Wednesday 30 June 2021

Wednesday this and that . . .

 

There was a knock on my door yesterday morning about 10:00 am and there was a girl standing there, all masked of course, and distanced, wanting to know did I want to buy some strawberries, freshly picked just that morning.  Only $3.  I bought a box. They looked really lovely and she was such a nice girl. I wish I could have bought more, but its just not practical for me on my own.  They were absolutely lovely!  Best berries I have had in a while. So fresh and delicious!  I find myself hoping that she comes again some morning so I can repeat the experience.

Dad stopped by in the afternoon and he helped me to eat half a box.  I love that my dad can just drop by when he wants to and that he can sit here and eat fresh berries with me.  I would never have envisioned this happening just a year ago.  Life has a way of truly surprising you. 

 

I am having my second vaccination this afternoon. A completely different one than I had the first time.  My first one was Moderna, and this one is Pfizer.  I am told it won't make a difference having two different ones and it may even be better. Time will tell. My brother had the Pfizer this time as well, He felt punky for a few days.  I didn't feel too awfully bad after the first one.  I had a bit of a sore arm, but that's all, and then the rash about 9 days later. 

My sister is having her second shot today as well. She had the Astra Zeneca first time and is having Moderna this time.  

Time will tell if this makes a difference.  I tend to think that we will have to be careful for a very long time, if not forever.  I think our lives have ultimately been changed, and whilst we will hopefully soon be able to gather with our families again, there will always be masks and social distancing, this need to be cautious.  I hope I am wrong, but I am prepared to live a life with restrictions if I have to. To keep others safe, to be safe myself, its a small price to pay. But that is just me. 
 
 

Life is changeable at best. Fluid . . .  we never truly know what the future holds.  At best we can hope that it is all good, and if not  . . .  that we have the strength and means to power through whatever it decides to throw at us. 

I had purchased a wooden cross through Amazon. I thought I would like to have one on my wall in the bedroom.  It was quite nice, carved wood with a pattern of grapes and leaves running through it.  I have come to see the cross in a different light in recent months.  Instead of a symbol of execution I see it now as symbolizing the two great commandments.  The center rod pushing upward symbolizes the first great commandment which is to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind and soul.  The other rod reaching outward like a pair of arms, symbolizes the second great commandment, which is to love your neighbor as yourself. 

It arrived yesterday and it is quite nice.  It was handcrafted in India.  There was a sticker on the back which said, "Made in India by hand with Love."  I hope that whichever hands worked on it, they were treated fairly. I like to think so at any rate and would not want to think otherwise. 

 

Its going to be my sister's birthday soon. She has been blessing my life for 63 years on the 6th of July. Mom's birthday was on the 9th.  So I guess 63 years ago mom got the best early Birthday present she ever received!  I have been so lucky to have this best friend in my life for 63 years.  I was remembering this morning how years ago, while we were both stay at home moms, we would call each other on the phone and talk for about 2 hours every morning. I always loved those conversations.  We talked about everything under the sun and then some. Having a sister in my life has been an extra special blessing for me.  




 
I was thinking about Britney Spears and her conservatorship.  What a strange thing to be 39 years old and having other people exert so much control on your life.  Especially when you have been the main breadwinner for these people since you have been a young child.  They seem to be quite happy to live off the proceeds of her hard work, but not willing to give up control of her life. It just seems highly unfair to me. I know I do not know and am not privy to what goes on behind closed doors, if Britney has a severe mental illness, or whatever. (I am thinking we all might be a little bit nutso if we had to live our lives under a microscope like that.)  I just think its a bit much that she cannot remove her birth control, or marry the person she loves without the express say-so of other individuals. It just doesn't seem right to me.

I think we are seeing a person who has had no control of her life since she was a small child.  Who has consistently been exploited by the people around her, and for the most part by the people who were supposed to be taking care of her for no other reason than that they love her.  Who has been hounded by the press relentlessly. To me it is all very, very sad.  

