January 16, 2008
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Simple Pleasures
I was feeling sort of icky last night, so I slept in rather late this morning. What a pleasure to lounge in bed with the covers up to my chin. Bliss, bliss, lazy bliss. Which reminds me–The Kween of the Queens posted a new writing challenge, and it really appealed to me.“What are the simple pleasures that make your day
complete? The purring of a kitten? The smell of coffee? Perhaps it’s
making a special meal for your family. Remember to keep it warm and
homey. These are SIMPLE pleasures!”So, I’ve been thinking: what are they? I’ve thought of this idea before in terms of “If I were ever in a concentration camp, what would I miss the most?” (Although I realize the likelihood of my being in a concentration camp isn’t high.)
- Hot bubble baths with a novel
- Jax cheese twists, chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, soda
- Looking out the window (I also look at laundry through the clear washer door at swishing laundry.)
- Fresh flowers in a vase
- Being warm
- Laughing with my family and friends
- Listening to obnoxious music loudly in my minivan while I drive
- Fiddling on the internet
- My Bible on CD
- Freshly-changed sheets (with a high thread count, unwrinkled)
- The smell of vanilla
I know there are ten thousand more things that I take for granted, but this would be my short list. I wonder what obvious things I forgot?
What are your simple pleasures?
This is the landlord’s cat sitting outside my kitchen window. It’s named Jaffa, but the kids call him Frank. The flowers are from TGD who picked them up at Marks and Spencer.
Comments (51)
I thought this was an interesting post to do myself
Simple pleasures whatever there are all the best
What a great picture! That is an artwork.
Simple pleasure? I think my favorite is to wake up a few minutes early (so there is no pressure to hurry) get a cup of coffee (pot must be on a timer) and jump back in bed (still warm) and sip the fresh coffee.
Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
MiLady,
Thank you for this entry. I shall link you as a guest, but I will encourage you to join the blog ring. . .I saw that you are subbed to the site already. Won’t you take the few moments it costs to join the ring? I would love having you in!~Kween
RYC: Where did you read that I was 50? The picture was taken a couple of years ago. I’ll be turning 40 in March.
Great post!
I Love your list and the picture is so cute…enjoyable!
HuGs….
Linda
I love your photo, and most of your pleasures would be on my list as well. Esp. the bath with the novel.
Sadie and I have just spent a few minutes in drooling envy looking at your pictures. Oh my goodness, you have a lovely place! I’ll be praying for you all as you adjust!
I love the picture!
That is one awesome cat!
My mom wants to know if there’s a way she can keep in touch with you.
That is such a neat picture! That gives me pleasure.
The bath with a novel sounds heavenly– but I always feel guilty after about 5 min. of soaking. My simple pleasures would also include: vanilla & cinnamon scents, I love chocolate– but both vanilla & cinnamon rank right up there! especially cinnamon– it’s a warm & cozy taste/scent, watching my girls open their Christmas presents, Christmas music & lights, sitting on my swing (in the summer, of course!), and snuggling with my hubby (on the swing is even better yet!).
ryc: Who wants to spend time in the laundry room when you’re at Disney?!?!? lol I’m taking an extra carry-on. I’m sure I can handle a backpack & a small, rolling suitcase. The girls are all packed (except for the search for the illusive extra sneaker– found one, but one is still missing, and washing a pair of jeans), now it’s just to finish Mike’s & my suitcases, and then the last minute toiletry items that we’ll need until then. Oh, and I can’t leave my house messy, so Friday I’ll be cleaning.
How’s school going in jolly, old England? Field trips galore?
What a wonderful picture! And a wonderful list of simple pleasures to accompany it. I love listening to obnoxiously loud music in my truck too…. definitely a pleasure!
Being warm, yes. I’m one of those people who is always cold, so I really appreciate that one. And listening to obnoxiously loud music. I don’t have any kids of my own to embarass with my blasting Hanson yet, but I will someday! Great list!
