The Simple Woman's Day Book ...

 

FOR TODAY, November 25th 2014

Outside my window ...
It's really dark and very cold this morning.  It is the end of November, so you might expect that.  I cannot believe this is my last Daybook entry for November.  The month has just sped by.

I am thinking ...
I do not understand the gun laws in America, this right to bear arms thing.  Over here our police are not even armed, except for in extreme circumstances.  It is sad to think that a 12 year old boy with a toy gun got shot and killed in American yesterday, but I do not really blame the police . . . how did they know it was not a real gun?  They did what just about anybody would do. It's just a really sad accident.

I am thankful ...
For cosy wool socks this morning.  Thank you Lynn!  ☺

In the Kitchen ...


A Savoury Sweet Potato Casserole with garlic and Parmesan and a crisp and tasty crumb topping.   A delicious alternative to the marshmallow slathered sweet potato concoctions we see this time of year.

On my "To Cook" list ...

 This Raspberry Zinger Cake looks fabulously delicious!  From Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.

I am creating ...

 
 I did this yesterday.  I had a lot of fun doing her wings.   The backgrounds on these take a long time because they are all filled in by hand.  Not by computer.  That is two layers of colour, painstakingly done by hand.   I am selling the original if anyone is interested.

I love this little paper clay doll.  Found on A Pinch of Prim.  I want to make my own figurines from my artwork.  I really do.

These little magnets are really cute.   Found on Ingenious Inkling.  They are really easy to make as well.

No link, but cute, cute, CUTE!  I love it!!

A DIY Snowman Kit.  Cute!  Found on Sometimes Creative.

I am going ...
Dinner out with the ladies on Thursday.   Thanksgiving dinner here on Friday.   Visiting Teachers on Wednesday.   They say there is no rest for the wicked!  It's a busy week!

I am reading ...


The Clan of the Cave Bear, by Jean M Auel
This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly--she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge.

I have read this several times before.  I always enjoy it and re-read it every couple of years or so.  It's like an old friend whom I love to visit from time to time.

I am also reading Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon. It's an old book from the 1970's, a horror story. It was made into a mini series for the television back in the late 1970's.   The Dark Secret of Harvest Home, starring Bette Davis.   I thought it would be a fun read and so far it is.

I am hoping ...
I hope for all sorts.  Some of which I can share, some of which I cannot.  But I hope.    And I pray.  And I have faith.

Makes me smile ...

awww . . .

I am learning  ...
I work every day on becoming a better person.   I am always striving.  Some days I do really well . . .  other days I do not.  I can only hope that when I get to the end of the road I can say I made a lot of progress.  What are we here for, it not to become better.

Around the house ...

Now this is interesting.  It's an ottoman.  I am thinking you could colour them, or use coloured rope.  But genius concept.  From Amazing Interior Design.

No link, but what a great idea!  I love it!   I would never have thought of this myself.

 Again, no link but . . . duh!  Why didn't I think of that?

A chemical free all purpose cleaner.   Looks simple enough.   From Mommy Testers.

Now this is a pretty way to use pennies up from voneinspired.com.  You wouldn't have to use pennies.  You could use buttons, or pompoms, or whatever.   Cute idea!

I am pondering ...
How DO they get the caramilk in the Cadbury's Caramilk Chocolate Bar?

A favourite Quote for the day ...
 

`*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
(¯`v´¯)
 `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
  ¸.•´¸.•~♥♥♥~•.~      
ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.
(¸.❀⁀⋱‿✿“ 

"Kindness has a beautiful way of 
reaching down into a weary heart 
and making it shine like the rising sun." 
~unknown

One of my favourite things ...

Old black and white illustrations.  I Love them.

A peek into my day  ...

 

Snuffling this.  How can I resist?

 And that's my day book for this week!
  
⋱ ⋮ ⋰
   ⋯ ◯ ⋯ 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.    



