Wednesday this and that . . .

 One thing which Todd and I try to do each day is to listen to one of the talks given at our bi-annual General Conferences each year.  I also often listen to them each morning as I write my words on here.   I cannot begin to describe the measure of joy which I find in the words of these leaders whom I believe are the mouth pieces of the Lord.

Last evening we were listening to this talk by President Uchtdorf on the Love of God.

"Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things."



It is a beautiful talk.   I believe in my heart that love could solve many of the problems that plague our world today.  I believe that God is love, and that as we try to be more God-like in our ways, thoughts and actions, even though we be only one person . . . a mighty change can come about.  I believe that change begins with me.

God is in the big and grandiose things . . . but God is also in the small and simple things, in the most minute details of our lives.   His voice is all around us, and we can hear it if we listen carefully . . .

As you reach out to your Heavenly Father, as you pray to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere. As you read God’s word recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice. During this general conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice. As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice. Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit. In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child, listen for His voice. If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ.



I have a heart that seeks to find God in the ordinary simple things which surround me.  It has ever been so . . .  even during the darkest of my years when God felt very far away from me, or that I did not matter. . . I could see Him in the small details.  Of course  I now know that He was never very far from me at all . . .  and I am so grateful for having come to that life changing knowledge.  Finding God in the sublime . . .  that practice embroiders my days with more joy than I can possibly ever begin to describe.  My cup truly runneth over, and life is good, even on my worst days.

I was thinking yesterday about how Todd had said the other day that having the Missionaries in our home was like having a piece of the Temple come to visit us.    They are like little lights . . .    I think that is because they are so immersed in the Gospel that the oil in their lamps is constantly glowing and giving light to those around them who would stop to listen to the message which they seek to share.  It makes me want to be a light too . . .



I love this little selfie that Sara posted onto her facebook page yesterday.   My son looks so happy, and so does Sara.   I know I keep saying this, but I think that she is the one.  He better snap her up.  One of the greatest joys in life comes from seeing your children settled and happy I think.

This is a picture of Eileen and Tim with their soccer team at their recent SO Summer Games.   They came first I believe.  They're all wearing their medals.   Eileen is the one at the far left front as you look at this photo and Tim is next to her looking oh-so-very serious!  It will be their anniversary soon.  They will have been married two years, and they are still very happy.  I hope that they always will be.   Oh, she does get annoyed with him at times, and he with her, but for the most part they are very compatible and they lead very happy and full lives.



I had a somewhat selfish day yesterday.  I told Todd I didn't want to do anything but what I wanted to do.   That meant art of course!  He is pushing me to finish sorting out the spare room for the student who is coming to stay with us in August, and I know that is a priority, but sometimes I just want a day that is for me.  This is what came out.  These are my little ice-cream girls . . . with their pastel hair colours.   A bit different.    It's done like a collage.   Each little character is sketched  onto one type of paper and then I colour them all in and then make other sketches of smaller details and then cut them out of other papers and then fit them in like mosaics, adding more detail as the layers go on.  I am sure there is a simpler way to do this, but I haven't figured it out yet and I am learning as I go along. 

I did not get into see the Doctor yesterday, but do have an appointment today at 10:15 so I had best be about my day now.  I know that most likely nothing will be done today.  It was very poorly last night.  It was really sore.   I hope that they can get it sorted soon.

A thought to carry with you through today . . .  

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻(¯`✻´¯) 
          ✻ღϠ`*.¸.*₡ღ¸.✻
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, 
but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
~Frederick Koenig   ✻ღϠ₡ღ✻✻ღϠ₡ღ✻    


 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  naughty snacks . . . Crispy Spiced Chicken Wings.  So very tasty, even though we shouldn't be eating them . . . okay, "I" shouldn't be eating them. 


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Now how on earth did it get to be Wednesday already????   Have a good one!

The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .

 

FOR TODAY, June 24th, 2014

Outside my window ...
It's quite overcast.  We've had some lovely sunny weather, but I think we are in for a change.

I am thinking ...
✻ღϠ₡ღ✻(¯`✻´¯) 
          ✻ღϠ`*.¸.*₡ღ¸.✻
“Some blessings come soon, some come late, 
and some don't come until heaven; 
but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
they come.”
~Jeffrey R Holland

We are such impatient creatures.   We want everything right now, instead of waiting on God's timing.  This is a beautiful promise made here by an Apostle of the Lord, and it gives me hope.

