Fave Fives in November

So begins the month of giving thanks which ends in the celebration of Thanksgiving in the US.  I like to focus on gratitude and thanksgiving all year, each week, each day, and Friday Fave Fives helps me do just that.  Here are my faves for this week:

1.  This comment from a friend's facebook page.  It made me LOL.

The worst part of exercising is when I fell like I'm going to throw up and pass out and then the instructor says, "Now that we've warmed up, let's get started..."

2.  I continue my obsession with reading Louis L'Amour books.  As The Professor states, they are not great literature, but every once in a while L'Amour nails it with a brilliant and entertaining sentence:

"His background was unknown, except that it seemed more than probable that it had included a postgraduate course in the unrefined arts of murder, mayhem, and assorted varieties of robbery."  

The Trail to Seven Pines

3.  This week, although I was unable to join in the celebration, a little girl was formally adopted into her forever family.  The Professor and I are 'honorary grandpa and grandma' to this sweet girl and her big sister who also call my daughter 'Auntie Mimi'.  Her mama told me a couple of weeks ago that after October 30th she was giving me permission (and, indeed, encouragement) to post photos of their new daughter. 

Welcome HOME!

Little Miss N with her mama and sister

4.  Yes, there has been knitting.  The last Christmas stocking, which is for The New Boy, is nearly finished.  Isn't it just adorable?

5.  Sometimes it's just serendipity.  I was in the right place at the right time to be gifted this beautiful yarn-- hand spun silk and wool, hand dyed in my favorite blues.  There is 14 oz, certainly enough to make a vest, or maybe a sweater.

What has happened in your week to produce in you daily thanksgiving?

AWON

Absent With Out Notice

Oops.  I didn't mean to be gone.  It just happened.  Life was busy around Willow's Cottage what with jobs and life, and we took a couple of trips to the south.  It was a great two weeks but you know how it is--it gets tiring running around and having fun.  I definitely chalked up the blessings during these two weeks.  I'm sharing them here and on Friday Fave Five.

1. The main reason we were in San Diego was to celebrate a certain seven year old's birthday with a Bat Girl Party.  Happy Birthday, ZG!  We are so very thankful that you are in our family and we will be able to celebrate your birthday every year forever.

2. While we were in San Diego that weekend, we decided to drive up to Julian.  Julian is a sweet little town east of San Diego, up in the mountains.  Julian is over 4,000 feet in elevation and therefore has actual real seasons.  In October, there are pumpkins and yellow leaves and horses standing in golden fields.

3. The days in San Diego were wonderful.  Playing hide and seek--

"I'm hiding!"

Playing cars

 Finishing Christmas stockings

Knitting Pink Socks

4. Then The Boy and his mama met us in Los Angeles.  What do you do when the family is together?  We visit museums.  A little back story here would help.  When my younger daughter was in college, she was an anthropology major.  Her close friend and classmate is now employed at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum in Exposition Park.  So we enjoyed a special tour of labs at the museum.

Their favorite find?  Coprolites  (common name:  fossiled animal poop)
Such kids.

Then we were off to the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits.  (This is where my daughter worked during her internship)

 skeletons and skulls

Dire cat skulls

Finally we ended the day the way we love--eating Indonesian food!

This is the only food photo I caught because I was too busy eating rice, veggies and peanut sauce.  The dish in the picture is a special chicken soup called soto ayam.  Note the TWO spoons--you just gotta share!

5. Our final day together was at the Getty Center.  Oh we love that place!  There is just So. Much. To. See.  Check out the permanent and special exhibits here.

Even the buildings and autumn leaves are breathtaking!

So this is why I disappeared for two weeks.  We were making memories.  Did you make memories this week?

If It's Friday,It Must Be Fave Five

Can it already be Friday again?  I thought it was Monday just yesterday.  I've been searching my soul and my memory for the blessings of the week to celebrate Friday Fave Five.

1.  There were three of us in college who sang together and hung out together.  We considered ourselves 'sisters'. One of them I've maintained close contact with through all the years (that would be Blueberry Lady) and one I've reconnected with in the past two or three years after losing contact for awhile.  We exchanged the most encouraging and enjoyable emails this week.

2.  Blueberry Lady and I had coffee one afternoon.  She brought along a book to show me.  It's called An Anthology of Christian Literature.  The three of us knew the author well and were each given a copy of it to read and treasure.  Sadly, mine disappeared during one of my MANY moves across the country.  (I know when it happened, and I blame the US Post Office for the loss--the book box evidently broke, and the postal worker substituted a neurosurgery book for mine--yes, really.)  I am thrilled to see a copy of this book and am looking in to the possibility of having a personal copy made of it.  (Still looking for a family member of the author for permission)  Oh, and our chat of mutual encouragement was just what I needed that day.

