Across Two Weeks in April

 I missed last week's Friday's Fave Five because we were a little busy with company.  I'm glad to be back this week to share what's happened here at Willow's Cottage.

1. The little ones came from San Diego for their first visit to Meema and Bapa's house.  Of course, they just had to go blueberry picking.

Walking through the university halls was rather exciting too.

2. The hummingbirds are back!  Actually some of them never left, and I've been feeding them all winter, but now there are more of them including this shiny one which frequently enjoys the view from the tip top of my plum tree.

3. I love the California mission architectural style.  Every week I pass Olivas Adobe on my way home from a tutoring session.  Tuesday I decided to stop and walk around the grounds.

There were other people there with cameras photographing the owlets nesting in a magnificent eucalyptus tree.

4. and 5. Finally, I spent a morning with my friend who loves to garden even more than I do (and has a larger lot than I) and after we chatted over Earl Grey tea and scones, we strolled through her back garden.  She grows orange, tangelo, and avocado trees, cultivates several raised beds with veggies, raspberries and grapes, all in her small Southern California backyard. While I was there, I asked her to take my picture since I was wearing my birthday sweater.

Details:  handspun wool/silk blend, dyed by Red Fish Dyeworks.
Pattern:  Liesl

After wearing it the first weekend, I decided that the neckline was too wide, so I single crocheted a couple of rows around the top to tighten it.

Several people have asked me if the sweater is crocheted because the stitches are loose and open.  No, it's knitted in an old traditional stitch pattern called feather and fan.

This was Willow's Week.  I am linking to Susanne's Friday Fave Five.