I am thankful ...
Yesterday as we were driving home from the grocery store, Todd made the statement to me that having the missionaries in our home was like having a tiny bit of the Temple in our home.   I am so thankful for a husband who is spiritually minded, and on the same page as myself.  He is a joy and a blessing to me.

In the kitchen ...
I'm cooking with shallots today,  there is



A delicious Tarragon Potato Salad



Pork Chops with a Mushroom and Shallot Sauce, and a few other tasty little bits as well!

On my "To Cook" list ...

Soft and chewy Coconut Macadamia Bars from Bunny's Warm Oven!  These look absolutely gorgeous!  Thank you Bunny!

I am Creating ...  

Some really cute printables from Free Pretty Things For You.  I love that page!  It is just loaded with cute stuff and it's all free!



With a few drawer knobs and some paint you have some lovely vintage looking jars.  From the Deco Art Blog.



Make your own Pouff from Sew a Fine Seam.    If you like to sew, this page is a great resource!

I am going ...
Come hell or high water, today I am going to get in to see a Doctor about my thumb.  It's been going on for over a month now and seems to be getting worse instead of better.  I am also going to pick up my prescription at the chemist.   They instituted a new system here  several months back where you don't have to pick up the prescription at the Doctors anymore.  They electronically send it to the Chemist and you pick it up there.  It is supposed to  faster, but it now takes twice as long.  I put my prescription in last Thursday and here is is Tuesday and I still have not gotten it.  It's just not on!

I am wonding ...
I am wondering if we will have the opportunity to go anywhere at all this summer, even only for a day out.  I sure hope we can manage it!

I am reading ...



Fall On Your Knees, by Anne-Marie MacDonald

Fall on Your Knees is a novel by Canadian playwright, actor and novelist Ann-Marie MacDonald. The novel takes place in late 19th and early 20th centuries and chronicles four generations of the complex Piper Family.  I have only just started this but am already totally enthralled with this book.   First of all it takes place in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, which is compelling in it's own right.  Spent most of my growing up years in Nova Scotia, and have never been to Cape Breton, not once.   Secondly the characters are rich and thirdly the story is fabulous!

I am hoping ...
Hoping that my thumb gets sorted more sooner than later!  I know, it sounds like a silly thing, but it's very debilitating.  I wanted to cut my finger nails the other night.  I could cut the ones on my left hand, but could not manage with my left hand to cut my right.  I cannot open bottles or jars.  I can't push buttons, etc.   You just don't realize how important your thumb is, until you have lost the use of it!

Makes me Smile ...


Look who got his own pool!  Yeppers, it's Baxter!  What a cutie pie.  My DIL put a video on Facebook of him playing in it.  He was really enjoying it.  I said to Todd, we need to get a wading pool for Mitzie!  It might help to cool her off on these hot days.

I am learning ...
We just learned that by the simple use of an HDML cable we can watch things from off the computer on our television.  DUH!  Why has it taken us so long???   I knew it could be done, but I never realized how very simple it was.

Around the house ...



I love this cosy little corner from the Norweigan blog Roser Og Patina.   It's such a simple spot, but very inviting. Something like this set up would make a great writing corner, or even study area in the room we are getting ready for the student.



From BHG, How to Update your Kitchen on a Budget!  I need help with this.  I love the fresh colours of this room here.   Loving the orange chairs as well!



The top ten bright ideas for the home, from Tidy Mom.  There's some fabulous ideas and tips for brightening up your home on that page, plus a wealth of other things!

I am pondering ...
Will it or will it not rain today.  We shall see.  Only God knows for sure at this point!

A favourite quote for the day ...


`*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
(¯`v´¯)
 `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
  ¸.•´¸.•~♥♥♥~•.~  

“Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.” 
~Gordon B Hinckley  

One of my Favourite Things ...



I love vintage anything, but I particularly love 1950's vintage stuff.   There is something about it that just makes my heart smile.  If I was a thin woman, I would dress like they did in the 1950's etc.  I know . . .  I am a bit of a looney tunes.   

A peek into my day ...

  

I play with my Doll's House every day.  I just don't write about it anymore . . . there is a little girl in me that will never grow up.  I don't think that is a bad thing actually.

