Thursday, January 12, 2012

Ramblings and Routines

Friday Fave Five
An account of the best parts of my week
An exercise in reminding myself to focus on the positive
Hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story

1.  A Friday out.  We've visited the Getty Villa before, but we decided we really wanted to spend the afternoon there.  Admission is free although there is a parking charge.  Lunch packed, we drove through Malibu Canyon and out to the Pacific Ocean and down Hwy 1 to The Getty Villa where J. Paul Getty built a replica of an ancient Roman villa simply to store his collection of antiquities.


2.  Another adventure.  On Monday, we drove the other direction--to Santa Barbara to visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.  Most of the garden has been left in a natural state and it was a pleasure to walk the paths under the canopy of the gigantic California Live Oak trees.

From the creek bed, we climbed the steps


and at the top of one of the hills we could see across the city to the ocean and beyond to the island.


When we turned around, we faced the rugged coastal mountains.  No, that's not snow; it's sand colored bare rock.


3.  Coffee with a best buddy, just to catch up after the holidays.

4.  I love it when my students have birthdays.  Sometimes, like this week, they bring cookies to class to share.

5.  Getting back in a routine is always good.  Besides teaching classes again (see #4), I have enjoyed the morning lattes which The Professor provides and the evening walks we've taken together.  The advantage of routine is knowing that I'm going to walk and do other physical exercise which I certainly need because it's simply part of 'my day'.  Routines keep me accountable.

That was Willow's Week
How about you?

22 comments:

Faith said...

What a great list of faves! i especially like those photos of the Santa Barbara area....I've only been to CA once and it was a whirlwind of a week in San Francisco.....we just LOVED all the touring we did. I'd love to visit the Santa Barbara area someday and drive down Highway 1! Have a great weekend!

Tracy said...

Would LOVE to see the Getty one day! Glad you had a great week, Willow. After a week being under the weather with a cold, it's good to be feeling better and among the living again and back to my creative work. :o) Happy Weekend ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

Some routines seem to "frame" my day and make it better: my time in the Word of God -- with a mug of coffee, a short exercise time, etc. I would enjoy including a walk in that if I lived in southern CA!! I remember loving Santa Barbara. Mary

meg said...

The pics of the Getty museum brought back memories--I remember those steps, the pool, and that particular view of the ocean beyond. And Malibu Canyon was amazing, a weird sensation to drive it when one is used to the straight flat roads of the Midwest.

We try to take walks here, but today it is -5 windchill, so I don't see it on the schedule! I love routine, but of late there doesn't seem to be much of one, and I am about to sit down and consider why that is, and what I might be able to do about it. Sometimes a bit of change is good to shake things up, but it can be hard to form new routines afterwards.

I did have lunch recently with an old friend, a 2 1/2 hour gab session over pad tai and white wine, totally fun. And tonight another couple of old friends are coming by with pizza, assuming the roads are navigable.

On the whole, a nice week here, too :)

Susanne said...

What great photos! It looks like such a great place to visit and walk in. The scenery is breath taking!

Wow that is quite the place to use to store antiques. I didn't know who that was so I just googled it. Pretty sad story with his grandson.

Coffee with a best buddy is always a favorite with me!

Jerralea said...

I am so like you - I love routines. I agree that routines keep us accountable. I do have trouble sometimes ADDING something to my routine!

I love the gorgeous photos you shared - especially that shot through the trees. That is one of my favorite views to photograph.

Susan@FruitfulWords said...

I find that routines keep me accountable too. However, I seem to resist them at every turn.

Catching up with friends is a needed and bonding time. This is especially true for me after a hectic holiday season.

Yumm - birthday cookies. Certainly brightens any day. I am hoping to make some peanut butter cookies today to share with a friend.

You gave me the idea to see if she has time for a pot of tea and a chat.

Hope you have another blessed week, Willow.

Barbara H. said...

Glad to see your foot (ankle, was it?) is doing so much better that you're able to get back to some of your excursions. Though you visited two very different places, they're both pretty.

My youngest son's birthday is mid-September, and I always enjoyed sending cupcakes to his class for his birthday.

ellen b. said...

Your weekend was sandwiched with some great getaways! Beautiful. Routine is really good for me. Enjoy!

Jientje said...

I think I've seen photos of the Santa Barbara garden before. It's a beautiful area. Your hubby takes such good care of you, no wonder you call him your best buddy! (so is mine!)

Marg said...

Walking and taking photos is always a great way to enjoy the out doors.
It's birthday month here...and I wonder what I can plan for The Teacher's birthday this year...All the student's love that.
Thanks for your card and letter...nice way to catch up news about your family.

Mr. Puffy said...

I love your weekly Friday favorites, a reminder to us all to focus on the positive things. I especially enjoyed your pictures of the Botanical Gardens. I've not been in a long time but it is a favorite place of mine and fairly close to where I grew up. Have a wonderful week ahead ~

Brenda said...

I love Santa Barbara but I have not been there for years, you remind me I need to go back :)

Celebrating birthdays is such a fun thing, I wish everyone would do it :)

nikkipolani said...

Oh, you had a much clearer view of the ocean from the botanic garden than I did last summer. Your photos of the Getty Villa reminds me I need to get back there soon. Lovely visits in your week, Willow!

Caroline said...

I thought of you yesterday because Russ and I went to Santa Monica, mostly to check out the Farmer's Market, and then we drove down Hwy 1 to Ventura before we headed through the mountains behind Ojai to get home. We almost stopped at the Getty Villa, but since I'll be going there next month, we just kept driving.

Have another happy week!

snoopydogknits said...

Sounds like a fun-packed week. Think I've paid a visit vicariously, through your photos. Thanks! ;-) Have a good week. Ros

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Your life sounds idyllic this week. What beautiful scenes from the garden..and you've sparked a hankering to visit the Getty again...it's been a while for me.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I wish i had more time to explore Santa barbara when we visited CA this past year.

I lost my Mom on Little Christmas day, Willow. The past ten days have been rough. Thank you for your kind words of condolence --they were very comforting to me.

Karyn said...

Two day trips in one week? Nice. They both look amazing. I like to see that parts of the world are not shivering in a deep freeze but are still lush and green.

Routine is necessary for me, too. An evening walk with your man every day sounds lovely.

Kathie said...

Oh sorry to be late for my Friday visit - looks like you had a lovely week. I can remember the classroom bday parties - such fun! Lovely places to walk too.

Barbara said...

Seen lots of the Getty Villa on Sara's posts too.

Barbara said...

Love the coastline and mountain pics.

Thanks for Christmas card which arrived sometime in January!!