Monday thoughts . . .

Source: terryjohnwoods.com via Marie on Pinterest

"The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart."
~Helen Keller

Who knows what a blind person sees of cherry blossoms or songbirds . . . who knows what any of us sees from the privacy of our own personal blindness . . .

You may stand aghast and say to yourself . . . "I am not blind!" . . . but think about it. Each of us carries a blind perspective of certain things . . . just as each of us carries with us a unique seeing perspective of other things.

Fear can blind each of us.

Source: tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

The person who is afraid of heights will never see the beauty of a canyon floor from above, or the beauty of cotton boll clouds from the window of an airplane as it soars through the sky. A person who is afraid of spiders can never appreciate the beauty or splendor of the woven web. If you fear small places . . . you are blind to the secrets of sudden solitude. Fear of passion might make one blind to the comfort and joy of oneness. Fear of change blinds us to the abundance of life and all that it holds. Fear of death . . . might prevent us from embracing the unknown and the power of faith . . . the act of trusting an unknown future to an all-knowing God.

Being afraid is completely human . . . and so to be blinded in this way is a part of the human experience that we cannot hope to avoid. It is the one thing we must, each of us . . . struggle to overcome. In the course of our lives, we all stumble and struggle repeatedly. In and out of relationships . . . with being or not being . . . with peace and disquietude . . . with sorrow and with joy . . .

There is an opposition in all things. As we pass through life, stumbling in and out of the grace of the wholeness of our lives . . . would it not be better to reach out to one another and admit our fear . . . admit to our blindness?

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

A blind child
guided by his mother,
admires the cherry blossoms . . .
~kikaou

I think one of the things in this life that we are most afraid of . . . is allowing ourselves the luxury of becoming close enough to another human being that our very heart can be held in their hands . . . experiencing a oneness with each other that can only come from complete and utter abandonment of self . . . and allowing another to guide us through our fear . . . and in turn guiding them through theirs . . . by taking turns being the blind child, the loving guide . . . and the blossoms that others can't see . . . never knowing that which we are called to be . . . until we have learned what we have been called to learn. The art of seeing with the heart.

Does this make sense??? Or is it only prattle . . . I don't know. I only know it's what's on my mind this morning. Of course . . . we could always just . . . Let Go . . . Let God . . .

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
~Matthew 6:25-26

Source: hannasform.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

Gas works again today people. No heat all day, but we have kept the heat on all night so that the house is toasty warm and hopefully will hold some of that heat through the day. fingers crossed!

One thing that is good for when you are feeling cold is a nice heart warming soup! This is a quick and easy recipe. It makes rather a lot, but it also freezes beautifully, so no worries!



*Quick Beef, Vegetable and Barley Soup*Serves 8
Printable Recipe

Delicious and filling. The perfect warm me up for a cold winter's day!

1 pound extra lean ground beef
2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
2 cups shredded cabbage
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3/4 cup uncooked, quick cooking barley
1/2 pound of frozen mixed vegetables
5 cups of stewed tomatoes, undrained
8 cups beef broth
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves

Spray a non stick dutch oven with some cooking spray and then brown the beef in it, over medium high heat, until the beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain off any fat that may accumulate, however if you are using the extra lean beef, there should not be any.

Stir in the onions and celery and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the onion and celery are beginning to wilt, but have not coloured. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and cover. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are all tender and the barley is cooked.

Serve, ladled out into heated bowls, along with some crusty bread. Delicious!



Cooking in The English Kitchen today, delicious Lemon and Poppy Seed Drop Scones!

Poetry Saturday . . . A Mile With Me

Source: arikaanne.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

O who will walk a mile with me
Along life's merry way?
A comrade blithe and full of glee,
Who dares to laugh out loud and free,
And let his frolic fancy play,
Like a happy child, through the flowers gay
That fill the field and fringe the way
Where he walks a mile with me.

Source: simplypix.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

And who will walk a mile with me
Along life's weary way?
A friend whose heart has eyes to see
The stars shine out o'er the darkening lea,
And the quiet rest at the end o' the day . . .
A friend who knows, and dares to say,
The brave, sweet words that cheer the way
Where he walks a mile with me.

Source: eu.art.com via Marie on Pinterest

With such a comrade, such a friend,
I fain would walk til journey's end,
Through summer sunshine, winter rain,
And then?
Farewell, we shall meet again.
~Henry Van Dyke



I love, love, LOVE this poem! To me it is a gentle reminder that we never walk alone if we have a friend. Be it our bestie mate or the Saviour. Troubles and burdens are always lighter when someone walks by your side . . . and maybe they can't make them go away . . . but they can help you to carry them, if only for a mile . . .

I am up way late this morning. I have had a lot of trouble falling asleep nights lately and it has played havoc with my schedule! Must dash, but not before I show you this delicious storecupboard soup recipe!! Proof positive that you are never without a tasty meal if you keep a stocked cupboard ready at the draw!




