Monday 4 April 2016

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.

 

These are the flowers that Todd bought for me the day after my colonoscopy just because.  (I hope I don't have to do this everytime I want a bouquet of flowers, lol!)  They are still going strong and looking beautiful on our dining room window sil.   They sure have lasted.  Much longer than any other flowers I have ever gotten.  Almost like a symbol of our unfaltering love and devotion for each other.  I like that thought.



I am almost finished my hot water bottle cover.    With any luck it will be finished by tomorrow. We shall see!  I really love the way it looks.  I might do another one in pink so that Todd and I each have our own covers.  We shall see.

 

Watching the sun rise each morning.   I have a grand view through the front window which lays to front of where the computer is.  It starts as a faint glimmer at first, rising above the rooftops of the terraced houses across the street from us  . . .  and before you know it the sky is coloured with light purples and greys . . .  sometimes oranges and roses . . .  and then quite simply . . .  it is day.

What a beautiful gift it is each morning.



The blackbird sings a beautiful song . . .  this is the soundtrack to go with the beautiful sunrise and I get to hear it each morning.  If you click on this link,  it will take you to a place where you can listen to what I am hearing each morning, then we can hear it together. (A lovely thought.  Don't worry, this window won't close.)  It's so beautiful. Another gift from God . . .  just like the sunrise.

 photo SAM_8913_zpsrwez7faw.jpg

Mitzie is always so beautiful and sleek and smelling nice when she comes back from the Groomers.  She was groomed on Friday and I have luxuriated in snuffling her ever since.  She is coming with us to Cornwall in May.  I am not sure if Audrey knows this yet or not.  Peter may not have told her yet.  Audrey is very afraid of animals.   She is used to cats now as they have two of them . . .  but she is always terrified when she comes over here and Mitzie greets her.  Peter feels she will get used to her by the end of having spent a week with her in Cornwall.  We'll see!  It will be interesting at any rate!

 photo meme-cook-storms-1709367-gallery_zpsmrta92ux.jpg

 Having the Chester Elders over to watch a session of Spring Conference with us yesterday.  We had invited some other people as well, but alas they couldn't make it.   I had made finger sandwiches and cake for us to all enjoy while we were watching.  Food for the tummy and food for the spirit.  The talks were all awesome.  Every one which I have watched or listened to so far has given me much food for thought and inspiration.  I am going to buy a scribbler today so that I can write down my thoughts and impressions of each one, and how I can apply them to my life.  That is one thing I always get from Conference, no matter what  . . .  the will and desire to become a better me.  This is never a bad thing.

 

Spring in England  . . .  it is my favourite of all the seasons.  Such hope and promise.  Such beauty.   I love it.

And that is my small and wonderful things for this week.

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
If we are not careful,
the things of the world,
can drown out
the things of the spirit.
~Mary Durham
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Spiritual Enlightenment 


 photo DSCN6248_zpsfvwajnzh.jpg

Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . .  Creamy Turkey and Broccoli Gnocchi!  Quite delish!

May your week ahead be filled with an abundance of small and wonderful things. Along the way don't forget . . .

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


 And I do too!


12 comments:

  1. Good morning Marie,

    I hope today goes very well for you. I am glad you enjoyed yesterday's session. I would love to sit and have afternoon tea with you. I shall dream of sandwich and cake.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We shall keep that dream in our dreams we will strive to make come true Suzan! How lovely it would be! Hope you have a great Monday! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like you I am blessed to have a window near the computer and can watch the sun rise each morning as I sit here and read blogs or prepare a new blog post of my own. It's how I spend each morning. I read my devotionals and the news on line too. Hope you have a great day. Happy Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I see Mr T:) has his pots all lined up and ready for action..isn't it lovely to be able to look out a window and see flowers?Or the sun rise? Or set?
    A view:)Room w/ a view.
    I hope you and Suze do meet soon:)

    I bet your are excited for Cornwall:) The Mr and Mrs hot water bottle plan sounds good..I agree the stripes are adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You and I sound like two peas in a pod Pam! I enjoy my quite time on my own in the mornings! xoxo

    Yes, the pots are waiting to be filled Monique! We have some plants which will come back, but we always repot some. Our geraniums have lasted a few years now. We put out sweet peas just a couple of days ago. They are my favourites! I think nature is so amazing that these things make it through the winter the way that they do! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. I forgot to tell you..last night was the first epi of CTM here..the Easter Bonnet/Susan story..in tears..the both of us.
    I told Jacques you said it would happen!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stock up on the tissues Monique because by the time the last episode rolls around you will need a whole bundle of them! Xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am so pleased that all went well yesterday when the elders came round, I sure bet they had a wonderful time....I agree with you about the early morning birdsong. I have been making a video the last few mornings of the dawn birds....I hadn't quite realised that I could video and it would pick up the sounds ! It has been lovely. My Masy had the groomer come on Friday, I am lucky she actually comes to the house and washes and trims her and like Mitzie she is so soft and gorgeous afterwards that you can't help but rub her and smell her, she is so soft she is like silk, we are both so lucky to have our wee pals aren't we ?....I hope that' all will go ok in Cornwall annd that your friend won't be really troubled by having Mitzie with her. I have just booked for Mary and I to go to Wemouth for four days from 13th June. That is a date that Lyn gave us when she can look after Masy, I am lucky to have Lyn. I don't think I could go on holiday without having her to look after our wee monkey !...night night God Bless xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Australian early morning bird song has the potential to be loud...especially if there are kookaburras around! my night ended around four am as Will hurt himself and is now in hospital. I am back with him and want to kick him out of his bed so I can snooze. He will be fine but needs surgery on his non dominant hand. He has a freakily unexpected accident because a board fell on his knife. The knife flew and cut through a join etc on his non dominant hand.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I was unable to listen to the video you sent me with the birdsong Sybil for some reason. I would have loved to however. You are lucky to have Lyn to look after Masy. We used to have a friend down South that would but we don't have anyone up here. I would never put Mitzie in a kennel. I Just never would. God bless you! xoxo

    Ouch about Will Suzan! They do say the kitchen is a dangerous place and a working kitchen is even more so. Hope the surgery goes without any complications! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Marie!

    I love, Blackbirds! I'm listening to their beautiful song as I am typing, thanks to you... :0)

    Conference was wonderful, I just love to listen, soak in the Spirit. It seems as I am watching that each talk was just for me. I hear so many people say the same thing, which makes me think we are all going through, and hoping for the same things in life.

    The Primroses are beautiful! I especially love the, Primrose fairy, as I just adore fairies! Your artwork reminds me of cute little fairies! What fun facts about them.

    On Sunday, I made your wonderful, Chicken Rarebits with Melting Leeks. It was wonderful! Oh my goodness, we have licked the pot clean! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes!

    Have a wonderful week!

    Hugs and Love,
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think the song of the blackbird is the most beautiful of all Barb! I haven't been able to watch all the talks yet, but I have gotten so much from each one watched so far. I am so happy you enjoyed the Chicken Rarebits with Melting Leeks! Doing the happy dance here. I love it when people try the things I cook and enjoy them! Yay! You have a wonderful week too! Hugs and love right back! xoxo

    ReplyDelete

Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!