My Favourite Things . . .

 

 

A few of the things I really love in life, maybe some of them are yours also.  I can't believe this is the very last favourite things for this year!  How did that happen! 

 

 

 

I cannot believe that possibly today, after having communicated for many, many years, I will finally get to meet our dear friend Sybil in person!  We have known each other (like Pam!) since our AOL Journal days and have come close to meeting several times, but never quite got it together.  She and Peter are planning on driving up today and we will have lunch together. It is quite a drive and the weather is not looking really great, but I hope it clears and this much looked forward to event will finally come in to play!  We have had freezing rain so far this morning, and it as laid . . .  hoping it all clears up by the time they want to leave to come.  Everything I have is crossed! (But I don't want them to take any chances either.)

 

 

Buttons, and I know this doesn't come as a surprise to you as I have spoken about them on here before.  I have found some really lovely ones on Pinterest lately however.  Some are quite unusual.  I would imagine that they cost a fortune.  These ones look fairly old, and are all of a sea-faring collection. I do remember the anchor ones from when I was a child though.  Does that make me an antique?  LOL

 

  

 

I love Tea Cosies and this is my latest creation.  I made it using a pattern from Etsy.  The colours, whih don't seem to exactly be showing up right are blue, red, yellow and light green.  I need to go and buy some new colours of yarn I think.  This was just using up colours from my stash!  I love it!

 

 

Of all the crochet in the world, I love crocheting classic granny squares most of all.  They are simple to do and you can put them together in a myriad of ways.  I am so grateful for my sister teaching my mother and I how to crochet all those many years ago.  I think I was about 16 and she 13.  It is a skill that has stood me in good stead all these years,  a skill I have used over and over again! 

 

  

 

I love pot holders.  My motto is you can never have too many pot holders.  I need to get some new ones. Mine are getting old and yucky.  I like cloth ones best of all.  I do have a large silicone mitt, but I find it quite awkward.  I am not very fond of the two in one pot holders. 

 

 

 

Like this one.  I find them awkward also.  I know they are supposed to be safer, but sometimes . . .  most of the time  . . .  you just want to use a little square one.  Or, I do at any rate! 

 

  

 

The Gift of Discernment.  This has really come in handy in these days of the WWW.  You have to be really discerning nowadays. Not a day goes by but what I don't get several quite a few e-mails telling me that my email is overflowing, or I need to update my passwords (on accounts I don't even have) etc.  I am grateful for the gift of discernment which lets me know that these are not real e-mails. The same goes for these handsome older military guys who are always wanting to be my friend on facebook.  I wasn't born yesterday.  Todd, however, is not as discerning as I am, and I have to remind him time and time again that things like this are not for real.  I have him to the point now where he shows me things first and I veto them.  I tell him never, ever click on any links found in an e-mail.  The bank will not send you links to click on, neither will paypal.  The number of times I have had to tell him he doesn't even have a paypal account, why would they send him an e-mail.  And if something sounds too good to be true, it IS too good to be true!  We live in dangerous times were people are filled with craftiness and greed.  The Gift of Discernment is a very good gift to have.

 

 

I love these little needle felted mice from Rustles from the Meadow.  I am a lover of little anything. and I totally adore humanized animals.  I have a lovely mouse that my cousin Martha sent to me, that I just adore.  I need to play with her more often.  This next year I vow to play with my toys more often.  I don't know what happened to my time in 2017. It kept evaporating into thin air! 

 

And I am up at 5:30 every morning, don't know where

the time goes, but it goes!

 

  

 

Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. Red & White. 

 

ANYTHING!

 

 

Floral Printed Cardigans.  I have a lovely brown one that has a floral pattern printed on it.  But, if there is anything I love more than a floral printed cardigan it is a 

 

  

 

Floral beaded cardigan.

I have a beautiful pink one that I don't wear near often enough.

 

 

 

Of all the cakes in all the world, the one I love most of all is the plain Victoria Sponge, followed closely by a coffee and walnut cake. Its the buttery plain sponge, the vanilla butter cream and jam middle, that light dusting of icing sugar on the top.  Its simple, and yet in its simplicity it is gorgeously delicious.  In my opinion, it simply cannot get any better than this! It is a classic which never goes out of style.  I think in North America it is called Washington Pie.  I know.  Its not  a pie. Its a cake. Nevertheless, that is what it is called.