*Tomato and Bean Soup*
Serves 6Printable Recipe

A delicious and hearty storecupboard supper. A tasty grilled cheese sandwich goes very well with this!

2 sliced streaky bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 (28-oz) tin of whole tomatoes, cut up
1 (10 3/4-oz) tin of condensed tomato soup
1 (15.5-oz) tin of red kidney beans, drained
1 (11-oz) tin of sweet corn, undrained
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves, rubbed between your fingers
salt and black pepper to taste

Cook the bacon in a large saucepan or Dutch oven until crisp. Remove the bacon. Reserve 1 TBS of the drippings. Crumble the bacon and set aside. Reheat the drippings over medium heat until sizzling. Add the onin and celery. Cook, stirring, until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning using salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into heated bowls and serve garnished with the crumbled bacon.



Over in The English Kitchen today a delicious Blueberry and Almond Breakfast Bake.

Every life has its dark and cheerful hours. Happiness comes from choosing which to remember.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

The Simple Woman's Day book . . .

FOR TODAY, January 17th, 2012...

Outside My Window...
All is calm, and dark, and very cold. I think there is even a frost, for the third day in a row. Winter finally came.

I am thinking...
I have to tell you a funny story. As you know we love our Mitzie to bits and she is a tad bit spoiled. Well . . . I know it's naughty, but . . . I always give her the milk left in the bottom of my bowl after I eat my cereal in the morning. She really looks forward to it. We have a dishwasher so I know the bowl will be really well washed afterwards, not that she doesn't do a good job of licking it clean! Well, yesterday I cooked a pot of old fashioned oats. I usually have my breakfast before Todd even gets up. (I'm always up a good 2 hours before him!) Anyways, when I went upstairs to get dressed I told him there was oatmeal in the pot for him. Later on when I went to load the dishwasher I noticed there was only one bowl in the sink. I said to him, didn't he have any breakfast. And he said yes he did. So I wanted to know where his bowl was. He then told me he had used the one I had left for him on the side of the sink. Proof positive that Mitzie really licks the bowl clean, and that ignorance is bliss! I didn't have the heart to tell him . . .

I am thankful for...
My knees have been behaving themselves since last July! Finger's crossed it continues! I get the odd twinge, but for the most part they've been fairly good! Todd gave me a blessing just before I left on that trip to Jimmy's farm and it worked very well it seems!

From the kitchen...
There is not an awful lot . . . I really should bake something. I don't want to eat it though . . . so I am stalling. We are having the missionaries for supper on Thursday, so I will probably bake something then!

I am wearing...
Pink nightie and pink jim jam bottoms, slippers and robe. Yes, I know it is a bit of an odd mix, but it does keep me warm.

I am creating...
I have nothing on the table at the moment. Most unsual for me, so I'll show you something that I'd like to make shall I??

Source: annette-paperbistro.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

It's a cute little hanging Valentine Heart pouch to hold all your Valentines. Not that I get many Valentines mind . . . only one, but I do think it's very sweet and would look adorable hanging in our bedroom somewhere. Perhaps we could use it to leave little love notes to each other on occasion . . . it never hurts to keep the romance alive does it?

I am going...
WE are going to go to the movies this afternoon to see a film! War Horse. We've both been really looking foward to it and Tuesday afternoons are cheap at the Cinema, so today's the day! It looks really good!


I am reading...




(watch the trailer, it's good)

Sadie, by Rebecca Belliston

Sadie Dawson thinks she has the perfect life until one Christmas Day when a misunderstanding leads to a brutal event that changes everything. Terrified, Sadie flees her boyfriend's wrath, two FBI agents, and her "perfect life." Lost in a Montana snowstorm and desperate for refuge, she's rescued by four guys on their annual holiday ski vacation. But even as her physical wounds heal, Sadie wonders is she will ever be able to escape the clutches of her wealthy and determined boyfriend. While her heart tells her there is more to a perfect life than diamond necklaces and elegant dinner parties, Sadie doesn't know who she can trust. And just when her heart settles, she finds herself abandoned by the one person who swore to protect her for a religion she doesn't understand. Will she have the courage to follow her heart and find the life that is perfect for her?

I am loving the strength and personalities of the characters in this book. It has caught my interest and kept it, a real page turner. Plus it is wonderfully refreshing to be able to read a "Romance" novel which is wholesome and doesn't have any nasty colourful bits. I highly recommend! (On a side note, she is also the daughter of Gerald Lund, author of a bazillion great books, my favourite of which is called Divine Signatures.)

I am hoping...
My son has changed his wedding date. It's been pushed back to next January now because of financial comittments etc. and they've also decided to get married in Cuba. I am hoping that I can afford to go.

