Monday 26 June 2017

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.

 

Warm and sunny days.  (Not too warm though.) I love the longer days, shorter nights, dry and warm and filled with sunshine.  Somehow the world just seems to be a better place on a sunny day. Am I alone in feeling this way?   I dunno . . . 



A day at the seaside. Walking along the beachfront.  Ice creams on the pier. Children's laughter. Gulls crying. Punch and Judy. Donkey rides. Finding shells. Fish and chips. Sand castles. Rock candy and candy floss. Carousels.

Its all good.
...


Ice cold Lemonade.  Iced Tea. I make Iced Herbal Tea. Its all good! Someone recently gave me a recipe for Strawberry Lemonade Syrup, which sounds really good! Tis the season for enjoying these things!


Picnics in the park.  Its crowded. Its hot. Its filled with gaeity and noise. The very air is full of  a feeling of celebration.  I love it! Even if your picnic consists of nothing more than a shared store-bought sandwich and a tin of fizzy drink you picked up on the way.  Impromptu or planned. Its all good.


Fledglings. So fun to watch  . . .


Bumble bees.  We had three of them get in the house yesterday, or maybe it was the same one three times.   In any case we were able to get it out each time and nobody got hurt, not even the bee . . .


Butterflies.  We so seldom see them these days, but these have become frequent visitors to our garden whenever the temps climb. Peacock Butterflies.  I love them.


They are quite simply beautiful  . . .


As are the roses.  All of our roses are in full bloom. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they smell heavenly. I must remember to collect some petals. I want to make some rosewater this year.



The batchelor buttons, daisies and calendula . . .  also stunning in their simplicity. The garden in June/July/August just can't be beat for beauty . . .

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's Heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on Earth. 
~Dorothy Francis Gurney


Sunday nights with Poldark . . .  season 3 is now airing and we are enjoying it immensely.

We must visit Cornwall.
Its another area
of shocking
beauty
...


This Island is filled with them. I am so blessed to live here.

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The work continues.  Time to look for a new project methinks  . . . 

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My Sunday conversations with mum . . .  I love and cherish them. Her foot is really sore at the moment.  I think she said it was her left one. She had gotten my postcard from Scotland. I love my mom so much and miss her. I wish I could see her when we talk, but she hates modern technology . . . we were always very close.

My life is filled with abundance,
My cup overflows.
...

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.˛.° ˛°. . 
˛I love getting older, my understanding deepens.
I can see what connects.
I can weave stories of experience and apply them.
I can integrate the lessons.
Things simply become more & more fascinating.
Beauty reveals itself in thousands of forms.
~Victoria Ericson    .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

The older I get, the more true this becomes.




In the English Kitchen today . . .  Aspagarus & Courgette Rice.  Deliciously healthy.  Made with brown rice.


And even tastier with an egg on top.  This was supper yesterday and it was delicious.  Find the recipe HERE.

Have a great Monday/week. May it be filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things!  Don't forget along the way  . . .

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And I do too!


 

6 comments:

  1. Morning Marie from a bright sunny Box, hope it's the same with you, it's nice and warm ....not the suffocating heat we had last week...so I hope to sit out in a while. It is wonderful that you get to speak to mum every week, I am sorry she has a sore foot , is it an ulcer ? Older folks are quite prone to finding a small sore quickly developed into an ulcer.....Mary has arrived safely in Edinburgh hoping she is having it nice and sunny as well...TOday I am going to enjoy read a book...or two...That have been lying hidden in the bookcase, I found them when looking for something else !! You know that when Mary is here I don't feel right sitting here reading, she is the same if I am on this I pad etc...I suppose she thinks I'm not paying her attention !!...anyway much love flying it's way to you and Todd and Mitzie. God bless. Xx

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  2. Good morning Marie. We had a warm day. Definitely not as hot as summer. PIp and I went to an indoor pool to walk in the warmer water. PIp is suffering hip pain and for once she listened and off we went. She felt much better in a very short time. We stayed in the water for 45 minutes. By then Pip was white and cold. This pool is heated to about 22 so once you stop moving it is definitely not warm enough. As we walked out the pool and up the disabled ramp Pip pulled the funniest face as she felt the weight of the baby again. Later this evening we walked over 2 km trying to find a set of learner driver plates so she could drive us home. I keep having migraine auras.

    We also went to dinner with William and spontaneously invited his best friend to join us. That is always fun. WE enjoyed a new Turkish place. IT was full and had a fire powered oven. There was small boy there celebrating his birthday. I thought that night time was rather an odd time to celebrate a little one's day.

    God bless and keep you.

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  3. I have to try your scallop border today:) I am obsessed w/ crochet now:)
    Just the dishcloths/facecloths/lots of errors..still need a video to get started and end..

    weather has been so different here this summer so far..lots of clouds..intermittent rain..sun..everything possible..and lots of wind..

    love your flowers..butterflies..simple sweet summer things..top top loves.

    Boys have finished school..camp starts already today!

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  4. I'm with you - Life doses seem better on sunny days ! We have too many cloudy ones here and I am thankful for the sunny ones ! Hope you have a great start to this new week!

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  5. I love seeing flowers everywhere in the Spring and Summer! It's fun to pick flowers in my garden and bring the wonderful smells in my house.

    I also love to bbq and make all kinds of yummy salads for everyone. The best though is the dessert! Yum!
    One of my fav things to do is bbq a turkey and bring it over my parents house for grands and family to enjoy. I have alot of traffic by car and by foot in the neighborhood come by to see what smells so darn good. It makes everybody so hungry! Lol.

    The weather has been weird so far. Sometimes it's warm at night but not unbearable. Tonight it's abit chilly, about 50 degrees. My dogs ears were cold, he ran in the house and laid on his blanket. Lol.

    I also love that it doesn't get dark til 9 -9:30pm.
    I hope it's warmer in the UK Marie. Hugs!

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  6. Enjoy your holiday from Mary Sybil! lol I don't mean to sound mean, but I am sure you will enjoy the respite from her being away for a time. Time to do what YOU want to do instead of always having to fit it into what she wants. You are a dear sweet friend. She is so lucky to have you. Well, I expect you are lucky to have her also. Mom has had ongoing problems with her feet ever since her heart attack after her cancer op 4 years ago. She only has 20% circulation in that leg and foot now. Apparently they really should take it off, but the Docs feel the risk is too great at her age. xoxo

    Different cultures I suppose Suzan! We all do things differently. Glad you had a nice day with Pip and then with Will and his friend and that the hot temps are easing somewhat! xoxo

    So happy you are enjoying your crochet journey Monique! I think the act of creating something is the most basic of the greatest pleasures! (Be it art, words, knitting, crocheting, and yes, cooking and baking!) Lets hope we have a lovely LONG summer and that it doesn't pass in a flash! Hope the lads have a great time at camp! xoxox

    Thanks Pam, I hope you have a lovely week also! Will be by to visit today! xoxo

    Your comment has made me hungry for BBQ turkey Jan! What a treat that would be! When we were in Scotland it doesn't get dark until going on for 11 pm there! It was very odd, and light again about 4 in the morning! It's warm here today, and started with rain, but now it seems to be clearing! xoxo

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