Five of the Best From This Week

 I'm a day late and probably more than a dollar short because I spent yesterday driving my Younger Daughter to a doctor appointment and to work and then returned later to pick her back up again  (fun times just chatting in the car).  But I have been thinking all week of my blessings and want to share them with you.  Here is Willow's Week in Friday Fave Fives.  (You know to follow the link to get to Susanne's blog.)

1.  When we drove in our driveway one evening, we noticed a box at our front porch.  We got mail!  The best kind of mail.  Older Son Chaplain Dan shipped us a box of his homemade limpa!  It's a traditional Swedish Christmas bread, and he has continued to keep up the tradition of making it.  Did I already say YUM?

2.  I am thankful for a warm home.  Just stepping into the garage to put recycle in the bin makes me feel frozen.  When I step back into the house, it's WARM.

3.  On Wednesday evening, we visited the home of new friends.  Older Daughter arranged for a meeting (more on that another day) to gather information we all needed.  We had a WONDERFUL WELCOME from this family and chatted for almost two hours, were served yummy chocolate cookies baked by their teenaged daughter, had a quick night time tour of their garden, and gained much info we needed.  The Professor was already acquainted with the husband, and that was an added benefit.  (And n,o we were not disobeying any health dept rules.  Yes, it is ok to visit people as long as we are observing social distancing.)

4.  Every day, I have been reading and collecting information on how to garden in my new climate.  I'm having fun and thankful for all the books and articles that are available for learning.  I am putting it all in a binder I have titled 

5.  I am thankful we had some sunny days this week.  That means we were able to walk the bike/hike path south of our daughter's home.  It also means beautiful sunsets.  

I have to admit that weather here is bi-polar.  Sunny one minute, stormy five minutes later.  

Even so, I love watching the weather.  It's all part of God's wonderful creation!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

                                    

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time.  Click on the picture and it will take you to Joyce's blog where you can team up with other people who are writing about this or you can just hop on and read what they have to say (after you read my post, of course).

1. When were you last a guest at an event or in someone's home? Tell us about it. Do you enjoy having guests in your own home? 

        The last time I was a guest at an event or in someone's home (not counting my family) was last summer when my friend hosted the women from our church small group for a luncheon in her avocado orchard.  It was also partly a good bye party for me.  Oh!  I just remembered another one!  In August, a few days before we moved away, everyone in our small group was invited to a front yard going away party for The Professor and me.  We sort of shared dinner and just laughed and chatted like we always do.

        

2. What has you 'tied up in knots' currently or recently? Are you any good at tying actual knots? 

        We are painting our daughter's downstairs bedrooms.  Why would that tie me up in knots?  I want to finish each room all in one day, but I have to be patient until the first coat of paint dries before we can start the second coat.

        I am much better at UNtying knots than tying them.  People know that if their yarn gets in a tangle, they can just hand it to me and I will untangle it for them.  Evidently, untangling yarn is one of my super strengths.

3. What's something you've been wanting to do and have decided 2021 will be the year you 'take the plunge'? 

        I am planting a GARDEN!  Vegetable, herbs, berry bushes and probably a couple of fruit trees!  I've been wanting a big yummy garden for years and our property in Southern California was just too small.  In fact, I have begun assembling a binder titled "My Ohio Garden".

4. Something in your home that's old? Something new? Something borrowed? Something blue? 

        Old?  My grandmother's cedar chest.

        New?  The whole house is new to me.

        Borrowed?  Do library books count?

        Blue?  The new cushions for the IKEA chair and ottoman our daughter passed on to us.  Other than that, well, there's a lot of blue in my house because I love blue.  For example, these vases and candleholders.

5. Share a favorite quote, a verse of scripture, and/or a bit of wisdom for couples getting married in this challenging and seemingly unpredictable season we're currently/still experiencing.

        Whenever people ask me one question about marriage, I always answer, "Make sure you laugh every day."

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

        Becoming Minimalist posted this on social media this morning.  Quote by Paige Kellerman.

   Not everyone realizes this,

but if you clean the pile of receipts out of a purse

and stack them together...

it makes a teeny tiny book

 about why you're broke.

Wise words.

Cold January Fave Fives

 Good morning!  Is it cold at your house?  It sure is here at Willow's cottage.  They say that cold hands mean a warm heart.  So I must have a very warm heart today.  And, truly, there is so much to be thankful for.  This is why I focus daily and weekly on my blessings and why I join FRIDAY FAVE FIVES every Friday.

1.  Blue sky!  It has been overcast and cloudy for a long week.  Today, it may be cold and windy, but it's SUNNY, and there is BLUE SKY!

2.  HAPPINESS showed up in my mailbox this week.  This was the sticker on the back of the package.

3.  It was Little Warrior's birthday last week.  He chose (as usual) to have an outing to the US Air Force Museum.   It is a true blessing to be able to celebrate with him this year! 

And ice cream cake!

4.  Older Daughter loves the Air Force Museum, too.  She gets to visit one of 'her' missiles. (Yes, she is a rocket scientist!)  I'm thankful for how much she loves her job.

5.  Friday mornings are special for me.  I get to zoom with my four art buddies.  Yes, they all live in my old home town, but we do zoom meetings for two reasons--we can stay isolated and safe from covid, and we can meet early in the morning in our jammies.  Oh and the third reason--I can join in from thousands of miles away.

What have been some blessings in your life this week?

