Goodbye, July Faves

 I really did plan to write up a couple of posts this week, but life has just been crazy busy.  Not bad busy.  Just busy.  I truly need to just stop today and take a breath and write down five of those wonderful blessings from this past week.  Here are my Friday Fave Fives, hosted by Susanne every week.

1.  We have entered the season of birthdays in our family.  Three of our four children were born within two weeks of each other (with a separation of eleven years). First in line is the youngest.  Younger Daughter, the Nurse, had her birthday yesterday.  We celebrated in the morning with a walk with the dogs at our local Dawes Arboretum.  Then in the evening, we enjoyed dinner at a local Mexican restaurant (her choice).  Happy Birthday!!

"Barbie Nails"

2.  If you have read my FFFs from last month, you will remember that our air conditioner quit working, and the AC/Heating company sent someone that day to fix it.  Knowing our twenty-five year old units were on their very last breaths, we decided to have a new AC and furnace installed.  Two very kind and diligent workers came this week and replaced them both.  I was thankful the work is done and that we have more efficient machines to keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

3.  On Monday, I had an appointment with the contact dermatologist to give me information for the results on the allergy tests I had done last week.  Well.  It turns out I'm allergic to all kinds of things.  Two of them are very common in lotions and cosmetic products.  My doctor gave me information on how to get an app on my phone that I can use to scan UPCs and identify what is in every product.  After checking shampoo, conditioner, soaps, creams, lotions, I found that almost all the products I have been using have ingredients I'm allergic to.  I'm down to one shampoo and conditioner, two lotions I bought this week after scanning their UPCs at the store.  Result:  I noticed almost immediate relief on my skin, and my lotion/cosmetics drawer is much more empty.

4.  While The Professor was at his physical therapy appointment yesterday, I popped over to Hobby Lobby and ordered a frame for the painting my friend made me from a photo I took on Aran Islands last year.  I can't wait for it to be done and hung on a wall in my home.

5.  The birds in my garden.  Catching photos of them is basically impossible, but I love to sit near the window and watch the goldfinches perched on the sunflowers and all the wrens and other birds pecking around at the bird feeder and on the grass and in the wildflower garden.  There's even a hummingbird that flies in and hovers around the petunias and nasturtiums.  I love the birds, butterflies and bees that visit my backyard oasis.

Now we are in the month of August.  And we have much more to look forward to in this later part of the summer.  And more blessings, I am sure.  

Family, Flowers, Faithfulness

 This past week, it has been hot and humid here in Ohio.  Too hot to walk most days until late evening.  I have spent most of my time inside (more on that topic below).  But there have been blessings along the way.  Friday Fave Fives is how I share some of them each week.  Susanne is our faithful host and she leads us by example.  The link takes you to her blog and to where and how you can participate in FFF.

Here are mine.

1.  I didn't mention this last week...my bad.  Our Fifty-second wedding anniversary.  Yes, you read that correctly. 52 years.  I am thankful for a faithful husband who has always been through life with me.  We were so young fifty-two years ago.

Many of our wedding photos were damaged when they were in storage during the years we lived in Indonesia, but a few escaped the rats.

2.  Back to current times.  We grow old together.  Dr. appointments become faves.  The Professor had a very encouraging physical therapy assessment.  I was able to schedule a quicker than usual appointment to find out why I am having allergic reactions (and to what).  I am thankful that we have excellent insurance and options to help us with our health.

3.  The Professor is improving and we were able to walk two miles one evening.  And the one morning when the temperatures were bearable, we enjoyed a shorter walk with our Nurse Girl (younger daughter) and the two granddogs.  (According to Nurse Girl, we are the grandpawrents)

4.  As I mentioned above, the weather has been so hot and humid.  Because of the testing I am undergoing for the allergies, I am not supposed to be exposed much to sun or get all sweaty.  So mostly I have been sitting inside reading or knitting.  I'm thankful I can stay cool(ish) in the house.  And I don't have to weed the garden.

5. My view into the back garden is of potted plants on the patio, and just behind them in the garden bed, sunflowers!  The sunflowers are so tall and blooming huge flowers.  I love them.  The birds love them. (photos taken in the evening after it cooled a bit)

And I have a few growing in the front of the house, too.

I am thankful for my garden!

A volunteer daisy among the potted nasturtiums.

A solar light dragonfly among the wildflowers. 

This week I hoped you stopped to smell all the flowers, not just the roses.

