Wednesday prattling . . .

 

We sit here now at a time I like to think of as the crowning of the year . . . the nights are now beginning to draw in . . . the days getting that little bit shorter with each day that passes . . . soon now we will notice that the leaves at the tops of the trees are beginning to change colour . . . it will only be slight at first . . . a change as soft as a whisper, so soft that you will ask yourself . . . can it be???

 And then . . . your heart will say . . . yes . . . summer is on the wane.

This is the time of year that our gardens 

are still pretty, but,  beginning

to fade a bit

 . . . 

 

Lush and green and bursting with colour from all sides. The roses all a-bloom . . . their tender petals unfurled and sweet with scent . . . soon to drop and be replaced by rose-hips, bright and gay with ripe colour . . . rose-hip jam? I have always wanted to make some . . . but never have. Could this be the year . . . one never knows. It all depends on what whimsey befalls me . . .


The wheat and corn grow in the field . . . looking like sun-flecked seas beneath cloudless summer skies . . . little ripples breaking upon the surface with even the slightest breeze . . . while scarlet wild poppies, petals wide . . . dip and rise upon the restless tide . . . of summer's end . . .

 

Evening sunlight rests upon the river . . . it never looks the same at any other time of year. Dragonflies flit about the reeds in an aerial dance, whilst in nearby peaceful pastures herds graze by quiet watermeads . . . and in and out between the islets, a swam in quiet dance, with queenly grace moves to nest amongst the rushes, where willows . . . interlace . . .

Where once the branch seemed as if t'was dead . . . heavy now with apples ripening, green fruit flushed red and golden where the thrushes sing. Once laid with frost, then scattered and tossed with a miraculous shower of rosy-tinted bud . . . a heavy bough awaits . . . the harvest time . . . twill soon be upon us . . .

 

If t'were always summertime . . . weary we should grow of changeless weather . . . the unflading glow of sunshine, the endless bloom of roses fair. The flowers which bloom down garden ways, would lack the power they have to call forth from our hearts . . . words of joy . . . and praise.

Tis the expectation of summer sunshine and flowers, that make them all the sweeter . . . that delight us with it's golden hours.

The winter wait . . . the hope in spring . . . serve to make these golden days twice as sweet, for hidden in the recesses of our hearts . . . the knowledge lays that . . . time is on the wing . . .

"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness . . . and the little hills rejoice on every side. The folds shall be full of sheep; the valleys also shall stand so thick with corn that they shall laugh and sing." ~Psalm 65:11-13 

'Tis a very gloomy day out there this morning  . . . very gray and overcast with skies that look about to let go in a deluge any minute!  There was no watching of the Eclipse here in the UK the other day, it was very overcast anyways and I don't think we were experiencing a full one here, so television was the best way for us to enjoy it anyways.  I can remember there being a full one in Nova Scotia when I was a child and my mother giving us old picture negatives to look at it through.  I believe that was the same Eclipse that Carly Simon wrote of in her song "You're so Vain."

 

My Birthday present arrived yesterday and I am really pleased with it. Its very delicate and a beautiful reminder to me of the Saviour every second of every day.  I love it!  Next time I will get a crown to put on the other hand to remind myself I'm a Princess! ☺

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.°

He loved us not because we are loveable,

but because He is love.

~C. S. Lewis   •。★★ 。* 。

Spiritual Enlightenment

 

On The English Kitchen today  . . .  Street Style Beef Tacos, with homemade Avocado Cream and Homemade Flour Tortillas.  Very good.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!  Don't forget along the way of your day . . . 

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And I do too! 

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

FOR TODAY, August 22, 2017

Outside my window ...

The sun is up and the skies are cloudy, but it looks as if it might clear.  Mind you that could change in five minutes time.  The weather here, at best, is very changeable.

I am thinking ...

So late this morning getting started.  I woke up about an hour later and the hour since has just evaporated!  Hope the rest of my day doesn't disappear so quickly!

In the kitchen ...

 

 German Casserole.  Have had this sitting in my "to-post folder" since the spring. Can't believe it has taken me this long to post it.  Its delicious.  Leftover potatoes, ham, and onions, layered with kraut and cheese.  It's quick and easy to make and a very tasty use of found ingedients!  Oh yes . . .  there is cheese.

On my "To Cook" list ...

 

Diane Henry's Potato and Beetroot Gratin.  Someone gifted me with a big bag of potatoes and beetroot from their garden and this looks like a tasty way to use up some of them! From Love Beetroot.  I do so love savoury bakes!

Good to know ...

 

Every little helps  . . . 

I am creating ...

  

Amanda Saladin.  A free pattern for a lovely large tote bag.  Maybe not in those colours however . . . 

