I'm late! I'm late!

I feel like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland this  morning!  I'm late, I'm late . . .  for a very important date!

Not really, but we are off to Manchester in less than an hour and I still have to put my face on.  Todd did an update (as prompted) on his iPad at the weekend and hasn't been able to use it since, so we have an appointment to see an engineer at the Apple Store.   Wish us luck.  I sure hope that he will be able to get it up and running again!

Anyways, I didn't want you to worry if I didn't post anything.  I am just keeping you all informed and hopefully I will be back tomorrow with some good news!  Fingers crossed!

Have a great day!  Don't forget!

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And I do too!

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

FOR TODAY, August 25th, 2015

Outside my window ...
The Sun is well up.  It's already gone 6:20 this morning.  I am late getting started.  I had a bit of insomnia last night and so got up half an hour later this morning.

I am thinking ...
I got an e-mail from my daughter saying she and Tim can't come to see us next year as her father won't let them.   Apparently they already have too much on.  In all truth, I never thought that when push came to shove he would let them anyways, so I am not really surprised.  She seems disappointed.  They've been saving up for almost a year now to come.

I am thankful for ...
Having the Gospel in my life.  It is everything to me.

In the kitchen ...


Crispy Baked Chicken for Two with Fennel Slaw.
Crisp chicken, with a bit of a kick . . . served up with a tangy fennel slaw.

On my  "To Cook" list ...


Poteca by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody.   I have seriously wanted to make this for years.  I am a bit more confident with my yeast baking now.  I may give this a go.

I am creating ...


How to make a Button Heart Sweater Pillow.  Complete tutorial.   From Setting For Four.



From Amy's Crochet, an Angry Bird Hat.   Complete directions and a how to video.



Easy Ribbon Candy Wreath.  Found on Hometalk.



I love this linen apron.   There are no directions.  Just a lovely blog to look at.
Moa Og Kaffekopen 



I love these cute Vintage looking string holders.  Complete instructions from Handmade by Charlotte.

I am reading ...



All Fall Down, by Jennifer Weiner

Allison Weiss is a typical working mother, trying to balance a business, ageing parents, a demanding daughter and a marriage. But when the website she develops becomes a huge success, she finds herself challenged to the point of being completely overwhelmed. As she struggles to hold her life together and meet the needs of all the people around her, Allison finds that the painkillers she was prescribed for a back injury help her deal with more than just physical discomfort - they make her feel calm and get her through the increasingly hectic days. Sure, she worries that the bottles seem to empty a bit faster each week, but it's not like she's some Hollywood starlet partying all night. It's not as if she has an actual problem. Until she ends up in a world she never thought she'd experience outside of a movie theatre: rehab. And as Allison struggles to get her life back on track, she learns a few life lessons along the way.

I am about 3/4 of the way through now and really enjoying.

I am hoping ...
That I can get all the things I need to get done today, done!

Makes me smile ...



Puffins make me smile, but "baby" puffins really make me smile!  (I could find no source for this picture so can give no acreditation.  If it's yours let me know and I will pop on a link!)

I am learning ...
I am always trying to learn something new.  To stretch myself and my abilities.  Sometimes I am doing really well at it, and others not so well.  I don't believe we were put here on earth to stay the same, but to grow.

Around the house ...


Steps to financial peace from Overstuffed.



From BHG, one hour decorating projects.  I just love the colours of this.



I love this beautiful Decoupaged Bookcase, from Girl in the Garage.



How to freshen a vacuum cleaner.  From The Bold Abode.



Organize your Desk Drawers from Song Bird.

I am pondering  ...
Not a lot, just feeling kind of sad this morning.  It's okay, I'll shake it off in the busy-ness of the day to come.

A favourite quote for the day ...

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

No one likes to fail, but we mortals don't
become Champions without making mistakes . . . 
~President Dieter F Uchtdorf

One of my favourite things ...



Quotes from our General Authorities.   They never fail to inspire and uplift me.

A peek into my day ...



I pray and I pray . . .  and I pray.  Especially for my enemies.

"Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you"  ~Luke 6:27-28

If I couldn't do this, I fear I  might go mad . . .

And that's my daybook for this week!  It's hard to believe that it's the last one for August 2015!  The year is just flying by!


  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆
  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆

 ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬
░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░

Wherever you go and whatever you do, I hope there's a great day ahead of you! Don't forget!

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And I do too!!

