The Fairy Trail

 Do you love the woods?  Do you love whimsical places?  If you do, you will love the Fairy Trail at Infirmary Mound County Park.  (warning:  photo heavy post ahead)

Deep in the dark green woods live the fairies.

We know they live there because we found the trail to their town.

Many of the fairies in fairy town are hard working fairies who live quiet lives in simple houses.

Sometimes, even fairies take holidays.

Perhaps the king of the fairies will invite you to visit him at his castle.

But beware of the troll who lives on the hill at 4309!

Most fairies are friendly, but once in awhile you might encounter a curmudgeon.

Do you really believe that the fairies live in the deep woods?  Maybe some day, you will meet one like I did...

if you place a coin or shell or shiny stone in the wishing well.

Tickled Pink

Good Wednesday morning!

Wednesday Hodgepodge Day.

(click the logo to join to go to Joyce's blog to join in)

    

1.  What's something that reminds you of your grandmother?  Tell us why.

My dad's mother loved dahlias.  Every year, her garden was filled with dahlias.  Whenever I see a dahlia, I think of my grandmother.

2.  Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has its thorn'?  Elaborate.

I really try not to focus on the thorns.  So I have to say that my life is moonlight and roses, although I would probably say that I prefer sunsets and daffodils.

3.  June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink?    

I own a beautiful pink goblet.  Bought at Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA and given to us at our wedding, it has survived for forty-seven years and dozens of moves.

Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink?

How can I choose my favorite pink flower??  One flower I love is a camellia.  My other grandmother, my mom's mom, grew camellias in her front garden.  I loved them.  At my home in California, I had nine camellia bushes, all of them in shades of pink.  Here are three:

Favorite food or beverage?

I love rhubarb strawberry crisp.  And raspberry sorbet.

Favorite shade of pink?

I don't really have a favorite shade of pink.

4. Last thing that had you tickled pink?

Oh this is an easy one.  Obviously, my four grandchildren being together and playing together after two years.  Here is a photo I took of them last week when my youngest granddaughter was visiting from AZ.

5.  What are two or three words that describe your style.

Casual.  Sporty.  Modest.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Do you love fairy trails in the forest?  We have a fairy trail in a local park.  My grandkids were 'enchanted' with it, so I took many photos along the path and plan to publish a post about it tomorrow.  If you'd like to 'walk' along, pop over and see it.

A Traveling Week

 Hello!  Anyone there?  I've been gone all week, and I have hardly checked in on anyone or anything.  Here it is Friday already!  This morning, I am taking a breather in my busy week and am quietly sipping a cup of coffee while I ponder the many many blessings God has poured out on me.  I need to do this in quiet weeks, busy weeks, hard weeks, fun weeks.  Whatever is happening, God is always here reminding me of His care and love.  Here are my FRIDAY FAVE FIVES with the link Susanne's blog where you can join us or simply reading what is happening in many parts of the world.

1.  Travel and more travel.  This is the longest trip we have taken since we moved ten months ago.  Five days away.  I am thankful for safety and for a comfortable and well functioning car.  Super boring, right?  Never take for granted a well running auto.  The Professor drove (I sat and navigated a bit) more than 1,400 miles to Iowa and back, and about 300 miles to visit a national park.  No car issues.

2.  As I mentioned last week, I was visiting a almost life long friend for one day.  Can you believe we didn't take a single photo of us together??   We were simply too busy talking.  (Mary, I know you will be reading this.  Did you get any pictures?)  The Professor has known her all her life and we share so many bits of life and memories.  We talked and talked.  And talked.  And loved every second.  I am so thankful for friends and memories.

3.  After we said farewell, we drove on to The Professor's cousin's farm home.  The main reason for our trip was to attend a family reunion.  This is only the second time in sixty years that he has been able to attend this reunion.  He is descended from a long line of Swedish settlers in Iowa.  Fun with his three cousins, a lovely church service at his mother's childhood church, and then the reunion luncheon.  Yes, it's true.  No photos!  Again!.  The Professor's comment was that a face to face conversation makes better memories than a picture does.  Family is a great and marvelous blessing.

4.  Annnd...while we were driving back home, someone arrived at our house for a visit!  Our granddaughter PAL is here for a week accompanied by her mama and auntie!  Oh the fun we are having!  And finally, some photos.  Can you tell which ones are teenagers now?  Someone got some owies crossing the rocks in the Japanese Gardens.

