Category: My Favourite Things

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A Few Of My Favourite Things: Carousels

I’m just a big kid at heart.

Something I try to do in every new city I visit is find and ride a carousel. I love the music, I love the intricate artwork, and I love how every carousel has a story to tell.

Carousel comes from the French word  carrousel and the Italian word carosello. The word originated in the 12th century as a way to describe a combat exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen. The carousels we’re more familiar with were first built for fairs in central Europe and England in the early 19th century.

I loved riding the merry-go-round as a child, but my first carousel ride as an adult was at Forum des Halles in the heart of Paris, France, in 1998, and that’s when I became interested in them for their history.

Heather on the carousel at Forum des Halles, Paris, France (1998)

The year after, then-boyfriend-now-hubby bought me a beautiful musical carousel for Christmas that plays 15 different old time songs and 15 Christmas carols.

Mr. ChristmasTime musical carousel

I took a trip alone to Nashville in 2001, and the first thing I did after hitting the hotel was walk down to the Riverfront Park at 1st and Broadway to find  The Fox Trot Carousel. This one is really fascinating to me because it features thirty-six hand carved figures representing famous Tennesseeans.

Heather & Amelia Earheart on the Fox Trot Carousel (2001)

A kind, older gentleman had fun taking photos of me on my 29th birthday as it went round and round. He had a camera himself, so I convinced him to get on the carousel, too, so I could snap a picture for him. I think we made each other’s days.

You cannot be in a bad mood and ride the carousel at the same time. You just can’t. That’s why it tops my Favourite Things list.

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A Few Of My Favourite Things: Crystal Soil

In the spirit of giving,  I thought I’d share some of my favourite things with you this holiday season. I might write about them; I might photograph them–I’m not setting any rules. I hope you’ll also share some of your favourite things with me, by commenting and even starting your own blog posts on this theme. The idea is to find some good news, some hope, some beautiful things out there in the world–then pass the feeling on.

I bought these small grains called “Crystal Soil” from the florist this weekend. I think they’re both practical and beautiful. Why can’t high heel shoes be more like that?

Crystal Soil is a water absorbent polymer that is translucent, odourless, bio-degradable, 100% non-toxic, re-usable and environmentally friendly. It takes 24 hours soaked in water before the crystals can act as a topsoil for flowers. They start out the size of poppy seeds and eventually grow into soft, water-filled decorative beads.

I love to put floating candles and orchids in a rectangular vase.  I had the idea a few years ago to float candles in it along with seasonal flowers like carnations and orchids. Now, by adding the crystal soil, it glows brighter and lasts longer. I think that’s pretty cool.

Cheap too–the florist gave me the crystal seeds for $1.25, a branch of hepericum berries and the orchid for $7.00 total. I only used a few orchids and berries, so I ended up with a stem of yet-unopened orchid flowers and a berry branch to enjoy in a separate vase.

Next time, I’ll add more crystals, and perhaps purple orchids. I’d like to try it in a champagne-glass shaped vase. I’ll definitely be trying this favourite thing again this season.

Heather's Orchid & Floating Candles Arrangement, 2010

Christmas arrangement by HGS, 2010

Share more joy: Please check out my friend Kellie’s 25 Days of Christmas Wish List.