The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, February 16th, 2009 ...

Outside My Window...
All is quiet and calm. It seems a bit strange to be home. Yesterday at this time I was about 35,000 feet above the ocean and heading in this direction and oh so very tired and now, here I am sitting at my computer writing these words to you all again. Oh now very much I missed you, but what a wonderful time I had in Utah and Idaho!

I am thinking...
About the loving kindnesses of friends. This past week has been a miracle to me and it would never have happened without the generosity and kindnesses of friends and family. I am still pinching myself for these many miracles that came into play and I will do a proper entry on it all very soon, but for now, I stand amazed at the wonder and goodness of my Heavenly Father and the hands of his many angels here on earth.

I am thankful for...
a Heavenly Father who knows me intimately and who knows all of my thoughts and desires and prayerful wishes . . . and who is true to His promises.

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." ~John 16:23

We are told to pray in earnest for the things we want and that He is bound to answer our earnest prayers. Why then are we so surprised when He does answer them?? I prayed for a year that I would be able to go see my daughter in Idaho at the Winter Games and wow . . . I still stand amazed at the wonderful way Heavenly Father brought about the answer to this special prayer of mine . . .

From the kitchen...
I have to confess that there's not a heck of a lot going on here!!! I didn't even cook yesterday. I had a wonderful time cooking with Lura (Grammy's News ) in America last week though! Oh my, but we did have some laughs and there were so many times I had to pinch myself to remind myself that it was not a dream and that Lura and I were actually together! From making bologna sandwiches together in a motel room to throwing together a gourmet feast of *Caesar Porkchops* in her daughter's beautiful kitchen, we just had sucy a wonderful time together!

I am wearing...
Pink Pajamas and my old black slippers. It was nice to get home to my own bed last night and have Todd next to me. I surely missed him while I was away. There were so many times when I was seeing something special or doing something special that I thought to myself, oh . . . how much Todd would enjoy this or that! I think he is pretty happy to have my old pajamed self back home and beside him as well!

I am creating...
I did a few sketches in my notebook when I was away and I just can't wait to get out my paints and brushes and make them real. I was so excited also to find that Barbara had sent me some lovely socks to make two sock monkey's which arrived while I was away, and a beautiful scarf that she had knit for me. Thanks so much Barbara!!! I can't wait to get down to the business of making sock monkeys! I just know my grandson's will love them so very much!

I am going...
back to work today! Back to reality I'm afraid! It's a pity holidays and special times don't last forever! Then again, it's probably a good thing that they don't or else we wouldn't be able to appreciate them for how very special they are in our lives!!

I am reading...




I started a new book while I was away. "The Middle Place", by Kelly Corrigan. It's really good, a real page turner, about a woman who has found herself living deep within that place she calls the middle place, somwhere in between . . . that *sliver of time where parenthood and childhood overlap*. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is longing for a good read, one that will touch their hearts. It is at once scary and yet very compelling. What would you do if you found out you had breast cancer . . . how would you feel . . . this is a fear that every woman lives with, and a diagnosis that no woman wants to hear . . .

I am hoping...
that I can get through today without being overly tired! It's that old jet lag thing! I tried to stay up all day yesterday so that I could go to bed at a normal time last night and then be up at my regular time. I kept falling asleep for little snippets all day yesterday. I had a whole week's worth of Coronation Street to catch up on and a Larkrise to Candleford to catch up on as well, and I'm not entirely sure that I actually watched them! But I did try. I was in bed by 8 PM, and I slept like a log right through to 5:30 this morning!!

I am hearing...
the birds are starting their morning chorus outside my kitchen window. Yes, the mornings are getting lighter earlier. Can spring be really very far behind?

Around the house...
I still have to finish un-packing and getting myself squared away. I am sure with Todd's gentle nudging I will get it done . . . eventually, and hopefully before it drives him up the wall!!!

One of my favorite things...
is truly sitting here and writing my words down for each of you. I missed my blogging when I was away. I did keep a daily journal for the whole time and can't wait to tell you all about what an exciting week I have had!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I have pictures to paint, sock monkey's to start sewing, and a Seminary Lesson to do for Thursday night. I probably have a bazillion other things to do as well, I just haven't had the time to sit down and organize myself yet or even think about them!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Yes, this is my daughter Eileen and myself standing outside the lodge in Sun Valley Idaho, celebrating her last Gold medal! She won two Gold's and a bronze and she was so happy with herself. I was one very proud mama!! I can't wait to sit down and do a proper entry about all my experiences and the wonderful week that I had, but for now I am leaving you with this lovely picture of us as a teaser! Can you see the happiness?? My cheeks will be aching for months to come!!!

Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries for today!

I didn't do any cooking yesterday at all, but here is a delicious recipe for pork chops that I cooked for Todd the day before I left to go away. It's an old recipe that I copied out of my mother's meat cookbook when I was a girl and that has lived in my Big Blue Binder ever since. I believe she bought the cookbook when she was first married, in 1954, so it's a very old recipe, and oh so very tasty!



*Baked Top Hat Pork Chops*
Serves 4

Moist and delicious porkchops baked beneath a delicious corn stuffing, these are very easy to put together, quick and quite, quite tasty!!!

4 thick centre loin pork chops
1 cup of creamed corn
(from the tin)
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs or seasoned stuffing mix
1 TBS of chopped celery
1 TBS chopped fresh parsley
butter
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. LIghtly grease a baking dish and set aside.

Trim the fat from off the pork chops and dust them lightly with salt and pepper. Place them into the baking dish, leaving a bit of space around each.

Combine the bread crumbs, creamed corn, chopped celery and parsley together in a small bowl. Divide this up and mound it on top of each of the four pork chops. Dot with butter.

Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, until lightly browned. I like to serve this with baked potatoes and a green vegetable. Delicious!!!