I won a Giveaway over on Not Quite June Cleaver!   I love the Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks.  If this is as good as the rest of them, or the ones that I have at any rate, it is sure to be a winner!  Its nice to have something unexpected happen like this.  ☺



I started reading this book again.   It's a delightful book.  Even Todd has read it.  I've read it about 3 times now since I got it, quite a while ago now actually.   It has a permanent residence on my night table actually.  I just love it so very much.  It's my favourite of all the Susan Branch Books . . .  and . . .



This one is even more special to me because it was signed by her.  See that down in the right hand corner.  That's her signature.   I have always loved everything that Susan does.  I fell in love with her work when I first discovered it in Country Living Magazine all those bazillion of years ago.  She used to do an illustrated recipe each month.  I used to have all of those collected as well, but they got annihilated  a long time ago now.   When you are moving every couple of years you can't go dragging magazines all around the world with you, no matter how precious they are to you or how much you want to.  I've slowly been collecting her books through the years and I think I have just about all of them now.   If you have never checked out her blog or her work check her out at Susan Branch.  If you like me I guarantee you will fall absolutely head over heels in love with her.  She is a kindred spirit.



It's in the air  . . .  can you feel it?   I can.   Much to Todd's chagrin.  He would rather we don't feel it until December 24th.  I feel it now.   That Christmas spirit.   It's leaking into the house from nooks and crannies and creeping in underneath the front door.   I will begin decorating this week.  Because I want to and because I can.  

Because . . .



Yes I do!



I got us this little book to help to keep the Christ in our Christmas this year.  It's only a tiny book and I bought it used.  It has a devotional for every day of the Advent season.  I figure Todd and I can do it together.   He hates the commerciality of Christmas and I admit I am not fond of it either, although all the Christmas adverts don't bother me half as much as they bother him admittedly.  I have always loved everything there is to love about Christmas, which includes cheesy Christmas adverts on the telly.   It doesn't detract from the true meaning of Christmas for me.



This year I "AM" getting in all of my Christmas movies . . .  the ones I love to watch each year and that I never manage to quite get watched before the 25th.  Todd refuses to watch Christmas movies after the 25th.  And I get his point.  They do start to lose their appeal by then.  That's why I am watching them now!

What are your holiday must watches?   Mine are A Christmas Story, The Homecoming,  The Polar Express, It's a Wonderful Life, Planes, Trains and Automobiles,  Home Alone,  Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, Meet Me in St Louis, White Christmas . . .  Oh, I could just go on and on.  I love them all!



My holidays begin this Thursday.  It is our Ladies Annual Christmas Dinner which we have at Plas Hafod every year. I love this dinner.  It's not an official church event . . . simply a group of women who enjoy each other's company getting together to enjoy a meal and kick start the festive season. It's always so beautifully decorated.  I always really enjoy it  . . .  and then, I am doing Thanksgiving Dinner the day after for our Missionary Sisters.  I was going to do it right on Thursday, but it conflicted with the ladies dinner, so Friday it is!  They're really looking forward to it too!  All the decs will be up by then!

My life is filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things actually  . . .  I count my blessings every day and know my cup runneth over.  That is the true secret to happiness I believe . . .  being able to count your blessings and seeing the joy to be found . . . even in the most mundane.

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .

❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥

"Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. 
The real miracle is the love that inspires them. 
In this sense everything that comes from love is miracle" 
~ Marie Lloyd 

❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥


 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Stuffing-Stuffed Onions!

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May your week be filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things.

A special day . . .

This is our Doug.   It's his Birthday today.  He is turning Thirty Three.  It's hard to believe . . . the years have gone by so very quickly.  It seems like it was only yesterday that he was my little boy, and now he is a man, a husband, a father . . . His full name is Douglas Alfred MacLeod . . .  Douglas from my ex brother in law, Alfred from my ex father in law and MacLeod which was my ex mil's maiden name.   He is a Ramsay.  Douglas Alfred MacLeod Ramsay.  A fine name for a fine boy/man.

