Finishing Off the Month of April

 Better Late Than Never.  It's Friday evening and I am finally slowing down a bit to sit and focus on writing my Friday Fave Fives for this last week of April.  It has been a busy week, but it is important remember all the blessings, too. (this link will take you to join in or read others' FFF)

1.  On Monday, we took a day trip to Amish country and visited Lehman's to find a replacement for  the glass chimney for my oil lamp which broke when we moved.  I have searched and searched for a chimney but couldn't find one anywhere.  I knew Lehman's had them, so we just did the day trip and found other items that we knew the store would have like a replacement belt for my old treadle sewing machine.

2.  The Professor put up the pole to place something new by the back patio.  A bird feeder!  I'm loving watching the birds and learning to identify them.

3.  Wednesday afternoon I tackled a chore I had been ignoring for awhile (longer than I realized).  I filed all the papers that had been piling up in the file basket!  It took me hours but I did.  I really do love to file, so it wasn't as odious for me as it might have been for other people.

4.  Yesterday, we drove out to where we were able to pick up the pieces that will become our bee hive!  We are both excited about having our very own hive in our backyard.  The woman who brought out our hive also mentioned a beekeeping group that meets once a month in our area.  YES, we are excited about our new sweet adventure into beekeeping.

5.  Just this afternoon, The Professor commented that the blessing of having a young man walking out of Lowe's behind us and offering to help us load a heavy piece of lumber and eight cinderblocks into our car needed to be part of my FFF this week.  So YES!  He helped us and we are very thankful for his thoughtfulness and willingness to help.

PS:  you may have noticed the absence of any photos.  My camera and my computer aren't talking to each other right now.  Hopefully, I will figure out why they're mad at each other.

Friday Fave Fives April, Take Three

Friday Fave Fives.  That time of the week when we stop and breathe and focus on five of the best blessings from the past seven days.  It is really helpful for my sense of thankfulness and gratitude to do this every Friday.  You can do it, too.  Here's the link to join us: FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  Best news!  At the doctor's office this week, the doctor told me, "You're good to go!"  I have been dismissed from orthopedic care for my broken ankle.  All I have to do is wear a splint when I hike, walk long distances or drive.  Yes, I'm cleared to drive, too.

2.  Last evening, The Professor and I joined both daughters and their dogs and Little Warrior (who I should now call Shorter Boy--he is growing but still shorter than Tall Boy).  My first walk in six weeks!

3.  The weather was so very spring-like this week.  We were able to sit on the back patio and just enjoy the sunshine.

4.  Our extra family dropped by yesterday on their day off to help us with some yard work.  Goodbye to the purple sand cherry bushes that were blocking our front windows and attracting Japanese beetles.  I am so thankful for all their help.  And Y planted my raspberry bush, too.

5.  Is there anything more exciting than seeing that tiny sprout which will become a flower or tomato or broccoli plant?

A Lovely and Warm Week

Friday Fave Fives are short and sweet this week. (will life ever calm down?)  Even in the midst of busy lives, it is important to slow down, focus, and remember to be thankful for all the blessings of the week.  The link above will take you to Susanne's blog page and you can join FFF or read what others are sharing this week.

1.  A quiet Easter Sunday. Lovely morning service.  Then in the afternoon, Younger Daughter brought the grands over to help us begin working on some garden projects.

2.  Very quick and easy dentist visit.   I do not enjoy visits to the dentist although my dentist is truly one of the best.  Since I had developed a small chip in a tooth, it was a simple procedure.  I am thankful for dental health care and a wonderful dentist.

3.  Beautiful weather.  I am so ready for spring, and this week spring was really and truly here.

4.  The man who has been cutting our lawn for us the past two years, mowed for the first time this week.  Our yard looks so nice now.

5.  The Professor and I had the opportunity to share lunch with a young woman who is a missionary nurse in a Latin American country.  We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and find out more about her ministry.  I am thankful that people are continuing to focus on bringing help and the good news of Jesus to people all over the world.

Bonus:  This morning as the Art Girls (all five of us this week!) were chatting on a zoom call, one mentioned how important it is to recall how God has blessed and changed us through the years, not just the days and weeks.  So true!

Go-Go and Good Friday Faves

 It has been a go-go-go week here at Willow's Cottage.  I have had to remind myself a few times to Stop. Breathe. Focus. Be thankful.  That is what Friday Fave Fives is about.  Focus on the week's blessings. (follow the link to be part of it)  And it is Good Friday, a most important day in the year's calendar.

1.  On Friday (a week ago!), a friend and I drove about an hour and a half northeast of home to attend the Whole Health Conference.  Wow!  It was great!  We took the making herbal medicine class which was very hands on.  We created an oil using essential oils and also watched our teacher make a salve from herbs, oils, and beeswax (exactly how I make mine).  The dinner and snacks were exceptionally yummy.  All in all, it was a great day and we plan to attend the full weekend conference next year.  And the conversations to and from in the car were so uplifting.

2.  Saturday was the wedding of the older son of our 'family' from Southern California who moved here last year.  It was a Star Wars themed wedding.  The Professor and Older Daughter had helped to set things up on Friday and we all showed up for the 10:30am wedding and stayed after to clear the space for church service that evening.

3.  I have only one sibling.  An older brother.  We have always been close and he is so good about calling and talking with me on a regular basis.  This week, I called him and we chatted for a good long time.  What a blessing it is to me to have a sibling with whom I have such a great relationship.

4.  Because of busy schedules, we have not had a chance for family dinner with our daughters and grands, lately.  But this Wednesday, we all carved out time on Wednesday evening to eat together and enjoy each other's company and conversation. (the grands requested Panda Express, so The Professor did a take out run to grab their favorites)

5.  It is Holy Week and we attended the Maundy Thursday service at our church last night.  Since The Professor was on lighting duty, I sat alone.  Scriptures were read, walking us through the day and night of The Last Supper and Jesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Then we took communion.  This time was the highlight of our week.  And finally, I slowed down and just focused on my thankfulness for Jesus' sacrifice of His life for me.

Happy Easter to all!

Spring Break

 Yep. Spring Break.  Even though The Professor and I are retired teachers, we notice when spring break happens.   This year, spring break was filled with family things midst the usual.  I want to focus on Five Things that made me thankful this week.  I am linking this with Susanne's group FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  On Tuesday, we took the spring break grandkids to COSI (Center for Science and Industry) which is a great science museum in Columbus.  We had a great time exploring all the places.

2.  The Tutankhamun Exhibit was a highlight.  If it ever is showing in a museum near you, do go see it.  It's great!

3.  Younger Daughter made sure I was well cared for.  She arranged for a wheelchair and Grandson, Little Warrior, insisted on being my pusher.  Any time I had to walk with my crutch, Tall Boy was there to lend a hand.  I love how my family cares for me. 

4.  Thursday morning was spent, per usual, with our friends T and S, chatting nonstop and drinking coffee.  We enjoyed a snack and then realized that the coffee shop had a special that day for black bean burgers. So, we enjoyed lunch with them, too.

5.  The reason why I am late posting my faves is because I attended a health conference with a friend.  She invited me a couple of months ago to accompany her into Amish Country area and take an intensive class on making herbal teas, infusions, and tinctures.  While I have been doing this for awhile, the class did solidify my knowledge and I did lean some new information.  And she won a wonderful basket of goodies in a raffle.  And the drive was beautiful.  And we connected with a new friend.  I am thankful for this friend and for the things I learned.

No new photos this week.  But enjoy daffodils from England (last year).