The Buds of May . . . a dream come true

"Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date."
~Shakespeare

This is what I dreamed about through the long cold months of winter, sitting by the stoked up fire . . . in the bitter days of fog and frost and snow . . .

This is what I pictured in my mind's eye as I gazed through fogged up window panes . . . when it seemed as if sunny days would never come again . . .

Lupins, tinted in rainbow colours all along the flower bed . . . tulips massed together in a blazing crowd of gold and rose and red . . .



This is what I longed for when the clouds hung dark and grey in the sky . . . the glory of the garden, all fresh and beautiful in the month of May.

Peonies, with their blown bushy and colourful heads, purple irises and wallflowers lining the pathway . . .

These are the thoughts I had as I sat in front of the fireside hearth in the depth of the cold winter . . . thoughts that I imagined the whole winter through . . .



This is the golden dream I dreamed . . . and now . . . it has come true.



Our dear Lura will be returning to California from the hospital today. Please say a few extra prayers for her as the journey will be long and arduous for her. It will be good for her to be back in her own home amongst her own things and I am sure her healing will step up once this happens. I know she will be well cared for, but at the same time I know it will be very difficult for her as she is still in an incredible amount of pain and none of her ribs have healed back together yet. She needs our prayers now, more than ever. Thanks so much for your ongoing love and concern for this very special and much beloved friend.

Lura, if you read this, please know that you are being born and uplifted by the wings and love of countless prayers.

We've been trying to lighten up things around here as much as we can and here is a lovely version of Eggplant Parmesan that is quite, quite delicious! I love it when that happens! Low fat and delicious at the same time works for me!!



*Eggplant Parmesan*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This is a lighter version than most, sporting a low fat bechamel and baked eggplant instead of fried!

1 large eggplant (about 2 pounds), sliced into 1/2 inch crosswise slices
1 TBS olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cup of skim milk
6 TBS plain flour
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 cups of best quality marinara sauce
1/2 cup of grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 230*C/450*F gas mark 8. Place the eggplant slices onto two rimmed baking sheets. Brush each side with oil and season with some salt and pepper. Bake in the heated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, turning the slices over halfway through the baking time and flipping the baking sheets around.

To make the bechamel, whisk together 1/2 cup of the milk, the flour and the garlic until smooth. Gradually whisk in the remaining 1 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the sauce has thickened, some 2 to 3 minutes. It will be pink in colour.

Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a shallow 2 quart baking dish. Alternate layers of the baked eggplant with pink sauce. Dollop with the remaining marinara sauce. Sprinkle with the Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake in the upper third of the oven until browned and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.

Let sit a few minutes before serving.



Cooking over in The English Kitchen today a delicious Warm Asparagus and Jersey Royal Salad with a Honey Mustard Dressing.

Wednesday morning twaddle . . .

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions . . . could have, might have and should have."
~unknown

That is just about one of the best thoughts on failure that I have ever come across, but then again I have an adventurer's heart. I just love trying out new things and seeing new places . . . learning new skills.

Life is all about progress I think. That is what makes it all so very exciting. I want to stretch my wings and feel the wind upon my face. When faced with a new challenge or experience, I always ask myself . . .what is the worst that could happen. If I can live with that, then I take the chance, and why not! Life is just far too short to waste a minute of it.



We've had some kind of bee make a nest in our vegetable garden. Right amongst the peas. I am not sure what we can do about that. Its all very strange. I've never seen anything like it before. I don't think they are wasps. They just look like tiny bees. Has anyone had any experience with that themselves? I'd be interested in finding out what happened.



It is hard to believe but our little Mitzie will be a year old in just a month's time. I shall have to make her some kind of Doggie Birthday Cake I think, and we shall celebrate it in some way. She's become a really lovely dog. The only problem we have with her is that she gets overly excited when people come to visit. We have not been able to break her of that, but we are working on it. She just loves to be a part of everything we do, and her little face is involved with every movement we make. She puts herself to bed each night at around 9 o'clock. I think she is an early bird just like Todd and myself.