How about another walk?  We can bring our lunches and eat at the arboretum...

5.   We are a family of adventurers.  So some of us drove north to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  So much fun!  I am thankful for my family loves to travel and experience new places.

So this has been Willow's very busy traveling family filled week!  Stuffed full of blessings.  (And I promise I will make a post about the Fairy Trail.  In fact, we are heading out there this morning so PAL can enjoy it, too.)

June, Take Two

 I am on a short trip.  Three states today.  But I'll be back in a day or three.  So this may be the only time for the next three days I can post my Friday Fave Fives.  I apologize upfront that I may not be able to comment on other blogs for a few days.  Just going to be having too much fun.  And maybe not enough internet.

Anyway, here are some things for which I am deeply grateful and thankful.

1.  Younger grandson, Little Warrior, is obsessed with all about cars lately.  So to celebrate the end of the school year,  he  received a ticket to visit Monster Truckz.  Younger Daughter, The Professor and I went with him to see the exhibition of crazy big decked out trucks driving around a track.  (this was two weeks ago, but I decided to include it here).  AND...I am having difficulty uploading photos, so...maybe if you don't see any photos, come back later and I will have been able to upload them.

2.  One morning, The Professor needed to work on mapping the compass course for the Trail Life group's lessons, so we drove out to that same wonderful wild park where he went to work on his project.  I took a wonderful hike through the woods, veering off on new-to-me trails.  I met only two other people the whole time.

3.  One trail I followed was the Fairy Trail.  There were posters with pages from a fairy story all along the trail.  And everywhere I turned, there was a fairy house.  I plan to write a separate blog post about the Fairy Trail and show all the pictures.  The whole area was enchanting.

4.  For the first time since moving to our new state, we were able to attend a face to face small group from church (called life groups here).  Older Daughter is part of the group and it is wonderful and so encouraging to get to know people more intimately in a smaller setting.  I am so thankful for this milestone.

5.  While you are reading this, I will be hanging out with one of my best friends from college.  So. Excited.  We sang together in a trio for three years representing our little college all over CA, OR and WA.  Hopefully, there will be pictures to show in the next week.

June Bug Hodgepodge

Good morning!  It's Wednesday.  Wednesday Hodgepodge Day.  Click on the logo above and it will take you to the hosts' blog.

1.  Something you have seen recently that's 'cuter than a June' bug?

There is a local park that has playing fields, a lake, and miles and miles of wood trails.  One small detour you can walk is the Fairy Trail.

2.  Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988.  If you weren't born yet,  June of 1998.  Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008.

In June of 1988, we were living in Papua, Indonesia.  Here is a photo of our family, probably May or June.  Close enough, right? (my kids are gonna hate me for showing this picture)

And, then in June of 2008, I just had to share.  Do you know where I was?

3.  A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'?

I love to sit in my chair in the family room.  Sitting there, I can rest my feet up on the foot rest and read and sip my coffee.  If the weather cooperates, I love sitting on my back patio watching my flowers and veggies grow.

4.  June is Nation Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month.  Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day?  What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits.  A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg?  How do you feel about cooking in the summer months?

Breakfast:  three fruits.  Lunch:  five veggies.  Dinner:  green salad.  All fresh.  Every single day.  And sometimes a green smoothie with two or three veggies and three or four fruits.

I am a fan of summer fruits, especially strawberries and rhubarb baked into a crisp.

I don't really have a favorite summer veggie dish.  Maybe lasagna made from my fresh tomatoes and spinach?  I don't enjoy cooking.  I'm one of those people who eat to live, not live to eat.

5.  Do you have a summer reading list?  If so, share a title or two we can add to our own.

Unless you love gardening, you won't enjoy my summer reading list.  I may delve into reading more of my collection of Agatha Christie novels.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

This girl and her mother will be here in four days!!

A Day Late

 I just realized.  It's Friday night!  Yikes!  I'm so late.  Willow's Week in Five Faves.  Welcome to FRIDAY FAVE FIVES with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

1.  The above ground swimming pool is gone!  The family crew came on Memorial Day and disassembled it and hauled it away.  Now we are looking at the local 'mud wrestling' venue and dreaming how to turn it in to a patio/firepit area.

2.  We have been slowly finding furniture to finish putting our  home together.  Recliner chairs for the family room arrived this week.  And we found a futon for the upstairs room.  Yay!  It's only taken eight months.

