A continuation of Excellent things, part 1. Inspired by Now This, this is a list of things I think are excellent, with notes about why. Part 1 was about Chatsford teapots, Tellicherry Indian Black Peppercorns, and Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Liquid Castile Soap. Part 2 continues below:

4. Roku Digital Video Player. This little device allows you to stream video from Netflix, Amazon video, and the MLB channel. We use it only for Netflix. I really like it because it’s so convenient — and the Netflix streaming library includes a lot of indie movies, cheesy 80’s TV, and zombie movies, which neatly defines my personal cultural Bermuda Triangle. If you want to watch mainstream studio releases or current TV, the Roku is ok (but not great) for that, because the studios and networks are pulling back a lot of content. Supposedly there are other channels in the works (a hulu channel would rock my world), but even if the Roku stays just the way it is right now, I would continue to consider it a great buy.

5. Gaye Adegbalola. Gaye is a member of Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women who I love. Their music is heartbreaking, funny, insightful, and delicious. Sadly, Saffire is going their separate ways. I saw their next-to-last performance on Halloween. Gaye is my favorite member of the trio — she’s charismatic on stage, and her songs are full of rage and passion and wit in equal measure. Luckily, she has several solo albums under her belt and tours alone and as a guest with other bands, so even after Saffire is gone, we can still see and hear her. I recommend Saffire’s many albums, but I’ve come to realize that as much as I like Ann Rabson’s boogie woogie piano and Andra Faye’s amazing voice, Gaye is the reason I like Saffire so much.

6. Folia, a social networking site for gardeners. This website is extremely flexible and can be used as a plant database, a garden journal, and/or as a “Facebook for gardeners.” It’s the total package: keep track of your plants, record what you know about them, document what you did and when you did it, and talk to other gardeners. It’s changed and reinforced my feelings about my garden in positive ways, and it makes gardening more fun for me.

If you feel like participating, consider yourself tagged!