Thursday, March 18, 2010

FFF- March 19th

This could be titled the Spring 2010 Edition of Friday's Fave Five since Spring is arriving here in North America in three more days. Alternately, I could call this week's FFF the Willow's Leprechaun Birthday Edition.

1. My birthday! Since my actual birthday was on a weekday, my San Diego kids drove up to celebrate on the weekend. I chose visiting The Getty Villa in Malibu as THE PLACE to spend Saturday. If you are ever in Los Angeles and are interested in visiting an exact replica of a Roman villa, viewing amazing ancient artifacts, enjoying a superb meal, and strolling through a classical garden, then I would recommend The Getty Villa. Like the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the Villa has free entry; you only pay for parking. What could be better than spending part of your birthday weekend meandering through the formal Roman gardens where fountains bubble in four corners among the acanthus, violets, pomegranate trees, daffodils, and boxwood,

where the peach trees are just beginning to bud,

and where you can look up and gaze on the most intricate architectural details
such as ionic columns?


2. Speaking of my birthday, I received several cards, emails, e-cards, skype waves and kisses, and facebook greetings wishing me Happy Birthday. People all over the world, from one of the -istans to Canada, from my friend in Arkansas to the neighbor next door, from Ellen in Washington to sisters, brothers, children, the New Boy, and my long silent cousin in the mid-West checked in to wish me Happy Birthday. I have to say that the email and facebook message from my cuz in Nebraska completely surprised and delighted me since we haven't seen each other in nearly twenty years. Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday felicitations!

3. A few weeks ago, The Professor and I ordered some seeds from Victory Seed Company in Oregon which features heirloom, rare, or old varieties of vegetables and herbs. We received the packet this week and opened it on my birthday. For us, it was an exciting occasion as we looked at the seeds we had chosen and planned our weekend around weeding, fertilizing, and planting. We're hoping to find out if kale and brussel sprouts will flourish in our little veggie patch.

4. I have long been interested in living a life of simplicity, frugal living and minimalism. This post by one of my favorite rational minimalism bloggers really struck a chord of agreement and excitement with me. If you are interested in simplicity/minimalism, you will enjoy and benefit from reading his blog and his new e-book Simplify. I've read many many books on simplicity and Joshua Becker's is one the most readable, accessible and enjoyable ones I've come across. (No, I am not getting any remuneration for recommending this book to you, although I did have the opportunity to read it before publication.)

5. I seem to be a fairly easy and predictable person to shop for. If my family and friends want to be sure to please me with a birthday gift, they know what I like! Books and music! Being a fan of Irish inspired music, I loved the Keith and Kristyn Getty CD the Blueberry Lady gave me. And the books, oh, the books! How can I pick just one favorite? It's not possible! I love each one!

As you can see, this week my faves have mostly been birthday themed. I suppose that is what happens when you reach a milestone birthday of Jubilee plus Ten.

I'd love to hear how your week was! Please share, and let's enjoy the gratitude and blessings together. Even if your week wasn't great or wasn't what you'd wished, you can always find something to focus on and be thankful for. Susanne at Living To Tell The Story has a Mr. Linky where you can publish your post, so others will be able to share the joy.

33 comments:

Marg said...

It's always fun to come here.
It sounds like you had such an amazing week with friends, husband and gardening...I will be looking at that link in the following week.
We will be gardening when the Paralympics are over.....
Have a wonderful week my friend.

Brenda said...

Happy Birthday Willow! Sounds like you had many good reasons to celebrate.

Thanks for the link to that blog, I'm going to put it on my reader so I can follow it. Its something I want to get better at.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful FFF my friend. Must have been great to have your kids with you. I posted your birthday on my blog. You can see it HERE. Have a great Friday :)

Anonymous said...

I am such a busy mom, and the whole concept of living with simplicity so intrigues me! I have worked on it over the summers when I am not working, and there is a lot to say about living a simpler life in a crazed world. Thanks for the website and e-book. Loved looking at your pics....the peach tree bud is lovely! A hope for good things to come.

Hazel said...

What a beautiful, happy birthday you have. Just reading about it warms the heart! I smiled all throughout. I ate kale and brussel sprouts this week from the restaurant on the ground floor of my apartment. I love those roman columns, and a classical garden wowowee! certainly my kind of place to visit.

No. 4 sounds neat to me. Thanks for sharing the link.

Dorothy said...

Sounds like a wonderful birthday week and I am so glad it was yours, Willow!

I hope to visit California and that Getty Villa one day! Its beautiful!

ellen b. said...

Birthday weeks are fabulous. It's fun that we were celebrating at the same time. Love those great shots from the Getty Villa. Beautiful. What fun to hear from a long lost cousin :0)
Hope those seeds enjoy your dirt!

Susanne said...

Again a very happy birthday to you! It sounds like it was celebrated in fine style. Visiting that kind of place would be right up my alley!

Carrie said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

And here's to planting seeds from my state! ;D A little bit of us down to you. Sounds fun!

Have a great weekend!

Barbara H. said...

