Saturday, 28 July 2018

Saturday this and that . . .


On the 28th July, 1866 in Kensington, London the world was made a little bit brighter by the arrival of a wee baby girl, whose parents named Helen Beatrix Potter. Little did they know that over 150 year later this little girl would still be adored and revered for all that she accomplished in her lifetime. She was to become a writer, conservationist, brilliant illustrator/artist, and natural scientist known and remembered throughout the world for her wonderful and charming children's books.  Enjoyed, yes, by children but I think also even more enjoyed by adults.  There is something in each of her drawings that fills the soul with delight.

She was an early conservationist, at a time when conservation was not really thought much about, and had a great love for the British countryside and nature, much of which was reflected in her beautiful drawings depicting animals from her own life, in a wonderfully charming way . . . with little topcoats, and slippers, aprons and caps. 


It is because of her love of nature and conservation that the beautiful Lake District area here in the UK was to become a National Treasure, as she bought up farms that were destined to become commercial fodder for short-sighted land developers. She supported the efforts of the National Trust to preserve not just the places of extraordinary beauty but also those heads of valleys and low grazing lands that would be irreparably ruined by development.She was also an authority on traditional Lakeland crafts, period furniture and stone work.  She restored and preserved the farms that she bought. 

She, to me, is a great role model because, at a time when women (especially society women) were expected to fulfil a certain role as a wife to a man of society and not much else, she dared to buck the system and become a woman of independant means and character.


Happy Birthday to Beatrix Potter! 

  

She's here!  This is Grace.  She was born yesterday about 9 am. and a good weight also at 8.2 pounds!  Of course she is beautiful, like her mum and dad.  I am so very pleased for this sweet young couple and their new addition to the family. I cannot wait to hold her.  Good job Ariana! 


While that wee one was making her entrance into the world, in another part of the world a much beloved granddaughter was enjoying the sandy beaches of PEI.  Here is Maryn with her legs buried in sand  . . . 

  

Brother Cameron builds sand castles . . . 


It cheers my heart to see them all enjoying a lovely summer and I am sure much earned time off for my daughter and son in law who both work very hard at what they do the rest of the year! 

Family times are the best of times. 

  

Jon and Jake with their rabbit on the move.  That is one big bunny! 


And one very precious hamster.  I love the look of care on wee Josh's face. It is such a tender expression. 

  

He has a tender soul. 


I cannot leave these two gorgeous boys out.  Gabe and Luke.  Luke has a very enthusiastic personality and full on joy of life!!! 

I hate living so far away from these loves of mine. I  keep trying to win the lottery,
so that I can visit them more frequently, but to no avail.
Some things are just not meant to be.


 It was raining most enthusiastically when I got up this morning, which is good.  We need the rain. It has stopped now and the sky is blue, blue, blue  . . .  with a few dark clouds hereabouts.  I think it will be a somewhat showery day.  Our church Ward BBQ is today.  It will be moved indoors if the showers persist, and I hope they don't as the Ward always has a huge slip and slide for the kiddos and there has been an American Football lesson promised for those so inclined.  The Ward BBQ is always a lot of fun and a great opportunity to get together and fellowship with members of our church congregation outside of church meetings.  There is never enough time on a Sunday morning. 

Speaking of friends, our friend Peter stopped by yesterday afternoon so I could help him with some computer stuff.  We had a lovely visit. It is clear he misses Audrey dreadfully.  I think we need to make more of an effort to include him in our lives.  I said to Todd we must invite him over for a BBQ soon.  He is such a nice man.  He was Todd's best man when we got married, and he and Audrey were two of my first friends I made when I moved over here.  Audrey had Vascular Dementia, same as mom.  Its a sad, sad disease . . . Peter was saying yesterday how much he missed Audrey, but really he had been missing her for the two years prior to her passing, and I know what he means as we watch our own mum slowly disappearing.  

I admit as well, it worries me as my Maternal Great Grandmother had it, 
and now my mom . . . I think if you live long enough
that side of the family gets it . . . 

Food for thought. 