 

 

It is my beverage of choice.  I have one every day.  And I have tried to stop drinking them, but I just miss them too much. Plain water never quite cuts it.  I have read all the garbage out there about them.  I know I should stop drinking them, but I just love Diet Coke. I don't drink tea or coffee.  I have never ever been fond of hot drinks.  I like fizzy diet coke.  I tried fizzy water, but it was not the same as my diet coke.  Perhaps this year I need to try again. 

 

  

 

Polka Dots. Of any kind.  I have a really soft spot for polka dots.  And yet I don't have anything polka dot in my house.  I wonder why that is  . . . 

 

 

This is the polka dot world of Yayoi Kusama,

the 83 year old Princess of Polka Dots.  

 

Clearly I have missed out on my life's calling, lol.

 

 

BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACONBACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACONBACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACONBACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON  

 

BACON!!  

 

Bacon and a good Steak are two 

good reasons why I could never

become a vegetarian.

 

  

 

Holly Hobbie

I have always loved to sew and I don't do that near often enough either.  I really need to make some changes in the coming year and do more of what I love and less of what doesn't love me.

 

 

I love cheese.  I mostly love it cooked, like in a grilled cheese, or a mac and cheese, an omelet, etc.  But I do love a nice cheese with some good crackers and some chutney as well.  I have never met a cheese I did not like.  

 

  

 

When I was working at the Manor, one time Florian's parents (The oldest daughter's husband was Florian) brought over one of these ruffle cheese cutters from Germany with a lovely Tete-de-Moine. Addictive.  For a girl who grew up on Velveeta, Cheese Whiz and Kraft Singles, I have come a long way baby.

 

 

I don't care what they are made of.  I don't want to know.  I love hot dogs.  In a nice soft warm steamed bun, with plenty of onions, mustard and relish, hold the ketchup please.  It is my dream to one day eat a hotdog from a hotdog cart in New York City.  They always look so good in the movies. 

 

 

 

Well done Historical Drama.  I can never get enough of it and when I find a favourite I will watch it again and again.  It just never gets old.

 

And with that I better leave you with a thought for today.  I have company coming and best get my skates on!

 

A thought for today . . . 

 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.You will get there,

but only if you keep going.

~unknown   •。★★ 。* 。 

 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  delicious Cabbage Rolls.  Scrumdiddlyumptious, another one of my favourite things! 

 

Have a wonderful Thursday.  Stay safe and warm and don't forget!

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And I do too! 

 

 

 

And so this was Christmas . . .

 

Cold Sage & Onion Stuffing for breakfast. This morning.  While I listen to Mitzie rolling her ball around the lounge trying to make the treats fall out of it. Just because its Christmas, and I am all on my own down here in the lounge this morning, watching that little girl on You Tube and am starving.  Its right up there with cold pizza.  Seriously.  This was very tasty. (Don't worry I didn't eat too much, just a few scraps.) (That last bit was for my sister's benefit, lol.) 

I also watched Jimmy Osmond's family stuff their Thanksgiving Turkey on His Pop Up Kitchen Channel.  You can see that here. Very entertaining and what a great

looking family. 

 

Our Christmas Lunch was The Simplest Turkey from Piper's Farm.  After all of the cooking earlier this month, I thought I would take the easy way out for Christmas Dinner, but I still spent all day Christmas Eve and all Christmas Day for the most part in the kitchen.  LOL  That was just on all the trimmings, which we had for leftovers yesterday so yesterday I really could be lazy, but sitting around all day doing nothing is not my cup of tea I have decided.  BORING. 

Christmas Dinner was nice.  Along with the turkey and pigs in blankets,

we had homemade stuffing, swede, carrots, sprouts,

parsnips, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes,

squash and gravy and of course

cranberry sauce.

We were both too full for dessert.

We had our lunch about 1 PM, and then for supper we had some Christmas pud and Todd also had a slice of Christmas Cake and a mince pie. 