3.  On Saturday, I took my portable Lendrum spinning wheel to demonstrate spinning at Reyes Adobe Days at-- the Reyes Adobe.  It's an annual outing for me and the people who stopped by to watch us spin remembered me and the hats I've had for sale the past couple of years.  Several people specifically came by to buy another hat.  One family purchased a little one for their new son so both of their boys could have a 'favorite cap'.  It's encouraging to know that my handiwork is appreciated.

4.  It's also encouraging to note that my classes are beginning to 'gel' and gain a sense of their identity.  Some classes take longer than others but they seem to be settling in well.  (I had my doubts about one class but it's coming together.)

5.  Long conversations with my adult children are always a joy and delight for me.  This week I've talked at length with all four of them.  What a blessing they are to me!

Here is more useless gratuitous trivia:  Nearly 90,000 people live in Santa Barbara, California where the (average?) elevation is 33 feet.  (Yes, I was there again one afternoon this week to visit my friend in the rehab hospital.)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends north of the 49th Parallel in North America!

October's First Friday Fave Five

It's Friday Fave Five time.  First Friday in October.  It was a good week.  Of course, there's always knitting.  And reading.  But I can only choose FIVE.  So here they are:

1.  One day on an errand of love and concern, I drove to Santa Barbara to visit an ailing friend who was a colleague and neighbor when we were living in Papua, Indonesia.   Her steadfast spirit and cheerful attitude encouraged me. I hope I was able to encourage her.

2.  My destination was less than a mile from Mission Santa Barbara and I was a bit early, so I detoured to the mission to have a peek at it.  I've toured the mission in the past so I didn't go in.  Simply standing outside and gazing at the wonderful architecture of the mission was delightful.  I love California Mission style and Santa Barbara Mission is one of my favorites.  One of these days, I'll visit the gardens as I remember being enchanted with them.

3.  The residential area surrounding the mission is filled with beautiful homes, almost all of them built in the same California Mission style.

I can't decide which one I'd want to live in!

4.  There is a memorial rose garden in the small park in front of the mission.  Of course, I had to take a couple of photos since all of my roses at Willow's Cottage have been pulled off and eaten by the local deer.

I didn't realize until I uploaded the photo and looked at it on my computer that there is a ladybug crawling up the stem on the right.

5.  Our Dear Girl is seven!  Happy Birthday!  Yes, she's a total whirlwind of energy.

photo stolen from her mommy's facebook page

Bonus:  Plates.  License plates.  On my drive to Santa Barbara, I noticed Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, New York and Colorado.  Also, I saw license plate holders from various colleges and universities:  Westmont College (in Santa Barbara), UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco State, THE Ohio State University, and Cal State Channel Islands (where The Professor professes).  And then there were the team plates:  Lakers, Texas Longhorns, Green Bay Packers.  Well, I have to do something to keep myself alert and paying attention to traffic...If I don't have my eyes on the road and the cars around me, I would be staring at the beach and surf where I'd really rather be.

Extra Bonus:  Useless Trivia.  Carpenteria, a beach town between my city and Santa Barbara, has a lower elevation than Malibu.  Malibu: 12 feet.  Carpenteria: 7 feet. (according to the population signs on the highway)

A Work In Progress

WIP in the knitting universe means a Work in Progress.  This is my current WIP.  (I admit, it's one of the three or four WIPs on my knitting needles right now.)

Details:

Pure and Simple Babies Neck down Cardigan

Size 12 months but the gauge is smaller so I'm guessing it's maybe 8-9 months

Debbie Bliss ecobaby yarn (100% organic cotton)

Size 6US needles to accommodate the recommended gauge

This is pure delight to knit for several reasons.  It's a simple pattern I've made numerous times so I don't need to 'think' about it.  There are NO seams to sew.  As for the yarn, it slides sweetly through my fingers onto the needles.  The recipient is a relative-- a cousin's grandbaby.

Win, win, win, win.

First Full Week of Fall

Some weeks I hardly pick up my camera to snap a photo.  This was one of those weeks.  To no one's surprise, I would say it is mostly due to the fact that I am back in teach classes/correct papers mode.  Even with the change in routine, I look for ways to find blessings in my week.  That's what Friday Fave Fives is for--recording and sharing five blessings.

1.  Knitting.  Last December I made Christmas stockings for the eight adults in our family.  I posted photos of them here.  This week I've been working on the stockings for the three littles.  One is finished--lots of pink with magenta hearts.  Obviously that one is for our girlie girl Z.  The boys want more many colors like orange and brown and green.  L's stocking is nearly finished--just have the toe to finish.  Then I will knit The (Not So) New Boy's stocking.  Photos soon?

2.  The news from The New Boy is that he really likes Kindergarten.

3.  Our espresso maker died.  That's NOT the blessing.  But having an alternative available for brewing coffee is.  We've pulled out our one cup Melita from the camping gear and so the morning coffee has continued to flow without interruption.

4.  I've been attending not one but TWO Bible Studies this fall.  Both of them have a rather aggressive homework assignment expectation.  I decided to participate in both of them because I have taken the classes before so I don't have to do all the homework; I just review it.  But the blessing has been that I am loving BOTH courses all over again.  Philippians and II Peter.  SO RICH in life lessons for me to relearn.

