Broken to become beautiful . . .

The oldest of historic monuments in Tehran in Iran, is the Royal Palace, also known as the Golestan Palace. It belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud walls of Tehran's historic citadel. There you can see one of the most beautiful mosaic works in the world. It's ceilings and walls sparkle like diamonds, glittering in multifaceted reflections.

When the palace was originally designed, the architect had specified huge sheets of mirrors to be placed on the walls. When the first shipment of mirrors arrived from Paris during the construction, they discovered to their horror that the mirrors had shattered during the journey. The contractor ordered them thrown into the trash and went to the architect with the sad news . . .



To the contractor's wonder, the architect ordered that all of the broken pieces of mirror be collected and further smashed down into tiny pieces. He then wanted the tiny pieces glued to the wall to form a mosaic of shilvery, shimmering, mirrored pieces of glass. The end result was stunningly beautiful.

Broken to become beautiful . . .



What a wonderful metaphor for life this is. We are all broken at one time or another, in one way or another . . . There is no one on this earth safe from moments of sorrow, disappointment or despair . . . into each life some rain must fall . . .

It is possible though, to turn your scars into beautiful stars . . . to become better despite the brokenness of our lives. I think one would find that in the great museums of the world, it is extremely rare to find a treasure of antiquity that is unbroken. Most of the precious pieces in the world are only fragments . . . hallowed reminders of a glorious past. Like them, with God's power to repair and restore our lives, we , too can become rare and beautiful objects of antiquity, our very brokenness adding to our worth and beauty . . . the broken pieces saved and restored into a better and priceless mosaic work . . .



We had a lovely day with Pat and Peter yesterday. Although it did rain later in the day, the weather held out for the most part, and we had an enjoyable jaunt around Chester, taking in most of the sights. I will share some pictures once I have time to download and edit them!

We often have breakfast for supper. Quick and easy it makes a change from the usual fare. This is one delicious way I have of presenting a breakfast type of supper . . . all the usual bits stacked together into a deliciously scrummy toastie!




*Bacon, Egg and Cheese Toastie*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This is a wonderful way to serve eggs . . . nicely stacked in one delicious pile of toast, bacon, egg and cheese. Each mouthful is delicious!

4 slices of thick, country style, white bread
12 slices of dry cure streaky bacon
8 ounces of medium to strong cheddar cheese, cut into slices
1 TBS butter
4 large free range eggs
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

First cook your bacon. Preheat your oven to 220*C/425*F/ Gas mark 7. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Lay the bacon slices out onto the foil, without overlapping. Pop into the heated oven and bake for 6 minutes. Turn the pan around 180 degrees and bake for another 4 to 7 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon. For this recipe you will only want it medium done and not too crispy as it will be going under the grill after a bit. Remove the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Blot the top with more kitchen paper to get rid of all the grease. Set aside and discard foil and paper towels.

Heat the grill to high. Toast your bread lightly on both sides. Remove from the grill, place on a baking tray, and then top each slice with an equal amount of the cheese. Divide the bacon amongst them and then lay it on top of the cheese.

Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium high heat and pop the butter into it. Once foaming add the eggs, one at a time. Turn the heat down to medium and cook them slowly for a few minutes, until the whites are set and the holks are as done as you like them. If you wish you can flip them over. We like them sunny side up. When they are done to your taste, turn out the heat and move the pan to the side while you grill your toasties.

Pop the tray with the toasties back under the grill and grill until the cheese is melting and bubbling and the bacon is as crisp as you would like. It should only take 4 or 5 minutes. Remove from the oven to warm plates and place a fried egg neatly on top of each. Dust with a sprinkle of sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.



There's a lovely light Fennel and Citrus Salad on offer today, over on The English Kitchen. Refreshly crisp and delicious!

