Amish Country

Look!  See all the photos??  My computer and my camera are playing nice together, again.  I figured out the problem and fixed it.

So... I have a treat for you!  Photos of my trip to Amish Country!

Of course there are always old barns and dilapidated outbuildings.

If you are traveling in Amish country, watch out for horses and buggies!

Especially on narrow, windy and hilly roads.

How do you know a house or farm is Amish?  Well, first, there will be lots of horses.

The laundry will be hanging outside in all kinds of weather.

Usually, the houses and many of the outbuildings are painted white.

In all the houses, what did you NOT see?  What is missing?  A couple of things.  No cars.  And no electric wires hung from the poles to the houses or barns.

But lots of cows.

As we returned home from our adventure, we noticed an picturesque place for sale.  Want to buy this house and live in the country?

Finishing Off the Month of April

 Better Late Than Never.  It's Friday evening and I am finally slowing down a bit to sit and focus on writing my Friday Fave Fives for this last week of April.  It has been a busy week, but it is important remember all the blessings, too. (this link will take you to join in or read others' FFF)

1.  On Monday, we took a day trip to Amish country and visited Lehman's to find a replacement for  the glass chimney for my oil lamp which broke when we moved.  I have searched and searched for a chimney but couldn't find one anywhere.  I knew Lehman's had them, so we just did the day trip and found other items that we knew the store would have like a replacement belt for my old treadle sewing machine.

2.  The Professor put up the pole to place something new by the back patio.  A bird feeder!  I'm loving watching the birds and learning to identify them.

3.  Wednesday afternoon I tackled a chore I had been ignoring for awhile (longer than I realized).  I filed all the papers that had been piling up in the file basket!  It took me hours but I did.  I really do love to file, so it wasn't as odious for me as it might have been for other people.

4.  Yesterday, we drove out to where we were able to pick up the pieces that will become our bee hive!  We are both excited about having our very own hive in our backyard.  The woman who brought out our hive also mentioned a beekeeping group that meets once a month in our area.  YES, we are excited about our new sweet adventure into beekeeping.

5.  Just this afternoon, The Professor commented that the blessing of having a young man walking out of Lowe's behind us and offering to help us load a heavy piece of lumber and eight cinderblocks into our car needed to be part of my FFF this week.  So YES!  He helped us and we are very thankful for his thoughtfulness and willingness to help.

PS:  you may have noticed the absence of any photos.  My camera and my computer aren't talking to each other right now.  Hopefully, I will figure out why they're mad at each other.

Friday Fave Fives April, Take Three

Friday Fave Fives.  That time of the week when we stop and breathe and focus on five of the best blessings from the past seven days.  It is really helpful for my sense of thankfulness and gratitude to do this every Friday.  You can do it, too.  Here's the link to join us: FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  Best news!  At the doctor's office this week, the doctor told me, "You're good to go!"  I have been dismissed from orthopedic care for my broken ankle.  All I have to do is wear a splint when I hike, walk long distances or drive.  Yes, I'm cleared to drive, too.

2.  Last evening, The Professor and I joined both daughters and their dogs and Little Warrior (who I should now call Shorter Boy--he is growing but still shorter than Tall Boy).  My first walk in six weeks!

3.  The weather was so very spring-like this week.  We were able to sit on the back patio and just enjoy the sunshine.

4.  Our extra family dropped by yesterday on their day off to help us with some yard work.  Goodbye to the purple sand cherry bushes that were blocking our front windows and attracting Japanese beetles.  I am so thankful for all their help.  And Y planted my raspberry bush, too.

5.  Is there anything more exciting than seeing that tiny sprout which will become a flower or tomato or broccoli plant?

A Lovely and Warm Week

Friday Fave Fives are short and sweet this week. (will life ever calm down?)  Even in the midst of busy lives, it is important to slow down, focus, and remember to be thankful for all the blessings of the week.  The link above will take you to Susanne's blog page and you can join FFF or read what others are sharing this week.

1.  A quiet Easter Sunday. Lovely morning service.  Then in the afternoon, Younger Daughter brought the grands over to help us begin working on some garden projects.

2.  Very quick and easy dentist visit.   I do not enjoy visits to the dentist although my dentist is truly one of the best.  Since I had developed a small chip in a tooth, it was a simple procedure.  I am thankful for dental health care and a wonderful dentist.

