Alaska, Day Seven-A, Skagway

 

Before one goes exploring, one must have coffee.

Eureka!*  We found it!

And amazing cinnamon rolls.

* "No, Eleanor. We are not in Eureka.  That's in Northern California."  "Oh, I see.  You understand the meaning of the word eureka...

I FOUND IT!"

There Goes June

 Hello, friends!  An entire week has passed and I haven't posted anything.  Truly, it has been another busy busy week.  I am thankful for Susanne's faithful hosting of Friday Fave Fives which helps pull me back in from running around and reminds me to focus on gratitude for my wonderful life.

Here are my Five Faves from this past week.

1.  One reason for the busyness is that I have spent many hours working in my garden.  My goal is to remove the grape hyacinth that has taken over the front garden.  Don't get me wrong.  I like grape hyacinths.  But there were too many of them.  I'm almost done!

Another section of the front garden includes a circle where we planted a small tree.  The wild flowers have taken over the edge of the circle.  It's beautiful.  And the bees love it.  There really is a tree sapling in the middle.

I am thankful that I have the time and energy to create a beautiful garden.

2.  Father's Day.  The Professor had a very full day.  In the morning, he preached the sermon at our church.  Then we celebrated three dads at our son's home.  The Professor.  Our son, Chaplain Dan.  Their friend David who with his family was visiting from Southern California.  Then in the evening, we gathered for our weekly Life Group where he again taught a short lesson.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate Father's Day.

3.  I continue to enjoy meeting with the college student to tutor her in writing and composition.  It is fun for me.  In addition, it is pushing me back into recalling and reminding me on how to be a better writer myself.

4.  A walk with family and dogs at the local arboretum.  We mostly walked through the woodland area and then wandered around the lake.  Then, we had to stop the rambling and head quickly back to our cars because a thunder and rainstorm came rumbling in.  Even with the rain soaking us, we had a great time.

5.  I saved the best 'til last.  Today is The Professor's birthday!!  Happy Birthday to my best friend!  He's gone  until tomorrow because our grandson's Trail Life troop is camping for two nights at a state park about an hour's drive from here.   Because he is gone on his birthday and Nurse Daughter is working all weekend at the hospital, we celebrated on Wednesday evening.  Ten of us were around our table.  He asked for cupcakes.   Then we gathered around the bonfire on our patio.  Happy Birthday!!

Bonus!  This week Eleanor decided to accompany us on our weekly coffee date with T and S.  I think it was because the coffee shop is also listed as a cocktail lounge.

And of course, The Professor had to tease her with some bunny ears!

Now I'm off to meet a friend to talk about ... writing!

Fave Fives in Third Week of April

Another busy week.  And I've been mostly MIA online because of all the activities.  But it's Friday evening  and I am sitting in a chair relaxing and writing my Friday Fave Fives.  This is the first evening in more than a week that I haven't had something on the calendar to do.  So now I can focus...  Here are my five blessings from the past week.  (click on the link to go to Susanne's blog and join in)

1.  I am thankful for the two day conference I attended last weekend.  I learned lots about health choices.  And knowing some of the people also attending was an added enjoyment (I mentioned that in last week's faves).  And I'm thankful I arrived home safely even though I drove country roads through a rainstorm.

2.  An appointment at the dentist is not usually on anyone's fave list.  But I have a wonderful dentist who is careful, thorough, kind and gentle.  I made it through the procedures successfully.  So I'm doubly thankful for good dental care and for good outcomes.

3.  I always love walks with our granddogs.  Three miles this time.  I think we finally wore out Sawyer (the sheepadoodle).  Athena was lagging a bit at the end.  I'm thankful that we can enjoy these times with our daughter and her dogs.

And our county trails are so beautiful!

4.  I finished another crib blanket for the local pregnancy resource center.  And I made three pairs of booties for them to give away to moms who come in for a consultation.  I am thankful I can knit and help others, too.

And I made a Plain Vest and headband for a little two year old girl who loves pink.

Eleanor thought they were pretty and wanted to model them.

5.  Time in the garden.  Finally, we had a week of okay weather and some time in the afternoon to work in the garden.  Our veggie beds are ready for planting.  The weeds?  Well... we're working on them.  I'm thankful that I have enough property here at Willow's Cottage to grow a garden.

What has made you thankful this week?

A Week Away

 I'm back! Our trip was a quick one, just five nights away from home.  I'm sorry that I didn't have the opportunity to check on everyone's blogs.  But now, life is returning to normal (sort of).

