A bi of this, a bit of that and everything inbetween

 Cuddle time was the order of the day yesterday.  I didn't do much of anything actually.  Mitzie didn't mind at all.  I think she sometimes thinks "her pets" are a boring lot, always busying themselves with clicking keys and channel changers, pots and pans or books . . . she'd much rather be the centre of our attention than all of those!   Little does she know that she is one of our little treasures and blessings in life.  This is not her favourite time of year when the grass in the garden begins to get wet and we close it off from her as a rule, not wanting muddy paw prints over everything in the house.  When we do get a run of a few sunny days we let her wander over onto the grassed area, but with Winter looming those days will be far and few now for a number of months.

I can hear her sighs now . . . big harrumphs, as she flops her head down upon her paws in great disgust.  She loves nothing more than wandering through the grassed area having a good old sniff and patrolling it for the dreaded cats . . . barking madly as she chases them and their scent away.

 

In reality she is a bit of a woos when it comes to the cats.  This is a case where her bark is much worse than her bite, because she is afraid to go very near to them.  Instead she comes back and trys to get us to accompany her in the chasing bit.  There's safety in numbers I suppose!

This is the time of year that the kitchen seems to overflow with the things we must put away and use up before the frosts begin.   Tomatoes, peppers, grapes, the last of the roses and zinnias, courgettes and cucumbers.  You begin to despair of ever seeing the end of these I fear.   I don't mind too awfully much.  It is a labor of love and why do we grow it if it's not to be used.  It's the dealing with it "all-at-once" business that gets rather tiresome I think!

But that is autumn . . . berries must be picked, likewise the pears and apples and plums.  All must be gathered in before it is too late.  The time for sitting around by the fire all day knitting and darning will  be upon us before we know it.



We still do have the odd nice and warm days, possibly even a stretch of a few at a time, sometimes embroidered with sunshine . . . Indian Summer . . . the Farewell Summer . . . days when goldenrod makes a pathway of sheer golden delight, and the meadows are tinged with rosy violets and the golds and browns of the spent seed pods of what was not that long ago in glorious bloom.   Acorns crunch beneath our feet as we walk, and all about us the trees flicker into flame, seemingly overnight.

Oh what a glorious time of year it is . . . but then I say that with each season that passes.  I fear I just enjoy it all, and the abundance of little joys and pleasures each one brings to our table . . .

Do yourself a favor.  Scroll down and click on the music to pause it and watch this wonderful little video.  I'll wait until you get back . . . 


I found this yesterday and was totally charmed with it.  Oh my but it does make my heart smile.  What a delightful pair this is, a father and his daughter.   How can one not be charmed with a pink Ukulele playing dad and his little girl singing together in this way???  Such a sweet thing to behold.  It is just adorable.


And with that I will leave you with a thought to carry around with you today . . .

So much has been given to me
I have not time to ponder over
that which has been denied.
- Helen Keller 

It's all about gratitude.  Gratitude makes ones life so much richer . . .



I'm showing off my top ten recipes over in The English Kitchen today.   There's sure to be something for everyone!

Have a fabulous Thursday. It's hard to believe it's Thursday already isn't it?  Whew!!

More excitement than I had anticipated . . .

Well, I have to confess that I had a pretty exciting and eventful day yesterday.  As you all know I haven't been feeling all too well lately and I have to say after visiting the Doctors the other day and him saying what he did about my EKG certainly threw me for a loop.  To say I was very distressed about it is mild.   I think he could have been a bit more circumspect when explaining things to me.

Yesterday morning I was very unwell.  I started to make a casserole for supper last evening, as the second set of Missionary Sisters were invited.   Todd had left to take Mitzie to the dog groomers.   I came over all giddy all of a sudden.  I was dizzy and clammy, sweating and I thought I was going to pass out, so I sat down for a bit. 

When Todd got home we thought it best that we cancel our dinner appointment for the evening.  As the day wore on I was more and more concerned, so much so that by early evening I was feeling very distressed and I asked Todd to call the NHS Direct people.  This is an after hours service for the Health Care system over here.  You can tell them what's going on and they will advise.   In any case after talking to them, the EMT's were sent immediately to our home.  I have to say that they were there in less than five minutes.  I was so impressed with the speed at which they arrived and also with their treatment and professionalism.