I am hearing...
Nothing much. Mitzie is eating her breakfast in the kitchen. The keys are tapping. All is quiet outside . . . the birds are waking up so a bit of chirping and the odd car that drives by. A very normal ordinary start to the day.

Around the house...

Source: learning-to-b-me.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

Don't you just love this idea??? Who doesn't have extra space on either side of their refrigerator! I do! I can't believe I have never thought of something like this. It only makes sense, a pull out shelf unit, just big enough to hold tins and jars. The perfect hideaway larder don't you think???

I am looking forward to ...
Seeing the film this afternoon!! The trailers look very good and I have heard nothing but good things about it from the people I know who have seen it!

If I could change one thing it would be ...
That Todd and I would have met each other early enough to have been able to have a family together. He would have made such a wonderful father. Don't get me wrong . . . I also appreciate the fact that we don't have to share each other with anyone else . . . but my heart aches when I see other couples in church with their children gathered all around them, and I just think that we both have missed out on that. Oh well, there is always the eternities!

One of my favourite things...
Is the Book of Mormon. I know that sounds very cliche, but it's completely true. We are studying it again in church this year for Sunday School and Todd and I got some books from the LDS bookshop entitled "The Book of Mormon, Made Easier." They go through the book, line upon line and expand one's understanding of it all. They are really bringing the scriptures alive for us. I love that we are studying it together. Reading and studying the scriptures with the one that you love is such a special and sacred thing to do. God may not have been able to give us a family together here on earth, but He has given us each other. I prayed for many years to have a husband who was on the same page spiritually as I was and this prayer was answered in a very beautiful and unsual way . . . at the time I had been praying this prayer, I was meaning that I wanted my ex-husband to become a Christian . . . and a man of faith. Oh, I prayed for years and years to that end . . . I did get a man of faith . . . just not the one I thought I would have. It's pretty amazing when you think about it!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
A bit of work . . . a bit of play . . . and everything in between!! I have meetings for my church calling, and the reading lessons continue, and the missionaries are coming for supper on Thursday. It's a pretty full week, but shaping up beautifully!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Source: jasmine-marie.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Make it a rule . . . never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say, "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, a little happier or a little better this day."
~Charles Kingsley (1819 - 75)


I like to think that these words and thoughts that I share with you each day prove to help someone in some way at times, or bring a smile to someone's heart at others. I like to think that in doing so I am making a difference somewhere for someone. I cannot do much financially to make the world a better place . . . would that I could . . . but if I can impress even one person with my thoughts and words in even the smallest of positive ways . . . then it is worth every minute spent.

As a closing thought I would like to leave you with this:

“Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord's hand in our lives until long after the trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

He is such a wise man isn't he???

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!

I whipped up this delicious oven stew for Todd and myself yesterday. It's been one I've been making for years and always pleases anyone who eats it. This is my cheat version, as it uses a tin of soup and there's no browning of the meat on top of the stove before hand. It's easy peasy lemon squeasy!


*Oven Beef Stew*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This is a quick and easy stew to make. Other than peeling the vegetables and chopping them up there is literally no work to do. Your oven does it all! It’s just plain delicious too, so it’s a win/win combination!

1 pound of well trimmed stewing beef, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp mixed herbs, or summer savoury
1 tin of condensed tomato soup (Campbells)
1 soup tin of water
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1 small rutabaga, peeled and cut into cubes
2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered

Pre-heat the oven to 230*C/450*F. Put your beef, onions and garlic into a deep casserole dish with a lid. Season with some salt and pepper to taste and then place the casserole (without the lid at this point) into the heated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, just until the meat is beginning to brown.

Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 160*C/350*F.
Put soup and the water into the casserole dish along with the mixed herbs. Put the lid on and bang it back into the oven and let it bake for about an hour. At the end of the hour remove it from the oven and stir in the vegetables. You may need to add more water as the mixture should have reduced by then, and you want the liquid to just barely cover the vegetables and meat. Put the lid back on and return the casserole to the oven. Bake for another hour or until the vegetables and meat are tender.

Remove from the oven and let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.

You can use other flavours of soup if you wish such as mushroom, which is very good also.



If stew isn't to your taste perhaps Pork Chops Lyonnaise will be. You can see them today over in The English Kitchen!

The Simple Woman's Day book . . .

FOR TODAY, December 13th, 2011...

Outside My Window...
It is cold, dark and damp. I can hear the wind blowing. I think we are in for some pretty nasty weather today. No snow as of yet though, although I do believe that they have had some in Scotland.

I am thinking...
We went into town yesterday as I had a bill to pay. I generally speaking try to avoid the crowds at Christmas time. The City Centre has some lovely displays set up, just like an old fashioned Christmas village, with a Santa's Grotto and everything . . . and of course the Chester Wheel is up again for the second year in a row. (I don't think the London Eye is in any danger.) I shall have to take some photos for you. I guess that means I will have to in at least once more before Christmas huh?

