Mid October Fave Fives

Well, this past week rushed by rather more quickly than I expected.  I didn't post anything.  But I can't allow Friday to happen without my posting Friday Fave Fives. (click on the link to go to our host Susanne's blog)  Gratitude is an exercise that grows the more you practice it.

SMALL SEEDS OF GRATITUDE WILL PRODUCE

A HARVEST OF HOPE.

This is why I always strive to post my five example of thankfulness every Friday.

1.  I finished this scarf and sent it off to Colorado to my friend.

2.  New carpet was installed this week in the last two bedrooms upstairs.  Now all the carpet upstairs matches.  And...since I had to move everything out of my 'studio' room where yarn, fiber and sewing machine and spinning wheel live, I have been rearranging and organizing it all.

3.  Veterans Day.  The Professor is a veteran, as were my father and his father who were in the US military during World War II.  Two of my uncles also served during World War II.  The Professor spent a year in Vietnam.  As a third generation veteran, my son USAR Chaplain Dan is still serving.  I am thankful for service these family members did and honor their memories.

Our son on the day he left for his first overseas deployment as a chaplain.  (he's done three)

4.  A Veterans Day tradition for us is to enjoy breakfast at Denny's.  T and S always join us and this year we were surrounded at every table by other veterans.  Probably because of the free meal that Denny's offers veterans...

5.  November 11th is also our son Dan and wife Jennifer's wedding anniversary.  Twenty years!  I am thankful for their marriage and the family they are building with PAL.  And it's wonderful that they live close to us now.

(a few years ago)

Thanksgiving Month, Week One

Good morning!  I took a short break after Blogtober.  Now it's November!  And since it is Friday, I am back writing my Friday Fave Fives.  November is the month of Thanksgiving and we tend to focus being thankful in just this one month.  But thankfulness should be a daily thought or activity.  Or even hourly.  Friday Fave Fives helps me with that. (the link takes to you Susanne's blog; she is our host)

1.  I am thankful for where I live.  We moved here to Ohio from California six years ago.  Obviously, our lives changed quite a bit when we moved 2,400 miles.  But I love the town we live in.  People are friendly.  We have great neighbors.  I'm thankful we moved here.  Do I miss some things about California?  Yes.  But I choose to love where I live.

2.  I am thankful for libraries and bookstores.  So many books!  So little time! I just finished reading Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott which took me down a rabbit hole of thinking about British kings and queens.  Now I am about 1/3 of the way through The Good Earth by Pearl. S. Buck and am engrossed in China's past. I love to read and I don't want to take for granted the fact that I have almost unlimited access to any book I want.

3.  I am thankful that I am healthy enough to donate blood.  That's where I was this morning, giving blood via Versiti Blood Center.

4.  I am thankful for opportunities to sing.  I love singing melody or harmony. I always have, starting in first grade. My daughter Deb asked if I wanted to join a group of carolers who will be singing before the performances of Nutcracker where she will be dancing as one of the adults in the ballroom scene.  They needed an alto, so I happily jumped it to sing with them.

5.  I am thankful for our local pregnancy resource center.  I regularly donate baby booties and blankets to the center.  Last night, they had a fundraiser dinner which we attended.  I am thankful for Heartbeats' contribution to our community.

What are you thankful for this first week of November?

Blogtober, Day 31

I made it to the last day!  It's October 31st.  This afternoon my daughter-in-law Jennifer and I hiked at Dawes Arboretum again.  Almost four miles.  We tromped through the fallen leaves and followed the main trail to the gorge overlook trail.  Two of my favorite photos from today.

And tomorrow is November first.  All Saints Day.  And now, here comes Thanksgiving!

Blogtober, Day 30

My favorite photo from our walk at Dawes Arboretum today.  We crossed under the road which separates the main areas from the eastern section which is most isolated and rustic-- no paved walks.  We just hiked among the trees tromping through the fallen leaves.