  

We've been enjoying the Donna Reed Show.  I never got to see it when I was a child really. I don't think it was shown on Canadian television much.  I am enjoying it now.   What a gentler time. It can be seen as a bit corny and unrealistic . . .  she is always perfectly dressed and coiffed, but I love it.  That is what I wanted.  A nice suburband home, with a family, being a housewife and a mum. Nothing  more than that really.  I love it when she meets her friends for lunch.  They are always wearing gloves and hats, and they always drool over the menu and think about eating something extravagant but settle for cottage cheese and salad when the waitress comes to take their order.

So that's my problem.  I'm not settling for cottage cheese
as often as I should.
haha


A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction
ends up being the biggest step of your life.
Tip toe if you must, but take the step.
~Unknown   ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 


 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Raspberry Almond Breakfast Cake.  Its the weekend.

Hope your Saturday is a great one.  Don't forget along the way of your day!


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 


And I do too! 


 


 






Friday, 27 July 2018

My Friday Finds . . .

  

A few of the things  I find each week that pique my interest, bring me joy, inspire me to learn, create, do, become . . . Maybe they will do the same for you!   


Forever Summer Necklace.  Free pattern and Tutorial from OOmbawka Design. There is also a bracelet. Crochet. Free. 


Kristin Crochets.  A free pattern.  Colourful! 


 Free Tutorial on Craftsy for how to paint Daisies.  I love this. 


Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Homemade Pita Bread. Look at that lovely rise!  Have any of you made your own Pita Breads?  How did they turn out? 


From Fragrant Vanilla, German Chocolate Granola. This stuff looks really good!


In Color Order. Fabric Wrapped Wreath tutorial.  Love this.  


DIY Vintage Chic.   A lovel coffee table made out of recycled crates! 


See Kate Sew.  Seven ways to make a ruffle.  


Made Every Day. How to make your own bias tape. 


Modge Podge Rocks.  DIY cork and wallpaper magnets. Love these.  


Tauni Co, Chalkboard Serving Trays.  Love this idea.  Complete tutorial.


Make Mail Pretty.  Eye candy inspiration only. 

  

Again no source, but what a great idea.  Upcycled gift tags made using old atlas's.


Craft a Cure for Cancer. Basic Knitted Tea Cosies.  


Apple Jelly with Thyme.  Fuss Free Flavours.  


Felted Tote Bag from Country Living.  


Henny Penny Bun Warmer.  Free pattern from Drops Design.  Well, I guess it is more of a bread basket. Cute!! 



This Years Dozen.  Cute little Chicken Pot holders. 


Pretty Plates from Pier One.  Eye Candy. 

  

A Burst of Beautiful.  Free Vintage Inspired Botanical Prints.  Love these. 


Half Scratched.  Free Printable Lego Minifigure Gift Tags.


And those are my finds for this week. I hope you found something of interest here to make you want to create! 

A thought for today  . . . 

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

 *
A little progress each day
adds up to big results! •。★★ 。* 。 


 

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Spicy Fish Finger Sandwiches.  Delicious!

Have a fabulous Friday!  Don't forget! 


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════


And I do too! 



Thursday, 26 July 2018

My Favourite Things . . .

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOPpfEd5Zsq2tbOc2-UBk6Njak8VrG7e7evggWXGZ2mh-j53ekFS5_iJ7oLR7meELGbGOHT1tpJoMRH-WDForIBx-F86puBU5K_uuGKf1hWiGc5Jko8kG6S71gFooUD3ZEZNrNzAWfJI/s320/alfp_favorite_things.png 
 
A few of the things in life that make my heart go pitty pat. Maybe they will do the same thing for yours. ♥♥♥    
 
  
 
Hot Dogs.  I love Hot Dogs.  I know I shouldn't, and I know I probably don't want to know whats in them. I don't care. I love them. I especially love the Kirtland All Beef ones that you get at Costco. My mom used to make the best hotdogs.  Every Friday night was hotdog night in our house and everyone wanted to come to ours for hotdog night. I wonder if Friday nights are still hotdog nights at home.  Sis??? 
 
 
This will come as no surprise. I love tea cosies.  I don't even drink regular tea, just herbals and more often than not will just do it in a cup, but I do love tea cosies.   It started off with my obsession with  this one, that I made from a book by Jane Brockett . . .
 
  
 
Its still my favourite  . . . 

And then I had to make this one  . . . 

 
And the fetish continues.  Tea Cosies, can you ever have too many???? 
 
