tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177946572024-03-19T01:48:42.912-07:00 WILLOW'S COTTAGELife and Knitting at Willow's Little HouseWillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.comBlogger1711125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-76441949080152496602024-03-15T14:37:00.000-07:002024-03-15T14:37:59.605-07:00Mid March Faves<p>Beware the Ides of March! I love March 14th, 15th, and 17th. Pi Day, Ides of March, St. Patrick's Day which is also my birthday. I also love every Friday because that is the day I choose five things from my week to be thankful for and write about them here on the blog. As usual, you can follow <a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">THIS LINK</a> to Susanne's blog and join in.</p><p>1. I am thankful that the young woman who cleans my floors and bathrooms monthly does such a good job. I truly appreciate her dedication to making my home extra clean.</p><p>2. We had a great hike on Tuesday evening with all the Trail Life boys. Both grandsons are part of our local Trail Life troop. The Professor is one of the leaders. So I get to sneak in and go on the hikes, too. Two miles plus in the woods (and mud) on a trail I had never hiked before.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqWjqJenwgztw4Fx9bgN3_pOQEnRnSgL0lmCQJhrh8LrTi5CME-v_Rf5A0ae-TYmP1WkjhjrOKQmBIJRvSy4JXjrA22QRd4clQU87Uc8y-kkUpSErE5JHn2n1_k9fAW8NzzN8Me34Su3auAHy7hWkrALll41PFfoABVWz4U6BuwwZPBcH5n4rfA/s4000/IMG_9349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqWjqJenwgztw4Fx9bgN3_pOQEnRnSgL0lmCQJhrh8LrTi5CME-v_Rf5A0ae-TYmP1WkjhjrOKQmBIJRvSy4JXjrA22QRd4clQU87Uc8y-kkUpSErE5JHn2n1_k9fAW8NzzN8Me34Su3auAHy7hWkrALll41PFfoABVWz4U6BuwwZPBcH5n4rfA/w400-h400/IMG_9349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsmmssOFCBy0F1E5jr6YstKcCXN1f-thFK2IBjjMCKyuhWgCgqy2EUlfvUcS4bD0W4ARuJVl4lxtFzKh8gaN0_ynBzz86xeZeruF1bUmU8DjRkCh19SanF30XtqcXInLPYIwFikd0OlR6KREQJ5HPkhfXPCZh7R9w3Px-07XOo4BtloP97woKKA/s4000/IMG_9362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsmmssOFCBy0F1E5jr6YstKcCXN1f-thFK2IBjjMCKyuhWgCgqy2EUlfvUcS4bD0W4ARuJVl4lxtFzKh8gaN0_ynBzz86xeZeruF1bUmU8DjRkCh19SanF30XtqcXInLPYIwFikd0OlR6KREQJ5HPkhfXPCZh7R9w3Px-07XOo4BtloP97woKKA/w400-h400/IMG_9362.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It is hard to tell from the photo, but, we were hiking on the high cliff side of the river; I took these photos from the top looking down on the river. This area is called Black Hand Gorge. We have walked on the paved paths on the other side of the river many times.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GENCYnGGcEVgfMe35stuYqNo4lAU9-GkeUBj9nCHup2-K1hEsorDR60lvkLTzMqhbyjJmgM3JlNtcMoFNootTVk8j-NaqfpQyIcDxBKIJtqFBWb0wTOjtSh0NVgk8eYUUC-6KYfa7aZmkSGk4s752lNt_JzYNXLCa6buNFl-91H_t2tg_vOBYA/s4000/IMG_9357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GENCYnGGcEVgfMe35stuYqNo4lAU9-GkeUBj9nCHup2-K1hEsorDR60lvkLTzMqhbyjJmgM3JlNtcMoFNootTVk8j-NaqfpQyIcDxBKIJtqFBWb0wTOjtSh0NVgk8eYUUC-6KYfa7aZmkSGk4s752lNt_JzYNXLCa6buNFl-91H_t2tg_vOBYA/w400-h400/IMG_9357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAuAmtgddihMnR_ZOpquJsVqLRwG7c3meh9ct5CvdlnfWXKFr4vp9jpUuLMOADeoHmRfkrHZm6WZFkGw2elemgcsBq8OhlDluK30FBZref2ABKOES9YVUWWoMu0RMUmSJ2cWx7RR9cBmlmBN7v-0LTWboJZc3H3aSpUfm2VuY8YCDglbYXeZIYw/s4000/IMG_9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAuAmtgddihMnR_ZOpquJsVqLRwG7c3meh9ct5CvdlnfWXKFr4vp9jpUuLMOADeoHmRfkrHZm6WZFkGw2elemgcsBq8OhlDluK30FBZref2ABKOES9YVUWWoMu0RMUmSJ2cWx7RR9cBmlmBN7v-0LTWboJZc3H3aSpUfm2VuY8YCDglbYXeZIYw/w400-h400/IMG_9356.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GR2w5t5cTFuIslFTN6IKGfPCVsg9fsYnWlqQ96mFtQWlctzppoQRyF6D4H8EX_leHE9hC9S-LJgjy5DLCC2AUVy_reH8ezCAKFbraK9KMv-xCNVo9-r1JT05XgZ5AqT6yFCH6ldLLl-Xgby0YIvo1HjEVD6C7COpATTAGilEPglPCUdekEyamg/s4000/IMG_9354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GR2w5t5cTFuIslFTN6IKGfPCVsg9fsYnWlqQ96mFtQWlctzppoQRyF6D4H8EX_leHE9hC9S-LJgjy5DLCC2AUVy_reH8ezCAKFbraK9KMv-xCNVo9-r1JT05XgZ5AqT6yFCH6ldLLl-Xgby0YIvo1HjEVD6C7COpATTAGilEPglPCUdekEyamg/w400-h400/IMG_9354.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>3. I love finding great deals at resale shops. Goodwill had a beautiful green merino wool sweater from J. Jill for less than ten dollars. In my size. Yes, I bought it. Then on Thursday, my friend and I popped in to a cute little resale shop and I found a fair isle wool jacket for ten dollars! Yep, I bought it, too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXodrVFZPBX_TPmyggkYxHcqItRn4XQgLIwZ_6yhJnTBGVz7xiZEHEg8kcPE9tFoedlod6SIIas7DIxWMIZop85_5wLiFL0ZqayMDO7D-Xd-ZSXpwVov-OUFgAvLYRLmgQftCdi_VcAY82GADyyU4EiN2q-4fsHKvGidxbO__jG7RCybw2aFeN0g/s4000/IMG_9367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXodrVFZPBX_TPmyggkYxHcqItRn4XQgLIwZ_6yhJnTBGVz7xiZEHEg8kcPE9tFoedlod6SIIas7DIxWMIZop85_5wLiFL0ZqayMDO7D-Xd-ZSXpwVov-OUFgAvLYRLmgQftCdi_VcAY82GADyyU4EiN2q-4fsHKvGidxbO__jG7RCybw2aFeN0g/w400-h400/IMG_9367.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>4. Younger daughter treated me to a pedicure earlier this afternoon for my birthday. Guess what color I chose.</p><p></p><p>5. All the yellow flowers are in bloom! I love this time of year because I love forsythia and daffodils. These flowers, all from my garden, bring me so much joy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_ab_eoE9Zb1ZvDnFamsCdSohHNhNS763qy1s7EJUSZTm5hZrnIAmXKe00ihXJFGUDFTMUaRXs8_5ziSbF98O8Pe5wSzB3gSRL9ReG81aDPPDsO13DoijVfXxSM87v1fLU9AyQtgI-hSOqZaqC5WD2EPeRFjjqWHHamYUStdW1gN6gRBlomQspg/s4000/IMG_9368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_ab_eoE9Zb1ZvDnFamsCdSohHNhNS763qy1s7EJUSZTm5hZrnIAmXKe00ihXJFGUDFTMUaRXs8_5ziSbF98O8Pe5wSzB3gSRL9ReG81aDPPDsO13DoijVfXxSM87v1fLU9AyQtgI-hSOqZaqC5WD2EPeRFjjqWHHamYUStdW1gN6gRBlomQspg/w400-h400/IMG_9368.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8UmAA711gvYMfPGqICoDqy-w8OOEPYNMW-edVEsKrY7tGziXMYPgHLkle_ssvRwFU3zKrXnO7lTO_dBlEufj9fOFbvG66lWXcB8hyphenhyphenQnv3FEF-Al9XI_0uI0OPz09L-Kdc5hesc6i6x5DtTJAIm0Xc87hRALG6NWGCaJbUN6H43LMbJqubwCPBQ/s4000/IMG_9369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8UmAA711gvYMfPGqICoDqy-w8OOEPYNMW-edVEsKrY7tGziXMYPgHLkle_ssvRwFU3zKrXnO7lTO_dBlEufj9fOFbvG66lWXcB8hyphenhyphenQnv3FEF-Al9XI_0uI0OPz09L-Kdc5hesc6i6x5DtTJAIm0Xc87hRALG6NWGCaJbUN6H43LMbJqubwCPBQ/w400-h400/IMG_9369.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aKh88xccrGEsa9dP6GirV2o1WG5sAdAKt1FiKX0GaFY9culuc67yHVaFusHcLed9nQbCzrmvvlIYXuVgR1LOtawDjIWfVByJSSiK2bA4INdrH8y9DtU7eObz6YtW2zp9ml4x2K3POy1js9JL8oq90P9nZtogqqvyC8MFLeoe4G0VEYKY32YwMA/s4000/IMG_9371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aKh88xccrGEsa9dP6GirV2o1WG5sAdAKt1FiKX0GaFY9culuc67yHVaFusHcLed9nQbCzrmvvlIYXuVgR1LOtawDjIWfVByJSSiK2bA4INdrH8y9DtU7eObz6YtW2zp9ml4x2K3POy1js9JL8oq90P9nZtogqqvyC8MFLeoe4G0VEYKY32YwMA/w400-h400/IMG_9371.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4o_jb-Pcd9vq4kPlYgTAy3jyIQaziQdSu-mfZQONqA6I5vtND2V-rtvPfd6E5nGWrOPOOM7dmRHAeaoPOpj3Ku8JJIH9bcEKsLUVgH5cUWWjILoYwAX1MfmYr2QKIjMTZE7rYvW8mB2fH3G4fROexilFsEY6s5YyhpEVSzIwqRlb7vuAq-3Q4w/s4000/IMG_9370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4o_jb-Pcd9vq4kPlYgTAy3jyIQaziQdSu-mfZQONqA6I5vtND2V-rtvPfd6E5nGWrOPOOM7dmRHAeaoPOpj3Ku8JJIH9bcEKsLUVgH5cUWWjILoYwAX1MfmYr2QKIjMTZE7rYvW8mB2fH3G4fROexilFsEY6s5YyhpEVSzIwqRlb7vuAq-3Q4w/w400-h400/IMG_9370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Bonus: you may have heard on the news about the tornados in Indiana and Ohio. We were under tornado warnings for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours last night. Thankfully, we are safe and so is all our family. Please pray for the people who lost family members and those who lived in homes which were struck and demolished.</p><p>Bonus2: more daffodils, from places in England where we traveled in March and April 2019 (prime daffodil time)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaudHOLeLX2viLoVbrnhLRogo5j3GuVqICTzP4DZzYuiYTIUzCyOcX06OOy01F_5_rywXnMA927suHlWneRMK2Cm9_rtwAzrAS1hc_Fyu3Wq0e-dWvOH61N2hvKtzCCQtpFvB68SdTv6xPA168i-9KIb2zkHGwiKlj1KM92ZdWWkQUXhGxbsuqg/s4608/daffodils%20in%20Tintagel%20with%20tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3999" data-original-width="4608" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaudHOLeLX2viLoVbrnhLRogo5j3GuVqICTzP4DZzYuiYTIUzCyOcX06OOy01F_5_rywXnMA927suHlWneRMK2Cm9_rtwAzrAS1hc_Fyu3Wq0e-dWvOH61N2hvKtzCCQtpFvB68SdTv6xPA168i-9KIb2zkHGwiKlj1KM92ZdWWkQUXhGxbsuqg/w400-h348/daffodils%20in%20Tintagel%20with%20tag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHG9fzKR7yMXHEraYzrwbJkcdxfiLxku1vPWpNLpRO8zMXkhkWcWaK4ktfGd24k9T8T4dwA0ALNPoiR3pwMBOJzgIwYvQ3ztEIhlMEm3bUlzYWKzsmMvG2e276o5veIFDresZI2U4VnqOyCS_Md2EPGh6s7v_MwhCn1NIGsTE_yV_Rj5BmaYqvaQ/s3292/daffodils%20on%20Cornish%20road%20hedgerows%20with%20tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2035" data-original-width="3292" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHG9fzKR7yMXHEraYzrwbJkcdxfiLxku1vPWpNLpRO8zMXkhkWcWaK4ktfGd24k9T8T4dwA0ALNPoiR3pwMBOJzgIwYvQ3ztEIhlMEm3bUlzYWKzsmMvG2e276o5veIFDresZI2U4VnqOyCS_Md2EPGh6s7v_MwhCn1NIGsTE_yV_Rj5BmaYqvaQ/w400-h248/daffodils%20on%20Cornish%20road%20hedgerows%20with%20tag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvXlWiXVQMNzyFAoq6Cd4m5orCQ2RvOmZNGiht6SOZGhYQk70kuBYHpY38I2LzKEpcJr7kGMTAldMZIJVWV03jljm3SdoU32m6mGMCz8ejbPqXy4Ugqi8VtGW7XB59FGucolH2CnLvQHA8fP9G-t4FwTQ1qUZPa_kiYerIK9Q6bI8VvEbciz-Yw/s5328/daffodils%20at%20York%20town%20wall2%20with%20tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="5328" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvXlWiXVQMNzyFAoq6Cd4m5orCQ2RvOmZNGiht6SOZGhYQk70kuBYHpY38I2LzKEpcJr7kGMTAldMZIJVWV03jljm3SdoU32m6mGMCz8ejbPqXy4Ugqi8VtGW7XB59FGucolH2CnLvQHA8fP9G-t4FwTQ1qUZPa_kiYerIK9Q6bI8VvEbciz-Yw/w400-h300/daffodils%20at%20York%20town%20wall2%20with%20tag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4XYIweeLnhlgMRSXLOLugTfOrj9KpKemZNXiqC4zwP4mr2K-4H1de2WNG5iMu8L1hh2BSinjdo5Q6icmF8Epg9RYjNZe0-pjUodfh4CYU65VRapKmjNH8WwALdkfHC0G4JsDQ_OQf0VDiNUYmV8VHW0MT9MEkRrIyypuxwQeefbG6snxTUbKLA/s5104/daffodils%20in%20York%20with%20tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3999" data-original-width="5104" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4XYIweeLnhlgMRSXLOLugTfOrj9KpKemZNXiqC4zwP4mr2K-4H1de2WNG5iMu8L1hh2BSinjdo5Q6icmF8Epg9RYjNZe0-pjUodfh4CYU65VRapKmjNH8WwALdkfHC0G4JsDQ_OQf0VDiNUYmV8VHW0MT9MEkRrIyypuxwQeefbG6snxTUbKLA/w400-h314/daffodils%20in%20York%20with%20tag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Tis true. Daffodils are my favorite flower.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-36060622388099742592024-03-12T13:14:00.000-07:002024-03-12T13:14:49.739-07:00In the Mood<p> For Old (and New) Barns.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Red Barns</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAInFXHPK5cixiqosPZoWKNpzRY1Gv0X_dcxhWJn3kfeq0zNyQ4cc4eLO48hnBxy94Yu8loO4tRUkik2kj4zYTEjYj2H94KvOs3UJAaOEKo7ArMPla1hAENPAr7MhB2Iv4rkl61oMiMfwAYucWARXOnbkS1lLET-i6LI8St-YmkwihHxjmPvKVJg/s3487/Red%20barn2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3038" data-original-width="3487" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAInFXHPK5cixiqosPZoWKNpzRY1Gv0X_dcxhWJn3kfeq0zNyQ4cc4eLO48hnBxy94Yu8loO4tRUkik2kj4zYTEjYj2H94KvOs3UJAaOEKo7ArMPla1hAENPAr7MhB2Iv4rkl61oMiMfwAYucWARXOnbkS1lLET-i6LI8St-YmkwihHxjmPvKVJg/w400-h349/Red%20barn2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRmKuGcLrEzix0AbdfDGoJHPKDjCszjtQcGBZq-kdnU3FDfXJOL8fE5T7ePv5r3QRXOpf8bHH_VXyXsn2rOBm-S91xv6V-bhXZ7CKNNA5JKiBkZP_BJUJV7Y4jqaLKVbcliOf4p7yvd268rPs9CXGY8ldTTPldfxV7KjlxZsEaVDXC-EuTcJQyg/s3169/Red%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2495" data-original-width="3169" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRmKuGcLrEzix0AbdfDGoJHPKDjCszjtQcGBZq-kdnU3FDfXJOL8fE5T7ePv5r3QRXOpf8bHH_VXyXsn2rOBm-S91xv6V-bhXZ7CKNNA5JKiBkZP_BJUJV7Y4jqaLKVbcliOf4p7yvd268rPs9CXGY8ldTTPldfxV7KjlxZsEaVDXC-EuTcJQyg/w400-h315/Red%20barn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmo75HIdBS8wgsFZXi-WqRXA43_UIrZE4Ydf4-Ow5ajlbfS-DFfIb8qPTX85TWtHFc6cOxlDob9WzLIxfpFdfJZS8QH50nnbkD5BIptsKtmbSDMAV26VXxN_7l_eMTqrP5M3m_pBN919xZulBb-0r-IwzCA7DuJW-dS7KW7fK8VRnOIcd93kEwQ/s2696/red%20barn%20in%20snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2696" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmo75HIdBS8wgsFZXi-WqRXA43_UIrZE4Ydf4-Ow5ajlbfS-DFfIb8qPTX85TWtHFc6cOxlDob9WzLIxfpFdfJZS8QH50nnbkD5BIptsKtmbSDMAV26VXxN_7l_eMTqrP5M3m_pBN919xZulBb-0r-IwzCA7DuJW-dS7KW7fK8VRnOIcd93kEwQ/w400-h225/red%20barn%20in%20snow.JPG" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBADxE4w9ds9Tz5mmRDLUhR_gKBNYBkatRZOE9XXtQatZ5v4K5EfXl9nsZzz_-JFpSeNk6BDhcgqwzdADhsXAOxL7FAGNi0WZrvofJVSF4vlizhHaLPSLv2CecwtRo3CI5SPX_J_mxHWrBCpeFFf-Po-ht2oY4U5XQu4-4rpDXu4hsSGP4uhYVaA/s2137/red%20barn%20in%20fog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2137" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBADxE4w9ds9Tz5mmRDLUhR_gKBNYBkatRZOE9XXtQatZ5v4K5EfXl9nsZzz_-JFpSeNk6BDhcgqwzdADhsXAOxL7FAGNi0WZrvofJVSF4vlizhHaLPSLv2CecwtRo3CI5SPX_J_mxHWrBCpeFFf-Po-ht2oY4U5XQu4-4rpDXu4hsSGP4uhYVaA/w400-h326/red%20barn%20in%20fog.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grey Barns</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-BWAaUaqRmPp33pUkkc5jQasrbLCpJkMEMQEF0AGs_KWufDmzm4PTYqcXON-BdULQnSeVzvpjPp1SXldklDBp5Ft5dffTh7vo7gA8M1HZ_URB6tbCqsUcNyDUil4MFyr269_e7hIh-Iq19ZrLEIfSrdkUpWUxWouYD_MZ92vPjkSM2fVNM6Oig/s2073/two%20grey%20barns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2073" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-BWAaUaqRmPp33pUkkc5jQasrbLCpJkMEMQEF0AGs_KWufDmzm4PTYqcXON-BdULQnSeVzvpjPp1SXldklDBp5Ft5dffTh7vo7gA8M1HZ_URB6tbCqsUcNyDUil4MFyr269_e7hIh-Iq19ZrLEIfSrdkUpWUxWouYD_MZ92vPjkSM2fVNM6Oig/w400-h258/two%20grey%20barns.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfTT-CKWB6R4baZl9rOKdnSSWbZHr-AbOzxG7C8SOSJmhRgpsBoHZ8IIpTfM7fUNEQF_zqx67YjOvuTE_tcwlrxIeWTmXtdKUIKrPLLxi9YJesKhGCU7RVpysXm4QpVwc4o4iUQvOjSlj1km0zQG9ixIMcq2RYGfc8Ts0yCJy2RkG-l01y3ZCFw/s3240/grey%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3240" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfTT-CKWB6R4baZl9rOKdnSSWbZHr-AbOzxG7C8SOSJmhRgpsBoHZ8IIpTfM7fUNEQF_zqx67YjOvuTE_tcwlrxIeWTmXtdKUIKrPLLxi9YJesKhGCU7RVpysXm4QpVwc4o4iUQvOjSlj1km0zQG9ixIMcq2RYGfc8Ts0yCJy2RkG-l01y3ZCFw/w400-h306/grey%20barn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVUfV_gFSN03wwJZbXzbAb7_ED5k3sg5KvxJLY2cgFnbljwWxkwkhhF311niOxv7QcbDQmMF5mffOEAOFgAzpy7lSr2CfDWurWu6fP75QJxyG2YMO6pslgN-d4zTGdIp-pth0ornAvluTDSO7LBSjG3c-Qh1Zfrak2L4nABI5-jW4lrRrU0FqgQ/s1316/white%20and%20brick%20barn%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1316" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVUfV_gFSN03wwJZbXzbAb7_ED5k3sg5KvxJLY2cgFnbljwWxkwkhhF311niOxv7QcbDQmMF5mffOEAOFgAzpy7lSr2CfDWurWu6fP75QJxyG2YMO6pslgN-d4zTGdIp-pth0ornAvluTDSO7LBSjG3c-Qh1Zfrak2L4nABI5-jW4lrRrU0FqgQ/w400-h375/white%20and%20brick%20barn%20.