Monday Harvest

 Goodies from my garden.  It's worth waiting for.

Sunflowers.

Fave Fives, Mid July

Friday already!  Time to hit the pause button and think about all the blessings of this past week.  Friday Fave Fives does help me stay focused.

1.  Lately I have been reading a devotional book every evening before I sleep.  I bought the book in Lindisfarne on Holy Island, Northumberland, England in April 2022.  This week, the daily reading mentioned Heavenfield.  This is a place in the UK that has great significance to the Celtic Christian church because it is where King Oswald raised a cross before a battle (Battle of Heavenfield).  I looked up where Heavenfield is and, lo and behold,  I have been there.  We were hiking on that same trip and following a path to Hadrian's Wall.  There was a small church on a hilltop and we explored the perimeter and then walked down another path and passed a large wooden cross.  I did a bit of research and yes!  That is the same place that is mentioned in my devotional book.  I love the connections that give me a visual to help me understand and appreciate the words.

St. Oswald Church, Heavenfield

the cross

2.  After several days of heat and humidity, today I am thankful for cool(er) temperatures, clouds and rain.  We needed the break.

3. The garden is thriving, even in the heat.  Flowers and veggies.

4.  Do you have a favorite tea that you enjoy drinking every day?  Besides my first love of Earl Grey tea, I have been enjoying a good herbal tea-- hibiscus tea.  Flavorful and healthy.

5.  I wish I could catch photos of the birds that flutter around our back garden.  I think my favorite visitors are the yellow goldfinches.  I love the bees, butterflies and birds!

Bonus bit:  The Professor continues to gain strength.  This week we did a two mile walk on the path by our house!

Barns Local

 Sometimes you don't notice the beauty that lives near you.  I walk past these two barns regularly on my daily walks, and often I don't even 'see' them.  They're beauties.

I love the red doors on this grey barn.  The barn is on the Ohio State University campus and used for storing outdoor equipment.

Privately owned red barn that seems somewhat neglected.  Why is the barn door open?

Busy and Blessed

 It's Friday (night) and time for Friday Fave Fives.  I had planned to have my FFFs up and running early this morning, but, as usual, life got busy.  Finally, I have a bit of time to just sit and reflect back on the past week and all the blessings.

1.  We have moved on from Fourth of July weekend, but we loved our times on the back patio with family.  We enjoyed a bonfire, various meals and some s'mores.  I am so thankful to be living so near to our daughters so we can just text and say, "Come on over!"

2.  Trail Life.  Both grandsons are part of our local Trail Life troop (like Boy Scouts with church connections).  This week was 'crossover', a time of recognizing each troop member and 'graduating' those who are moving up to the next age level.  They literally cross a local walking bridge and are greeted by all the other boys and leaders.

3.  Our honeybees are doing great!  The 'bee guy' visited our hives this week and we enjoyed watching him do the inspecting.

4.  The bees are loving all the flowers.  That's probably why they are thriving and seem so 'busy'.

And the butterflies are happy, too.

5.  Our extended family, the ones we unofficially 'adopted' years ago from Los Angeles and who moved here to Ohio after we did, have added a new little one to our 'tribe'.  We got to meet little L this week! (posting with permission)  We each got to hold him!  Welcome, L!

So, that's Willow's Week here.  Busy but overflowing with Blessings!

July Fourth!

 Happy Fourth of July!  AND it's Friday Fave Fives time.  Here in the US, we are celebrating a national holiday.  Two hundred forty-nine years ago, we declared independence from England.  So I am focusing on both our national holiday and five blessings from the past week.  (The link above takes you to the blog of Susanne, our FFF host.)

1.  Thank you to all the people who have visited this blog and commented about their prayers, thoughts and concerns for The Professor after his stroke last month.  He is recovering so well.  If you know him personally, face to face, you know that he is working hard, doing his exercises faithfully.  This week, we have walked a couple of evenings-- almost a two mile walk!  One thing his therapist told him to do is put together puzzles.  He has done several 350 piece puzzles using his left hand to increase dexterity and strength.

2.  Three hundred ninety years ago, my ancestors left London on a ship named Increase, floated across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in Boston, Massachusetts in June 1635.  I am thankful that I have all the information about my ancestors (courtesy of some very dedicated great aunts and uncles who did so much research) about the people who arrived and settled here in America.

3.  One morning, we drove to the local car dealer where we bought our Honda and had the usual maintenance done on it.  The car's good to go.  I am thankful for experienced and reliable mechanics to do all the work like oil changes.