⋱ ⋮ ⋰
   ⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small*´¯`.¸¸.☆
   ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆
   ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
   ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬
   ░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░  

Wherever you go and whatever you do I hope there's a wonderful day planned for you!

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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. 




This little man turned one year old yesterday.   No birthday pics yet, but I am hopeful!  I hope he had a nice day.  



This is what we sent him for his Birthday Present.   It's a dog he can pull around the house.   I don't know if he is walking yet, but if he isn't I expect he will be soon, so this should be well enjoyed.  (I hope!)  Every little boy needs a dog I think.   This one even wags it's tail and has a bendy body.



Speaking of Birthday's Baxter turned one not too long ago as well, and it's Sara's Birthday tomorrow!  Happy Birthday Sara!



I love this little family.  Sara and Bruce are the perfect fit.  They seem to be very happy together.  They recently bought their first home.  Like the Bankses in Mary Poppins they now live on Cherry Tree Lane.   Its a cute little house.  I can't wait to see what they do with it.  I know Baxter really enjoys the fenced in garden where he can run about to his heart's content!



Who doesn't like a bit of water play?   I know I showed you Mitzie playing with the hose at the weekend, but I think I forgot to show you this!  I have many fond childhood memories of running through the sprinkler on hot summer days.  Children just love playing and splashing about in water.  I think we should get Mitzie a sprinkler to run in.



The funniest thing happened yesterday whilst I was talking to my mom on the telephone.  Mitzie managed to flush a big black cat out of the reeds next to our pond.  It had been hiding in there.   It tried to jump over the hedge, but lost it's grip on the hedge and fell back onto Mitzie which gave her a huge fright and she yelped and then it righted itself and took off like a bat out of hell down to the end of the garden with her taking chase!  Todd watched it all happening.   Then she came in to tell me what had happened, seriously, she did!  She took me to the reeds and barked to let me know that the cat had been in there, and then she took me down to the end of the yard and barked to let me know where the culprit escaped.   She kept stopping and then looking and barking at me as if she was telling mn something really important.  It was so funny.  I am sure if she could speak words we would have long conversations!  Love our little girl. 
These are coming in fast and furious at the moment.   We love our strawberries!  I do think that English Strawberries are the most delicious strawberries.  I am not sure what makes it so, but there is nothing tastier than a fresh picked English Strawberry, fresh from the garden with the warmth of the sun still clinging to it's skin and straw still on it's leaves.  I am so grateful for our little strawberry patch!



Grateful too for the power of prayer.   I am so glad that I have a Heavenly Father who listens to me and for the surety I have in my heart that this is true.  It is everything to me.  I do not know where I would be without it   Our Bishop gave a talk in church yesterday and he mentioned a story told by Jeffrey R Holland about how Elder Holland had been out fishing with his son.  After a day spent together they started the journey back home and they came to a fork in the road and they could not exactly remember which road to take.   They decided to pray about it.  After prayer they decided to take one of the roads, only to discover not too far down it that it was a dead end.  They then knew for sure that the other road was the right one.   His son asked him after why they had felt in their hearts after prayer that the wrong road was the right one to take.  Elder Holland's thoughtful answer was that sometimes Heavenly Father allows us to make mistakes so that we can then be absolutely sure of what is the  right answer, the key being that they did not have to go very far to know with assurity that they were on the wrong road, and that the other road was the right one.

I love all of these small and wonderful things in my life.   Grandchildren, husbands, doggies, daughter's in law, children . . . God, love, faith and prayer.  They are all a part and parcel of a life which brings me great joy and peace.   Why on earth would I ever want anything else?  Life is good.

A thought to carry with you through today . . .



"God has given us our memories that we might have roses in December."
~J.M. Barrie 

 

There is Roasted Red Pepper Pasta cooking in the English Kitchen today . . .  somehow it magically posted last night instead of this morning though.  I wonder how these things happen!  One of the mysteries of the internet I suppose! 

Have a wonderful Monday and week! 

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Random Sunday . . .

WE had a beautiful first day of summer yesterday.   The sun shone gloriously all the day through.  We had the missionaries over to help in the garden.   They worked really, really hard and I rewarded them with a lunch of sandwiches and cakes.   Then afterwards they treated us to a lovely spiritual message.

We have a new elder here at the moment who is from Russia.   He is the first missionary I have met who was from Russia.  He is a convert to the church of only about 3 1/2 years and has 8 months to go before his mission is finished.  He used to be a Baptist just like me.

