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"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.
![photo 969154_10100265264136289_1026742696_n_zpsbabc474f.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/MarieAlice/Family%20pictures/969154_10100265264136289_1026742696_n_zpsbabc474f.jpg)
Pirates in the family. This is our Bruce with his partner Sara and their Baxter, dressed for a birthday party for one of the nephews. Just for fun I went to a pirate name generator. Sara's pirate name is Mae "Toothy Grin" "The Plunderer of Lion Bay!" Bruces's was George"Silver Tooth" Scoby "The Soul of Jewel Creek!" I don't know what any of that has to do with their real names! But I thought it would be fun. I did not try to Piratize Baxter!
![photo 1003299_10100206133020519_2036216028_n_zpsf1199fab.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/MarieAlice/Family%20pictures/1003299_10100206133020519_2036216028_n_zpsf1199fab.jpg)
I think Baxter is one of the cutest dogs, next to Mitzie of course! (She's cuter, but then again I am a tad bit biased!) He is a Daschund/Terrier cross, which means he has the longish body of the Daschund and the hair of a terrier. A very cute mix I think.
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What do you think??? It would be pretty hard not to love that little face.
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This photograph of the Duke and Duchesse of Cambridge with wee Prince George made my heart melt. I hope that my parents looked at me with that kind of love in their faces when I was a baby. I think it is just precious.
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Small peanuts to some, but pretty large to me. This fabulous machine is my pride and joy at the moment! I really am such a lucky woman. I won that yellow Kitchen Aid Blender from Sainsbury's Magazine back when I was living down in Brenchley, last year I won a National Award from the British Turkey Association, this year this lovely machine from Gourmandize UK/Ireland . . . what's next??? The lottery??? I dunno. I already think I'm a pretty lucky woman. Lovely husband and family, fairly decent health, the Gospel in my life, all of you . . . what more could anyone possibly want or have! My cup runneth over!
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I think "Uncle Bruce" is all of the grandkids' favourite Uncle. They all seem to love spending time with him and he seems to love spending time with them.
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I noticed when I was home that Maryn particularly was very fond of him. That is so nice. I did not have an Uncle like that when I was a child. I think he will be a great father.
All of my son's are great fathers. It is a wonderful reward as a parent yourself, to see your own children grow up and be good parents. It makes you feel that, despite all the wrongs you may have committed . . . you must have done some things right!
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In my heart I always wanted to be this grandmother. The one that the grandchildren came to and wanted to do things with and cuddle with. Reality has meant that I am forced to live quite far away from my grandbabies, and that was my choice . . . I know that. It wasn't supposed to be forever, only for a couple of years, but life has a way of getting in the way of the way you would like things to be. Instead I have to be this kind of grandmother in my heart and try to make up for the time and distance apart in other ways. I have spent the weekend, crocheting and glittering and cutting and gluing and writing, and little bits of my heart have been spread through it all. I hope that my grandbabies will be able to feel of that love in some way.
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Warm socks on a cold day. I got to get me some. Mine are all thirteen years old and the ones I brought over here with me when I first arrived to live here in the UK on October 31st 2000. It is hard to believe that thirteen years have gone by already. I hope the next thirteen years don't pass by as quickly as these did!
A thought to carry with you through today . . .
When you get older, you realize
it's a lot less about your place in the world
but your place in you.
It's not how everyone views you,
but how you view yourself."
~Natalie Portman
![photo SAM_1564_zps9f52e96f.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/MarieAlice/A%20A%20A%20Amazing%20English%20Kitchen/SAM_1564_zps9f52e96f.jpg)
Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . . a delicious Pear and Apple Spice Cake!
Have a fabulous Monday. May it be filled with lots of small and wonderful things!
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