My Favorite Things . . .

 

 

A few of the things in life that make my heart go pitter pat. Maybe they will do the same thing for yours. ♥♥♥    I'm pretty sure however, that these things mainly make my own heart sing.   

  

Christmas Music. The Carols, the hymns, contemporary Christmas music, etc.  Listening to it always makes me very happy! 

All of the movies and shows of Christmas, and I have my favorites. Maybe I will have a chance this year to watch all of them. I love to end with Charlie Brown and the Muppets Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve. I usually begin with The Family Man and The Holiday.  And I sandwich all my other favorites in-between. 

 

 

This may not make me popular, but I love Winter. I guess I love all of the seasons actually.  Each has wonderful things about it. In the Winter, it is the art of cozy.  I love cozy. 

 

 

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Good Parmesan Cheese, or smelly sock as we always called it when I was growing up.  I love the stuff. Now, as an adult, I can appreciate a sliver of the real thing, or a crumble of broken off cheese, on its own.  I really credit working at the Manor for developing my love of different cheeses.  That job really broadened my palate for good cheese.

 

The first snowfall of the year.  As a child I always got excited about it. We had some yesterday, but of course none of it lay. Its hard to see the snow falling in this photograph, but we had goosedown flakes. The kittens were mesmerized.  

 

This is more like it!

 

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Herbal teas, especially the fruity infusions  . . .  

Words, especially words that are inspirational and help to build instead of tear  . . . 

 

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Hair jewelry  . . . 

 

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Book shops  . . .  I could spend hours and hours in them  . . .  

 

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Bread, especially crusty bread  . . .  and butter.  So delicious.  It is one of my weaknesses. 

 

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Eggs Benedict . . .  especially if spinach is involved.  Eggs Florentine  . . . 

 

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A well planned garden, especially if an herbaceous border is involved  . . .  

 

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Fabric Yo-Yo's.  I love LOVE this coverlet. I had a yo-yo maker in the UK. Left behind.  Must look for a new one. 

 

 

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One of my favorite films.  It has atmosphere.  Its filled with love and tragedy.  Very evocative  . . . 

 

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Oh my  . . . this is hot chocolate in some places  . . . 

 

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This  . . . .  just this . . . 

 

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This made my heart smile  . . . 

 

Cashmere  . . .  so soft  . . . 

 

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Embroidery  . . . 

 

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Balconies  . . .  

 

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Light and anything that invites light.  I know I am always saying it, but there is good in light . . .  and anything that invites light into your life is a very good thing . . .  

And those are my favorite things for this week!  What are some of yours?

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.˛.One kind word

can warm three Winter months.

~Japanese Proverb•。★★ 。* 。

 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  James Beard's Coffee Cake. Its quite simply delicious! 

I hope you have a wonderful day.  Happy Thanksgiving to all my American family and friends!  I had a few ancestors present at that first Thanksgiving.  Elizabeth Tilley and John Howland. Both passengers on the Mayflower, who married and the rest is history. I always think of them on this special day. Be blessed.  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!       

Wednesday This and That . . .

 

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I had a pretty busy day yesterday. I wanted to get into the Post Office early in the day just in case the weather turned nastier.  It was only a light sprinkle and so I took myself off there bright and early.  I wanted to get some stamps and I had a package to post off.  

Tina's granddaughter-in-law had ordered some stuff from a place that didn't deliver to the UK and had it sent to me so that I could post it off to her.  So I also had to post that package. They have all had Covid.  She started a new job at a school and within a couple of days of working at the school, she had Covid and ended up giving it to her whole family.  

This is far from being over. We see numbers increasing here every day.  Please keep on being careful and cautious people. Please.  For your own safety and that of others. Please. 

 

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I came home and I got a package in the post. I had ordered a new Temple dress because I had left mine in the UK.  I hope to go to the Temple soon.  I got a new slip also. Now all I have to do is to hem it.   I am pretty short and I always have to hem everything. 

I had a bit of cooking to do and I did that and took photographs.  I had made a green bean casserole and baked a coffee cake. I looked out the window and saw my next door neighbor walking her dog home and she looked lonely to me. I thought she could use a visit, so I packaged up some of each and took a trip next door just to see how she was doing.