What a beautiful picture! Frank looks like my brother’s new cat, Josie, only Josie has a crumpled ear. Simple pleasures…snuggled under a blanket while I read a book, thunderstorms, first tomato from the garden, an Egg McMuffin, first snow, hugs from my children, and at night when all my family is asleep, safe in our home. And yes, of course, there are so many more. Too many to list. RYC-Yes, it is exciting for you to show up on my site! You are FUN!
Giving
My simple pleasures list probably includes playing my saxophone, playing games with my family,just hanging out with my friends, and petting my cat, El Gato Estupido (Stupid Cat.) It must be said that the first thing that came to mind was getting email from Corey. I think the very top item is (and what do you know, this goes back to Corey too–among others) hugs. Definately hugs.
Frank!! haha I like it!! Cute cat!!
Gotta love a nice furry feline(did I spell that right??)
haha I would be in a deep deep depresion without my guitar!! That would be one of my most missed things if I was for some reason stuck in a concentration camp…
That cat looks like our Buford.
Love the picture.
Simple pleasures… hmmm….snuggling into my very own bed, warm showers, the smell of bread baking, a big mouthful of cashews, sunsets over the lake, my son playing the guitar, laughing with my family until our sides hurt. There are so many!
thank you for dropping in…Your simple pleasures are “warming”.
ryc. yes I am English..I live in Italy, but I mis my home town, I miss it for it’s relaxing atmosphere, the history, walking round the “backs” YES, my home town is CAMBRIDGE. I was in Cambridge Nov. last for a brief visit to friends and the colleges!!Your post about Cambridge brought a lump to my throat..
I teach English.I am going to sub to you, May I take advantage of the different American English expressions? my adult students who often have to go to the USA are always asking for American terms. Often on xanga my subs give me the American sayings “crackers” really confused them once….
RITA
Well, I don’t know. Adventure, glory, beautiful women….just to quote Aaron a little….
DON’T MISS THE AMERICAN CEMETARY FAR END OF Madingley road, the fitzwilliam museum, my children practically grew up there. My fav in the museum was the medieval armoury and the egyptians. I have been in Italy 28 years…I will follow up another moment this is between lessons. Gog Magogs golf course…outskirts of HILLS ROAD. Fenditton… village, used to go there for afternoon tea…perhaps it is no longer..so much has changed. Newmarket..famous for horse racing and Arabian horses..all within bus journeys from Cambridge.
RITA
I love bubble baths too! Good post!
I like the vanilla smell too. You list great many simple things.. Laughter is sure the best simple pleasure that I think we should all have.
ryc: heh, poor kitty. he (she?) seems lonely. i’ve got a Cat, Liz, and she’s hilarious to watch when neither of us has been home for a day or so and finally got there… she’s all over us
haha, that’s funny… the first pleasure you mentioned is the one i just enjoyed a couple minutes ago. hehe, i love reading while taking a bath!!! that’s probably the best place to read… bathroom is generally my fav place for thinking or reading, or even doing my homework!
tee hee. it’s just the only place when there are no distractions: no TV, no computer, no other books…
God bless,
Zee
A few hours of sleep in my own bed would be nice! Although at this point in my life, not quite as “simple” as it sounds. One of these days.
Like your list it’s similar to mine.
Welcome!
Jana
Having a neighbor cat who comes to visit is awesome. If a cat likes you enough to come out of his way to peek in, you know you’re okay.
Those are definitely some gorgeous flowers!
Stumbled onto your site. I love your list! I would add:
the cute grunts/coos of a newborn, the moist “all-knowing” brown eyes of my dog, freshly baked cookies or bread and the wonderful smells that go with them, hugging a long lost friend, the sound of my mom’s voice, getting dirty in the garden, eating veggies from the garden, putting on sweatpants that are fresh from the dryer on a cold day, the peaceful look of fresh snow, candlelight, when hubby surprises me by vaccuuming the house, having a girlfriend I know will always tell me the truth, watching an older couple who is still so in love…I could go on and on!