3.   Local fresh strawberries!  Yum!  They're delicious and many of them were washed and put into the freezer for later.

4.  A younger woman who I have known (Older Daughter's friend) for several years dropped off some fresh rhubarb from her garden.  A wonderful gift!  So yummy!  So I have made a fresh strawberry rhubarb crisp.  Then the next day, I drove over to her house and picked and froze more of the rhubarb.  See the pattern?  Strawberry rhubarb pies and crisps in the fall?

5.  We met up with our coffee date friends at a new coffee shop near their new home.  After coffee and chatting, we went over to see their new home (they've been there for two weeks).  We so enjoy their company and are so happy that they have found a home and are settling in!

Bonus:  our friends needed to remove a peony bush to make way for putting in an extension on their driveway.  We dug out the bush and replanted it in our garden.  Yes, I know that peonies don't like being moved in the spring or summer.  But we will give it a try.  They are beautiful and worth the effort.  Fingers crossed that they will take root and thrive.

Summer Begins with Memorial Day Weekend

One thing I love about Fridays is the opportunity to participate in Friday Fave Fives. (follow the link!) FFF is a group of bloggers who choose five events from the past week that focus on a blessing or opportunity to experience or express gratitude.  Believe me, some weeks I need the reminder when I get to Friday.

1.  Just enough rain so I don't have to water the flowers and the gardens.  Twice this week.  And rain means a respite from the exhausting humidity.  Nope, I'm not used to that horrid humidity, yet.

2.  This girl graduated from Kindergarten this week!  Her mom sent a video of PAL leading everyone at the ceremony in reciting the pledge of allegiance.

3.  And this girl young lady is now a high schooler!

4.  An evening bike ride.  Usually, if we are going to ride our bikes, we plan ahead and do it during the day.  But one evening, when it was still light out, we just decided to hop our bikes and take a quick ride.  Spontaneous fun is sometimes the best type of fun!

5.  I'm not sure who is more excited, the students or the teachers.  Today is the last day of homeschool for New Boy.  Today is also Little Warrior's last day in elementary school.

Now it is Memorial Day Weekend, and everyone (in the US) knows what that means*.  Let the summer times begin!

*  And Yes, Memorial Day is also a sober and somber day of remembrance of all those men and women who have fought for our rights and freedoms as a country.  My father and two uncles, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law, my wonderful husband The Professor, and my son have all served in the US military.  I understand the commitment and dedication and sacrifice of all involved.  THANK YOU for helping to make my Memorial Weekend one of cheer and relaxation.

Memorial Day Hodgepodge

 1.  We're approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the US of A...will you mark this in some way?  If so tell us how.  According to a list found here some things you might do in honor of Memorial Day would be-shop in a Veteran owned business, learn to play a patriotic song, watch the Memorial Day concert, take a virtual tour of the White House, write a letter to a soldier or a soldier's family, fly a flag, attend a Memorial Day parade, donate flowers for a soldier's grave, put together a care package for a soldier, and take a moment of silence at 3PM (the National Moment of Remembrance)...of the ideas mentioned are there any you will try?

The Professor is a veteran, as were both of our fathers.  And our son.  Actually, our son currently serves in the US Army Reserve as a military chaplain.  When he was stationed in Afghanistan, he procured an American flag that was flown over the base where he was stationed and brought it home to his dad.  (This is a normal thing--to obtain flags--they are flown only one day and then retired, so the flags are given/sold to soldiers.)  So, we will fly the flag on Memorial Day.

2. What's something recently that made you 'come to attention'?

I need to be attentive to watering the garden.  Things dry out very quickly.

3.  In what area of your life do you need to 'soldier on'?

I do not like humidity.  But now I live in a rather humid climate (during the summer).  I just need to 'soldier on' and deal with it.

4.  As a long weekend approaches and summer draws near, what's a favorite food from your childhood you think about adding to the menu?

Anything marionberry.  Pie, Dumplings, Crisp.  Marionberries are a type of blackberry.  My grandma made THE BEST.

5.  Your favorite patriotic movie?

Mrs. Miniver

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Have you ever said goodbye to a son or daughter (or spouse) who is on his/her way to a battleground deployment?  I have.  It hurts.  And I've watched my daughter and daughter-in-law say goodbye.  Even today, just remembering makes me emotional.  If you haven't, then you have no idea of the sacrifice of families.  

