The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

FOR TODAY, May 26th, 2020

Outside my window ...

Its cool but sunny and promises to be another beautifully warm day in the offing. We certainly have been blessed with the weather over these past weeks.

I am thinking ...

I hate the media and the way they grab hold of something and then bang on about it forever and forever. Dominic Cummings was a bad boy and did something stupid he shouldn't have done. Just like many others during lockdown he broke the rules. Yes, he should have known better as he is a polititian. He doesn't deserve to lose his job for it. He has apologised, explained himself, etc. Leave him alone. Surely there are more important things to be talking about.

I am thankful for ...

Three children who communicate with me frequently. They are all safe. They are all healthy as are their families. I am blessed. I am thankful also for the health of the two who don't communicate and their families. All any mother wants is for her children to be safe, healthy and happy. The end.

In the kitchen ...  

 
 

Baked Blueberry & Lemon Sheetpan Pancake.  Deliciously simple. 

On my "to Cook" list ... 

   

My Mind Patch.  Japanese Milk Bread.  I am intrigued. 

Good to know ...  

  

I have always had  a difficult time saying no to anyone. 

I am creating ...  

  

 

Purl Soho.  Simple Quilted Blankets Tutorial. 

   

The Creative Pathologist. Minky  Flannel Baby Blanket. Excellent tutorial. 

   

The Happy Hour. RicRac Blanket.  

   

The Creative Juices of Ariel.  Burp Cloths.  Nice.  

   

Free Patterns for Scrub Hats.  Hummingbird Classic Scrub Cap.  

I am reading ...  

 

The Gown, by Jennifer Robson. 

The Gown is an enthralling historical novel about one of the most famous wedding dresses of the twentieth century - Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown - and the fascinating women who made it.

 London, 1947: Besieged by a harsh winter, burdened by shortages and rationing, the people of post-war Britain are suffering despite their nation's recent victory. For Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell, a glimmer of brightness comes in the form of their unlikely friendship and being chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime honour: taking part in the creation of Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown.

Toronto, 2016: Heather Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a legacy from her late grandmother. How did her beloved nan, who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years before? And what was her nan's connection to the celebrated textile artist and Holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?

With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created to tell a story of women whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love. 

 Dreaming of ...  

 

(source)  

Toadstool embroideries  . . . 

 

(source)  

 

Pintucks and lace  . . . 

 

(source)  

Lamps in crinolines  . . . 

 

(source)  

Milk in glass bottles  . . . 

 

(source)  

Ceramic cups with flowers pressed into them  . . .



Something to watch ... 

 

Defending Jacob  . . . Apple TV

A thought to carry with you ... 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *In any given moment
we have two options:
To step forward into growth
or to step back into safety.
~Abraham Maslow •。★★ 。* 。
 

Corners of my kingdom ... 

 

It was an ideal spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, which set an edge to a man’s energy.“ ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Ribblesdale, one of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in England. 

And that's my daybook for this week!



  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆
  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 



✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.• ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥
░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░  

Have a beautiful day! Be safe and don't forget!   

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════     

And I do too!     

 

Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

 

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard  

  A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life.   It's the small things in life which truly mean the most.  Simple abundance . . . it's the best.   

 

 

 

  

Our roses are all blooming now. In just a few weeks the garden will be at its best.  Of course the roses stay blooming all summer and well into the autumn and sometimes winter..  Roses in the late Spring are such a beautiful gift.  

  

I love our oriental poppies.  I have been watching them get ready for this since about February when they first pop out of the ground and now they are exploding into bloom. They don't last for long but while they do, they put on a beautiful show!  

 

Otherwise known as Summer Bells.  Its in bloom right now as well and the bees just love it.  I thought they had died because I never saw them last year at all, but this year they came back up.  Yay!! 

 

Our strawberry plants are loaded to the hilt with blooms, which are keeping the bees ultra happy. I think we will have a bumper crop this year if we can only keep the slugs at bay! 

 

Things have settled and we now seem to be getting a regular grocery spot.  Yay!  Cross that worry off  my list.  I even managed to get some flour with my last order . . .  I had to laugh when it arrived however. I need to look closer at the description.  It was quite a small package. I think it may have 3 1/2 cups in it, so it won't last long.  But I am still grateful! 

 

These two sweet Missionary Sisters who are serving in Chester Ward at the moment. This is Sister Bouwhuis from American and Sister Torres from Portugal.  Although at the moment they are not allowed to leave their apartment to do their missionary work, they stay very busy and are always sharing spiritual thoughts and messages with us via the internet. They are also able to teach investigator friends via the internet.  Modern technology is just wonderful and the Missionary Work continues to move forward.  Last night they did a short half hour devotional on Facebook that we really enjoyed.  Plus they have been giving great suggestions each week as to what we can watch/listen to during our at home church meetings.  Suggestions for talks and hymns that are theme related.  This has been a great blessing to us and our Sundays are just as spirit filled as ever. 

