Friendship ~ The Ladies in Ojai 2012

Of all the things which provides to make life entirely happy,

much the greatest is the possession of friendship.

~Epicurus

341BC- 270BC

Sometimes we have an over-abundance of blessings in a particular area of our lives. For me, it's my friends. Friendship takes everything you hear about ... time, love, compassion, listening, gentle honesty, sometimes patience, humility, optimism, gratitude and the ability to spot awesome people and invest time and love in them. You have to be open to it, but I do think part of it is choosing wisely. Listen to what people say, are they sensitive? Do they have integrity? Are they kind?

I have newer friends and I have old friends. Some I have known since I was a little girl and some since high school. The old high school gang tries to get together as often as possible for a "girls weekend." Sometimes it takes awhile to get everyone in the same place, at the same time, but after a year and 3 months, we pulled it off.

The ladies came to Ojai while I was housesitting, and here is a bit of what we were up to.

After a Friday night of making and eating Italian food and enjoying our Italian beverages (Prosecco, Vino and Limoncello!) we got up Saturday and headed for the hills. (literally) I decided to take them for a walk back at the Ventura River Preserve ...

Ojai January 2012

With every true friendship,

we build more firmly the foundations

on which the peace of the whole world rests.

~Mahatma Gandhi

Later we packed a picnic and headed to the Old Creek Ranch Winery for tasting and a bit of dining al fresco!

To know someone with whom you can feel there is understanding,

in spite of distances or thoughts expressed,

that can make life a garden.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Barbera was my favorite! (We bought a bottle for our picnic.)

Another winery, Vino V gives tastings there as well, and they are very tasty too!!! The Syrah was gorgeous! (Ended up with a bottle of that for the picnic, as well.)

They also had some lovely whites ...

Wineries usually have some fun gift items but I managed to stay out of trouble. Loved the vintage linens though!

We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed.

As in filling a vessel drop by drop,

there is at last a drop which makes it run over,

so in a series of kindnesses there is at last

one which makes the heart run over.

~Samuel Johnson

Treat your friends like you do your best pictures ...

place them in the best light.

~Unknown

The tastings were great, our picnic was wonderful (It happened to be the nicest day while I was up there housesitting!) but then we were on our dinner quest ... off to sushi at Hakane! It's become a tradition, when I think about it. I don't know if a sake bomb was the best idea but it was sure hilarious. We were all supposed to yell "Sake Bomb" 3 times and hit the table but our friend got so excited she hit the table on the first one and the sakes went flying. Bottoms up!

Cheers ladies!

Thanks for coming!

Love you!!!

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.

Some stay for a while and leave footprints in our hearts,

and we are never the same.

~Unknown

Don't forget to call your friends and let them know you love them!

Blessings and light!

All quotes from Spiritual Quotes to Live By