Thursday 31 January 2019

My favourite things . . .

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Lace edged collars, pin tucks  . . .  white  . . . 

 
  
 
Victorian splendour  . . .  if the house could  talk, what would it say?
 

 
Vintage dolls  . . . 
 
  
 
Threads, needles and bunny tails  . . . 

 
 
Let there be cake  . . . 
 
 
  
 
Cherry pies  . . . 

 
Vintage bluebird days of the week  . . .  

 
  
 
Milk Jugs  . . . 
 

 
Lily of the Valley  . . . 
 
 

 Vintage handkerchiefs  . . .


Cosy chairs to curl up in  . . . 

  

Sun Bonnet Sue  . . .   



Hand stiched cardis  . . . 


  

A well made and co-ordinated bed  . . .  



Red geraniums  . . .  


  

Thatched roof   . . .  do they know how lucky they are?  



One lump or two  . . . 
  

  

Little chickens  . . . 


Cake Stands  . . . 

  

Monsieur Lapin  . . . 

What are some of your favourite things? 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
I think happiness is what makes you pretty.
Period.  Happy people are beautiful.
They become like a mirror and they
reflect that happiness.
~Drew Barrymore   •。★★ 。* 。 


Classic Grilled Cheese with Marinated Onions 

In the kitchen today . . . A Classic Grilled Cheese with Mustard and Marinated Onions.  A delicious mouthful. 


Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too!    

   

Wednesday 30 January 2019

The garden sleeps . . .



The January garden sleeps . . . no splash of colour stains the ground or bush . . . an errant clueless rose perhaps,  having jumped the gun during a freakishly warm spell, its colour very much out of place amidst the browns and greys  . . .  


The trees lay naked, . . . their stark branches reach for the sky through the damp cold air , fingers outstretched in silent prayer . . . the quiet earth beneath spread with a crystalline quilt of a frost.  A protection and covering for the life which sleeps for a season beneath the wet, dark, clay . . . 



How still and quiet it all seems, no sound disturbing the silence of the day.  No signs or hints of the life which lays buried for a season, under the frozen earth.  Bulb and root and seed lay in wait for the tell-tale signs of lengthening day and increasing warmth of sun.  From here will come a blaze of bloom and flame  . . .  gold and crimson . . . ivory and rose.    


  

Hope  . . . it sleeps beneath the cold dank ground . . . it will soon awaken and fill the earth with promise. It has been ever so.  This seasonal dance of hide and seek when all lay resting, waiting . . . as sure as one day follows another, as night follows day . . . they are not dead, they only wait . . . Spring will come.  


  

Indoors we dance to the same tune as we sit beneath blanket, by fire and stove, as needles click and the soft whisper of turning pages embroider our days. Tis a season of waiting, and it matters not if  time passes beneath the warmth of wool and cosy fire, or beneath the cold frozen clay . . .  it will pass nonetheless, and life will go on.  (Click here to listen to the music below.)

My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth's lamentation,
I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation;
Thro'all the tumult and the strife
I head the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul,
How can I keep from singing?

 What tho' my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho'the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
and day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it,
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his ...
How can I keep from singing?
~Robert Lowry

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Shepherd's Pie.  Todd really loves meals like this.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, no matter what you get up to.  Don't forget  . . . 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too!    

   

Tuesday 29 January 2019

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .


 

FOR TODAY, Jan 29th, 2019

Outside my window ...
Its dark and cold. They say that a great deal of the country is in for snow. I say bring it on.  Might make a change from wind and rain.

I am thinking ...
Not sleeping well. I am really struggling here.  I know these feelings will pass, or at least I hope that they will. I don't want to be a bore, so will keep them to myself.  Just know that I am struggling with coming to terms with things.

I am thankful ... 



One of my favourite things ...  



Big, white and fluffy  . . . 

In the kitchen ...

Overnight Cinnamon Roll Oats 


On my "To Cook" List ... 


Favourite Family Recipes, One Pot Chicken Teriyaki Rice

Good to know ... 


I am creating ... 

  

Cat Block Pot Holders.   Instant PDF Download by Patchwork Pottery on Etsy. I quite like this.


 Sierra's Crafty Creations.  Velvet Scrunchies.  Crochet pattern.  



Yarn and Chai.  Hope Earwarmer.  




Kirsten Hipstey on Ravelry.  Knitted Stars.   



Made to be Mama, DIY Baby Mittens.  

Oh my goodness  ... 


My favourite of all the croissants  . . .  Almond Croissants . . . 

I am reading ... 

  

The Handmaid and the Carpenter, by Elizabeth Berg

This wonderful novel transports us to Nazareth in biblical times, where we meet Mary and Joseph–and understand them as never before: young, in love, and suddenly faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Aided by a great and abiding love, they endure challenges to their relationship as well as threats to their lives as they come to terms with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the birth of their child, Jesus. For Mary, the pregnancy is a divine miracle and a privilege. For Joseph, it is an ongoing test of his faith–in his wife as well as in his God. Exquisitely written and imbued with emotional truth and richness of detail, The Handmaid and the Carpenter explores lives touched profoundly by miracles large and small.

I've had to put away The Story of Arthur Truluv for the time being, not that it isn't good. But it is all about death and I don't need to be reading that at the moment.

Looking Forward To ...
Not much at the moment. Living each day as it comes.

Dreaming about ...


Little piggies  . . . 

  

Cedar Shingled cottages  . . . 


Cherries  . . . 

  

Peter Pan Collars  . . . 


Woodland bunnies  . . . 

Makes me smile ...

  

The little princess  . . . 

Something to watch ... 


This is Us . . .  the complexities of family  . . . 

A thought to carry with you  ...

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

 *
Anticipate beauty
Believe in miracles
Count on grace
Decide on joy
Expect peace . . .
~Mary Davis   •。★★ 。* 。 

Corner's of my kingdom ...


20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool.  The childhood home of Sir Paul McCartney
Hope to visit it one day  . . . 

 
And that's my daybook for this week!



  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 




✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.• ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥
░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ 


Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

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


And I do too!