The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

FOR TODAY, August 28, 2018

Outside my window ...

Its grey and overcast. It could rain, it might not. It is cold as well. Summer is hiding at the moment. 

I am thinking ...

I can't believe this is my last Simple Woman's post for August.  This summer has flown by at the speed of light! 

In the Kitchen ...

 

Turkey, Cranberry & Goat's Cheese Burgers.  Sans bun. These are healthy, diabetic friendly and gluten free, oh . . .  and DELICIOUS as well! You can't lose! 

On my "To Cook" list ...

 

The Good Hearted Woman.  27 Quick Refrigerator Pickles.  

Good to know ...

 

I had no idea  . . . 

I am creating ...

  

Highland Hickory Designs. Upcycled Acorns.  Aren't these cute!  

 

Sum of their Stories.  Special Date Coin Key Ring.  

 

Bobble Tassle Bunting. A free pattern from The Lemon Hound on Ravelry.  

 

Ambrosia's Creations.  Free pattern for a Pineapple Market Bag.  

 

Clipzine.  Water colour on Tea bags. Interesting. 

Oh my goodness ...

 

At the moment we are enjoying garden fresh tomatoes and corn. Seriously yummy! 

I am reading ...

  

A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl, by Jean Thompson 

A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl is a poignant novel about three generations of the Wise family—Evelyn, Laura, and Grace—as they hunt for contentment amid chaos of their own making.

Evelyn set aside her career to marry, late, and motherhood never became her. Her daughter Laura felt this acutely and wants desperately to marry, but she soon discovers her husband Gabe to be a man who expects too much of everyone in his life, especially his musician son. Grace has moved out from Laura and Gabe’s house, but can’t seem to live up to her potential—whatever that might be.

In A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl we see these women and their trials, small and large: social slights and heartbreaks; marital disappointments and infidelities; familial dysfunction; mortality. Spanning from World War II to the present, Thompson reveals a matrilineal love story that is so perfectly grounded in our time—a story of three women regressing, stalling, and yes, evolving, over decades. One of the burning questions she asks is: by serving her family, is a woman destined to repeat the mistakes of previous generations, or can she transcend the expectations of a place, and a time? Can she truly be free?

Evelyn, Laura, and Grace are the glue that binds their family together. Tethered to their small Midwestern town—by choice or chance—Jean Thompson seamlessly weaves together the stories of the Wise women with humanity and elegance, through their heartbreaks, setbacks, triumphs, and tragedies.

Just started this  . . .

Looking Forward To ...
Mitzie is going to the dog groomers on Thursday and she badly needs it. Looking forward to her being all fresh and clipped! If we have to give up our car (and I suspect we will) will have to find one within walking distance.  Also the Great British Bake Off starts again this week!  YAY!

Dreaming About ...

 

Candles in teacups  . . . 

  

Full skirts, crinolines and cabbage roses  . . . 

 

Bath essentials  . . . 

  

Crochet lace edged pillow slips  . . .  

 

Blue and white  . . .  white and blue  . . . 

Something to watch ...

  

Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, RAY DONOVAN does the dirty work for LA’s top power players. The one-hour series stars Liev Schreiber in his first lead television role as the go-to guy who makes the problems of the city’s celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls disappear. This powerful drama unfolds when his father, played by Jon Voight, is unexpectedly released from prison, setting off a chain of events that shakes the Donovan family to its core.

Makes me smile ...

  

Love this photo of these four elders serving in our Ward at the moment.  Elder Vincent (Canada), Elder Zepeda (Ireland), Elder Anderson (Utah) and oddly enough Elder Anderson. (Alaska)  Elder Zepeda will be leaving us on Wednesday to go home to Ireland, having finished his two years.  All of these young men are inspiring to me, and we are so grateful for their time spent serving in Chester.

Corners of My Kingdom ...

 

Chester Cathedral. Founded as a Benedictine Abbey in 1092. I love visiting it. I never get tired of it.  There is also a gift shop within and a cafe.  The original church was built in the Romanesque or Norman style, parts of which can still be seen today. This church was subsequently rebuilt from around 1250 onward in the Gothic style, a process which took about 275 years an resulted in the incredible structure seen today.

And that's my daybook for this week!



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



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

Have a beautiful day!  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. 

 

 

 

 

Ariana and I were chatting on Messenger the other night and she sent me this.  Cute as a button! Grace is a month old now and a little personality is emerging. I love that Ariana chats with me from time to time (and stops by whenever she is going past) and I love that she shares Grace with me.  This is a special blessing to me. I never got to see or hold my own grandchildren at this stage of their lives and so this is pretty wonderful to me. 

 

 

 

I hope that she doesn't mind me sharing these latest wee paintings with you.  These are some of my sister's latest works.  They are small canvases painted with a palatte knife. I think she is just so darned talented. I love that she has this creative outlet to enjoy all for herself. These are only tiny, I think about 4 inches.  I think she is amazing! 

 

 

  

 

Being asked to teach in Relief Society (Our ladies auxiliary at church) and rising to the challenge. The fourth lesson of every month is based on the principles of Ministering, which is a new program in the church that has replaced the old Visit Teaching program. We are now called to "Minister" to each other.   Also this year they have done away with the Manuals, and everything we teach is discussion based, which can be somewhat daunting.   I spent all week working on my lesson, reading talks, following footnotes, reading the scriptures.  I think I spent more time prepping this lesson than I have ever done prepping any lesson. I think I learned more from this lesson than I taught!  (That's always the way.) It was loosely based on this talk by Jean Bingham, the General Relief Society President.  I hope that I was able to convey to the Sisters the reality that if we want to become more Christlike we will Minister to others as He did. ♥♥♥ Love should be the motivating factor in all that we do. 