He was born with a full head of hair, it was seriously at least an inch long all over his head.   He had the most hair of any baby I have seen.  It grew into a full head of glorious curls.  Shirley Temple Curls.   He looked like he was wearing a wig.  I wish I had a photograph to show you, but alas I do not have many photographs of my children when they were growing up.



He was a delightful little boy.  I always called him my little fuzzy bear because his arms were covered with lots of peach fuzz.   He was a cuddler and I loved to cuddle him.   He was also a little acrobat.   He was very adept at getting in to places I didn't want him to get into.   I had to put hooks on all the doors, which worked for a little while, but then he figured out that if he got a broom he could knock the hooks open . . .  so then I had to replace all of the hooks with spring loaded hooks.  He was . . .  and is . . .  very smart.



When he was small he had a favourite story I used to read to him about Oliver and the Sticky Buns.  I cannot remember the exact name of it . . .  I wish that I could.   It was about a little boy who had a teddybear that would always sneak out at night.  He wondered where it was going and so he followed it one night and it ended up being the teddy bear was meeting a bunch of teddy bears in the woods and they were having picnics with sticky buns.   I used to put on a British accent when I read him that story.   He always loved that story so much.  If I could only remember what it was called . . .  I have always wanted to find it so that I could buy it and give it to him.

When he was three, he fell down the basement stairs.  He fractured his skull.  He was in the hospital with a concussion for several days and had to wear a hockey helmet for several weeks to protect his head.  My husband was away at the time . . .  it was really hard for me to leave Doug in the hospital.  I wanted to stay with him, but living far away from my own family and being on my own with three other children, I couldn't stay in the hospital.  I know he was really sad and afraid to be in there all by himself.  It makes me sad to think about it now.



Growing up, he always had a beautiful smile on his face.  He was a happy little boy.   He is smiling in just about every photograph I have of him from when he was growing up.  He was always my happy little boy.  His smile was so charming that it often allowed him to get away with things he shouldn't have gotten away with.   In nursery school and kindergarten . . .  he would smile and his teacher would let him get away without doing his work . . .  it was such a sweet smile.  But when he got to Grade one, he had a more difficult teacher and she wasn't letting him get away with anything.    We had him tested for dyslexia when he was a bit older and the Doctor said that he had a mild form of dyslexia, but that he would learn to cope with it.

He was always a good boy.   He always had a kind and gentle heart.   He did a few things when he was growing up that caused a few grey hairs . . .  but nothing really too bad.   The normal stuff that boys get up to.    It didn't make us very happy when he set our neighbors barn on fire . . .  but in all honesty, I was just grateful he wasn't hurt himself.  That was at a particularly difficult time for the whole family.  My ex had come back from Bosnia with really bad ptsd . . .  and things were really hard at home.   His older brother moved out and then his older sister . . . we moved 4 times in about the same amount of years.   It was just hard for all of us.

I have always been proud of him, but I don't know that he knows that.   He was a good boy and he is a good man.   He has always had a kind and a loving heart.  He loves animals and is a gentle person. He does not have a mean or a malicious bone in his body.  I do not know if he truly sees the goodness in himself.




He is a gentle and a loving husband . . .



He is a good and loving father to three beautiful little boys.



He is a kind, loving and supportive son.

I am proud of him in every way.  I love him with all of my heart . . . . and I want him to know that today and always.  I hope that he has a wonderful birthday.  I wish that I could be there with him to help him celebrate it and to spoil him in some way, but I cannot.   I  can only send him my love and Birthday greetings from afar.   It does not matter how old he gets or how far away he is from me, he will always be my baby and I always carry him in my heart.

Douglas, you mean the world to me and I appreciate every single thing you do for me, each call, each thought or feeling shared, every photograph . . .  the way you take the time to let me know you love and care for me.  Your thoughtfulness.  I treasure all of this and more and these things are priceless to me.  I hope that you have a lovely day, for you surely deserve all that and much, much more.