Modern technology has also meant that we have been able to enjoy Ward Activities such as Quiz nights and the like. Todd was able to get the first part of his Temple Recommend Interviews done, etc. We are so blessed to live at a time when this is not a problem.  Next Sunday at 3 PM our Ward is having an online Zoom Devotional as well which I am really looking forward to.  It will be great! 

 

 We have had a few over these past weeks, mostly from Ariana and Jose and Grace, but also from a few others.  They have meant the world to us.   

  

A next door neighbour who has kept us supplied with bread and milk all through this lock down.  She doesn't ask, her son just shows up with it. And she won't take any payment for it.  I bake for her in return.  Because I want to thank her and to show my appreciation.

  

A son who facetimes me every week without fail.  This week he played his guitar for me.  I also got to talk to the boys and the guinea pigs.  this means the world to me. 

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Our lives are filled with small and special moments that are beyond counting. We are truly blessed.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *The little cares that fretted me . . . 

I lost them yesterday 

out in the fields with God.•。★★ 。* 。

 

In the English Kitchen today, a taste of spring . . .  Balsamic Roasted New Potatoes & Asparagus.  Very good. 

Have a great Monday.  I hope your week ahead is filled to overflowing with small and wonderful blessing.  Don't forget! 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════     

And I do too!     Stay safe!  

 

A Closed Hand . . .

 

(source)

“A closed hand cannot receive.” ~unknown 

 I saw this phrase recently and it got me to thinking about how very true it was. Have you ever sat and thought about the many things you cannot do if your hand is closed? 

You can’t shake hands with the people you meet, or wave a friendly greeting to someone you haven’t seen in a while, or even wave goodbye. 

 

(source)

You can’t pat a child on the head or place a loving hand on the shoulder of someone who is feeling especially discouraged to let them know that you care. You can’t stroke a beloved pet or a lover’s cheek. You can’t turn the pages of a book or play a musical instrument.   

 

(source) 

You can’t pick a flower and raise it to your nose so that you can smell it’s beautiful fragrance. You can’t plant a seed into the ground and watch it grow. You can’t write a book or a letter or a poem. You can’t bake a cake or cookies or bread. You can’t cure disease, bandage a cut, fix a broken bone, or operate to help someone get better. 

 

(source)

You can’t scrub a floor, or wash a dish or make a bed. You can’t weed a garden and smell that wonderful smell from the earth that only comes from getting your hands in the dirt and moving it around. You can’t stir a pot, or flip an egg, or even pat a cake. 

 

(source)

You can’t paint a picture, or knit or sew. You can’t hold someone close and feel their heart beating beneath your fingertips, or brush the hair from their eyes. You can’t hold the hands of someone who is sad, or lonely, or distraught, who needs a friend. 

  

(source) 

You can’t hold the hand of a lover or a child, or a friend. You can’t raise your hands to heaven and give thanks for open hands and all the joy that comes into our lives and the lives of others through them  . . . . 

Today I give thanks for hands that are free to open and do so willingly.

 

(source)  

Brrr . . . its very chilly out there this morning and dark clouds are rolling across the sky at the speed of light. Not quite as windy as it was the day before, but still windy and that wind has a distinct chill in it.  Its probably a good thing however as this is a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK and  if the weather is not so good it might keep people home and safe, rather than risking driving to places they shouldn't be driving to.  It baffles my mind that people are so disrespective of the rules for keeping us all safe and think nothing of putting others at risk.  

 

 

 

Of course some of the rules are relaxing a bit now, but personally  . . .  I think it is all a bit too soon. I know our Government wants to kick start the economy back into place, but I can't help but wonder at what cost?  It remains to be seen.  With four countries in the United Kingdom, all espousing different "rules" for dealing with the virus, there is a lot of confusion as to what should be and what is happening.  

I think we are all having to deal with a "new normal" here. This virus  will be with us for a very long time.  Personally, I would  not be comfortable sending my children back to school on June 1st and if I could possibly work from home that is the choice I would be making. I know not everyone has that choice.  People need to work, and some need to go out to work  . . .  and they need to have somewhere for their children to be while they are doing that.   I am just grateful that those are not choices I have to make myself. 

There is so much unknown about this virus and its long term implications.  Every decision that is being  made at the present is largely based upon "Guesswork". I am not sure I want to place my own life on the line based on "Guesswork," and I pray for those who must. 

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *The world is full of magic things

patiently waiting for our

senses to grow sharper.

~W. B. Yeats •。★★ 。* 

 

In the English Kitchen today  . . .  Bran & Fruit Breakfast Bread.  With no fat in the recipe and no eggs, this lovely quick bread is filled with dried apricots and raisins.  Its beautiful toasted and spread with cold butter.  

I hope that you have a lovely day whatever you get up to.  Don't forget . . . 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════  

 

And I do too!