Wednesday 31 March 2021

The Concert

 



  “When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. 

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." 

 Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. 

 The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. 

 The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."“ 

 
(source)  

I am not sure how true the above story is, but I did enjoy the sentiments expressed about the voice of the "Master."  How many times I have heard that voice whispering in my ear over these recent months, encouraging me and helping me to move forward in moments when I did not think I could take even one more step.  How very grateful I have been for the promptings of the spirit and the tender mercies of the Lord, for the ministering of angels.  I have been truly blessed.

And as I write this it comes to me that therein lies most of the joy in life. It comes not in the grand gestures, or in loud voices that shout, but in small and simple things, a gentle word, a kind gesture, the ability to see the glass as half full instead of half empty . . .  in the caring actions of every day people, going about every day things, reaching out to others in small and simple ways. In doing whatever we can, whenever we can and however we can.

No matter what problems or challenges I may face in life, the Master is always with me, encouraging me, prodding me on, helping me to face the things I don’t have the courage or the strength to face all on my own.  More often than not I have seen his face and felt his touch in the many kindnesses I have experienced at the hands of his Angels here on earth . . .  every day people.  People like me and like you.

 

Today it seems, March is going out like a Lamb.  The sun is shining and, although it is a bit chilly, it looks like we have a nice day in the offing, although it may turn to rain later on.  That's what you expect in the Spring, showers.

I have only just this morning discovered that you can receive and send messages on Pinterest, that people can leave comments on your pins and all sorts.  I had no idea.  DUH. You do learn something new every day! 

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day.  Oh how we loved to play tricks on each other when I was growing up. And on our friends at school, our teachers.  All very benign of course, which is as it should be. Apparently this custom goes back hundreds of years.  I do remember being very happy that I was not born on April first and known as an April Fool! 

I had originally been told I would be able to move into the rental property on the 1st April, but that's obviously not the case.  No worries.  The promise of a place to live is enough and hopefully it won't be too many more weeks before I can, and in the meantime I have more time to save up and prepare for it. Its all good.

And with that I will leave you with a thought for today  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. .You get in life what you have 
the courage to ask for.
~Oprah Winfrey•。★★ 。* 。  

 

In The English Kitchen today, Victoria Scones.  An old recipe taken from the Be-Ro 41st edition baking booklet.  Very easy to make and very delicious!

Have a wonderful Wednesday whatever you get up to on this last day of March 2021. Be kind to yourself and to others and don't forget! 

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









Tuesday 30 March 2021

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

 

FOR TODAY, March 30, 2021

Outside my window ...
The sun is shining and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. There is not a cloud in the sky.

I am thinking ...
Its our semi-annual church General Conference this weekend. I am really looking forward to watching and listening to all the talks.  It is hard to believe that this is the third one held during lockdown.

I am thankful for ...
You might get tired of hearing this but I am so incredibly thankful for my family and loved ones, friends. My faith. My health. I am blessed.

In the kitchen ... 
Today you get two. 

 

Roasted Tomato Soup, which was served with some scrumptious grilled cheese sandwiches.

 

Garden Tomb Cookies.  Something fun to do with the children for Easter. 

On my "To Cook" list ... 
 
 

Chicken Katsu.  From Mildly Meandering. This looks so good. 

One of my favourite things ... 

 

I adore JuJubes . . . 

Good to know ... 

 

I am wanting to create ... 

 

I love the colours in this free tea cosy pattern, crochet from Lion Brand. Downloadable PDF. 

 

Anabelia Craft Design.  Two free crochet borders. I love linens with crochet borders. 

 

Hand applique Felt Pin Cushions from We All Sew. cute! 

 

Easy do it yourself ruffled bed skirt, from Wood Grain Cottage.  

 


Easy Watercolor Notecards from Wandeleur.   

I am reading ... 

 

If I Forget You, by Thomas Christopher Greene 
Two former lovers reconnect in this beautiful and haunting tale of great lost love from the critically acclaimed author of The Headmaster's Wife.

Twenty-one years after they were driven apart by circumstances beyond their control, two former lovers have a chance encounter on a Manhattan street. What follows is a tense, suspenseful exploration of the many facets of enduring love. Told from altering points of view through time, If I Forget You tells the story of Henry Gold, a poet whose rise from poverty embodies the American dream, and Margot Fuller, the daughter of a prominent, wealthy family, and their unlikely, star-crossed love affair, complete with the secrets they carry when they find each other for the second time.

