Travel--There and Back Again

Having been away for most of the past two weeks, I have had much to catch up on including participating in Friday Fave Five with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story (click the link to add your own FFF to the list).  The purpose of FFF is to practice gratitude for the wonderful gifts of grace we receive daily.  I find it to be an excellent exercise in thankfulness as I look back and  focus on the positive events in my life.

1.  Summer break always involves traveling to visit my children.  What mother does not LOVE spending precious moments with her kids?

 We had less than twenty-four hours to enjoy The Grad Student's company before he headed off on another summer's worth of adventures in other parts of the world digging for bones, shards and other ancient artifacts. (Yes, really and truly, that's what he does.  Isn't he lucky to have such an interesting job?)

We enjoyed a quick stroll around the Los Angeles Farmers Market on Fairfax where we know we will always be able to find our favorite drink of all time: es cendol. It's a sweet coconut drink we learned to loved in Indonesia.

After that, we met up with a couple of his friends and devoured a fantastic feast of Ethiopian food (one of our absolute culinary faves), said our farewells, knowing he was flying out of LAX just a few hours later.  We do know he arrived safely at his dig site but internet and phone access are seriously scarce out there so we don't expect to hear from him often. (In this case, no news is usually good news.  As long as I don't receive a call or visit from the US embassy or State dept, I can assume he's alive and well.)

2.  Just a couple of days later we hopped back in our happy little Honda CRV (love that car!) and drove to San Diego to see our youngest girl and her family.  We always have to visit the San Diego Zoo--it's tradition.

3.  This time, Little R had a preschool field trip--a ferry ride from Coronado Island across the bay to downtown San Diego and back again. So. Much. Fun.  The trip is only about fifteen minutes each way which is just long enough to enthrall a little one but not too long to bore him.

4.  Of course, at Willow's Cottage, knitting constantly commences.  On the needles right now are no less than four projects.  But this one is off now, finished, and on the shoulders of T.  Once I gave it to her and she was off and running, there was almost no opportunity for a photo op.  I did catch a quick close up shot of the Fair Isle design on the body of the sweater.  A top down raglan cardigan with a hoodie, knitted in Red Heart Soft yarn on size 9 needles, this Knitting Pure and Simple sweater is a perfect fit for our girl.

5.  I could mention all the wonderful walks and quiet reading hours of the past week, but what jumps out at me as a fave during the past few days is the generosity of a friend from my spinning/weaving guild.  Debbie had taken a non-working weaving loom that I owned and was ready to part with, fiddled around with it, and with the help of another friend, FIXED IT.  Then, she offered it back to me!  Not only did she graciously return it, but she also spent almost a full day with me teaching me how to work it, warp it and weave with it.  That is true generosity!

What moments stand out to you in the past weeks as events of thoughtfulness, generosity, gratitude?