I am posting my Friday Fave Fives to share all the wonderful things that happened on our trip. (the link takes you to Susanne's blog where you can join and post about your FFFs, too)

1.  I am thankful for safe travels.  The Professor and I were happily surprised at the short waiting lines, especially at TSA checkpoints.  Our four flights (two each direction) were smooth and on time.

2.  OK.  Where did we go?  My cousin passed away last month and I wanted to attend her memorial service.  If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you will know that I was born and raised in Oregon.  Portland, to be exact.  Almost all of my family (especially on my dad's side) live in Oregon.

3.   We spent all of Saturday (after we checked out of our hotel by the airport) visiting friends.  I have a college friend who married a guy I've known since high school.  She makes and sells soap and years ago my daughter (and I) worked with her at local county and state fairs.   (If you want to purchase some the best soap in the world, go to Laurelstone Soaps www.lssoaps.com)  We had so much fun talking that we didn't take a single photo.  Then we met another friend for dinner at a delicious Lebanese restaurant and talked until we closed it down.

4.  After visiting our former home church for their Sunday morning service, we drove to where my cousin's memorial service was being held.  The tribute to her was lovely and prompted so many memories of her and our times of playing together as children. Like the time it snowed and we were at school.  She and I decided to go outside and play in the snow at lunch recess and since we were the only ones out there, we didn't hear the bell and stayed out until the principal rushed out and pulled us in.  Yes, we did get in trouble for that one.  All my cousins and my brother were there and also some of their children and grandkids.  After the service all but the oldest cousin gathered at a coffee shop and we chatted for another two hours.  I am so blessed with all those boy cousins (and a brother).

left to right:  cousin1, cousin3's wife, cousin3, me, cousin4, cousin2, my brother.

All but cousin4 and I live in Western Oregon

5.  Monday and Tuesday were devoted to time spent with my brother and his wife.  He drove us out to the beach on Monday and then on Tuesday we did some exploring of the area where they live which is Oregon wine country.  I took so.many.photos.  Here are just a couple from those days.  Come back for LOTS more.

The beach!

Vineyards!

And then it was time for us to return home.  Even Eleanor was ready.

Merry Christmas!

Eleanor Elizabeth wants to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

 She climbed up into the Christmas tree and then yelled, "Mom!  Take my photo!"

Mundane and Amazing

Some weeks when I plan and write my Friday Fave Fives, I have big amazing faves.  Other weeks, I simply share basic things in life that I am blessed with.  This week, it is a mix of amazing and basic.  Truthfully, our lives are just that, aren't they?-- a mix of mundane and magnificent.  But they are all blessings.  I am sharing my Five Faves to remind myself and to encourage all of you who read my blog.

1.  Our son and his family have a home!  They closed on their home this week!  They have been slowly moving in, and tomorrow is the big day to unload all the big furniture.

Their new home is just five minutes away from our house and our daughters' house (The Hive)

2.  Fall decor.  I don't do much decorating. But even the simplest autumn decorations make me smile.

3.  Another mundane thing that delights me.  My bunny Eleanor Elizabeth has a new dress!  I finished knitting it this morning and dressed her in it immediately.  She was so excited!

4.  Our Nurse Girl has moved from night shift to day shift.  She loved working with the co-workers on night shift, but the hours were hard, especially because she has children in the home.  Hopefully, schedules will be easier now.

5.  Last night, The Professor and I attended a 'reunion' at our local hospital where he was so well cared for in the ER and in the Inpatient Intensive Rehabilitation Unit after his stroke last May.  Every year, the Rehab Unit hosts all former patients to this reunion to enjoy a meal and opportunities to visit with their therapists, nurses and doctors and share how well they are doing now.  Actually, I also think that the reunion is great encouragement for the staff.  We are so very thankful that there is such great medical care right in our community.  (PS:  this is the hospital where our Nurse Daughter/Girl works)

Has your week's blessings been Amazing or Mundane?

March 28

 March Photo a Day.  March 28.  Repetition.

Nothing shows repetition better than weaving.  Back and forth, back and forth, ad infinitum.  Eleanor Elizabeth Bunny added for interest.

A Cold Cold Friday

 I haven't had much energy today so I'm lagging on writing up my Friday Fave Fives.  It's not because there are no blessings to focus my attention from this past week, but it's because I'm just COLD. I don't think our outside temperatures have gotten above 32F all week (maybe a 33F or 34F but certainly not high enough to be noticeable). But now I'm here and working to focus on the warmth of all the things for wbich I have to be thankful.