I am thankful for...
The knowledge of the true meaning of Christmas. It helps to keep my expectations and desires in check. I don't feel tempted to go overboard on anything because I know that's not what it's all about and if anything . . . overspending and giving into the commercial stress shoved down our throats by a greedy media and financial sector only detracts from the beauty and joy that Christmas is all about!

From the kitchen...
Zip, nada, zilch, nothing . . . I think I need to change that, today!

I am wearing...
Pink nightie (M&S), Pink jim jam bottoms, pink slippers, aqua robe. Layering for warmth and comfort . . . again!

I am creating...
I am working on a commission project at the moment which I can't show anyone as I don't want to spoil any surprises.

I am going...
I have an appointment to have my hair cut today, the daily reading lessons every morning, a fasting blood test tomorrow morning, (early, thank goodness!), Presidency Meeting tomorrow night for my church calling, Dog Groomer on Friday (to get Mitzie all spruced up for the holidays), and a wedding on Saturday morning, plus a Baptism on Saturday night! Whew!! A busy week indeed!!

I am reading...



The American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld

On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband’s presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House . . . and the repercussions of a life lived, as she puts it, “almost in opposition to itself.”

A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice learned the virtues of politeness early on from her stolid parents and small Wisconsin hometown. But a tragic accident when she was seventeen shattered her identity and made her understand the fragility of life and the tenuousness of luck. So more than a decade later, when she met boisterous, charismatic Charlie Blackwell, she hardly gave him a second look: She was serious and thoughtful, and he would rather crack a joke than offer a real insight; he was the wealthy son of a bastion family of the Republican party, and she was a school librarian and registered Democrat. Comfortable in her quiet and unassuming life, she felt inured to his charms. And then, much to her surprise, Alice fell for Charlie.

As Alice learns to make her way amid the clannish energy and smug confidence of the Blackwell family, navigating the strange rituals of their country club and summer estate, she remains uneasy with her newfound good fortune. And when Charlie eventually becomes President, Alice is thrust into a position she did not seek–one of power and influence, privilege and responsibility. As Charlie’s tumultuous and controversial second term in the White House wears on, Alice must face contradictions years in the making: How can she both love and fundamentally disagree with her husband? How complicit has she been in the trajectory of her own life? What should she do when her private beliefs run against her public persona?

In Alice Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld has created her most dynamic and complex heroine yet. American Wife is a gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and the exigencies of fate into a brilliant tapestry–a novel in which the unexpected becomes inevitable, and the pleasures and pain of intimacy and love are laid bare.

I'm almost all the way through this book now, and I am going to be sorry when I am done. That's the sign of a good book, I think!! Less than a chapter to go!

I am hoping...
That all my packages and cards get to where they need to be on time. I think most of the packages have been delivered already, but I am very late getting my cards out this year!

I am hearing...
Early morning sounds as the world wakes up around me. Every day sounds. Peaceable and comforting. The odd sound of a car as it passes . . . the clock ticking . . . Mitzie snozzling . . . the keys tap-tapping. Home Sweet Home.

Around the house...

Source: frenchmademoiselle.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

I just love the layered colours of this . . . the ecru's, the white's . . . That bedcover is just gorgeous. It just proves that you don't need a lot of colour to bring beauty into a room, just a lot of subtle changes in one colour can be very effective and beautiful. That looks like a bed I would have a very difficult time getting out of in the morning!

I am looking forward to...
I am really looking forward to our Sacrament Meeting this week. It is the children's Nativity play. I love the Nativity play. It is always so sweet and tender. It brings such a joyful feeling into my heart to see the children act out the Christmas story and to sing those old familiar and sacred songs about the birth of our Saviour . . .

If I could change one thing it would be ...
That no child in this world ever go to bed hungry, or cold, or feeling unloved or afraid.

One of my favourite things...
Is playing on Pinterest. I could happily lose myself on there for several hours without any problem at all.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
J-A-M-P-A-C-K-E-D!!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Would it not be lovely, at this very special time of year, to be a child again just for a moment . . . to feel so innocent and hopeful . . . to be able to forget the daily cares and woes of life . . . to see the magic in a decorated and brightly lit tree . . . to believe that it was totally possible for a fat man with a white beard in a red suit to squeeze his way down a chimney or through a key hole . . . to believe in magic sacks which hold endless amounts of toys and treasures . . . to look at the Christmas story with all the faith and innocence of a child, without question and in wonder . . . and yet . . . it is a commandment.

"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
~Matt. 18:3

As a closing thought I would like to leave you with this:

Great is the power of might and mind,
But only love can make us kind,
And all we are, or hope to be
Is empty pride and vanity,
If love is not a part of all,
The greatest man is very small.
~Helen Steiner Rice

I think if all people in this world were to garner their every action with love . . . it would be a very beautiful and very different world in deed . . .