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo8Bn1kmEhpWGJkVwKGkQe5yfmZfViqky61DMoVCTkZsCdKwsDsjXMT2O5APZe6cnr32ZYUFBzkSpy_tzRijlxcW15WDVjYMMb_6ZtQKVlYdE6A8xBuIVQnCKj0cFlAQk_sbRuaaaMs22ZiExl6SvjqJCYAKa3rudV-OhSN-kdvEvF4qKArFRhA/s1654/Grey%20barn%20in%20Kansas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1654" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo8Bn1kmEhpWGJkVwKGkQe5yfmZfViqky61DMoVCTkZsCdKwsDsjXMT2O5APZe6cnr32ZYUFBzkSpy_tzRijlxcW15WDVjYMMb_6ZtQKVlYdE6A8xBuIVQnCKj0cFlAQk_sbRuaaaMs22ZiExl6SvjqJCYAKa3rudV-OhSN-kdvEvF4qKArFRhA/w400-h348/Grey%20barn%20in%20Kansas.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGhT8w0OHcQ7GDL6N9LRDpmd9AkxTa40dRMzqLruoQHgX10X5mu2yP8g9fwamtitvs_TrJ3C4A_OThBUIqsX9EIc-ndrdMahqLm0HYYbxDWJ5vnqcIJWxmvuo-fbh_oKmAgdR6OFWbRnaNAQX7veTX2wF8PJwuWjRa1WqvyPDP48pjJaKDA5jsA/s1296/barn%20at%20dusk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1296" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGhT8w0OHcQ7GDL6N9LRDpmd9AkxTa40dRMzqLruoQHgX10X5mu2yP8g9fwamtitvs_TrJ3C4A_OThBUIqsX9EIc-ndrdMahqLm0HYYbxDWJ5vnqcIJWxmvuo-fbh_oKmAgdR6OFWbRnaNAQX7veTX2wF8PJwuWjRa1WqvyPDP48pjJaKDA5jsA/w400-h396/barn%20at%20dusk.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And sometimes your barn can earn you extra cash as a billboard.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaWlCwGZ86p5eWbBrwWaUFr8yT9TrC3HcfiqVnSiAGBfyuUlKI46_4BlQcBb0t31abYaKYvTgI_nwLSxKfTnCuYSmkoq1jHkM7GDTReQFdgFtjhvdoQvCkpAp5lFeRNLSyiIuggO3IGXqeyyJ3zHJaIRfjhhFztqY1ZA5EL9KpN6XwZb1QoVQVw/s942/Barn%20with%20Meramac%20Caverns%20advert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaWlCwGZ86p5eWbBrwWaUFr8yT9TrC3HcfiqVnSiAGBfyuUlKI46_4BlQcBb0t31abYaKYvTgI_nwLSxKfTnCuYSmkoq1jHkM7GDTReQFdgFtjhvdoQvCkpAp5lFeRNLSyiIuggO3IGXqeyyJ3zHJaIRfjhhFztqY1ZA5EL9KpN6XwZb1QoVQVw/w341-h400/Barn%20with%20Meramac%20Caverns%20advert.JPG" width="341" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-70376386515115342182024-03-08T17:34:00.000-08:002024-03-08T17:34:14.811-08:00Marching Along<p> I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b>! But at least I'm here now to share my five blessings from this first full week of March.</p><p>1. The weather has been moderate all week. Although we have had rainstorms blowing through, most days have been walk worthy. We even had time one day to move three wheelbarrow loads of mulch and drop them on the raspberry bushes before the rain returned.</p><p>2. As I mentioned, the days were walk worthy. We managed three good walks with the granddogs. Four miles. Three miles. One and a half miles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQvT6NqSvqpOCVjUvx9PAVrcMOUZ2dAIuW34EWuts5-xNmqPCU1tRqM0DPezAi_DWrUl8eq3_er17iU7BN5gFqw_W3hGlZinBik34l6MKI_Y-oWESP70cV_E4STclLPreBcrk0TynS-i4aIl6JpILfvg7Iu5AVl_eeLfhFTwOTV9aaUpaIsOrPg/s4000/IMG_9326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQvT6NqSvqpOCVjUvx9PAVrcMOUZ2dAIuW34EWuts5-xNmqPCU1tRqM0DPezAi_DWrUl8eq3_er17iU7BN5gFqw_W3hGlZinBik34l6MKI_Y-oWESP70cV_E4STclLPreBcrk0TynS-i4aIl6JpILfvg7Iu5AVl_eeLfhFTwOTV9aaUpaIsOrPg/w400-h400/IMG_9326.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gt6OfKxnuOXoRBuzal_n8CbDWs8O94zywmyat7qElFfdcWrQPtnL_dV-88gKxoX94ouWFqGsmIX6d65LEW29t7afh680GX__p4vNtVZT5oNgJP54IuIMjXa6o3npFTzIc1iruHV7uzb5zXe80l4boEfG7h44F3ukmN_ITnh2QDCv635qSG0JVw/s4000/IMG_9323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gt6OfKxnuOXoRBuzal_n8CbDWs8O94zywmyat7qElFfdcWrQPtnL_dV-88gKxoX94ouWFqGsmIX6d65LEW29t7afh680GX__p4vNtVZT5oNgJP54IuIMjXa6o3npFTzIc1iruHV7uzb5zXe80l4boEfG7h44F3ukmN_ITnh2QDCv635qSG0JVw/w400-h400/IMG_9323.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Deer frolicking at the edge of the creek</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SqSt_CLpR1OHwSh_8FAM6K5gfnGWG2bbVCpf5Bb512f8FVcywt9Ggim-pq5M0bZHLTVdi32F2BVuyO8HEqk5AMYi5LvuEy06cILHw128EtprhgKGcocZshx0NfmnzDvOR5YgI0AEeRlyQkh6FGpMu3zOvW6n42mn1oFPrwcmlqRlTh8bNdE1qA/s4000/IMG_9321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SqSt_CLpR1OHwSh_8FAM6K5gfnGWG2bbVCpf5Bb512f8FVcywt9Ggim-pq5M0bZHLTVdi32F2BVuyO8HEqk5AMYi5LvuEy06cILHw128EtprhgKGcocZshx0NfmnzDvOR5YgI0AEeRlyQkh6FGpMu3zOvW6n42mn1oFPrwcmlqRlTh8bNdE1qA/w400-h400/IMG_9321.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>3. The best thing about walking with the granddogs? We walk them, and when we are done, we give them back to their mommies and don't have to take them home, feed them and clean up after them. We do love them. Two of the three:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sawyer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK30CTUS8s0Pxo3LAIjEvs4JKllEGu0HomrwsbXe7x-In3Rol8-LBasZNgedjQweOQCkQ0WC8JecNjVSjNTvHgAvKRmsyFRwy_c4zl87s0s7MGzt75WUHbmTisU2QLVeFHQ4Dt3QXTHwaqK42N7oaiwbS6MggccIKIwwaJ01wXw5tI87EwwNFYYw/s2838/Sawyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="2259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK30CTUS8s0Pxo3LAIjEvs4JKllEGu0HomrwsbXe7x-In3Rol8-LBasZNgedjQweOQCkQ0WC8JecNjVSjNTvHgAvKRmsyFRwy_c4zl87s0s7MGzt75WUHbmTisU2QLVeFHQ4Dt3QXTHwaqK42N7oaiwbS6MggccIKIwwaJ01wXw5tI87EwwNFYYw/w319-h400/Sawyer.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Athena</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2hRYwf7Rx8kZnymYeA5oDeBElOeom7YmON0kVjwcMqoDA7Q4N5jJA449xzPqPdUl9cuaPQdn1xjYToYhXfqkOegMC3rsX36Oh5KrhepfojukUyzq-bKzk2fsso3TSzIPhGFUVxKu15sz3r1u7KXMb0tyT-PH7_GyYjxpB_Yu_v2LyLnuujfqKw/s3056/Athena.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2hRYwf7Rx8kZnymYeA5oDeBElOeom7YmON0kVjwcMqoDA7Q4N5jJA449xzPqPdUl9cuaPQdn1xjYToYhXfqkOegMC3rsX36Oh5KrhepfojukUyzq-bKzk2fsso3TSzIPhGFUVxKu15sz3r1u7KXMb0tyT-PH7_GyYjxpB_Yu_v2LyLnuujfqKw/w333-h400/Athena.JPG" width="333" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">4. Signs of spring. Daffodils everywhere. Forsythia starting to bloom. (and would you believe it? I got no photos.)</span></p><p>5. Coffee meet ups with new friends. One lady is a weaver and we had a great time talking about all things fiber.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-34700240838316148152024-03-01T09:29:00.000-08:002024-03-01T09:29:16.926-08:00Marching In<p> Wow! We are now in our third month of 2024. I kinda like March because it is my birthday month. And March is when spring begins. At least on the calendar.</p><p>And since it is Friday, here are Willow's <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives </a></b>for you to enjoy.</p><p>1. We've been lazy about updating our wills. This week, we finally met with our lawyer and finalized everything.</p><p>2. I got my hair cut.</p><p>3. On Sunday, we met a couple from our church for lunch. It was a new place for us and we so enjoyed the food and the fellowship.</p><p>4. I finished this sweater. It's a button down cardigan hoodie that is going across the country to a little one whose mama we have known since she was five. He outgrew the smaller one I had made before he was born, so of course I had to make him a larger one so he can cuddle up warmly and remember his 'extra grandma'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2N8HU6DmjGtgjW5iZnR9sFmpztMRV05tN-fTtgSsqNziVx0N3Jq4NmmCPZEP3WgFU4zp6NB7NePs8m9KEn6a6sf3M76znVLAKo8GShyphenhyphenm1_flqqLFYyFkyI0n1h_USCqO0ZE23n-xjfoBKVBVBX2T7OHg1WRF60dNVKohDiUMIjIg-2sjfHl6og/s3041/Pan's%20green%20hoodie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3041" data-original-width="2519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2N8HU6DmjGtgjW5iZnR9sFmpztMRV05tN-fTtgSsqNziVx0N3Jq4NmmCPZEP3WgFU4zp6NB7NePs8m9KEn6a6sf3M76znVLAKo8GShyphenhyphenm1_flqqLFYyFkyI0n1h_USCqO0ZE23n-xjfoBKVBVBX2T7OHg1WRF60dNVKohDiUMIjIg-2sjfHl6og/w331-h400/Pan's%20green%20hoodie.JPG" width="331" /></a></div><p>5. Signs of spring! TWO crocuses have popped their bright yellow blooms out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeg-vDCJjTS5iSkQkRn2CtFVRUE5q7pTSZXlS5w-i4ySjcp1xC8NHYgOfgC1bu4XjIN2ymr4aFoqZk1j1wADFaqwhsbJyazC2oVl5BrLwm7vfJoXal0oXnIK79cH4k3EvuckYQqJA9Zeq2DaKV5KoYdPEXC7crlz-yGEwnsn9NDCHjZLXCaJk3A/s4000/IMG_9303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeg-vDCJjTS5iSkQkRn2CtFVRUE5q7pTSZXlS5w-i4ySjcp1xC8NHYgOfgC1bu4XjIN2ymr4aFoqZk1j1wADFaqwhsbJyazC2oVl5BrLwm7vfJoXal0oXnIK79cH4k3EvuckYQqJA9Zeq2DaKV5KoYdPEXC7crlz-yGEwnsn9NDCHjZLXCaJk3A/w400-h400/IMG_9303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Earlier this week, I posted a picture of some daffodils that had been covered by a bag of mulch but were doing their best to find sunshine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3xBXwq4qptNN5LfagaaWR_ZlYXEqPskOciYOaMJw6DaMEgFhl7D07kp83g0oD3X0HM3nMWg7mrSqFawVnuSdKodV1pma967zFMEhAojvc_Yk48P16ZmmIzdUe4dy78bYDh7wBSm-TTvPLxfYi0ndXGrZZ5UE09YwGsP9DRxG6yxZrXu90DJNoA/s4000/daffodil%20tenacity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3xBXwq4qptNN5LfagaaWR_ZlYXEqPskOciYOaMJw6DaMEgFhl7D07kp83g0oD3X0HM3nMWg7mrSqFawVnuSdKodV1pma967zFMEhAojvc_Yk48P16ZmmIzdUe4dy78bYDh7wBSm-TTvPLxfYi0ndXGrZZ5UE09YwGsP9DRxG6yxZrXu90DJNoA/w400-h400/daffodil%20tenacity.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I took the photo below a couple of days later. The plants are turning more green (thanks, chlorophyll) and you can see more buds, too. Watching these plants grow and flourish is a good reminder to me of resurrection and new life.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6klMDZtTvXtYXtxl07gp8_UK48Qd9sdGq8RCRCgfJiIfGYFCvmRQvHT7AojLWD1QeprK-PBnnrfsj8G3E5VxGlRcD4ykWkNwrlCjEdQx42yQxf6vGRVWgG2PnC6d_HKlu3h9dbCfgicsXobmKjOh6dD0u-5EB1-I85yVDJRE_7hsX55fkrbsUkg/s4000/IMG_9304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6klMDZtTvXtYXtxl07gp8_UK48Qd9sdGq8RCRCgfJiIfGYFCvmRQvHT7AojLWD1QeprK-PBnnrfsj8G3E5VxGlRcD4ykWkNwrlCjEdQx42yQxf6vGRVWgG2PnC6d_HKlu3h9dbCfgicsXobmKjOh6dD0u-5EB1-I85yVDJRE_7hsX55fkrbsUkg/w400-h400/IMG_9304.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>So these are my Five Faves of gratitude from this week, as we said goodbye to February, celebrated an extra day, and now greet our new month of March. Enjoy any sunshine you can get. Drink lots of warm coffee and tea. Watch for new growth to pop up from seemingly dead dirt. Be thankful!<br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-44067048689649144712024-02-27T14:50:00.000-08:002024-02-27T14:50:08.388-08:00Random February Photos<p> It is late winter. February's weather is all over the place. There's snow. It comes and goes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lb2lpXT-uzFys_UkJr1qJDYpDf8LNSTCFzdk5bYFg5vf4c1x61bcqv1szgiV-Vc4vQIoW7v7L6ggWOWrfVDZ8vfmG3OxU_HSxtpDkE2Z7FnvPH2hCe13xvSLiigQ4r8PPBEoBeiO9BMLUO4K8GoYyVMQhIBRCISDW3oDYkNtAVHA9Ejc6a1zZw/s4000/IMG_9284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lb2lpXT-uzFys_UkJr1qJDYpDf8LNSTCFzdk5bYFg5vf4c1x61bcqv1szgiV-Vc4vQIoW7v7L6ggWOWrfVDZ8vfmG3OxU_HSxtpDkE2Z7FnvPH2hCe13xvSLiigQ4r8PPBEoBeiO9BMLUO4K8GoYyVMQhIBRCISDW3oDYkNtAVHA9Ejc6a1zZw/w400-h400/IMG_9284.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0ojzwcCGcX4zpHLMLwtlGKiiCA821RQlkTl_KXqgCLmGneVgFETvGECsRXLwhivTLw04_KfrWzsgNlSV0JSCfg_WIkxR2RYtXonqx3PjkPFDL1P_se4A3kmWoq1Elm519TA-t_VBFis4n8lgkVFZzaBZb01yaGMGkwIOulsMXxe64OM4g5lyJg/s4000/IMG_9281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0ojzwcCGcX4zpHLMLwtlGKiiCA821RQlkTl_KXqgCLmGneVgFETvGECsRXLwhivTLw04_KfrWzsgNlSV0JSCfg_WIkxR2RYtXonqx3PjkPFDL1P_se4A3kmWoq1Elm519TA-t_VBFis4n8lgkVFZzaBZb01yaGMGkwIOulsMXxe64OM4g5lyJg/w400-h400/IMG_9281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But we can still get out and walk the paved trails.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7OzjLQUGROSGtGpuQ-JfHZ7uxzq6jIiv_i78zjuN5oNis-yKLICKxS3TP2OTvioaocEvoxbTSubpHqzE5Vmvwqnv-FFeItCe3Za3PYZZUsNfw5tvO2J5IAQGZ0nLlhzWJS5XXHzR6PnDwHpcmprS50Q95imrgplQ2Z40P1x_LklZ3Ii5a0-Vqw/s4000/IMG_9285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7OzjLQUGROSGtGpuQ-JfHZ7uxzq6jIiv_i78zjuN5oNis-yKLICKxS3TP2OTvioaocEvoxbTSubpHqzE5Vmvwqnv-FFeItCe3Za3PYZZUsNfw5tvO2J5IAQGZ0nLlhzWJS5XXHzR6PnDwHpcmprS50Q95imrgplQ2Z40P1x_LklZ3Ii5a0-Vqw/s320/IMG_9285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then the snow starts melting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57n_GxJ286VRnUAz2P79aaza2W-NZIaa5iV2tK4L-f3jp3xCjrnyIjc_N8DqNdb6Cu_m0OMHKiNoEuSPEkATpscSOuFNrrzDY2PAlFu4wcLaTtYWJpiYdPuq3LR2evUmAQNaO7tjmb7HN1GLwZAMNoFiQekkg89-hj69HGoGV9KpLreK5PRqB3w/s4000/IMG_9287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57n_GxJ286VRnUAz2P79aaza2W-NZIaa5iV2tK4L-f3jp3xCjrnyIjc_N8DqNdb6Cu_m0OMHKiNoEuSPEkATpscSOuFNrrzDY2PAlFu4wcLaTtYWJpiYdPuq3LR2evUmAQNaO7tjmb7HN1GLwZAMNoFiQekkg89-hj69HGoGV9KpLreK5PRqB3w/w400-h400/IMG_9287.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vXFdfFZfjAGfAC3ixlo2FzzW245KmXsK9P51e-F0DAH0Ex7_XpwKUUTWL7-gBhfnwo23MlYaUoWDZOhZTW_H2iVOxW_Ql8kF58emB_ARCQFB43FtyPHZq6JF_3tutrLc8MaHsUE3AgPm7k_Ebs8Dk0o76bgoeeaAegMzVLHTicX8-uEMOSCx_Q/s4000/IMG_9288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vXFdfFZfjAGfAC3ixlo2FzzW245KmXsK9P51e-F0DAH0Ex7_XpwKUUTWL7-gBhfnwo23MlYaUoWDZOhZTW_H2iVOxW_Ql8kF58emB_ARCQFB43FtyPHZq6JF_3tutrLc8MaHsUE3AgPm7k_Ebs8Dk0o76bgoeeaAegMzVLHTicX8-uEMOSCx_Q/w400-h400/IMG_9288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJ6aSqKpBwKpGaRsxGnq_aIddM_MASqnMwEutKunHAynNwPImpp494DvBIWLJb8fz5Dfsnust8Otrw7B4pMOKe2UWNdi6WfkHNw5I4xjng7obsIzUjXuU79sJGjQsvMemauxWk7A6eqQ-y1BPniSdxylYFyuATqfjL4DMrOoesnXmcVPAIEL6eA/s4000/IMG_9286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJ6aSqKpBwKpGaRsxGnq_aIddM_MASqnMwEutKunHAynNwPImpp494DvBIWLJb8fz5Dfsnust8Otrw7B4pMOKe2UWNdi6WfkHNw5I4xjng7obsIzUjXuU79sJGjQsvMemauxWk7A6eqQ-y1BPniSdxylYFyuATqfjL4DMrOoesnXmcVPAIEL6eA/w400-h400/IMG_9286.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Sometimes there is even blue sky!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKY8oLSsxYzc9hoexE4togvb-vL4z7b7Bxnhf8wXc41LTSJOLQjDC6sU48-6Eq6NAX38MA1AezilA5Coymz_QP5UWrldC41S4io0yLpyWoddag-bZeTyKkag4b4zjQMsfx4FzLPaLNNAV5PlHQdEci2C7ardeq5yqjTeKS3YWnreH3S1kndjW3w/s4000/IMG_9294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKY8oLSsxYzc9hoexE4togvb-vL4z7b7Bxnhf8wXc41LTSJOLQjDC6sU48-6Eq6NAX38MA1AezilA5Coymz_QP5UWrldC41S4io0yLpyWoddag-bZeTyKkag4b4zjQMsfx4FzLPaLNNAV5PlHQdEci2C7ardeq5yqjTeKS3YWnreH3S1kndjW3w/s320/IMG_9294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The birds know spring is on its way.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD80PidopsyhosvWDyxCAS1xf_je0BVYEIRpqiKQmLfX6Fyyw6wH4EMID1b51P6DePkkGRv0kViQ6211W1yV_1mjJUCCFp37JCt8o_OJuXP0TQlN3LiRalM5Z47PFba3tUspq4hDGIW6VOky5nFPNdwHYcGoMFkrFpMgMUSNGN6sLe4s6oYtGDw/s1394/cardinal%20at%20the%20bird%20feeder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1035" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD80PidopsyhosvWDyxCAS1xf_je0BVYEIRpqiKQmLfX6Fyyw6wH4EMID1b51P6DePkkGRv0kViQ6211W1yV_1mjJUCCFp37JCt8o_OJuXP0TQlN3LiRalM5Z47PFba3tUspq4hDGIW6VOky5nFPNdwHYcGoMFkrFpMgMUSNGN6sLe4s6oYtGDw/w298-h400/cardinal%20at%20the%20bird%20feeder.