3.  Beautiful weather.  I am so ready for spring, and this week spring was really and truly here.

4.  The man who has been cutting our lawn for us the past two years, mowed for the first time this week.  Our yard looks so nice now.

5.  The Professor and I had the opportunity to share lunch with a young woman who is a missionary nurse in a Latin American country.  We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and find out more about her ministry.  I am thankful that people are continuing to focus on bringing help and the good news of Jesus to people all over the world.

Bonus:  This morning as the Art Girls (all five of us this week!) were chatting on a zoom call, one mentioned how important it is to recall how God has blessed and changed us through the years, not just the days and weeks.  So true!

Go-Go and Good Friday Faves

 It has been a go-go-go week here at Willow's Cottage.  I have had to remind myself a few times to Stop. Breathe. Focus. Be thankful.  That is what Friday Fave Fives is about.  Focus on the week's blessings. (follow the link to be part of it)  And it is Good Friday, a most important day in the year's calendar.

1.  On Friday (a week ago!), a friend and I drove about an hour and a half northeast of home to attend the Whole Health Conference.  Wow!  It was great!  We took the making herbal medicine class which was very hands on.  We created an oil using essential oils and also watched our teacher make a salve from herbs, oils, and beeswax (exactly how I make mine).  The dinner and snacks were exceptionally yummy.  All in all, it was a great day and we plan to attend the full weekend conference next year.  And the conversations to and from in the car were so uplifting.

2.  Saturday was the wedding of the older son of our 'family' from Southern California who moved here last year.  It was a Star Wars themed wedding.  The Professor and Older Daughter had helped to set things up on Friday and we all showed up for the 10:30am wedding and stayed after to clear the space for church service that evening.

3.  I have only one sibling.  An older brother.  We have always been close and he is so good about calling and talking with me on a regular basis.  This week, I called him and we chatted for a good long time.  What a blessing it is to me to have a sibling with whom I have such a great relationship.

4.  Because of busy schedules, we have not had a chance for family dinner with our daughters and grands, lately.  But this Wednesday, we all carved out time on Wednesday evening to eat together and enjoy each other's company and conversation. (the grands requested Panda Express, so The Professor did a take out run to grab their favorites)

5.  It is Holy Week and we attended the Maundy Thursday service at our church last night.  Since The Professor was on lighting duty, I sat alone.  Scriptures were read, walking us through the day and night of The Last Supper and Jesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Then we took communion.  This time was the highlight of our week.  And finally, I slowed down and just focused on my thankfulness for Jesus' sacrifice of His life for me.

Happy Easter to all!

Spring Break

 Yep. Spring Break.  Even though The Professor and I are retired teachers, we notice when spring break happens.   This year, spring break was filled with family things midst the usual.  I want to focus on Five Things that made me thankful this week.  I am linking this with Susanne's group FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  On Tuesday, we took the spring break grandkids to COSI (Center for Science and Industry) which is a great science museum in Columbus.  We had a great time exploring all the places.

2.  The Tutankhamun Exhibit was a highlight.  If it ever is showing in a museum near you, do go see it.  It's great!

3.  Younger Daughter made sure I was well cared for.  She arranged for a wheelchair and Grandson, Little Warrior, insisted on being my pusher.  Any time I had to walk with my crutch, Tall Boy was there to lend a hand.  I love how my family cares for me. 

4.  Thursday morning was spent, per usual, with our friends T and S, chatting nonstop and drinking coffee.  We enjoyed a snack and then realized that the coffee shop had a special that day for black bean burgers. So, we enjoyed lunch with them, too.

5.  The reason why I am late posting my faves is because I attended a health conference with a friend.  She invited me a couple of months ago to accompany her into Amish Country area and take an intensive class on making herbal teas, infusions, and tinctures.  While I have been doing this for awhile, the class did solidify my knowledge and I did lean some new information.  And she won a wonderful basket of goodies in a raffle.  And the drive was beautiful.  And we connected with a new friend.  I am thankful for this friend and for the things I learned.

No new photos this week.  But enjoy daffodils from England (last year).

FFF

 If you have popped over to read my Friday Fave Fives for this week, I hope you will return later this evening.  I am out to a conference and will be home after the last session.