 

How to make a rag rug from an old sheet.  From Gemma Cooper on Grillo Designs.  

 

How to wax fall leaves. From Creative Homemaking.  

 

DIY Pumpkins from Terra Cotta Pots, from Real Housemoms.  

 

From Love Knitting.  Pom Pom Christmas Pudding Decorations. Complete Tutorial. Cute!

I am reading ...

 

Before The Storm, by Diane Chamberlain

Fifteen-year-old Andy Lockwood is special.
Others notice the way he blurts out anything that comes into his mind, how he cannot foresee consequences, that he's more child than teenager. But his mother sees a boy with a heart as open and wide as the ocean.

Laurel Lockwood lost her son once through neglect. She's spent the rest of her life determined to make up for her mistakes, and she's succeeded in becoming a committed, protective parent—maybe even overprotective. Still, she loosens her grip just enough to let Andy attend a local church social—a decision that terrifies her when the church is consumed by fire. But Andy survives…and remarkably, saves other children from the flames. Laurel watches as Andy basks in the role of unlikely hero and the world finally sees her Andy, the sweet boy she knows as well as her own heart.

But when the suspicion of arson is cast upon Andy, Laurel must ask herself how well she really knows her son…and how far she'll go to keep her promise to protect him forever.

I have loved every Diane Chamberlain book I have read, and so far I am loving this one too.

I am looking forward to ...
Waking up every morning.  What a blessing! Seriously.  I can't wait to get started on my day as soon as I open my eyes every morning.  I don't languish in bed.  I am up and at 'em!

Dreaming About ...

Visiting Copenhagen one day . . .  On the Luce, has budget tips for doing so . . .

 

Autumn walks  . . . 

  

A bumble bee watch  . . . 

Pretty rings  . . . 

  

Glow in the dark nails  . . .  mystical . . . 

Something to Watch ...

 

Accused of murder when she was a child, a dressmaker (Kate Winslet) returns to her small Australian town to seek revenge on the locals who did her wrong. 

A quote for the day  ...

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

Time stands still best in moments

        that look suspiciously like ordinary life.

                   ~Brian Andreas  •~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸. ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ. 

Makes me smile ...

  

This girl is a squirrel named Jill on Instagram.  A cute squirrel that was rescued during Hurricane Isaac.  Follow her on Instagram.  You won't be sorry.  She's adorable.  

Corners of my Kingdom ...

 

(source)  

Afternoon tea at the Grosvenor Hotel, Chester  . . . some day . . . 

And that's my daybook for this week!


  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ 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.  

 

 Very grateful for the NHS.  You probably noticed me missing yesterday.  That's because I was recovering from Saturday.  Saturday morning I started feeling very unwell.  I had a pressure on my chest and I was sweating and feeling woozy. This continued off and on all day until about six pm, when I finally said to Todd, I think I need to go to Emergency.  So off we went. I was sure I must be having a heart attack, and was feeling quite stressed about that.  I was able to get registered very quickly and taken into the triage area, where they did an ecg and took some bloods, inserted a  canula.  But then we sat waiting. It was 3 1/2 hours before I was actually seen by a Doctor.  I think that is rather a long time when someone is presenting themselves with heart attack symptoms, but perhaps that is just me.  Once I was seen by the Doctor, she decided that I needed a chest x-ray and several more blood tests and ecg's. I was wheeled off for the x-ray and then had more bloods taken, and then all of a sudden they were wheeling me off to "A more comfortable bed," they said.  It wasn't until I got into the Ward that we were told I was there for the night. Poor Todd.  He took himself off home and I got changed into some PJ's and tried to go to sleep, but I had a freight train in the bed next to me. I tried everything.  Wrapping my head in my pillow, etc. but there was nothing that could drown out the sound of the lady next to me's snoring.  It was soooooo loud.  I am surprised anyone was sleeping!  (but it appeared they all were.)  I am a person that can't sleep even if I can hear breathing.  I wear ear plugs at home, but of course I don't normally carry them around with me. (Note to self, always carry a spare set of ear plugs in purse.) I lay there all night.  Hospitals are noisy places, especially if you are in a room next to the ER and you have ambulances arriving all night, etc.  I had a nice big window over my bed and I saw every flash, lol.  They did more tests about 4 am.  and finally about 7 am. I was told that they could find nothing untoward, my ecg's were all normal. My blood tests normal.  They thought I did have a urine infection though because of my urine results and my cholesterol is a bit elevated. (they changed my cholesterol medication a few months back and it obviously isn't doing its job.) I was told I could go home and luckily, Todd was already back and waiting for me in the common room. (He couldn't sleep either!)  So I got dressed and we toddled off home. We tried to go to bed yesterday morning, but neither of us could get much sleep so we basically just lay around in our PJ's feeling like crapola all day yesterday and went to bed early last night, where I got a full night's sleep and he was still sawing a lot when I got up at six this morning!