Garden, Books, Celebrations

Hello, Friday Fave Fives!  Here are five ways I have been blessed and encouraged this week.  I love writing out my fave fives because it always helps me focus on what I should be thinking of--my blessings.  THIS IS THE LINK if you want to read more faves and join in.

1.  Much progress has been made on the veggie garden. (Photos coming!)  It is a lot of work to mix and add the garden soil into the beds.  Fortunately, The Professor and I can ask New Boy to help since we can count that as 'PE'.

2.  So far, of all the starts and little plants I've stuck in the part of the beds that are plant-able, only one little tomato plant has not survived.  And all the plants I pulled from my friend's garden last month and planted here are happily thriving.

3.  Because of all the gardening, our hikes/walks have been shorter.  That's ok.  We keep finding little treasures like a shortcut through the woods to the neighborhood north of us.

4.  I have enjoyed reading new to me middle school books that New Boy is assigned.  Last week I read Under the Egg which is a story about a painting a young girl finds after her grandfather dies.  The story is linked to WWII and the Nazis' confiscation of art throughout Europe.  Besides the plot and characters, there was much to read about WWII and its effects on everyone involved in the war.  Another thing to love about homeschooling.

5.  I love those texts that say things like "L is so excited!  He won first place in the science fair at school today!"  I think the being excited part is even better than the first place part.

Bonus!  We were able to join a Life Group from church for the first time!  The groups are opening now because Covid restrictions are easing.  After living in our new state for nine months, we are able to begin making closer connections with other people.

Happy Friday, my friends!

Hodgepodge in a Hurry

  What a day!  I wrote this post last night and then I didn't post it.

Super busy day.  Oops!

 http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

1.  Realist, idealist, optimist, pessimist...which one are you?  Elaborate.

Probably, I am a combination of realist and optimist.  I'm old.  I've seen life.  I am pretty realistic about life.  I guess not much really surprises me about people anymore.

2.  What's something currently on your wish list?

My wish list for travel?  My wish list for experience?  My wish list for stuff?  I want to travel to visit my cousin in Florida, my brother in Oregon.  Our plans to visit Alaska were shelved last year for the obvious reason.  I would like a retractable cover or gazebo for the patio.

3.  Three things on this week's shopping list?

Groceries:  kale, bananas, strawberries.

General:  prescription sunglasses, Travelon purse (to replace the ruined one), more soil for our raised garden beds.

4.  According to Trip Advisor here's a list of the top ten things to do in the US this summer-- Chicago Architecture River Cruise, Skip the Line Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour, New York In A Day guided sightseeing tour, Charleston's Old South Historic Horse and Carriage tour, Grand Canyon helicopter tour, Full day iconic sights of LA, Beverly Hills, Beaches and more, D.C. at Dusk guided night tour, Beneath the Streets Underground History tour (Seattle), New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat tour, Gangsters and Ghosts tour in Chicago...read more about each excursion in the link here.

Of the ten attractions listed which do you find most appealing?  Have you already experienced anything on this list?

The Seattle  Underground History tour sounds fascinating since I grew up in Portland and have heard that Portland has a similar history.  Except.  You'd have to pay me a lot of money to visit Seattle right now.  I have already experienced most everything about Los Angeles since I lived there.  We have walked all over LA and visited all the beaches (I love Dockweiler Beach in the winter!), visited the gardens, museums, and done our own tours with friends.

5.  Besides home and work, where do you spend the most time?

I probably spend the most time walking the trails and parks in the area.  I was going to say my two daughters' home, but we meet up and take walks as often as we hang out at their homes.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Too busy to think of anything!

A Lovely Spring Week

 Hello Friday!  It's time for FRIDAY FAVE FIVES!  Click on the link to join in.  All during the week, I keep a short log of what I've done each day.  I try to focus on the best stuff.  Then, on Friday, I write those blessings and points of gratitude in a blog post and read what others have been doing.  Here is Willow's Week.

1.  Younger Daughter and I planned a visit to a garden nursery.  We were a bit early to meet up with friends, so we wandered around on some country roads.  I love old buildings!

2.  Mother's Day.  Of course, that would be a favorite part of the week.  We honored our two daughters by having dinner together at our house after church on Sunday.  Getting take out kept us all from having to cook.  Win-win!  AND, both sons called and chatted.  AND, I talked with World's Best Daughter-in-Law and our granddaughter PAL, too.