My blood pressure was extremely high and with everything, they thought it best I go to hospital.   And so I got to ride in the ambulance.  (I am sure the neighbors were all wondering what was going on.) I was at the hospital for about 6 hours. I don't know what they didn't check.   The good news is I was not having a heart attack.  Whew!  But there were some abnormalities on my EKG, just slight changes and so they feel I should visit my GP and get a referral to Cardiac Care.  The Doctor felt that there may be some miniscule blockage (s) and it would not hurt to have it all checked out.

I will go this morning to have my second EKG at the Doctors and make an appointment to speak with him about that referral.

I think most of my problem was that I was stressing about things and worrying and that was just making me feel worse and worse.   I am going to try hard not to do that.  Tall order I know!  I think I will just try counting my blessings instead of worrying about things that might never happen.

One thing I did do yesterday afternoon while I was stressing was a piece of artwork for one of the Sister Missionaries.   I was worried that if I ended up in hospital I wouldn't get it done and I didn't want to disappoint her.

   

She had fallen in love with one of my balloon girl pictures and had asked me if I would do one for her of her nieces.  She had given me a couple of photographs of them to refer to and this is what I came up with.  She just happened to stop by late yesterday afternoon and I was able to show it to her and she is delighted with it.  So that is good!  Now all I have to do is to print it out for her. 

I also got an order for some Christmas Cards for this year yesterday, so that is also good!  Every little helps!  That season of joy will soon be upon us and probably sooner than we think!

My order of the day today is to take it easy and to just relax and let life take care of itself.   I think I try to pack too much into my days perhaps.  Maybe a little bit more play is in order, and with that in mind I will leave you with a thought for today.

Live your life from your heart.
Share from your heart.
And your story will touch
and heal people's souls.
~Melody Beattie  


 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . . the dinner that never was!  Chicken, Bacon and Mushroom Cobbler!  Enjoy!


Have a fabulous day!  Thanks so much for all your happy thoughts and prayers. They mean the world to me. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 FOR TODAY Septembe 24th, 2013

Outside my window...
The sun is up.  I overslept this morning.  I didn't sleep too well last night.  It took me a long time to fall asleep and when I did it was very dreamy.

I am thinking...
(¯`✻´¯)
`*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ
"Go out into the world today
and love the people you meet.
Let your presence bring new light
in the hearts of people."  *✻ღϠ₡ღ
~ Mother Teresa
I wonder what the world would be like if everyone did this??  Oh what a different world we would live in.   Perhaps this is the way we can expect it will be once the Saviour returns and sets His kingdom up on earth?   I sure hope so!


I am thankful...
I am thankful that I was able to open my eyes this morning.

In the kitchen...




Check it out in The English Kitchen today . . . Storecupboard Pasta Puttanesca.   Tasty, tasty, and easy to make using store cupboard ingredients!

.I am wearing...
Nothing new here! Yep, in my nightie!  Today I have added a dressing gown though because it is a tad bit chilly.  That question always makes me smile.  I think back to my single chat room days and that was the first question lots of men would ask you.   With an opening question like that, you just knew this wasn't anyone you wanted to speak to. Duh . . .

I am creating...  



I did create this little picture yesterday in between appointments.  I just call is Sisters.   They look a bit pensive.  Again it is in the style of Modigliani.  I do like that style.   I like my other style too.   Todd's not sure about Modigliani.



Loving these little egg carton monsters from thecentsiblelife.com !  How cute are they?   I just think they are adorable and easy to make too!



I finished the little felt handsewn dolly and all of her clothing that I showed you before.   I think it will be a bit too old for Maryn at this point, so am saving it for a later date.  Instead I am in the process of making this bunny.  I bought the pattern here.   I think it will be a lot easier for her little fingers to dress and undress.  It's really cute.  I do enjoy hand sewing.  I should probably take up embroidery again.



 This is a recipe for delicious smelling Pumpkin Spice Salt Dough for making models, ornaments, or other decorations. Make your house smell like Fall!  As soon as I saw this I thought of Monique and her grandsons!  I am sure they would enjoy doing this project with you for Thanksgiving Monique!  Find out how on Fun at Home with the Kids.  I may even make some myself.  I am sure they smell gorgeous!