Fave Fives in Spring

 It's SPRING!  It's really SPRING!  It may be raining and there may be thunder and lightning outside, but, according to the calendar, it's SPRING!

Every week I focus on five things that have blessed me this week.  Susanne calls it Friday Fave Fives and hosts a bunch of us to post our five blessings we have chosen and written about in a post for the week.  (follow the link to join)  Here are mine---Willow's Week in Five Faves.

1.  Obviously, I did a spoiler in the first paragraph---it's SPRING!

2.  Saturday was the day we celebrated my birthday.  We decided to invite family to a local coffee shop/cafe for brunch.  This place has a loft area that people seldom use during the day, so we took it over.  Mostly, we just hung out and talked.  Instead of cake, I chose pie.  Triple berry and apple.  Yum!

3.  On Sunday, The Professor and I woke early and drove to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to attend a funeral/memorial service for a man we knew many years ago when we were in college.  This man was our choir director and the director of The Reflections, the small singing group I was part of for three years.  He left a large legacy of music in churches and colleges all over the US.  These photos were taken in 2016 at a Reflections reunion at the college.

Director Peter Kobe

Three of the original Reflections singers with Pete.

4.  On the way home, we stopped at the highest point in Ohio, Campbell Hill, to add this state's high point to The Professor's list high point places we have visited.

5.  This fave may seem like a small thing, but it was important to me.  I have a favorite tea that I drink almost daily.  Herbal Cold Care tea from Traditional Medicinal Teas.  I ran out last week.  All the local stores were out, too.  Finally, this morning, The Professor happened to be passing a grocery store in a nearby village where we seldom shop, and he popped in just to check for the tea.  The store had ONE box.  He bought it.  I am thankful for two things:  he thought about my wanting the tea and there was a box available.

Bonus:  I did write up a more detailed but short description of the cashmere sweater I finished knitting and posted it yesterday.  LINK for it.

Cashmere, Anyone? Neckdown Pullover Sweater

 As promised, I am posting details about the red raglan sleeved pullover sweater I finished knitting last week. (there are advantages to being mostly confined to a chair resting my ankle)

The pattern I used, and slightly adapted, is published by Knitting Pure and Simple.  Here is a link to one place where the pattern can be purchased.  Knitting Pure & Simple

Yarn:  I used June Cashmere 100% Kyrgyz Cashmere, DK weight yarn, 150 yd, Scarlet.  I bought seven skeins and used almost all of the yarn.

Needles:  sizes 6 and 4, both circular and double pointed.

Last fall, I made a sample sweater in white, just to test out the pattern.  That yarn had been given to me from someone's stash, so I used it to find out how the pattern would fit and exactly what size needles I should use for my 'real' sweater.

This sweater is knitted from the top down in the circular, so there are NO seams to sew.  My favorite way to knit.  After the sweater was finished, all I had to do was weave in the ends of the various places where I had to attach new yarn, such as where the sleeves were added on.

The raglan sleeves are easy to make; you simply do increases at the joints.

I like the V neck knit-purl edge.

The only change I made was to the bottom edge.  On the sample sweater, I followed the instructions which made the sweater more of a tunic.  There is a slit made on each side and the bottom ribbing is finished off in garter stitch ribbing.

I like tunics and often wear them, but with this pattern, I chose to change to a knit one/purl one hem that matches the neck and sleeves edges.

I love my new red cashmere sweater!

St. Patrick's Day

 Happy Friday!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Happy Friday Fave Fives Day!  This last week of winter has been true to its name--winter.  Cold, Snow, Clouds.  But there is so much to find in grey and dreary weather to brighten my week and make my days shine.  Some weeks I have to dig deep or look hard behind the clouds.  But it is important that we do this--to find the blessings.  Friday Fave Fives helps me do that.  If you want even more encouragement, click the link and be inspired.

1.  Thinking back over the past week, I am constantly reminded of how The Professor cares for me.  Since I can't do basic chores, he has taken over doing all the laundry, dishes, cooking, driving.  He even makes me coffee and snacks and brings them to me where I am 'lounging' in my chair with my leg elevated.

2.  My broken ankle is healing well.

3.  I finished the red sweater! 100% Cashmere.  I am loving it!  Details coming in a separate post.

4.  We ordered fruit trees to plant in the back yard.  They arrived this week!  Yay!  I can't wait to get them planted in the ground.