4.  The Professor's friend spent one morning with him, just talking about everything.  RD is such a blessing to him and I'm thankful for that. 

5.  Last night, almost all our local family met at our house and then walked down to the Ohio State University campus and set up our chairs to enjoy food truck cuisine and orchestra music and fireworks.  It's a yearly tradition in our town to have a huge fireworks display on July 3rd.  We had a great time!  We sang along with the orchestra.  We snacked on popcorn.  We oohed and aahed at the fireworks display.

Some photos from last night.  Can you imagine all the booms and explosions?

Again, Happy Independence Day!

End of June Faves

 It seems like every week flies by so quickly.  This week did, too.  I am thankful that I have Friday Fave Fives to keep me grounded each week by helping me just Stop.And.Focus.  ( This link takes you to our host Susanne's blog and you can join in sharing or just reading others' faves.)

1.  I am thankful for the week we had with Chaplain Dan.  He was here for a full week and we treasured every moment.

2.  On the night before Chaplain Dan flew back home, we had a family dinner and bonfire.  We sat for hours enjoying the cooling evening and watching for fireflies.  What's not to love about a bonfire?

3.  I am thankful for air conditioning.  It seems like you don't appreciate something until you don't have it.  That's what happened to us.  On the two hottest days of 2025 so far, we didn't have AC.  Sunday night, it died.  On Tuesday morning, we drove to a local AC repair company and talked to the scheduler.  Miracle of miracles, one of the workers finished his job early and was able to come to our house.  He discovered the issue and fixed it in just a few minutes.  I am thankful for the company that worked quickly to help us and I am thankful to have a cool home again.

4.  It was The Professor's birthday this week!  How thankful I am that he is regaining his strength and health.  His birthday is the same day and my mom's, so my brother called to wish Mom a happy birthday in heaven and to wish The Professor a happy birthday on earth.

5.  Coffee time with T and S was scheduled for his birthday.  Nurse Daughter joined us (she had the day off) and brought Tall Boy and Warrior Boy with her.  We had the best time celebrating him and the coffee and snacks were delicious.

That's it for me this busy week.  How was your week?

Summer Solstice Fave Fives

Another week in June has flown by.  And today is the Summer Solstice!  How has the year gone by so quickly?  I have to slow down every Friday and focus on what has blessed me during the week; otherwise, I just keep going and don't think about how grateful I am for big and little things.  Friday Fave Fives really helps me do that.

1.  The absolute best fave for this past week is the first thing I will mention.  Our older son Chaplain Dan flew in to visit us on Saturday!  We have been having the best time.  He has helped so much with 

2.  His sisters have been able to spend some time with him.  It makes my mama's heart 3/4 full.  (why only 3/4?  because Younger Son wasn't able to join us)

3.  The Professor is doing well, healing more daily.  We've been able to take a couple of short walks in the neighborhood.  He has daily exercises to help him regain strength and better use of his left hand.  His appointment with his primary care physician went well.

4.  On Sunday, after church, we enjoyed a family dinner at Olive Garden.  Younger Daughter's boyfriend joined us and we had a wonderful time celebrating The Professor.

5.  Our usual weekly coffee time with T and S was especially fun because Chaplain Dan was with us.  Since all three guys are military veterans, they had the best time just talking about the Navy and the Army.  S and I sat and listened and enjoyed the conversations.

How was your week?  How were you blessed?

Home is Best

Oops, I'm late posting my Friday Fave Fives.  It's been another crazy week.  But it has been a good week.

1.  The Professor is HOME!  He was released from the hospital yesterday.  Of course, there is still lots of physical therapy to continue so he can regain even more of his muscles, but his progress is nothing short of amazing.  I just keep being amazed at how well The Professor is recovering from his stroke.  So many people called, emailed, and texted to let us know that they were praying for him.  I am so thankful God answered our prayers for his healing.

2.  Even before we drove home, we made a detour to a local coffee shop to visit my cousin who was driving through Ohio on his way to the east coast to attend a wedding.  We hadn't seen each other for more than ten years.  It wasn't a long visit but it meant so much to both of us.

3.  I am so very thankful to have the three home projects finished.  The driveway is repaved.  The downstairs flooring is replaced.  The upstairs carpet is renewed.  Whew.  It's all beautiful.

