Monday 25 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.

 

Can you hear that?  That faint tinkle?   Its the bluebells  . . .  tis bluebell season and the woodlands are carpeted with them.  They're so beautiful.  I had never seen a bluebell until I moved over here to the UK and now they have stolen my heart.

 

Look at that face.  So sweet.  That's Lucy-belle . . . one of my grand-doggies.  I love seeing photos of her and the Bax . . .

 photo 934727_10100775922388059_4802969739856272605_n_zpsmnggon5n.jpg

I am a dog person, through and through . . .

 photo SAM_4243_zps29886f52.jpg

Unconditionally loving . . .  man's best friend.  Loyal and faithful.  Wouldn't be without one now.

Oh, I do love our Mitzie-poo.

  photo SAM_1513_zpsf177834d.jpg

Sunday evening omelette suppers . . .  they have become somewhat of a tradition.   With good fresh eggs, cheese and whatever else I happen to have to throw in.  Simple and sustaining.   I don't have time on Sundays to cook a full on roast dinner or anything of that ilk . . .  but omelettes seem to have become a tradition of late.  Quick.  Easy.  Delicious.

 

Plum tree blossom . . .  such promise of things to come. I hope we actually get more than a few plums this year.  When we were down south there were Plum trees on the Estate.



We were blessed with tons of them each year.  Great for jams and cakes and tarts . . .  and cake tarts . . .

 

La Recette . . . Cardamom Scented Plum Cake

 

Our lesson in Relief Society yesterday was based on the talk President Monson gave us in the last conference on Choices.   It was a very short talk actually, only a few minutes.  I was cognizant of the fact during conference while I was watching it that we may not get to hear our dear beloved Prophet speak too many more times.  What he said really stuck with me and so I was really pleased that our lesson yesterday was based on it.  Our lives are filled with choices, beginning with the choice we make to get out of bed each morning.  We make right and correct choices and sometimes we make very poor choices . . . thankfully, even in those instances  . . . . there is a way back.

I was reminded by another conference talk by another great speaker . . .

“If, in the end, you have not chosen Jesus Christ it will not matter what you have chosen.”
~Neal A Maxwell 

As members of the church we are so blessed to have this wealth of information and inspiration to help guide us through the concourse of life.


 photo DSCN5743_zpsynahmrkl.jpg

The inspiration of food television and the knowledge that I live in a country where, even if you are very poor, you have choice.  We think we are hard off  . . .  but we have so much more than many, many people in the world.  If you live in a house, with heat and with lights, with food in the refrigerator, a bed to sleep in,  a roof over your head, etc. . . . you are truly amongst the blessed of this world.   We have a tendancy to take these things for granted until we lose them.   May I never take any of these blessings for granted.  I have enough.  Having enough is truly a blessing.  The media would try to make us believe always that we NEED more, but we don't.

 

The Queen.  I love her.   I am a Royalist.  We watched a lovely program abour her at the weekend, filled with private home movies that we both really enjoyed watching.  She truly is a special woman.   And I know she has lived a great life of priviledge, but the great thing is that she also knows this.  She has given her whole life in service to this country.  I really admire and respect her.

 photo 887b1874443fbff61ac60f3af2ac46ab_zpss3z9lk3t.jpg

Life . . .  is  . . .  good.

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
"Remember that the Lord 
will shape the back 
to bear the burden placed upon it." 
~Thomas S Monson
 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Spiritual Enlightenment

 photo SAM_5656_zpsdyrhq2xv.jpg

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  a good old fashioned Jelly Roll.


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!



13 comments:

  1. I am a royalist too. I think our crazy governments are only tempered by the fact we operate under the British system. Yes, our queen, has had a life of privilege but in return she has given the countries of the commonwealth so very much. A truly unique lady and I am inspired by her.

    Today has been quiet. Will went to march and assist with the older Anzacs today. He loves it and insists he will never work on ANZAC Day. He looks forward to catching up with his old mates year by year. Today the television has been on and I have seen bits and pieces of the services.

    God bless your day and collect a doggy hug from me. Cats are the choice here for practical reasons and neither of our cats are the cuddly type.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree Suzan, the Queen has given all of the commonwealth countries all of herself. I truly admire her. God bless your day also! Doggie cuddles are the best! I don't think a dog has it in it to be aloof! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. We do have moe than most countries in the world and often take it all for granted. I've learned to be very thankful for what I do have. Hope this new week is a good one for you. Happy Monday !

    ReplyDelete
  4. A wonderful feeling to be content..
    the best..!It kind of encomapsses everyhting..and if you feel content..all is good.:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your Queen too...
    And I am all across the pond here in little Pennsylvania!
    I have followed her life since I awoke in the middle of the night to watch the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and his beautiful bride Lady Diana Spencer all those years ago. I remember my mom waking us and gathering us on her big bed and we were captivated at once.
    Thank you for sharing the beauty in your life this morning!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Billy Jo you have brought back a memory or two. The best one was that when Andrew married Sarah we had a wedding party. Someone even came dressed as a bride. It always is on at a reasonable hour in Australia. Then after the wedding on TV we had wedding cake, high tea, champers and a grand old time. I think a few sore heads went to work the next day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I hope you have a great week as well Pam! Like you, I am eternally grateful for my blessings! xoxo

    To be content is the best Monique, and I am grateful for that, always have been! Even when I shouldn't have been! Those plums were down south! I miss those plums! xoxo

    Billie Jo, I got up in the middle of the night to watch that also. I was living in Canada then and it was so special! My middle son and William are the same age! The Royals bring a fortune in tourism money into this country! They really earn their keep in so very many ways! xoxo

    Lovely memories Suzan! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is my first visit here. I love and respect the Queen too, and had not heard the term "Royalist" before (living here in California), but I claim the term now. Your photos are so clear, I like the close ups.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Welcome Terra! Thanks so much for your kind words! Xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Terra, I just realised that I have your Christmas book! It's a treasure!

    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!