5.  Younger Daughter has organized and started a fiber arts group that meets in a local coffee shop and the first meet-up was Saturday.  I think nine people showed up which is great for a first meeting.  So much fun to enjoy coffee, tea, or chai with people who love to knit and crochet.

Bonus: Today, St. Patrick's Day, is also my birthday!  Lots and lots of text messages, phone calls and notifications on facebook from people all over the world.  Lunch with The Professor, Older Daughter and Granddaughter at a cute little cafe.  Tomorrow is the day we will actually celebrate with family at a coffee shop/cafe.

An Eventful Week

Some weeks just float past.  Other weeks are marked with surprising events.  This week was one of the latter.  Even in the midst of crazy weeks, there are things to be grateful for.  We just have to look for them.  And it is even better when you share them to encourage others, too.  That's why I join Friday Fave Fives every week. (follow the link for more encouragement) 

1.  We were able to meet two times this week with a very-long-time-ago friend who was in our area overnight because he was a guest speaker at a Perspectives class.  Marv and his wife were in our mission candidate school with us and we also served with them in Indonesia for several years.  And our kids all grew up together as only Third Culture Kids do.  Oh, it was great to just talk about all those old days and then find out when is happening in the lives of his family.

2.  We found the perfect little cafe for breakfast with our friend.  Cafe Creekside.  And yes, it is located right on the bank of the creek.  We will definitely be returning!

3.  On Tuesday evening, I joined Younger Daughter on a lovely walk with her dog Sawyer.  The weather was mild and only a bit windy.  It was great.

4.  UNTIL... I tripped and fell on the edge of the paved path.  Yep.  I did it.  I broke my ankle.  Nope.  That's not the fave.  The fave is that as soon as she realized my ankle was injured, my daughter went in to total nurse mode.  And then a couple walking the trail arrived and helped transport me to the parking lot where older daughter was waiting with her car to drive me to the ER.  (Where was The Professor?  with the grandsons at Trail Life.  He arrived asap.)

5.  The best part of this difficult thing is that the break could have been much worse.  Yes, I was able to get in for an appointment with the specialist Wednesday morning, and he confirmed that the fracture is more like a 'crack', so I am wearing a brace not a cast.  And I'm already actually 'walking' without the crutches.  I am so thankful!

And the daffodils are blooming all over!

March on in

I have a few minutes before I drive off again to pick up my granddaughter from track practice.  It may be raining buckets but there are ways to keep up the momentum in track even in the gym.  So I'm posting my Friday Fave Fives quickly.  Willow's Week was again busy with lots of activities.  But it is important to stop, breathe, and focus on the goodness in my life.

1. Two reminders that the 'Art Girls' shared as we talked about the book we are reading for Lent of how we should live:  Never hurry. Never worry.  Live in an attitude of gratitude. Great statements to ponder when I stop to take a breath during the week.

2.  We had several days this past week when it wasn't raining, so we were able to get out for some good walks/hikes.  There is a local park that has so many paved and unpaved trails that wind through the woods and around a small lake and up a few hills.  We love to walk there.  Bonus is that it has a dog park, so the crazy grandpup can get most of his wiggles out there first and then walk with us after.

3.  The daffodils in my garden are starting to bloom!  I brought two in and placed them in a vase so I can enjoy them all day inside.

4.  Lunch with a friend.  We both love Asian food so we met at a local Thai place.  An extra fave is that the people who own the restaurant speak Indonesian, so I had opportunity to use my second language.

5.  I saved the best until last!  Our older son is an Army Reserve Chaplain.  He has been deployed on active duty out of the country for several months.  Finally, I can say this:  HE'S BACK ON US SOIL!  It will be a bit before he is home, but this is a big step!  Welcome home, Chaps!

Busy Bees

 What a week!  Again!  As I sit down in my recliner this afternoon, I realize that we have been 'running' all week, and finally this evening we will have some 'down time'.  In the midst of all this busyness, I need to stop, take a breath and remind myself that there is so much to be thankful for in every busy day.  That's why I do my Friday Fave Fives every Friday. (follow that link to join Susanne and the rest of us in being thankful)

1.  I am thankful I have the energy and stamina to keep up with the schedule we have right now.  One thing we have added to the daily list is picking up our granddaughter from track practice.  Truthfully, I am happy to do this because it means that she is on the high school spring track team and working hard on running and on high jump.