Wouldn't this make fabulous Christmas Gifts for your friends???   Fabulous.  You can find out more about it on Smart School House.   It uses simple and natural ingredients such as  oatmeal, brown and regular sugars, and baking soda, and coconut oil.  Sounds good enough to eat!



This is soooooooo cute.  Again thinking of Monique and her grandsons.  Pumpkin Pie play dough!   Directions are on the Blue Bird Lucy Blog.  How cute is that??  I wish I could have known about these kinds of things when my own children were growing up!  We could have had so much more fun than we did have!

I am going...
I am having a very busy week again this week.  Yesterday I had an ECG in the morning.   I knew something wasn't quite right about it when the nurse told me I'd have to come back in the afternoon and speak with the Doctor.  Sure enough. It showed some inconsistencies, and so I have been booked in for another one on Wednesday morning and then the Doctor will look at it when he works again on Friday and call me.   A bit worriesome to say the least, especially as heart disease is rampant in my family.  I also had to go and pick up my new eye glasses yesterday.  Wearing them now.   This morning Mitzie goes to the Dog Groomers.   We are having the other set of Sister Missionaries for supper tonight.  (They are our guests, we are not eating them, lol)  Not sure what I will make, probably something with chicken and chocolate, but not together!  Aside from my next ECG tomorrow, I have a Presidency meeting at the chapel tomorrow night.  And I think I also have something penned in for Thursday but for the life of me I cannot think of it now.  What say?  No rest for the wicked!!

I am wondering...
For the life of me I cannot understand the randomness of Terrorist Violence.  It sickens and frightens me.  I wonder what kind of God is this that they believe in that requires his children to murder others of his children.  This is not my God.

I am reading...




Vanishing Acts, by Jodi Picoult.

Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father, Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiancé, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as she plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can’t recall. 

When a policemen arrives to disclose a truth that will upend the world as she knows it, Delia must search through these memories . . . even when they have the potential to devastate her life, and the lives of those she loves most. It is a book about the nature and power of memory; about what happens when the past we have been running from catches up to us . . .  and what happens when the memory we thought had vanished returns as a threat.

Quite enjoying this, but then again, I enjoy all of Jodi Picoult's books.


I am hoping...
I am hoping that all will be well with my heart, but I can't help but be a bit stressed over it, although I am trying hard not to be.  Not ready to die just yet.   I have things yet to do, to say, to see, to experience . . .

I am looking forward to...
The sisters coming for supper today.  It's always nice to have the Missionaries in your home and feed them.  They bring such a special spirit with them.   I wish more people would take the opportunity to have them over for a meal.    

I am learning...
Patience.   I have spent much of my life trying to be patient and not succeeding.  I wonder if anyone ever does?

If I had a Dream House...



Love this with it's roll up curtain/blind and linen curtains . . . filagree screen, wide sills . . .



Love this.   Imagine sleeping beneath that canopy.   I would feel like a Princess!  I also adore that mirror!

 

I'd fill it with blue and white china on open shelves . . . because I love blue and white china and open shelves, and it's a dream home so it would never get messy looking and nothing would ever be out of place.



I'd have a big front Veranda like this where we could sit in the late afternoon, early evening and watch the world go by.  Just relaxing, watching, enjoying quiet conversation  . . . sigh . . .



I'd have a huge eat in kitchen that I could putter in to my hearts content.  Nothing would fall out of the cupboards when I opened them, because there would be just oodles of space for storage, and I'd have a nice big empty counter top to work on . . . double sigh . . . 



I'd have a living room like this and it would never get dirty.

I am pondering...
Nobody answered my quesion about the music on here last week.   Do you like or does it annoy?

A favorite quote for today...  

 

`*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
¸.•´¸.•~♥♥♥~•.~
"Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash
 has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year."
~Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, October 2010

One of my favorite things... 




I love taking care of the Birds in our garden.   I get so much pleasure out of it.  Down South because we were in a very rural area we had lots of different ones to watch and enjoy . . . here we mostly get sparrows, but they are cute too and I enjoy them, plus we get super excited if another bird visits as they are not everyday occurances!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
You saw how busy my week is going to be and I'd like to fit some cooking and crafting into it as well as some painting and writing!

A peek into my day...  
 

 

I spend a lot of time with my head in the clouds dreaming.  Oh, I can be working at the same time . . . your head doesn't have to be where your hands are . . .