I was quite chuffed with myself last evening. I managed to do the whole of my Richard Simmon's Sweating to the Oldies exercise video. It had been a long time since I had done it and I was quite happy that I managed to get through the whole thing. I need to be doing it every day really. I've been far too lazy since this knee thing started. I used to do it every morning. We shall see how it all goes. I had lost three pounds the last time I went to my weight loss class . . . they have not had it for 2 weeks now because of all the bank holidays. I sure hope that I didn't put any of that three pounds back on when I go this Friday! I've tried to be good, but it is hard when you love food as much as I do. I know too, though, that if I don't lose some weight I am at risk for diabetes or worse so I just have to stick with it.



One of my responsabilities in my new calling at church is to organize the Extra Meetings for the sisters, which are held once a month, generally speaking, although you can have as many as you want I think. If any of you out there have any ideas of fun, yet inspiring ideas of things we could do and wouldn't mind sharing them with us, I'd surely appreciate it. I've come up with a few ideas but I need a lot more! Perhaps there are things that you have done in your own Ward's that we might like to do as well?? I also need to pick an extra meeting leader and committee, which will be hard as I don't really know everyone yet. Having been in Primary for all that time meant that I really only got to know the children and the other Primary workers!

Well, I am going on a bit now with a load of twaddle so I will end this here. The sun is shining and we are looking forward to another glorious day. I hope that wherever you are and that whatever you will be doing today that you are able to find some joy in it!

Here's a really scrummy breakfast cake that is very easy to make, and that everyone always loves. I always have a tin of cherry pie filling in the cupboard. It always comes in handy for one thing or another!



*Cherry Filled Coffee Cake*
Serves 12 - 15
Printable Recipe

A delicious breakfast cake made with convenience foods. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! You can vary the flavour by using apple or blueberry filling instead.

1 (2 layer) white cake mix
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup of sour cream
3 large free range eggs
1/4 cup water
1 tin (21-oz) of cherry pie filling
1/2 cup of toasted flaked almonds
1 cup icing sugar
1 1/2 TBS milk

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Grease and flour a 13 by 9 inch pan. Set aside.

Place the cake, cinnamon, sour cream, eggs and water into a bowl. Beat with an electric whisk until well blended and smoooth. Pour into the prepared pan. Top with spoonfuls of the pie filling. Bake for 25 minutes. Sprinkle the nuts over top and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Remove from the oven to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile whisk together the icing sugar and milk until smooth and lump free. At the end of 10 minutes, drizzle this over top of the cake decoratively. Cool completely before serving. Cut into squares to serve. Delicious!!



Baking in The English Kitchen today, Simple Jam Jams!

The Simple Woman's Day book

FOR TODAY, May 3rd, 2011...

Outside My Window...
The sun is up, the birds are signing. All is right with the world.

I am thinking...
I am wondering what Osama Bin Laden thought when he reached the other side and didn't find all those virgins waiting for him . . .

I am thankful for...
My knowledge of the Gospel and of a LOVING Heavenly Father who sent His son to die for us. He does not ask us to die for Him or to kill any of His other children for redemption.

I am grateful too, for my husband who loves me, for family and friends. For my relative good health and for the humble and warm roof over my head, for having enough to eat ands sufficient for my needs. Anything else is just the icing on a very nice cake.

From the kitchen...
I think I need to get busy! Not a lot!

I am wearing...
Pink Jim Jams and my slippers. It is a bit chillier in here this morning, but it will warm up as the day progresses I am sure!

I am creating...
I just have a few revisions left to do on my stamps. If you would like to see the ones that are already available you can check them out here. Next will be Christmas ones. I am going to enjoy doing them. The other ones were on QVC last week, but unfortunately I wasn't told they were going to be on and so I missed them. I also did this canvas this week, which I really enjoyed! It was nice to work in colour after doing so much in black and white.



This is the detail from the bottom of the canvas. It wraps around right to the back.



And this is a closeup of her little face. I think she looks quite serene.



And in her entirety. I was so pleased with how she turned out. The scenery on the bottom and the clouds were something I added at the end. At first I only had the little girl floating and hanging on to the flower, but then I thought it needed something else and this is what I came up with. I will be selling the original. It is a box canvas and the picture wraps around all the way to the back, no need for a frame. If you are interested, send me a message.

