Welcome to Friday’s Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, in which we can share five of our favorite things from the last week. This has been a wonderful exercise in looking for and appreciating the good things God blesses us with. Click on the button to learn more, then go to Susanne’s to read others’ faves and link up your own.
It has been a super-busy week! Here are some of the highlights:
1. Cookies, cookies, everywhere. Jesse’s school lets the seniors sell baked goods at lunch time to fundraise for their senior trip. This year’s seniors have already gone on their trip, so now the juniors can get a head start on next year. The way they do it is that each one who wants to participate signs up to bring baked goods for an entire week — and this was our week. I’ve made double or triple batches of seven different kinds of cookies this week. Even that was less than I thought I’d have to do — the band was away for a competition a few days, which cut into his sales a bit, so he had leftovers to bring back some days. Of course the family has enjoyed a few of the extras, but I don’t want to have to make any more cookies for a while now.
2. Dogwoods after all. I feel like such a ninny — I said last week I was enjoying seeing the dogwoods in bloom around town but missed having some in our yard. Then what did I discover in my back yard this week:
I’m afraid I don’t recognize them when they’re dormant or leafy, just when they’re blooming. 😳 But I was glad to see that that’s what those trees are! They’re fairly small yet — just about 6-8 feet. So it will be nice to watch them grow.
3. Good AC with a vent right by the oven. I feel bad mentioning AC when some of you still have snow, but we’ve needed it this week. Having a vent right by the stove really helped as much as I had the oven on this week.
4. Plenty of counter space. The kitchen was one of the things I loved about this house, and when three of us were in there getting a meal ready this past weekend, I was so glad there was room to do so comfortably. That was impossible in our last house! And then when making cookies, I used to have to leave them on the table to cool, but now there is enough counter space to keep everything in the kitchen.
5. This tree, which I think my husband said was a Japanese Maple, is placed so that it gives us privacy in front of the house, plus I like the way the window on the door frames it. It’s fairly small as well now.
I’m also glad for antibiotics. My husband has a monster ear infection with what the doctor called a virulent bacteria and missed two days of work earlier in the week. His ear is still painful and swollen a bit, but it’s much better than it was and he’s feeling closer to normal than he was.
We had to get up early last Saturday to get Jesse to his ACT test, so I am really looking forward to getting to sleep in and not having any obligations tomorrow.
Happy weekend!
Stray Thoughts 
Congratulations on successfully having baked a gazillion cookies in your spacious kitchen and for discovering that you do have sweetly blooming dogwoods in your own backyard. Wonderful week of lovely things to see and and enjoy. And I’m so glad your husband got the antibiotics he needed!
Sounds like a lot of cookies! I hope you get some catch-up rest this weekend!
Seven different batches of cookies in one week – I’d fall over! I can see why you’re thankful for an a/c vent near the stove!
I love your front door photo, framing the Japanese maple! That is awesome.
Lovely simple joys. Dogwoods are worth at least two “likes”!
Have you ever tried garlic drops for ear infection? They work well!
Our trees are just starting to get leaves here and nothing has really bloomed yet. Your picture of the dogwoods is just beautiful. I’m impatiently waiting for all of the beautiful blossoms.
Hope your husband is feeling better!
Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
That’s a lot of cookies! Love your dogwoods. How nice to have them in your own backyard. I love the tree framed in your door too. What a wonderful view.
We used to have a Japanese Maple, and I loved it. And those baby dogwoods are lovely. I especially like the pink ones.
Wow, that is a LOT Of cookies. I’ll bet you’ve had your fill for awhile.
Hope you have a great week ahead, Barbara.
The maple tree and the dogwoods are so pretty!
I know what you mean about counter space. We have plenty, but I still manage to clutter it. LOL Not long ago I bought a triple-decker cooling rack, which not only saves space but also keeps the cookies (cake, etc.) away from the surface for better air circulation (and no condensation).
ok, I won’t complain about the double batch of cookies I’m making for Grace’s Missionette’s camp fund-raising!
What a nice surprise on the dogwood trees, and a beautiful view from your front door!
That tree is gorgous!!!!!!!!!
Wow, you’re supermom to have made all those cookies! Yay for finding dogwood trees in your yard! What an unexpected blessing. Enjoy your extra rest in the morning.
great list of faves/blessings…yay for being able to sleep in! enjoy the weekend….
How did your hubby get a virulent bacteria in his ear? Tell me it wasn’t using his keys to clean them!
It’s snowing as I type, so yes, you should definitely feel bad for mentioning air conditioning. ;v)
I love Japanese maples. So beautiful and I love how your door frames it. The dogwoods are lovely too and I love your new header with them.
That is a lot of cookies. Don’t know if I would have had such a good attitude about making all of them. Glad to hear your hubby is feeling better. Ear pain is no fun.