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.



My brother shared this photograph (along with others) of the Balancing Sculptures in the Ottawa River on his FB page at the weekend.  I thought they were quite beautiful.   The artist is 60 year old John Felice Ceprano.   Apparently he is there most days creating art.  It’s fun to watch, too, as Ceprano lifts stones and slabs to create "rock balance art.”   He does this from July to October with an expanding collection of sculptures as Ceprano adds to his creation by using only materials found on-site.  I would love to be able to see this in person, and am grateful for my brother sharing his photos.  I would never have known such beauty existed otherwise!




Love of friends.   It's not really a small thing, but it is a pretty wonderful thing.  I do believe that I am very blessed to have some really special people in my life.  Thoughtful and caring . . . . kind and sweet of spirit.  I received a very special package on Friday all the way from Canada.   I won't embarass her by telling you all that was in it, but I will tell you that each inclusion had a lot of thought and love behind it, and I could feel it.   Thank you so much Monique.  You didn't have to send me anything, but I am touched that you did and I am so happy that we discovered each other through the magic of the internet.  I have to say that we, Monique and I, belong to a mutual admiration society.  I can't quite remember how I discovered Monique . . .  but I do know that once I did, I kept on going back to her page to see what she was sharing.  I have her on blogging speed dial.   I don't know for how many years now, but a long time.

I think blogging buddies are a pretty special thing.   You have never met in person, but your hearts  are able to touch through words scattered here and there, a comment now and then, e-mails, etc.  Somehow this special link is forged.  It's a pretty amazing thing.




Country walks in between bursts of rain.  The earth smells so green and fresh . . . . silent save the occasion dripping sound of caught raindrops abandoning leaves which have only seconds before held their wet treasure.  I will never complain about the rain over here.  It is the rain which keeps this land so green and makes it so lush and beautiful.




The word of God which always uplifts and inspires.   I go to it often and it never lets me down.  I always find just what I need to read when I am looking for comfort, solace, healing . . . no matter the mood.  The words my heart seeks are always at the ready.  I find the scriptures to be quite amazing.   You can read the same passage a hundred times and then all of a sudden on the hundred and first time, those same words will leap out and touch your heart in a special way which had escaped you until that very moment.    Owners manual for our lives.   Love letters from a Heavenly Father.  Road map  to guide us back to our heavenly home.   There is something there for everyone and every moment . . .  every circumstance and each experience.    We are never alone.




Family and love and home sweet home.




Unexpected visitations . . . . at unexpected moments . . .



 The tender mercies of the Lord . . . .  they embroider every corner of my life.



And each moment of my days and nights . . .



I am indeed blessed with a cup that runneth over . . .

It's not the things that can be bought
that are life's richest treasure.
It's just the little heart gifts
that money cannot measure.


"Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into yoru lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
~Luke 6:38

  

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  a Coconut and Lime Cake.
 
I hope your day and week ahead is filled with a multitude of small and wonderful things. don't forget!!


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And I surely do too!

Sunday morning in Blacon . . . .

Thunder storms rolled in last night.   We had the lights on by 7 pm it was so dark in here.  Just prior to that I had looked out the dining room window and Mitzie was sitting contentedly beneath our patio table surveying her domain.  I love seeing her doing that.   The Winter is long and quite boring for her as  she only ever gets on the patio and the grassed area is locked off to her . . .  it is far, far too wet.   So  when I see her sitting out back, enjoying a bit of sunshine all on her own, it cheers my heart.  All of  a sudden she came in and before we knew it we saw flashes of lightening and a darkening sky.

Animals know don't they?

God sends His little angels
In many forms and guises,
They come as lovely miracles
That God alone devises.
~Helen Steiner Rice



I meant to tell you once again how much I had enjoyed participating in the Street Display in Chester, despite being rained on.   We had a white board and we were asking people, "What makes you happy?"  We were writing their answers on a sticky note and putting it onto the board.   It wasn't too long before the board was covered.   Most people were quite pleasant and we got some lovely answers, but then there were others who said things like, "Not talking to you." . . . "Seeing you get rained on."

It takes all kinds.

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .


❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥
Whenever you find yourself
doubting how far you can go,
just remember
how far you have come.
Remember everything
you have faced,
And the battles you have won . . . 
and all the fears you have overcome. 
~unknown
❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥


 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Dutch Almond Thins . . .