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w1mVZR-LR_B-9hZmPmF27v2KcfYFivCCVMI4HGeofx5huoOoky2bU5UMxFmKQ_L2VAVaLamjfTdPmC8l0baJnCNyim8hEEADeXLRpCRLMiOfr-qd5T7Ih1yrFEGfWt8T1S57wcSJE6cuPYdxjlMcgxbrtpNPv0jVSlkgPh9Elq8C76_VkkMFdA/s2290/bird%20at%20Dawes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="1868" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w1mVZR-LR_B-9hZmPmF27v2KcfYFivCCVMI4HGeofx5huoOoky2bU5UMxFmKQ_L2VAVaLamjfTdPmC8l0baJnCNyim8hEEADeXLRpCRLMiOfr-qd5T7Ih1yrFEGfWt8T1S57wcSJE6cuPYdxjlMcgxbrtpNPv0jVSlkgPh9Elq8C76_VkkMFdA/w326-h400/bird%20at%20Dawes.JPG" width="326" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5U_nGOaGFqiEi7Nd5PU78DctcXYObFDW0gh-OFuHXR1tlhr2D5eic6MtdL93ntCJ55HhsljU-Ukh4acEzybXu_cFfSAG7AOKm8FomLyTg-S5HtrbqytG4jli5IaA4gmr1SyqhVsdSNItKNYQXiOLfm1DW37tXIvIWewO3mwxJLoIK4kBz7rO5w/s3896/black%20birds%20in%20tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="3896" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5U_nGOaGFqiEi7Nd5PU78DctcXYObFDW0gh-OFuHXR1tlhr2D5eic6MtdL93ntCJ55HhsljU-Ukh4acEzybXu_cFfSAG7AOKm8FomLyTg-S5HtrbqytG4jli5IaA4gmr1SyqhVsdSNItKNYQXiOLfm1DW37tXIvIWewO3mwxJLoIK4kBz7rO5w/w400-h271/black%20birds%20in%20tree.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqSc1xV3p9KOjPptkjpicv7OPFFpYSWetjnj3Or5WgUCEacjcVbJnuVXkRM27p6bvu4o95_IJkWmY3Gq5mMYHG9Mw3_IrJTIer2XC64D1zjz7MQkFrjtufI2bL6j6t2_7fBtl56HZTU0PeUVAxT0VSvlSG9srenILG7SR4_LUo4hOVH0fca56KA/s2111/the%20whole%20tribe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="2111" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqSc1xV3p9KOjPptkjpicv7OPFFpYSWetjnj3Or5WgUCEacjcVbJnuVXkRM27p6bvu4o95_IJkWmY3Gq5mMYHG9Mw3_IrJTIer2XC64D1zjz7MQkFrjtufI2bL6j6t2_7fBtl56HZTU0PeUVAxT0VSvlSG9srenILG7SR4_LUo4hOVH0fca56KA/w400-h129/the%20whole%20tribe.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>And the early spring flowers are popping up.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first crocus!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e308iPHJL25vFcAR7s74y3vfX5AZ4AEfh5g3rP4P3Jk3c__e9W49XN0icHpJcWa7ZA2OPAcY1luLLn4DznVLON6SFO_GLKydAORGSJGeZMAvgwFZ1nWft-TdMjEUTDpriwY8bG6I3yqr3ULPPoN_BOlG5rAZgxUfLcwanlj6SCidq3LbHkdvBQ/s4000/first%20crocus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e308iPHJL25vFcAR7s74y3vfX5AZ4AEfh5g3rP4P3Jk3c__e9W49XN0icHpJcWa7ZA2OPAcY1luLLn4DznVLON6SFO_GLKydAORGSJGeZMAvgwFZ1nWft-TdMjEUTDpriwY8bG6I3yqr3ULPPoN_BOlG5rAZgxUfLcwanlj6SCidq3LbHkdvBQ/w400-h400/first%20crocus.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These daffodils were trapped under a bag of mulch all winter. They are so tenacious! I moved the bag and found them already searching for the spring sunshine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgye2_Cc3lbHOHQ72ZGrsvTUl4-1w2wfLQWdS4u14-DMe8CKtXDC8k_GS0vwDNfU8-o15_ggp6L98qNLHwsFzG1o-GBlZNCcoeChx_4Rs9kyMDFIfmQWhZkzKLA_wh7xX4Zt01V7qMzrmWt0J1W3y39_DVv6Gv5RNzZplt7mkRhgGya0Z46kzNIQ/s4000/daffodil%20tenacity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgye2_Cc3lbHOHQ72ZGrsvTUl4-1w2wfLQWdS4u14-DMe8CKtXDC8k_GS0vwDNfU8-o15_ggp6L98qNLHwsFzG1o-GBlZNCcoeChx_4Rs9kyMDFIfmQWhZkzKLA_wh7xX4Zt01V7qMzrmWt0J1W3y39_DVv6Gv5RNzZplt7mkRhgGya0Z46kzNIQ/w400-h400/daffodil%20tenacity.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And of course, there are always barns.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVgXA6Q5b5-rvOBhmXqWis829dnfC1n9WPK3AfTj9Nv3j4Xt50et9OF-vOCS-YvIWIJCJIAB5Iig_I_CVHCh40VVFcl03Fivjfff7dfRLSMg8BsQr63dqqkFa1TGAhekpKRTRkPSqoOyKI0VgWz_M50HEgukVbJ6Ez5gBOmqnDr8gcj3StfTSwA/s2205/old%20dark%20grey%20barn%20mail%20pouch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="2205" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVgXA6Q5b5-rvOBhmXqWis829dnfC1n9WPK3AfTj9Nv3j4Xt50et9OF-vOCS-YvIWIJCJIAB5Iig_I_CVHCh40VVFcl03Fivjfff7dfRLSMg8BsQr63dqqkFa1TGAhekpKRTRkPSqoOyKI0VgWz_M50HEgukVbJ6Ez5gBOmqnDr8gcj3StfTSwA/w400-h324/old%20dark%20grey%20barn%20mail%20pouch.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-9666273759112483322024-02-23T11:02:00.000-08:002024-02-23T11:02:30.637-08:00Friday Means...Fave Fives<p>Can it really be near the end of the second month of 2024 already? Cliches can be boring but the one about "time flies" seems to be simply true. I have had to stop and take deep breaths this week, to stop and calm down, to stop and hit the restart button. Right now, I am stopping to relax and reflect on the good things that occurred this past week here at Willow's Cottage, and I am writing about them as my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives.</a></b> The link will take you to Susanne's blog where you can read more FFFs and join it you want.</p><p>1. It seems that during certain seasons people, me included, obsess about the weather. Like me. This week. I am thankful for snow, rain, and sunshine. Rain and snow mean that we are unlikely to have drought conditions. Sunshine means a relief from the darkness of clouds (and Vitamin D).</p><p>2. Exercise is important for our health. I am thankful that we can visit the local Y and exercise there. We worked out two days this week. And our granddaughter was with us and work out, too.</p><p>3. Usually, we do not just visit a restaurant for a meal out. This past week, we had dinner in restaurants TWICE. We visited a local Thai restaurant with a couple and just had a great time chatting.</p><p>4. Then on Saturday evening, we met up with a family who lives in Kentucky. Why would we do that? The husband/father was a missionary kid in Papua and attended the same international MK boarding school that three of my children did. He was a few years older but remembers them. (It was a quite small school) We had spent time with them a couple of years ago at a reunion, and this is the first time we've been able to meet up with them even though we live only one and a half hours away. It was a wonderful and joyful two hours we spent with them. I have to add that their two children were a delight, too.</p><p>5. Can I just give a thankful shout out to coffee? That caffeine boost has really helped my schedule this week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOBzLJMQOEeWiWVFrvkg1Z9xwp6rgGEA9d5ENA_0PLT4Bcz_AvlbZ41sEtWdhwUNcAbx3Nm7w4Ep9o-wHwIaWA2S9Y_Sp2uRJdHHGOZuHHC6k8_Z3eJ4OKW3mICHQUx4N94XZ3rcYLY0uOUO2_eJOGvDq0OamJh6oSAu8bZPPjQQST2lEPY5AMA/s2272/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOBzLJMQOEeWiWVFrvkg1Z9xwp6rgGEA9d5ENA_0PLT4Bcz_AvlbZ41sEtWdhwUNcAbx3Nm7w4Ep9o-wHwIaWA2S9Y_Sp2uRJdHHGOZuHHC6k8_Z3eJ4OKW3mICHQUx4N94XZ3rcYLY0uOUO2_eJOGvDq0OamJh6oSAu8bZPPjQQST2lEPY5AMA/w400-h300/coffee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3m4vC_sdZGUyaIvKyYimq5QMAEtpUcZEgls-io84pasy2n5MIGt9OljKCaSBjiYoKA3zHV74-vVqQLB-zMia8hk05gFNK43EOq6OK-VkeNwtx2qa91wUAqArmKqd2bOwFJDMBRrvBlGhe0ReGiZfiMq1oKhVfeNcwCwWwU5p5YptSp3CiYGxZA/s2816/coffee%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3m4vC_sdZGUyaIvKyYimq5QMAEtpUcZEgls-io84pasy2n5MIGt9OljKCaSBjiYoKA3zHV74-vVqQLB-zMia8hk05gFNK43EOq6OK-VkeNwtx2qa91wUAqArmKqd2bOwFJDMBRrvBlGhe0ReGiZfiMq1oKhVfeNcwCwWwU5p5YptSp3CiYGxZA/w400-h300/coffee%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdJUgQbHZiQ19wZ9qP2WeSVxsM43yv5fC1qgK80At_5-C5wcgvQIrzBFi_A6ciWQrx1HeLlvpMEDh2a-WnsdFs3NK03pp5mN6nTNoQD2FPHnXPKhVVKaAxK150hhSCoZB8rfxbJRbb-IB9he1x1n8P8rcHc74a7eUoBuVQtNV04BW6bfyJ_q_Pg/s3456/coffee%20and%20yarn5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3456" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdJUgQbHZiQ19wZ9qP2WeSVxsM43yv5fC1qgK80At_5-C5wcgvQIrzBFi_A6ciWQrx1HeLlvpMEDh2a-WnsdFs3NK03pp5mN6nTNoQD2FPHnXPKhVVKaAxK150hhSCoZB8rfxbJRbb-IB9he1x1n8P8rcHc74a7eUoBuVQtNV04BW6bfyJ_q_Pg/w400-h300/coffee%20and%20yarn5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-37202213027752025382024-02-16T14:06:00.000-08:002024-02-16T14:06:47.169-08:00A Coffee Shop Week of Faves<p> I am late posting my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> today. But I have a good excuse. Our internet is out. So I am sitting in a coffee shop sipping some hot chocolate and using their internet access. Anyway, here are my five blessings from this week. Follow the link above to join us in being thankful.</p><p>1. I am thankful for a technologically brilliant husband. The Professor (yes, he used to teach computer science classes at a university) has been working all day on a solution. Trust me, if he can't fix it easily, it's not an easy fix. I appreciate his ability to work on all technical issues.</p><p>2. This week we have had weird weather ranging from sunny and rainy, warm and freezing, and right now it is snowing. What makes me thankful about that? a warm home, snow proof boots, cozy gloves and hats.</p><p>3. Tuesday we drove an extra half hour more than usual to visit a new coffee shop with our friends T and S. The bakery goodies were yummy. And afterwards, we went over to the Wagnalls Library (yes, the Wagnalls of Funk and Wagnalls dictionary and encyclopedia). The library building is amazing! I can't access my photos right now, so here is a link to the <a href="https://www.wagnallslibrary.org/" target="_blank">Wagnalls Library</a>.</p><p>4. One afternoon, The Professor and I met at a much closer coffee place with both daughters. It is not usual for them both to have the same afternoon off work. We had so much fun chatting with them and pondering some hard questions.</p><p>5. Remember our new 'great grandson'? We were able to meet him this week! Oh he is so adorable! And snuggly. And calm. The whole time we were there, he never opened his eyes; he just slept in our arms. I wish I could share photos of him (I'll have to ask permission). But trust me, he is the cutest baby born in Ohio so far this year!</p><p>Bonus: Because I didn't have internet at home, I 'met' on zoom with my dear dear friends, The Art Girls, in the closest coffee shop to our house so I could join them in discussing the first chapter of the book we are reading 'together' during Lent this year. If you care, the book is <a href="https://christianscholars.com/rembrandt-is-in-the-wind-learning-to-love-art-through-the-eyes-of-faith-foreword-by-makoto-fujimura/" target="_blank">Rembrandt Is In The Wind</a>.</p><p>Bonus2: Did you notice all the coffee shop references? Yes, I am thankful for local coffee shops!</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-50714527768618308932024-02-09T14:34:00.000-08:002024-02-09T14:34:39.957-08:00February is for Fave Fives<p>Happy Friday! This week has been busier than I expected (that's ok, though) and so it is late afternoon here at Willow's Cottage. But I still have time to get my Friday Fave Fives written and shared. Susanne is always so faithful to have our link set up to share our five things we chose from our week. Here's <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">THE LINK.</a></b> </p><p>1. I am so thankful for the sunny warm weather we have had this week. I'm talking no jackets, no caps, no gloves kind of weather. Sunshine all week and today's temperature in the 60s! Yes, I know that the cold weather will return, but the respite has been very appreciated by all who live around here. </p><p>2. The warm weather has allowed me to be outside in the garden doing a few mid winter chores. I was able to prune the raspberry bushed and check on a couple of other perennial plants.</p><p>3. Saturday was a moderate day, a coat and gloves kind of day. But it was just right for taking a good hike. The Professor and I drove Warrior Boy (Younger Daughter Mia's son) to Hocking Hills State Park, and we hiked two different trails and shared lunch around an outdoor fireplace with a group of boys and dads from our local Trail Life troop. Twelve guys and me. It was great fun, especially as we had not visited Hocking Hills before.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1YDhtegUKGQmWNIPrmCjJjM0EtuhVYZBGi2CHKiPf4hAqtc9h_1bBUZVOXlTdqX3T-1g9FohgBe5WbFabQRtzZrt4YVlhzJ4Tc0lJytqSR5qU2bw2cQPYuuo6Bd6jVKXNGeYhmvVLcjX9_tbSU16vghkTYw_EEvD2xffegiDYqG2X6TTRLnhcA/s4000/IMG_9215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1YDhtegUKGQmWNIPrmCjJjM0EtuhVYZBGi2CHKiPf4hAqtc9h_1bBUZVOXlTdqX3T-1g9FohgBe5WbFabQRtzZrt4YVlhzJ4Tc0lJytqSR5qU2bw2cQPYuuo6Bd6jVKXNGeYhmvVLcjX9_tbSU16vghkTYw_EEvD2xffegiDYqG2X6TTRLnhcA/w400-h400/IMG_9215.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Eleanor always loves hiking, too, especially since she gets to stay in my pocket!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKAB2zMwIoWugFX2W5Ye90kAbu3zNfDOSMjOC8uPVBoEAXaWK6dK_TqvrkdjlEU07-FffkcaU2TRG7u22iAWR8OOCyw1N-4WzLaWZL89m4gtqFhcWEmdekQhkdOOJE-CY4DI0Thuqc1eO7Sge7tkJ3bMUMoP_6FoRdtxOEoR01mEUPIDx9VH-Cg/s4000/IMG_9233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKAB2zMwIoWugFX2W5Ye90kAbu3zNfDOSMjOC8uPVBoEAXaWK6dK_TqvrkdjlEU07-FffkcaU2TRG7u22iAWR8OOCyw1N-4WzLaWZL89m4gtqFhcWEmdekQhkdOOJE-CY4DI0Thuqc1eO7Sge7tkJ3bMUMoP_6FoRdtxOEoR01mEUPIDx9VH-Cg/w400-h400/IMG_9233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH71W81JS2ol2fHOsPAibHcKtH-IuwvWkbSZdbYF2-pQ5UTqwYC_B2Dlm5Mw46ZiwPYvoa5b8_T4BuKKwkwOshqYhL_5NcJSHNTw6q625f1WelwxzR1bJi6-NELnB_G8BYPv6FLrMMXny40T_eOvE4MLhIxZZOIEZhlj6H8gQKAxU_GzGpX69MFQ/s4000/IMG_9216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH71W81JS2ol2fHOsPAibHcKtH-IuwvWkbSZdbYF2-pQ5UTqwYC_B2Dlm5Mw46ZiwPYvoa5b8_T4BuKKwkwOshqYhL_5NcJSHNTw6q625f1WelwxzR1bJi6-NELnB_G8BYPv6FLrMMXny40T_eOvE4MLhIxZZOIEZhlj6H8gQKAxU_GzGpX69MFQ/w400-h400/IMG_9216.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Warrior Boy had so much fun.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5NACJHgeaTz-aIFhNoGtLZES-uyL4hb4vh0y0SqJMQ6V0TajS2x4mA5zF-kC_5AhbxKdndF0d4giNGc303WdBIW1nOPmKuIxmTN-rr_Tu0rKOORrZ2wkC5Hkf4pnchHVY8FeNkPBSBU19mGJwNEN5IAjoGooEQ8rpmAiR81yc4nK2zbU09el0Q/s4000/IMG_9251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5NACJHgeaTz-aIFhNoGtLZES-uyL4hb4vh0y0SqJMQ6V0TajS2x4mA5zF-kC_5AhbxKdndF0d4giNGc303WdBIW1nOPmKuIxmTN-rr_Tu0rKOORrZ2wkC5Hkf4pnchHVY8FeNkPBSBU19mGJwNEN5IAjoGooEQ8rpmAiR81yc4nK2zbU09el0Q/w400-h400/IMG_9251.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Note the small size of the people compared to the waterfall. Yes, it really was that high. Ash Cave.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxREax8JbMvKceBOJD98G8ctdDg47wNlXBpLY1e7lv1yLOTNGyvzGtagjYTnNY6tdM41uO4X_vPIN144p3v-OxDezxP_i5GGEqTZya-bQzDwbgTHtzLux8Fd51ETImHzyu1RPT6RWSvUAuuatHrWVHtfLZvem0JlFnIoAgXUFcIY-Bl8Zv5PWQKg/s4000/IMG_9261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxREax8JbMvKceBOJD98G8ctdDg47wNlXBpLY1e7lv1yLOTNGyvzGtagjYTnNY6tdM41uO4X_vPIN144p3v-OxDezxP_i5GGEqTZya-bQzDwbgTHtzLux8Fd51ETImHzyu1RPT6RWSvUAuuatHrWVHtfLZvem0JlFnIoAgXUFcIY-Bl8Zv5PWQKg/w400-h400/IMG_9261.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><p>4. Tall Boy's birthday was this week! Sixteen! Six feet three inches tall! Where did that little boy go?? I am thankful for him!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4stpAiovz7fv1DIe1tzAINnW2G6RFV7LfxSj-dh4PLWCWdeM4K-mXoaRrJVaktRGT6jo2jid6nV-slhixufQ76zVevWC0v8gjSUliQ-I8gS8Cv7SrHX-rd2GVf9smMpDjWPadeZNZli8mam7CEBu1dRuPCv3eY2IkxI-toBHtMW34YI0lbSPVw/s3648/in%20the%20subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4stpAiovz7fv1DIe1tzAINnW2G6RFV7LfxSj-dh4PLWCWdeM4K-mXoaRrJVaktRGT6jo2jid6nV-slhixufQ76zVevWC0v8gjSUliQ-I8gS8Cv7SrHX-rd2GVf9smMpDjWPadeZNZli8mam7CEBu1dRuPCv3eY2IkxI-toBHtMW34YI0lbSPVw/w400-h300/in%20the%20subway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>5. Recently, we joined the Y gym. This week, we worked out twice there. I am thankful for the opportunity and that it is very near our home. Now we can use the treadmill or recumbent bikes when the weather is just too miserable for us to be outside.</p><p>I hope your week has been filled with blessings, too. Sometimes we have to look deeper than other weeks, but there are always things we can find to be thankful.