Thursday, June 24, 2010

Fave Five

Summertime-- and the livin' is ... still busy.

Where did this first week of official summer run off to? I thought summertime livin' was supposed to be easy.  Here's how Willow's Week flew by.

1. On Friday and Saturday, I picked blueberries at my friends' blueberry ranch.  And after the berries were picked, they had to be washed, frozen and packaged.  Those blueberries that didn't get popped straight in to my mouth ala Blueberries for Sal (one of my favorite children's books) made up more than a dozen quarts.

2. As much as I dislike shopping, I have to say that buying clothes makes it on to my fave list.  Being able to purchase a swimsuit, running shoes, sandals, pants and a skirt fairly quickly and almost painlessly is a huge relief to me.  I needed the clothes, and it took much less time than I expected. And now I hope I'm done with shopping for a while!

3. I think that phone calls from Son#2 will continue to be a fave as long as he is out digging in the dirt far far away from home. 

4. I asked the Professor what he thought was a fave for him this week.  He reminded me that the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA finals last Thursday night. Yup. That is definitely a fave for him!  And it's a fave for me, too--no more basketball games for awhile. (Truthfully, I like to watch basketball; I just don't like it as much as the Professor does.)

5. Spending an afternoon with a friend is always a highlight for me.  Thursday I drove down the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu to Manhattan Beach and enjoyed several hours of walking and talking with a friend--just to cheer her up.

Thanks for joining me to celebrate this first week of summer.  If you want to post your own Fave Fives, link up at Susanne's blog, Living To Tell the Story.

31 comments:

Dorothy said...

Ah, blueberries! My favorite berry! I would love to go blueberry picking with you, Willow!

Kiti said...

I'm envious that you were able to get so many useful items of clothing so quickly. Clothes-shopping is such a pain, especially all the trying on and taking off...

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Blueberries for Sal--haven't thought about that story in years! Now that is a FAVE!!!! Loved your photo, too! It's a work of art! And your other faves are delightful as well! Glad you were able to get the shopping done quickly...that's always a HUGE plus! :-)) Hope you have a wonderful first weekend of summer!! And that you get to talk to son #2 on the phone!!! Love you, Janine XO

Tracy said...

Blueberries...mmm... I'd make blueberry-lemon scones with some of those! ;o) Clothes shopping--not my favorite either. I had to shop for a better dress for an occasion this week--got lucky and found something so that would be on my list too! Family & friends...nothing better. :o) Happy Weekend, Willow ((HUGS))

roxie said...

Sounds like a great week! And with that wild lamb around to complicate things, too.

ellen b. said...

Oh for a blueberry walk...that would be lovely. :0)
Glad you're getting calls from far far away! Good job shopping! Hope your weekend is relaxing...

momma24 said...

I have never picked blueberries! I may have to seek that out...

Great post!

Robin said...

I've tried so hard to grow blueberries here - but it's not meant to be. But we do get to pick Huckleberries in the mountains in August!

Caroline said...

I was just reading an article about how healthy blueberries are! I think it's time for another trip to the coast!

Barbara H. said...

We loved Blueberries for Sal when my boys were small.

I'm not a big fan of shopping, either, so it is always a thrill to find what you need quickly and at a good price.

I can understand how the phone calls would be a favorite. :-) And sounds like a lovely, encouraging visit with your friend.

Thanks so much for your e-mail last week!

"Sunshine" said...

I loved the account of your week.
Always good to look back and take inventory of our lives.
I head to the mountain to pick huckleberries, my very favorite outings. Every year in August/September the mountain meadows are enticing me to come back...Oh such glory..

Jerralea said...

It sounds like a great first week of summer!

I especially love blueberries and walks on the the beach.

Lisa notes... said...

Ah, I remember “Blueberries for Sal.” Fun memories. A painless shopping trip? Good for you! I don’t like to shop either. Glad you got to spend time with your friend. Sounds like you were a blessing to her. I wish summer would never end.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

Yummy blueberries!!! They freeze super well too.

