Thursday, April 04, 2013

Restful Break

After missing last week for Friday Fave Five, I am happily back on schedule.  This first week of April 2013 I have been on Spring Break from teaching.  Here is a sample of my simple days this week.

1. We had some April Showers on April 1st.  No foolin'.  It was a cloudy, misty day.  But we took our fun day and walked at the beach anyway.



2. On Monday we also decided to have lunch out.  Usually we aren't the going out to lunch or dinner kind of people, but we stopped at Pick up Stix and had the most delicious lunch we've eaten in a long time.  Being vegan (yes, I am) and focusing on plant based, no added oil meals means eating in restaurants is severely restricted.  But the amazing waitress at Pick Up Stix was helpful and cheerful in offering excellent and tasty options.

3.  Although our mornings all week have been the typical 'early morning coastal fog and low cloudiness', Tuesday was a brilliantly sunny day.  Since I had to be in Ventura to tutor a couple of writing students, I made a lunch detour to Ventura Harbor's beach.  Oh I do love all the moods of the beach.


4.  During my two weeks of Spring Break, I've had so. much. fun. working on a knitting and felting project.  I have posted photos of my sets of felted bowls here.  Basically, I took some hand spun and hand dyed (by me) wool which had been waiting for inspiration for several years and I knitted it all up into bowls.  It was a truly fun spring project.  And they're useful, too.



5.  There are so many other faves I could choose for the past two weeks, but one quote, a prayer, has been floating up in my memory which describes my spring break--mostly because a spring cold attacked me just as my break began.  "Take my tired body, my confused mind and my restless soul into your arms, and give me rest, simple quiet rest."  Henri Nouwen.  I have truly had a simple quiet rest for which I am most thankful.

How about you?  Did you get a spring break?  Did you experience simple quiet rest?

14 comments:

nikkipolani said...

Mmmm. I like that quote, which goes quite well with your restful week. Those images of the beach look lovely. Your felted bowls are in such fun and vibrant colors!

Amen on the challenge of eating at restaurants when one is on a restricted diet! Glad you had some helpful staff.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

ooh those bowls are beautiful. I love the bright blue. I don't have "spring break" but work has been very slow so I've had time off and have enjoyed the relaxation very much.

Tracy said...

Sea views and felt... such happy things! :o) LOVE the felt bowls, Willow! I've not done felting in a long time. Our long Easter weekend was 5 days. We had time with family, a day out to see some arts & crafts, and time to work on my crochet blanket and quilt in progress. The holiday could have been longer... ;o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Faith said...

What a perfect quote! I've been on spring break as well from teaching but for us here in NY that means just a week (although we did get Good Friday off!). I love your felt bowls...so adorable...I'm not crafty like that but I love seeing what other people come up with. I would BUY one of those in a heartbeat! :) I love the look of those salads from the restaurant you linked us to. YUMMY!!

Susanne said...

I love when we come across a waitress who really knows her stuff. With so many people choosing and/or having to have diets that restrict foods it's always a joy to find someone who can make some good recommendations.

Lunch detour to the beach sounds wonderful! And I love that quote!

ellen b. said...

Love that prayer...

Julene said...

What a nice SPRING break! There is always a way to enjoy a few days off!! I still like the bowls!!! Pretty, pretty!!

Jerralea said...

Simple quiet rest - I like the sound of that!

I love walking on the beach, even on a misty day. I like to be there best around sunset.

Glad you had a restful spring break. I don't get a spring break but I really enjoyed having Good Friday off.

Caroline said...

You are such a "beach appreciator." Your posts always make me want to head to the beach!

Caroline said...
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Marg said...

I love Henri Nouwen...He just knows how to write with poignancy.
I'm not working anymore, and I am finally starting to enjoy some new uncomplicated projects at home with out major deadlines...so I do have some more restful days now.

Barbara H. said...

I had missed last week, too, due to company.

Hope you're feeling better! That's frustrating when a cold hits during time off. Or when working..or any time. :-D

I'm trying not to envy your being near a beach. :-)

The felted bowls look cute!

Bethany said...

I had a little nap this afternoon which was wonderful! We have yet to experience much of a spring as it was only in the 30's this morning! No spring break here, unfortunately. But summer is only two months away!

Brenda said...

I love those knit felt bowels! Such beautiful objects to catch odds and and ends in!

Never can get enough of the ocean, that alone will renew my soul!