Where did my week go?
1. On Sunday, The Professor and I drove to Long Beach (second largest city in Los Angeles County) to a church we were part of when we lived in LA. There was a special informational meeting after the service which we particularly wanted to attend, hosted by the group Ugandan Lambs through which we have sponsored a boy from Uganda for the past seven years. The meeting was wonderful on so many levels--seeing old friends, learning what has been acoomplished in Uganda in the past year, hearing the vision for the future of the these precious orphans, even receiving a letter and photo from 'our boy'. We connected with a very special friend for lunch--she even found a great restaurant, The Veggie Grill, where we could all find something tasty and yummy to eat.
2. Our week has ended with a house guest brightening up our lives. Our daugther in law (she who we call The Princess) drove over to spend a few days with us. Already, we have laughed and laughed, watched The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (with Ingrid Bergen), sat around and shared our favorite new books, and enjoyed a couple of special meals.
3. This morning we were here:
picking these:
4. On a whim, we decided to drive to Ventura this afternoon. Our original goal was to cruise through a few thrift stores. None of us are shoppers, but we do love to poke around in the used books sections of these shops. We walked in to ONE book shop on the way to the thrift store and never left until we had found a total of (ahem) eight books. In my defense, I will state that this amazing little shop had a treasure trove of Newbery Award Books. Because I am always looking for the award books to fill out my collection and achieve a life goal to own and read every Newbery Award Book, I was delighted to find THREE more volumes. These books were especially exciting because two of them were hard copies, and if they weren't first editions, they were certainly orginally purchased the year they won the Medal. Inside the covers, the original owner had written "Newbery Award Book-- and then the year (1955, 1947)". I just had to have those books because I felt a close kinship to the owner since she obviously also collected all the winners through the years. I am now within SEVENTEEN books of having them all! I'm so pleased that we gave in to our whim and then serendipitously strolled in to that little book shop.
5. Speaking of books, I read about a new (to me) author on another blog and then found some copies of his books at our local library. I enjoy novels placed in historical settings, so I am looking forward to reading Sarum, the Novel of England by Edward Rutherfurd. With just one week of classes left, I am looking forward to a wonderful summer of reading!
This week passed so quickly and happily, filled with little moments of gratitude and pleasure. I'm sharing these Five Faves for Friday's Fave Five and linking to Susanne's blog. Thanks, Susanne, for hosting us each week and offering us the chance to focus on our fleeting moments of thankfulness.
22 comments:
Sounds like another wonderful week, but those free weeks of summer sound even more wonderful.
I still love the Newberry books too. I've been planning to read a few old favorites this summer. Thumble Summer was one of my favorites when the kids were little.
Nice Five...I just picked up the Diary of Anne Frank...it's been a long time and we're travelling towards Amsterdam shortly, so it will be a good ready.
I love those blueberries...They look fantastic.
Glad that your summer will soon begin and there will be more walks and more books read once again.
I havent heard of the Newbery Award Books before but im going to find out more. I love books so much and the home feels so empty without them, we have our islamic books in a big glass fronted cabinet but all of my other books are still piled up in a cuboard waiting for bookshelves to be put up. Im always going in and out of the second hand shops finding more books for my collection. Blogs are wonderful for finding new authors!
Ive just done a quick search - are the Newbery Award Books childrens books? Just seeing if ive got the right ones.
Aqeela xx
I have a friend whose son & DIL are trying to adopt a child from Uganda. The judge approved the adoption, but said that the child couldn't leave the country. Definitely a roller coaster for them right now.
Love, love, love my summer reading!
A wonderful variety of good in your week. I miss those blueberry fields!
Yippee for finding more Newberry award books. Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Blueberries? Already?!! And we're still three weeks away from the first strawberries. whine! There's snow warnings in the passes, and Persephone is taking her own sweet time about getting here. You'll have to enjoy the warmth and sunshine for me, too.
I love the story of The Inn of sixth happiness. Several years ago I did a report on Gladys Aylward and I was even able to interview a friend who worked with Gladys. very inspiring and challenged me in a personal and spiritual way.
How wonderful that you were able to find those special books. Sounds like a fun goal (to read all the Newbery award books).
Have another great week.
Well, you know the bookstore got my attention! I think you will enjoy Sarum a lot. He has other novels too...London was the first one I read. London and Sarum are my favorites of his.
Seriously!? It's blueberry time down there already! Yikes! We haven't even gotten to our strawberries yet for all the rain lately! (Been enjoying CA strawberries in the meantime.)
My husband's grandparents live in Long Beach. Been there a few times. =)
Hope you have a great weekend!
That's a great goal - to own all the Newberry books! It was just "meant" for you to visit that bookshop.
Picking blueberries - I love it. Hope I'm able to do that this year ...
I hear you on the week flying by phenomenon. I'm just thinking about my five faves on Monday and before I know it, it's late Thursday night!
Have you read The Small Woman, the real story of Gladys Aylward? Your bookish week sounds terrific.
I'm reading Rutherfurd, too -- Princes of Ireland right now, Rebels of Ireland coming up. I suppose I should read Sarum before London, shouldn't I?
The blueberries look wonderful. Looks like a great week!
What a great week...those blueberries!! YUMMY!!!! and that Ingrid Bergman movie is one of my very fave classics!! Have a great weekend....
Ahhh, thank you for the link! I may spend an evening going through the list to see if theres any titles or authors that i recognise. I would love Zakareeya to read some classic childrens books, i missed out on alot of them when i was a child but i struggle to read childrens books as an adult so i feel like ive missed the opportunity. I love tv adaptations or film versions though!
Aqeela xx
I love it when I find treasures at the used book stores or library sales. I can spend hours scouring through their shelves.
I think it's so neat that you have such a special bond with your daughter in law and that you enjoy doing things together.
As soon as you mentioned the blueberry fields I thought of you and Ellen walking them together.
Hi Willow. I love that kind of day! Wish we lived closer :)
I love when I find treasures like your books - and how wonderful to get a letter from Uganda! I hope your boy is doing well.
Your post made me miss southern California. My husband and I met and lived in Orange County. We came back East when the boys were two, so we could be near family.
Your DIL sounds lovely. I'm glad you enjoy your time together!
Congratulations on your Newbury finds! What a serendipitous stop, indeed. And those blueberries look absolutely delicious - I love it when blueberry season comes :)
Sounds like a lovely sort of week. Jane x
Did not realise that Long Beach was a city.
Sounds like a fun week and yes I agree I do not know where the time goes.
Hey I was in Long Beach on Sunday too! I went up to L.A. for the weekend to visit friends. You may have even seen me zipping around on my motorcycle. Of course, with all the traffic I encountered, it was hard enough even seeing my friends :)
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