Thursday, September 17, 2009

Friday Fave Five, #54, Mid September Edition

It's Friday (again) and it's Friday Fave Five time. FFF is a weekly post for many people who focus on the happy, and positive events in their week.

It was a very busy week here at Willow's Cottage, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to choose to think about the 'good stuff'.
1. The Professor and I spent the weekend here:
Los Angeles' Beach Cities is always a happy place for us. We kitty-sat while our friends were gone and appreciated the opportunity to be away from our routine and get a little beach walking time.
2. Gelato! Dark Chocolate! Love it!
3. This merino/silk blend fiber slipped through my fingers quickly and turned into a lovely yarn.
4. Shopping in Manhattan Beach. In three very quick stops, I found office supplies, t-shirts, a work blouse, black capris, and a kitchen scale. This makes my FFF for two reasons. I do not enjoy shopping and being able to complete all those purchases with a minimum of effort is a definite highlight for me. Finding a scale (at Sur La Table) that can be used for weighing fiber has been on my to do list for quite some time, and now it can be crossed off. The scale can be put to use making sure the skeins of yarn I spin for sale are the correct weight as well as length. This expedition was almost painless and was certainly helped by several ounces of, ahem, coffee.

5. The Professor and I met old friends and co-workers for lunch on Tuesday. PF was in Southern California visiting from Florida, traveling around with MS1 who lives up in Santa Barbara not too far from us. During our years in Indonesia, we worked side by side with these women and have great love and respect for them. Two hours over lunch just wasn't long enough to catch on everyone's news! Hearing and speaking the mix of English and Indonesian languages in our speech was like music, a secret song that only we four were singing.

This is a quick recap of 'Willow's Week'. To join in, go to Living To Tell The Story.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some great faves. I wish you would post a picture of the finished fiber! We, too, had the delight of a few days with friends we worked with in Spain -- I know just how you feel.

Mary P

Hazel said...

I so love it when something I don't enjoy doing gets done. That will surely make my faves too. I'd surely want the feel of those yarn thru my fingers. It's always wonderful to meet and catch up (no matter how little the time) with friends you don't see everyday.

ellen b. said...

Glad you had the time to recall the good ole times in your own language :0)
So I'm assuming that's a project you can check off your list?
I love Sur la Table.
Looking forward to walking next week...

Unknown said...

Anytime is a great ice-cream eating time. happy weekend kak Willow, I am off to balik kampung tomorow and hope to catch some cultural events at Kota Bharu..the only Islamic state here and borders with Thailand :P Religion aside, the people are the friendliest and food....yummmy to the max...hugs/M

Melli said...

Ohhhhhhhh Willow! You always have the most interesting tales to tell on Friday! I so enjoy your Fives! That fiber is beautiful - I'm suuure the yarn is too!

Good job finding that scale - and all your other finds too! (I don't like to shop either... especially not for clothes!) I've always felt I was lacking that "shopping gene"! I'm afraid they might take away my girl card!

Sounds like the visit with your friends was probably the best of all best this week... how fun!

Susanne said...

That fiber is beautiful colors. I can just imagine the gorgeous yarn it made.

Catching up with old friends and beach walks sounds perfect to me. :v)

Unknown said...

great stuff! I am longing for days to just visit and hang out! Your yarn looks lovely!

nikkipolani said...

Oh Willow. If I'd known you needed a scale.... I have an extra one -- bought it and then inherited one from one of roomie's family member. But I'm glad your shopping expedition was successful -- nothing like finding what you need when you need it!

Carrie said...

I love your picture of the yarn. It's very artistic looking and I had to guess at what it was at first.

Jerralea said...

Willow's Week sounds like a near-perfect week! (Willow's Week has such a ring to it!)

It's so much fun to catch up with old friends, isn't it?

Brenda said...

Sounds like a great week, the beach, chocolate gelato, silk yarn and good friends. Very complete if you ask me!

Anonymous said...

Great week you had my friend. I always so enjoy reading about what you do. Fantastic. Have a great weekend :)

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

A lovely week at Willow's Cottage! I'm with you - getting all your errands/shopping done in a small town - bliss. I wonder if they still have a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Manhattan Beach? It's one of the last remaining. I remember 20 years ago when they opened in Santa Barbara (long since closed) and for a treat our family would all get toffee apples.

Lisa notes... said...

I am not a shopper either, so I can appreciate the efficient shopping trip you had! Those fibers are absolutely gorgeous. Makes me want to run my fingers through them.

Jamie said...

Sounds like a fabulous week! I've never had gelato, but I hear it is so good...I want to give it a try sometime.

Faith said...

SOunds like you had an awesome week! Yum....that gelato sure sounds great!
Thanks for visiting my blog today :)

Flower said...

You had some good times, good shopping and good eating!

Marg said...

I can tell that you both enjoy getting away....What a delight and I love that yarn...I could stare and stare at those colors forever....I would love to wear it....

Karyn said...

Sounds like a wonderful week! I love the first photo....I can almost picture myself walking along that beach - makes me wish I lived near the ocean.

I also love the photo of the gorgeous fibers! Beautiful color! What will you make from it?

Wanda said...

A perfect weekend! Your post has brought good cheer to my heart.

Kari said...

Selamat Pagi Willow - Great five! I love the colors of your merino/silk fiber.

And how lovely that you were able to catch up with old friends and make music!!

Knitting Linguist said...

I love your description of code-switching -- it really is its own linguistic song, isn't it? It looks like it was a wonderful week :) And that fiber! I'm sure the resulting yarn is stunning :)

Sharon Lynne said...

Sounds fun to cat-sit! I'm glad you could spend some time on the coast and with old friends.

Re your comment...I'll be praying for "peace" in your heart this week.

Barbara H. said...

Your lunch with old friends sounds so fun.

I miss living near the water!

Dorothy said...

Oh, that fiber is lovely, Willow! And dark chocolate gelato sounds pretty lovely too!!

Jientje said...

That's a lovely Fave Five post Willow. Catching up with old friends, finding stuff you needed for a long time, and gelato!!! Yum. Not to mention that beautiful beach of yours!

Tracy said...

What a delicious week, Willow... the gelato and and the merino-silk are calling my name! ;o) Sur la Table...love that place...Happy Day ((HUGS))

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love gelato! I am lucky that I can buy a small serving at a local bakery whenever I feel the desire for a treat. Portion control is key..lol
Glad you got to meet old friends. I would love to hear the Indonesian language.

Anonymous said...

I love the look of the fibre you spun. So pretty and soft.

Oh yes meeting up with old friends is such a joy.

Yolanda said...

It all sounds lovely . The photos are scrumptious.

Barbara said...

Wonderful time for you and fun to see Dan and wife finish the marathon.