A thought to carry with you through today:

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻
What is spiritual strength?
It's knowing you don't have to compromise yourself
in any way, with anyone, over anything
in order to be content, confident,
and secure in life.
~Guy Finley 
(¯`✻´¯)
  `*.¸.*✻.
  ♥´´¯`•.¸¸.♫´¯`•.¸¸.    



 

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
 May all be well in your little corner of the kingdom.

Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life.   It's the small things in life which truly mean the most.  Simple abundance . . . it's the best.



Our Stake President was at our Sacrament meeting yesterday and in his talk he told us to refer to our Patriarchal Blessings often.   Every person in our church is able to receive this special gift from God.  Each area in the church has a Patriarch, who is a special man called of God to administer these special blessings.  He acts as a channel for God as he places his hands upon your head and gives you this special blessing, which is filled with advice and counsel from above to help us in our lives.   It is recorded and then you get a printed one that you can refer to at any time in your lifetime.  I keep mine in my bedside table.  I was reading it last night as I often do in bed.

"Your children will continue to love and appreciate you as you become an example to them.  For you will become a light on a hill to your family."

That is one of the promises given to me in my blessing.  I often read those few lines and am greatly strengthened by them.  Only a few words, but they are pretty wonderful to me and give me courage and strength to be who I am.

“Your patriarchal blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.” 
~Thomas S. Monson  




This is a painting I did almost two years ago, based on a talk given by Dieter F Uchtdorf, who is a counselor in the First Presidency of the church.   After I heard this talk, which was so very special to me, I was inspired to do this piece of artwork.  Afterwards Todd told me that I should send a copy of it to President Uchtdorf.  After a bit of hmming and hawwing, we went into town and picked up a frame and then we sent it off to Salt Lake City.   After that I forgot about it really.  That is when I was told I might have Ovarian Cancer and everything else kind of got forgotten in all of the tumult that possibility brought into my life.   It was about a month later when I was waiting on tender hooks for my letter from the hospital when the postman dropped two letters through our mail box one morning.  One was my hospital letter, and the other had the return address of the Office of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Of course I read that one first!!  It was a personal letter of thanks from President Uchtdorf to myself.   I remember laying in bed that night and reading it and crying.

"I commend you on staying faithful to your covenants through times of adversity and discouragement.  God has blessed you, and He is mindful of the desires of your heart."

Those were the two last sentences in his letter to me.   When I read them in 2011, I knew that everything would be ok.  This was an Apostle of the Lord telling me these things and they meant the world to me then, and mean the world to me now.  The gentle assurance from a man of God to me, reminding me that my Heavenly Father knows, loves and is mindful of me.

Just a few words on a page . . . but wonderful, comforting, reassuring, inspiring . . . President Uchtdorf had no idea of what I was going through at the time, but my Heavenly Father did and prompted him to write the words that he wrote.   A small and wonderful thing . . .



A dirty faced Granddaughter.  I love this little girl so very much, as I do all my grandchildren.   I discovered these pictures on FB this morning and so scooped them.   That's how I get all of the pics of my grandchildren.  I am so grateful for modern technology which makes this possible, or I would not know anything about them, or even what they looked like or what they are getting up to in their lives. I live in fear of FB disappearing.  However would I cope then.   I don't even want to think about it.



Sleepy little grandsons . . . Cameron napping.   I wonder how old he will be when I see him in person.  I can't see me being able to afford to go over to Canada until 2015.   And I am praying hard that I will be able to go over then.   He will be two then, which is about the age I met each of my grandchildren.  It breaks my heart at times that I live so far away.  It wasn't supposed to be this way, but life is what it is.

And this is supposed to be a happy post not a sad post. So onwards!



My son Bruce and his puppy Baxter and Baxter's cousin, I guess.  I think that is Bruce's Sara's parent's dog.  (Did that make sense!)  Love this photo of our Bruce because he is smiling and it's hard to get a photo of him smiling.  Love all my children.

 I just wanted you all to know, especially my American readers I won't be putting any Downton Abby Spoilers into any of my posts.  I would not want to spoil it for any of you and I know it will be 2014 before you get to see it.   Just be assured I won't spoil it for you!  I promise!