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!

This is one of our favourite soups during the cooler winter months. It's delicious and uses things I have around most of the time. Well, except for the Jerusalem Artichokes . . . those are really only available at this time of year. You could substitute tinned artichoke hearts for them if you wanted to, or potatoes, or even parsnips.



*Turnip and Jerusalem Artichoke Soup*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

A delicious heart warming soup. Perfect for rainy days. The flavours go so well together. You can keep it vegetarian or dress it up by adding bacon, croutons, cream or all three! Really though, it’s delicious all on it’s own. Rainy day comfort in a bowl . . .

2 medium onions, chopped
1 TBS olive oil
1 small swede, peeled and chopped
1 pound Jerusalem artichokes, peeled and chopped (drop into acidulated water as you feel them to keep them from turning colour)
4 ounces split red lentils (1/4 pound)
2 pints vegetable stock (I use marigold) (4 cups)
1 bay leaf
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a medium sized pot over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook for several minutes, stirring. Add the chopped swede and artichokes, stirring to coat them in the oil, and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, then pop the lid on, reduce the heat to low and let them sweat for about 5 minutes, stirring several times to keep them from sticking. (you may have to add a bit of stock)

Rinse the lentils and add them to the vegetables along with the stock and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil and let boil for about 10 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 25 minutes longer or until the lentils and vegetables are tender.

Remove the bay leaf and puree with a stick blender or in your food processor or liquidizer. (always be very careful doing this) You can either make it really smooth, or leave it a bit chunky, it’s up to you. I, myself, like it smooth and velvety.

Season to taste and serve with crusty bread. This is when you’d add the croutons, bacon crumbles or a dollop of cream if you wished.



Over in The English Kitchen today I am presenting a lovely assortment of delicious Starters for your Christmas Lunch. Shown here is a Festive Prawn Cocktail. There are 7 recipes to choose from, all delicious, all simple and all quick and easy.

Poetry Saturday . . . Children's Song

Source: iheartfaces.com via Marie on Pinterest

We live in our own world.
A world that is too small
For you to stoop and enter
Even on hands and knees,
The adult subterfuge

Source: prettypic.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

And although you probe and pry
With analytic eye,
And eavesdrop all our talk
With an amused look,
You cannot find the centre

Source: mypansyeyes.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Where we dance, where we play,
Where life is still asleep
Under the closed flower,
Under the smooth shell
Of eggs in the cupped nest
That mock the faded blue
Of your remoter heaven.
~R S Thomas

Source: google.com via Marie on Pinterest

Don't you ever just wish you could be a child again, if only for a moment . . . and be able to recapture all the innocence and joy that was yours before you knew the world was round, and the reality of life punched a hole into your balloon? Every once in a while I catch a little glimpse but it is fleeting at best . . .



I did a bit of a self portrait the other afternoon. I fell in love with it. I do seem to lose myself in another world when I am painting and creating. It's all quite lovely. I suppose it is then that I escape and run away into childish thoughts and dreams . . .

As usual it is available as a card or a print.

If you could spare a few happy thoughts or prayers for our good friend Sybil (A Day in the Life) right now. She's had a hard year filled with great loss, and has just had to have her much beloved pup Dee put down. If you could pop over and give her some positivity that would be lovely, and I know she would appreciate it so very much. It is so heartbreaking when we have to say farewell to our furry family members and we feel their loss as keenly as we would any family member. Sybil is a dear sweet friend and it grieves me that she should have to suffer yet again another blow . . . Sybil, we love you and are carrying you in prayer.

When my kids were growing up I made this tasty supper dish at least once a week for them. They loved it. It’s an old recipe given to me by the mother of a friend out in Alberta when we lived there. It’s called Goulash, but I always told the kids it was called Monkey in the Middle . . . probably because I always put it into the middle of their plates and surrounded it with rice or noodles and a vegetable on the outside. They couldn’t wait to devour it. I’m not sure if that was because it was so delicious or because of the name . . . most likely it was both. This is another recipe from my Big Blue Binder.



*Mrs McNevin’s Goulash*
Serves 4 - 6
Printable Recipe

I have an old blue binder that holds recipes that I have collected from friends and family and magazines throughout the many years. This one is a real treasure and I never make it but what I don’t think of Mrs. McNevin. The mother of a friend of ours, she was so kind to me, a young bride living far away from the bosom of my own family. She took me under her wing and treated me just like one of her own. This deliciously spicy stewed meat goes very well with rice or noodles.

2 pounds of stewing beef, trimmed of any fat and cut into cubes
2 TBS cooking oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
½ cup tomato catsup
2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
1 TBS soft light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
½ tsp dry mustard powder
¼ cup flour
1 cup water

Pre-heat the oven to 160*C/325*F/ gas mark 3. Season the meat lightly and coat it in the flour.

Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet and add the meat. Brown it very well on all sides. Add the onion and garlic, Cook for a few minutes longer until the vegetables are softened and quite fragrant.

Add the catsup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, paprika and dry mustard. Stir it all together well. Stir in the water.

Tip it all into a casserole with a lid and then put it into the oven to cook for 2 hours or so, until the meat is very tender and the sauce is thickened. Delicious!



Over in The English Kitchen today, you will find some deliciously scrummy Fruit and Nut Flap Jacks!

The Simple Woman's Day book . . .

FOR TODAY, November 22nd, 2011...

Outside My Window...
It is cold, dark and damp. Here comes winter! I wish we would have a big freeze though as I am starting to get another cold. I can't believe it! The whole time I worked down south, I got maybe two colds in 7 years and this is at least my 4th one since moving back to Chester 18 months ago!

I am thinking...
I ponder daily my many blessings, the answers to prayers . . . my walk with the Saviour. I know some may think me silly . . . but when I thought I might have cancer, I really sat and reassessed my life. It became all that much sweeter. I weeded the important out from the not so important. I don't want to forget that, or become complacent. I want to live each day as if it were my last.

I am thankful for...
Oh, I am more thankful than you can ever imagine that I do not have cancer. When I got the results it was like a HUGE load had been lifted off my shoulders. I am ever so thankful also for all of the prayers and petitions which were spoken and offered on my behalf. I don't think anyone on earth has ever felt as loved or as carried as I did. You are all so very wonderful.

From the kitchen...
Leftover Carrot Pudding (see below). And it's almost tooooo good. A delicious alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding. Only down side is you can't keep it to allow it to mature like a Christmas Pudding . . . so it will have to be made just before Christmas . . . or you can make it and freeze it. It also freezes very well.

I am wearing...
Pink nightie (M&S), Pink jim jam bottoms, pink slippers, aqua robe. Layering for warmth and comfort. I wish I could wear my night clothes all day, but alas . . . I don't think Todd would tolerate it! He'd think me very, very lazy!

I am creating...
I did this yesterday:




Not sure how I feel about it though. I suppose it will do.
I've also gotten quite a bit more done on my crochet afghan. (I know, I should be finished it by now, but I only do a little bit each night as we are watching the telly.)

I am going...
We are taking Mitzie to the Vet this morning. She was ill day before yesterday, vomitting several times. Yesteday we thought she was ok, but she vomitted again just before tea time, so we called the Vet and made an appointment for her this morning. I hope she will be ok. I can't help thinking about our Jess. I made Todd let Mitzie sleep with us last night so I could keep an eye on her. She seems ok this morning. She had a bit of egg last evening and kept it down, but better to be safe than sorry.

I am reading...



The American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld

On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband’s presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House . . . and the repercussions of a life lived, as she puts it, “almost in opposition to itself.”

A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice learned the virtues of politeness early on from her stolid parents and small Wisconsin hometown. But a tragic accident when she was seventeen shattered her identity and made her understand the fragility of life and the tenuousness of luck. So more than a decade later, when she met boisterous, charismatic Charlie Blackwell, she hardly gave him a second look: She was serious and thoughtful, and he would rather crack a joke than offer a real insight; he was the wealthy son of a bastion family of the Republican party, and she was a school librarian and registered Democrat. Comfortable in her quiet and unassuming life, she felt inured to his charms. And then, much to her surprise, Alice fell for Charlie.

As Alice learns to make her way amid the clannish energy and smug confidence of the Blackwell family, navigating the strange rituals of their country club and summer estate, she remains uneasy with her newfound good fortune. And when Charlie eventually becomes President, Alice is thrust into a position she did not seek–one of power and influence, privilege and responsibility. As Charlie’s tumultuous and controversial second term in the White House wears on, Alice must face contradictions years in the making: How can she both love and fundamentally disagree with her husband? How complicit has she been in the trajectory of her own life? What should she do when her private beliefs run against her public persona?

In Alice Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld has created her most dynamic and complex heroine yet. American Wife is a gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and the exigencies of fate into a brilliant tapestry–a novel in which the unexpected becomes inevitable, and the pleasures and pain of intimacy and love are laid bare.

I have only just started this book, but so far it is a can't put it down type of book. I've had it in my bookcase for a couple of years and have only just now picked it up to read. I wish they had a Kindle version as it is a thick book and my arthritic wrists struggle to hold it in bed, but I shall persevere as it is that good!

I am hoping...
I am hoping that Mitzie is ok and that it is just a passing bug. She is very naughty when Todd takes her over to the park. If she finds a treat that has been dropped she grabs hold of it and brings it home. I always take them away from her and bin them. You just never know where they have come from. I told Todd he always should have a high value treat in his pocket that he can tempt her with to make her drop the one she's found. There are a lot of despicable people around and after having lost one dog to poisoning, I am loathe to lose another!