1.  Warm snuggly blankets.  These blankets are certainly being used this week.  They're all ones I've knitted through the years.  The one The Professor puts over his legs when he is reading up in the 'library room' was knitted by Younger Daughter when she was a young teen and given to my father when he was in a care home.  I love that 'Grandpa's blanket' is still keeping us warm.

2.  I love our library.  We had a few minutes one afternoon after dropping some unwanted items at the St. Vincent dePaul thrift store and before picking up the grandboys from school, so we spent those minutes at the library.  I found a book that caught my attention and checked it out.  So far, I'm enjoying the mystery, set partly in World War II and partly in the Twenty-first Century.  I'm thankful I have access to so many books.

3.  I have been thinking so much lately about all the moves I have made in my lifetime.  Three states where we have owned homes.  Two other states where we spent several months studying in special academic programs.  The two provinces of Indonesia--West Java and West Papua on the island of New Guinea (formerly Irian Jaya).  Even in the different US states, we have lived in various counties.  What has kept us centered?  The people.  The friendships we have made through all those years and all those moves.  It's the people.  And I'm thankful for the friendships.

4.  Speaking of friendships--- we had the best time with T and S this week.   In spite of the snowy icy, we ventured a bit farther out than usual and had our coffee time at a newish coffee place in a town about half hour away.  We never know where our conversations will take us. Squirrels and Rabbit Holes are a vital part of our non stop talks.

5.  While we were there, a mom and her two daughters popped in.  I had been given some crafting beads and yes, more yarn which I didn't want, but I knew the girls (K and K) would love to have them.  So on their way to the library in that town, they stopped in and picked up the beads and yarn.  I wish I could have caught a photo of the look on the younger one's face when she opened the bead box.  It lit up the whole room.   

Bonus:  Eleanor Elizabeth had joined us for coffee and was so excited to meet K and K.  I think the feeling was mutual.  (photos shared with permission from their mom)

I hope that you have found joy and gratitude in this past week, too.  Did you have cold cold weather?  Maybe some snow or rain?  Find warmth in your coffee and tea and blankets and friendships.

January 18, 2025

No list of photos would be complete without some pictures of Eleanor Elizabeth Bunny.  As you may know, Eleanor loves to travel and she loves coffee shops.  Here are a few of her favorites from 2024.

Local Coffee Shops

Earthworks Cafe

On her travels...

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Aran Isles, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Costa Coffee, Battle, England

Montpelier, Idaho

Lincoln City, Oregon

For Pete's Sake Coffee

Evanston, Wyoming

Read the logo on the mug!

Rebel Bean Coffee

Lincoln, Nebraska

Want a coffee date with Eleanor?

She's in!

Off to Ireland: Part 6!

 We woke in the morning to a grey day in Killarney.  At least it wasn't raining.  Breakfast was wonderful.

honey straight from the honey comb

We hopped on our bus.  Eleanor was very excited for the day's trip around the Ring of Kerry.  (Note for any knitters here:  I knitted this white sweater and almost finished it before I left home.  The sleeves were made on the air flights across the Atlantic and during our first two days in Ireland.)

Our first stop was at a small homestead which shows how people lived in Ireland during mid 1800s.  I had read books about Ireland and particularly the Irish Famine.  But here I saw it with my own eyes.  Our tour guide Karl told us that as we drove through the countryside, we would notice many broken down buildings in fields.  Most of those were once family cottages, but they were abandoned during the famine, burned down and ruined by landlords to keep their tenants from returning.  (I will be posting some of these places which we noticed during our travels.)

It would have looked much like this when it was still inhabitable.

There were (and still are) Romani people living in Ireland in caravans such as this.

So.  What is the Ring of Kerry?  It's a road trip (and can also be a hiking trip) that follows the coastline in the southwest of Ireland.  The views of mountains, lakes and beaches and ocean are incredibly beautiful.  Some photos are a bit fuzzy because I took them through a traveling bus window.

 Our three main stops on the tour were Waterville, Kenmare and Ladies View.

Waterville is a coastal village.  Its main claim to fame is that Charlie Chaplin was a yearly visitor to Waterville and loved the excellent fishing opportunities and the anonymity of this quiet, small, out of the way village.   I loved it for the beach and ocean and the lovely St. Michael's Church.

Eleanor and Charlie

Testing the waters of the wild and chilly Atlantic Ocean

My friend L loves the beach as much as I do.

Waterville is one of those places where I could have stayed for days or weeks (like Charlie Chaplin).  I know that I want to take The Professor there some day.

I think this post is long enough!  Come back soon for Kenmare and Ladies View.