  

I was really happy with how my Tortiere turned out this year.  We had it on Christmas Eve and I froze the remainder of it for another time.  I also baked 24 mince pies on Christmas Eve day, which we are slowly working our way though  . . . 

 

This was my son's 40 pounder.  Monstrously huge.  They will be enjoying turkey dinners for a year, lol.  Actually they were supposed to go to his FIL's for Christmas dinner with it, but got snowed in.  I enjoyed a lovely facetime with him and his family on Christmas Day Evening. It was wonderful. They did get a lot of snow!  I got to see the beast all cooked as well. Looked delicious! 

  

(Very old photo as they are now 12, 10 and 7)

I also got to face time with Doug and his three J's earlier on Christmas Day.  The boys showed me some of their fabulous Christmas gifts. It was really, really nice.  I had been face timing with Doug earlier this week as well as he had gotten my cookbook and was really happy with that.  So were Anthony and Eileen.  Love that they love it.  

Best Christmas gift for me ever was seeing five of my grandchildren 

on Christmas day, and talking to three of my kids.

Love them to bits and always appreciate

the efforts taken! 

Talked to my mom too, of course, and my sister. I have talked to my mom every Christmas day for 62 years. It's a tradition, lol.  Love my mom.  She liked her shawl.  I was pleased about that because I want her to use it, and not just keep it for good. 

  

Amanda posted a few Christmas pictures.  Herself with Maryn and Cam, in matching pj's.  Cute.

  

The two exchange students they have living with them also had matching pajamas and crazy socks. I daren't show them just in case, but aren't the kiddies getting tall!  No sign of Tom, I suspect he was the face behind the camera.

And not a twitter from the fifth child of mine, but then again

I didn't expect to hear from him. He is his

father's son.

It would have been the capper on a pretty fab day, but I learned a long time ago

to count my blessings where I find them, and three out of five

is not bad, and I at least got to see pics of the 

fourth.  God is good.

 

There was the Queen's Christmas Message on Christmas Day.  A tradition and always very good. 

  

The Call the Midwife Christmas Special, where we got to see the ladies of Nonnatus House and the residents of Poplar battle their way though the worst Christmas weather in 300 years.  Actually Todd remembers that year as he was a milkman and says it was horrendous trying to deliver the milk on his route! 

 

We also got to enjoy a lovely festive edition of Victoria and Albert.  This never disappoints.

And this is really freaky.  

 

My next door neighbor Maxine was at the Bouverie Arms on Christmas day and guess who she met in person.  It's Albert! (Or at least the actor who plays him.) She was thrilled.  Can you tell?  She said he was really nice. 

And that was Christmas.

Quiet but good.  We are together. We are happy.

We are healthy. 

Again,

God is good.

  

So excited because tomorrow we get to finally meet our Sybil

in person!  I can't wait! 

A thought to carry with you . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛. Some people are going to love you

no matter what you do,

and some people are not going to

love you, no matter what you do.

Go where the love is.

~Unknown   •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

I will be back with Book of Mormon Corner after the holidays have all finished.  

 

In The English Kitchen today a selection of tasty mains to choose from for New Years.  

 

Yesterday it was Pandoro French Toast served with leftover pigs in blankets and a mincemeat syrup. This was really, really good!

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

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too! 

 

A Tale of Light . . .

 

Jon, Josh and Jake enjoying some gingerbread fun 2017 

The wonderment in a small child's eyes,
The ageless awe in the Christmas skies,
The nameless joy that fills the air,
The throngs that kneel in praise and prayer . . .
These are the things that make us know,
That men may come and men may go,
But none will ever find a way
To banish Christ from Christmas day,
For with each child there's born again
A mystery that baffles men.
~Helen Steiner Rice 

As the woman and her husband pulled up to the small quilt shop door, she noticed a young Amish woman hanging clothes out on the line, despite the cold and frigid weather.

"If you'd like to go into the shop, I'll be right there!" She gaily called out.

The husband opened the door to the shop and as the couple stepped inside, they noticed that shadows of darkness shrouded the room, making it difficult to see.

"It's far too dark in here," the woman said to her husband, "I'll never be able to tell what the quilts look like without any light." 