Maggie in answer to your question yesterday about the Graham Crackers. They are a North American cracker, which is similar in flavour to Digestive biscuits. Normally I would replace the Graham Crackers with the Digestives, but in the case of that dessert they wouldn't really work that well, because they are round. You can get Graham Crackers here, but only in shops specializing in American ingredients. I would suggest using a rectangular biscuit such as a tea biscuit or even shortcakes. They would work perfectly and the result would be very scrummy indeed!

The Wonders of Nature . . .

I have a great fondness for flowers . . . the varieties and colours of species never cease to amaze me . . . when I look at them I often think to myself and wonder how anyone could not believe in a God when faced with such beautiful and tiny miracles . . . each one individual and breathtakingly wonderous to behold . . .



I am not much of a gardener though. Whilst I can appreciate the beauty of each blossom . . . I do not have much of a green thumb . . . nor the patience required to produce them. I do love to watch with delight on the television each year the Chelsea Flower Show though . . . and as I watch I dream of one day having a garden as beautiful as some of the ones that are shown.

One year an enterprising blackbird built it's nest in one of the gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and went on to sit on a clutch of eggs. A rule of the show is that, at the end of the show, all exhibits must be promptly cleared away.



It was heart warming to note though that on that particular year the powers that be decided that the garden with the precious nest should be left undisturbed until the eggs had hatched and the fledglings flown . . .

I was glad to see that respect for nature and God's creations was not completely dead.



We have been enjoying several nature programs which have been showing on the telly on Sunday Evenings. Each week we watch and enjoy Country File, which is a rural type of magazine program that moves around the country bringing all the wonders of the seasons to us right in the comforts of our own living rooms. This is a program that goes on for most of the year and we just love it. It's always informative and very interesting.

There is another show on at the moment as well, called Halcyon River Diaries. It follows a wildlife photographer and his family in a home that they have set up near a River . . . where they are busy observing all the life that abodes on the river and it's banks. It's completely fascinating . . . sometimes sad, and always colourful and interesting. If you have not been watching it, I highly recommend that you tune in to both of these shows. There are still two episodes of the River Diaries left to view and, even at this late date, an awful lot of entertainment left to see. We also are great lovers of the Spring Watch shows.



Our garden is just filled with lovely little sparrows and blackbirds . . . some doves and the occasional starling. We haven't seen much else here though . . . no robins to speak of . . . and no tits, which is amazing. I thought they were very common. One day we saw a Sparrow Hawk sitting on top of the hedge. No sparrows out and about that day. They kept themselves well hidden inside the greenery, but we could hear them chatting away . . . perhaps warning the others that a predator was about and it was best to stay hidden . . .

I just love the beauty and the intricacies of nature in all it's forms. Sometimes cruel . . . I cannot bear to watch that side of it. I know it is the perfect balance of things . . . but it breaks my heart to see creatures suffer or die. I must always avert my eyes . . .



I am so excited because our two friend Pat and Peter are coming to spend the day with us today. We'll give them the grand tour of Chester!! It will be so good to see them. Pat is a blogging friend that I made when we were all over on AOL Journals before AOL shut them down. She and her husband lived not too far from us down in Kent. They have a lot further to go now if they want to see us, but I am happy that they are willing to make the sacrifice and spend some time with us no matter how far away it might be. Todd is ever such a good tour guide and so I am sure they will enjoy this day through his eyes as will I. We'll probably lunch down by the River Dee in one of the pubs there, but at the end of the day we'll come back here to the house and I have an easy dinner prepared already. Just a chicken pot pie, some salad and then this tasty dessert that I made yesterday afternoon. It's one that I have had in my Big Blue Binder for ages and ages. I am sure there are lots of versions of it floating around, and I have seen it called by many names. I like to call it Refrigerator Eclair Dessert though because to me it tastes just like an Eclair . . .