4.  To be able to have the carpet replaced in the 'library', we had to move ALL.THE.BOOKS.  It wouldn't have happened without friends who spent two afternoons and an evening taking all the books out and, after the new carpet was installed, putting them back on the bookshelves.  I am grateful for their help.

5. The garden is beginning to grow and produce.  Well, at least we are enjoying eating the kale.  And the flowers keep blooming.

Are You Still Curious?

 Remember those yarn colors I wrote about?

Well, I finished the knitting project using these yarns and here is the answer.  Ring any bells?

Yes, those are the colors of the four Hogwarts houses made into small scarves.

Back story.  A family member had a baby boy a few months ago.  I asked what I could knit for little R.  During our texting back and forth, we hit on the idea that I could make him a Weasley sweater.  Then came the question--"What house is he in? Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw?"

So I devised a plan.  I would knit little scarves.  When R is 9 3/4 months old, they will lay out the four scarves in front of him.  Whichever scarf R crawls to and grabs, that is his house.

The four scarves will be mailed to Oregon soon.  I will await with great excitement to find out what colors I will use to knit R's sweater.

Yes, I'm Back

 Update:  Thank you all who have prayed and sent good wishes to me this past week.  The details of my disappearance are that The Professor suffered a mild stroke last Thursday night.  Because he immediately recognized the symptoms, we were able to get to the ER very quickly.  He is making strong and fast progress in his recovery.  Currently, he is in our local hospital's inpatient intensive physical therapy rehabilitation unit.  Again, thank you all for your care and concern.

So, as you can imagine, all of my Friday Fave Fives this week are linked to this situation.

1.  I am thankful for excellent care for The Professor in both hospitals where he has been a patient.  In addition,  Younger Daughter the Nurse was on duty that evening and was able to check on us constantly.

2.  So many people have reached out to offer help to me-- driving, meals, and everything else I might need.

3.  My dear friend L who was my companion on our adventure to Ireland last summer drove me home one evening from the far away hospital, stopped at Trader Joe's and helped me purchase some basic foods and ready-made dinners to make eating easier.  I didn't realize at the time just how much that would help me this week.

4.  All our neighbors are keeping an eye on me, reminding me that they are all here to help if I need them.

5.  During this difficult and crazy time, we have had two house projects going on.  (When you plan work with companies, you can't just cancel or postpone it.)  Our driveway has been repaved;  the cement work was well done.  The flooring on our main floor has been pulled up and replaced.  That should be finished tomorrow.  I am thankful that the work was still able to be finished and that the companies have been helpful and accommodating.

Here is something to make you smile.  A honey bee gathering pollen from a beautiful yellow flower.

Hold On. I'll Be Right Back

 I probably won't get a Friday Fave Fives done today.  We are having a medical situation and that is taking all my attention.  If you a praying person, we would certainly appreciate your prayers.

All About Knitting

 If you don't care about knitting, you can just scroll down to the next post.

Here is my latest finished project.  Well, almost finished. I just have to weave in the ends on the back side.  Again, this is another baby blanket I will donate to the local pregnancy resource center.  It is supposed to look like the beach.

Details:  Yarn Bee yarn, Sweeet Dreams.  Needles, size 7 (4.5).  Pattern, diagonal blocks using 48 stitches.  It is a super easy blanket to make.

Now.  About this yarn.

Maybe I should have separated the colors into four groups.   Like this.

Does that make more sense?  Four little projects, identical except in color...

Late May Fave Fives

 This week was busy!  I really need this time to focus on the blessings of the past days.  Friday Fave Fives helps me be intentional and thankful.  Here are just five things that have reminded me how blessed I am.

1.  Lots of time in the garden. The flowers in the pollinator gardens are blooming!  I posted photos yesterday, but here are a few again.

2.  Saturday was busy all day and into the evening.  Knit group; graduation party for L, a family friend; baby shower for family members-- a baby boy is coming!

3.  I've been knitting and knitting, too, when I have a few minutes.  A photo will be coming soon of the crib blanket I am finishing up.  

4.  And...  I bought some yarn.  Planning my next project.  If you saw these eight colors, what would you think I am going to knit?

5.  We were planning to have coffee with T and S yesterday, but Tuesday night, we got a text saying-- going to ER.  T ended up having a serious surgery.  We are so so thankful that the issue was recognized, dealt with quickly and thoroughly (also thankful for good and careful techs and doctors and nurses).  We were able to see them today and take T home.

Bonus:  this comic made me giggle-- I'm LEFT handed.