Five Favorites

Okay, so this is a random post, but it's hump day, so go with me, m'kay?

I read. I listen. I poke around. And these five things are soaring up the chart of my favorite things ever. I thought I'd share, if for no other reason than to maybe expand our horizons. In no particular order, these five favorites are:

Favorite One: The band Late Tuesday. Although the three member band is on hiatus due to a recent marriage, these girls are incredible. Their roots are deep in Christian music, (omygosh... you should hear their O Come, O Come Emmanuel off the Christmas album), but they've gone slightly more mainstream with each album. It's still amazing stuff you could play your grandma. (Or play if you are a grandma.) You can buy their albums here, and listen to a few of their songs at the link above.

Favorite Two: A Year in Bread. I love to bake. Love it.

But even if you don't, or don't suppose you're any good at it, here's hope. This concept of A Year In Bread is simple - three ordinary people who like to bake (two girls and a guy), tackle one type of bread a month: pizza dough, hamburger buns, sandwich bread, etc., and walk you through it. All of it. Plus, they are funny. They admit it when their bread comes out whole wheat bricks. Whether you're a novice or an experienced baker, this is where you want to be.

Favorite Three: Wee Wonderfuls. I'm an amateur embroiderer, but no matter. Hillary Lang makes this stuff easy and adorable. I bought the set below with plans to make little outfits and pillow cases for a few friends with little girls....

I will offer only one warning: be very, very, careful in going to her site. It doesn't matter if you're into this stitching stuff or not. You will want to live there. You will want to be her best friend. And you will be looking for a calendar to see how far off your next payday is.

Favorite Four: MaryJane's Farm. I'm trying to save a little cash to do her one-week rural B&B program, but... we'll see. Regardless, if you haven't heard of MaryJane Butters, you will. We're getting a Farmgirl Chapter up and running in my area, and I'm thrilled. I wish she would run for president, really....

Favorite Five: This book. If you can't make out the title, it's called The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel. I snatched this book off my friend Lacy's bookshelves... she hated it... and couldn't put it down. It is very, very different, and although Kimmel was a theology student, I find her theology very... off. It runs very contrary to some personally held beliefs I hold dear....

But I love stretching myself. Challenging myself. And this book was excellent, differences in theology aside. I can't wait to read it again in a few years.

Okay, so my tastes may be very different than yours. Maybe you know of something I should know about. Tell me! Tell me what some of your favorites are. Maybe we could even form a Favorites Club... you know, on that particular day when the laundry's caught up, the bills are paid, the house is clean, and the nap has been taken.

Yep, definitely then....