So grateful however for a medical service which is free and for all the dedicated NHS nurses, doctors, etc. that work their bones off despite being under-staffed and over burdened.  I think they did a fab job.  Sitting there for the 3 1/2 hours that I did, and watching, there was nonstop patients coming in and staff dealing with it.  Everyone was doing their best.  The nurse who took my first bloods was so tired.  I think some fund pumping into the NHS is long overdue. We need more nurses and doctors and beds.  In short, the NHS needs more money.  Having said that, they are doing an excellent job with what they have. (NHS stands for National Health Service.)

Whew, long winded or what!

 

 

Lisa and Patrick

 

My brother's oldest daughter got married on Saturday!  Here they are.  I love this photograph.  You can see that they love each other very much!  I think he has pretty much been the only boyfriend she has ever had.  All our best wishes to this lovely young couple as they begin their lives together!  She's a graphic designer and I think she works for Shopify.  He's a student finishing up a degree or some such in Robotics.  I love that she chose to keep her glasses on for her wedding.  I have never seen a bride do that. Even I took mine off (all three times, lol)  We women are such vain creatures.  Hooray for Lisa for embracing who she is.  A beautiful young woman, even with glasses on. I think she is gorgeous! 

 

  

Buddy watching TV

My friend Maxine has the funniest dog.  His name is buddy and he is a rescue dog.  Todd thinks he is somewhat annoying because he barks constantly anytime we go out into the garden, but I think he's adorable, despite the barking. He has personality plus.  He's a total little character.  We do love our pets.

 

 

 This is what's looking at me right now.  She is such a sweetie pie.  You should have seen how excited she was when I came home yesterday.  She pratically turned herself inside out.  Todd had given her oatmeal for breakfast, despite me having shown him multiple times exactly what she gets fed each meal.  He said he didn't know what to give her.  Guess I will have to show him again! 

 

 

 

 All the prayers and happy thoughts that were being offered for me Saturday.  I could feel them.  They covered me and brought me peace.  It is hard to feel too upset when you know people are praying for you. 

 

 

 

The power and comfort of Priesthood blessings.  All worthy men in my church hold the Priesthood of God, which is the power of God on the earth, we believe. As such they are worthy to give such things as blessings of comfort and healing, etc. to their families.  A worthy priesthood holder will annoint the head of the person to be blessed with olive oil which has been blessed and set aside expressly for that purpose and the annointing will be sealed by the laying on of hands and a blessing pronounced according the inspiration and will of God.  I am so grateful that I have a worthy Priesthood holder in my home, who can bless me when I am feeling low and in need of extra help.

 

  

 

The thoughtfulness of family and friends, and each of you.  It all blesses my life in countless ways.  I am such a lucky, lucky girl  . . . 

A thought to carry with you . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.° And in the end it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln   •。★★ 。* 。 

 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

 

 

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Homemade Cherry Pie Filling.  This is really, really good.  I may never buy tinned pie filling again!

Have a beautiful week.  I hope it is filled to overflowing with an abundance of small and wonderful things!  Don't forget!

 

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And I do too! 

 

How to spend a week . . .

 

I can't believe how quickly this week has passed by.  It seems to have evaporated in a blur! I didn't have a particularly busy week, but some how, some way, it seems to have just whizzed by.  Is it like that for everyone?  Does it seem like time is speeding up?  It sure does from my vantage point!  The weeks no sooner begin than they are finishing.

Of course Saturdays are not the same now as they were when I was working, or raising a family, etc.  When the children were growing up Saturday was a day that we had to spend together after they had spent the week at school, etc.  It was our day off.  Pancakes for breakfast were always on the menu. Room cleaning in the morning and then we always used to take them to a movie on Saturday afternoon.  We normally lived on Military bases and so admission was always cheap to the Saturday matinee and the films were always preceded by cartoons, just like in the olden days.  Good times! 

 

The most delightful little box was delivered in the post from Postman Pat this week.   It was a birthday gift from my friend Noelle who lives in Halifax.  It's a fairy door.  Complete with doornob and look at that little ladybird! It is so sweet.  It was handmade by a local Halifax artisan, Clayton Dickson.  I am just pondering on where will be the perfect spot to place it.  I want to put it somewhere it will be seen, but also where it will delight! It was such a thoughtful gift!