I am hearing...
Early morning sounds as the world wakes up around me. Every day sounds. Peaceable and comforting. My everyday sounds in any case. Our Mantel clock makes a noise as the hands move around it's face . . . not a tick tick, but a low rumbling. I miss old hand wound clocks. These modern battery operated ones are just not the same.

Around the house...

Source: google.co.uk via Marie on Pinterest

I have always held a fascination for old pot holders, or even new ones that look old. I have several that look like little dresses that I crocheted several years back and I have one crocheted one I bought from etsy a while back. I also have some lovely quilted ones that I bought on Etsy. I think they are quite lovely.



This is one of them. Isn't it sweet? I bought them from a shop named ScrapHappie AZ. I just love her shop. She has tons of pot holders in all different colours and patterns. They are very well made. I am saving up to get a few more sometime.

I am looking forward to...
We are having our Christmas Additional Meeting for Relief Society this Thursday evening and I am looking forward to it so very much. I know it is Thanksgiving on Thursday for all of you Americans out there. I miss Thanksgiving . . . living over here. I have tried to do it several times, but it is never quite the same.

If I could change one thing it would be ...
No child in the world would ever go to bed hungry, or cold, or feeling unloved or afraid. I wish that I could do more to help change that. We do our best, but it is not enough.

One of my favourite things...
Puttering. I love to putter. Todd often sits and watches the telly in the afternoons. I just can't make myself. I have to be doing something. I will watch the telly in the evenings, but not during the day if I can help it. I have to be really tired or feeling unwell to watch the telly in the daytime! I have a need to putter! Nothing important . . . just a bunch of little odd jobs and activities. That makes me happy. My mom and dad always had a nap in the afternoon . . . I hope I never feel the need to take naps. I want to be doing!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
I have the Vet for Mitzie today, the Additional Meeting on Thursday night and then Sheilagh and Ralph are supposed to be coming on Saturday. I hope that they can make it. I always enjoy their company so very much!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Source: greigedesign.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

A man must seek his happiness and inward peace from objects which cannot be taken away from him.
~Alexander Humboldt (1769-1859)

Peace and beauty often enter our hearts when we are able to appreciate the smaller things in life, the things that come free. A blue sky, the smell of freshly cut grass, the pretty colours of a rose's petals . . . the feel of dirt on our hands when gardening, a much beloved cuddle from a grandchild, love of family and friends. They are the things that stay with us forever and that have the most meaning.

As a closing thought I would like to leave you with this:

"We are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel. Enemy-occupied territory . . . that is what this world is." ~C S Lewis, Mere Christianity

Are you wearing your armour? Don't forget to put it on, and keep it up to scratch. The great deceiver is always looking for a chink in our armour that he can take advantage of.

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!

I have the sniffles again. In reality that cold that I had never really disappeared and yesteday it came back with a vengeance. There is nothing better for a cold than Chicken Soup. Well, it IS better if your mom makes it (I can attest to that!) but my mom is too far away to make any for me now, so I just have to make it for myself.



*Chicken With Rice Soup*
Serves 4-6
Printable Recipe

Commonly known as Jewish Penicillin this soup is good for whatever ails you. I always keep my carcasses from my roast chickens to make this soup. As I always cut up chickens myself to use in other recipes I usually always have bags of chicken backs and necks in the freezer as well, which are very good when used in this soup also! Its amazing what you can do with a few bones and some vegetables!

1 spent chicken carcass (if there is not a lot of meat left on the carcass you can add a few chicken wings or a leg)
1 bay leaf
1 sprig thyme
1 carrot, unpeeled and cut in half
1 stalk of celery
Handful of celery leaves
1 onion, unpeeled, cut in half, root end removed
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper

To finish:
1 carrot peeled and grated
¼ of a swede peeled and grated
1 handful of long grain rice

Put your chicken carcass in a pot and cover with boiling water. Add the bay leaf, thyme, carrot, celery, celery leaves, onion and salt and pepper. Bring back to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1 ½ hours to 2 hours. Strain broth into a clean pot. Discard vegetables and pick off as much meat as you can from off of the bones. Cut into small chunks. Bring broth to a boil and reduce somewhat. Taste and adjust seasoning. (If it is not very strong you can add a TBS or two of Marigold vegetable powder, but it really shouldn‘t be necessary.)

Add the grated vegetables and the rice and simmer for about 15 minutes until cooked. Add the diced chicken meat. Heat through and then serve with some nice crusty rolls.

Words to live by . . .

I found this poem of sorts the other day and thought it was too good not to share it with all of you. I have no idea of who wrote it as there was no author attributed to it. Whoever it was, they are pretty wise!

