Thursday, July 28, 2011

Reading, Knitting, Eating, Etc.

Here at Willow's Cottage, we had a quiet week of finishing the big kitchen painting project.  The last of the cupboard doors are done.  When we put the doors back up, I'll be decluttering all those shelves yet again. It was also another week of watching for those little things that make me thankful--those quiet moments or slow hours that slip by almost unnoticed.  Friday Fave Five helps me to be mindful all week to not take them for granted.

1.  Worthy quotes I read this week somewhere but I can't remember where.  I think I need to heed my daugther Mia's advice and keep a notebook of quotes and thoughts I want to remember, writing them down as soon as I find them.

“The bread that you store up belongs to the hungry; the coat that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.”   St. Basil the Great

"Live simply so others may simply live."   Mother Teresa


2.  Books I am reading this week.

Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes.  In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.  The Throne of Fire by Richard Riordan.  All three from the library.

A friend has again passed on to me another collection of mostly fiber related books from a relative's estate, but a small booklet titled Plants of Shakespeare by Adelma Grenier Simmons was tucked in the bag and I'm enjoying it as much as the weaving and spinning volumes.  The majority of the books and magazines will be passed on to my spinning/weaving guild for its library, but the deal is that I can keep for myself any books I wish.  Another booklet I plan to keep at least for awhile and read is Plants Used in Basketry by the California Indians, a reprint of an article from 1923 in American Archaeology and Ethnology by Ruth Earl Merrill.  Fascinating stuff, at least to me.  Evidently, anthropologist/archaeologist children come by their passions honestly from both parents.

3.  Knitting this sweater, February Lady Sweater, by Pamela Wynne.  It's a free pattern I downloaded from her blog FlintKnits.



I'm knitting February Lady in a dark greyish blue acrylic yarn (passed on to me from someone else's stash to use up), not for me, but for my older daughter, Our Boy's Mama, who has requested longer full length sleeves instead of the three-quarter length ones shown here.  No pictures yet.  I've been too lazy this week to pull out the camera for a photo shoot.  I'm thinking maybe I'll knit up this same pattern for myself in some handspun alpaca/silk blend if there's enough yardage in the yarn I'm considering using.

4.  Fantastic fresh fruit.  The apricots from the farmers market are perfectly ripe and oh so sweet.

5.  While I was running a little errand at the pre-fair set ups for the Ventura County Fair, The Professor took his bike and rode along the beach route up the coast from Ventura toward Santa Barbara and back.  Then we met up to eat our packed lunches and enjoy a cup of coffee before heading home again.  That's what I love about summer--having the time to make an errand into a day trip.

How have you captured the slower flow of summer this week? (or winter, if you are living below the equator)  What has made it on to your list of thankfulness?  You can share with others by linking up at Susanne's blog Living to Tell the Story.

21 comments:

Jientje said...

I love the Mother Theresa quote, it was exactly how she lived. How wonderful to have the painting project over and done with. I love Summer, bike rides and pick nicks and all that lovely fresh fruit! I enjoyed some black cherries this week, they were delicious! I'm reading the previous book by Frances Mayes, a house in Tuscany. Bella Tuscany is next!

Faith said...

I also love the quote from Mother Theresa! If we all could only really live it!! I also love summer where sometimes those errands turn into fun adventures....and the fresh fruit we are currently enjoying here in NY are peaches and plums!! YUMMY.....great list, happy FFF and have a blessed weekend!

Tracy said...

Love these quotes, esp that by Mother Theresa. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan is on my to-read list--can't wait. At the moment I'm reading The Hobbit and a collection of Poems by Paul Zimmer. That sweating you're working on is wonderful--great style, shape. I like the sleeve length. I have a knitted vest on the needles for my niece, as well as a simple poncho for me for fall. But too hot to knit just now--would you believe it's 95 F here today?! lol... Happy Weekend, Willow ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

I am in the midst of helping Mom "declutter", and it inspires me to do more of my own when I get home. I love seeing the blessing of God in the rich cultured earth here - beautiful cornfields and soybeans surrounded by trees are a favorite. Of course, the ditches are full of orange daylilies, purple coneflowers, brown eyed susans, queen anne's lace and bright blue "cornflower". It tickled me to see signs "Do Not Mow" in the middle of swaths of brown eyed susans every so often along a main street dividing some housing developements! Mary P

Jerralea said...

