A tiny adventure . . .

"Oh my!"  Molly exclaimed as she looked out her front door.  "The sun is shining!  What a beautiful day for a bike ride.   What a beautiful day for a picnic!"

The golden sun beat down upon the sunflowers next to her front door.  When the sun shone they always turned their smiling faces towards it, as if to bid it a cheery welcome.




Molly quickly gathered her things.  She was not going to let one iota of this beautiful day go to waste.  Out the door she went, lickety split . . . to where her trusty bike was waiting for her to hop on.

Two slices of bread spread with butter and jam and cut into fingers had been carefully wrapped in wax paper and lay inside her back pack along with a small flask of warm tea and just a smidgen of leftover fruit cake wrapped in a tiny scrap of damp toweling to keep it fresh.  She had been sorely tempted to grab one of the freshly baked cherry cakes as well . . .  but then decided to do so would have been a tiny bit greedy, and so . . .  she didn't.



 Where should I go she wondered to herself . . . as she hopped on her bike and pedaled slowly down the drive.

"I know!" she exclaimed.  "I will go wherever the sun wills me to be and as far as my legs can carry me!"  This was going to be a great adventure.

And it was.



Off through the town she went, waving to all her friends and neighbors as she moved along.  They all waved back as she passed.  She cut such a happy picture and they, too, wondered where she was off to.  Somewhere nice they hoped!



Up the hill and down through the valley, she pedaled.  The sun was warm on the top of her head and the breeze was cool on her cheeks.  Oh what a beautiful day it was to be going on an adventure!!



She pedaled and she pedaled . . .  past grassy hilltops covered with trees and castle ruins . . .




Sunlight dappled the top of her cap trickling down through the leaves of the tree tops as she rode beneath them, and still she pedaled . . .



Past sheep that grazed upon the fels.   She gave them a cheery wave as she pedaled by.  "I'm off on an adventure!"  she called out to them.    "Baaaa . . .  " they replied.



And on she went . . .



Past kitchen gardens . . . wandering streams . . .  and grassy knolls . . .



Until she found the perfect spot.

And there she sat on old stone steps amidst wild blossoms, and bumbling bumble bees.  Had jam sandwiches and cold tea ever tasted so good?  I think not, she decided as she flicked the last crumbs of the cake onto the ground so that the sparrows could enjoy her picnic repast with her . . .

She rested her tired legs . . . the stone of the steps cool and smooth beneath them . . . enjoying the sunshine . . . with nothing but her thoughts and the sparrows to keep her company . . .

Oh . . .  and a little red squirrel who happened along a bit too late to enjoy much of anything  . . . for all that was left was a few sticky red streaks on the wax paper and a small droplet of tea at the bottom of the flask.  The sparrows had done their job very well, for not even a crumblet of cake was left to discover.

And then it was time to go home.  And home she went.  Past the kitchen gardens, and sheep in the fields.   "Baaa!" they exclaimed once more as she pedaled by.   Past grassy hill tops and castle ruins and up hill and dale . . .



Back into town and up cobbled streets . . .



Back to her little wooden house  . . .



"Whew!"  she exclaimed to socks as she sank down into her comfy chair.   Now that was quite an adventure . . .  and then . . .  she could smell something lovely . . . .

I'm feeling a bit peckish she thought to herself . . .



"I hope you're hungry after your big adventure!"  her sister Annie spoke up from across the room.  "I've baked us  some tasty gingerbread men!"

"Yes, please!"  said Molly . . .  and she happily sighed.   Every adventure should end with warm Gingerbread men.



And that . . . my friends is quite simply that.



THE END.

A thought to carry with you through the day . . .


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“Here’s to freedom, cheers to art. 
Here’s to having an excellent adventure 
and may the stopping never start.” 
~ Jason Mraz
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Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  "Profiterole Cake."  Scrumptious!


I hope you have a super Saturday and may it bring you an adventure or two or three.  Don't forget

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And I do too.

Wednesday morning ponderings . . .

"I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit will be in your heart, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
Doctrine & Covenants 84:88

I just love the above scripture. This scripture was given in revelation to Joseph Smith in Kirkland, Ohio back in September of 1832. He was speaking to brethern of the church preparing to go out on Missions, and these are some of the words that the Lord had to say to them. What a beautiful promise . . . but these words are not only applicable to men preparing for missions in the early 1800's . . . these words are for us today, and when I read them, my spirit tells me that they are also for me.



They tell me that if I look to the Lord for inspiration . . .for guidance . . . and for help each day, that He will go before me. That He will guard my left and my right . . . that I will have His spirit in my heart to guide me, and that no matter what happens . . . His angels will gather round me and bear me up, to help me get through anything . . . any situation . . . any problem . . . any pothole or seeming barrier I may come up against! What a wonderful promise!!



