The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 27, 2008 ...

Outside My Window...
All is quiet and still. The sky is clear and dark and little stars twinkle off in the distance. It is a little past 5 am and so this is as one would expect. Not long now though the sun will begin to make it's appearance on the Eastern Horizon and my favourite part of the day will start . . . the sunrise. Oh how beautiful it is and how very much I enjoy witnessing this most wonderful gift from above . . .

I am thinking...
About all the talks that were given in conference yesterday. I took notes this time. Usually I forget my paper and pen, and wish that I hadn't. This time I was prepared! The theme centred around the Atonement of Christ yesterday, and all the talks were wonderfully prepared and presented and I was able to take several gems out of each one. Even the hymns chosen for us to sing were particularly touching. But then when the Holy Spirit is present . . . and you are open to it . . . the heart listens in a special kind of a way . . .

I am thankful for...
I would write forever of my blessings and things that I am thankful for, but this morning I am particularly thankful for our Home Teachers. As you probably know each family in the church, be it consisting of one person or of ten people, is assigned a pair of home teachers. Each month is it there duty to visit or contact all the families on their list and bring them spiritual food and much needed support and love from the church itself. Who on this earth does not need these things? I dare say they are a comfort to us all. They came to us late yesterday afternoon and spent an hour with us and I am so very appreciative of the time they take to do this each month. They have families of their own and things I am sure they would could rather do on a Sunday and yet they give of their time and come to serve us and probably a few other families as well. They bless our lives with their testimonies and examples. I am always touched by their love.

From the kitchen...
Ohh, lots of goodies sitting on the counter this morning to share with you this week. I won't tell you them all as I don't want to spoil the surprises! But I will tell you about today's. A lovely Lemon Drizzle Cake, probably one of the easiest versions you will ever make! I also have a pizza to make at some point this week and am trying to decide on which version I will do to surprise you with! You just know . . . it will be good!


I am wearing...
Brightly coloured pink pajamas that make me feel like Auntie Mame when I wear them. With a softly ruffled neckline and little pale pink heart all over the bottoms I feel positively outrageously sensational!!! I also found an old pair of slippers in my closet that were in pretty good shape. Todd had put them into a plastic bag with a few other pairs of shoes and so I hadn't realized they were there! I saw them in a photograph the other day, on my feet of course, and wondered where they had gone. Thankfully I was able to find them and now am wearing them! Yayy!! They're quite comfy and yielding, not hard like the crocs . . . but then again, I had taken to walking around in my bare feet this past week.

I am creating...
Cards, cards and more . . . cards! I am really enjoying this. I did another really cute sketch at the weekend and can't wait to turn her into a reality. You will love this one I hope, I already do! It's of little Emmeline holding a larger than life candy cane and teasing her kitten with a length of Christmas ribbon. It's quite cute if I don't say so myself!


I am going...
To work this week and of course lots to do there, including shopping etc. I shop three times a week. That way I can get in fresher ingredients for them. Back home I used to shop once every two weeks and things seemed to stay fresher. For some reason they don't over here. I wonder why that is. It's weird. On Saturday night we are having our monthly scripture study group and I am looking forward to that as well. It's lovely when you can get together with like minded people, as we do, and share your most intimate thoughts about your faith and understanding of the scriptures. I always come away having learned something new and with a deeper understanding and perception. It's a pretty special time spent with friends!

I am reading...
I am still working on the same books as last week, except with a new one added, called The Obama Nation, by Jerome R Corsi, PhD. It's very interesting and full of great insight. This is a very frightening election that is coming up in America this next time. I know I am not American, AND I do not have a voice, but I am concerned over this one like never before. As it is one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world, we should all be concerned about American politics and pay attention . . .

I am hoping...
Now . . . that would be telling! haha Actually, all joking aside I have been thinking of my father this morning. He is going in for a small operation tomorrow morning to remove a growth from his tongue. I hope that it is nothing to be concerned over, but I would appreciate a few kind thoughts and prayers from you if possible. My dad is quite obviously very special to me and I was happy to have been able to speak with him for a short time yesterday afternoon. I miss my family every day, and at sometimes, more so than others, I feel this loss very keenly. It is at times like this that I wish I was close enough to be able to hold a hand or lend a shoulder . . . all I can do is pray, and united prayers are even better . . . thanks so much! His name is Anthony.

