One of my favourite things in the whole world are advent calenders.
And chocolate. But I think you knew about the chocolate.
What random things make you far happier than makes sense?
Here is a picture of a bottom so that you know you are on the right blit.
Poppy…that bottom, while lovely, looks very ouchy. It needs soothing cream or frozen peas or something.
Advent calendars are very fun, especially when they have chocolate inside. What makes me happy…listening to my sister talk in this chipmunk voice she does only for me – she done it since she was like 4 or 5 and it always makes me all warm and happy inside. Also hearing little kids giggle uncontrollably – they don’t get self-conscious about laughing like adults can, they are just free and happy.
I have an advent calendar.
Until this week I had never seen one, had rarely heard of them, and wasn’t sure what one was. Now I have one sitting on my mantle piece, out of the wrapper, and all ready for the first little door to be opened tomorrow morning.
I did not know about advent calendars possibly because I had a strange upbringing in the hinterlands of Texas, though that doesn’t explain why I never ran across any in the decades of roaming the continent that followed.
But in any case my girlfriend decided I needed to have an advent calendar finally and sent me one. It has Norman Rockwell paintings behind the doors.
So I think the reason I never saw one is that I wasn’t supposed to until she sent it to me.
That’s what I think. And it makes me misty thinking that.
Poppy, good morning,
My favourite things, of course people and dogs aren’t things, but happy and contented children and likewise dogs and cats.
Certain blogs, which I won’t name, to save your
My all time favourite Author, JJR Tolkien, LOTR and all of his books and essays,
any good books, but especially SF&F.
Phish food and Green and Black hot chocolate.
Moors and mountains, forests and stars, the Moon in her glory.
But of course above all my family.
These are just a few of my favourite things.
It seems that I could fill a book, but I won’t, not here.
Have a good day and take care.
Love and warm hugs,
Paul.
Chocolate, coffee and my soft toy that I’ve been cuddling for over 25 years
are some of my favourite things. A happy ending to a story or movie makes me merry. Watching people fall in love and stay in love is uplifting, intoxicating and soothing. These are indeed some of my favourite things. 
Camping by the sea in summer, toasting marshmallows over a fire in winter, kind affirming words from someone you respect, listening to my girls talking openly to each other about sex and relationships in a way I couldn’t have done at their age, meeting you lot in cyberspace, all these things make my heart soar!
Awww, advent calendar… It really is the thing. We have one at home. The kid get the chocolate, but me and Egres enjoy the excitement of waiting and seeing, what’s the picture of the day will be today
That’s a real Christmas bum; it’s red
Hugs,
Maria
There are raindrops falling on my roof right now, and I love the sound of that. And I love Advent calendars, too, and everything that leads up to Christmas.
Paul, what is green and black hot chocolate? It does not sound like something I would love, but perhaps I am wrong. Explain, please!
Devlin, I am starting to worry about your upbringing in Texas. Never heard of an advent calendar?
I have said this many times, but watching my cats sleep makes me deliriously happy. Fires, seeing children with lemonade stands, certain books, a necklace I never wear (it’s meant for a little girl) but keep because it was a gift from someone very special, old cards I’ve been sent over the years. All of these things make me happy
You are wonderful people and this is a wonderful list.
I realised that on my list is the magic of a snow day- that unexpected day off work. I have one today. I went back to bed with my dogs and we slept for ages. I have shovelled a path and felt properly in charge.
I made a little snowman (not easy with dogs trying to “help”) and went to the shop where there was nothing on the shelves because everyone else is snowed in too. That is ok and makes it more of an adventure.
I talked with the man I love. I lit a fire. I watched a Cary Grant film.
And still it snows.
That sounds like a truly magical day!
Em, you must be kind to Dev. He cannot help growing up in Texas. Texas is a strange, strange land far far away, where things are not done the way they are in the rest of the world. People there truly do believe they are their own country, and they like it like that.
Soon their accents and their hats and boots and their “fixin to do this and that” will be so foreign to us all that we will need a passport to get inside the border. What can you expect from a state that actually has wild armadillos?
Poppy, your day sounds perfect. What Cary Grant film?
Operation Petticoat- loved it.
I want to go to Texas. I want to sit in a Texan bar. I would fit right in. I would do my Texan accent and they would love me thinking I was one of their own.
I think I may be a Texan. I am sure I must seem that way to you. It just floods out of every pore.
Poppy, good evening,
I’m delighted that you had a snow day, not before time.
Green and Black is certainly the best chocolate in the UK, a little dearer than other brands, but well worth it.
So my wish came true, good.
Love and warm hugs,
Paul.
Yes, Poppy, everytime I hear you talk or read your blog I think ‘that woman is a Texan through and through!’
Paul, your wish that I should have a snow day?
Em, I am so glad you said that. I will tell Dev to read your comment so that he stops argueing with me and saying silly things like “You are nothing like a Texan.”
Poppy – shhhh don’t tell Dev I said this, but I think many people (most?) would consider being nothing like a Texan to be a compliment
(nipping on quietly)
Em, you must not speak that way about my people or else I shall be forced to shoot you with my six shooter.
You see! You see how authentic I am!
You may send me a bunch of blue bonnets.
I don’t usually come on too Toppy on Poppy’s blit, Em, but you’re getting a mite too big for your britches with that kind of talk, young lady. Even Texans who haven’t lived in the country, er, state for nearly 50 years get a bit riled when they hear that sort of palaver, so you had best mind your manners or else I’ll mind them for you.
Would you, please, Dev? That would be wonderful! I’ll just leave my manners here for you to mind and nip off to have some fun without them
That really is terribly generous of you. Just let me know if I can repay the favor sometime!
Durn foreign girls, anyhow. Don’t know that “I’ll mind them for you” is Texan short hand for “I’ll tan your heinie ’til you can’t sit down, young lady.”
Oh, Em, I’m ROFLOL!
Love your witty retort. Maybe I should join you to have some fun instead of working. I think I deserve it as I’ve fixed a problem at work that no one could fix for weeks! Yes, let’s fly off and enjoy all our favourite things! 
You may address your letters to Poppy (aka “Ladybird”) St. Vincent c/o The Alamo. She’ll be there wearing cowboy boots and drinking a Lone Star beer!
Mindy, how very smart of you to fix that problem! You have certainly earned a nice vacation. Where shall we go?
That’s funny, Scarlet, but I might have to explain the “Ladybird” reference to Poppy.
Em, you’re not going anywhere without your manners, missy. That goes for you too, Mindy.
I do not understand the Ladybird thing.
Nor me, it must be an American thing.
President Lyndon Johnson, the man who took over when Kennedy was shot, was from Texas. His wife’s name was Ladybird. No one knows why. They had a daughter called Linda Bird. The whole family were a bit eccentric and colorful, and the LBJ Ranch near Johnson City is somewhat of a monument.
Poppy, now that you know Ladybird, you’re one step closer to being a Texan! She was responsible for planting huge swaths of bluebonnets across Texas, btw. It was her raison d’etre for many years before her death.