 

Just then the Amish woman entered and turned on the gas lamps. "Feel free to look around. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about any of the quilts." she told the English couple.

"Oh!" the woman gasped out loud. "Just look at all the beautiful quilts and pillows! There are so many to choose from. Until you turned on the lights, I had no idea of just how very beautiful they truly were." She then pointed to a queen-sized quilt, sewn in muted blue and white colours. "I think I'd like to purchase this one." she said with a smile. 

  

The Amish woman lifted the quilt from the rack. "I especially like this pattern." she said. "It's called the Colonial Star, and it's pieced in a series of blocks. The stars have been quilted around the diamonds, making a puffy, raised look, causing them to stand out like flickering stars on a clear night."

The Amish woman rang up the couple's purchase on her battery operated cash register, and the wife, pleased that they had stopped at the quilt shop, knew she would treasure her lovely quilt for many years to come. 

  

Just as the beauty of the quilts was hidden from view until the gas lamps had been turned up, other's can't see Jesus until we let our light shine for Him. God gave us the sun, and the moon, and the stars . . . that we might see the beauty of His creation, and He, being light Himself, guides and directs those who follow Him, as we direct others to Jesus, the sweetest light of all.

"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun."
~Ecclesiastes 11:7

May each of you on this very special Christmas 2017 be able to find peace in your hearts, light and joy in your lives, and the love of the Saviour . . . the sweetest light of all.  

 

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us

to all of you! 

Be happy and be blessed! 

♥

Saturday This and That . . .

 

 

I had a terrifically busy day yesterday, which thankfully was here at home and not out on the roads.  They (whoever they are) were calling yesterday "Frantic Friday." From 1 pm yesterday afternoon, millions were expected to be hitting the roads for their holiday getaways, with severe traffic jams and long queues to be expected on all of our motor ways . . . our motorways are a nightmare at the best of times, but throw in a holiday and some fog and they are nuts, nuts, NUTS!  

 

 

Decided a long time ago I wasn't going there or doing that!

What a nightmarish way to begin your

Holiday weekend!

NOT FOR ME!  

 

 

 

I had enough to do here at home.  I knew that today would be a wash out, what with Audrey's Memorial Service and all (I am speaking at it) so I needed to get most of my work done yesterday.  A cleaning and tidy up of the house from top to bottom was in order.  You want everything shipshape before the holidays don't you.  So I cleaned the bathroom, did all the laundry so that the laundry basket was empty and hung it to dry in the spare room.  I baked a few last minute bits and bobs . . .  made some cabbage rolls, did the filling for my Christmas Eve Tortiere and then the pastry . . . and put it together  . . .

 

 

Ready to enjoy on Christmas Eve!  It smelled so good while 

it was baking. It really did.

 

  

 

I still have my date squares, feather squares and ginger biscuits to bake, plus I had wanted to do a Buche de Noel this year . . .  that may have to go by the wayside because I also have a turkey to cook for Doreen.  Today.  I do one for her every year.  I am thinking I might do it in the slow cooker for her, which will leave the oven free for other things. I can always brown it off in the oven after.  It is only a turkey crown. 

 

I discovered later in the day yesterday that I had somehow scratched my hand somewhere, and so I quickly treated that with some anti-septic and bandaged it.  A friend of mine cut her hand in the garden back in September and ended up in the hospital  with sepsis.  She almost died.  It attacked her heart and she is only just now getting out of the hospital.  Her experience has certainly inspired me to be a lot more careful with scrapes and such, no matter how small they might seem.  You cannot be too careful! 

 

Then I got mail.  Beautiful lovely mail. 

 

 

 

First a swet package from my Sister and Mum, containing some low dose aspirin (buffered) that I can't get over here. That will keep me going for a while. (Thanks so much sis!)  plus some Penaten Cream, which I also cannot get over here and some lovely tiny bite sized bars of treats I miss from home. All bundled up in a cute sewing tin. I love these kinds of tins. My sister knows.  I used to have quite a collection of them.  I have never seen bite sized kitkats like that!   It all brought a smile to my face . . . 

Then there was another knock on the door.  Todd asked, what did you buy now??? 

He had to sign for it.  Signed for post always makes me nervous.

But that is just me.