Happy Birthday Son! 

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Gingerbread Rolls.  Delicious!

Have a wonderful and blessed Sabbath.

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Saints and Sinners . . .

(Saint Cecilia by Guido Reni, 1660)

"Music, when soft voices die
Vibrates in the memory."
~Shelley

Looking in my daily devotional book today I come across  the reminder that today is St Cecilia's Day, and I wonder to myself  . . .  who is St Cecilia?  You know me . . .  I just had to find out.

Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr,  is the patron saint of music. She was martyred for her Christian faith in A.D. 176, under the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, when both she and her husband were put to death. She was high-born Roman of a Christian family, and a great Church was built over the house in Rome which is said to contain her body, the Church of St Cecilia Trastevere. The present church was built in 1599, when Stefano Maderno claimed to have seen the body of the saint and carved her the sculpture of her lying on her side, uncorrupt, as he saw her.

 "I have in this marble expressed for thee the same saint in the very same posture and body."

There are legends about her attracting an angel to earth by her singing and of her singing at her martyrdom. The thirteenth century Golden Legend tells of how she sang as she took three days to die:

"And while the organs maden melody,
To God alone in heart thus sang she." 

By far the best account of her life in English is to be found in The Second Nun's Tale of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It is a dramatic story. The young Roman maid was brought up from the cradle in the faith of Christ and His Gospel. She prayed for her virginity. On the night of her wedding to Valerian she confessed that she had a guardian angel who would slay Valerian if he touched her either in love or lust. The naturally somewhat suspicious bridegroom demanded to see the angel. Cecilia told him that he must first be baptised by an old man named Urban, later to become Pope Urban 1. Valerian's brother, Tiburce, was also baptised. Valerian was then visited by the angel. Subsequently the brothers were arrested and questioned by the prefect, Almachius. When they refused to bow to Jove they were beheaded.

 Cecilia refused to abjure her Christianity and was ordered to be burnt to ashes in a bath of flame. She sat in the bath for a day and a night without even sweating. Finally an executioner delivered three strokes to her neck. Her wounds were bound up and she continued to preach and pray for three more days. Urban took her body and buried it at night.

St Cecilia's memory has been kept alive by poets, writers, painters and musicians. The first record of a music festival in her honour was held at Evreux in Normandy in 1570. When the Academy of Music was founded in Rome in 1584, Cecilia was adopted as the patron of Church Music and the 22nd of November was chosen as the date for her Patronal Festival.

 But bright Cecilia raised the wonder higher:
When to her Organ vocal breath was given
An Angel heard, and straight appear'd
Mistaking Earth for Heaven. 
~Dryden's Song 

Legend or fact?  I don't really know, but I did enjoy learning more about this Sainted woman this morning.   I don't really pray to Saints, but I know that many do.  My Aunt Thelma, a very devout woman, always prayed to the Saints.   She always told mom whenever she couldn't find something that she should pray to Saint Anthony, the finder of lost things.   And Mom says it usually worked.

I normally pray to Jesus when I can't find something, and that usually works too.  I normally find what I am looking for quite quickly after that.

I am a person who loves to learn the stories of these devout people throughout history have been willing to die for their beliefs.  There are still people in the world today who are being martyred for their faith.   There is a big part of me that likes to believe that I would do the same if my faith was put to the test . . .  that I would be willing to die for what I believe to be true.  I hope and pray that I never have to find out!



We have a builder coming this morning to do an estimate on the cost of new doors and windows.  I am a bit surprised that it is happening so quickly.   It usually takes a lot longer for our landlord to get things done, owing mostly to the fact that he lives in Ireland.   When we had our shower room put in a few years back, the building inspector told us our windows were a fire hazard as the upstairs windows were not large enough to provide for an escape should the need arise.