 
 
Rocking Chairs and front porches  . . .  I wish I had one of each.   I would probably sit there for hours eery day, rocking and watching the world walk by . . . 

 
Summer days and summer nights  . . .  summer altogether. There is much to love about summer.


 
Angels  and the idea of angels being around us to protect us . . .  Emissaries of God . . .  sometimes they come in the form of friends and family . . . sometimes strangers.  They are there.  Angels.   
 
 
 
Tea parties . . .  and they can be for one, or two, or a whole crew.  I love tea parties.  Every one is an occasion, no matter how many people are in attendance.  Some of my favourite ones have been the ones I plan for just myself and Todd.  
 
 
Ferrero Rocher.  What's not to love about them.  With their crisp nut and chocolate covered outsides and creamy centres with that toasted hazelnut in the centre.  They are a real treat!  I have never tried making my own.  I don't think you could ever make at home anything that would come up to and equal the real thing. 
 
 
A long soak in a hot tub . . .  have not had one of those in a very long time, mostly because we don't have a bathtub, just a shower, which is fine because with my osteo-arthritis it was getting difficult to get in and out of a tub.  But I always loved laying back in a tub of lovely hot water, closing my eyes and just having a good old soak.  When we lived in New Brunswick and had built our own house we had a jacuzzi bath in our bathroom and it was even lovelier!  Every bath was a pamper session! 
 
 
 
 
The love and support of good friends.  I have always surrounded myself with good people, or at least tried to. I have some friends that I have had since childhood, albeit only a few . . .  but wherever I have gone/lived I have been blessed to find myself some good friends. Men don't seem to need friends as much as women do.  I could live without a man, but I cannot imagine ever being without a friend. 
 
 
 Starry Starry Nights  . . . it has been a very long time since I have seen a sky filled with stars like this, but I have always loved looking at the heavens at night and seeing the stars.  As a child I could name for you the constellations, and I can still find the main ones.  There is something very beautiful about a clear star-lit night sky. It speaks to my heart in a special way . . . 

 
Gilmore Girls. We are all set to start watching them again for the fifth time I think.  I've lost count.  It never loses its appeal.  Even though we know all of the plot lines and what's coming next, we love it and have never lost our desire to watch it.  I am always sad when it ends, but happy to start it up all over again.  
 
  
 
We love the Gilmore Girls, and Stars Hollow and all of the over-the-top-ness of the show.  Sure, it would be impossible to live like they do, to eat all the junk food that they do and still be thin, to afford all of the wardrobe changes etc.  But it doesn't matter. Its a fantasy that we love. 
 

 photo DSCN22341_zpsczdwygrx.jpg 
 
Potato Salad.  And in particular my mom's potato salad.  It goes together with summer like peas go together with carrots.  I can't get enough of it.  Must make some soon. 
 
 
 
 Those eyes, those ears . . .  that tail.  Just love/adore this little madame.  I know she can seem a bit full on to guests when they come because she is a bit over-enthusiastic in her welcome, but we just would not want to be without her, even though someday I know we will have to, but we try not to think about that, not ever  . . . 

 photo DSCN6132_zpsvknwm9vh.jpg 
 
Tossed salads, made the way my mom always made them.  She would start her dressing early in the afternoon . . .  just some oil and vinegar in the bottom of a bowl with a bit of chopped onion and seasoning.  The onion would macerate in this and flavour the dressing and then at the last minute she would pop in the veg and toss it all together.  Nothing tasted finer! 
 
 
 The geraniums in the garden.  They're putting on a lovely show as are the roses  . . . 

 
These are the blush coloured ones at the front of our house, by the drive.  I don't know the names of them . . .  only that they are roses and a beautiful blush colour. 
 
  
 
Winnie the Pooh and his view on life. 

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

 
Its a picture one for today because I could not resist  . . . 

 
 
I am cooking Chicken in foil packs in the kitchen today.  There are three different kinds, each delicious. No fuss and no muss for sure! 
 
Have a great Thursday!  We are having some friends over for a BBQ lunch today.  Can't wait!  Don't forget!

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════

And I do too!  
 
 
 
PS -  I am on anti-biotics again for my toe, plus I have a special dressing to put on it each day.  Hoping that the anti-biotics do their job!  But dangit if I didn't stubb it again this morning.  Ohh, it hurts when I do that!!!