If this is the price you pay for wealth, then I would rather live in poverty. It is too steep a price to pay.

 

My sister made strawberry jam and she says she has a jar of it for me. I am looking forward to that. I used to make all sorts of pickles and preserves when the children were growing up.  I have not done that in a long time now. I did make apple butter one year when I was in the UK. Most of it never got used.  That is what it is like when you are a smaller family. You just can't use it all up, but it does make nice gifts. 

Are you pedantic about making sure your doors are locked, etc. at night?  I am.  I think I probably check them two or three times before I go to bed.  Is that verging on OCD?  I hope not, lol.  I never used to lock my doors until one night when my children were very young I heard a noise downstairs. When I went to check the outside door to my kitchen was open and there was a pile of melting snow in the middle of the kitchen floor. Not too long after that a couple that my parents knew were murdered asleep in their beds by someone walking into their house through an unlocked door.  I have kept my doors locked every since. 

Its a good thing I check too, because last night when I checked both my front and garage entry doors were unlocked.  I must be slipping.

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day before my morning gets away from me.

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*The smallest things were often
so much bigger than the great things.
The trivial pleasures like cooking,
one's home, little poems especially
sad ones, solitary walks, funny
things seen and overheard.
~Barbara Pym  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

I small-batched my Classic Potato Salad recipe yesterday.  I love potato salad and don't want to be eating it for weeks and I don't want to be wasting it either.  Its delicious. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday whatever you get up to.  Be safe and be happy.  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 29 June 2021

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

 

FOR TODAY, June 29th, 2021

Outside my window ...
Its already 20*C. Not sure what that is in F. but it is plenty warm. There is a heat warning in effect for today, and we had rain in the night, so expect it will be accompanied with plenty of humidity. Not my favorite thing for sure.

I am thinking ... 
Every garbage day I put out my garbage and I cross my fingers, will they take it all. I always seem to have twice as much as anyone else on my street. Yesterday I walked down to the end to put my compostables in the bin and someone had put in what looked like a brand new mop/bucket.  What the heck? I was not putting my hand inside to take it out. These are all seniors here.  Could it be someone is a bit confused?

I am thankful for ...
A sound mind. 

In the kitchen ... 
 

It may seem a bit silly but I made a Seven Layer Salad for one.  Most people can probably manage this all on their own without any instruction, but I thought I would do it anyways, for the one perhaps who needs guidance. It was delicious. 

On my "To Cook" list ... 

 

Small Town Woman.  Andes Mint Mini Cheesecakes.  Looks delicious! 

One of my favorite things ...

 


Anything with bees  . . . 

I am wanting to create ...  

 

Daisy Cottage Designs  . . .  Japanese Flower Coasters. 




I really like these reusable and washable baking dish covers.  What a great thing to have for taking dishes to pot lucks, etc.  or fridge storage.  From Smashed peas and Carrots on Riley Blake Designs.  



Create your own Button Bracelets. From Hope Studios.   I have made these before and they are super simple and super cute! 



Cutest little pompom bunnies.  From Big Cartel.   So sweet. 





Blooming Hearts.  From Simply Tale.  So cute. 

I am reading ... 



The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson
 As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed ‘The Ice Cream Girls’ by the press and were dealt with by the courts.

Years later, having led very different lives, Poppy is keen to set the record straight about what really happened, while married mother-of-two Serena wants no one in her present to find out about her past. But some secrets will not stay buried – and if theirs is revealed, everything will become a living hell all over again . . . 

I did watch a television series based on this book a number of years back. 
 
I am looking forward to ...
My daughter Eileen wants me to take her clothes shopping. Her father has given her the money, now all we have to do is pick a date to go. It will be fun! 

Dreaming about ... 

 
(source

Pretty paper fans  . . . 

 
(source

Pretty blankets  . . . 


French inspired  . . . 