5.  A while ago, I downloaded a free book on my Kindle-- Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God.  I own a paper copy of the book but having it on my Kindle makes it doubly accessible and easy to pick up and read just a page or two which is really all one can read and meditate on at one time.  Have you read it?

Not an exciting week here at Willow's Cottage.  It's been one of those same old, same old weeks.  Work, Read, Walk, Knit, Sleep.  Beautiful weather.  Loving family.  Who could ask for more?

Autumn

I love autumn.

Vibrant colors thrill me.

Green, Brown, Tan, Orange,Yellow, Red

All mixed up together

in leaves and grass.

Continuing On

Friday Fave Fives.  After a busy week, it's good to slow down and THINK about my blessings.  Susanne's Friday Fave Fives helps me do that.  Without the discipline of knowing I want to write my gratitude list for the week, I might let the week slip past without taking notice.

1.  A long conversation with a cousin.  As I sift slowly through the photos from my father's childhood, I have found pictures of my uncles.  I called the oldest son of one uncle to ask about where to send photos I have scanned and want to share with him and his brothers.  We chatted for quite awhile and caught up on family news.

2.  Loving some of the old photos I'm finding.

'Three Dirty Boys'

(on the ranch in rural Oregon, mid 1920s)

Three Brothers-- a bit older

3.  I'm not sure how my computer changed a setting for my desktop background.  But recently the photos have been rotating and changing daily or more often.  I've realized how much I am actually enjoying the unexpected memories the photos have elicited.  Some photos I don't remember taking; others I look and think about where I was and why I shot that particular photo.  It has been fun.  I've learned how to reset the background but I've decided for now I like the changes.

4.  I'm not much of a sports fan but here at Willow's Cottage, SOMEONE has been faithfully watching the Los Angeles Dodgers make their way to clinching the Western Division Championship.  SOMEONE is really happy since HE has been a Dodger fan since the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.  GO BLUE!

5.  Dark Chocolate.  A little bit, just a bite or two.  Every day.  It's a health food, right?

I hope you won't let your week's blessings go unobserved.  For what are you grateful this week?

Beginning Again

It's the start of the school year for me.  It's also a reboot for me to participate in Friday Fave Fives since I have been road tripping it on an out of state adventure.

Because I haven't posted a FFF lately, I can't focus on just this past week!  So here are my favorite parts of my trip to Oregon and back.

1.  Riding with my daughter and her two kids.  We. Love. Road. Trips.  It was So. Much. Fun.  Almost two thousand miles of chatting while gazing at incredibly beautiful scenery.  (Just a little note here.  You may wonder why I never post photos of these two grandchildren.  It's because in the world of rules imposed by the state, county, and social services, photos of children who are not officially, finally adopted, are not allowed to be posted on any internet site.  So until that long anticipated and joyous event occurs, all you get on social media is blurry pictures of the backs of their heads.  This in no way lessens the deep love I have for these two precious little ones, but I do try to live within the law.)

2.  Visiting my only brother and his wife for the first time in three years.  He has always loved driving anything.

3.  Seeing friends from my Oregon days. Lunch with the Taylors.  Afternoon with a dear friend, her daughter and grandsons--they loved playing with our little ones.  Breakfast and coffee with the Soap Lady (we've been friends since college days).

4.  Attending the morning service at our church in Portland.  Oh that was wonderful.

5.  And of course I knitted there and back again.  Socks are good projects for road trips.

And now it's on to the business of teaching classes, correcting papers and keeping to a schedule.  Everything has its season.  Have you changed your activities with the season?

Tatooine

With apologies to all my friends who live in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

Driving through the very arid valley along a very dull interstate highway, we stared from our car windows and decided that George Lucas must have taken his ideas for the climate and terrain of Tatooine from this area between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Slowly Moving Toward Fall

It is hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that I will be going back to work this week.  I have had nearly four months off from teaching and I am adjusting my attitude to the idea that my schedule is changing.  It's not that I haven't been preparing lessons and materials for my forty IEW homeschool composition students.  It's not that I haven't been noticing the changing seasons -- even here in Southern California, the weather is telling me that autumn is coming.  It's just that I have gotten used to my summer life.

I had one last summer fling over Labor Day.  A Road Trip!

We drove north and east to intersect with Interstate 5 which runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian border.  Fillmore.  Castaic.  Lebec.  The Grapevine.  All these place names are like familiar friends.  The San Joaquin Valley.

Stockton.  Sacramento.  Williams.  Red Bluff.  Redding.

Northern California is a place of childhood memories for me.  Camping in the Redwoods.  Visiting a great aunt in Yreka. (Did you know there is a YREKA BAKERY?  It's a palindrome!)  Dunsmuir, a small town where the Sacramento River runs swiftly through the mountains.

Mt. Shasta!

Our destination:

So you can understand why I am dragging my feet about jumping in to autumn.