*Refrigerator Eclair Dessert*
Serves 10
Printable Recipe

Amazingly enough, although this uses simple ingredients, it comes off as tasting just like a chocolate eclair! Quick and easy to make, creamy and delicious, this is one that I have had kicking around my big blue binder for eons. Everyone always loves it.

graham wafers
1 (6 serving size) package of cook and serve vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups whipping cream
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp vanilla

For the icing:
1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
3 TBS of milk (approximately)

For the chocolate drizzle:
1 ounce of semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp butter



Cook the vanilla pudding mix as directed on the package, using only 2 1/2 cups milk. Once cooked, allow to cool, stirring it from time to time.


Line a 13 by 9 inch ungreased baking pan with graham crackers, cutting them to fit in snuggly. Spread the cooked and cooled vanilla pudding over the graham crackers, covering them totally.

Whip the cream together with the 1 TBS of sugar and the vanilla, until it is stiff, being careful not to overwhip it. If you accidentally do overwhip it, you can stir in a little more cream until you get it the consistency that you want. Spread this over top of the pudding. I find this easiest to do by dolloping it all over the top in small dollops and then spreading the dollops out to meet each other. Cover the top with another layer of graham crackers, again cutting them to fit snuggly and covering the top of the whipped cream completely.

Whisk together the icing sugar and enough milk to make a fairly runny icing. Spoon and spread over top of the graham crackers, making sure they are totally covered. Melt the chocolate chips along with the butter in the microwave. (about 30 seconds on high) Drizzle this over top of the icing in a decorative manner. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight to chill.

Cut into squares to serve.



Over on The English Kitchen today . . . Potato Pizzas.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY, May 25th, 2010...

Outside My Window...
The sun is up. It gets light very early these days and is not getting dark at night now until we are going to bed. It doesn't seem that long ago that the days were very short and now they seem very long. It's all so amazing to me . . . this lengthening and shortening of days. I don't know how people cope that live way up North and end up with six months of darkness and six months of daylight. that would seem very strange to me! I don't think I'd ever sleep!


I am thinking...
About the way that things in life change from one moment to the next. Not always . . . you can go for a long time without any changes as all and then all of a sudden your life will be tipped upside down completely and the next thing you know . . . you're living a completely different life altogether! We are as flotsam rising on the ever changing tides of the sea, being taken here and being taken there . . . thank God for the gospel which gives me strength and purpose!

I am thankful for...
There is always much to be thankful for. I think as I sit here this morning I am thankful for the recent changes in my life, which, although very difficult at times, have also been blessings. I am so grateful that I don't need to get up and go to work for that woman anymore . . . I cannot begin to express how terrible it had gotten over these past few years . . . and while it was somewhat of a shock to lose my job and our home . . . and I would never have quit . . . I am very grateful that the choice to do so was taken out of my hands and here I am, free, free, free . . . at last! Heavenly Father knows what we need and does work in very mysterious ways.

From the kitchen...
There's a dearth of goodies really. Well, unless you count the rhubarb pie. I need to make something for tomorrow. Our friends Pat and Peter will be here for the day and I want something special . . . I have no idea of what it will be yet though!! Sometimes I even surprise myself!!

I am wearing...
A white cotton nightie, with an embroidered bodice. It is pretty and I do like pretty and feminine things. I never used to buy myself pretty things, because I always felt that you had to be pretty yourself in order to wear them . . . but now I just say what the heck and I wear them anyways!

I am creating...



I have a kind of a collage I am working on, but can't say too much about just yet. I did get a lot of things done last week, including a painting, a pillow and a cute little pincushion/needle case set.



I also got another mouse planned and cut out yesterday. She's going to be a pretty little thing. I may make her a male companion, but we'll see how it goes . . .



So far there hasn't been a lot of interest in any of these things, but that's ok. I can live with them myself. I did lower some of the prices of my dolls in my Etsy shop this past week. It's hard times now for many people. We have noticed a big difference around here. People just don't have money to spend for non-essentials anymore. I was thinking about Christmas this year myself, yesterday . . . I don't know what I am going to do. Of course anything could happen between now and then and I shall just have to have faith that we'll be ok!!