 
(source

Wooden spools  . . . 

 
(source

Book art  . . . 

Something to watch ... 

 

The C Word, Amazon  . . . 

A Quote for the day ...  

(¯`v´¯)
 `*.¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸. ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.
              ( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
“It is often in the darkest( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* 
skies that we see the
( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* 
brightest stars.” 
~Richard Evans( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* 
( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.. 

Makes me smile ... 

 

Corners of my kingdom ...  

 

Last night at dusk . . . 

A thought to carry with you ... 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*To care for those who
once cared for us
is the highest honor ° * 。
•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 

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 28 June 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.  

 
(source

"Perhaps God has something entirely different  in mind
for me than what I had anticipated.
Something better."

I was reading Even This, by Emily Belle Freeman in bed last night and this came up.  I thought yes!  This! exactly this!  We are such impatient creatures and we expect prayers to be answered and blessings to come to us immediately. We do not like to wait for answers and blessings.  But sometimes the blessings come in the waiting and are so good, often the opposite of what we have been asking for, but exactly what and when we need it.  

 

Too often in life we can waste precious time dwelling on the things that haven't turned out exactly as we had wanted them to, or our failures, things which have hurt us, or disappointed us, etc.  This only takes away from our light, from our joy.  It is good to acknowledge the pain, the frustrations, the hurts, the failures and learn from them if need be, but it is also important to be able to let them go and dwell instead on the positivity in our lives. There are far more positives than negatives. Don't let the bad steal the light from your good.  
 
 

Life is filled with tiny miracles, which often go un-noticed. We need to make it a habit to notice the small things, the often unexpected,  and not take them for granted.  I had taken a can of soup out yesterday for my dinner because I had been so busy on a project and with a deadline looming for today, along with all of my other Sunday commitments I didn't think I would really have time to cook a meal for myself.  Then I got a message from my sister.  Come for supper. And I thought yes!  I will.  What a welcome break and respite from the busyness of life that was.  She had cooked a lovely roast beef dinner. I got to spend time with her, Dan and dad.  Pet the cats, and after the dishes were done, Cindy and I spent some time in the garden before I left to come home. It was just what I needed.  A most welcome break.

 

This is so true.  We need to learn how to be happy now. To find joy in the present.  Its right there in that word, "present." Its a gift. The here and the now. 
 
 

Remembering these bleached out fairies in my English Garden. I need to pick up some old fairies at yard sales and stuff so that I can bleach them out and put them in my garden here.  It takes time to build a garden. Maybe next year I will be better prepared.  I guess I have had other priorities this year.  

 

Garden visitors . . .  the hummingbirds, blackbirds, blue jays, morning doves, pigeons, chipmunks, squirrels, gold finches, all of them.  They provide little interludes and pockets of joy all the day through . . . 


The very kind thoughtfulness of others. How very wonderful it is to be thought so highly of that others want to reach out to me in such ways. I am not sure I deserve any of it, but I am ever so grateful for all of it.  And it is not just in tangible ways such as these gifts, but in knowing I am being lifted daily in the prayers of others, and in their happy thoughts. Its knowing I am loved and cared about.  

Just knowing others care.  That is in no way a small or a simple thing, but it is every thing.

 

I have lived and am living a life filled with abundance . . .  and best of all I know this, I recognize this. I don't take any of it for granted and where and when I can, I try to share it with others.  A blessing shared is a blessing doubled. A grain of rice shared between two people brings joy to them both.

And that's the best way to live your life.


A thought to carry with you  . . . 


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

 *.˛.° ˛°. .Think the best of each other, 
especially of those you say you love. 
Assume the good and doubt the bad.” 
~Jeffrey R Holland   .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •  



In The English Kitchen today  . . .   Peanut Sauced Easy Thai Noodles. Delicious!! 


I hope your week ahead is filled with lots of small and wonderful things. Along the way of your week, don't forget! 

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right where you are! 

And I do too!