I have an appointment for an EKG this morning so must be off and getting ready to go, so I will leave you with a thought to carry through today . . .

.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
I could give you no advice but this:
to go into yourself
and to explore the depths where
your life wells forth
~ Rainer Maria Rilke  


 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . . Easy Pumpkin Butter.   Very tasty!

Have a great Monday!  May your day be filled with lots of small and wonderful things!

A bit of this and a bit of that and a whole lot of nothing.

 

Well, Autumn is well and truly here. I believe that today is it's first official day. We had a gorgeous day yesterday, Indian Summer I think . . . it was just beautiful.   I just love the Autumn.  I was here in the house doing chores and the phone rang and it was Todd.  He had gone into town earlier in the morning and he wanted to tell me how beautiful and warm it was in town and did I want to come in and meet him there, and so I dropped everything and took myself off into town.

He was right.  It was beautiful and warm.  Who knows how many more days like this we will have.  There was some sort of food festival going on with lots of booths selling everything from soup to nuts.   It was very busy.  There was a guy with one of those Jamaican drums playing music.  It was Christmas Music, but oh well . . . it still sounded nice.

We decided to walk down to the Groves, which is what they call the area down by the river.   I thought I would chance it, but I was quite afraid I wouldn't be able to go all the way and wouldn't be able to get back, but Todd so loves to do this sort of thing and I didn't want to disappoint him.



On the way there we have to pass the ancient ruins of St John the Baptist church.   There is a newer church adjacent to the ruins, but I have always found the ruins to be quite beautiful . . .



They are built from sandstone which is quite prominent in this area and almost ethereal in appearance.  I quite enjoy meandering through them.



One can almost imagine the life they once held.   They supposedly date back to the 600's when it was founded by King Aethelred.  True or not, they are beautiful ruins.



After that we went and sat down by the river.  It was quite busy.   There were lots of people there sitting on the benches enjoying the last of the summer sun.  As we sat on our bench leaves were falling onto us from the beech trees which line the river banks.  It was really quite nice.

Best part of all, I was able to make it all the way down there and all the way back without too much problems.  I would never win a race for speed, but I did it and that's what counts.  And . . . it was really nice to spend this quality time with Todd. 



This past week we were all able to enjoy the "Harvest" moon.  This is a photo I managed to capture of it night before last.   I love a harvest moon.

 

This is a photo my brother took of it in Ottawa, Canada three nights ago.  He's obviously got a nicer camera, as it's a lot clearer . . .



This is a photo that my sister took of it in Nova Scotia that same night, just before it slipped behind some trees I guess.

I think it's really special that the three of us, in three separate locations, can look up to the sky and seem the same moon, no matter how far apart we are.  That's a pretty wonderful thought.



This was our little girl trying to tempt me into snuffling her tummy on the sofa yesterday aafter we got home . . .



It worked . . . I just cannot resist a good tummy snuffle.  Especially such a cute one!  I do so adore that little minx.  What joy she brings to our lives.  She had her yearly check up earlier this week and everything was great.  She has even lost half a stone, which was good.  (That's 7 pounds)

 

I even got some art time in yesterday.  This is a little piece I went upstairs and did just before supper.  It didn't take me too long, about an hour or so.   I hadn't done any artwork for fun in a while and this picture popped into my head and so I just had to get it down on paper.  What do you think?

Anyone who wants Christmas Cards this year best get their orders in soon if they want them in time for Christmas.  I'm afraid due to the cost of ink and paper I will have to put my prices up a bit this year, but they are still quite affordable when you consider the time I put into them.   Just let me know if you want any.  I usually do a group discount. 



Downton Abby Season 4 begins tonight.  We have been playing catch up and watching the other three seasons in the run up to tonight.   We finished the final episode last evening just in time and I blubbered all over again when Matthew died. They had finally found the perfect love in each other and had a baby . . . and now Mary is all alone again.  Very sad.  Can't wait to see what happens in Season 4!



I must dash and get ready for church now so I shall leave you with a thought for today . . .

✫¸¸.·´¯`♥
What is spiritual strength?
It's knowing you don't have to compromise yourself
in any way, with anyone, over anything
in order to be content, confident,
and secure in life.
~Guy Finley  




Baking in The English Kitchen today . . . a Windfall Crumble Cake.  Delicious!

May your Sunday be blessed!