Hello, July!

 The First Friday in July!  We are now into the second half of 2021.  Here's to health and recovery. [joke inserted:  The Professor commented that he knows that the covid pandemic is truly over-- because Costco's food court is open!]  This was Willow's Week in Friday Fave Fives hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

1.  The New Boy fell last Friday and broke his wrist.  We got the call to pick him up*, but Auntie was able to get there first and brought him to our house after a visit to the ER.  The good news is that his visit to the orthopedist on Monday confirmed that he has a radial fracture (not the worst kind of break), so he is wearing a velcro brace not a cast.  *he is a leader-in-training at the local YMCA camp.

2.  Our weather has been HOT and HUMID.  I am thankful for air conditioning!  Thank you, Willis Carrier!

3.  The Professor and I decided one morning to take a hike before the weather really heated up.  We chose a shady part of the TJ Evans trail that runs along the river.  Well, it was still very hot and muggy and we definitely were sweaty by the time we left the parking lot.  However, we persisted for 3.5 miles.  And we found a hidden trail which we followed for 1/4 mile.  We'll be back later to continue exploring!

4.  After those hot, hot, hot days, we have had a bit of cooling down, which here evidently means rain and thunderstorms.  As I was pulling in to my driveway during one of the downpours, it popped into my head how thankful I am that we have a new sturdy (and hopefully waterproof) roof on our home.

5. The flowers on the south side (sunny side!) of our house are blooming.  And they are attracting bumblebees and honey bees.  I'm always thankful for my garden.

Bonus #1:  Happy Birthday to my favorite brother! (although he doesn't read my blog...)

Bonus #2:  If you enjoy pictures of old barns, come back in the next day or so as I will be posting photos from our road trip through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa farm country.

Plays, Books, Coffee

 Good morning.  Are you roasting, sweating and burning in the heat wave crossing much of the northern hemisphere this first Friday of summer?  Please be careful and drink lots of water.  Put ice and cool cloths on the insides of your wrists.  Place a bucket of ice in front of a fan to cool down a room.

OK, that was your public service announcement.  On to FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.  Here's Willow's Week.

1.  Shakespeare in the Park.  We love watching Shakespeare plays, and every summer there are performances in a park in the capital city.  Sunday night, we packed a picnic and drove in to watch Much Ado about Nothing.  So much fun!  Even the grands loved it.

2.  New fences!  The fence at our daughter's home is showing its age.  Since she has a dog, she needs a good strong fence (although sweet Shep wouldn't try to break out).  AND we wanted a fence around our back yard, mostly to keep the deer and bunnies out.  So, after waiting weeks and weeks for our materials to arrive, finally, we have fences!  Those hard working fence builders did all of our daughter's fence and almost all of our fence in ONE DAY.  I'm thankful for our new fencing and for hard workers.

The big question:  will the fence keep the deer out?

3.  I was texting with my friend and she commented that three goods in life are :  good book, good coffee, and good chair.  I think that each is good, but all three together are great.  

4.  Speaking of coffee-- we had a coffee date with our CA friends at another new to us coffee shop.  These coffee dates are so much fun.  This shop is on a canal--great location, too!

5.  Oh, and books!  At the local library, I found an Elizabeth Goudge book I had never read.  Yay!  I love Goudge's books.  This one, The White Witch, is keeping me in suspense because it is set during the English Civil War period.  I love the historical references, too.

Bonus:  if you want to read my post about the Fairy Trail, here is the link:  The Fairy Trail. 

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.