Marie's Sunday Six

Here we are, another Sunday, another opportunity to dwell on all the wonderful things that I have been blessed with during the last week. What a wonderful week I have had this week. It will be really hard to keep it down to just six!



This past Wednesday Todd and I celebrated 9 years of wedded bliss! Despite having to live thousands of miles away from my family, these have been 9 of the happiest years of my lives. I waited a whole lifetime to meet my true soulmate. We were not told that it would be for "better and worse, until death we do part" when we got married . . . we were able to go to our Temple in Preston and there we were told it was "For Time and All Eternity," a sacred Temple Covenant that will be with us forever. When I think of being with someone for ever and for ever and for ever . . . throughout all eternity, I cannot think of a single other person that I would rather spend my eternity with. I am so thankful for my Todd . . . my friend . . . my love . . . my eternal companion. This makes me smile in a very big way!



The "Two Phils" make me smile. This is our two friends Philomena and Phillip from Blackpool. We met them last summer when we were on our Austrian Holiday Coach tour and we became fast friends. We've stayed in touch ever since via e-mails, telephone and facebook. We were thrilled that they were able to come down all the way from Blackpool and help us celebrate our Anniversary! Oh what a fun weekend we have had. They are Irish and you know what the Irish are like! It's been a laugh a minute and I was ever so sorry to see them leave this morning. I am hoping that it won't be toooo long before we get to spend some time with them again. They are sweet dear friends and we just love them to bits! Unfortunately we didn't have the best of weather while they were here, in fact we have had some of the worst wind and rain that we've had in a long, long time! Nevermind, we were able to rise above it and enjoy each other's company anyways!



My Todd is a real Western Nut. If there is a cowboy movie on the telly . . . well, he's right there!! He has all the Western gear . . . the cowboy shirts, the string ties, the western belt . . . the Stetson. Last night we had the wonderful opportunity to go out to Dinner to his favourite Restaurant . . . The Smith and Western in Tunbridge Wells. He got to wear all his gear and we had a lovely meal together, the four of us! I did draw the line at his wearing his chaps and spurs and . . . I didn't let him wear his Stetson either, but we did have a great old time! Yee Haw!!! Git along little doggies!





I sold four prints and a set of cards this week from my Etsy Shop. That really made me smile as well. It made me feel really good to know that other people like my art work enough to want to own some of it themselves. I put so much of my heart into my art, it really gives me a lot of joyh to know that other's really do appreciate it!




Yayy!! I got all my Christmas Presents that I am going to have to mail over to Canada all wrapped and ready to post! That is a big accomplishment as I have five children, one mom, one dad and 3 grandsons that I have things to send over for. It takes me a long time to pick the gifts out and then to wrap them in pretty paper and then again in brown paper . . . I always sigh a huge sigh of relief when the chore is finally finished. The only thing that could make me smile wider is to be able to watch them open then, but someday . . . someday . . .





Pirates make me smile! Especially when they come in the shape of my lovely daughter in law Anne and her baby bump, and my much loved grandson Gabriel!! Anne sent me these two wonderful pictures from this past Halloween and it really brought a smile to my face! I just love my daughter in law. She is more like a real daughter to me than a daughter in law. She and my son met in high school and have been together ever since. She's a sweet dear girl with a tender heart and she's ever such a good wife and mother. I just adore her!



And as for this little pirate, well . . . a picture of Gabriel, no matter what, always brings a HUGE smile to my face! Doesn't he look wicked!!!




This was such a lovely week all together . . . despite the rain and the wind, I was able to dance my way through it with just the warmest feelings in my heart. Family, friends, good times. What more could any body ask for?

Well, these muffins helped also. Chocolate Chip Muffins . . . my favourites, and well . . . just another reason to smile!



*Chocolate Chip Muffins*
Makes 12
Printable Recipe

These are our absolute favourite muffins of all time. Not too sweet, and chock full of delicious milk chocolate chips and toasted walnuts. These are fabulous!

2 cups flour
1/2 cup lightly packed soft light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup whole milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
12 ounces of milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup of toasted chopped walnuts



Pre-heat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin really well, or line with paper liners. Set aside.

Whisk the flour, sugars, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl.

Beat together the milk, butter, vanilla and eggs in a large beaker.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and then pour the wet ingredients into the well. Briskly stir together, stirring only until all the dry ingredients have been moistened. Stir in the chocolate chips and the nuts. Spoon into the muffin tin, dividing the batter equally amongst the cups.

Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until well risen, lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the centre of one comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before dumping them out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Serve warm or cool. It's up to you! These muffins also freeze really well. To reheat from frozen, just pop one onto a plate lined with paper towels and blast for 35 to 40 seconds on high heat. Perfect!



On offer today at The English Kitchen . . . some tasty Meatballs and Gravy!