In Honour Of

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Eleanor Elizabeth Goes To Hogwarts

For all of you who plan to see HBP on opening night.

Maybe you'll see Eleanor Elizabeth-

on Platform 9 3/4.

Friday Fave Five

Coming up on Friday again! I have spent some time again this week, thinking about what good things have happened since last Friday, and have chosen my Fave Five. If you want to join in or read more Fave Fives, go to Living To Tell The Story.

1. I am loving summer! Quiet mornings with no rushing to jump in the car and get to work on time. A sense of slow rhythm in my days-knitting, reading, gardening, sharing quality time with friends. In fact, it has been such a laid back week, the only photos I've taken are the ones of the fiber and yarn in the previous post. That's laid back, for sure!

2. July 4th. Dinner with friends. Eating holiday food on their patio. Thankful for the safety and stability of our country.

3. Sunday morning coffee with Blueberry Lady and her Blueberry Farmer.

4. A pleasant morning spent with a relatively new friend, spinning at her house.

5. Son #2 came for Sunday night dinner-barbequed salmon and corn on the cob (fresh from the Saturday Farmers Market).

6. I have to add one more! Getting our phone service and internet back after a day without. A technology free day was good, but I'm glad it didn't last longer than that.

A truly wonderful low key week! How was yours?

Out of Fiber

Fiber optics, that is. Yesterday morning, road construction workers about 2 miles from Willow's Cottage cut through 1,000 feet of main fiber optic cable, causing a loss of phone, internet and cell phone service in a large part of our county. Instead of cruising around on the net, I painted patio furniture (wow, that's a long slow job) and spun up some more of the superwash wool I purchased at the Knit and Crochet Show in Portland in May. Sometimes, it's not so bad to be deprived of instant access to the universe.

Independence

Happy Independence Day!

July 4th, 2009

When they put their signatures on 'the line', the signers of the American Declaration of Independence did not know whether they were actually signing their death notices or an historic document that would change the course of Old and New World history. We know, and we thank them today for their courage, their audacity, their determination.

Celebrate thoughtfully.

Friday Fave Five

Welcome to another one!

Every Friday Susanne at Living To Tell The Story hosts anyone who wants to share the good things of his/her week for Friday's Fave Five.

My faves this week are:

1. The Professor had a birthday. We celebrated quietly, which was his request. He shares his birthday with my mother, so we always smile and remember her, too.

2. An episode involving a cell phone and The New Boy made my week. It seems that THB has learned how to use his mama's cell phone to call his grandpa. This week, I answered The Professor's cell because he was driving and heard squealing and giggling. It took only a quick glance at the incoming number to realize, 'Ah, it's TNB again.' He has been able to manipulate the keys on the phone for a couple of months, but until this week it seemed that his calls were random. Now, hmmm. We think he knows he's calling Grandpa and is trying to respond to the voice he hears coming from this fantastic toy he finds in Mama's handbag.

3. The Professor and I drove to Solvang, a Danish town north of Santa Barbara. We had an errand at Village Spinning and Weave Shop, the mecca of all spinners and weavers in Southern California.

After picking out our (um, MY) purchases and stowing them in the car, we strolled around Solvang, had lunch and poked our heads in to various shops.

4. Through all the years I have been visiting Solvang, I have always stopped in to Thumbelina Needlework to gaze at the beautiful Danish cross stitch patterns. Today we stepped in to that wonderful little shop and reminisced about all the items I've purchased-- the thimbles, scissors, skeins of thread, aida cloth.

I have always loved Carl Larsson's paintings and Thumbelina has carried the cross stitch patterns of his work. The clerk (I suspect he is the owner) graciously offered to let me photograph my favorite (which was covered in protective plastic). Some day I'd love to stitch this picture.

5. We spent a few minutes wandering through the grounds and gardens of Old Mission Santa Ines. Having been founded in 1804 (the year Lewis and Clark arrived at the Pacific Ocean 900 miles to the north), Santa Ines was one of the last missions opened in the Spanish territory of Alta California. This mission is still an active church with a lovely little chapel. I plan to post more photos of the gardens and cemetery next week.

That was my week in faves. What was your fave this week? You can share at Living To Tell The Story.

Last of June/First of July

It's July 1st and June Gloom is still here. The weather hasn't looked at the calender yet.

Even the jacaranda trees are blooming late.

I love walking across the grass strewn with spent purple blossoms.

Friday Fave Five, First Week of Summer

Friday Fave Five, MidSummer Plus Four Days

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five!

1. Definitely, my big fave for this week was the time we spent in the Beach Cities of Los Angeles where we were house-and-kitty sitting. (Yes, I know I mentioned this last week, but the time covered both weeks, and I enjoyed it so very much.)

We provide this blessing to our friends two or three times a year and they in turn bless us with an excuse to 'get away'and relax.

(Please 'scuse the blatant product placement)

We watched all the episodes of Firefly, read books, took long beach walks, ate out at least once a day. Loved it! (If you want some visual evidence, you can scroll down to the previous posts.)

2. Our housesitting coincided with a visit with a former coworker who is now married and has a son. We spent a couple of hours just catching up and enjoying this new little boy.

Posted with permission from his mama

3. Father's Day spent with Son#2. Hmmmm, no photos of lunch at Rocky Cola's, or Friday night dinner at The Veggie Grill.

4. As fun as it is to be 'out of town', it is always good to come home. I've been decluttering and organizing here at Willow's Cottage. A friend came on Wednesday morning to provide encouragement for the organizing part. I'll be doing that for her next Monday. I am also being the second pair of hands at another person's Decluttering Decathalon. I really do enjoy cleaning out and organizing. Weird, I know.

5. Slow mornings. I truly appreciate my summer break from school. I can sit and sip my latte (made by The Professor), read the local paper, check my email and blog, and NOT race out the door to school.

What have you enjoyed this week?

Join Susanne at Living To Tell The Story and others who want to share their Fave Fives.