I am going...
I have a Presidency Meeting tomorrow night and we may try to get to the Temple sometime this week as well. Money is a big consideration these days. Petrol is so expensive. I saw it at 144.9 a litre yesterday. Where will it stop?? If this keeps up we will have to give up the car.

I am reading...




A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

I am still reading this book and it's really good! It is a very thick book so I will be reading it for awhile to come! I only read at night after I go to bed, so that means that I only get a few pages read before I am nodding off. That is why it is taking me so long!

"It beings with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It beings with a discovery of witches."

When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.

For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.

Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans . . . and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.

I am hoping...
That Lura will be ok leaving the hospital and flying back to California on Thursday. It doesn't seem possible that it has been so long since the accident and that she is ready to go home. I know she doesn't feel ready to go home and that she has felt the agony of every day. The time has probably felt very long to her. Please do continue to keep her in your heart and prayers, and especially pray that the transition will go alright for her and that once she is home and settled her healing will really start to progress. If you would like to give her a message of encouragement and hope, you can leave one for her HERE.

I am hearing...
Early morning sounds . . . the house cracking and snapping as it comes alive. The birds are chirping loudly in the back garden. The tip tapping of the computer keys, Mitzie gently snuffling here next to me on the sofa. Early morning traffic. I love the early morning. It is my favourite time of the day. It is when I am at my sharpest and my best. I am a morning person!

Around the house...
Not a lot. I am still working on my craft room/library. I've put it on hold until I finish up these last few designs and then will really crack on with it. The hard part will be deciding what to get rid of. I love all of my books. It will not be easy to give any up!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
A bit of work, a bit of play and everything in between! Sounds like a good week to me!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Yesterday afternoon, Todd and I took a drive with some friends to the Norton Priory, Museum & Gardens in Runcorn. I did not get any photos except for this one! I forgot all about the camera in my bag until we were getting ready to leave. The gardens were beautiful and they are not even in full swing yet! At the last few hundred yards I spied these stone pigs and remembered my camera. My husband is such a sweetie. He did not even bat an eyelid when I told him to hop on the pig and straddle it so I could take his picture. He has such a great sense of humour and would do almost anything for me. He has crawled inside lobster traps in Lunenburg and now he has straddled a pig. What more could I ask for?

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

"Nothing is all wrong. Even a clock that has stopped running is right twice a day!"

There is a lot of food for thought in those few words, don't you think??

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!

Here is a cheap and cheerful main course that is easy on the budget, uses store cupboard ingredients and children just love!



*Taco Macaroni Bake*
Serves 4 - 6, depending on appetites
Printable Recipe

Cheap and cheerful! A real family pleaser! You can use low fat ingredients too, quite successfully!

1 pkg. (14 oz.) Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner mix

1 lb. of extra lean ground beef

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix (I like Discovery brand)

3/4 cup Dairy Sour Cream

1-1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided

1 cup Thick 'N Chunky Tomato Salsa

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 5. Spray an 8 inch square baking dish with some cooking spray and set aside.

Prepeare the macaroni and cheese dinner mix as directed on the packet. While the macaroni is cooking, prepare the meat with the taco seasoning as directed on the taco seasoning packet.

Stir the sour cream into the prepared macaroni and cheese. Layer half of this mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spread the meat mixture over top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese and then the other half of the macaroni mixture. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and top with the salsa and remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. Return to the oven and bake for a further 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Let stand a few minutes before serving.

I'm cooking up a lovely Springtime Frittata over in The English Kitchen today!

Hope . . .

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.

Hope is like a glorious light at the end of a dark tunnel, a multi-faceted, brilliant dimension of life, indescribable and at the same time undeniable.

You find it in many places . . . unearthed in the darkness of hospital wards, care homes, funeral homes, rehabilitation centres, prison cells, abuse centres, counselor's offices . . . indeed in just about every arena of life.

Although it may seem elusive and out of our range . . . it is in fact something that is widely available to the rich and the poor alike . . . thanks to Jesus Christ.