He shared a beautiful message with us using Origami.  He likened us to a piece of origami paper.  How we come into the world just as pristine as a fresh new piece of paper.  He talked about how we go through life and do good things and bad things, make wise and poor choices and the paper was quite crumpled by the time he was finished talking about that, but then he flattened it out again and began to talk about the Gospel giving each of us a chance to start over again, and whilst the paper might retain some of the crumpled bits, the Saviour can help us to refold it into something beautiful.   That was the gist of it anyways.  I thought it was pretty special.



It was four years ago this month that this little lady came into the world.   It is hard to believe now that she was ever this small and tiny.   She was only eight weeks old when she came to live with us . . .



She was ever so brave coming home with us.   Except for the occasional bout with gastro-enteritis, she has never ever given us anything else but joy.



She wove a magic spell around our hearts from the get go . . .  and has been weaving it ever since.



Todd was watering the plants in the flower pots the other day and she was quite, quite taken with the stream of water from the end of the hose.   She was dancing along the patio trying to catch it with her mouth.  It was the first time I had ever seen her play with water.



It was so much fun watching her and she was quite wet by the end of it.  At least her ears and face were at any rate.  She sure is enjoying these warm and sunny days and she really enjoyed having the boys here yesterday!  She spent the whole time out there with them.  Their constant companion as they raked and mowed and gathered.  They really enjoyed her as well.    She was quite tired last night after all of it.  It was a happy kind of tired.



Something is eating the leaves on our plum tree.   We can't see anything on it, but there are holes appearing in the leaves.  It is a great mystery to us.  And the Raspberries are not really doing anything at all this year.  They must have on years and off years.   The strawberries are going great guns however and we've been picking them every day this week along with the black currants.  The gooseberries will soon be ready to pick as well.  We've also been picking logan berries and the blueberry bushes are loaded too!  Another few sunny warm days and we will be able to pick the first of that crop as well.  Summer's bounty!



How did you spend the first day of summer?  It would have been the perfect day to go for a drive out into the countryside here, but you know petrol . . . we had a perfect and beautiful day here at home.  It's nice when that happens, and it happens a lot.   God is good.

 A thought to carry with you through today . . .

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻(¯`✻´¯) 
          ✻ღϠ`*.¸.*₡ღ¸.✻

The fact that I can plant a seed 
 and it becomes a flower, 
 share a bit of knowledge 
 and it becomes another's, 
smile at someone 
and receive a smile in return, 
are to me continual spiritual exercises. 
 ~Leo Buscagli  ✻ღϠ₡ღ✻✻ღϠ₡ღ✻    

 

Baking in The English Kitchen today . . . an incredibly moist and delicious Blackberry, Cinnamon and Yogurt Loaf.    Scrummy yummy!

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Have a beautifully blessed Sunday my dear friends!

 

It's a summer kind of post . . .

 Summer creeps in like a soft footed pretty little maid . . .  pirouetting in on slippers of gold.  Tis the season of wildflower meadows and picnics and berries and cream . . .  

For cloudless skies and starlit nights and sand-in-the-toes walks on a sunlit beach . . .

  



















For ice creams and popsicles and butterflies and bees . . . .  he loves me, he loves me not and daisy crowns . . .



For skipping stones across trickling brooks and sprinkler runs . . . and wading in cold water that reaches to your knees . . .



For reading books midst insect's hum and picnics beneath the shadows of dark and leafy trees . . .  

 For tall frosty glasses of lemonade and soaring through the sky on invisible wings that carry you higher and higher, warm breezes on your cheeks . . .

For jars filled with fireflies and barefeet and slipping between cold sheets at end of day still smelling of the sun . . .

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” 
~F Scott Fitzgerald

Welcome Summer!  What took you so long!  Please don't be in a hurry to leave!




This was what I did yesterday afternoon.  I spent so much time on it we ended up having egg and chips for our tea!  Not that Todd minded.  He's an egg and chips kind of a guy . . .

  

Baking in The English Kitchen today . . . Walnut Slices . . . we the missionairies coming over to help Todd in the garden.  I thought they might like a treat.  These are so dangerously good you want to be able to share them, just so you don't scarf them all down by yourself! 


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Have a wonderful Saturday!  No matter what you get up to today, I hope it makes your heart sing and your mouth smile!