Standing for what you believe in regardless of the odds against you,
and the pressure that tears at your resistance
. . . is Courage.

Keeping a smile on your face when inside you feel like dying,
for the sake of supporting others
. . . is Strength.

Stopping at nothing and doing what's in your heart
That you know is right
. . . is Determination.

Doing more than is expected, to make another's life a little more bearable,
without uttering a single complaint
. . . is Compassion.

Helping a friend in need, no matter the time or effort,
to the best of your ability
. . . is Loyalty.

Holding your head high
And being the best you know you can be when life
seems to fall apart at your feet,
. . . is Fortitude.

Facing each difficulty with thoughts that
time will bring you better tomorrows,
And never giving up
. . . is Confidence.

There are days when I can say that I do very easily live by all these thoughts . . . and then there are others when I fail at some of them abysmally. That is life I guess . . . sometimes we do good and then other times we do better, and sometimes we even manage to do best!



Mondays are Family Home Evenings in our home, as they are in most of the church. This is one night a week where LDS families set apart the time to do something together as a family. We may only be two, but we always do something special on Monday evenings because as small as we may be . . . we are a family and we celebrate that. This week we watched a film called "17 Miracles," which was based on the journey of the Willie Handcart Company to Salt Lake City in 1856.

From Wikepedia:

The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transport their belongings. The Mormon handcart movement began in 1856 and continued until 1860.

Motivated to join their fellow Church members in Utah but lacking funds for full ox or horse teams, nearly 3,000 Mormon pioneers from England, Wales, Scotland and Scandinavia made the journey from Iowa or Nebraska to Utah in ten handcart companies. The trek was disastrous for two of the companies, which started their journey dangerously late and were caught by heavy snow and severe temperatures in central Wyoming. Despite a dramatic rescue effort, more than 210 of the 980 pioneers in these two companies died along the way. John Chislett, a survivor, wrote, "Many a father pulled his cart, with his little children on it, until the day preceding his death."

Although fewer than 10 percent of the 1847–68 Latter-day Saint emigrants made the journey west using handcarts, the handcart pioneers have become an important symbol in LDS culture, representing the faithfulness and sacrifice of the pioneer generation. They continue to be recognized and honored in events such as Pioneer Day, Church pageants, and similar commemorations.



Based on actual events this film portrayed one of those two handcart companies which were caught by early snow and severe temperatures. It focused on some of the many miracles which occured and were documented during their harsh journey West.

The thought occured to me whilst we were watching it that . . . while none of the miracles were in and of themselves large enough to completely alleviate the sufferings of these brave and steadfast peoples . . . they were enough to give them hope and to help them to keep moving forward towards their Zion.



The strength and faith of these early pioneers is such a touching story, and some 155 years later the example that they set is still inspiring people to want to be better . . . to do better. It is still giving hope to the pioneers . . . and . . . are we not all pioneers? Working our way through our journey back home to our Zion . . . to our Heavenly Home? We may not have to face the same perils that these early settlers faced, but our faith can still be stretched and tested in a myriad of ways that we cannot and would not ever hope to be able to comprehend. Bad things happen to good people all the time. If you ever have a chance to see the film, I highly recommend it! I know I was greatly strengthened by it myself.

Here's a lovely, quick and easy soup that is based on a recipe that I was given a number of years back by a friend. It's delicious! I love it and I think you will to. These are soup days with the cooling temperatures and wet and dreary days.



*Black Bean Soup*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

I absolutely love this quick and easy soup. I got the recipe from my friend Nic. Full of rich, Tex Mex flavour, this always pleases. DO make the coriander cream for on top. It is like the icing on a lovely, delicious cake!

½ cup sun dried tomato halves
1 cup boiling water
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 tin (425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
14 ounces chicken broth
1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp hot pepper sauce (Tabasco)
¼ cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
CORIANDR CREAM:
¼ cup sour cream
1 TBS minced fresh coriander leaves
½ tsp ground coriander spice
1 TBS plus 1 ½ tsp fresh lime juice


Combine the sun dried tomatoes and 1 cup boiling water in a small bowl. Make sure the tomatoes are covered and let stand until the tomatoes are soft. Drain, reserving the liquid, and then chop the tomatoes.
Sauté the bacon and onion in a large saucepan until the onion is soft. If you are using back bacon you may need to add a little bit of olive oil. Add the tomatoes, tomato liquid, beans, chicken broth, garlic, cumin and pepper sauce. Mix well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for five minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the coriander leaves.
Blend with a stick blender (or in batches in the blender or food processor) until smooth. Keep hot.
To make the coriander cream combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing well.
Ladle hot soup into bowls and drizzle with the coriander cream. Delicious! You may garnish with some more chopped coriander if you wish.



Cooking in The English Kitchen today, a Luxury Cauliflower Cheese.

“The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf