Hello, June

Thinking about the fact that it is JUNE is making my head spin.  I guess that is what happens when you mostly stay safely and boringly at home for almost three months.  Truthfully, I'm not bored.  I am purposely staying busy.  And the things that keep my brain and body busy also help me be thankful and grateful.  This week at Willow's Cottage has been quiet but productive and I'm sharing the parts that bring me joy.  Linking to Friday Fave Fives.

1.  Sunsets.  Usually, we take our main walk around the neighborhood after dinner.  That's the perfect time to view the sunset.  The sky was incredible this week, partly because there was a fire on Santa Cruz Island (one of the Channel Islands off our coast).  That's not the fave although it is now completely under control.  The fave is the effect of the smoke and clouds on the sunset.

2.  Moon.  I love the waxing and full moon and it makes me happy to watch it rise in the sky in the evenings. 

3.  Calendula Salve.  For the first time, I hitched up my big girl pants and braved making my own salve from my calendula flowers.  I have such dry skin from working in the garden that I am thankful to have a DIY option for helping heal my hands.

4.  Garden.  We had an outdoor project that needed doing, but we were concerned about the heavy work that it involved.  So we hired a high school boy from our church congregation to help us.  He worked for seven hours and took only one half-hour break for lunch!  We were very pleased and made sure he knew it and his parents knew it.  And, the edgers along our property line are in place and look great!

5.  More Garden.  I've mentioned before that I am reading Hidden Art by Edith Schaeffer with my art friends.  This week, we read and discussed the chapter titled Gardens and Gardening.  I love these two quotes:

Human beings were made to interact with growing things,

not to be born, live, and die in the midst of concrete set in the middle of polluted air!

Growing plants are supposed to be doing something to the air human beings are breathing,

and human beings are supposed to be doing something to the plants.

It seems to me the beauty which causes strangers passing by to stop

and ENJOY a garden,

provides a background and already 'says something'

which gives an emphasis to what it is important to say.

I want my garden to bring joy to me and to the people who walk or drive past my cottage.  Maybe that will remind them that this is really all God's creation.

Bonus!  More of God's creation!

King Quail watching over his kingdom

monarch butterfly

Five Loves

Happy Friday!

I'm checking in with Willow's Week in

Friday Fave Fives

with others hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

It is Good Friday

and Resurrection Sunday!

1.  I love fiber.  Especially fiber I make myself.

Four ounces of wool and silk blend.

Handspun.

2.  I love herbs.  I love learning about them.  I love growing them.  I love using them.

Comfrey

Parsley

Wooly Lamb's Ear

3.  I love hiking.

Hill Canyon is one of my favorite places to hike.  The Professor and I managed to get in a short hike partway into the canyon this week on an otherwise very busy day.  It was glorious.

4.  I love Lent and Easter, celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 My Lenten Rose has bloomed just in time to celebrate, too.

5.  I love spending time with friends.  On Tuesday, I walked with one friend.  One Thursday, another friend and I spent two hours wandering around a local garden and another two hours chatting over lunch.  

What did you love about your week?

Happy Summer!

Happy Summer Solstice Day! Yesterday, that is.  Here are my Friday Fave Fives for this celebratory time.  Summer's HERE!

1.  Our week has been a bit warm, but this morning it was foggy again.  June Gloom.  I kinda like it.

the view from the freeway on ramp

2.  It has been a recovery week here at Willow's Cottage.  I have been mostly confined to the house while I wait for the swelling and bruising from my not so minor after all oral surgery to subside.  According to the surgeon who checked on me in the middle of the week, I am making a great and healthy recovery despite the epic bruising.

3.  This spring I planted my first calendula seeds.  Evidently, my garden really really likes calendula, and I've grown some lovely healthy plants which have bloomed brilliantly.  I have already picked a bunch of the flowers, and they are drying so I can use them to make some calendula oil.

4.  Thursday I drove The Professor to Ventura for one of those early morning lab sessions.  It was my first trip out this week other than the doctor visit, so we took advantage of the day to pick up some books from the library and take a short walk among the oaks and eucalyptus trees.  I've really missed my walks!

5.  May and June are purple months in Southern California.  Mostly it's the jacaranda trees that dominate the color scheme.  But other purple (and blue) plants and bushes bloom during this late spring season.  Everywhere I turn I see the purple.  It makes me smile.

Enjoy your first summer weekend (or first winter weekend if you are in the Southern Hemisphere)!  Here are a couple more photos just to make you smile.

that necklace from my sweet tutoring student

and it isn't really summer unless there's a photo or two of the beach

Christmas Week Fave Five

Merry Christmas Week!  Are you tired and overwhelmed from all the festivities?  It's time to stop, breathe, relax, and count your blessings.  I've been away from home a long time. But this week most of our family was together to celebrate.  Only Chaplain Dan and his wife and PAL were missing although we were able to Skype with them on Christmas Day.  Here are my Friday Fave Five blessings from this week.

1.  Everyone was hoping for a White Christmas.  Me?  I'm thankful we DIDN'T have one.

2.  My gift from my son (we draw names among the adults since we really don't need more stuff) was a subscription to ancestry.com.  I am a truly happy mommy.

3.  But my absolute favorite present was a book The Professor knew I wanted because I had checked it out of the library numerous times and devoured it cover to cover.  He totally surprised me!

4.  I have been deeply touched by the friendliness and loving care of my daughter's friends who have helped provide meals, cleaning sessions, respite care (ie: babysitting), transportation.  They have a wonderful support group and that makes my mommy's heart so happy.

5.  I am still working my way through the photos I took in England.  Slowly.  Here are two of my favorite people in London.