I am glad that I did. Most elderly people who live on their own can get quite lonely. I know my father does.  Half the time he calls me it is because he is lonely and wanting someone to talk to.

Having a pet is really important to the elderly.  That's why in the UK most Senior's Homes will have a resident cat, and some places bring dogs in to visit the residents.  Stroking a pet is good for the health.

Speaking of Pets.  Nutmeg has learned how to jump on the counter.  Cheeky little so and so.  I caught him up there once this morning and chased him off.  Who knows how often he visits it during the night when I am asleep.  Its a good thing I don't have any food laying about! This morning it was the empty cat food tin. The noise of it getting knocked into the sink is what alerted me! 

Those two certainly keep me on my toes! 

Cinnamon is a little bit more sedate and not so cheeky.  (I say that, but she is the one who got stuck behind the washing machine!) She's gotten very affectionate.  Last evening she spent a good part of it sprawled across my chest, flat on her back, tummy wide open and legs splayed, purring to beat the band while we watched TV.  When she wasn't doing that she was giving me a chest massage with her tiny little claws. Ouch! 

I had the surprise of all surprises last weekend when I received an e-mail from my old employers. Not a word in over 11 years and all of a sudden an e-mail.  They issued an invitation for me to go down to the Bahamas and work for them, or at least help train someone new to work for them. I respectfully declined.  I am too long in the tooth now to want to work full time in that capacity. Its very hard work being on your feet like that all day, not to mention working the dinner parties, etc.  I also have great responsibilities here. I am only just beginning to catch my breath after the events of the last couple of years. 

I don't need any more drama in my life.  I have had enough to last me two lifetimes.  Its nice, however, to know I was appreciated and that I was the "Best cook they had ever had." Their words, not mine.

What would I do without my babies?  I could not bear to leave them now, not for even a brief moment.

I got a couple of other things in the post yesterday, both very exciting things, but I will wait for a while to share what they were.

When I was coming out from my next door neighbors the man from across the road was arriving. I think he had been to pick her up a few things at the shops. He mentioned that he had noticed I had my Christmas tree up.  He must be able to see quite far into my place during the day. (I better not run around in my underwear, lol)  It isn't a Christmas tree per se, just another kind of tree, but it does have lights and I can keep it up all year round. It is a lit birch tree.  I may string a few ornaments on it this year. We will see. I don't want to be having to get after the cats too much over these next few weeks. They are still so young and rambunctious for me to want to have a Christmas tree. Besides I would have to get all of the decorations from scratch and that's an expense I don't really need.

 

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When I was in the Post Office, there was a gentleman in front of me that was having a package sorted. It took rather a long time.  It ended up he was a man I had gone to high school with, way back in the day.  I remember he had had quite the crush on me back then. But I already had a boy friend. He was a very troubled young man back then and had a lot of emotional baggage. My mom would have been made up if I had dated him because his dad was the Base Commander.  But you know, there was no chemistry.  Anyways, he was a nice guy.  I didn't have the opportunity to speak to him yesterday because he was busy with his business and I was busy with mine, but it would have been nice to chatted for a bit and say hello. I had people behind me however and so needed to take care of my business. 

I think that's the first person from way back that I have run into since my return. Mind you Covid means people are not really out and about much anyways, and when we are we are wearing masks, so it is not easy to recognize anyone.  I had always fretted a bit about moving back here when I was in the UK because I thought I would always be running into my ex or whatnot.  Truth be told, not once have I run into him or my son.  My sister has run into them more than I have. Well my ex anyways.  My brother even ran into him in Ottawa one day, lol  Not me, and that's how I like it.

 

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I am going to meet up with Dad and his Harem tonight for fish and chips.  I wasn't going to, but then I thought to myself what the heck. Why not. the ladies enjoy having me there apparently, and he enjoys having me there, so why not, plus tonight its his treat.  Mrs. S always gives me her coleslaw because she doesn't like it and she knows I do.

When I was in grade 6, Mrs. S's son used to chase me home from school every day trying to kiss me. He was in a younger grade than I, but he used to be waiting right outside the school for me. I would run like the Devil himself was after me because I didn't want him to kiss me. He would be hot on my heels. One day my sister put an end  to that however.  She got hold of him and told him to leave her sister alone. Job done.