I am going...
We have our Home Teachers coming later today and then there is a Relief Society Activity tonight, an Al Fresco Supper, which sounds interesting. I don't know if I will know anyone there, but I shall be brave and go anyways. It's never easy fitting into a new place. Although this is a Ward that we belonged to before we moved down to Kent, it has changed a great deal over the years. We were looking at our Wedding pictures the other day and there was one taken of the Whole Ward that had attended. The whole front row in the picture is gone . . . most of them having passed away. It's amazing. With the old Ward having been split and amalgamated in with another Ward, we hardly know anyone in it anymore!

I am reading...





Never Change, by Elizabeth Berg

A self-anointed spinster at fifty-one, Myra Lipinski is reasonably content with her quiet life, her dog, Frank, and her career as a visiting nurse. But everything changes when Chip Reardon, the golden boy she adored in high school, is assigned as her new patient. Choosing to forgo treatment for an incurable illness, Chip has returned to his New England hometown to spend what time he has left. Now, Myra and Chip find themselves engaged in a poignant redefinition of roles, and a complicated dance of memory, ambivalence, and longing. I have only just started this book and have not gone very far into it, but knowing Elizabeth Berg as a writer I am sure it will be a cracking read!!

I am hoping...
That all this business of Volcanic Ash sorts it out soon and that it doesn't cause any problems when it comes to our trip to Canada in July. Thankfully we had already paid for the tickets when all this business of my job loss happened, or we probably wouldn't have been able to go at all. So the trip itself is not a concern . . . but this Volcanic Ash is. I don't want to lose our tickets and I want to see my family. I am praying extra hard that things go through as planned!

I am hearing...
A ticking clock, the tapping of my fingertips on the computer keys, birds singing in the garden . . . the fridge humming in the kitchen. Normal sounds. House sounds.

Around the house...
I must clean and tidy the house today. I didn't get anything done yesterday as I was helping Todd with his catalogues and of course I did nothing on Sunday. You would not think that two people could create much of a mess . . . but we do!

One of my favorite things...
Praying. I love communicating with my Heavenly Father and I am so grateful that I am a praying woman. I don't know how people can cope in life without the power and strength of prayer.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
We are spending the day with Pat and Peter tomorrow. We are going to show them all around Chester and then on Saturday we are planning on driving up to Blackpool to see the two Phils. Lots of excitment this week!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



I think Bleeding Hearts are one of the most beautiful and amazing flowers. So intricate and so very pretty . . . I think all of nature is beautiful and amazing. How can anyone look at all the beauty that surrounds us and not see God in all of it . . . and there is beauty everywhere, even in the most dismal of surroundings . . . you only have to look for it.

And there you have it, my Simple Woman's Day Book for today. 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!)

Here's a simple little breakfast which might seem to be a bit extravagant . . . but a little treat once in a while never hurts does it? I think sometimes that it is the simple things that are the best things of all . . .



*Little Berry Toasts with a Drizzle of Honey*
Serves 2

Crispy toast covered with mascarpone cheese, fresh berries and a drizzle of delicious honey. Quick to put together, simple and yet very impressive when done.

6 sliced of French Bread, cut 1/2 inch thick
1/4 cup of mascarpone cheese at room temperature
1 cup of fresh berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, whichever berries you happen to have!)
1/4 cup of fragrant honey, such as orange blossom or lavender

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Place the slices of bread onto a baking sheet and toast them in the heated oven for about 12 minutes or so, until they are toasted golden brown.

Place the toasted bread slices on each of two plates. Spread each with some of the mascarpone cheese. Arrange several berries on top of each and then drizzle each lightly with some of the honey. Serve immediately.



There's Fish Finger Enchiladas cooking today over on The English Kitchen. Unusual and very, very tasty!

Thoughts on a Monday . . .

We had a nice quiet evening last night. We had gone for a long walk in the sunshine after our supper and then, when we got back in, we just vegetated in front of the telly.It felt good to be lazy and there were some cracking programs on . . . several nature shows on the BBC, (I just love nature shows) and then at 9 pm an audience with Michael Buble was on.