I am hearing...
The tick tock of the clock down here in the kitchen as it's "tea cup" pendulum swings back and forth. I love my little tea pot clock. I actually love clocks altogether! I gave my mother one for her birthday a few years back that has Victorian Angel Teddy Bears all over it and the pendulum is a swinging Victorian Angel Bear as well. It's so beautiful and cute. I would have loved to have it myself, but bought it for her. I think you just can't go wrong when you buy someone a gift that is something you would have loved to have for yourself!! I had so much fun picking it out for her and I know she loves it too. We have clocks in every room here at Oak Cottage. Here in the kitchen it is the teapot, upstairs in the lounge it is our cuckoo clock from the Black Forest and a beautiful reminder of the times we have spent there together, in the library another small clock from the Black forest, with a little girl in German dress on a swing as the pendulum, and in the two bedrooms, alarm clocks reside . . . I would love to have a grandfather clock one day, that is my dream . . . with a Westminster Chime . . .


Around the house...
there is a feeling of peace and loving companionship. I made Todd some bananas and custard last night for a treat and he set them down on the floor next to his chair to go upstairs for something and darned if Jess didn't think that they were for her and while he was gone she ate them. Oh, but he was a bit cross with her . . . but . . . as I told him, he never told her that they weren't and so one cannot really blame her for thinking that they were, as he always puts her little tidbits down in the same place. My goodness, but she must have thought this was a great bonanza!!! He just never thought she would take them as she is always so very good at not touching things she is not supposed to! He didn't stay cross with her for long. She is laying here next to my feet softly snoring and probably dreaming of bananas and custard!

One of my favorite things...
Is listening to music. I have always loved music. I think I get this great love from my father. He loves music too. He always played in the armed forces band when we were growing up, and still plays the clarinet today. I learned to play the clarinet at school and we used to enjoy playing duets together at home, my father and I, on the weekends sometime. We'd play separate parts and some of my fondest memories of my father are of these times. He loved me to sing to him as well. It is in these later years that I have come to appreciate and love my parents even more than ever, and to really cherish the memories of these special times spent together . . .

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I am hoping to get some more painting in and cards done. I have my seminary study and lessons to do as well. I am really enjoying digging in to the scriptures as never before. It is an awesome responsibility to be able to teach this to the teens, and, to hopefully inspire them to love reading and learning from the scriptures as well! It's Halloween on Thursday and I hope to bake up some spooky Halloween Treats for then. We don't get many Trick or Treaters where we live . . . in fact we don't get any! We are so very rural and secluded here, but I know the young people at Mutual would enjoy a special treat on Thursday evening!!


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



It's a picture of Todd in a "Rocking Boat" outside the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia that I took the last time we were back to my homeland for a visit. I just adore this man I am married to! He has such a gentle and giving nature and spirit. He brings so much joy into my life, and I am so very blessed to have found him. Yes . . . he is my everything. I just have to remember to remind myself of that the next time he annoys me!!

I baked a Lemon Drizzle Cake yesterday afternoon before the Home Teachers came. It smelled so good when it was baking in the oven. I think the smell of something baking, or having just been baked, makes a home smell so welcoming and cosy, don't you?



*Lemon Drizzle Cake*
Makes one loaf

I think this is one of the easiest and tastiest cakes in the world to make! You just bang everything into the food processor and blitz it for two minutes and then pour it into your pan. Half an hour later you have a delicious cake sitting on the counter to cool! Moist and lemony, this is a real winner!

5 ounces self raising flour
4 ounces softened butter
4 ounces white sugar
2 heaping dessertspoons of lemon curd
2 large eggs
the grated zest of one lemon
the juice of 1/2 lemon
TOPPING:
the juice of 1/2 lemon
2 TBS of sugar

Pre-heat the oven to 175*C/about 34o*F. Lightly butter a loaf tin and line it with parchment paper. Butter the paper and set it aside.

Put all the cake ingredients into the food processor and blitz for 2 minutes. Scrape the batter into your prepared loaf tin.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until well risen, nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Remove from the oven. Leave in the tin and place on a wire rack to cool. Mix the other 1/2 lemon juice and 2 TBS of sugar together, stirring to blend well. Drizzle over top of the still very warm cake, and let set for a few minutes before removing from the pan to cool completely. (I make sure that I leave a bit of overhang with the parchment paper when I put it into the pan so that I can use it like handles and just lift the cake out when done!)

Mmmm . . . this is so good dusted with some icing sugar and then sliced and spread with some more lemon curd for eating. Delicious!!



PSSST!! Don't forget to hop on over to The Simple Woman to see all the other day book entries for today!