She's always had my back.

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

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

*Sometimes as an antidote 
to fear of death I eat the stars.

~Rebecca Elson  •。★★ 。* 。

 

In The English Kitchen today. Elegant Green Beans. I downsized the recipe to feed four instead of eight. It was delicious!

Have a wonderful Wednesday. Only three more sleeps until my son and his wife and son arrive.  Can't wait!  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!  

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

 

FOR TODAY, November 23, 2021

Outside my window ...

Its raining quite heavily. I should have gone to the Post Office yesterday, but it was raining so heavily I didn't. This morning is supposed to be a mix of rain and snow, tapering to rain. So just a messy day altogether. I hope I can get to the Post Office today.

I am thinking ... 

Life is full of surprises.  Some nice. Some not so nice. But it is the surprises which keep it interesting. It would be so boring if everything always happened the same way day after day after day.

I am thankful for ...

Another day.  Family. Friends. Faith. Health.  My ability to support myself. The whole shebang!

In the kitchen ... 

The Perfect Turkey Dinner for Two.  Its simple really.

On my "To Cook" list ...  

 

Great Grub Delicious Treats. Apple Pear Walnut Crisp. Looks, sounds, fabulous. 

Good to know ... 

  

I am wanting to create ... 

 

Sons Popkes.  The cutest crochet bumblebees.  

Crochet Beja.  Leaf Border tutorial. 

The Whoot.  Crochet Chicken Sweaters.  What next! Cute though! 

 

Backroad Bloom. How to make potholders. 

 

Marias Blue Crayon.  Crochet Red Truck Ornament. 

I am reading ... 

Closer to Christ, Emily Belle Freeman 

Each of us will experience moments when we find ourselves fervently seeing the healing, the hope, and the grace that only Christ can bring. Beloved writer and speaker Emily Freeman seeks to help each of us find the peace that comes through the Savior. 

Sometimes you just need a place to start, a reminder of how near the Lord is—a little bit of hope. Combining her two best-selling books 21 Days Closer to Christ and Becoming His into one engaging new volume, Emily Freeman first invites us on a 21-day journey toward a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. She then outlines a twelve-month path of discipleship divided into individual areas of focus, each containing invitations for personal growth, inspired counsel from prophets and apostles, and suggested scriptures to help us focus our efforts. 

 As you draw closer to Christ, you'll discover ways that He can refresh you spiritually, strengthen you in the face of adversity, and help you find more joy.

I've been reading this for a while. I love it.

Dreaming about ... 

 

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Christmas ribbon  . . . 

 

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Snowflake Cupcakes  . . . 

 

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A kitchen AGA . . .  nice and toasty in the Winter  . . . 

 

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A good book to curl up with . . . 

 

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Wooden Spoons  . . . 

Something to watch ... 

 

Everybody Loves Raymond on Netflix.  Love this show.

Makes me smile ... 

Anthony, Doug and Bruce  . . . 

My Three Sons.  This is the last time I saw all of them together. It was at Doug's wedding about 17 years ago now.  Today is Doug's Birthday! He is turning 40!  I hope he has a wonderful day. I am really looking forward to seeing him, Kayla and Josh this weekend. What a blessing he is still with us despite all of his health challenges.  I love all my boys of course. Doug is my gentle giant. He has one of the kindest hearts and sweetest souls.  A good father, a good husband, a good son. A good man.  Happy Birthday Doug!!

Corners of my Kingdom ... 

This is the town hall of the town I live in. My cousin works there and the RCMP have an office in it. Across from that is the Baptist Church. That's the church I got Baptized in when I was 15, and the church Eileen got married in. I don't go there anymore, but have a few happy memories of spending time in it at one time or another. This street is called Commercial street and is the street where all the main shops are. Its a typical small town.

A thought to carry with you ... 

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

 *.˛.It is better to look ahead and prepare,

than to look back and regret.•。★★ 。* 。 

And that's my daybook for this week  . . .  
  

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



✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.• ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥
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Have a beautiful day and don't forget!  


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And I do too!