A belated happy birthday to you, and a special congratulations on reaching a milestone!

That Roman villa sounds so interesting! We're on the other side of the country -- I wonder if there is anything like it here.

nikkipolani said...

Hmmm, I heard somewhere that you had a BIRTHDAY or something this week. Could it be true?? Glad you had a lovely time. Yes, the Getty is a pretty pretty place to be in spring (or anytime, really).

Hope you'll post about your gardening this year. And about those David Austins -- when they are young, they tend to have blooms that shatter quickly (Fair Bianca less so, but has vigor issues). Austins tend to do that anyway, but esp when young. My favorite ones for color, vigor, and longer lasting (on the shrub) blooms are: Abraham Darby, Pat Austin, and Sweet Julia.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! May it be full of cake and wishes come true!

Karyn said...

Happy Birthday (belated)! Glad you had so many blessings sent your way.

The Roman Villa sounds like a place I would love to visit!

I was planning to get seeds from that site, as well! Now, however,I won't be home to garden so I'll wait till next year. I'd be interested to hear how they do for you. We will not be planting for another 2 months, at least. I had brussels sprouts last year - only 3 plants, but so tasty! They do like a hard frost, though, so maybe your weather is too warm?

Melli said...

Well ... as MOST happy belated birthday to you dear Willow! Sounds like you were superbly celebrated and had a GREAT day! I would LOVE to visit ALL things Getty, I think! Seems so anyway!

I hope your coming week is as wonderful as your past week was!

Knitting Linguist said...

Happy birthday! It sounds like a week full of wonderful celebrations. I, too, love the Getty Villa; we've been planning to go there again soon, and now I'm wishing that soon were sooner. Thanks for the links; I'm definitely going to check out that book, and I think Younger Daughter will love the Irish music.

Lisa notes... said...

Glad you had a special birthday celebration. The Getty Villa sounds so intriguing.

I will check out the blog and the e-book on simplicity. Sounds great.

TXDidi said...

Happy birthday, Willow! Sounds like you had a great one. Irish music, there's a guaranteed winner every time. And I couldn't agree with you more on the need to simplify. I checked out his blog and it has some very good things to delve into. Thanks for the tip.

Jerralea said...

Looks like a wonderful day you had at the Getty Villa.

I know you enjoyed hearing from your cousin. To me, getting a personal email, especially from someone I haven't heard from in awhile, is a treat!

Annesta said...

Happy Birthday!
My daughter lives in L.A. and has visited the Getty many times but have never heard her speak of the Getty Villa. I will have to recomend it to her.
You certainly had a delightful birthday week!
Blessings to you
~a

Deb said...

So glad that your birthday was wonderful ~ just like you !!

violetlady said...

Happy Birthday, Willow!! It sounds like it was wonderful.

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

What a happy and blessed birthday week!

Loved the post you suggested. I often tell my husband if he can't find me in the midst of the madness, just go look in Amish country...I'm craving the simple life!

Happy weekend.

Robin said...

Happy Birthday! I'm glad your FFF was full of happy birthday memories.

Have a great weekend.

p.s. check out the giveaway on my blog

Tracy said...

Very glad to hear you're having a wonderful birthday weekend celebration, Willow...enjoy! :o) ((HUGS)) Oh, and thanks for the tip on the simplicity blog--definitely a way of life I appreciate and advocate too!

Flower said...

Birthdays are special days...and they can go on and on! Yours was full of occasion to celebrate! I'm so glad you had such a lovely weekend with the kids!

Jientje said...

I can't wait to see how the Brussels sprouts will turn out! It looks like you had a great birthday week Willow. I loved your pictures of the Getty Villa, what a beautiful place!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful celebratory week! Loved the beautiful views of the Getty and hope to get myself there one day. Thanks for the link to Simplify ... sounds like something I'd like to read.
Hugs and blessings,

Caroline said...

Happy Belated Birthday, and thanks for the "visitor" advice. I think we will go to the Getty Center. The gardens should be beautiful, and everything else is always incredible.
Then we'll take them to Hearst Castle over the weekend.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Happy Birthday Willow...it was a lovely one, I see. You chose a truly fabulous place, the Getty Villa!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Happy belated birthday Willow! It sounds like you had an amazing one full of family and fun and surprises!
I will check out the blog your recommend. I planted seeds in a windowsill garden this past weekend ,,hoping to get an early start on the herbs I grow each summer in pots.

♥ Pat

Sharon Lynne said...

Happy Birthday!
How fun to open seeds...and to have a husband with similar interests.

I like "simplicity" books. Although I have just one, called "Frugal Luxuries" by Tracey McBride.

I have simple 2 tomato plants growing...

Okay I'm off to google the Getty Villa to read more about it!

Anonymous said...

Belated Happy Birthday Willow. Thanks for popping in.

I would love to wander in the Roman inspired garden too. I wish there was somewhere like that up here.

Barbara said...

Lots to read here and comment on but I think the most important is to wish you a belated Happy Birthday Willow.

Jane will be in San Dieago in May.

I am sure you had a great time with the family.