I've been crocheting these as well as putting my blanket together and finishing off squares for that.  These little poppies are so quick and easy to make.  I just need to buy some pin backings to put onto them. Of course, we will still put money into the Poppy Appeal as it goes to a very good cause!  Its nice to have poppy brooches, etc. that you can wear for Remembrance Day, but we must also support our veterans however we can.

 

Facetimes with Doug always make me smile.   (I want that stained glass window, lol)  We don't do it near often enough, but when we do I am always so grateful for the opportunity we have to speak with each other face to face.  He is a good, good man, and a great dad and husband, and of course son.  when he was little he had the fuzziest, hairiest arms.  I always called him my little fuzzy bear.  I can remember when he was really young, the cat we had at the time (called Brandy who was a bluepoint Siamese) and I would go in together to wake him up in the morning.  The cat would tread on his back and be purring and I would tell him the cat was singing to him, and he would ask me what was the cat singing and I would sing to him Good Morning Sunshine by Donovan.  Good times!  I love these sweet memories I have of a sweet little boy and now a darling man. 

 

My friend Valerie posted this on facebook yesterday and it just made me laugh. I wonder who thinks things like this up.  It's quite witty.  I do have a love affair of all things Amish. It was always my dream to go to Amish country.  I'll probably not ever have the chance to do that now, but I do love Amish recipes and collectables.  I have a couple of sweet little Amish Peg Dolls.

 

One was made for me by my sister and the other a gift once upon a time from a friend. 

 

My sister always made such beautiful things, and makes beautiful things.  I treasure everything she has ever made for me.  She used to make beautiful Amish dolls, and one year an Amish outfit for her youngest girl for a Halloween Costume.  It was so cute.  My sister has always been the most brilliant seamstress.  There was a time when we lived in Southern Ontario that we did a few craft sales together.  I always enjoyed those times so very much.  No husbands or children to distract us . . .  just us and our crafts and the time we got to spend together.  Good times.  I cherish those lovely memories also. 

I gave myself the gift of an extra call to my mom midweek this week.  It was so nice.  She remembered my birthday and was so apologetic that she had actually forgotten to wish me a Happy Birthday when we had spoken on Sunday.  I told her it was okay.  I know her memory is not the best these days.  She was having her lunch.  My sister had left her a Tomato Sandwich for her lunch.  My mom loves, LOVES tomato sandwiches, much like myself.  We talked for abour an hour and it was really, really nice.  I think I will surprise her with mid weeks calls more often. Its like a gift to each of us. 

 

I had my Diabetic check-up yesterday and everything was good.  My blood sugar levels were even lower than they were at my previous check-up, so that was great!  I was surprised at that, but I'll take it!  Foot circulation is good, weight stable, kidney function good, etc.   My blood pressure was a bit up from what it should have been, so I have to go back and have it checked again in a couple of weeks.  Not totally suprised about that as I was a bit stressed out this week with the photo thing, but I am trying not to stress about it now.  What will be will be. I still can't log into my account on photobucket. Its been a couple of days.  For the moment most of my photos have become visible again, but for how long.  I want to be able to download my daughter's wedding photos etc. so I can save them someplace else.  But trying not to stress  . . .  being zen.  Or as zen as I can be.

 We have finished watching the whole 7 series of the Gilmore Girls and this week we have been watching their Year in the Life episodes.  Last night we were watching other half of the "Summer" episode, having watched the beginning of it the night before.  Although we have seen all four of these already, we don't mind watching them again.  Near the end of that episode (Spoiler alert!)  there is a song called "Unbreakable" which Lorelai has gone to listen to at Miss Patties as a part of the Stars Hollow Musical that the town is getting ready to put on.  As she sits and listens to it, she visibly tears up and is distraught . . .  and I have to say that the lyrics made me tear up also . . . 

Oh I am not unbreakable . . .

I am breaking right now

Maybe everyone can't have the dream

Maybe everyone can't kiss the frog,

etc. ...

Oh, I am not unbreakable

I am breaking right now

I need to be unbreakable

somehow, it's never

or now

...

It made me think about a huge turning point in my own life about 18 years ago where I found myself at a crossroad . . . "now or never" point in my life.  Having tried to be strong for everyone my whole life, I found myself at a breaking point where I realised that if I didn't do what I needed to do for me right then . . .  I never would and I would break.   Funny how something like a song like that can have such an impact on you and touch you in a special way. 

 

Thankfully Lorelai figured it out, 

and I did too.

♥

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day  . . .

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.° The grand essentials of happiness are:

Something to do, something to love,

something to give and something to hope for.

~Allan Chalmers  •。★★ 。* 。 

So grateful I have all of these  . . . 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Langley Wakes Cakes.  So tasty!  A traditional Derbyshire recipe.

Have a great Saturday.  Hope the sun shines for you.  Don't forget!

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And I do too!