toss back whatever their pharmacist throws at them.  So when I went to purchase some vitamins, I came across this bottle and was lulled into buying it by the promise held in the bright yellow starburst.

But what did I find inside?

favorite things #12 ~ being asked to take fotos at work

favorite things #11 ~ snow days

hints of sandalwood and black cherry

From those wonderful fanatics at Victrola, a link to a Seattle Weekly article about third wave coffee culture.

favorite things #10 ~ the sky over admiralty inlet

(That last one may or may not technically be the sky over the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but you can't prove anything.)

the slog

I interrupt my "favorite things" posts to write about one of my least favorite things, something I've dubbed the slog.  I won't say that it only happens at this time of year, nor that it always happens now, but for the most part the weeks between the change to Standard Time and the solstice are something one must slog through.  It's not that there aren't little joys - there are. The early darkness means Christmas lights and more chances to see the stars, and Hijo is very excited about Christmas, but for me the slog is just something to wade through carefully, something to survive.

Oddly enough, writing about the slog helps one get through it. The slog is easily slayed by words. Or at least cowed. I also think that the slog is no match for the biggest brightest full moon of the year, which will visit us on Friday. The moon will be at its perigee, which has to be one of the silliest words ever. You could also say that eating Cutie clementines is a very nice way to avoid the slog.

If all else fails, bring out the big guns.

(Long ago and far away, but still does the trick.)

favorite things #9 ~ letterpress

Printed on thick creamy paper one at a time from metal sorts set by hand, letterpress stationery makes me swoon with pleasure whenever I see it. It's not just ink on paper, it's a mark made deeply.  What a pleasure to write a note on something so beautifully crafted. For when what you have to say really matters.

My photography skills don't do the above card, from DeLuce Design, justice. I also love the cards from B Designs, Inc. and would love to have an occasion to use these .Updated to add:  I forgot Sweetbeets! Doh!

Check this out for a look at the process by someone who takes it very seriously.

favorite things #8 ~ top ten lists

I like the end of the year because everyone is dragging out their best of 2008 lists. Sure, things like movies are obvious, but there are so many other things deserving of ranking in highly personal ways. There are the top ten book designs, top ten antivirus software programs, and Lifehacker even has a list of its top top ten lists.

I've got my own top ten list to share with you after the jump.