2.  This week is the beginning of Lent.  My "Art Girls" group is meeting via zoom and studying Brother Lawrence's book The Practice of the Presence of God.  I have read this small book before, but every time I reread it, I glean much from Brother Lawrence's wisdom.

3.  I am thankful for a quick visit to the doctor which reassured me that the pain I have been experiencing is not something to be concerned about.

4.  A good report from the dentist is always a fave for me.

5.  We have had a couple of days of spring-like weather.  Yes, I know that the winter temperatures will return, but it was so so nice to have those days of respite from the cold.  I was even able to walk around my garden and do some evaluation for the spring.  AND.  The daffodils are beginning to grow up and bud!  (I hope the cold doesn't kill them!)

Maybe a bright yellow crocus?

What blessings are you focusing on during your busy week? 

Lots of Love

Good Friday morning.  Here at Willow's Cottage, it is frigidly cold and small snow pellets are dropping on us.  Fortunately, so far, the snow isn't sticking.  I am snuggled up in a blanket having just returned from my Friday morning Bible study.  And now it is time to focus on my Friday Fave Fives.  What good, sweet, wonderful things have blessed my week?

1.  A long phone call with my daughter-in-law.  She is amazing and my Older Son is blessed to have her as his bride.  She has been holding down the fort at home for several months now as he has been deployed out of country.

2.  This week was that daughter-in-law's birthday!

3.  I love little bits of extra time with my children.  One day, I drove Older Daughter to a dr appt.  And then afterwards, we grabbed some coffee for the drive home.

4.  On Valentine's Day, The Professor took me to the local garden nursery.  Just for fun.  We are planning some landscaping to do this spring and wanted to see what what in stock.  I know most women would not think a garden nursery is the place to go on February 14, but it's my happy place, and he knows it.

5.  Also this week, a new washer and new dryer were delivered and installed here at Willow's Cottage as our dryer died last month just before we left on our trip south.  We called these appliances our gifts to each other.  A local nonprofit group came and removed and took away the washer (which still works) and the appliance store brought the new ones and installed them.  I have to say that all the workers were professional and very thorough.  We were very impressed.  You don't really appreciate your appliances until you don't have them.

And here is a bit of bonus inspiration for you.

Jiggity Jig

Home again!  After two weeks of traveling, we arrived home on Wednesday afternoon in time to pick up The Tall Boy from school.  What a great time we had traveling through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.  This past week we focused on historical sites as we drove through the states on our way home.  These are only FIVE of the wonderful things we experienced this week.  I chose FIVE FAVES to share. (the link takes you to the FRIDAY FAVE FIVES group)

1.  Two National Monument forts in Georgia.  Well, yes, we are history geeks and we loved walking around the old forts and reading ALL.THE.HISTORY.  Fort Pulaski  was beautiful!

It is surrounded by a moat.

Eleanor was fascinated with the cannons.

Fort Frederica was also the site of a colonial town although there are very few remains left of it.

2.  Foxfire Museum in Georgia.  Did you ever hear of or read the Foxfire books?  They started as newspaper publications by high school students and then, because they were so popular, they were published as books which are still being published and sold.  In turn, the proceeds from the books enabled the purchase of land to create a museum which highlights the focus of the books--the culture and crafts and knowledge of the Appalachian people who have lived in the area for generations.  We had read the books years ago and only recently discovered that the museum existed.  Obviously, it was a must-go-to stop on our trip.

3.  Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  What an amazing part of the United States.  It's beautiful!

4.  Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge, TN.  We have previously visited the Manhattan Project museum at the Los Alamos, New Mexico site.  So we were pleased to add the second of the three parts of the Manhattan Project sites.  We couldn't stay long but we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  A World War II secret site where people worked to create the materials for the atomic bomb.

5.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose when you randomly choose a restaurant or coffee shop in a strange town.  Twice in Tennessee and Kentucky we WON.  Pigeon Forge, TN was our goal for a coffee shop stop.  Espresso Yourself won big time!  Then we chose The Abbey in London, KY for dinner.  It was a delight.  Delicious food and British decor to celebrate London and The Beatles.  I am always thankful for the culinary adventures, too.

And now we're home again, home again, jiggity jig.