Oh how I love Michael Buble, and not just because he is Canadian. He has such a lovely voice and engaging personality. You can tell he is really nice and it's not a put on. He's a very entertaining entertainer as well! If I was the Queen, I'd request him to perform for me at the Royal Variety show for sure!



Have you ever wondered about all the hard work and thought that goes into a television program?? Much like life . . . what you see in the foreground depends entirely on what's gone on in the background. The script, the actors/presenters/performers, the lighting and actual recording, the audience if one is needed . . . all have been put together to create the perfect mix.

A fulfilling life too, should be well thought out. Most success is achieved only through good preparation ahead of time. A marathon runner trains for months before the big run and, even for a short performance, a dedicated musician practises for weeks and weeks ahead of time. That lovely show with Michael Buble last night was probably rehearsed several times before we got to see the actual thing.



Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, always spoke and wrote about being prepared. In fact that was, and is, the motto of the Scouts . . . "Be Prepared." He knew that being prepared for the small things in life would help to lead youngsters to practise the habit consistently. By doing so, they would be ready to meet any great challenges with courage, strength and even life's disasters with a modicum of serenity.



I am ever grateful for the time I spent as a youth in both the Brownies and the Girl Guides. I learned so very much in those organizations. It was good preparation for the reality of life and many of my skills were gained from what I picked up during those years and in those meetings. I wonder do many children still belong??? I do hope so.



It was another beautiful and warm spring day yesterday. Today is supposed to be even warmer still, and probably not a little humid. I am not complaining though . . . it feels really nice after the cold winter we have had this year!

Salad days . . . that is what we have been having. It's a good thing I like salad! Todd is not so fussed, but he eats it anyways, with hardly any complaints. He's really very easy to please.



*Punchy Pea Pesto Salad*
Serve 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

I like to make my own pesto for this (see below). It's so easy to make and tastes so much better than the stuff you might get in a jar. If you must use store bought pesto though . . . do try to get the fresh stuff from the chiller cabinet. Not only does it look better, but there is really no comparison to the jarred stuff.

4 ounces baby spinach leaves, washed and dried well
10 ounces frozen baby peas, de-frosted
1/2 cup prepared pesto
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 TBS pinenuts, toasted

Make sure you spinach leaves are really dry. Blot them with some paper toweling if they aren't. Place the spinach in a bowl along with the peas. Add the pesto and the cheese. Toss together. Season with some salt and pepper. Toss again and then sprinkle the pine nuts of top and serve immediately.

Note - this salad is not one that keeps for long, so don't toss it with the pesto until just before serving.


*Green Basil Pesto*
Makes approximately 1 cup
Printable Recipe

There is nothing better than making yor own pesto if you can. It's so easy, especially if you have a food processor that you can use.

180g fresh basil leaves (a big bag)
1 pinch sea salt
2 ounces good quality olive oil
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and cut in half
2 ounces pine nuts
4 tBS freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Wash your basil well by swishing it i a pan of cold water. Dry very carefully between paper towels, so as not to bruise it. Pick off and discard any stems.

Place the basil in the bowl of your food processor. Add the garlic, pine nuts and salt. Pulse for a few seconds to chop it all up finely. Begin to pulse again as you slowly add the olive oil through the feeder tube. When it has emulsified and is smooth, add the Parmesan cheese. Taste for seasoning and if need be add more salt and a bit of freshly ground black pepper if desired. Pulse once to mix together and then scrape it out into a bowl. This will keep for several days in the refrigerator.



Today on The English Kitchen a delicious Herbed Potato Salad!

Marie's Sunday Six

Is it Sunday again?? My goodness but the weeks seem to be rolling around quickly. Here we are almost into the end of May! We've been living back here in Chester for almost two months now. The time has gone very quickly don't you think? Time to share my weekly smile makers again. I love doing that. It is food for the soul to take time to pause and reflect on all that is good in life . . . those small and simple pleasures that bring joy in a very big way. So here are some of the things that have been bringing smiles to my heart this week!