 

 

 

It ended up being a lovely Chatbook remembrance from Lura and John of their visit here last April!  What a lovely book!  We both sat here and enjoyed looking through it and enjoying again the wonderful week we had spent together.  Thank YOU Lura!  You are such a sweetheart and it was such a surprise.  It was wonderful experiencing the week all over again through your words and eyes! 

 

 And then there was another package. 

 

  

 

I had done some work for my friend Gouri from Holy Lama Spice Drops a few years back and every year she sends me a lovely Christmas Card and  pressie. This year it was this gorgeous painted elephant ornie.  Thanks Gouri!  Its so cute! 

 

 But that is not all  . . .  there was one more package.

The prayers of an 8 year old Nova Scotia girl have finally been answered,

and it only took 54 years! 

 

 

 

Santa came early in the way of a sweet Tammy doll, along with her sister Pepper and some clothes and copies of the inserts that used to be in with the clothes when you bought them, and some patterns to make more of my own!  I was gobsmacked to say the least!  All the way from Newfoundland as well as a beautiful letter that I think I read about fifteen times.  Thank you so much Sandy!  I bet you didn't know you would one day be the answer to a little girl's prayers! Just goes to show you . . .  God hears all our prayers, even the simple ones of a little girl praying for a Tammy Doll!  He takes His own sweet time answering them sometimes.  And sometimes we may not get the answer we wanted to get, or the answer is no, or not now . . .  He always knows best, what is best for us.  As an 8 year old, I might not have appreciated the significance of such a gift, but let me tell you as a 62 year old the meaning was not lost on me, and I will cherish this sweet gift for as long as I live!

Thank you so much Sandy!

I really enjoyed your lovely letter that you wrote along with it.

I think I have read it about six times already!

I cannot wait to make some more clothes for them, and

to show them England.  I might even take them to the 

Cavern and show them where the Beatles got

their start!

 

 

The icing on my Christmas 2017 cake this year will be finally meeting our dear friend Sybil one day this coming week.  What a sweet treat to end the year on.  We have been corresponding since our old AOL journal days and now to finally meet in person, well, it is a dream come true!  Can't wait!  Pinch me I must be dreaming!  

 And now back down to earth, with a most humbling experience. 

 

 

 

Yes it has finally come down to this.  Its the only way I can keep them all straight.

I finally had to break down and get one of these.

and it doesn't include the bedtime ones

which I keep upstairs.

 . . . 

 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.  You'll find stardust in your story,

and the stuff all precious things are made of,

if you honor it enough. Every crooked

path got you here. You are beautiful.

Own your story. Celebrate it.

~S.C. Lourie      •。★★ 。* 。 

 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

 

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's Reading - 2 Nephi 25:27-26:11
Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How can the Spirit help us to keep pride in check? 

 

My Thoughts - If we are living to have the Spirit with us, we will be aware of our true relationship to God and other people. That each person is of great and equal value to God, that all our talents and blessings come from him, and that we are weak and fallen men who need the Lord's and influence to be good. When you have this perspective, I think it's very difficult to be proud. 

 
Nephi is so troubled to see so many of his descendants destroyed, but he understands that God is just. When we know that God loves us, then we can rely on Him to deal justly and mercifully.  All the destructions come as a consequence of THEIR pride, THEIR foolishness, and that THEY yield and choose works of darkness rather than that of light. Pride is fighting against the spirit. Pride declares of itself, "I know how best to live my life, I know the way to be happy". The law requires of us a "broken heart and a contrite spirit". To submit ourselves to God is putting off the natural man and then we become saints and children of Christ. Heavenly Father knows our potential better than we do, therefore we must trust in Him, and follow the guidance of the still small voice and he will guide us and bless us to paths we never dreamed we could possibly walk.

 

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 65) -  2 Nephi 26:12-30 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How do you recognise the subtle flaxen cords around your neck before they become too strong?

 

 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  a Quick Fruited Tea Cake.  Time to kick your feet up and relax!

 

Have a lovely Saturday.  I hope the roads are not too busy when we need to go out later and go to the Memorial Service.  Wish us luck!  If you have to go out yourself, stay safe and stay calm! Don't forget!

 

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And I do too!