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-11677732228745214072024-02-02T10:38:00.000-08:002024-02-02T10:38:47.608-08:00Groundhog Fave Fives<p> Welcome to Willow's Cottage on this auspicious day when animals predict when spring is coming. Eleanor Elizabeth is in agreement with all the groundhogs that Spring will arrive sooner rather than later. Hopefully...</p><p>And now it is Friday, February 2nd, still winter. But the sun is actually shining! Since it's Friday, it is time for <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives </a></b>with Susanne and a whole bunch of other people who list five things (and sometimes more) that have blessed them this week. Here are mine.</p><p>1. A new family member has been added! Little M was born last Sunday evening. He is the son of a young man we have known for more than twenty years and who became our 'grandson' just because we love his family so much. (they're the ones who followed us here to Ohio two years ago) We haven't met M yet but have seen a couple of photos.</p><p>2. We met a friend and her mother for lunch on Monday. This friend is very special to us because of her involvement in missions work in Uganda. She managed the Ugandan Lambs for years and introduced us to Daniel and Mark who we have sponsored for a long time. She even brought a gift to us from Mark. (If you have read this blog for a while, you may remember our heartbreak when Daniel passed away three years ago.) Uganda is dear to our hearts. Now our friend is living in Hanoi and again working to help the lives of children and young adults. It was a blessed time. In my opinion, it is a good thing that she has family living in Ohio, so she visits them every year, and we can see her, too.</p><p>3. That gift from Mark. A wood carving to hang on our wall!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZIPhhs0WyjmzaDpruMdkJc6SUz436Ai4eqxmCgmjTW2j06Ao2W6-2CpN_UH9VZtm8lr4gUbH-g1azqEUAHDvS_6a4XAoUogcY72P7xx00UklFjuDuoZNCESDnr7DJ0L8s9X209SFOKDiBWI2cs0Iz3LPFECHF_c9UHQCyHEaO00298L6uVnD0A/s3820/Greetings%20from%20Uganda%20carving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3820" data-original-width="2573" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZIPhhs0WyjmzaDpruMdkJc6SUz436Ai4eqxmCgmjTW2j06Ao2W6-2CpN_UH9VZtm8lr4gUbH-g1azqEUAHDvS_6a4XAoUogcY72P7xx00UklFjuDuoZNCESDnr7DJ0L8s9X209SFOKDiBWI2cs0Iz3LPFECHF_c9UHQCyHEaO00298L6uVnD0A/w270-h400/Greetings%20from%20Uganda%20carving.JPG" width="270" /></a></div><p>4. The weather has moderated a bit and we have been able to take two walks this week. Yesterday, while we waited for Tall Boy at his piano lesson, we just walked around that neighborhood. It's the best way to learn your town AND get some exercise at the same time.</p><p>5. I've been planning a rather industrious knitting project. I have had a big bag of handspun and hand dyed wool sitting in my studio closet for a long time. The biggest issue was that there wasn't enough of any basic color to use for a vest or sweater. So I decided to pull out my spinning wheel and spin up some undyed wool. First I had to finish spinning some lovely grey alpaca from Peru. Yesterday, I finished it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnE3X4dttB0YHa0cKNjpBtXShxHPRhiG28oNSQ66wXNxnpEREBVkeoa-a1-HsS8J-xLsbrAFTQCEUr09dYsjQNl3AmWFetuj3kOGPBFHNn0C_RDItHyE0Ny60fPvSy0PeHubmIHf-YoIBBawAnJFzEtdTBPVegyLyX8Sr72sKzgqmDxU735AoOaw/s4000/IMG_9203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnE3X4dttB0YHa0cKNjpBtXShxHPRhiG28oNSQ66wXNxnpEREBVkeoa-a1-HsS8J-xLsbrAFTQCEUr09dYsjQNl3AmWFetuj3kOGPBFHNn0C_RDItHyE0Ny60fPvSy0PeHubmIHf-YoIBBawAnJFzEtdTBPVegyLyX8Sr72sKzgqmDxU735AoOaw/w400-h400/IMG_9203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now I am on to working on the wool. I am pleased that I finally pulled out the wheel and am actually getting some spinning done. These are the dyed colors. I chose a basic beige/grey wool which I think will work well with all these bright colors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sWmVkGxB5xUwsdQsBTfTHraa_X5-qCEIS2aJSm_L9WJLiugKuM7sZLWZcuQuL-6-XinaWjPzzyaU1nRqtPck6oGi0Zw31Tg6Q-bplMchHThQxI2tIoecR03LyvXzQwuXII1TjBduW2NPjSWvmrGVHbD2Slrw9aQVr3BEx7DMVmMqRnBjrjkVfw/s2816/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sWmVkGxB5xUwsdQsBTfTHraa_X5-qCEIS2aJSm_L9WJLiugKuM7sZLWZcuQuL-6-XinaWjPzzyaU1nRqtPck6oGi0Zw31Tg6Q-bplMchHThQxI2tIoecR03LyvXzQwuXII1TjBduW2NPjSWvmrGVHbD2Slrw9aQVr3BEx7DMVmMqRnBjrjkVfw/w400-h300/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-LIOs0w8ejQNztzh-I7dai3I_dn8uC08nyYi4HXkx41b07JEtEaYGHW1XNenm3TnkRPeTY8AkXQt-Dx4RwKcOZ2gvTjt7XW-4lu9ck4bERp_LgFuoKK7_yaf4Foo0ZdAn53lCrfa-gfLVahfxCssufqwRuvyK30zLHvWzYG88si9ZzatkuRFbw/s2816/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-LIOs0w8ejQNztzh-I7dai3I_dn8uC08nyYi4HXkx41b07JEtEaYGHW1XNenm3TnkRPeTY8AkXQt-Dx4RwKcOZ2gvTjt7XW-4lu9ck4bERp_LgFuoKK7_yaf4Foo0ZdAn53lCrfa-gfLVahfxCssufqwRuvyK30zLHvWzYG88si9ZzatkuRFbw/w400-h300/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qXTf_hEE3-Lc7MJWAsB9kK6oTlvBUxmm77t71CeFsMA5lgCi8O_ZC7ov1t6t5iiSYI8PRQxYuguSXonkAwMnsUmblAltO1x_8XIkQx2YUmkGHLhOfbHKzBEs-wqRdk3ipny8kHyLu_iUFTcGCPgJktIlvmh3OpcLDPwLHsAw9NptCHnH7Ti-mQ/s2816/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qXTf_hEE3-Lc7MJWAsB9kK6oTlvBUxmm77t71CeFsMA5lgCi8O_ZC7ov1t6t5iiSYI8PRQxYuguSXonkAwMnsUmblAltO1x_8XIkQx2YUmkGHLhOfbHKzBEs-wqRdk3ipny8kHyLu_iUFTcGCPgJktIlvmh3OpcLDPwLHsAw9NptCHnH7Ti-mQ/w400-h300/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to use my hands to create such beauty.<br /><p><br /></p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-32439589587167986612024-01-30T17:06:00.000-08:002024-01-30T17:06:11.940-08:00Lizzie Vest, A Fair Isle Pattern<p> I finished the fair isle vest! And I wore it on Saturday.</p><p>Here are the details about my 'practice' vest.</p><p>Pattern: Lizzie Vest from the blog (now inactive) <a href="http://yellowpinkandsparkly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Yellow Pink and Sparkly</a>. You can click on the link and find the Lizzie Vest pattern on the side bar.</p><p>Needles: The pattern calls for size 3 and 5 needles; however, I adapted to using size 7 and 5 because the yarn I used called for those sizes and because I also adapted the size to fit.</p><p>Yarn: Caron x Pantone. Bamboo. Five colors. I purchased the yarn as a set with navy being the main color. Unfortunately, it looks like Caron is no longer making this yarn.</p><p>Full disclosure: I used the pattern as a guide for knitting the fair isle patterning; it is not exactly the same. Mostly, this is because I did not have enough of the three colors pink, white and plum to follow it row by row. But even so, I love how it turned out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8tU2y4T6w9_tD-VTsBNoaaMYamNFeclSQxPHBjCoalNc_UNU-aboIU-olfV7eMx7dUQ2GNbIO_gHQnZRLS2TuyJ_Z9XxqIcS-2F8HIAhl8pUAkEogIEJ8oTdgs5O29ksod4mDQhPW1AzpulFdpZwaaVHjrI7V50WV6kaDNil1sFraGulTDuysw/s3752/Lizzie%20vest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3752" data-original-width="3294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8tU2y4T6w9_tD-VTsBNoaaMYamNFeclSQxPHBjCoalNc_UNU-aboIU-olfV7eMx7dUQ2GNbIO_gHQnZRLS2TuyJ_Z9XxqIcS-2F8HIAhl8pUAkEogIEJ8oTdgs5O29ksod4mDQhPW1AzpulFdpZwaaVHjrI7V50WV6kaDNil1sFraGulTDuysw/w351-h400/Lizzie%20vest.JPG" width="351" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The edging is Knit 1 Purl 1 ribbing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9te2wwUbZf7jppMY24e6YFF1-AJewTPrqxPrO6XEuZ0oPOnksp-L2640BAdRYp_iGWKCGVOsUkKBnLCwXfciXtfbnk2rNYkoHykli3ieGjGNxG-xgT_zbrKQTg0laBHQoZnq3c-WkqQSaz4MsVK72fx-WjzvTCx_usigGkUqbYjzC4DgtBMm2Q/s3091/Lizzie%20vest%20top%20pattern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2997" data-original-width="3091" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9te2wwUbZf7jppMY24e6YFF1-AJewTPrqxPrO6XEuZ0oPOnksp-L2640BAdRYp_iGWKCGVOsUkKBnLCwXfciXtfbnk2rNYkoHykli3ieGjGNxG-xgT_zbrKQTg0laBHQoZnq3c-WkqQSaz4MsVK72fx-WjzvTCx_usigGkUqbYjzC4DgtBMm2Q/w400-h388/Lizzie%20vest%20top%20pattern.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The fair isle patterns were fun to knit!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ941V_LjFVkEbjJ7Ax1XJCXcWPjiyyC5LQFUUy8KiGUI9Ds8NnVfd0NIN9KUujSvG_4zNL6fYFBVWlIMJds745hYLF-72erE1ToIZzhWKPXhmUoxiX9n62p9xnTS-9KkHEmBh0dWUxtUP64bqQzdUjGJM8kjF0DrAKTbMZF-NjhICd4F7fC6wAw/s4000/Lizzie%20vest%20lower%20patterning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ941V_LjFVkEbjJ7Ax1XJCXcWPjiyyC5LQFUUy8KiGUI9Ds8NnVfd0NIN9KUujSvG_4zNL6fYFBVWlIMJds745hYLF-72erE1ToIZzhWKPXhmUoxiX9n62p9xnTS-9KkHEmBh0dWUxtUP64bqQzdUjGJM8kjF0DrAKTbMZF-NjhICd4F7fC6wAw/w400-h400/Lizzie%20vest%20lower%20patterning.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBiH5gKazofkPM3qosR0lYWcOVIO5EN8VEnqOTUsoujDQlwAojjlZYtX5vAlgm8hAigUZwaVHXMuJp14aZGxT4OXNbll4YaXQCMlDAvSEX6TTruDDmcYR_Vr2Qq0K6NBJAilSwXnydkw-7Hkzw4I7Kw807q264lim5-9dFwi-ri5tXrjJedg8-g/s4000/Lizzie%20vest%20top%20pattern2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3714" data-original-width="4000" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBiH5gKazofkPM3qosR0lYWcOVIO5EN8VEnqOTUsoujDQlwAojjlZYtX5vAlgm8hAigUZwaVHXMuJp14aZGxT4OXNbll4YaXQCMlDAvSEX6TTruDDmcYR_Vr2Qq0K6NBJAilSwXnydkw-7Hkzw4I7Kw807q264lim5-9dFwi-ri5tXrjJedg8-g/w400-h371/Lizzie%20vest%20top%20pattern2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-16369093341100423822024-01-26T11:43:00.000-08:002024-01-26T11:43:54.750-08:00A Month into Winter Fave Fives<p> Welcome to Willow's Cottage this grey and misty day. This week we have moved from this (never above freezing temps for a week):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFL1GyM5josVKruPAXfTKYthqfAzVIi_YkNZuyQrrPtDVA0rkn-ZHN-HibwB4T7aut2J8pL0KMedT3Xr9dzPZ6frjgOVVFFL0ghq_OKQ6Raanngdtb3g5QB7gjVRf68JiyNNLc29ZVGnSm-Yhhs4040x_loe2d8SGyQBoPQXVl53D-vrH1mNK-w/s4000/IMG_9151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFL1GyM5josVKruPAXfTKYthqfAzVIi_YkNZuyQrrPtDVA0rkn-ZHN-HibwB4T7aut2J8pL0KMedT3Xr9dzPZ6frjgOVVFFL0ghq_OKQ6Raanngdtb3g5QB7gjVRf68JiyNNLc29ZVGnSm-Yhhs4040x_loe2d8SGyQBoPQXVl53D-vrH1mNK-w/w400-h400/IMG_9151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>to this: quite warm but very foggy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHaO8c_3jx2k67kbDP2AWKELT0LRjh_oBayFO8BzMITZZ1Zp0NHO3HLcyT3RAcZ1OLi5zFCHY3f6RaaOYhbz-vmMon4bMI5nEgZJD5CDQwgKrzCovUrdRVYQXP0NrfJVHy1gf2zG1STpCpX7fXVWvwAf9BWvGzWbjBXVwC80uHZpLMnmMzOLYfg/s4000/IMG_9172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHaO8c_3jx2k67kbDP2AWKELT0LRjh_oBayFO8BzMITZZ1Zp0NHO3HLcyT3RAcZ1OLi5zFCHY3f6RaaOYhbz-vmMon4bMI5nEgZJD5CDQwgKrzCovUrdRVYQXP0NrfJVHy1gf2zG1STpCpX7fXVWvwAf9BWvGzWbjBXVwC80uHZpLMnmMzOLYfg/w400-h400/IMG_9172.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YaDcJUbU3zf3vpwGxGzO94oyAD4z4m1bujPrRn0NbTfGym5nVOss637LwXaXKh8OjjlgbhkWkEhmYto45PqrPqBwTsUO4vopskOwVs-TPi35mhxRi_Ytwa8DqGM289sCrYG2qI43Tb-wj9rE5yk-XVS6bUS50U0b-ttwUGrAhEvhnHMPEFnpeQ/s4000/IMG_9165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YaDcJUbU3zf3vpwGxGzO94oyAD4z4m1bujPrRn0NbTfGym5nVOss637LwXaXKh8OjjlgbhkWkEhmYto45PqrPqBwTsUO4vopskOwVs-TPi35mhxRi_Ytwa8DqGM289sCrYG2qI43Tb-wj9rE5yk-XVS6bUS50U0b-ttwUGrAhEvhnHMPEFnpeQ/w400-h400/IMG_9165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>That's ok. That's life in Ohio, evidently. Don't like the weather? Wait a few minutes.</p><p>Why do I begin my<b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Friday Fave Fives</a></b> talking about less than ideal weather? Well, we are supposed to be joyful in all things, thankful for everything. For me, that seems so very easy because I am not living in a dangerous place in the world. I have food. I have shelter. I have water. I am safe. I never take these blessings for granted. It seems like I have just written all my faves for the week right here. But wait! There's more! (the link above takes you to Susanne's blog where she hosts our FFFs)</p><p>1. I am thankful for a cleaning lady. She helps me once a month with chores that my hands don't like me to do. What a blessing she is! She has been out on maternity leave, so I am especially happy she is back.</p><p>2. I am thankful for friends. One very important factor in living a longer life is having companionship. As we often do, we met our friends T and S for coffee one morning this week. Three hours!</p><p>3. More friendships. We drove north to meet other friends between their new home (they moved 'home' from Oregon where we knew them) to have lunch with them We took Mia with us because she had the day off from work and because she knew Laura from the time she was in middle school. It was a great reunion and catch up. We look forward to many more lunches with them. Even Eleanor Elizabeth Bunny enjoyed the lunch--lots of lettuce and carrots for her!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l3UEIcZZRPDSI_ie1cjwdAvEP6NOr_ddjgmHimgBr7aRO6-syL_gOhlTddKLOmULDckMk4_C5Xi_SL8pu6oKvZtZus0esRN0pH5Z2zezsMLm45NulVrkk9N3hIleuD39gfKIFK5FsO8u1puxb5NKzqPv5SnoicrNq0G1msu4C7kE48Hc5qQm4Q/s2048/image000000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l3UEIcZZRPDSI_ie1cjwdAvEP6NOr_ddjgmHimgBr7aRO6-syL_gOhlTddKLOmULDckMk4_C5Xi_SL8pu6oKvZtZus0esRN0pH5Z2zezsMLm45NulVrkk9N3hIleuD39gfKIFK5FsO8u1puxb5NKzqPv5SnoicrNq0G1msu4C7kE48Hc5qQm4Q/w400-h300/image000000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>4. I am thankful to live near my daughters. One evening the two 'girls' popped over to talk with us about summer plans. I love living a five minute drive from them both.</p><p>5. Mia also helped me with something that has been nagging at me for a long time. I own the rights to a website, willowscottage.com. For a long time, it has sat there just doing nothing, no photos, no information. This week, Mia showed me how to make the first steps in setting it all up. The only thing there so far is a link to this blog... try it. <a href="http://www.willowscottage.com" target="_blank">www.willowscottage.com</a></p><p>I hope you have found many many blessings in your week, too.</p><p>PS: I am almost finished with the vest I showed you last week! Come back later today or tomorrow and get the details.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-36707101227624464912024-01-19T11:48:00.000-08:002024-01-19T11:48:17.606-08:00Cold and Snowy Faves<p>Hello from a white and icy Willow's Cottage! In a zoom call this week with my Art Girls group, one of us mentioned her focus phrase for 2024-- JOY, no matter what. YES! That is what Friday Fave Fives is all about. Finding and focusing on the blessings, no matter what else is happening. Here are my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> for this frigid week. (follow the link to Susanne's blog to join and read more)</p><p>This has been a week of rest, coffee, and books. I didn't plan my week to be like that, but with our below freezing temperatures all day and night and now the snow which is falling, I haven't been out much and I haven't had much energy, either. I truly am thankful for all the downtime.