Hope that you’re feeling less icky by now!
RYC: The initial word was that we had to make our last and final offer by noon yesterday (we didn’t change) and now we’re still waiting to hear something back. We’ll definitely post something when we know. Thanks for asking!
Great post. I like your list. Cute Kitty. Welcome to the blog ring.
My daily, delightful coffee would definitely be one of my simple pleasures.
I love the picture. I am a cat lover though, so to me it is true artwork.
The simple pleasures are what truly matter to me. You list is very close to mine as well. Here are a few more of mine.
1. Watching the birds at the bird feeder.
2. Sipping hot tea, while sitting with my feet up.
3. Playing a game with my kids.
Great post
i love the smell of vanilla too. i also love the smells of coconut, almond and chocolate
i think frank is definitely a more suitable name for it (him?).
Ooh, lovely flowers! Was the vase something you found in the rental? It’s very pretty.
“What would I miss if I were in a concentration camp” is not what I’d call a warm and homey beginning to your list, but you list is definitely comfy and homey. Fresh sheets are wonderful. It’s been cold here and oddly enough, I was thinking about Russians imprisioned for their faith in the days of the USSR and one young soldier who finally died of exposure. That would be hard, to be cold all the time.
YES! I agree with you about hot bubble baths! Great simple pleasure and a book to boot! I have to admit, I read one page and can’t seem to manage reading very far without getting pages wet. I like reading after the hot bubbly bath.
This is a cute picture, but why do the kids call Jaffa, Frank? There must be a story behins this…
i love love love bubble baths!
The smell of Bounce fabric softener
holding a nonfat, hazelnut latte with and extra shot in both hands and breathing in the steam before taking that first foamy, almost too hot, but just this side of bearable sip
The sight of an empty hamper
Freshly dusted furniture that smells pledgy and has that shine
Number One is for sure a really enjoyable book, even if I have read it 50 times before.
Turning on Bing Crosby and certain other albums that just take me to a happy place
AAA, vanilla.. I forgot that one.. also a favorite of mine.. all my candles are vanilla.
This is true, but it is just “simply” nice to have them. Don’t you agree?
Dear Mary,
Jaffa (Frank) seems to think fresh flowers in a vase are one of life’s simple pleasures too!
I wonder what you think of as “obnoxious”. Now, being obnoxious would be to play the “begats” in Genesis from your Bible CD real loud in traffic!
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
great list! i especially liked the “listening to obnoxious music loudly in my minivan while I drive” haha. what music are you listening to?
Simple pleasure? Being able to give a multiple choice, easy-to-grade test once in awhile. But I always end up sneaking an essay in there. Why do I torture myself? Also–I am Sooooo jealous of you being in England. I lived in New Castle for awhile and loved it!
Those are some great simple pleasures! I love the pic of your kitty. Enjoy your day!
Great list…gotta love fresh sheets!
He looks like my cat!
I loved your list and I love all things vanilla. It is the best!
Hello, I am a visiting queen.. may I first say what a lovely page… It looks rather queeny lol And BEAUTIFUL JOB ON THE CHALLENGE!!! You should join.. Most of us are quiet loving.. and very close alot of us!! But Nice job!!! I Enjoy alot of the same things too!
Hugs and Love from your visiting queen from the blogring~ Leslie
BKA~ Ms_BeautyExpert
bubble baths! How could I have forgotten bubble baths?! I also LOVE the smell of vanilla.
Great post!
I often wonder why Vanilla’s smell can be such a simple pleasure…but I suppose simple pleaures can not be analysed and disected. They must just be enjoyed.
great list, thanks for sharing
YES ~ ‘clean sheet night’ is definately a Simple Pleasure!
Beautiful picture of the kitty, hey maybe he likes being called Frank better, anyway. Looks to be a dignified fellow…
Thanks for sharing, wonderful list. Have a blessed day,
Love, Cyn
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