 

 

 

Being able to partake of the Sacrament and renew my Baptism Covenants.  Sundays help to recharge my battery for the week ahead. We are asked to keep our Sabbath Day's holy and as days of rest.  We are asked not to go shopping, or eating in restaurants, etc. To keep the day in reverence.  We are promised that as we do so, we can come closer to Christ. I love that we mark our Sundays as being different from every other day of the week in this way.  It does make a huge difference in our lives, and for the better.  

 

 

 

Look at what we discovered on Amazon Prime.  We have been enjoying this trip back to a simpler time.  Its just a bit of fluff, but nice fluff. I can remember really enjoying this show when I was about 10 or 11 years old. Its a bit corny, but I like corny. 

 

  

 

Now, if they would only bring this back! 

 

 

 

Things have grown a bit cooler and we have enjoyed some much needed rain this past weekend. We really can't complain as we have had a truly beautiful summer. Probably one of the nicest ones since I moved over here to the UK.  

 

 

 

The generosity of others.  We have been truly blessed in this way over the past weeks, and we have been so very grateful for it.  Eggs too.  Freshly laid. 

 

 

 

I've started yet another one. This one in autumn colours.  My middle son expressed his desire to have one of my blankets.  He's been so good to me through the years, I am going to surprise him with one.  He doesn't read this so I am safe in sharing.  

 

 

 

Puppy Dog Cuddles.  She is due to go to the Groomer later this week and she needs it. I think she is the most affectionate and loving dog we have ever had, with just the sweetest personality. She went with us to Tina and Tony's last week.  She even had her own wee plate of lunch.  She adores Tina.  She gets all excited as soon as we get in the car and she realises what direction we are headed!  Its pretty amazing really, and as soon as we get there, she is out of the car and walking right to Tina's door! 

  

 

 

We watched this film last night and really enjoyed it. It was on the entry table at church with a note to help yourself.  So we did. Its about a Missionary who served in Las Vegas returning home from his Mission and the challenges he faces in the couple of months afterwards.  I would watch it again. 

 

  

 

I also recommend this one! 

 

 

 

New Calendars for 2019, from Susan Branch. I always love her calendars.  Oh, and I am reading these again for the umpteenth time . . . 

 

 

Because I never, ever, ever really get tired of them.  Never. 

 

 

Although at the end I was not able to bring it to fruition, making my blog private . . . I was so very grateful for all of those who showed me their love and support.  I was absolutely overwhelmed by all of it, and so very humbled.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

 

And those are my small and wonderfuls for this week.  Oh, too many to count really . . . tis just the tip of the iceberg!

 

A thought to carry with you  . . .  

 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.Be the kind of woman who knows that

what God's word says about her and her life

and her future, is far more valuable than

the words or opinions of any other.

~Unknown  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Caramelized Onion Pot Roast.  This was fabulous!

 

I hope your week ahead is filled to overflowing with many small and wonderful things!

Don't forget!

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And I do too! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The value of waiting . . .

 

Many years ago in Japan, there was a famous artist called Hokusai. His paintings were beautiful and much coveted by royalty. One day a nobleman came to him, requesting a special painting of his prized bird. It was a beautiful bird, and much beloved by the nobleman. Hokusai agreed to paint the bird, and so the nobleman left the bird with him, having been told by Hokusai to return in a week's time.

The nobleman missed his bird very much and was anxious to return to Hokusai at the end of the week, not only to see his painting, but also to secure his favourite pet . . . however, when the end of the week came and he arrived at Hokusai's home, the artist humbly requested a postponement of two weeks.

As with many things in life . . . the two-week delay stretched into two months . . . and then six months . . . and then a year . . .

At the end of the year the nobelman stormed into Hokusai's studio. He refused to wait any longer and demanded both his bird and the painting. Hokusai bowed humbly to the nobelman, turned to his workshop table, picked up a brush and a large sheet of rice paper and began to render brushstrokes upon the paper. Within moments, he had effortlessly painted an exact and beautiful rendering of the bird.

The nobelman was stunned with the painting. He was also very angry.

"Why did you keep me waiting for son long if you could have done this painting in such a short time?" he inquired.

"You do not understand." Hokusai replied. He then escorted the nobleman into another room where the walls were covered with paintings of the same bird. Not one of them, however . . . matched the grace and beauty that was in the final rendering . . .

 This, too . . . must be true of the canvas of our own lives. If we want to have something of real worth, lasting value and true beauty . . . it won't come easy, and it won't happen overnight.

It never does. It is those lessons which come the hardest that have the most value and impact on our lives. These are the lessons we never forget . . .

 

I can't spend any more time on here this morning as I want to go over my lesson before I need to get ready for church. I don't mind saying I am a bit nervous about it. The lessons in Relief Society are now discussion based and we are supposed to get the sister's discussing thingss  and I am crossing my fingers that I am able to get that happening!  Its a tad bit of a daunting prospect!  Wish me luck!

A thought to carry with you . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *"The difference between holding on to a hurt
or releasing it with forgiveness . . .
is like the difference between laying your
head down at night on a pillow filled with thorns . . .
or a pillow filled with rose petals."
~Loren Fischer  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

In the kitchen today a deliciously moist, Almond Glazed Poppyseed Bread.  This was a real favourite of the Mrs when I worked at the Manor! 

Have a beautiful Sunday. May it be truly blessed!  Don't forget!

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And I do too!