I was thinking yesterday again about how very blessed I am, despite all the knocks we have experienced over these past few months. I have a special man in my life who loves and cares for me, despite my sometimes irritating ways. I have been given the added blessing of a lovely little home, that, in many ways, is much nicer than the one we had down South. A home that is ours for as long as we want to rent it, and is not encumbent upon my employment. I may have my aches and pains, but, for the most part, I am healthy, having no really serious problems. I have been given many gifts and talents and I enjoy so very much exploring and developing them. I have a family, with wonderful sons and daughters and grandchildren whom I love so very much and whom love me back. I have pretty special friends, both near and far, whom add a glorious sweetness to my life that cannot be measured.



None of us knows what the future holds. It is different for each of us. For some of us there are very good things just ahead, for others . . . maybe not so good . . . but that is life. It is given to each of us in unique and singular ways . . . each life composed of brilliant, outstanding and joyful moments, amidst a measure of pain and sadness. That is how we grow . . . how we develop, how we learn. A baby cannot learn to walk without falling down a few times . . . and if we are ever to be, or to reach our full potential as human beings on this earth, we have got to take a few knocks along the way as well. Just as our children have us to help them when they are taking those stumbling steps . . . to guide and protect them . . . our Heavenly Father is there to help us on this journey through life . . . We only have to reach out to Him and take His hand along the way.

Just my thoughts today.



I had so much fun sewing over the past couple of days. I made a little Teddy Bear, something that I have not done in years. I used to make quite a few of them.



Meet Miss Mimsey Bear! I think she is quite sweet. I shall be putting her in my Etsy shop a bit later on this morning.

I love green beans. Actually I love most vegetables. My mom never had any problems getting me to eat them when I was a child, well except for tinned peas that is. We found a cricket in a tin of them one time and I never liked them at all after that. I don't mind frozen or fresh peas though. Green beans I could eat every day . . . fresh, tinned, frozen . . . it doesn't really matter which! We have some planted in our garden and I can't wait til we get to eat them!



*Green Beans Almondine*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This probably isn't an authentic way of making Green Beans Almondine, but it is my way of making them! It's quick, easy and quite, quite delicious!

1 pound of green beans, washed and trimmed
2 TBS butter
1 shallot peeled, and minced
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup of flaked and toasted almonds
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to the boil. Drop in the green beans and bring the water back to the boil, then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 4 minutes. Drain well, then refresh with cold water to stop them from cooking any further. Drain again. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet, over medium heat, until it begins to foam. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until it is softened. Do not brown. Toss in the bread crumbs and thyme. Cook and stir until the bread crumbs are golden brown and crisp. Toss in the almonds and green beans. Heat through and stir until the beans are quite hot. Season to taste with some salt and pepper and serve immediately.



We're getting completely indulgent today over on The English Kitchen with Bakewell Whoopie Pies! I spent most of the day yesterday developing this recipe and am quite proud of the results! They are fabulous!!! Todd says that they are the best cake he has ever eaten in his life!

There's a new gal on the block!

I finally got around to posting my mouse doll on Etsy. She is called Millie and I think she is a delightful little character.



She stands 8 inches tall and is capable of standing all on her own, without the aid of a doll stand.



I just love how she turned out. I love her little soft sculptured cap with it's paper roses and flowers adorning it.



I love her chubby little legs and arms, and her sweet little white cotton apron with it's lace trim and pretty blue bow in the back.



I also love her cute little shiny black eyes. I think she is a real pleaser all round and is sure to add that special something to the discerning doll collectors showcase.



I really had a lot of fun making her. It will be hard to send her along to a new home, but send her out there I must. It helps to pay the rent, and we do like to eat. ☺



You can find out more about her and how you can make her yours HERE at my Etsy shop. Thanks!

A Christmas for Emily

Emily is ready and waiting for Christmas, all dressed in her best Christmas dress, complete with a pretty red net crinoline underneath.



She's holding a lovely brown felt teddy bear, which is completely jointed with moveable arms and legs,button trim and adorned with a red satin bow.



Her hair is hand styled and composed of brown worsted yarn, and tied into pigtails with torn fabric bows which match her dress.



The dress is made of Tilda Fabrics, 100% cotton in a pretty red and white print, with lace trim around the edge of the skirt, hand gathered to create a ruched and scalloped hemline, which showcases the underskirt.



The neckline is graced with a hand crocheted lace collar and a pretty white pearlized and red button cameo adornment.



She has red and white striped ticking legs and black painted shoes, as well as white onasberg pantaloons beneath her slip.



Her pretty little face is hand blushed with beautiful hand painted blue eyes and black lashes.



Completely hand sewn of superior materials she would make a beautiful decoration and collectable. She is not intended as a play toy.

The asking price is £30.00. Please contact me on MarieAliceJoan at aol dot com if you are interested. Will ship first class, and insured to anywhere in the world upon receipt of payment.