The top part of this front picture window is also broken and you can feel air blowing through it when it gets quite cold and windy. Todd has tape over it, which has proven rather ineffective but he feels quite good about putting it there so I don't say anything . . .  apparently the last tenent that our landlord had locked herself out of the house one day so they broke the window by forcing the top part of it open to put a child through to open the door for them.

Our front door is completely glass, which has always made me nervous because glass can be broken and I have always worried that someone would break the glass to try to get in and steal our belongings.  We don't have insurance so if they did that, or if we did have a fire, we would be at a complete and total loss.  I know that insurance is something that you really should have, but we have just never been able to afford it.



Instead of a thought for today and in honor of Saint Cecilia I will leave you with a beautiful music video.   This was a video done by the BBC to raise money for the Children in Need Telethon.  I quite like it and I think you will too.   Click the pause bars up above and listen.  How many of the singers do you recognise?   

  

In the English Kitchen today  . . . Apricot and Prune Puddins with a Lemon and Butterscotch Sauce.

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Have a great Saint Cecilia's Day!

Friday Finds . . .

A few of the wow moments, or things I discover each week that tickle my fancy.  I hope that they may inspire or tickle yours too!      

 



 













































This is a brilliant idea for turning a glass container into a pretty candle holder.  No link, but the photos are pretty self explanatory.  Just make sure you apply the tissue paper punch outs on the OUTSIDE of the container as putting them inside might cause a fire as I believe it would be highly flammable!  It's very pretty though! 

 I am loving this holiday collage display thingie.   What a beautiful and unique way to commemorate the holidays and save some precious holiday memories.  Found on Lilikoi Joy.  There is a complete tutorial.

 



















Again, no source, but what a simple and yet very pretty way to decorate a shelf or mantle for the holidays.  I think I have some letters/alphabets upstairs.   I love this.

From Mice Chat, a Disney Inspired holiday ornament.  I love it.   Such a simple idea! 

What a brilliant idea these candy sleighs are!  Why oh why do my grandchildren have to live so very far away!  I would love to make these for them!  Found on Joybobo.  Simple and easy to make. 

I love this simple and yet elegant door wreath decoration.  It's really nice.   From Our Unexpected Journey.  Complete tutorial.  I think it's quite brilliant!

Another brilliant idea.  Dip Mix Ornaments that you can just mix with sour cream to make a tasty dip.   What an innovative and unsual idea.  I love it.  I wonder where you could buy the empty glass ornaments like this?   From Bubbly Nature Creations. 

I love these little terra cotta flower pot snowmen designed by my friend Amanda Formaro.  You can find the instructions on Craft Town.  I think they are just brilliant.  So cute! 

Gingerbread Play Dough!  It's fabulous!  What a great thing to make to keep the kids busy and I am sure it smells gorgeous!!  Found on Housing a Forest.   That blog is brilliant.  It's just loaded with fabulous ideas.  Make sure you check it out!

 

















Ten magical ways to use mason jars in decorating for the holidays, from Women's Day.  I always loved buying the Women's Day and Family Circle Magazines through the years.   I haven't seen one in years and years now.   I am sure they do have a British equivalent here in the UK . . .  but I don't have a family here so . . . the Tutorial for this is actually at Deco Art and is so easy to do.  A jar, epsom salts, blue and a piece of jute twine and christmas greenery.   Simples!! 

And those are my Friday Finds for this week.  I hope you found something useful.  I know it was a very Holiday type of post, but the holidays are upon us! 

 














Look what my son Doug cooked for his family last night.   It's Swiss Steak that he made using my recipe from my Big Blue Binder Cookbook that I wrote.   I think he did a super job!  All my sons like to cook and they are good cooks.   I love it!  I told him he should have a food blog.  

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .

❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥
"A friend is one that knows you as you are,
understands where you have been,
accepts what you have become,
and still gently allows you to grow."
~William Shakespeare
❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Chicken Fillets with a Lemon and Caper Sauce.  Seriously delicious!  You will love this!  It's quick and simple! 

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 This week has just flown by!  Have a wonderful Friday!