</p><p>We did make two expeditions out in the cold. One trip was to have our annual eye exams. Results were all good. No changes, no new lenses, no new frames. Our optometrist is wonderful and personable and professional. It was a joy and a blessing to have that visit.</p><p>The other trip took us to the medical center for my m--m-gram. Again, all good. On the same trip, we did our big shopping trips to Costco and TJ's and added in REI and LLBean. These stores are thirty minutes plus from us, so we group them together and do the trip once or twice a month. Again, I am thankful that the medical visit is done and all the shopping is, too.</p><p>The Professor and I had a fun and relaxing coffee time with Mia, Younger Daughter, on one of her days off. We enjoye our coffee in a sweet shop in a nearby town. <a href="https://www.ragamuffinscoffeealexandria.com/" target="_blank">Ragamuffins Coffee</a> is definitely a favorite. While we were there, two people who work for our county's park district came in and grabbed their coffee. A quick conversation about our knitting projects cemented the woman's name in my mind (I'm not usually good with names, so this was unusual).</p><p>Much to our surprise, we met that Park District lady at our eye doctor's office as she arrived for her appointment. I remembered her name! Then she told us about a volunteer program the park district has for people interested in helping keep the trails in good condition, and she invited us to join. We'll definitely be looking into that since we walk the trails all the time, anyway. I love those serendipitous meetings.</p><p>Extra: update on the Fair Isle vest... in rummaging around in my extensive yarn stash, I pulled out a bunch of yarn that came as a combination of five different colors in small skeins with a couple of the colors in larger skeins. Perfect for me to make a 'practice' vest! So that's what I have been knitting this week. If all goes well, I should have it finished by next week. Here's a quick glimpse to entice you...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e-wAThgOy7ih5uDl7SdGX5ADXzkmcPbD29DRNXN50MF4vAJIYbh1dmpdA18BDrgQmgn-Igug0wm2uSRLdRghU_fGUkx0NOoycOBQjt1R2U6KqoWniEB4tQUL7gjOjHE5S4L7MRsfpDjfxYa1-gui46ivMyCa3cYKHj6fs75OOBGLsrBU67G7Zw/s4000/fair%20isle%20vest1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e-wAThgOy7ih5uDl7SdGX5ADXzkmcPbD29DRNXN50MF4vAJIYbh1dmpdA18BDrgQmgn-Igug0wm2uSRLdRghU_fGUkx0NOoycOBQjt1R2U6KqoWniEB4tQUL7gjOjHE5S4L7MRsfpDjfxYa1-gui46ivMyCa3cYKHj6fs75OOBGLsrBU67G7Zw/w400-h400/fair%20isle%20vest1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rRd5kdE2AXsrMIa7COBImzFPAxKHZMwuaY5v1HfWTplf6p1GORqx51k_i6-klNpE4DILcBIBNybCURD-9VHT5tvqtw0IyJ9NH10L7Kw6wsZ5xNRpQJO8BTQeD-ja7aQdAuPJK0o2mgGphR6328fQwZJFZVG0rPEWP7QtMiBQLnEfIJ23ma6Aow/s4000/fair%20isle%20vest2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rRd5kdE2AXsrMIa7COBImzFPAxKHZMwuaY5v1HfWTplf6p1GORqx51k_i6-klNpE4DILcBIBNybCURD-9VHT5tvqtw0IyJ9NH10L7Kw6wsZ5xNRpQJO8BTQeD-ja7aQdAuPJK0o2mgGphR6328fQwZJFZVG0rPEWP7QtMiBQLnEfIJ23ma6Aow/w400-h400/fair%20isle%20vest2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-81390954766724491812024-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:002024-01-12T10:26:29.753-08:00Mid January Gratitude Warmth<p>Greetings from cold and windy (dare I say frigid?) central Ohio. It's a grey and chilly Friday. But. Even in harsh weather or maybe difficult situations, there is always sunshine and goodness if you look for it. That is the whole point of Friday Fave Fives. Susanne leads other bloggers in this exercise of gratitude each week and for me it is important to look back and note the blessings I might have otherwise missed. I am so thankful for <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> (the link takes you to Susanne's blog)</p><p>1. Does working through your mending pile count as deep cleaning? While I did not manage to clean any cupboards or floors, I did do all the mending. My daughter's beautiful green cashmere sweater had a hole-- she brought it over and that set off the chain of sewing. Of course, the next day, I had to start a new pile...</p><p>2. On the one day when the weather cooperated (no rain, no snow, no below freezing temperatures), The Professor, Young Daughter and I took the two 'puppies' for a walk. Three and a half miles!</p><p>3. We have friends from here who have been on a road trip to the West Coast. Knowing that we have lived in the Pacific Northwest and that we have driven those routes numerous times, they asked us to help them out with planning their trip and being their weather reporters. They're on their way home now, and so far, they have had only one nasty weather day (yesterday in Utah and Wyoming). We are monitoring and texting with them (well, it's mostly The Professor) and are thankful they are safe. One extra blessing is that they have sent us photos of all the wonderful places along the way and especially the Columbia River Gorge.</p><p>4. A morning spent with Younger Daughter at a local coffee shop. We chatted about so many different things including knitting, of course, and her work as a nurse. I think she is going to love being a nurse. It's her passion.</p><p>5. Our discussion about knitting? I am in the planning stages of using up some of my handspun and hand dyed wool yarn. I want to knit a Fair Isle vest or sweater (or both). My biggest issue has been having enough of a single color of yarn for the base color. Then last night I had an AHA moment! I have some unspun wool fiber in my stash! So, I made a mess in the room I call my studio and pulled out two rolls of roving. Now I just have to spin it and make sure it is the same weight (size) of yarn as all the skeins I already have. If you care about how yarn is made and how it can be dyed, you can click on these three links and read some old posts I wrote years ago. <b> <a href="https://willowscottage.blogspot.com/2008/03/handspun.html">Handspun</a> </b> <a href="https://willowscottage.blogspot.com/2007/07/dyeing-wool.html" target="_blank"><b>Dyeing Wool</b></a> <a href="https://willowscottage.blogspot.com/2012/05/for-all-those-nosy-people.html" target="_blank"><b>More Dyeing</b></a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqOxj4PzJoFAkTe_n175dcoJFYJKNcoUjBntkItHydojxPZflVUzKJX-fehLE0_mG-HVKvicB3w7SD6DLee5FrdHgqzmCsazxnBwVgv7nahyyTV6Ugjebbp4-jwxvAEG-rPFHCbzYOtuATOixA1pdYiFEMANy-iKSR3QvoS32RMLQuD7KS0btdg/s2816/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqOxj4PzJoFAkTe_n175dcoJFYJKNcoUjBntkItHydojxPZflVUzKJX-fehLE0_mG-HVKvicB3w7SD6DLee5FrdHgqzmCsazxnBwVgv7nahyyTV6Ugjebbp4-jwxvAEG-rPFHCbzYOtuATOixA1pdYiFEMANy-iKSR3QvoS32RMLQuD7KS0btdg/w400-h300/handspun%20and%20dyed%20wool%20018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Bonus. Cold weather means I stay inside more. I have finished reading several books!</span></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-42450931044568742132024-01-09T15:55:00.000-08:002024-01-09T15:55:19.108-08:00Simply Garter Vest<p>Here are some details about the vest I finished last week. I added a photo of it on my Friday Fave Fives, and various people commented about it, so I thought I'd added extra information.</p><p>The pattern is Simply Garter Vest from the pattern book <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31741794956&ref_=ps_ggl_18382194370&cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade0to10-_-product_id=COM9781931499149USED-_-keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAiA-vOsBhAAEiwAIWR0TaptjOQefCCCgqcFN8KpD_4l7VfgX8AXgnxVbiZyd8WAV4PHpP_aOBoC9loQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Folk Vests</a> by Cheryl Oberle. I have used this book to knit several vests and highly recommend it. This is the second Simply Garter Vest I have made; last year I knit a purple vest for my younger daughter (Mia).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrQifgYedqWk5FGDtWlVIVOJCIlLyY51dDDR5gRT6f_mqZhvt0uXoOkd8O8EpL7VPqOYFvZvrHgcJZ7chROh3eZELH46bzxKNiDqaUDZcCV4OhZnVenMBdFxfwkdPPhB2kozGdvCN14Oq19herxIdDmAdrMcHjSvJmawDOZJEBmpXdtzRsBwCWw/s3912/grey%20garter%20vest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3912" data-original-width="2811" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrQifgYedqWk5FGDtWlVIVOJCIlLyY51dDDR5gRT6f_mqZhvt0uXoOkd8O8EpL7VPqOYFvZvrHgcJZ7chROh3eZELH46bzxKNiDqaUDZcCV4OhZnVenMBdFxfwkdPPhB2kozGdvCN14Oq19herxIdDmAdrMcHjSvJmawDOZJEBmpXdtzRsBwCWw/s320/grey%20garter%20vest.JPG" width="230" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Last fall, I was given a huge bag of yarns from someone who is organizing her home to get ready to sell it and decided she doesn't want to continue knitting. So I had eight skeins of this lovely yarn.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A mix of 70%wool and 30%mohair from Green Mountain Spinnery. Excellent company with high quality yarns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used almost five skeins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Size 8 US needles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm0dQBgj2Z5wD96w8G9Pk6QUdpmhbUTk5aYPy7VNFP0nUQJ_YNKcJAOCn4C1b2Z5UeX9igsKwu4YWs3V4W-r22qb1nTFV7xw1HKbNDLKzH1TVSEyyrz4f6sKBal7V2OetaLr-aQucKTZmWAHwELLyjfuNOVQBQ-YjsTDqIDJnJschEBq8nqWYTg/s4000/IMG_9139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm0dQBgj2Z5wD96w8G9Pk6QUdpmhbUTk5aYPy7VNFP0nUQJ_YNKcJAOCn4C1b2Z5UeX9igsKwu4YWs3V4W-r22qb1nTFV7xw1HKbNDLKzH1TVSEyyrz4f6sKBal7V2OetaLr-aQucKTZmWAHwELLyjfuNOVQBQ-YjsTDqIDJnJschEBq8nqWYTg/s320/IMG_9139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This vest is really cozy warm. I will be wearing it ALL. WINTER.</div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-28794501039109200892024-01-05T13:22:00.000-08:002024-01-05T13:22:25.434-08:00First Fave Fives of 2024<p>Good day to you all. Here we are in the new year, 2024. It doesn't seem real somehow. But it is. I have my <a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a> for you to read (the link takes you to Susanne's blog where you can read more and find other blogs writing FFFs).</p><p>1. We spent most of New Year's Eve with family, watching the celebration of the New Year in London and hearing Big Ben ring in 2024. Then we toasted in 2024 with some sparking cider (and water for the one who doesn't like cider) and watched a movie. Yes, we were all home and in bed before midnight here.</p><p>2. On New Year's Day, we gathered the family of two girls and three grands and three dogs and took a walk/hike at Black Hand Gorge along the Licking River. The weather wasn't great but the exercise and conversation was. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i_JWG9wKP3vd3adtDDy5g_2vSkDGcKjcrRXAkt0xwDj5AklUSNlRDhHhg3yQ6n9GP-KEP73-7cw_f-Rw1sHC9qz2evqChJRrF5phVLTBW8B2G5k_9EQHGa1CCFRJQVzk5tdRKYZvEC32HLanszxvuIO45CocowAkqFCn883kd4ARz36p-f-wQg/s4000/IMG_9124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i_JWG9wKP3vd3adtDDy5g_2vSkDGcKjcrRXAkt0xwDj5AklUSNlRDhHhg3yQ6n9GP-KEP73-7cw_f-Rw1sHC9qz2evqChJRrF5phVLTBW8B2G5k_9EQHGa1CCFRJQVzk5tdRKYZvEC32HLanszxvuIO45CocowAkqFCn883kd4ARz36p-f-wQg/w400-h400/IMG_9124.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n-LmJq0K6TGvqXgUBvZmmpmPptnUFCwLcK3GYVeyGVJ3wGhYnST_yowPk9cQ97cn9PvU_64K3ML5iRq6IcJDToyuquAPlYgvsyRltnwiZBP0u16yYKVH4qSypJtgAPfiSEkkoWeWJytXsnvUZxvcd_b89ASeP4qhpvIqZPxAeUr1lVKNxIuyTw/s3848/walking%20Black%20Hand%20Gorge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3848" data-original-width="3848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n-LmJq0K6TGvqXgUBvZmmpmPptnUFCwLcK3GYVeyGVJ3wGhYnST_yowPk9cQ97cn9PvU_64K3ML5iRq6IcJDToyuquAPlYgvsyRltnwiZBP0u16yYKVH4qSypJtgAPfiSEkkoWeWJytXsnvUZxvcd_b89ASeP4qhpvIqZPxAeUr1lVKNxIuyTw/w400-h400/walking%20Black%20Hand%20Gorge.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>3. Tuesday, January 2nd was our Little Warrior's fourteenth birthday. How did he want to celebrate? By a visit to Dayton's Air Force Museum. Five of us piled into our car and made the drive down there and spent the day wandering around several of the museum's many hangars which are filled floor to ceiling (literally) with planes, helicopters, a few tanks and so many displays of various wars and eras.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MYnkqmVKSgNsgemXtYNRScF1kNImvvUqAueGVhAWWQ_jLQx4nvv3ccq0mJTpfUHBiqBQWVKMw80l60F00t86xb3YTcmxV4LmfUMjWUE877Yc4fzY-eyuB5o24wPwK83Wc90ZfWZV2aMYQNOCCUTLln0jeXbNxaMAJB6XeyeiFUyEau_tBBGWSg/s4000/Air%20Force%20Museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2575" data-original-width="4000" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MYnkqmVKSgNsgemXtYNRScF1kNImvvUqAueGVhAWWQ_jLQx4nvv3ccq0mJTpfUHBiqBQWVKMw80l60F00t86xb3YTcmxV4LmfUMjWUE877Yc4fzY-eyuB5o24wPwK83Wc90ZfWZV2aMYQNOCCUTLln0jeXbNxaMAJB6XeyeiFUyEau_tBBGWSg/w400-h258/Air%20Force%20Museum.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This quilt naming all the US Air Force bases was hanging in one of the hallways.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3r2Yet-YC8HBs7-BlEvNqLRSd6xQ1bIPZa58BG6qM-WEJXAKu2LnvRYePwcDPs6m0RIS3jogvx0BzYXQPmV31BonAZ5xYfkwV9kqDD8bMX5lDpNnx13oNy7jYjhLu39Yf1VgS7V23DahKUYaH1iq6N1XDzgmlZd_0R85TiUzII1Dhf5gakVhNg/s4000/IMG_9131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3r2Yet-YC8HBs7-BlEvNqLRSd6xQ1bIPZa58BG6qM-WEJXAKu2LnvRYePwcDPs6m0RIS3jogvx0BzYXQPmV31BonAZ5xYfkwV9kqDD8bMX5lDpNnx13oNy7jYjhLu39Yf1VgS7V23DahKUYaH1iq6N1XDzgmlZd_0R85TiUzII1Dhf5gakVhNg/w400-h400/IMG_9131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZLT0nl6a9WvzGmhNY4KFVT5qnu65rGr0LnUXut888bYPBLI_AiESAjFChQD54ilDAocKZSn69u83qp7EbS9fE5-le9V_RfsPYwSSMESi9ano2fKMJy4ZiMLt6isQelziONAgImcmYmxfVYM_8IvUWyAwuvf3WJds_tkKqekyaM1kBS4AmXtmrg/s4000/IMG_9134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZLT0nl6a9WvzGmhNY4KFVT5qnu65rGr0LnUXut888bYPBLI_AiESAjFChQD54ilDAocKZSn69u83qp7EbS9fE5-le9V_RfsPYwSSMESi9ano2fKMJy4ZiMLt6isQelziONAgImcmYmxfVYM_8IvUWyAwuvf3WJds_tkKqekyaM1kBS4AmXtmrg/w400-h400/IMG_9134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>4. A finished vest. This vest was knitted in a simple garter stitch pattern. The yarn came as a gift from a friend who is moving and getting rid of all the yarn she doesn't want. Green Mountain Spinnery's Mountain Mohair. 70% wool, 30% mohair. Charcoal gray color titled Raven. It's a very warm vest, which is what I need in January and February.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cM8M2fE3zuaAXPOAsm_UlS-JEfPSHqEAN8XHRMl1aeB8U7UWjetmq9qxFlq5K8Vf6dF06ytN8POAekSK-KiUgEYoiDw3jbPGUE1QdH_qFWkIS7m6tBcRz7tbqJ0B3oxpxxXiVJOTPjKLDp3PyjqVuPY9dLV32nQNG3tijJIujnEhM8fuhoZXmQ/s3912/grey%20garter%20vest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3912" data-original-width="2811" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cM8M2fE3zuaAXPOAsm_UlS-JEfPSHqEAN8XHRMl1aeB8U7UWjetmq9qxFlq5K8Vf6dF06ytN8POAekSK-KiUgEYoiDw3jbPGUE1QdH_qFWkIS7m6tBcRz7tbqJ0B3oxpxxXiVJOTPjKLDp3PyjqVuPY9dLV32nQNG3tijJIujnEhM8fuhoZXmQ/w288-h400/grey%20garter%20vest.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><p>5. I was able to do some deep cleaning this week. Laundry room and kitchen. My goal is to deep clean every room this winter. This week was a good start to my goal.</p><p>There it is. Five good things from this cold cold cold first week of January 2024.