May your sabbath be truly blessed in every way.  Don't forget . . .

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And I do too!

Much ado about not a lot . . .

Each time you pick a daffodil
Or gather violets on some hill
Or touch a leaf or see a tree,
It's all God whispering, "This is Me."
~Helen Steiner Rice


I'm a bit of a slow starter this morning.  Some mornings are like that.  I get up, come down stairs and have a bit of a cuddle with Mitzie and then let her out for her morning ablutions.  While she's out there I get myself a drink and take out her Dentastix so that it's ready for her when she comes back in.  She has one of those each morning.

That happened and then while she was eating it, I took a few minutes and gazed out our back door along the back garden . . .  listening to the birds, looking at the sky, trying to predict what type of weather today will bring.  It's quite hard to predict actually because it usually never ends up being how it begins.  I think it was Bob Hope who said, when talking about England's weather . . . ""If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes!"  Yes, it is that changeable.



The garden is looking quite tired now . . .  and the birds are a lot quieter.  It is to be expected at the crowning of the year . . . a sense of contentment is settling in.  The fledglings have all flown the nests and set up on their own.  The chatter now is like old women set up on their stoops, placidly passing the time of day with each other.   The excitment, for now  . . .  is over . . .

The gulls squawk overhead.  I do believe they are Herring Gulls.   We never used to see them when I first moved over here . . .  almost 15 years ago now . . .  but they are ever present these days and they are quite noisy.  I never quite know if they are complaining or happy.  It all sounds the same to me.

I look down at the carpet in front of the kitchen sink and notice a slug trail over it . . .  glistening in the morning light  . . .  and I shudder.  I saw a slug yesterday on the back patio that was at least six inches long and the thoughts of anything like that being in my kitchen gives me the willies . . .

However do they even get in?

There is no sign of it now, save the tell tale glittering trail . . .



Once again summer is winding down and I have not saved any lavender, or rose petals . . .  or pressed any flowers.  Each year I think I am going to do just that and then . . .  I don't.

I wander back into the lounge where Mitzie is polishing her paws on the sofa and I sit next to her for an extra little cuddle.  She never minds.  If I am lucky she will roll over onto her back and present her belly for a little snuffle.   Yes, I do snuffle her belly . . . and I am not ashamed to admit it.  She smells particularly nice this morning because she has been groomed this week.  Her coat is shiny and smooth . . . and so soft.  The pads on the bottoms of her feet smell like popcorn.  I love it . . .

I remember the old dog we had when I was a child as I am stroking her.   When I began Grade eight, I was fourteen . . .  my mother's boss was moving and didn't want to take their dog with them.  Her name was Penny.  She was a beagle and quite tubby.  My mother thought it would be good for a boy to have a dog and so she took Penny and brought her home to us, thinking it would be my brother's dog.   We were all so very excited to have a dog in the house.   We already had a Siamese Cat . . .  Simon (how inventive right?) . . .  he . . .  was decidely not amused. 

I fell in love.  With her copper coloured ears . . . mostly likely how she got the name Penny.  With her soulfully liquid brown eyes . . . we were a mutual admiration society.   I was going through a particularly difficult time at school that year.   That was the year it was decided amongst my school chums that I must be a lesbian and so it was a particularly lonely year for me and I was not very happy.  Wounded even.  Penny understood.  With every stroke of those soft copper-coloured ears came healing and acceptance.

That is the thing about animals, and most especially dogs.    They love unconditionally.  They do not care if you are fat or thin . . .  tall or short . . .  ugly or beautiful . . . smart or stupid.   They just love.

You.

I can't help but think there is a lesson in that.



And so I have spent my morning puttering, and thinking . . .  and stroking . . .  and thinking some more, and now the clock has struck seven bells and I am startled because somehow two hours have passed, seemingly inconsequentially . . .

And the sun is peering up gloriously over the rooftops to the front of the house and pouring itself over the slate tiles and onto the pavements below, making each aging leaf and fading petal glisten and come alive. It looks finally like it is going to be a good day after all . . .

Or for at least the next five minutes anyways  . . .

"Seek the Lord and his strength,
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wonderful works that he has done,
his miracles . . . and the judgments he uttered."
~Psalm 105:4-5 




Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  a Peanut Butter and Banana Cake.  Scrumptiously dense and moist.

Wherever you go and whatever you get up to today  . . .  don't forget!


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And I do too! God bless you all.