[warning!  cuteness overload below!]

3.  I was able to help Younger Daughter with some driving on Monday.  The fave is obviously time spent with her, being able to assist and drive her home after she had a nasty reaction to her second vaccine shot.  Then I drove her to her nursing class so she could take a test (results:  highest grade in the class!).

4.  Between those drives, The New Boy and I accompanied The Professor to a local park where The Prof was working through the plans for a compass reading class for Trail Life.  So The New Boy and I took off on a hike.  We crossed streams, tromped through mud, scrambled up a nearly vertical bank.  So. Much. Fun!  And we agreed that we probably shouldn't admit to all the adventures (like how many times we crossed the stream).

5.  Then on the evening when the guys went to the park for Trail Life and were doing the compass reading exercise, I hiked in another section of the park.  No stream crossings this time since I was on my own, and I ambled off the trail only once to take a short cut up to another trail.

Following the compass reading...

And now, a bonus fave:  the weather reports are telling us that maybe, just maybe, the weather is going to warm up a bit.  That means more garden time and more hiking time ahead. Happy Weekend!

Wednesday Hodgepodge, Mother's Day version

Wednesday Hodgepodge.

My answers.

HERE'S THE LINK

1.  It's like my mama always said, "____."

    My mom told me this when I was about forty:  "When I was twenty, I worried about what people thought of me.  When I was forty, I quit worrying about what people thought of me.  When I was sixty, I realized no one was thinking about me; they were focused on themselves."

2.  May 11th is National East What You Want Day.  What will you be having by way of celebration?

    So, we have been having the discussion about this.  Cinnamon roll from Rolls By the Pound.  If I were still living in CA, I would definitely be going for my favorite burrito!  Probably, we will grab pizzas from the pizza place that has vegan options for me.  My grandson approves!

3.  Describe your idea of a perfect spring day.

    Sunny, not windy, warm.  Yesterday was almost perfect.  In the evening, The Professor and New Boy (husband and oldest grandson) had a Trail Life adventure at a local park, so I drove over with them and spent the whole time hiking around by myself.  Not much better than that!

4.  Success, fulfillment, growth, achievement...pick one and tell us how it related to your life in some way, either currently or in days gone by.

    Growth.  I can always be growing in wisdom.

5.  I saw this going around on various social media sites and thought it would be fun to answer here.  The last thing you bought on Amazon is your weapon in battle.  How will  you wield it?

    The last thing I bought online was a package of socks.  Hmmm, how could I use this as a weapon in battle.  Fill with rocks or sand and use as a cosh?  Possibly.  But the best defense weapon would be to have a group of young teen boys wear them for two weeks without washing them, and then place them around the perimeter of your defensive area.  No attacker will come near because they will assume they have stumbled into the local sewage plant.

6.  Insert you own random thought here.

    My son and daughter in law sent me a Mother's Day card.  On the front was written  "A good mom sends you down the right path, then prays for you every step of the way."  TRUTH!

It's May!

FRIDAY FAVE FIVES

Hello Friday Afternoon!  It's the first Friday in May.  The weather is, umm, notable.  Cool and rainy interspersed with sunshine and wind.  Later on this afternoon, we will be attending our granddaughter's invitational track meet.  Hoping the weather holds...

1.  Older Daughter's repair work in her house is finished! (only part of the garage walls need to be replaced)  This is a huge deal since her home and neighborhood flooded more than a year ago.  Now the next step can begin--putting the main level back together again.  I'm thankful this is done.

2.  When I was dropping off a donation bag to the local Heartbeats (pregnancy) center, I met a woman who shares my love of all things fiber related.  She gave me information on places where I can give some of my knitted hats to people who have lost their hair due to medical issues such as chemotherapy.  I love making those connections.

3.  Do you love your library?  I am thankful that our library can access and provide books from all over the state.  I requested a book and when it arrived, I noted that it is from a library several counties away from here.  I love having so many books available to me.

4.  The repairman came and fixed our microwave!  Yay!

5.  I think I am thankful that The Professor and I have had our second vaccine shots.  It happened yesterday.  I feel horrible not great with chills, fatigue and headache.  I'll let you know in couple of days...  in the meantime, I am spending a lot of time reading, resting and knitting.  Here is a sample:  two hats finished and a sweater almost done.  For one of my best friend's new grandson!

May Day!

In honor of May Day

Ohio spring wild flowers

Enjoy!