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-25667086506009741372023-12-31T16:40:00.000-08:002023-12-31T16:40:51.840-08:00Photo Recap for 2023<p> I spent some time scrolling through the photos I took in 2023 and chose a picture from each month. OK, a couple of times, I chose two. And evidently I didn't really take any photos in April.</p><p>Anyway, enjoy!</p><p style="text-align: center;">JANUARY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT9XB9yDmuSUrXwviWccKJC0Heg71stOp93DRxImmtFF28QMEgL8dKz7vB5iayI7Q_CH73PVV-JeH2Yqxbyq2O-vBDZs5SxE9d773F8pA8kn7tCn00MHdVCZkK52AeYo0XfS_PsthI5A6zbEvAdWwvqVRV_7hQZlKfMWzlSIk0cLCB5bGCeakHA/s6000/January%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3368" data-original-width="6000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT9XB9yDmuSUrXwviWccKJC0Heg71stOp93DRxImmtFF28QMEgL8dKz7vB5iayI7Q_CH73PVV-JeH2Yqxbyq2O-vBDZs5SxE9d773F8pA8kn7tCn00MHdVCZkK52AeYo0XfS_PsthI5A6zbEvAdWwvqVRV_7hQZlKfMWzlSIk0cLCB5bGCeakHA/w400-h225/January%20choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">FEBRUARY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u2MJBZw6vJhrQxich9xFshAsED9mH7vWxCdY4kcI5jfyQ-UxHFKNQRz3EhI5Y8O0R7MJlExGilL6yAeccjr0RvnWoWvraAoLUAgFlDdzTZDTQMTO8d16BDjwqHPhB8_TLHG0hXrVTOhyj3ViXX3boPCu_IyFEaCgaFLVrNhu6o0m4JaTXP_dPg/s5969/February%20choice2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3351" data-original-width="5969" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u2MJBZw6vJhrQxich9xFshAsED9mH7vWxCdY4kcI5jfyQ-UxHFKNQRz3EhI5Y8O0R7MJlExGilL6yAeccjr0RvnWoWvraAoLUAgFlDdzTZDTQMTO8d16BDjwqHPhB8_TLHG0hXrVTOhyj3ViXX3boPCu_IyFEaCgaFLVrNhu6o0m4JaTXP_dPg/w400-h225/February%20choice2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPNLl3kn8LNx7W5UyH7-6cn5zWbzrtNloQUFQWtG86tGKBbP-HCsuhFueJzldSXYO8VQXnq432-PZ1RRuEtRvVa1tHpqsbxdNh-m07Bfa_D8rcWNAS4wQfrdEY_te3jhXQWY3NXD0c_kKLzHLoDUa86quL4rmRwOMVX4V844oknqrLdPRCM9H2A/s6000/February%20choice1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3368" data-original-width="6000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPNLl3kn8LNx7W5UyH7-6cn5zWbzrtNloQUFQWtG86tGKBbP-HCsuhFueJzldSXYO8VQXnq432-PZ1RRuEtRvVa1tHpqsbxdNh-m07Bfa_D8rcWNAS4wQfrdEY_te3jhXQWY3NXD0c_kKLzHLoDUa86quL4rmRwOMVX4V844oknqrLdPRCM9H2A/w400-h225/February%20choice1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MARCH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEamw6KwgTqeRl28VxCVsoZihFwTWZtSDjyoopH2bow9CMWhQFbBCLswlGsZFHHcYKbKVmRqFrbWKDbFCuJAHgKXh-LdwWmu-cEmg-m1vS5PRYIonQTjXeIvSUev_3rDkJpQ6FWwRv4wAWMik-Xj13NfLtYPau5Pbi9MZiLXiE3SZdC6i86LihHQ/s3261/March%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3027" data-original-width="3261" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEamw6KwgTqeRl28VxCVsoZihFwTWZtSDjyoopH2bow9CMWhQFbBCLswlGsZFHHcYKbKVmRqFrbWKDbFCuJAHgKXh-LdwWmu-cEmg-m1vS5PRYIonQTjXeIvSUev_3rDkJpQ6FWwRv4wAWMik-Xj13NfLtYPau5Pbi9MZiLXiE3SZdC6i86LihHQ/w400-h371/March%20choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">APRIL</p><p style="text-align: center;">I got nothin'.</p><p style="text-align: center;">MAY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w2uZH9xSLDh644H1GQlwJy0OFeVg9dFsvEe2v4Ayhny1tzgS0h2Vs9JfJKbH34YJbjW8sqqY4s2chx806_IF-1DlAnCWrBobfdW5K_J1vEBIXWrzhh9P7xs3b6i4sgVTG1o_YsdTlliUxIBFI8nXiihCByhGVOdSRpjty2NpdYvBJ7JyeQWEsg/s6000/May%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="3368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w2uZH9xSLDh644H1GQlwJy0OFeVg9dFsvEe2v4Ayhny1tzgS0h2Vs9JfJKbH34YJbjW8sqqY4s2chx806_IF-1DlAnCWrBobfdW5K_J1vEBIXWrzhh9P7xs3b6i4sgVTG1o_YsdTlliUxIBFI8nXiihCByhGVOdSRpjty2NpdYvBJ7JyeQWEsg/w360-h640/May%20choice.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">JUNE</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoeLYCostkzym_rdQnB0ZjFZZutGNATcGHykrOXRZPsosiBBErdZMNSZK4wmzlqVhYK7lS7_ZLwTPo7FITYMJ1x-Md1Vg73Izzp99MSSUP9ukGjgIiq1Nn9W9dgIgVvu-DOTkKHer9_t7_I0UC6itJpNS7aU29OhbYHpQwrXcaREt_uGLY7DqLQ/s5919/June%20choice1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3323" data-original-width="5919" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoeLYCostkzym_rdQnB0ZjFZZutGNATcGHykrOXRZPsosiBBErdZMNSZK4wmzlqVhYK7lS7_ZLwTPo7FITYMJ1x-Md1Vg73Izzp99MSSUP9ukGjgIiq1Nn9W9dgIgVvu-DOTkKHer9_t7_I0UC6itJpNS7aU29OhbYHpQwrXcaREt_uGLY7DqLQ/w400-h225/June%20choice1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">JULY</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VEQUfvm9RVBchnSeM2jfhedm9pYVQZYfaMyEdiB2YpmEdvse79mys8epjPsYC14cIZtbWd_21P5i8tXA0aidjHXoTr-XO6wQhlgJ9iFEDpB_Bum2EW4QG_racPCJ_mefGqVE19R2zgoHCaaeQBaMzvisemSwlzNAZ_k23MMmN0CUarxtzrFT4Q/s5316/July%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3368" data-original-width="5316" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VEQUfvm9RVBchnSeM2jfhedm9pYVQZYfaMyEdiB2YpmEdvse79mys8epjPsYC14cIZtbWd_21P5i8tXA0aidjHXoTr-XO6wQhlgJ9iFEDpB_Bum2EW4QG_racPCJ_mefGqVE19R2zgoHCaaeQBaMzvisemSwlzNAZ_k23MMmN0CUarxtzrFT4Q/w400-h254/July%20choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">AUGUST</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_smH_V2HgQikWcVuj_SgyHb5dwnsRLLSY0OtWzRe1vhlZDD286k3T7JoDTZG1eEkxnja27FecPa_GsmmPsfy9oE0WWDb2N9UyDHSqpxFDQ-3KPsEBi2j0LGuBb0ewvem8HUsUHv-e28nskidqcEjd1nBly14TEq0VMhr8nbgcEsM6AJjdLPK5g/s5570/August%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5570" data-original-width="3368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_smH_V2HgQikWcVuj_SgyHb5dwnsRLLSY0OtWzRe1vhlZDD286k3T7JoDTZG1eEkxnja27FecPa_GsmmPsfy9oE0WWDb2N9UyDHSqpxFDQ-3KPsEBi2j0LGuBb0ewvem8HUsUHv-e28nskidqcEjd1nBly14TEq0VMhr8nbgcEsM6AJjdLPK5g/w386-h640/August%20choice.JPG" width="386" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">SEPTEMBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NRJckOS0jVIFI4Rnbl54yW0h9AyXKHkpx4DIM_OCEagpN8XPAVtaE25WBmSpyS13HHJ_oWEvLej7Bzeu1LqXtzWWwlC480oseotrvh5GfQ5r93IcyQCsrco66AUdm9lFteTVQF0Zoy6_8zeiuGA0veiiOB-6s69gv2bGATLEZIkffoEo6i0rcg/s4000/maybe%20Sept%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NRJckOS0jVIFI4Rnbl54yW0h9AyXKHkpx4DIM_OCEagpN8XPAVtaE25WBmSpyS13HHJ_oWEvLej7Bzeu1LqXtzWWwlC480oseotrvh5GfQ5r93IcyQCsrco66AUdm9lFteTVQF0Zoy6_8zeiuGA0veiiOB-6s69gv2bGATLEZIkffoEo6i0rcg/w400-h400/maybe%20Sept%20choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrCBieOCgCf_U4z8FfgESgIhOumiru0SrjqoMvOROQkUWXAeInrtU-ELXFE4JO2VyiAyBYqDRfDrsi7pVbJh6f62Vu9pzxj6v500aej4DyGWa_hk9euMpV-zDB8t7Iaq62rQlf-FTT91Qfj2jDkMu1lluZ3JYTbr1xl3XzqEaGeuzhbMmmup61Q/s4000/Sept%20choice%20painted%20desert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrCBieOCgCf_U4z8FfgESgIhOumiru0SrjqoMvOROQkUWXAeInrtU-ELXFE4JO2VyiAyBYqDRfDrsi7pVbJh6f62Vu9pzxj6v500aej4DyGWa_hk9euMpV-zDB8t7Iaq62rQlf-FTT91Qfj2jDkMu1lluZ3JYTbr1xl3XzqEaGeuzhbMmmup61Q/w400-h400/Sept%20choice%20painted%20desert.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">OCTOBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj141BxDXhf-EuBeR-WHn92aS5KSy_ij7Wpu6lwDpqPA8OsxGB8s5qL_8cUTOjT5G2Pekq_HFpMzsREINIjmi9d-RscDblVrGiYjFtMNOwqSo0xHuoCHkmwoXSnIl9pTz84mX9sT5PmyVz0C8vznAYfSqXuB5pCNmau982TJx6SmsMW-Exl_wzOpA/s4000/October%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj141BxDXhf-EuBeR-WHn92aS5KSy_ij7Wpu6lwDpqPA8OsxGB8s5qL_8cUTOjT5G2Pekq_HFpMzsREINIjmi9d-RscDblVrGiYjFtMNOwqSo0xHuoCHkmwoXSnIl9pTz84mX9sT5PmyVz0C8vznAYfSqXuB5pCNmau982TJx6SmsMW-Exl_wzOpA/w400-h400/October%20choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">NOVEMBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAGf2fMFfp1bAYvPEApvfbEx5PrI0OMvFtsfw0eT8PpOJuer97AitvLI0hlTHY3_cOCd6lXY7Sc8b9DErvNTPXXyvX3i62cbe_ByxsAE4MfWeAw8TJogxFEO0HSSR8PhJuOFUyb4O75rEKJ7CsA3vLzUEanZAlw9W9Wh7DZ8WkKW7jrtlkuq0ww/s3561/November%20choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="3561" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAGf2fMFfp1bAYvPEApvfbEx5PrI0OMvFtsfw0eT8PpOJuer97AitvLI0hlTHY3_cOCd6lXY7Sc8b9DErvNTPXXyvX3i62cbe_ByxsAE4MfWeAw8TJogxFEO0HSSR8PhJuOFUyb4O75rEKJ7CsA3vLzUEanZAlw9W9Wh7DZ8WkKW7jrtlkuq0ww/w400-h264/November%20choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">DECEMBER</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkhr8dV3eTc0NLmOwnlzQuqVCIdpuQdRx90qj1ZM46DwsTsbQ5FHl3u5gDIXBu-GA9NoPtE2jySG6Zq2beYrePE62dFxoUT-iI-UQAPP6wEyW_s82D0r_rjUbhtXuhyd-UHCGva9MlDyObjPsgSuPpkN-y-pvjPzqidIYaweaiy1f4CdVxNmjfg/s3709/December%20choice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="3709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkhr8dV3eTc0NLmOwnlzQuqVCIdpuQdRx90qj1ZM46DwsTsbQ5FHl3u5gDIXBu-GA9NoPtE2jySG6Zq2beYrePE62dFxoUT-iI-UQAPP6wEyW_s82D0r_rjUbhtXuhyd-UHCGva9MlDyObjPsgSuPpkN-y-pvjPzqidIYaweaiy1f4CdVxNmjfg/w400-h320/December%20choice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-27164917936244049632023-12-29T08:02:00.000-08:002023-12-29T08:04:00.401-08:00The Week Between<p> Good Friday morning! Here we are in the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Many people consider this time a 'holding pattern'. For us at Willow's Cottage, this week has been filled with family. I am so thankful for so much. Here in my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> I am only touching on a small amount of the wonder of Christmas at the Cottage.</p><p>1. Of course the arrival and visit of Younger Son (shall I call him Dr. Mike?) is the absolute best. We had not seen him for more than a year as he now lives in San Diego.</p><p>2. All the breakfasts, lunches and dinners shared with family. Christmas Eve was pasta. Christmas Morning was The Professor's coffee cake along with all sorts of eggs and bacon/sausage. Dinner was take out that we brought in from Thai and Chinese restaurants (we were cooked out...). The rest of the week has been meals together to eat all.the.leftovers. What feasts of abundance!</p><p>3. Phone calls from our missing Older Son (Chaplain Dan) and his family, including PAL.</p><p>4. I managed to catch a few photos. Three of the four kids. Three of the four grandkids.</p><p style="text-align: center;">No, you can't open your stockings yet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkl7gwALbf93MVQfUwJFBaLKCGJqU2_JxPrjhZGldejXO3iuRJV2CZHvTIypOrggY0Br8xBGrEwsxXAKHrML2Dor4c-Coo_zPJkoPPcFsH69Fwe_agkg6QbC4Km6DencjI36KSi5uDvyVinSUNVWPMZVul1Ie0b2oA5phlraYPM66sCb4VLO8-A/s4000/IMG_9108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkl7gwALbf93MVQfUwJFBaLKCGJqU2_JxPrjhZGldejXO3iuRJV2CZHvTIypOrggY0Br8xBGrEwsxXAKHrML2Dor4c-Coo_zPJkoPPcFsH69Fwe_agkg6QbC4Km6DencjI36KSi5uDvyVinSUNVWPMZVul1Ie0b2oA5phlraYPM66sCb4VLO8-A/w400-h400/IMG_9108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Say Cheese!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxcBE83phUSwiBsVjKpvRPkjRh4jKu0epHcOYTuo-a-GiNqtSY6vmiSaKJfbFY0fybxO4y4sdYU2qlHfO32vPM_FxB4xIOFhhaux8iNQXW7B4kw2zt4NUD72WtvzVq9LYqGsUvqJtiBzBm4Lfx1TLxXG2EOOmnwAc8Z5o8S_uPN5xeNeZqkAgIA/s4000/IMG_9107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxcBE83phUSwiBsVjKpvRPkjRh4jKu0epHcOYTuo-a-GiNqtSY6vmiSaKJfbFY0fybxO4y4sdYU2qlHfO32vPM_FxB4xIOFhhaux8iNQXW7B4kw2zt4NUD72WtvzVq9LYqGsUvqJtiBzBm4Lfx1TLxXG2EOOmnwAc8Z5o8S_uPN5xeNeZqkAgIA/w400-h400/IMG_9107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Just chillin'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ0-yISU2jPALeigLMpkcK-5bUg7KwlF1MM1_EEAAjR9oKKWCrtUNSMI4K___SIxJOJjXm4rc0JTFxUI6pg0d7lh2YJheqjsA-66tXtzxEczEub9kY1iQQtLHQYJoJ6J2FWYVfOhk-ccIAdAz8skfQCgq2KYjIRlYFV_Rw8d22yvCp_9dmiMnGA/s4000/IMG_9112.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ0-yISU2jPALeigLMpkcK-5bUg7KwlF1MM1_EEAAjR9oKKWCrtUNSMI4K___SIxJOJjXm4rc0JTFxUI6pg0d7lh2YJheqjsA-66tXtzxEczEub9kY1iQQtLHQYJoJ6J2FWYVfOhk-ccIAdAz8skfQCgq2KYjIRlYFV_Rw8d22yvCp_9dmiMnGA/w400-h400/IMG_9112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>5. Are you noticing a theme here? Family! I am thankful for family including lots and lots of texts from my brother and sister-in-law in Oregon. One topic was our father's birthday, December 27th. Dad would have been 101!</p><p style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite photos--Dad standing by the Old Columbia River Highway at the tunnel. 1942.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuBPvF0hjlWC8Kigqd6ST_ikxPOcUGVuC4jNw20ybfuo7hgENJ7zgkZl2bIJ30s-mLfP8OpLslgtWXzljpuIvPy0ksNf_noVvwruMoWIio6P80BwHLjV_NfmazTfnb8SSmSxA9ne47OVEBJthBsRVjDiX7ht3uFzC9B-4_vA6Precpj6ZD7Xkmw/s1308/Frank%20Trigg%20Columbia%20River%201942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="798" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuBPvF0hjlWC8Kigqd6ST_ikxPOcUGVuC4jNw20ybfuo7hgENJ7zgkZl2bIJ30s-mLfP8OpLslgtWXzljpuIvPy0ksNf_noVvwruMoWIio6P80BwHLjV_NfmazTfnb8SSmSxA9ne47OVEBJthBsRVjDiX7ht3uFzC9B-4_vA6Precpj6ZD7Xkmw/w390-h640/Frank%20Trigg%20Columbia%20River%201942.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><p>Bonus: Our weather wasn't frightful, except for the rain, so we were able to get out to walk twice on the paved trails near our home. We really needed the exercise!</p><p>I hope you enjoyed your Week Between and found many blessings, too.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-70180613490418957612023-12-25T07:09:00.000-08:002023-12-25T07:09:27.145-08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!<p style="text-align: center;"><b> The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">John 1:14a</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95a8sNRr_QN9QXNwzd0MTrvxM20TIlmn8eKW3s2W-rcEVZUbZCZdOB_mwG4LdBtuy0tzy_NfUKTrx4Tj7AIsUk3UjYMO8HRzen1MpJxLvcqXJkK3rwNpVvwgRi2SQZdhhEitIKU_6YPItvoVKKL1GPm9Gvo-vVad3eaF9FfsK3KzB1Lduyg_lLg/s1426/Christmas%20walk%20creche%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1426" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95a8sNRr_QN9QXNwzd0MTrvxM20TIlmn8eKW3s2W-rcEVZUbZCZdOB_mwG4LdBtuy0tzy_NfUKTrx4Tj7AIsUk3UjYMO8HRzen1MpJxLvcqXJkK3rwNpVvwgRi2SQZdhhEitIKU_6YPItvoVKKL1GPm9Gvo-vVad3eaF9FfsK3KzB1Lduyg_lLg/w400-h181/Christmas%20walk%20creche%20cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas to you from Willow's Cottage!</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-13800801349403882022023-12-22T08:12:00.000-08:002023-12-22T08:13:54.897-08:00Almost Christmas!<p> First, thank you to all who sent get well wishes last week. Thankfully, I am feeling so much better especially since Christmas weekend is almost here. As I fell asleep last night, I realized that for the first time in at least two weeks I wasn't coughing constantly. I really am getting well!</p><p>This is the Friday before Christmas. All through my house, I have lights, red and green fabrics and decor, and little piles of Christmas cards. There is so much to be thankful for this Christmas of 2023. Here are my<a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> <span style="color: red;"><b>Friday Fave Fives</b></span> </a>which I had to narrow down to just five things I noticed this week that are this season's blessings.</p><p>1. I was well enough to attend a very dear and sweet friend's birthday party Sunday afternoon (yes, I tested negative for c-vid) and then an open house time at other friends' home.