Thursday, March 12, 2009

Friday Fave Five


It has been another busy week that started with traveling several hundred miles by car up and down the California coast (you can read more about it in the post below). And then it took me a few days to recover from the trip.

Does this happen to you, too?

As I look back over the past week I want to share my Fave Five:

1. Of course, my trip to Stanford University was the number 1 highlight. Spending the weekend with The Professor and Son # Two in such an interesting place~ what could be better? They didn't seem to mind too much when I'd be walking several paces behind them, stopping to take a photo. Sometimes they even pointed out photo ops. 'Did you get a picture the tower?' and 'You'll want to walk around to the side of Memorial Chapel.'

Don't you just love it when you see the father-son combo? Walking the same way, using the same mannerisms...

2. All that car riding time was well spent. The twisted stitch socks turned out just right. I love the simple long cuff of twisted stitches worked on a K2P2 rib. I wore them to dinner on Friday night, smiling to myself.


3. I love herons. This blue heron was hanging around the harbor at low tide on Tuesday.

4. Spring has really and truly arrived in Southern California. The mornings have been cool (43 or 48F is downright cold for us) but most of the afternoons have been warm and breezy. The deciduous trees are bursting out in blossoms and leaves.
5. More anticipation! This next week is my birthday week. I was a St. Patrick's Day baby and all over the world people will be celebrating my birthday with green beer! The family will be gathering at a central (sort of) location on Sunday for dinner.

I think next week will be a Fave Week, too!
To share others' fave fives, visit our hostess Susanne at Living To Tell The Story.

39 comments:

Jientje said...

I LOVE that father son picture, it's stunning!
It looks like you had a great week, blue skies, blossoms andother signs of Spring, quality time with your son and your husband and a birthday coming up! What more could you want?

Brenda said...

I love Palo Alto and the Stanford University campus, some of our family are alumni. I worked at Stanford hospital for a brief stint and my daughter was operated on there.

Great post! What does your son study?

ellen b. said...

Love all the photos but there is something about a father son shot that is so wonderful! Love it.
Isn't that fun to think everyone is celebrating your birthday even if it is with green beer!! I say embrace it. Have fun with the fam on Sunday!!

Tracy said...

LOVED all these photos from your trip, Willow...looks and sounds like you had a grand time! A St. Patrick's Day baby...that is neat. Hubby and I have our wedding anniversary on the 17th...And not because we're Irish ;o)...it was the only date available for our winter courthouse wedding--LOL! Happy Day celebrating your birthday--wishing you a beautiful day, my friend :o) ((HUGS))

Susanne said...

Happy Birthday coming up!

Love the pic of father & son. Lovely setting they are in.

It's funny that you said that 48* was downright cold for you. I wrote that the 50* we had yesterday was downright balmy and a welcome warmth for us. LOL. Yes, it definitely makes a difference what part of the continent one lives in. LOL.

Jerralea said...

I love to see family photos. They are the best. Once again, your photography depicts such a beautiful life! You almost make me want to be a Californian!

Unknown said...

The father & son picture made me smile so much, I already notice so many similarities between my son and his dad, they both stand with their hands habitually in their pockets in just the same way.

Lovely photos.

Mary said...

Willow,

What stunning photos and I adore those socks. I'm glad you were able to finish them.

We have herons in this area and I so enjoy watching them. For such a big bird, they are fast, especially when fishing for lunch.

Enjoy your weekend, my friend.
Blessings,
Mary

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos as usual. I'm a bit jealous over those socks...

Knitting Linguist said...

Oh, we're definitely still recovering from our 1100-mile drive up and down the state -- completely normal :) I love the father/son picture! I also love that your birthday is St. Patrick's Day -- that's my adoption day (always celebrated as a second birthday when I was a kid, with a green cake and all) :)

One more heel flap note - I tend to knit a flap that's very shallow, in that it's not quite a square, and that's perfect for my foot (and I have very high arches!). I think a lot of patterns call for heel flaps that are much too long, ymmv.

The Correspondent said...

Happy birthday next week, Willow! What a fun day on which to be born!

Pam said...

Great photos. My favorite is the father/son one, too.

Have a blessed and joy-filled weekend.

Mo said...

I luv the herons too, and what a great shot you got of that one; Thanks for sharin' it, and have a great weekend ahead!

Betty said...

Looks like a nice area!
I always have to recover from road trips too. It´s funny, you don´t really do anything but sit, but still get tired!
Glad you´re enjoying spring!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures! Have a great birthday!

