Marie's Sunday Six . . .

My goodness, but the weeks don't half roll around quickly! Here it is Sunday again and time for me to reflect on all the goodness in my life! Actually, I do that every day . . . but Sunday's are an extra special time, when I get to choose a few of the more special things to share along with you all.



This first one is something I have known for a few weeks now, but only now am able to pass on. As you know my eldest son and his wife are expecting a new wee one in February, but now I am able to tell you it is a boy! Yes, another grandson is going to be added to our family tree. For some reason they didn't want me to tell anyone what it was but now I've been given the go-ahead so I can shout it from the roof tops. IT'S A BOY! Yes, a wee brother for little Gabriel. As Lura has said to me . . . time to make another sock monkey!



Sunny autumn days. We've had a really lovely autumn thus far. I know it is early days yet, but this past week has been lovely and warm and sunny. When I compare that to the first year I spent over here, it's been just gorgeous! My first year here in the UK was miserable, weatherwise. It literally rained every day. I was beginning to think that I was going to be developing webbed feet! Warm and sunny days mean that I have been able to go for lots of long walks and I don't know . . . the world just seems nicer when the sun shines, don't you think?



I've been working and developing some new patterns for dolls to make from my characters that I paint. It's been fun and I can't wait to get started sewing. I used to sew an awful lot before I moved over here to the UK. My sister and I used to both sell our creations at Craft Fairs. What a fun time that was. I loved getting to spend a whole day with her like that from time to time. It didn't really matter how much we sold . . . the best part was being together. I can remember one day when we spent the whole day making Amish dolls together. That was fun as well. The clothes were really complicated as they were authentic, with the right amount of folds in the aprons, dresses, etc. I still have mine. They hang on my Amish Peg Hook in our entry way. Every time I look at them, I think of my sister and the times we spent together.



This week I have had to prepare my last lesson to teach in the Young Women's Class this morning. I am being released, which is kind of sad, but also means that I will be able to devote myself more fully to my calling as a Seminary Teacher. As I prepared it, I reflected on the many lessons that I have taught to our girls over the past 3 years, and the happy times we have spent together. I will miss them to be sure. It is kind of a happy/sad time I suppose. There is no other way to describe it. I know I have felt really stretched to the edge over the past year with having to fulfill two callings in the church so it will be very good now to be able to devote myself to just the one . . . but I will still miss the girls.


This week I found several of my old prayer journals from when I was married before. As I read through some of the pages I felt a bit sad, as they were filled with tender longings of a woman who wanted nothing more than to be loved by her husband and to be able to share her faith with him. Why did that make me smile? Well . . . that was a prayer that was answered, although not in the way I expected it to be. I asked for a husband to share my faith with and a husband to love me, and well . . . I got my Todd. It is sad that the old marriage had to end in order for my prayers to be answered, but I am glad that they were answered all the same. It makes me so happy to be able to share my life with a man who understands and shares my innermost thoughts. It feels so good to be able to kneel together in family prayer and take our concerns and our joy to the Lord as one. It's funny how life works out sometimes. We just never know what is around the corner. Family Prayer makes me smile.



This is my youngest son Bruce. He was about 6 years old in this picture. It was taken at school. Many years have passed since then as he will be 21 this December. This past week, he finally got his date for when he is going to be going to St Jean, Quebec to begin his Military Training. He will start on November 1st. I know he is really happy about this, even though it does strike fear into this Mother's heart. I am proud of him and the decisions he has made in his life. He has grown up to be a good man and I know he will do well. Funny how joy often comes tempered with sadness. I am very happy for my son and proud of him, and yet at the same time I am afraid for him and what the future might hold. Once again I guess that's where prayer comes in . . . and faith. It is a very good thing that he wants to serve his country in this way. That does make me smile. I am trusting in the Lord for the rest!

And for an extra smile . . .



My good friend Lura, who has not been feeling all that well these past few weeks due to some horrible kidney stones, is starting to feel better. That really makes me smile. I just love Lura so very much, and I hated to know that she was in so much pain and feeling so ill. It's been hard being so far away and not able to do much for her, except to pray (which I know is a big thing, but still . . . I am sure you know what I mean!) I am very happy that she is beginning to feel better. Lura always makes me smile. She makes lots of people smile. She is just a wonderful, generous and loving person who brings a lot of joy to others. I am so blessed to have her in my life, and to count her as a good friend, and I am so grateful that she is beginning to mend and feel better. I love you Lura!

And there you have it . . . my sometimes quirky, always wordy, Sunday Smile Makers for this past week!!

I love Autumn Cooking. I know . . . I love cooking any time of the year, but after a summer of salads and such, it is nice to be getting back to cooking some of the more rustic dishes, like this delicious Beef and Barley Soup. Rib sticking and nourishing and good, good, GOOD!!



*Beef and Barley Soup*
Serves 6 to 8
Printable Recipe

Nourishing, tasty and easy to make. Perfect for these cooler days we've been having.

2 TBS oil
1 1/2 pounds stewing beef
3 salks celery, chopped
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup pearl barley
4 cups water
2 tins of beef broth ( 14 1/2 ounces each)
2 tins of diced tomatoes in their own juice ( 14 1/2 ounces each)
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
2 bay leaves
1 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 cups frozen green beans
1 1/2 to 2 tsp hot pepper sauce
salt and black pepper to taste



Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the meat and cook, until dark brown. You may need to do this in batches. It should take 8 to 10 minutes. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the celery, onions and barley to the pan. Saute until the onion is golden. Add the water, broth, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, bay leaf and garlic. Return the beef to the pot. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the meat is very tender and the barley is thoroughly cooked. Add the hot pepper sauce and simmer for an additional half hour. Season to taste with salt and pepper, remove the bay leaf and serve in heated bowls. This freezes very well.

*Note - you can add other vegetables as you wish. Corn is very good as are peas and okra. Dried mushrooms are also an excellent addition. Soak for half an hour in some boiling water and add, along with the broth. Delicious!



How about some tasty Ploughman's Muffins to go along with that delicious bowl of soup??? Hop on over to The English Kitchen and see how I turned a tasty English Lunch tradition into a muffin you can hold in one hand! Scrumptious!