Sunny warm days. Oh how I love them. Spring has finally spring in a big way and the temperatures are rising and the sun is shining. The world seems a brighter happier place when the sun is shining. All your sorrows seem that little bit smaller. It is good to feel it's warmth on your skin and to hear all the sounds and smell all the smells that go along with a sunny day! Lawn mowers mowing . . . children playing . . . barbeques doing their thing . . . insects humming . . . flowers blooming . . . oh, it's all so very wonderful!



The birds in the garden make me smile. I have always loved to watch the birds. From our table in the dining area of our home we can look right out at the back garden and we have several feeders placed here and there. They are well visited by the local birds and we get so much pleasure out of watching them. Not quite as many pretty birds as we had down South . . . but entertaining all the same. We just love it. Watching them perch on the bird bath and flutter their wings . . . watching them chitter and chatter amongst themselves . . . watching them feeding . . . or just scratching about the grass and garden looking for worms and insects . . . It doesn't matter that they are mostly sparrows. When I was a girl my favourite hymn used to be God Sees the Little Sparrow Fall. I think Sparrows are wonderful creatures and they must be very important to God as they are mentioned in the scriptures by name.



Our little vegetable garden makes me smile. We don't have a lot planted, but it is all starting to come up now. I am not sure what is planted where, as Todd did it all and it's kind of willy nilly, but all the little shoots are now popping up and heading towards the sun. I think baby anything is cute . . . animals, birds . . . plants. Isn't nature wonderful and amazing?



Walks along the River Dee. With the warmer dry weather we have been taking long walks along the River Dee each evening when we can. It's so beautiful to take in. We walk hand in hand down the paths . . . feeling the breeze that comes off the water, watching the swallows doing their aerial dance . . . talking, stretching our legs and minds . . . and just being together. I cherish each and every moment of our togetherness and am grateful for it.



Lovely telephone conversations with much loved friends. I had several of them this week and they always make me smile. Lura, Hazel, Angie . . . my mom and my dad, my sister . . . It is good to talk, and to share, and to remember. Todd always wonders what women have to talk about that they can talk for so long . . . I don't know! I only know it's special and wonderful and makes me smile! (seriously my mom could talk for hours about dust and it's always interesting!)



Breaking bread with friends. We had occasion to have several friends over last evening for an impromptu picnic. Nothing fancy . . . just plain old food and good company. Those are the best of times . . . I didn't get to do that very often when we were living down south . . . I worked most evenings, so it's really nice that we can do it more often up here. I have always thought that one of the finest ways to show your love for another is to feed them . . . there is something very special about sharing food with people you care about. It doesn't matter what you are eating . . . it only matters that you are together . . . even bread and butter becomes a feast.

And there you have it, my Sunday Six for this lazy late week in May . . .

We did have a lovely time with our friends last night. I did mostly cold food . . . some chicken breasts that I had marinated in honey and lemon and grilled. We had them cold and sliced over salad . . .then there was potato salad, coleslaw and this delicious macaroni salad. I have been making this for years. You could mess with it of course and add different things, and there are fancier pasta salads you could make . . . but sometimes simple is the best of all.



*Main Macaroni Salad*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

A delicious, simple macaroni salad. No frill and thrills, just good old fashioned flavour.

2 cups macaroni
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 TBS sweet pickle relish
2 TBS chopped spring onions
2 hard boiled eggs chopped
3/4 cup salad dressing or mayonnaise (Low fat or no fat work very well)
1 cup chopped ham (optional)
salt and black pepper to taste
sliced radish to garnish

Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain very well. Rinse with cold water. Drain well again. Place in a bowl. Add the celery, relish, onion, chopped eggs and ham. In a small bowl combine the salad dressing, salt and pepper. Pour over the salad and mix gently with a spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Cover and chill for several hours. Serve garnished with slices of radish.



For dessert we had my delicious world famous Carrot Cake! Check it out over on The English Kitchen!