Anonymous said...

Well! Happy early birthday to you, Willow! That blue heron shot is stunning. I love the soft look of the blue water and the heron just gazing out.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

I've been enjoying the crisp morning and sunny days too! I even have a few pansies blooming.

Do you have a green birthday cake?

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Well, Happy Birthday early! How fun to be a St. Patrick's Day baby.

I love blue herons too. They are so graceful. Your shot is wonderful.

Hugs,
Cindy

Tabitha said...

What lovely pictures!! Oh, the father-son thing gets to me...I have a brother and seeing him and my dad together is hilarious, how much they look and sound alike, the older they get. My son definitely resembles my hubby--it warms my heart!! And now we're due with another boy, so it'll
get even better!!
Hey, seriously--let me mail you that Prevention next week! Send me your mailing address and I'll get it out just as soon as my mom reads it when she's here Monday! :)
tabandrew@hotmail.com
Oh, and my father-in-law's birthday is also St. Patty's day! We've got Irish blood--I'm hosting Bunco Mon. night and celebrating an anniversary on St. Patty's Day--I'll be posting about it next week and include it in FFF!!

Karyn said...

Love the father/son photo...you can see that they walk the same.

How nice that you got to create something for yourself while riding in the car! Love the blue color.

Karyn said...

Oh, and have a Wonderful Birthday!

Anonymous said...

We're just starting to have some budding and warm temperatures -- but today was cold again. It's always back-and-forth for a few weeks.

Love the father-son picture!

Glad you got so much knitting done! It looks great!

Michelle said...

Happy Early Birthday!!!! I love your list this week.I"m envious that you can knit.I'm afraid I"m all thumbs.

Unknown said...

Early birthday greetings to you!

Your pictures are lovely. I can see the resemblance between the Professor and the son. Even from behind :)

The blue heron is an amazing bird. My mom has one that visits her lake on his way south every October. She marks the days on the calendar every year.

Have a great weekend!

Kari said...

Great Photos. They so capture the moments.
Happy Birthday for next week!

On This Rock said...

Happy Birthday...soon! My son's birthday is the same day ... when he was a kid he adamantly announced that he did not want green birthday parties, he wanted trucks and stuff.... and at age 30, he still is telling his wife "no green!" But I think it is just fun to green it up a bit. Fabulous pictures. The father and son picture is intriguing to me...the campus looks gorgeous. What a privilege to share this with your son.

Robin said...

I love roadtrips - we are leaving on one this week! The socks are so pretty - I'm thinking you love to color blue!

Jules~ said...

Wow! I've never seen Stanford either. It looks like a great atmosphere to spur on the intellect. I am so glad you had such a wonderful time.
And the knitting is beautiful!

Blessings to you.

Anonymous said...

Lovely!
You have soon spring/summer there. We have just snow, snow....

Caroline said...

It looks like you had a beautiful drive, and it was fun to read the names of so many familiar places.My kids kids have fun memories of the the San Miguel fieldtrip when they were infourth grade and working on their missions. I'm a little worried that it's been suspended in recent years with the focus shifting in education to training instead of educatiing:(

I love the father/son photo too. I've only had two students attend Standford that I know of (and I'm sure I'd know) and they had unbelievable experiences there.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Willow!

I enjoyed looking at Stanford U in your photos below --I've always wanted to see it!

Have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow! I'll be celebrating at the parade in your honor ;-)

Just A Girl said...

Hello Willow,
Ellen B. said today was your Birthday so I thought I'd pop over and wish you a Happy one!

Enjoy your tea!!

:) Cori G.

Jane said...

Happy Birthday, my gran's birthday was the same day. Your socks have turned out beautifully, lovely photos of your trip up to Stanford. Jane x

Susanne said...

Hi Willow. Tagged you with an award/meme combo

Pondside said...

I've popped over from Lovella's blog - Happy Birthday to you!
Your previous post took me back to last year when we visited cousins in San Luis Obispo, for the first time. What a beautiful part of the continent!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you, Willow. Wow, your birthday is a big deal. How many people have parades and celebrations all over the world on their birthday?

Best wishes for a special day.

Kathy b

Marg said...

Happy Birthday Willow.
May you be blessed with health and more health.
I hope you are being pampered and enjoying a bit of spring break.
Enjoy

Islandsparrow said...

Happy Birthday Willow!! Hope you have a wonderful day.

MRS MJW said...

your pictures are beautiful