I’m sorry this is later than usual. It’s been quite the weekend so far. Frankly, this weekend kicked off with one of my favorite things, my birthday. I don’t know why it is, but I love that fresh-start feeling that comes for me with a birthday.
I’ve actually talked about my favorite things in other posts, just not as a revealing “this is something I love” but more so, “my characters do this”. I will occasionally weave things that I love to do in my stories, because that makes the story more real. One of those things is knitting. I’m not as fond of crochet, but only because I never got the hang of the patterns and stitches. Knitting was more straight-forward to me.
I’m currently knitting the Elisabeth Zimmerman Pi shawl (though mine is not knit in the round, there’s a slit to make it easier to wear). I’m close to binding it off. I love all the blue colors. It reminds me of my recent releases.
Another of my favorite things is music. When I need something to calm my brain, music is my go-to. I love Laura Story, Crowder, and Mercy Me. When I want to just listen, not sing, classical is my jam. Occasionally, when my brain is in squirrel mode, I need the sound of water moving to get my thoughts flowing in the right direction. It’s amazing to me what sound can do for you.
My two favorite things are calming. Are your favorite things more calming or exciting?
Where western meets happily ever after.
Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn't) South Dakota.
Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one's listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.
I agree – I love looking ahead to a brand new year and challenging myself to be better!
exactly! It’s funny that I treat a birthday more like the new year than in January.
Happy birthday! Top favorite activity is reading which I’ll spend time doing today.
That is both exciting and refreshing.
My favorite things are calming, too. I love to read to relax, and make cards! I also like to do embroidery.
Trudy, when I first had kids, I was very into Stampen Up (and all of the popular stores that sold similar items). It was so fun to create paper crafts. Then, as I had more than one child, I didn’t have time and I didn’t want to bring out my “nice” stuff while the kids were around. Pretty soon, my nice stuff wasn’t nice anymore. It was really calming though. That is something I might look into doing again now that my kids are all older.
Hi Kari – one song I just can’t get out of my head is “Forever Holy,” by Chris Tomlin. Music draws me in and is definitely a source of worship and calming. For five months, I get to garden to my heart’s content. Love raising dahlias especially. Hope you have a beautiful birthday!
Thank you!! I love gardening too, flowers and produce. When that first flower opens in the spring it just lifts me up. God is fantastic.
It looks like we have some things in common! My favorite things are pretty much all calming. I love fresh, clean scents such as mint & lavender & these have a soothing effect on me. I absolutely love classical music & the sound of running water or the wind blowing through trees or grass. My favorite colors are forest green, periwinkle blue, & lavender. I don’t enjoy sewing of any kind but I know how to sew & crochet simple things & have crocheted an area rug or two & I mend our clothes! I’m pretty proud of the rugs, although they aren’t anything special to anyone else! I also like to garden, but my allergies tend to keep those forays pretty short.
I think the only “exciting” things I like to do are hiking, dancing (ballet) to classical music, & exercising along with people in YouTube videos, so you can see I’m definitely an introvert!
By the way, happy birthday!
Thank you!
Oh, wow. I think you and I would get along very well. 🙂 Those are all wonderful things.
Happy Birthday! Reading is one. And I love working in the yard or garden, But in the mornings with coffee on the back screened porch,and the end of my day, is watching the birds. And the cute hummingbirds!
Oh, I love the hummers! I hung a feeder right on my kitchen window so I could watch them all day long. Thank you!
Happy Birthday! I don’t feel excited about birthdays any more, but I did as a child. Reading is my go to for calming activity.
It’s funny, I don’t get excited for getting older, or cake, or even presents (though I love it when my husband gives me something that shows that he listens to me). For me, it’s about that fresh new page.
Happy birthday. To relax I read or listen to gospel music
Thank you! Gospel music is fantastic. That’s what I listen to when I want to get moving.
Happy Birthday Kari! My favorite things are calming also, I love to plant , do crafts, paint crosses and birdhouses read and listen to music. Have a great day.
thank you so much! I love doing all those things too. After this post, I’m going to end up starting up all my old hobbies again!
Happy Birthday!
What beautiful needlework.
Thank you! I’m excited to see what it looks like when it’s done and I can spread it out.
One of my favorite things besides being with my family is traveling. We love road trips, just my husband and me, but traveling is extra special when I get to preach the gospel as well. We are traveling to Kenya for 2 months, from August to October where we will drive across the country, preaching in churches along the way.
Wow, I pray you’ll have lots of opportunities!
walking is very calming for me.
Yes, as I try to build a healthy body again, I’ve been enjoying walks multiple times I day. They feel good!
Happy Birthday!! Today is my husband’s birthday too! I do jigsaw puzzles. It calms my mind. Music calms me also.
Two of my children love puzzles too. I like doing them with others.
Happy Birthday!! I enjoy looking out our backdoor watching nature. I also enjoy reading. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Thank you! Living rurally, I enjoy watching whatever happens to wander through our yard too. It’s fun!
I like to read and enjoy a nice piece of music while I read.
I haven’t tried that before. I should try that.
Happy Birthday! To relax I play the piano or listen to audiobooks while coloring in coloring books and yes, I was pretty darn happy when more adult types came out quite a few years back since I was a little bit tired of unicorns and kitty cats. 🙂
A belated Happy Birthday.
Music and reading are favorite things. Not always calming, but enjoyable.