</p><p>2. On Monday, we had our first snow! It is now melted, but it was lovely to watch while it lasted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRF8OtQZyaP_TOvDd25kQzYakxk5GrCsk5itnTtbOE94Eu0Uw-_VzRb5syB9ciocgd6vdq5KaUvREfXCLwcPHcyNtuCwvcM5aVV6oIOMfDf-39jM8nCNxtUWThRbNydrS_NSdAEmLOjEhnRswyETau9rhueGr6x_GiMQXQmLrHt3SwYcDPhW4dQ/s4128/first%20snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRF8OtQZyaP_TOvDd25kQzYakxk5GrCsk5itnTtbOE94Eu0Uw-_VzRb5syB9ciocgd6vdq5KaUvREfXCLwcPHcyNtuCwvcM5aVV6oIOMfDf-39jM8nCNxtUWThRbNydrS_NSdAEmLOjEhnRswyETau9rhueGr6x_GiMQXQmLrHt3SwYcDPhW4dQ/w400-h300/first%20snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>3. I finished that last baby blanket (last week's mention) and we delivered it to the parents on Tuesday so they can give it to their son for Christmas. A bit out of focus, but the pictures show all the colors. If you want details on the pattern, <a href="https://willowscottage.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2023-11-03T12:29:00-07:00" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> is the link to the post I wrote for the other afghan I made. Simply Soft yarns, size 8 needles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56Bs4yc6ihlRQyJ3TQ6my1ynzPEWeqgJUk9N2o0Gy6LWaHk5JnigTyBFckoSr3xk4KdBbOcn0qs8oTCDBA2-lCeC3z_Ghv6sBB8Oc9RWa_4XDMRu7L3VPcQJ4RzKgcfiSLz1FIc56UErVv9iwyYtaBicVdjtMQmv7U8YMRO-B1IrQO9R5yiwdmw/s3799/Highland%20blanket.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3569" data-original-width="3799" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56Bs4yc6ihlRQyJ3TQ6my1ynzPEWeqgJUk9N2o0Gy6LWaHk5JnigTyBFckoSr3xk4KdBbOcn0qs8oTCDBA2-lCeC3z_Ghv6sBB8Oc9RWa_4XDMRu7L3VPcQJ4RzKgcfiSLz1FIc56UErVv9iwyYtaBicVdjtMQmv7U8YMRO-B1IrQO9R5yiwdmw/w400-h376/Highland%20blanket.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oyGM8v6m-G3ogyjs5bTQ6M01T8Vq8aRBlTN4jurArG6KfT1J7nKGFtmDJtf6vkRzPdFYmsqd5vek6dC83SwpQ_1gHX8lKSZlRnuM0dnNjjgv3j1lPU2Y2WORczHCNPAraLA6yp0SYl0NDTJ2ZVqGlzH-ICo2_ty-t1N7oMWaqdLLbc7bSanBSg/s4000/Highland%20blanket2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3683" data-original-width="4000" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oyGM8v6m-G3ogyjs5bTQ6M01T8Vq8aRBlTN4jurArG6KfT1J7nKGFtmDJtf6vkRzPdFYmsqd5vek6dC83SwpQ_1gHX8lKSZlRnuM0dnNjjgv3j1lPU2Y2WORczHCNPAraLA6yp0SYl0NDTJ2ZVqGlzH-ICo2_ty-t1N7oMWaqdLLbc7bSanBSg/w400-h369/Highland%20blanket2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>4. The weather was warm and sunny, so I took my first walk since being sick. A half mile may not seem like much, but it was something to celebrate that I could walk that far and not feel completely fatigued.</p><p>5. Do you enjoy cleaning? Evidently, I'm one of those weird ones who like to clean and organize. Younger Daughter requested my help in doing some deep cleaning at their house, so I spent much of Thursday there at the Hive (we call it the Hive because they are all busy as bees). It truly does give me great joy and I am thankful I have the energy to do it.</p><p>Bonus: And now...we excitedly await tonight's arrival of Younger Son from San Diego who is coming for Christmas!</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-20470969685297023762023-12-15T08:00:00.000-08:002023-12-15T08:08:41.947-08:00There Are Always Blessings, No Matter What<p>I certainly did not imagine that, ever, I would write a post about being thankful for catching that nasty virus the world has labeled C-v-d. And yet, here I am, searching my foggy brain for Five Faves from this week. I'm sure we would all agree that we are thankful that we are able drink, eat, breathe. Last week, I thought I was dealing with a nasty cold. Nope. Tests on Saturday showed those dreaded black lines. But as I Thessalonians 5:18 states, "Give thanks in all circumstances." So here are my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b>, giving thanks even in the circumstances of illness. (the link takes you to Susanne's blog where she collects our links)</p><p>1. I have finished reading several books. Some I had started but not finished. Others were on the table staring at me, waiting for me to pick them up. So as soon as I had the energy to pick up a book and open its pages and when I had the ability to focus, I read three, maybe four? books So I am thankful for quiet reading time.</p><p>2. When your eyes won't focus any more on the words in the book, you pick up your knitting. I finished my last baby afghan for the year. Again, it is blocks of different colors randomly arranged. This one is for a little boy who can use it to snuggle and learn to identify the names of the colors. Sorry, no photos at this point. My recovery hasn't quite made it to photographing anything.</p><p>3. Being confined indoors and basically without energy to do much, I am thankful that the sun was shining in through our windows and cheering the whole house.</p><p>4. I am thankful for a healing body. Maybe TMI here, but ALL the mucus that one has to cough out of their throat, nose and sinuses, is the result of our amazing white blood cells sacrificing themselves to help us heal. Yes, I knew that, but I am thankful that The Professor reminded me so I would not be grumpy about constantly blowing my nose and coughing up all that muck.</p><p>5. Not quite sure how to phrase this as a fave--- Older Daughter loves to dance. She's a member of the local youth ballet (which also has classes for adults). We had tickets for their last performance in a beautiful theatre in a nearby town. Sadly, I missed it. But I am thankful that all the rest of our family (plus friends T and S) were able to attend. </p><p>So, my friends, I hope you are well, and if you're not, you still find the goodness of God in your life. And enjoy some poinsettias from my photo archives.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZTm1m9-01qulo_BxI_yjUisjN06Jp7qjvYHSzbMsC4prru8avDLPOZ6CFhHI0sKw2DavIUJaldJoG0hExlhTLG9IK2bvaWITSxmx5uYAB_Vilao0AEmPssIJr2lucOG4LSbXB9qIIqtRApWvYGOfZnfLcBqGLS9RJbqG4E9JB8yLaQChAAGzWw/s2272/poinsettias2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZTm1m9-01qulo_BxI_yjUisjN06Jp7qjvYHSzbMsC4prru8avDLPOZ6CFhHI0sKw2DavIUJaldJoG0hExlhTLG9IK2bvaWITSxmx5uYAB_Vilao0AEmPssIJr2lucOG4LSbXB9qIIqtRApWvYGOfZnfLcBqGLS9RJbqG4E9JB8yLaQChAAGzWw/w400-h300/poinsettias2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3grWwaprreQtEitpedUpm_MfqFrVLFPkFO88gQq97yTb2r5mn0GLEM6vRu2rDb8TsNYd95u5_44ckz9qwx9uhFHOB6rUlOyXZ_5i5jnaz_cfCJKlPbbdnvRPcSEsWYZiOUv7V2wlABq0C3j5b9WVSUZjDCfqruFBqyLCQMFrT-HMm6LsozMAPA/s2272/poinsettias3%20with%20tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3grWwaprreQtEitpedUpm_MfqFrVLFPkFO88gQq97yTb2r5mn0GLEM6vRu2rDb8TsNYd95u5_44ckz9qwx9uhFHOB6rUlOyXZ_5i5jnaz_cfCJKlPbbdnvRPcSEsWYZiOUv7V2wlABq0C3j5b9WVSUZjDCfqruFBqyLCQMFrT-HMm6LsozMAPA/w400-h300/poinsettias3%20with%20tag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMj6z-EGbdvo5NXBJ1rJ_fp4C_uU3ZIQ6QyD02h_Wyy4P-z7AXNR3RkgUgx_Kb-cLs3iooE4AKcnbniIy_uOlJRW0AtR_8GbR_ONvmERLBZSJTv5SyO-nAB-Yyk82NmHGAZV1fTYACqEenyp2d5izxr_GuJ5-oRZxDD85RL4XXc-h1hdZfIMs1hQ/s1153/poinsettias%20on%20Camarillo%20Grove%20Park%20Roadcr2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1153" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMj6z-EGbdvo5NXBJ1rJ_fp4C_uU3ZIQ6QyD02h_Wyy4P-z7AXNR3RkgUgx_Kb-cLs3iooE4AKcnbniIy_uOlJRW0AtR_8GbR_ONvmERLBZSJTv5SyO-nAB-Yyk82NmHGAZV1fTYACqEenyp2d5izxr_GuJ5-oRZxDD85RL4XXc-h1hdZfIMs1hQ/w400-h256/poinsettias%20on%20Camarillo%20Grove%20Park%20Roadcr2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-46063260825092335162023-12-08T11:43:00.000-08:002023-12-08T14:51:50.179-08:00Soon<p>Hello to all my friends from around the world.</p><p>If you came here looking Friday Fave Fives, please return in a bit. I'm fighting what is most likely a cold and need some rest. Then I'll post my usual Five Blessings from the week, one of which will undoubtedly be that I am feeling better.</p><p>Until then...</p><p>Thanks for your patience. I am feeling some better. Here are my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> from this past week.</p><p>1. I am thankful for all the OTC helps I've been consuming. They really have helped me feel better. My favorite is still Cold Care tea from Traditional Medicinals.</p><p>2. I'm thankful The Professor has been doing so much to help me.</p><p>3. Can you imagine feeling sick and living in a cold house with no heat? I am so thankful for my heated home, cozy blankets, and warm clothes.</p><p>4. OK, on to other things... Last night (Thursday) we attended our first Sights and Sounds of Christmas. It is a tradition here and we loved walking around the center of our town and visiting eight churches and listening to Christmas music--bells and chimes, choirs, organs, harps and pianos. It was beautiful!</p><p>5. I love our library! And I am thankful for all the books I can read which I can request from the library. Especially when I am 'confined' to my recliner.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-49681871790231439802023-12-01T15:03:00.000-08:002023-12-01T15:03:47.290-08:00December Has Arrived<p> Hello December! We've made it through eleven months of this year. And wow, has it flown by so quickly. I really do need to slow down every week and contemplate what has happened, how I've been blessed and cared for. And the best way for me to do that is to focus and plan my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b>. (the link will take you where you can read more and share, too, if you want)</p><p>1. Baby, it's cold outside! I am thankful for my warm home and cuddly blankets!</p><p>2. We are starting to decorate for Christmas. Again, I am thankful for a home where I can celebrate Christmas season.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg8Fvst8A84-vw-iZvjyFldlA5RJwUZ3Ai8N2cxzk94EDAGgadKubVBFAYJIBkMsQxTAWJEu-E0dYDUsPDNOE9D417Gwzxhk_yzh7c-Tb6ZhV6uEVwcYSNNZTqyrnUSDInwPvm_jgJRqtitLmoh-6DOCzvC1-U3rSp232TGdbLoQ3KKoJYpGbCQ/s3951/fireplace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3951" data-original-width="3668" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg8Fvst8A84-vw-iZvjyFldlA5RJwUZ3Ai8N2cxzk94EDAGgadKubVBFAYJIBkMsQxTAWJEu-E0dYDUsPDNOE9D417Gwzxhk_yzh7c-Tb6ZhV6uEVwcYSNNZTqyrnUSDInwPvm_jgJRqtitLmoh-6DOCzvC1-U3rSp232TGdbLoQ3KKoJYpGbCQ/w371-h400/fireplace.JPG" width="371" /></a></div><p>3. Both of our daughters were traveling this past week. The weeks around Thanksgiving are the busiest of the year, and all kinds of delays, problems and cancelations can happen. But both are home safe and sound. For that, I am thankful.</p><p>4. We were invited to attend an event about one and a half hours drive northeast of us, in Amish country. After a wonderful buffet dinner, we walked over to the concert hall and enjoyed listening to <a href="https://www.thehoppers.com/" target="_blank">The Hoppers</a>, a Southern Gospel group. I love music, and it was great fun to spend the time with friends in the car, too.</p><p>5. And of course, I had an opportunity to grab photos of barns along the way (until it was dark...)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRuo1rqoeTHNye3PmblPajgJITDtAnfiWUm9NbrJFvLRgvHFHjF_fViBPVhOafU6N3GmttK32iEDiqUa8F1N5UiTzt2LnPN8AYc21lweBQ1LCCwsl0i4nnAWHOpyEo6VVNC_R75Iu82bLRggjaDUudsnAA5qmqA26QmoGATxdMm9HCqSR6BQwKg/s2679/red%20barn%20with%20quilt%20square.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2059" data-original-width="2679" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRuo1rqoeTHNye3PmblPajgJITDtAnfiWUm9NbrJFvLRgvHFHjF_fViBPVhOafU6N3GmttK32iEDiqUa8F1N5UiTzt2LnPN8AYc21lweBQ1LCCwsl0i4nnAWHOpyEo6VVNC_R75Iu82bLRggjaDUudsnAA5qmqA26QmoGATxdMm9HCqSR6BQwKg/s320/red%20barn%20with%20quilt%20square.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4bxb5wf1zUL6FaGLfl2CuQscZ5rgYJfEgXs6m27Q9VRlZZvI97gbwrZnagB4tsg7cS3yS7Pwy6XCyWjD9MOtk-NzptQkADOfXQdhbxIedOldraA_ePEuXI5tcxHWRME_yoAbzd7xHILlQjSsj0oirZ9oBEf4MoWVqaF1q0C9Q29ikj1NzXWJrg/s3195/brown%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3015" data-original-width="3195" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4bxb5wf1zUL6FaGLfl2CuQscZ5rgYJfEgXs6m27Q9VRlZZvI97gbwrZnagB4tsg7cS3yS7Pwy6XCyWjD9MOtk-NzptQkADOfXQdhbxIedOldraA_ePEuXI5tcxHWRME_yoAbzd7xHILlQjSsj0oirZ9oBEf4MoWVqaF1q0C9Q29ikj1NzXWJrg/w400-h378/brown%20barn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm75BjzuKdKiJ3wX6v5QZTcg5jEz1L0OFJ39wfKn2YwUPwSDPBkZuWyy0ocVFZsxq-GDYZ9qeMc5ggTr57XDJVEbJkri9l8Qq5yCLfdN-V86vcowfX3lVNKjY3XRCLt6HSEU6A2-hQdo_MknSKgbwlxCxDBFHIUU5oAVX3BMK664QqyLcTo-8VA/s3844/red%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3844" data-original-width="3844" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm75BjzuKdKiJ3wX6v5QZTcg5jEz1L0OFJ39wfKn2YwUPwSDPBkZuWyy0ocVFZsxq-GDYZ9qeMc5ggTr57XDJVEbJkri9l8Qq5yCLfdN-V86vcowfX3lVNKjY3XRCLt6HSEU6A2-hQdo_MknSKgbwlxCxDBFHIUU5oAVX3BMK664QqyLcTo-8VA/w400-h400/red%20barn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY0bXG2E1w944KKESNcKFMYQdRiYBabaa_3Zzf40vLM6C6ir3asjBtO2Tv18g3CGgT4AOU8ix-ZRMIq8oi3nd1dA5KRI74RY5u-GBeLojp0zr00sMTIvK2cxRNCWxfEUca88IrkagonpNBFq5WQd45rLi4mhiayrS3X5dZiXOETY6VLs5y3eiwg/s3306/red%20barn%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="3306" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY0bXG2E1w944KKESNcKFMYQdRiYBabaa_3Zzf40vLM6C6ir3asjBtO2Tv18g3CGgT4AOU8ix-ZRMIq8oi3nd1dA5KRI74RY5u-GBeLojp0zr00sMTIvK2cxRNCWxfEUca88IrkagonpNBFq5WQd45rLi4mhiayrS3X5dZiXOETY6VLs5y3eiwg/w400-h230/red%20barn%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-9342355944065938872023-11-24T06:29:00.000-08:002023-11-24T09:08:20.950-08:00Thanksgiving!<p> HAPPY THANKSGIVING! There is SO SO much to be thankful for! As I write these <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> for this week, I am full of food, full of memories, full of thankfulness. I am joining other bloggers to focus on the blessings of Thanksgiving week (and all the other weeks of the year).</p><p>1. Thanksgiving dinner was a win. Younger Daughter is in San Diego with ZG and Warrior Boy, so at our table were Older Daughter and Tall Boy and three lovely guests whose families are not in the area. It was a wonderful fun time sitting around the table, eating and talking and laughing.</p><p>2. We had more food than we could eat. That is a blessing. Left over food means more meals. And it means that we will not be hungry. We should never take an abundant table of delicious food for granted. As Tall Boy commented, he is thankful that he doesn't go to sleep at night hungry like many children in Africa do.</p><p>3. Earlier in the week, we spent a few wonderful hours with a couple who is planning a road trip to Oregon in January to attend a wedding. They have never driven west and knew we were seasoned travelers and lived in Oregon for many years. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and for us, a time of pulling up fun memories. I'm thankful for all the exciting, mundane, summer, fall, spring and winter travels we have experienced (and lived to tell the tale).</p><p>4, Tuesday nights are always special for The Professor, Tall Boy and Warrior Boy. That's the evening of the weekly meeting of their Trail Life troop (similar to Boy Scouts). This week was Court of Honor which included the passing out of badges earned and yearly renewing of the Trail Life pledge. I am so thankful that our area has such a vibrant and fun troop. And I'm thankful for all the friends our grandboys have made there and for the leaders who are The Professor's friends.