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I wish that I could drape my own hope around my neck, like a beacon to all who can see it . . . so that they could be drawn to the dazzle and hope that is my own faith in the Saviour. But then again . . . when I think about it, that is exactly what happens when we live out our faith, despite any hardships and opposition that might come our way. When, what might look and seem impossible to all, suddenly glistens with hope, showing to others an example which demands them to observe and then ask questions.

Hope is that thing which shines out amidst the background of despair, pain, failure and loss. I think of the examples of Corrie ten Boom's life lived out in a German Death Camp . . . and the life of Mother Teresa which consisted of living amongst the poorest and sickest of India's thrown away society. Their hope shone like diamonds, and even today . . . long after their deaths, it continues to shine and glitter with the hope of Christ.

And then I think of my good friend Lura, who has spent the last 38 days in a hospital bed, after an accident which should have killed her, enduring and suffering unimaginable pain, and the strength of her testimony and hope in the Saviour which has helped, and still helps to carry her through and above all that she has had to endure.



I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
~Emily Dickenson

Hope is a diamond. It glitters and sparkles, enhanced by the velvet backdrop of pain and suffering which we must all endure at one time or another in this lifetime we, each of us , pass through. It is the smile that breaks through every tear drop, and studs our lives with joy.

I am so very grateful for the hope in my life, which comes through my faith in the Saviour, and in Heavenly Father's plan for me . . . and for the examples of good people around me who are able to express their hope through their faith as well. It is an incredible gift, and priceless.



For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
And the smile that is worth
The praises of earth,
Is the smile that shines through the tears.
~Unknown

We are off on a drive this afternoon to some abby or some such with some close and dear friends of ours. The sun is shining spectacularly, and it promises to be a beautiful day. I hope it shines where you are too, if not in the sky, then in your hearts.





*Breakfast Quesadillas*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

A tasty breakfast Quesadilla served with a tangy coriander cream dip!

1/2 cup sour cream
2 TBS chopped coriander (cilantro)
1 tsp finely chopped fresh garlic

For the Quesadillas:
3 8-inch flour tortillas
3 TBS butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red and green bell peppers
6 large free range eggs, beaten
6 slices of streaky bacon, cooked until crisp
6 slices of American cheese, each slice cut in half

Whisk together all of the dip ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.

Brush 1 side of each tortilla with about 2 tsp of the butter. Place the tortillas onto a cutting board, buttered-side down.

Melt the remaining butter in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and peppers, and cook, stirring, until vegetables are crisply tender. Add the beaten eggs and continue cooking, lifting gently and stirring slightly to allow uncooked portions to flow underneath, until the eggs are set. Remove the pan from the heat.

To assemble the quesadillas, place 2 halves of cheese over half of each tortilla. Layer each with 1/3 of the eggs, 2 slices of bacon and 2 more halves of cheese. Fold other half of tortilla over filling. Press down slightly. Heat another 12 inch skillet over medium heat. Add each quesadilla and cook, turning once, until lightly browned.

Cut each quesadilla in half and serve one half to each person along with some of the dip. Delicious!



Over in The English Kitchen this morning I'm cooking up a delicious Baby Gem and Green Bean Salad with a Proscuitto and Prune Dressing! Seriously scrummy.

Marie's Sunday Six

Happy May Day and welcome to my first Sunday Six post for the month of May 2011!! My goodness but the year is speeding by, it is hard to believe but next month we will be halfway through the year already! I thought it would be fun today to share with you some of the things from Tatton Park yesterday that we enjoyed and that made us smile! We are National Trust members so we normally get to go to these National Trust Homes and Gardens for free . . . yesterday though, we had to pay an extra £5 just to get our car into the park! That did not make us smile, but thankfully we had £5 in change in my purse! We were hungry and thirsty when we got there too, so we decided to have a small lunch in the restaurant. We had two cold drinks, two sandwiches, a piece of cake and a piece of pie. a £20 bill did not make us smile either. I thought it was quite outrageous! We are not talking table service here. We are talking canteen/help yourself, sandwich in plastic box service here! I was too embarassed to say I didn't want it once it tallied up in the register, but if we ever go again, we'll bring our own sandwiches! But enough of that, on to the smiles!! The grounds and gardens were absolutely gorgeous!