Finding a new swimsuit you like - joy!

Another lovely week, Willow :)

Angela said...

i love love love fresh blueberries, and last year i picked enough to store in the freezer that i am just now almost out...perfect timing!
although i enjoy getting new clothes, i think i truly dread the process...i think i would rather grocery shop...it's easier and more predictable! haha

Susan said...

A great list! If you pick blueberries, and you want to freeze them, do you have to do something special? Just curious. Sounds like it was a great week.

Susan

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

Oh, I do love Blueberries for Sal!! Such great memories of reading that book with little redheaded boys...

I envy you getting to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. It is so beautiful!

Happy week ahead.

msdewberry said...

It is berry season here as well, although our blueberries are not quite ready yet. I bought strawberries, cherries and raspberries today. Love that part of summer!!

TXDidi said...

Those phone calls from far away are so precious, aren't they? I just had the pleasure of Skyping with Jason and the family and seeing little Mika making faces, all the way from Asia. It was great. Now if I can just figure out a way to hug them long distance. Have a great week, Willow!

aspiritofsimplicity said...

It sounds like you had a joy filled week. I know what you mean about getting phone calls from children who are not home anymore. It's amazing how much that means to a mum! My son is in the Coast Guard and even just hearing from him on FB makes my day!

Lindsay said...

I love blueberries!! they won't be ripe here for an other couple of months (I live in Canada)

Saskatoons are ripe here in the next week or so. They are delicious as well and I hope to get LOTS of them put up for the winter this year!

The Pacific Coast Highway is beautiful. When I was 10, my family took a trip to California and i remember how beautiful the highway scenery was!

Have a very blessed week!

Sharon Lynne said...

I loved your list.

I have 2 blueberry bushes in my back yard. My sister-in-law bought them in Bakersfield (of all places) and brought them to me. This is their first summer of production.

But a nasty Blue Jay ate all the blueberries off my sister-in-law's bushes!

I'm with you on the shopping. I'm glad you found things quickly!

XUE said...

My son loves blueberries so he would have love to be at a blueberry ranch! We are imagining the size of this ranch since you mentioned the berries are being packaged later - we guess for sale later somewhere. Happy summer!

Joanne said...

Blueberries! High in antioxidants and so good for you!
Love the children's book,
Blueberries for Sal!
And who doesn't love some new clothes!
Blessings on your weekend!
Joanne

Joanne said...

Forgot to say:
We must have been on the same wavelength:
"Summertime and the livin' is easy." That's what came to my mind when I wrote my fff post!
Blessings,
Joanne

Susanne said...

What a blessing to have a blueberry farm close to you. They are so expensive here.

Love the phone calls from children away from home too!

Gattina said...

Your professor loves basket ball, my Mr. G loves Formular 1 and then squats the living room. Fortunately he is not interested in football (soccer) now with the worldcup !

cindy said...

OMGosh the blueberries look like I'd have a bowl of milk and brown sugar waiting. I don't know what is with me and brown sugar lately I hope it passes.

I put shopping right up there on the list of get in, get it done, get out fast. You did a great job and surprised yourself as well. All our Blueberries are white little dimples, but the strawberries are at their best in PEI.

Glad you get those #2 phone calls, makes for a great day.
Happy week

Karyn said...

love the photo of the blueberries!

Happy Birthday to your Proffessor!

Sounds like a great way to start the summer....berries, easy shopping, friends, phone calls from family, and the victory of your team.

Kari said...

Hi Willow, you had a great week, love the blueberries and shopping for some stuff is always great.
And of course the LA Lakers winning was a fave for me too. I'm glad we can take a basketball break but I can't wait for the next season...hehehe.
Happy Birthday to the Prof and your mom.

Deb said...

We have a few blueberry bushes and have been picking berries also ~ yummy ! I love 'Blueberries for Sal' ~ it is one of my favorites. Plink,plunk. But I beg to differ with only one item in your post...it was a SAD day when my Celtics were sent home without the Championship banner. I am glad that the Professor was happy though ! Happy Summer !