End of October

I'm a bit late posting Friday Fave Fives.  Things are a bit tense and wary because of all the concerns about fires here in Southern California.  We are fine and there are no fires within fifteen miles from us.  But fire weather still keeps us on edge.

1.  First, I have to say I am thankful for all the firefighters who are out fighting the various fires that are burning throughout California.  With a large fire burning not far from where The Professor's brother lives and another one near our niece and nephew, and a third burning along the beach just up the coast in our county, we know the firemen and first responders are working round the clock to keep us safe.

2.  And yes, it really has been as hot and windy as the news  says.  I am very very thankful that we have air conditioning.

3.  World's Best Neighbor took the train to San Diego and then rode it back at the end of the week.  I'm her Uber driver.  It's fun to get those texts saying, "I'm in LA."  "Just passing Glendale."  I picked her up and after a community meeting we needed to attend, we grabbed The Professor and ended up at a new to us Chinese restaurant.  Yum!  And I'm glad to have her back home.

4.  I haven't been writing about my knitting projects much.  Mostly, they're boring projects. There's really nothing exciting about pillow covers.  But it gives me joy to just knit.

5.  I am thankful for the BEST eye surgeon.  I needed some (not unusual) follow up work on my cataract surgeries.  This weekend, I'll be resting my eyes.  But my vision is doing just fine and I am very thankful for that.

Birthdays and Travels

I'm back online after being out of town for a week.  Where have I been?  See below.  I'm going to share the details via Friday Fave Fives. (Click the link to join!)

1.  Last Friday, The Professor and I drove to Phoenix.  We cleaned up the house to get it open house ready and then we loaded up the car and took off.  You may recall that Southern California was having high winds and wild fires.  Yes, we drove through lots of smoke, but we were never really in any danger.  The rest of the drive was uneventful and we arrived safely at our son's home.

2.  Why did we go to Phoenix?  Well, PAL turned five!  Of course, we wanted to be with her to celebrate her birthday with a pirate party at the park!

3.  On her actual birthday, we attended church in the morning with them and then after a quick lunch we did something I loved.  The Phoenix Symphony playing the music for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.  WOW! It was amazing!  Sometimes, I was so focused on the movie that I would forget that the music was being played right there on the stage, and then other times, I'd be listening to the music and forget to follow the movie!  If you even have an opportunity to watch a movie with live music, do it!  It's fantastic!

4.  A wonderful addition to PAL's birthday was that Son #2 was able to join the party.  He had work meetings this week in Phoenix, so the timing worked out perfectly.  Time with BOTH sons!

Come cook with me, Uncle!

At Children's Museum

5.  We drove home Tuesday, thankful for safe travels, and Wednesday I went to the Beach Cities of Los Angeles for a get together with long time friends.  The over night visit was made all the better by sitting around the outdoor fireplace cuddled up in a blanket and talking into the evening with one of my best friends.

So that's where I've been...gone every day for the whole week.  I loved my times away, but I'm also so happy to be home again.

October Week One

Welcome!  Willow's Week One of October.  Here is the link to FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  I have been reading an interesting book.  The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.  It's not as creepy as it sounds.  The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson.  It's not at all creepy or sad.  It's about 'How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter' with a focus on doing it for your family so they don't have to do after you die.  Lots of good thoughts and bits of humor.  I liked this quote: "There must be something wrong with the way I have organized my home if I have to continually mess up the place that I originally worked so hard to decorate and keep orderly."

2.  Fresh tomato sauce.  Yum! Our neighbor gifted us several tomatoes, so The Professor cut them up and added some fresh basil from our garden.  It smelled heavenly as it cooked.  I'm thankful both for the gift of the tomatoes and the sauce they produced.

3.  On Saturday,  I attended a tea party to celebrate the ninety-third (sshhh!) birthday of a neighbor.  It was so much fun, and World's Best Neighbor was there, too. The tea shop provides fancy hats and you get to choose the one you want to wear.  I couldn't decide.  Which one do you like?

4.  Fall weather.  The temperatures have cooled down some (not like in Montana or Canada!) and during our evening walks, we have donned our light jackets.  I know we will get some hot weather and wind (those Santa Ana winds!), but for now, I am thankful for the almost perfect weather.

5.  My granddaughter ZG's thirteenth birthday was this week.   She is growing so tall.  She loves little children.  She actually called me on her birthday!  She's enjoying school (I'm getting As, Meema! she said).  

I've had a great first week of October!  How about you?