The sight and smell of thousands of blooming rhododendrons made us smile big time! Every where we looked the gravel paths were lined with almost every colour imaginable of bloooming rhododendrons! The scent was heavenly and the colours, so very beautiful! That made us smile!



This Japanese Handkerchief made me smile! Have you ever seen anything like it??? I had not. Imagine a whole tree covered in these paperlike blooms, fluttering in the wind, each one centred with a hairy cherry shaped ball! Fabulous, and so unusual. It made me think of our Temple Dedications and the Hosannah Shout! All those waving white handkerchiefs! It was just beautiful!



Ivy covered castle-like turretts make me smile. Aren't they just so beautiful?? They make me think of Kings and Queens, Medieval Princes and Princesses . . . Dragon slayers and Druids, Greensleeves and mandolines . . . Romance and intrigue. I just love them!



This beautiful pond made me smile. If you look really closely you will see a bird in the lower middle part of the pond. This is called a Koot. That really made me smile . . . if you are fond of calling your other half an Old Koot, then this will make you smile too! A Koot is just a bird with a pointed head and a long sharp beak. Not so bad after all!



I don't know what these are called, but for a second there I thought we had stumbled into Jurassic Park! Very odd rhubarb leaf resembling trees! I felt as if at any moment some prehistoric man eating creature was going to come growling through the bushes gnashing it's teeth at us!! Most unsual!



Hidden Japanese Pagodas and dainty bridges over quiet streams make me smile. It's like being in another secret, hidden world. A world of quiet black laquer haired women, on dainty wooden shoed feet . . . tea ceremonies . . . paper fans . . . and paper houses. Cherry blossomed trees and flower rain, tinkling chimes . . . so very beautiful.



Coming upon little bamboo water baskets hidden amongst the ferns . . . that made me smile. A reminder of a simple life and time . . . so quaint and beautiful . . .



Long legged Iron Cranes standing as sentinals amongs the ferns and greenery, alongside a babbling brook made me smile as well. How very beautiful and ethereal . . .



And of course the old British Bald Headed Koot always makes me smile too!! Posing beneath the Wysteria Arches in bloom . . . I love that I get to share these beautiful things and my life with this wonderful man. That makes me smile the biggest smile of all! I do love him so!!

We had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and I was thrilled that I managed to be able to walk through all the gardens and the Mansion house as well . . . although towards the end it was debatable as to whether I would be able to make it back to the car or not . . . I DID . . . another smile!

Lura continues to improve with each day that passes. I am so grateful for this and for all of your continued prayers and love for her. That also makes me smile! Please continue to visit her page and leave your messages of encouragement. It's been over 37 days now since she has been in hospital. Hard to believe. Your love, prayers and messages are helping to carry her through this very difficult time and we both appreciate them so very much!

Here's a nice salad for these warm days that are coming up. In the summer months I always have a bowl of hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator. They come in ever so handy for quick snacks and sandwiches, and salads, especially this tasty one here today!



*Caesar Salad with Boiled Eggs*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

If you have boiled eggs on hand in the fridge you always have a light supper in the making.

1/2 baguette, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 20 slices)
4 TBS extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
the juice of 2 fat lemons
2 TBS of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more, shaved with a vegetable peeler
2 TBS light mayonnaise
2 anchovy filets
1 clove of garlic, peeled
8 hard cooked eggs, peeled
(Reserve 4 yolks, cut the remaining whites and eggs into bite sized pieces
2 heads of Cos lettuce (Romaine) cut into bite sized pieces

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Lay the baguette slices on a large rimmed baking sheet. Brush on both sides with 2 TBS of the olive oil and season with some salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown, turning over halfway through the baking time, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet.

Combine the lemon juice, grated Parmesan, mayonnaise, anchovies, garlic, 4 reserved egg yolks and remaining 2 TBS of olive oil in a blender, along with some salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth.

Toss the lettuce, croutons, dressing, shaved Parmesan and remaining egg whites and eggs together in a large bowl. Serve immediately.




A delicious low fat dessert in The English Kitchen today, Toffee Apples with Vanilla Mascarpone.