Happy Hodgepodge

Good Wednesday morning!

Here we are just finishing the first week of January 2021.

Nothing new, huh?

Here is my Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Click the picture below to find more people.

1. What advice would you give yourself as we begin this new year? 

 Just last night, I read these words in my Bible from Job 28:28“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”   My first thought was, YES!  That is my verse for 2021.

2. If you could throw a themed party for yourself what would the theme be? 

I certainly liked Joyce's idea of a British tea (in England!).  I'm thinking that I will plan a lovely tea this spring, invite my two girls and grandkids, and serve it in our back garden.

3. Tell us where you were and something about what life was like when you were 20- 21.

At that age, I was in college in Southern California.  Reading and reading and writing papers.  I was also singing-- college trio, college choir, college small ensemble.  Always singing with my two best singing buddies (our trio).

4. What's on the menu at your house this week? 

Leftovers planned overs and more leftovers planned overs.

5. What should you do more of this year? Less of? 

There will be more and more gardening this year.  I have a 'blank space' in my new home to create a garden and I'm excited about that.  We also hope to be able to travel to new places.  

Less of?  Hopefully, less junk food.  I don't eat much of it but I've gotten a bit lax about my food choices.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I keep a yearly list of the books I have read.  I also keep a list of the knitting projects I have finished.  Does anyone else do this or something similar?

New Year's Faves 2021

 Welcome, 2021!

It's New Year's Day, and the first Friday Fave Five of 2021.  Christmas is over.  Stockings and presents were opened.

And now begins a new year.  There's not much different here at Willow's Cottage.  More snow and ice.  But that's OK.  We have a warm, dry house and we are very thankful for that!

Here are my Friday Fave Fives to share.

1.  Family dinners.  Since moving near my girls, we've starting this tradition of having a family dinner one night a week.  Some nights, we cook, but usually, it's just leftovers.  Less work for everyone.  I think these times with my girls will always be faves I am thankful for.

2.  New Year's Eve dinner with family.  OK, we are not partiers. We had dinner and finished watching White Christmas.  But before we turned on the DVD,  we toasted the New Year in with sparkling cider at SEVEN PM.  Why seven?

3.  Did you stay up to watch the ball drop?  We didn't want to stay up until midnight, so we found a you tube live video of Big Ben in London and watched Londoners celebrate the New Year.  Midnight in London is seven pm here.  That was good enough for us.

4.  In December, I posted #photoadaydecember on Facebook.  Mostly, I found older photos from my files that fit each day's idea.  Imagine my surprise that the picture for MATCHING has already gained almost 120 likes and loves.  This photo of The Professor and me, wearing our matching flannel shirts.

5.  A week isn't complete unless we've been out walking and hiking.  Family (and grand-dogs) have joined us on several outings.  Older Daughter has always been one for wandering.  And if there's a downed tree trunk anywhere near, she'll be climbing it!  You can take the girl out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the girl.

                                            

And she is training her son and nephew well!

 I am thankful for these times to make memories.

Last Hodgepodge of 2020

The last Hodgepodge in the year that has been 2020.

The logo is the link.

1. Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind. 

        The only time I have seen my two sons this entire year was one night each on our trip moving.  I know that's not much, but seeing their faces and hugging them was a bright spot for me.

2. What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. 

        Well, I wish I had known how long it was going to take to sell our house.  We might have made some different decisions.

3. Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right? 

        Best book?  Ummm, can we choose best book in different genre?  Or the best book for each month?  Obviously I read a whole lotta books in 2020.  I REread Hidden Art by Edith Schaeffer which has always been a favorite of mine.  I read ALL the stories of Brother Cadfael which are set in early thirteenth century England and Wales.  I read a whole bunch of Agatha Christie mysteries.  Today, I finished reading Hidden Christmas by Timothy Keller.  I could go on and on and on...

4. The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe? 

        Gray, yes.  Yellow, no.  However, to be truthful, I have a yellow, gray and cream afghan on the back of my sofa right now.  I recently finished knitting it and haven't given it away yet.

        And you might find gray in my wardrobe, but NO yellow.

5. If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it? 

        Easy answer!  I would return to England for a month-long visit!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

        HAPPY NEW YEAR!  2021!  Like that cute meme says, "On January 1st, hindsight will truly be 2020."

Merry Merry Christmas!

 It may be Christmas Eve, but I still want to write out my weekly thankfulness.  Friday Fave Fives don't stop just because it's Christmas.  In fact, I am MORE thankful!   Every week I join Susanne and other thankful people to write our FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  First and most importantly, we celebrate Christmas because God became man and dwelt among us. Emmanuel.  God with us!

2.  There were a few warmish and dry days, so obviously, we took advantage of them and walked more of the local trails.  One day, we actually walked in the morning just the two of us, and then in the afternoon, got both grandsons, both dogs and Older Daughter out on the trail along the river.

3.  Younger daughter is working full time, being a mom, and taking nursing school classes online.  So far, she is doing great in those classes.  This week, she was a bit nervous about one final, so The Professor spent a couple of hours being her study buddy.  Result?  98% on that final!

4.  This fave is dedicated to my grandchildren.  We will be having a White Christmas!

5.  I know many people who will be alone this year during Christmas.  I know how that is because other years we have been just with each other and maybe one or two family members.  This year, for the first time in several years we will be celebrating AT HOME with more than half of our family!  Two daughters and three grandchildren!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!