</p><p>5. I am thankful for memories. Seven years ago, Older Daughter and I were in Dorchester, Dorset, England on Thanksgiving Day. Older Daughter mentioned our trip and where we enjoyed our own Thanksgiving Day tea in an historic tea house. That week, we walked the lovely streets, visited museums, ventured out to several historical sites. Dorchester is a town where you can walk everywhere. What wonderful memories!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Just a few visual memories...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqVbXhaaaRw2aDyARf110u_Rop8Iop0lJr5dL6CsW-qEQgz1ALkE_X_DGGHPFHiSB09HK-vJXLcDWKVF0e5X0UaaqvHjFupC-wJRxcOvFl-Ps2p5b9bK_ZbW4ctkMQOlInF1T1YAQKgcUf5ewiDHH0xwMydVCZR6wcvbJ1eQMAXnDEdzFBnf9sQ/s2272/signs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqVbXhaaaRw2aDyARf110u_Rop8Iop0lJr5dL6CsW-qEQgz1ALkE_X_DGGHPFHiSB09HK-vJXLcDWKVF0e5X0UaaqvHjFupC-wJRxcOvFl-Ps2p5b9bK_ZbW4ctkMQOlInF1T1YAQKgcUf5ewiDHH0xwMydVCZR6wcvbJ1eQMAXnDEdzFBnf9sQ/w300-h400/signs.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cKbaEFD76qZU6EF-t3-AGf2duVmiQep8RRgjTxf44MmwH9pYL_fwQTKDC2-TMNfMSMZtRyMQkX3PRkzIWhVlHlBr0lXcIf_pe_l2fXKWPHq0ZAfObyc8qzFCzHrpLis9kxXvN-m3p5c0Wsc8FmxsT0lsr89DEld8teIwmXWFvt_2LmakyaPOmw/s1668/church%20in%20Dorchester.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="1668" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cKbaEFD76qZU6EF-t3-AGf2duVmiQep8RRgjTxf44MmwH9pYL_fwQTKDC2-TMNfMSMZtRyMQkX3PRkzIWhVlHlBr0lXcIf_pe_l2fXKWPHq0ZAfObyc8qzFCzHrpLis9kxXvN-m3p5c0Wsc8FmxsT0lsr89DEld8teIwmXWFvt_2LmakyaPOmw/w400-h328/church%20in%20Dorchester.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZg9FrV9IZ5mbykzdEvrRRd2gzVBZz0cVHPR3wgIGhTysmi51maMhRV9QR9ZosnbVN4S9CI6pVCndlHR9yJxaGzMF6rFWqf-NQHJibssSN1wMukaco8pDaGMvg7pYreciyTdbS_Tmz7QdQAJIu2rLUNLhyphenhyphen1XpmzM1ZAysTzZh_v8dXViUFKidSA/s2272/Dorchester%20house.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZg9FrV9IZ5mbykzdEvrRRd2gzVBZz0cVHPR3wgIGhTysmi51maMhRV9QR9ZosnbVN4S9CI6pVCndlHR9yJxaGzMF6rFWqf-NQHJibssSN1wMukaco8pDaGMvg7pYreciyTdbS_Tmz7QdQAJIu2rLUNLhyphenhyphen1XpmzM1ZAysTzZh_v8dXViUFKidSA/w480-h640/Dorchester%20house.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiQQnCCKc-gdZdNgQtv0Px4if8-EduChx72kvxD6nFYUNmPh7zXe_GluSCbgGpThHQ144zELJGu6yj3wxZnwmCgIlRMfJJIRtzr3r9zfhRcpRN_MFev5H6qJRCCjSROcTTGegFHTytP2BTi9iJuCAkwTaeVFKg64NDEln8W2ju8Hn6TG5PP9RBw/s2272/Moundbury%20Ring3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiQQnCCKc-gdZdNgQtv0Px4if8-EduChx72kvxD6nFYUNmPh7zXe_GluSCbgGpThHQ144zELJGu6yj3wxZnwmCgIlRMfJJIRtzr3r9zfhRcpRN_MFev5H6qJRCCjSROcTTGegFHTytP2BTi9iJuCAkwTaeVFKg64NDEln8W2ju8Hn6TG5PP9RBw/w400-h300/Moundbury%20Ring3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv893pr7cHkFpIpeUb99MDj9mjZhtJQc_GISaKnZWJ9rOi7C99TZ-WnztiscXT5_QtRu0uppVVTuhUJ0i9HnO07Wo50099CUQRX1JRSgqioSkxI2_16mapFCgGj_LgEpc53BrkofzDa027sDfdsS-nZxG7YDiwHb6qdWjT9P-r2OA9sB00fGlhw/s2272/Roman%20Wall%20walk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv893pr7cHkFpIpeUb99MDj9mjZhtJQc_GISaKnZWJ9rOi7C99TZ-WnztiscXT5_QtRu0uppVVTuhUJ0i9HnO07Wo50099CUQRX1JRSgqioSkxI2_16mapFCgGj_LgEpc53BrkofzDa027sDfdsS-nZxG7YDiwHb6qdWjT9P-r2OA9sB00fGlhw/w300-h400/Roman%20Wall%20walk.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl1QXEhfQecu6MRN17B5Dsm20pk8a6u1rCBDFB4N5chsMAGQPNtCDbndCkpLlwc9BPI1S9wwGdOWI58nSl9NiZFVYIQKIOtaEX479Xb8bDT9sT5RUpQhPnw1_3m66U6xIs1lJehofuE_rKBk7i9Mfh5XKiwAW4kCFz4ii-Rb8K0SGRU8ZC1qLkw/s2272/view%20from%20The%20Keep3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2272" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl1QXEhfQecu6MRN17B5Dsm20pk8a6u1rCBDFB4N5chsMAGQPNtCDbndCkpLlwc9BPI1S9wwGdOWI58nSl9NiZFVYIQKIOtaEX479Xb8bDT9sT5RUpQhPnw1_3m66U6xIs1lJehofuE_rKBk7i9Mfh5XKiwAW4kCFz4ii-Rb8K0SGRU8ZC1qLkw/w400-h276/view%20from%20The%20Keep3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc35UufYJyviFPuzgiiMbsDSYOK51l1qK2ha9ZGJriV4mKcJqL_JgfyjRKClRy1KMeyuZdKZuCEphjX2BNxI_M26rXeX1v7eXF1t31KDbNlxtQZju8VMRAymT8TMpU6-JMdFl004OuaCj1WdtJgTsngDJAsvoGZOxojefMOhNkqclm_5tDbTSxnQ/s2272/moving%20sheep%20on%20Maiden%20Castle3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc35UufYJyviFPuzgiiMbsDSYOK51l1qK2ha9ZGJriV4mKcJqL_JgfyjRKClRy1KMeyuZdKZuCEphjX2BNxI_M26rXeX1v7eXF1t31KDbNlxtQZju8VMRAymT8TMpU6-JMdFl004OuaCj1WdtJgTsngDJAsvoGZOxojefMOhNkqclm_5tDbTSxnQ/w400-h300/moving%20sheep%20on%20Maiden%20Castle3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoAQ8J3_Ff6S4x7sHh25TgbCSgoJO2-z2xrKduHfWXIz0hxcA8fJ5hA6AkYxp010WPyO2V5nITPQOh3CU3ycx9Izqhkgkb1bKFpyOjef4ms7P-gAUxSjP-MJ924HKmrjFs7dbWqPUVyDfCk_6hoxbbus0pwSl3PQan3yBnZvGXGDkbSg6mfMwnA/s2272/Eleanor%20and%20sheep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoAQ8J3_Ff6S4x7sHh25TgbCSgoJO2-z2xrKduHfWXIz0hxcA8fJ5hA6AkYxp010WPyO2V5nITPQOh3CU3ycx9Izqhkgkb1bKFpyOjef4ms7P-gAUxSjP-MJ924HKmrjFs7dbWqPUVyDfCk_6hoxbbus0pwSl3PQan3yBnZvGXGDkbSg6mfMwnA/w300-h400/Eleanor%20and%20sheep.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQC3TxPZzGAI-QEZDa8RLe9pk3BZE4k5GOZ62B9cKtyda2al7OVIJ1CAIcyzq4nDYaDtzez87puigklvrvHZ7lqXm9oZ3TJCDy5CZrkpfcxCm5nBXEcaKMe6yNBsaENqtEWrcTS-SGHQs6KJ_FXh-FuP6QvpeVq_Y9L-TJSlksHvslwP0n0Eamw/s2272/River%20Fromme2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQC3TxPZzGAI-QEZDa8RLe9pk3BZE4k5GOZ62B9cKtyda2al7OVIJ1CAIcyzq4nDYaDtzez87puigklvrvHZ7lqXm9oZ3TJCDy5CZrkpfcxCm5nBXEcaKMe6yNBsaENqtEWrcTS-SGHQs6KJ_FXh-FuP6QvpeVq_Y9L-TJSlksHvslwP0n0Eamw/w400-h300/River%20Fromme2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-19874321800394916152023-11-17T18:10:00.000-08:002023-11-18T05:03:42.143-08:00Mid November Fave Fives<p>Yes, it is late on Friday night. Yes, I'm late posting my <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b>. Yes, I'm still thankful! (I am trying to post some photos but my phone isn't talkin with my laptop. I will keep trying.) Update: it took HOURS, but the photos finally downloaded in the middle of the night...</p><p>1. We had a warm and sunny week. (until today) I am thankful for the sunshine in November! I really should be thankful, too, for the rain today. We needed some moisture.</p><p>2. Over the weekend (Sunday night), Younger Daughter took us to our very first pro soccer game. And the Columbus Crew WON! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggojVeEhgE6Mkw1Rmt0leYmuEJk8ftM6R4SVOEm-inP_6UgPkud4SvHuylkZUzYyl9qi4bUba5zf6PboznqYf_QHPeIsIdqVVSwe9f_E-hZyNmoDn7AvkzOJHQIAuXXQL8_G5dJVR1oE4BBXHNVg72MFlJnYjB7im82L0CE6yXv41SzVJ1KN1shw/s4128/20231112_192936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggojVeEhgE6Mkw1Rmt0leYmuEJk8ftM6R4SVOEm-inP_6UgPkud4SvHuylkZUzYyl9qi4bUba5zf6PboznqYf_QHPeIsIdqVVSwe9f_E-hZyNmoDn7AvkzOJHQIAuXXQL8_G5dJVR1oE4BBXHNVg72MFlJnYjB7im82L0CE6yXv41SzVJ1KN1shw/s320/20231112_192936.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitdndDJohj71VT_a3dFjYgfHDF_MuKUbZgq76eG4DtUBGenDJ6SBGkXQ3VeRcY458g46fHz7AH4-Ytnwf6XbprofO1vyCLTg6eM73xKr9wZkan5fSFIfPqkb4NULvUACAZXKk6tmq8requnUQcDLfqMaCpV_K08bW-4BdLh_wMm9Lji9CzSCDcQ/s4128/20231112_193831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitdndDJohj71VT_a3dFjYgfHDF_MuKUbZgq76eG4DtUBGenDJ6SBGkXQ3VeRcY458g46fHz7AH4-Ytnwf6XbprofO1vyCLTg6eM73xKr9wZkan5fSFIfPqkb4NULvUACAZXKk6tmq8requnUQcDLfqMaCpV_K08bW-4BdLh_wMm9Lji9CzSCDcQ/w300-h400/20231112_193831.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX378TCrPZDrizaZqE6RhV6qUa_Y-XWPhU7DnR9zLpcP_qofrR8uiqkm3QBEBWXHiDhXPY_ZiTwJ-2pOYPGtT-I4PVpPG9KJNIdBB8Ue2mDoqVouGPYwn28dg4McOhVFw6vW-7CuDd_H80Q7T-tl4QkoLE9JxMYUwe83sV3S7VJEbi0lgScNP56Q/s4128/20231112_192917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX378TCrPZDrizaZqE6RhV6qUa_Y-XWPhU7DnR9zLpcP_qofrR8uiqkm3QBEBWXHiDhXPY_ZiTwJ-2pOYPGtT-I4PVpPG9KJNIdBB8Ue2mDoqVouGPYwn28dg4McOhVFw6vW-7CuDd_H80Q7T-tl4QkoLE9JxMYUwe83sV3S7VJEbi0lgScNP56Q/w400-h300/20231112_192917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykgU_7qvO0eN4LJtE0zmmsyRTOQM3U45JHHsH1VUulwuUQBQScOeCruJ9MimLikCMlcUHIo-KNJBWVXC-SoA7MjVq0NJfZ0cf221Wht4Ef-M3pjbwKNC26zZahO9jaaZN9o9qdhr-hRMqFf9STENe-4BGyj6SzedsmB3-vNUNJN-xURh_1w6iug/s4128/20231112_210153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykgU_7qvO0eN4LJtE0zmmsyRTOQM3U45JHHsH1VUulwuUQBQScOeCruJ9MimLikCMlcUHIo-KNJBWVXC-SoA7MjVq0NJfZ0cf221Wht4Ef-M3pjbwKNC26zZahO9jaaZN9o9qdhr-hRMqFf9STENe-4BGyj6SzedsmB3-vNUNJN-xURh_1w6iug/w300-h400/20231112_210153.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>3. Earlier in the week, we made a trip east about 30 miles to pick up my reframed counted cross stitch picture which I made for my grandmother a long long time ago. I love how it looks now and plan to hang it in this cottage of mine in memory of her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ijffJLq_RPu-0iyfaQ62_EOV1T1eMHcf7tJYueWN87oFRcVW-uuzCSbNSL8pruaa9fE2tl6cWGS6jo09jpk87W2R1q-EBDfzkXoWVNY-_49pvHG13NBFxfaqhf4pDkrMtuie3a-Rj8vP7reRJexjfy9QOMUC0WHIHRKKGVBtXZfBp1Fq5SqDmw/s2791/cross%20stitch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2791" data-original-width="2243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ijffJLq_RPu-0iyfaQ62_EOV1T1eMHcf7tJYueWN87oFRcVW-uuzCSbNSL8pruaa9fE2tl6cWGS6jo09jpk87W2R1q-EBDfzkXoWVNY-_49pvHG13NBFxfaqhf4pDkrMtuie3a-Rj8vP7reRJexjfy9QOMUC0WHIHRKKGVBtXZfBp1Fq5SqDmw/w321-h400/cross%20stitch.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><p>4. Since we were already out there, we decided to stop by and check out the A&W shop there. Yes, it is a real A&W store. And no, there were no car hops although there was a drive through window. Since we had brought sandwiches with us, we only purchased cups of root beer. I love finding these old fashioned places in random spots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LlOGkB1n8lhmVlMnv-Qh1okWZsFMc9nDawBe8xQbiXmuh7pTWTZib3ZeYtJbUArBsQ7mXXg3o6lwb4CfHIE9eAzFgZnkqPt6SsZk_OqoSr30yz1vCJRtme1b4tgzO5ynv4-22Ruk1r057Z8-e_eocxg-8QAh3A2wvQRS-EH62qeniOnUZ9qSAg/s3994/A&W%20root%20beer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2405" data-original-width="3994" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LlOGkB1n8lhmVlMnv-Qh1okWZsFMc9nDawBe8xQbiXmuh7pTWTZib3ZeYtJbUArBsQ7mXXg3o6lwb4CfHIE9eAzFgZnkqPt6SsZk_OqoSr30yz1vCJRtme1b4tgzO5ynv4-22Ruk1r057Z8-e_eocxg-8QAh3A2wvQRS-EH62qeniOnUZ9qSAg/w400-h241/A&W%20root%20beer2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLjwETWwoRldDu8Gem4r4xkcl81VKL7HdyQPc6gxvitmLjqxVR515HuHl-IukJ5ealusvlUqcj3CXolIp1bhuN0eo3CqeVANdIQ0ztRkIz5S44-FxCOeoJFjkDva5buKbBT8hvXmUshO_656PpwIguJcwMzoDKGMgcsGYMu7oI4MTW8kYtG1UNQ/s3110/A&W%20root%20beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3110" data-original-width="2091" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLjwETWwoRldDu8Gem4r4xkcl81VKL7HdyQPc6gxvitmLjqxVR515HuHl-IukJ5ealusvlUqcj3CXolIp1bhuN0eo3CqeVANdIQ0ztRkIz5S44-FxCOeoJFjkDva5buKbBT8hvXmUshO_656PpwIguJcwMzoDKGMgcsGYMu7oI4MTW8kYtG1UNQ/w269-h400/A&W%20root%20beer.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><p>5. Last weekend was my older son (Chaplain Dan) and his wife's wedding anniversary. Seventeen years! Happy Anniversary to them!</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17794657.post-83464043271721731692023-11-10T10:18:00.002-08:002023-11-10T10:18:16.339-08:00What a Week!<p>I really do need to stop and take a breath in this crazy week. What I really need is a few minutes to relax and remember all the wonderful things about the week. That's why I post every Friday and share with others at <b><a href="https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Friday Fave Fives</a></b> (follow the link) If I don't do this, I find myself just overwhelmed with the busyness of the week.</p><p>1. On Saturday, Younger Daughter and I spent a few hours browsing around the local quilt show. We ran into two friends who are members of the quilt guild and had fun conversations with them. And now Younger Daughter is a member. Here are a couple of samples and an overview of a section of the display (taken from the balcony).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmvuQSVVHKzTqMjQ4dvq99qJaPnU8Lg2NhYlmMG862iz07BrS-aw6RIQKrmfnjI6R4wyjEdGhdFkbIwHGWd1eSc09bO2RVfZCI-6y7yDEcP6veApXluC-xM0kwf_quiw7-mweDEtBgdQ-SyjCQYPycOtLMhy_MQ2JiSY3G2Uq8uow9C6JH06aHA/s3043/quilt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2942" data-original-width="3043" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmvuQSVVHKzTqMjQ4dvq99qJaPnU8Lg2NhYlmMG862iz07BrS-aw6RIQKrmfnjI6R4wyjEdGhdFkbIwHGWd1eSc09bO2RVfZCI-6y7yDEcP6veApXluC-xM0kwf_quiw7-mweDEtBgdQ-SyjCQYPycOtLMhy_MQ2JiSY3G2Uq8uow9C6JH06aHA/w400-h386/quilt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZ09PULKE90xwvsNYxcuCiLkaQpIUPU0EKqEB5aniDaItrtN9o8_qp8Y8TOewvUFzfGq7oI3jY26iq2_wXlj0gEcC7cGMfPDDIQ5or0GGdi1MkpSOzL_MSe6QNFWX7p2yDZIr26qmC7DRZ7MEG4mnGv9IeFGEa43xBotQYhNkiksswY4abjsHSQ/s2263/quilt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="2263" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZ09PULKE90xwvsNYxcuCiLkaQpIUPU0EKqEB5aniDaItrtN9o8_qp8Y8TOewvUFzfGq7oI3jY26iq2_wXlj0gEcC7cGMfPDDIQ5or0GGdi1MkpSOzL_MSe6QNFWX7p2yDZIr26qmC7DRZ7MEG4mnGv9IeFGEa43xBotQYhNkiksswY4abjsHSQ/w400-h364/quilt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZdbDqr7iu0YxLkMpt5Y-oJPBAVgZnJZNaOTMoygP6obCrZrwnN7hH6-mdZtUvJRatY7yFeAqwaqquPJaZ7cJ1P2huN_fA90bFrKpwyXK4MfzM5SZcgcvWF_C5M38JM5JftwUsn_CPG3hMTxSZBk-fYZQGkdxzwa_XqYGc8wbXHXCOzk6GUbRGQ/s4128/quilts%20from%20balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="4128" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZdbDqr7iu0YxLkMpt5Y-oJPBAVgZnJZNaOTMoygP6obCrZrwnN7hH6-mdZtUvJRatY7yFeAqwaqquPJaZ7cJ1P2huN_fA90bFrKpwyXK4MfzM5SZcgcvWF_C5M38JM5JftwUsn_CPG3hMTxSZBk-fYZQGkdxzwa_XqYGc8wbXHXCOzk6GUbRGQ/w400-h201/quilts%20from%20balcony.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>2-3. Tuesday was momentous. Very early in the morning, The Professor drove Younger Daughter to take her NCLEX, which is the exam that prospective nurses must take to be licensed as a registered nurse. Understandably, she was a bit nervous. In the meantime, I drove myself in to have blood work done for my annual exam. While I waited for my dr appt later in the day, Younger Daughter finished the exam and they met me at a coffee place, and we had a chance to just relax and chat. My dr appt went very well, and I am thankful that my PCP and I can talk about health and wellness and basically agree on how to proceed with options.</p><p>4. Wednesday morning, we woke up to the noise of an incoming text. "I passed!" Younger Daughter is a NURSE! Three years of classes while working fulltime and raising two children (now teenagers)! She's a warrior! I cannot express the pride we have in her accomplishment and how thankful we are that she is DONE with classes.</p><p>5. Last evening, we attended a banquet (cowboy western style in a barn) to support Young Life ministry in our local area. A great time was had by all.</p><p>These events are only a few of the activities we had on our schedule this week. Every one is important, but I chose these five as samples of how God has blessed me this week. I hope you have had a good week, too.</p>Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02912030095491960175noreply@blogger.com10