Redoing the kitchen is such fun! -After it's done, that is! I'm sure yours will be fabulous.

That February Lady sweater looks great. I like the 3/4 sleeves myself.

I love little day trips, so glad that you and your Professor have time to do them.

Lisa notes... said...

Reading, eating, …good stuff! Especially when the books are free from the library. :-) The sweater is so cute. Good luck!

ellen b. said...

Ha! I definitely have not captured the slower pace of summer yet. I still have time and hope to. Glad the kitchen painting is done...

Susanne said...

The quote by St. Basil really makes one think about what we're hoarding up, doesn't it?

That sweater is lovely.

Yay, for the kitchen painting done! That is a huge job and I'm sure you will love living with the results!

I tried Black Apricots for the first time this week. Something I've never even heard of before and they were delicious!

Dorothy said...

I absolutely love that sweater, Willow!

And I love fresh apricots too! I've been eating a variety called Red Velvet lately...at least three a day!

Barbara H. said...

That sweater is beautiful!

Your meeting up with the professor sounds fun. I'm relishing these last couple of weeks before school starts again.

Catherine said...

Those are fantastic quotes to remember. It's so easy to accumulate STUFF!

I hope you're enjoying your nice, new kitchen! I grew up right beside a large a fruit orchard/vegetable farm. Fresh picked fruit and produce not only tastes good to me, but it floods my brain with memories!

That sweater is so cute! I'll bet it will be gorgeous in the blue gray color.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
-Catherine

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

What a perfect week ~ contemplation, reading, knitting, shopping at the farmer's market, and a picnic! Alas, my weeks have not slowed down for Summer. Maybe later this Fall.

Brenda said...

I'm loving the fresh fruit this year as well, I had some really good peaches this week.

I too love that quote.

Z said...

The sweater is gorgeous! I love the color!

Since I am a beginning knitter/crochet though, I am completely baffled as to how the sleeves, and the armholes get there.

I'm sure I will figure it out someday though.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

very pretty sweater. I think I am going to look for the book In Defense of Food. Is it good? Fresh apricots? I'm so envious. We don't get that around here in New England. I wish we did. But, we do have the farmer's markets and tomatoes and blueberries are really good right now. My son is stationed at Alameda.

Karen said...

Ooh, love the sweater!

Spent much of my weekend painting kitchen cabinets, too. At last finished one big section and it has motivated me to keep on!

Knitting Linguist said...

I love both of those quotes, and the basketry article sounds fascinating to me, too. I've definitely been trying to capture some of those quiet moments before school starts again - today is a home day, with a yoga class right in the middle. All is good. (Thanks for the "hi" on Wanda's blog, btw - now you know what I've been up to!)

Sherida said...

Cute sweater! I gotta check that out! I wonder if it is too hard for my skill level.

Susan@FruitfulWords said...

I love quotes, too. I write them down everywhere: on my Facebook status, in my email signature, in a word document, on sticky notes, on my bathroom mirror, and in the back of the book where I got the quote (with the page #). But I do NOT have a notebook devoted to quote capturing. Great idea. All in in one spot! Your two quotes are going into my book!

Your sweater is GORGEOUS!

Have a great day, Willow.

Caroline said...

Beautiful quotes! I haven't read Bella Tuscany, but it's on my "list." I enjoyed Peter Mayle's books a little more than Frances Mayers, but I still really enjoyed Under the Tuscan Sun.

ancient one said...

I loved the quotes.. so much that I'm going to use one on my facebook page...