 Written in lyrical prose, If I Forget You is at once a great love story, a novel of marriage, manners, and family, a meditation on the nature of art, a moving elegy to what it means to love and to lose, and how the choices we make can change our lives forever. 

Looking forward to ... 
General Conference! 

Dreaming about ...

  

A front porch to watch the world go by  . . . 

 

Dormer rooms  . . . 

 

Home  . . . 

 

Cottage cosy  . . . 

 

Pink peonies  . . .  mom loved peonies  . . . 

Something to watch ... 

 

As Time Goes By  . . .  Britbox

A favorite Quote for the day ... 

  (¯`v´¯)
   `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸. ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.
              ( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
Sometimes you will never know the ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.. value of a moment, until ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
 ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.*   it becomes a memory. ~Dr Seuss      `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
    `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸. ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ 

Makes me smile ... 
 

The sculpture art of Kina Crow.  

Corners of my kingdom ...

 

This is a photo my sister took of the farm across from our old middle school . . . 

 

And then she painted it.  She's so talented.

A thought to carry with you ... 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
 * Never let your fear
decide your fate.•。★★ 。* 。 

Doug had his heart tests yesterday. Now we just need to await the results.  Keep praying please that all will be well!  Thankyou! 

And that's my daybook for this week  . . .  
  

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

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆   
 

  




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

 
  

Have a beautiful day and don't forget!  


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














































Monday 29 March 2021

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.

 

Spring is officially here and with it has come some spectacularly beautiful sunny, mild days. Just teasers I know because there has also been some pretty nasty weather and quite a bit of rain over these past couple of days, not to mention frigid temps.  These are the transition weeks and can be expected to be a bit of this and a bit of that, until that is they become mostly that! 

 

Knowing that this is true, 100% absolutely true.  We take so much for granted in the Western world. 

 

Knowing this is also true.  It is truly the simple things which bring us the most joy.  

 

Remembering the Lamb Cake I made for Easter a few years ago using a Scottie Dog shortbread tin. haha  Makes me smile to look at it.  I was trying to channel my inner Susan Branch. 
 
 

Palm Sunday and the ushering in of Holy Week.  I love this week leading up to Easter.  It is our opportunity to draw even closer to the Saviour as we think about what He did for us and still does for us. I love Easter probably even more than Christmas, and next weekend is Easter as well as our bi-annual General Conference.  Can't wait! 

 

What's not to love about this! 

 

My sister's chipmunk is back.  I have seen her flitting across the yard from the feeders back to her nest.  Chipmunks are so cute. 
 
 

Love these.  I hope the Easter Bunny brings me one. 
 
 

Not a great photograph, but we got the prettiest roses marked down to half price on Saturday. My sister loves fresh flowers.  They bring her joy.  That brings me joy. 

 

Getting to the point where I could buy a decent second hand car.  This is a really big deal for me. I have never bought myself anything like this in my life. It was a real learning curve for me. Now I just have to get comfortable driving again on the right hand side of the road.  This is a special blessing for me, this car. God truly is good and it is a blessing for my sister as well. Their car is really old and often is broken down. Now they have something to fall back on when that happens.  I am so happy to be able to give back.  They have been so good to me. 
 
 

The miracle of the insurance.  What a special blessing to me. The window's of heaven. Tender mercies. "I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us." ~David A Bednar  

 

Very grateful for the "Lights" in my life and there are many, many, many. I am incredibly blessed.  

Ohh, yesterday I facetimed with a friend I have known for 43 years.  It happened by accident and it was wonderful.  We had not seen each other for about 35 years or longer.  We do message each other back and forth on messenger. Somehow in the messaging yesterday someone pressed the call button by accident, so we went with it. Grey hair, wrinkles, extra weight, no makeup and all. Her name is Jewel and she was my first friend when I moved to Calgary. In fact she and her then husband let us stay with them until we got a place of our own.  She was my maid of honor when I married the father of my children.  There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then! Four husbands (not all mine, lol), eight children (again not all mine), countless moves, grandchildren, etc.  It was really nice to "See" each other. We talked for an hour and a half if you can believe it!

And with that I will leave you with a thought for today  . . . 

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

 *.˛.° ˛°. . 
˛*I am capable, I am strong,
If I believe in myself,
I can turn my dreams into a plan,
and my plan into reality.
~Unknown   •。★★ 。* 。 

 

There is nothing really new in the kitchen today. I try not to work on Sunday's if I can help it, but I am sharing with you my Small Batch Bakewell Blondies.  Scrumptious!

I hope your week ahead is filled with an abundance of small and wonderful things!  Don't forget along the way . . . 

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