A Busy Week

 Oh my.  Here it is Friday NIGHT.  And I am just now getting to writing my Friday Fave Fives.  Our week has been filled with so much busyness.  I really need to remember now before I sleep what things blessed me this week.  And thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, I am reminded weekly to remember and share them.  That link takes you to her blog and you can join us.

1.  Today I drove PAL and her mom to a friend's home to meet her two daughters.  It didn't take more than five minutes and the three girls were off doing all the fun things that girls do.  That's the main reason I am signing in here so late.  It was worth it!

2.  After we picked up the high school boys and drove them home (we came directly from our friends' home), we did a (not so) quick stop at Hobby Lobby and then came home.  It didn't take long for us all to decide that this was the perfect night to have pizza at our favorite local pizza place.  Then while we were eating Nurse Daughter texted asking if we wanted to visit a local cidery place.

3. So that is my next fave.  We drove over and picked up Nurse Girl and then went to the village next to our town and showed PAL and her parents a favorite place that serves all kinds of cider (and other drinks).  We all chose hot spiced cider to go and then we walked around the downtown area of the village.  What a wonderful way to end our day and our week.

4.  Okay.  Back to earlier in the week... as usual, we met T and S for coffee and snacks.  The coffee place we chose is in our town and next to a sweet local shop that sells clothes and all kinds of other things. The summer dresses were on sale and I found a 100% cotton dress that fits me just right.  I am thankful I am finding clothing that I can wear-- cotton, linen, wool.

5.  The Professor and I had a total of three medical appointments this week.  And all three had positive results.  That is truly a blessing!

I hope you have had a week full of blessings, even if it was full of busyness.

Last Fave Fives of Summer

I had to look up exactly when Autumn begins this year.  September 22nd.  Which means this is the last Friday Fave Fives of Summer 2025.  So, as we wave goodbye to summer season, let's be thankful for all the beauty,  garden bounty, and bonfires.  And we look forward to all the changing leaves and crisp weather and pumpkin flavored everything, we will focus our thoughts on being thankful for those things, too.

These are the Five Favorites that I chose from this past week.

1.  This past week I read two books, Green Money and Music in the Hills, by one of my favorite Scottish authors.  D.E. Stevenson (1892-1973) wrote more than forty books mostly set in Scotland. I could just get lost in her books and happily live in one of those small cottages in the Scottish hills.

2.  On Sunday, The Professor and I drove into the big city and met dear friends of ours from California for lunch.  California?  Yes.  He grew up here in Ohio, so they had flown out to attend his high school reunion.  This is the second time since we moved here that they have visited and we have spent precious time with them.  I'm so glad they chose to take some of their holiday time to be with us.

3.  Then, on Monday, we drove to (south of) Cincinnati to meet up with a college friend and his wife who are visiting various places and family members in Kentucky.  FYI, the Cincinnati airport is actually in northern Kentucky.  So, we enjoyed dinner and hours of conversation with them at Appleby's. (the servers were so sweet to just let us stay and chat).  It was so worth the hours of driving!  No photos taken of either couple--just wonderful memories made.

4.  Yes, I did get some walks in this week.  Not as many as last week, but still, any walks or exercise is good.  Both long walks were with the granddogs.  I'm thankful I have the energy to walk two or three miles a day.  And the leaves are falling, so I am kicking leaves on the ground as we walk!

5.  I don't know if you have noticed that Eleanor Elizabeth (Bunny) has not been mentioned lately.  She has been very busy hosting all the bunnies that arrived with PAL last month.  In fact, she has missed several coffee dates due to how full her schedule has been with spending time with all the other bunnies.  However, I did ask her to model a new dress that I knitted for PAL's  bunny AJ.  (this is one of the things I've been knitting this month).

Tall Boy's Senior Photos...2013

Examining shark teeth in the lab in National Science Museum, Los Angeles

Wearing his new Weasley sweater.

A Week of Walks and Dogs

Happy Friday, everyone!  Here at Willow's Cottage, it has been a busy week and a busy Friday.  Now it is Friday evening and I am resting and thinking back on all the blessings of this week.  Five Faves to share with you.  If you are a regular reader here, you know that Susanne hosts us every week at Friday Fave Fives. (follow the link)

These are my faves for this second week of September.

1.  I walked/hiked every day this past week.  I am really working on walking every day.  So far this month, I've missed only one day.  This may be a record for me.

2.  Two walks in the local arboretum, Dawes Arboretum.  We are blessed to have a wonderful local arboretum just a few miles away from our home.  Dawes Arboretum is made up of almost 2,000 acres.  So many paths.  Acres and acres of trees.  Japanese Garden.  And so much more.  The granddogs love walking here.

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3.  First Bible Study of the season.  We started back this Thursday on our weekly studies.  I am blessed to be able to be part of this group.

4.  Phone calls with my brother.  We try to talk to each other most every week because we live 2,400 miles apart.  I treasure those conversations.

5.  A photo that made me happy this week.  PAL's flipflops and Chaplain Dan's boots by the front door.

AND... Senior Photo of Tall Boy...

Sunflower Season

There are So.Many.Sunflowers blooming in my garden right now.  I love to sit and gaze out the window and watch all the birds, especially the yellow goldfinches, squatting on the flowers and leaves and stalks.  Those birds love to snack on the sunflower seeds.

Last week's strong winds blew several of the plants over, so I cut the flowers and brought them into the house and put them into vases.  So much sunny joy!

I left these to lean over the north side fence.

I love sunflowers!

Hello September!

It's September!  Ninth month of 2025.  School is back in the schedule.  The weather seems to be moderating (finally).  This week has been full of the usual busyness of life.  Friday is the day I just pause and remind myself of how blessed I am.  Susanne hosts us and we share our Friday Fave Fives (follow the link to join).

1.  Over the long weekend, we enjoyed not one, but TWO, bonfires.  Sunday night we hosted our church life group and enjoyed time just chatting around the fire.  Monday night we did the same thing with family.  It was perfect weather and a perfect way to celebrate Labor Day weekend.

2.  I am keeping up my walking. Six of the last eight days (including today).

3.  Peaches!  NurseGirl and I took PAL and her mom to the local peach orchard to buy fresh local peaches.  Yum!

4.  PAL and her mom like to visit thrift stores.  One day this week, we enjoyed checking out three thrift stores. We may have bought a few really great bargains...

5.  Yesterday, September 4th, is remembered by us for two reasons.  It was the wedding anniversary of The Professor's parents who were married during WWII.  Also, on their anniversary, we decided to announce our engagement.  September 4th is a wonderful day for us to remember.

AND... Tall Boy's Senior Photos...