A Thankful Heart Prepares the Way

(lovely centerpiece, brought to you by design sponge)

The calendar has brought us to Thanksgiving once again, reminding all to stop and say a few words of thanks for things and people that bring our lives color and flavor. In keeping with a tradition, here is a list of some things I'm flowing-over-full glad for this year.

A: Abby, my roommate, friend and creative instigator.

B: Bici Bike Coop and the way that it's helped to bring a resurgence of cycling in the Magic City.

C: Cheerwine: North Carolina's most notable contribution to carbonation.

D: Dark Chocolate and Lavender: a exquisite combination that recently has won me over.

E: Enter the Worship Circle, and particularly this old favorite, that reminds me that giving thanks makes way for Him.

F: Free rent for two months. An unfortunate foreclosed rental property that turned out to be quite the financial blessing.

G: Greyhaven and the way it brings Birmingham's musical community together.

H: Hairbows, and the way this lovely girl has given them renaissance.

I: Ira Glass and his uncanny ability to find and tell a story.

J: Jamie: because she's got the softest bed covers this side of the Mason-Dixon (among some other reasons.)

K: Kennedy, Amos: A Gordo printer whose artistic abandon and wise words have blazed a trail for me.

L: Layoffs: My own, in particular, that has given me the energy and courage to follow a thrilling, meandering path.

M: Marriages that give me something to learn from.

N: Novels, and my recent revisitation to works of fiction. It had been too long.

O: Otium Sanctum: an inspiring group of women that push me to slow to see the cross in the clothespin, beauty in the quotidian.

P: Penland School of Crafts: The place where my inner artist was resurrected.

Q: Quilting, and the goals I have to learn the art.

R: Redeemer Community Church: The church both gathered and scattered.

S: Sisters, sisters. Mine, in particular.

T: Twitter, and the ways in which it has started conversation. (Though, ask me tomorrow, and I may have a different opinion, altogether.)

U: Urban Standard, for the way that it gives space and voice to the creative class of our great town.

V: Vampire Weekend, and the mix-it-up-ness that their music brought to my repertoire this year.

W: Wadsworth Longfellow, Henry, and his words that have been a mantra of sorts.

X: X-acto knives. I actually got a lot of use out of mine this year.

Y: You. Chances are, if you're reading this, you mean something to me.

Z: Zooey Deschanel. She's just so darn cute, and I adore her movies and music.