Thursday 6 April 2017

My favourite things . . .

 

These are a few of my favourite things . . . maybe you like them too.


Classic films.  Old movies that we enjoy revisiting time and time again.  Films like, yes . . .  Gone with the Wind. The Wizard of Oz.  Meet me in St Louis. Etc.  We were watching Mrs Miniver the other night and we both remarked on how good some of these older films are.  Sure sometimes they can be a bit corny, but we both love them.  That's another one of my favourite things, being able to enjoy these old films with my husband!



Classic Literature.   Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights, etc. You cannot beat the classics.   They never get old, proof being they have been immortalized again and again on film.  I have lost count of how many times through the years I have read these old novels. I never tire of them.  But there are modern classics I feel the same way about such as Emmeline by Judith Rossner.


Having friends over for lunch/dinner.  I love to feed people, I really do and through the years I have enjoyed entertaining many, many people in my home.  I think making a meal for people you care about is the ultimate. Its a gift you give both to them and to yourself.  We had our good friends Tina and Tony over yesterday and it was such a pleasant afternoon.  I did BBQ chicken, baked potatoes, swede, cauliflower cheese, and peas and carrots.  Plus there was bread rolls and a dessert.  The best part wasn't the food though, it was the company.  I know Todd also enjoys this.  He spent far too many years on his own.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to embroider his later years with things like this.


Picnics.  Especially picnics aux deux.  Why is it that food eaten out of doors tastes so much better than food eaten indoors, and if you call it a picnic, that automatically makes it even tastier.  We were organizing one of our sheds the other day and we have two nice picnic baskets, containing all of the accoutrements.  I vowed to use them more often this year, even if we only picnic at home some of the time.  Turning any meal into a picnic automatically doubles the flavour factor!



A good French Baguette . . .  thinly sliced and served with cold Danish butter, salt and French breakfast radishes . . .  sooooo good.  So simple.  We were introduced to this pleasure by a French couple we used to know down South. At first I thought it a bit strange, but I was hooked very quickly. If you have never tried it, you really should!


Hand-knit socks.  I love them  . . .


Nature walks.  That is something which both Todd and myself have always enjoyed. We used to go on a walk every day that the sun shone and sometimes in the drizzle.  In woods, across fields, down old railway paths, along the canal paths here in Chester, around the walls, along the River Dee . . .   Sadly, it is not something we are able to enjoy anymore because my arthritis makes it very difficult for me to go very far without being in pain.  I miss our walks, and I am sure Mitzie does too.



Rolling out pastry  . . .  I love the feel of the floured board as I pass my hands over it.  The same with the floured rolling pin.  I have a beechwood rolling pin and it feels lovely in my hands.  It's heavy and smooth . . .  I love turning the dough quarter turns and rolling the pin gently over it.  It is very soothing.  I love thinking about the pastry we are going to enjoy when its done. Pastry is another one of my favourite things  . . .


Long hair in braids.  Or plaits as they call them over here.  I wear my hair in a braid most of the time.  One long one down the back that I pull up and pin on my head like a roll or a bun.   I have always loved braids . . . 

  

Hanging out laundry to dry . . .  on sunny days, early in the morning.   There is a special feeling in the air while you are doing it.  I cannot put my finger on it.  I have always loved hanging out the laundry early in the morning.  I love the way it smells when it comes back in also.  You can smell the whole day on it, the sunshine, the breeze . . .  just beautiful.

And those are my favourite things for this week   . . .  what are some of yours?

A thought to carry with you  . . . 


.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *.˛.° ˛°. . Remember it is by divine design that not
all the voices in God's choir are  the same.
~Elder Jeffrey R Holland  .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •


 

 In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Italian Wedding Soup Supper Dish.  So delicious!

Have a fabulous Thursday.  Whatever you get up to, stay safe and don't forget  . . . 


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And I do too!



10 comments:

  1. Good morning Marie,

    I love the smell of washing freshly off the line. I still like to walk through wet sheets and towels after i hang them. It cools me down.

    today i made my first real patchwork square! I also held William's cat as he was put to sleep. He was so sick and I couldn't watch him deteriorate further. So one one of the small homespun squares I will embroider a little black cat.

    Lots of love and God bless.

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  2. Oh, I am so sorry to read about William's Cat Suzan. How very sad for you all. It is a lovely idea to embroider a little black cat on the quilt square though. How very thoughtful. Love and hugs to you and blessings too! xoxo

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  3. Thank you Marie. I felt I was heartless when I held him still and stayed calm while the deed was done. Twelve hours later I am now crying. We brought Toby home and Will came after work. He sat outside in the dark with his beloved cat for a long time and we have made plans for tomorrow. William has had such a rough five weeks or so.

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  4. My heart goes out to you all Suzan. (((hugs)))

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  5. Hmm..so many favorite things..I would be hard pressed to pick right now:) Have a beautiful day!

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  6. Living by myself I always enjoy company for dinner. Sometimes it's the TV that keeps me company other times it's a book. But people are the best kind of company for sure ! I'm going to check out your recipe now as I love Italian Wedding soup. Happy Thursday !

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  7. Don't like picnics because I don't like a cold numb bottom or ants in my sandwiches but I do like a picnic with civilised sun chairs and a small table under a tree!!! Anything with pastry is extra yummy. I made some spinach pies with filo pastry the other day, shop bought of course. Dont know why I bothered. My pastry is so much easier. I often make it just from flour, oil and water.

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  8. Yes, Marie, lovely Chester. Last time I visited it was to collect my daughter's wedding dress - 18 years ago! You're so lucky to live there, it was a treat I'm unlikely to repeat, as my back makes walking difficult.
    I can boast the most beautifully situated washing line in Wales - high above the lovely Glaslyn valley. One snag - if the wind blows too hard, the washing heads for the river!

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  9. I have never heard of French breakfast radishes.? But might be interesting..as for picnics I havnt been on a picnic for a very long time. Must make an effort this year to do just that, perhaps on a Monday when I don't have Pam...I need to find something to stop me looking for her car every Monday....hope Todd is feeling better now. When does he go back to hospital ?....our friends I think will have started their journey towards us about now, that's something to make us smile......take care, God Bless xxx

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  10. Thanks Monique, hope you also had a beautiful day. xoxo

    I hope you like the recipe Pam and that you are settling well into your new home! xoxo

    Your pies sound delicious Linda! Yum! I would never attempt to make my own filo! You brave woman! xoxo

    I can't walk around Chester anymore either Bunny. Arthritis is so debilitating! xoxo

    I hope you get to go on a picnic this year Sybil. I also hope that each day brings you comfort and that as time passes you will be able to find comfort in all of your happy memories of time spent with your dear friend. Love and hugs and blessings too! xoxo

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