Last Friday Fave Fives in October

Can you believe that it is almost November??  Time is flying!  This week has gone by quickly too.  I have had to stop a couple of times and catch my breath and try to recall what we have done this past week.  And now it is Friday evening and I am pausing again to reflect on the week and remember the blessings.  That's the whole point of Friday Fave Fives.  For the writer, it's to express gratitude.  For the reader, it's to encourage.  Do you want to be encouraged?  Click on that link and you will find many more people who join FFFs each week.

Here are my end of October faves:

1.  We were excited to welcome dear friends into our home as they were driving across the US.  We knew them when we all lived in Camarillo, CA and attended the same church.  Now they are missionaries who live in Tanzania.  We had a great time catching up and hearing about Omega's work as an infectuous disease doctor.  And of course, Mia our nurse girl joined us for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed talking medical stuff with them.  And their youngest girl has grown so much!

2.  The next morning, we enjoyed our breakfast at one of our favorite coffee shops.  The breakfast pies and biscuit and gravy were delicious!  And the coffee, too.  It was the best way to send them off on the next leg of their journey.

3.  And of course, the result of having overnight guests is making sure that our home is clean and neat.

4.  Our weather has been unseasonably warm this week.  Just perfect for working outside in the garden doing the fall clean up.

5.  And perfect weather for walks.  My favorite was at the Dawes Arboretum.  So much beauty!

Even the leaves enjoyed sitting on the bench...

the arch...

my favorite photo of the day

Alaska, Day Eleven-D

 After a long day spent on a ferry boat, it was good to have a ramble in the Alaskan wilds.

First, we walked on the beach at the bay.

Then, into the woods.  Definitely Pacific Northwest Rain Forest.

Back to the bay where we were entertained by a sea otter performing for us near the pier.

Then back to the lodge for dinner.

Blogtober, Day 27

Tuesday, October 27th.  It was a quiet day here at Willow's Cottage.  We woke early and greeted PAL who was here to spend the morning with us.  After breakfast and her math test, we ventured out to Crumb Cookie where she used her birthday gift card to buy her favorite cookie.  When we returned, we ate popcorn and played Opposite Words.  If you say yes, you mean no.  If you say no, you mean yes.  Oh the silly things we said.  "I'm so full now that it is midnight."  "Do you dislike that book?"  "I am not enjoying it at all."

Nathan (grandson Tall Boy) came over and mowed our lawn.  Then I drove him to the university so he could work his shift there.  I spent an hour doing the edging before it was time for dinner.

And now we are just resting.  Some days are like this.  And sometimes it's what we need.
 

Alaska, Day Eleven-C

As we neared the end of our ferry ride, we passed this beautiful lighthouse.  My favorite.

We finally arrived at Gustavus.  A small bus was waiting for us to drive us to the Glacier Bay Lodge where we would be staying two nights.

Glacier Bay Lodge

The Lodge is inside Glacier Bay National Park.  It is a beautiful place situated on the edge of Bartlett Cove. 

The Tlingit and Hoonah Indians lived on this bay for centuries.  Recently, the Huna Tribal Hut was built as a place to celebrate the history of these people.  

Craftsmen have created artworks around the area.

What a beautiful place to spend two nights!

Alaska, Day Eleven-B

 Whales!

As we were traveling through the various channels around islands towards Gustavus, we encountered a pod of Orca whales.  They were frolicking in the waters near our ferry boat.

First, someone who was standing outside on the deck noticed the spouts and yelled, "Whales!"

Can you see the spouts on the left, way out in the distance?

You can barely see the black spot of one whale's back.

More appeared, showing off their breaching and diving skills.  This area of Southeast Alaska is home to many orca whales.  They live near the coastlines and feed from the many fish (mostly salmon) that also call this area home.

Then the ferry drove closer to them.

As the ferry moved on up the bay, one popped up to say goodbye.

Too many photos... but I couldn't never tire of watching the whales.