lists

I'm a list maker from way back.  I LOVE a good list. I make lists for everything just because I enjoy the structure, the organization it gives me and my little brain.  Other list makers surely understand what I mean.  I kept a list of every movie I watched last year (124 movies! though only 7 were in a theater). I keep lists of places I've traveled, digital scrapbooking elements, and so on - and yeah, I do keep a grocery list! :)

Over on Daisy Yellow, Tammy shared her list of books she wants to read for 2014.  Since I'm an avid reader, I have all sorts of books lists - every (mostly) book I've read for the last 15 years or so, a list approaching 900 books I still want to read (I swear I take books off the list every year but there's just so many good books out there!), lists of award winners, etc.

I love a good murder/courtroom drama book, but I read a wide range of genres - if you've got a favorite author or book, do share.  I'll add it to my list! :)

Here's what I read in 2013:
The Remains by Vincent Zandri
Collage Discovery Workshop by Claudine Hellmuth
Ireland by Frank Delaney (excellent)
Black River by GM Ford
Die for You by Lisa Unger
Gold by Chris Cleave
XO by Jeffery Deaver
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (unexpectedly good)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (unexpectedly good)
The Amber Room by Steve Berry
Afraid of the Dark by James Grippando
Entombed by Linda Fairstein
Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein
The Informant by James Grippando
Murder on the Mind by LL Bartlett
Borderlines by Archer Mayor
Scent of Evil by Archer Mayor
Fruits of the Poisonous Tree by Archer Mayor
The Ragman's Memory by Archer Mayor
The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Acrylic Solutions by Julie Pritchard & Chris Cozen
Stolen Prey by John Sanford
Secret Admirer by Patricia MacDonald
A Wanted Man by Lee Child
The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Defending Jacob by William Landay
The Strangler by William Landay
Cover to Cover by Sherrie LaPlant (bookbinding)
Shadow of Power by Steve Martini
Scavenger by David Morrell
Ghost Writer by Rene Gutteridge (bad)
Sarah's Key by Tatiana deRosnay
The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Serena by Ron Rash (bad)
Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan (good)
2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (good but long)
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
And the Mountain Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (excellent)
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
The Promise of a Lie by Howard Roughan
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay
Phantom by Jo Nesbo
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

If you even skimmed over this list, you're likely a reader too.......if you want more info about any of these or some recommendations of my favorite books, just let me know - I love to share!

what I love about where I live

List it Tuesday topic for the week is "what I love about where I live" - there are so many great things about Seattle and the northwest but here are some of the highlights:

Big picture:
I love that I live in the US with all the benefits and freedoms we enjoy.
I love living on the west coast where people are generally friendly, casual, environmentally aware and oh-so-laid back.
I love living in Washington state where we enjoy marine weather in the west, desert-like weather in the east, grow yummy apples and have a blossoming wine industry.  Washington is urban and progressive, rural and farm country.

Lincoln Park, Seattle

Closer to home:
I love living in Seattle where I can be close to my boys.
I love living in Seattle because there's a view of mountains and water around almost every corner.
I love the wealth of activities - Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, Arboretum, beaches, mountains, skiing, boating, professional sports (we might bring back the NBA too!), plays, art galleries and more and more!

Seattle skyline after addition of new ferris wheel

I love seeing Mt. Rainier's snowy top dominating the horizon on clear days.

Gorgeous Mt. Rainier

I love green.  Green trees, green grass, green attitude - it's all so green!
I love the mild weather - not 90 in the summers, not freezing and snowy in the winter - yet we have distinct seasons.
I love living 15 minutes from work, 20 minutes from my kids, 15 minutes to the airport, 10 minutes to the beach, 60 minutes to the mountains, 20 minutes to downtown - in other words, convenience!

The beach 10 minutes from my home

At home:
I love the space in our home - literally plenty of square footage.
Light - I love the light from all the big windows.
Art room - for the first time ever I have a room dedicated to creativity!

I love sitting at my computer, looking out to my big back yard and garden, delighting in my flowers.

More than any of the other things, I love the man I share where I live with.

If this doesn't make you want to live in Seattle, I've done something wrong! :)  Now I can't wait to read about what others love about where they live.

i love a good list

Visiting Jessica at To The Moon Designs I found that participates in a weekly list theme:  List it Tuesday.  I LOVE a good list and Aimee at Artsyville is encouraging me by giving me some new ideas for my list of lists - watch out!

This week is make a list of creative things you can do in 15 minutes.  Here's what occurred to me:

press fall leaves from my walks

take a photo on a walk and practice my techniques
stencil or paint a pumpkin for the front porch
find a new soup recipe
wrap smooth beach rocks in yarn or twine (I have quite a collection from my beach combing this summer)

paint an inspirational word on a beach rock
practice lettering
make a piece of mail art (visit MMSA for people to share with)
start working on a collage a day (thanks Jane Davies), even if I don't finish it
start or finish a scribble painting ala Jane Davies - totally fun and freeing
daydream
make a foam stamp from one of my pattern sketches
stick my nose in one of my new art books (the trick is to stop in 15 minutes!)

Next week I'll be more creative in my presentation - this list making seems like good journal page fodder, doesn't it?

The links from others have some of my same ideas (making a stamp seems to be a popular idea), but also some other ways to be creative or get those creative juices flowing.  How are you creative when you only have 15 minutes?