The Simple Woman's Day book

FOR TODAY, May 3rd, 2011...

Outside My Window...
The sun is up, the birds are signing. All is right with the world.

I am thinking...
I am wondering what Osama Bin Laden thought when he reached the other side and didn't find all those virgins waiting for him . . .

I am thankful for...
My knowledge of the Gospel and of a LOVING Heavenly Father who sent His son to die for us. He does not ask us to die for Him or to kill any of His other children for redemption.

I am grateful too, for my husband who loves me, for family and friends. For my relative good health and for the humble and warm roof over my head, for having enough to eat ands sufficient for my needs. Anything else is just the icing on a very nice cake.

From the kitchen...
I think I need to get busy! Not a lot!

I am wearing...
Pink Jim Jams and my slippers. It is a bit chillier in here this morning, but it will warm up as the day progresses I am sure!

I am creating...
I just have a few revisions left to do on my stamps. If you would like to see the ones that are already available you can check them out here. Next will be Christmas ones. I am going to enjoy doing them. The other ones were on QVC last week, but unfortunately I wasn't told they were going to be on and so I missed them. I also did this canvas this week, which I really enjoyed! It was nice to work in colour after doing so much in black and white.



This is the detail from the bottom of the canvas. It wraps around right to the back.



And this is a closeup of her little face. I think she looks quite serene.



And in her entirety. I was so pleased with how she turned out. The scenery on the bottom and the clouds were something I added at the end. At first I only had the little girl floating and hanging on to the flower, but then I thought it needed something else and this is what I came up with. I will be selling the original. It is a box canvas and the picture wraps around all the way to the back, no need for a frame. If you are interested, send me a message.

I am going...
I have a Presidency Meeting tomorrow night and we may try to get to the Temple sometime this week as well. Money is a big consideration these days. Petrol is so expensive. I saw it at 144.9 a litre yesterday. Where will it stop?? If this keeps up we will have to give up the car.

I am reading...




A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

I am still reading this book and it's really good! It is a very thick book so I will be reading it for awhile to come! I only read at night after I go to bed, so that means that I only get a few pages read before I am nodding off. That is why it is taking me so long!

"It beings with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It beings with a discovery of witches."

When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.

For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.

Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans . . . and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.

I am hoping...
That Lura will be ok leaving the hospital and flying back to California on Thursday. It doesn't seem possible that it has been so long since the accident and that she is ready to go home. I know she doesn't feel ready to go home and that she has felt the agony of every day. The time has probably felt very long to her. Please do continue to keep her in your heart and prayers, and especially pray that the transition will go alright for her and that once she is home and settled her healing will really start to progress. If you would like to give her a message of encouragement and hope, you can leave one for her HERE.

I am hearing...
Early morning sounds . . . the house cracking and snapping as it comes alive. The birds are chirping loudly in the back garden. The tip tapping of the computer keys, Mitzie gently snuffling here next to me on the sofa. Early morning traffic. I love the early morning. It is my favourite time of the day. It is when I am at my sharpest and my best. I am a morning person!

Around the house...
Not a lot. I am still working on my craft room/library. I've put it on hold until I finish up these last few designs and then will really crack on with it. The hard part will be deciding what to get rid of. I love all of my books. It will not be easy to give any up!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
A bit of work, a bit of play and everything in between! Sounds like a good week to me!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Yesterday afternoon, Todd and I took a drive with some friends to the Norton Priory, Museum & Gardens in Runcorn. I did not get any photos except for this one! I forgot all about the camera in my bag until we were getting ready to leave. The gardens were beautiful and they are not even in full swing yet! At the last few hundred yards I spied these stone pigs and remembered my camera. My husband is such a sweetie. He did not even bat an eyelid when I told him to hop on the pig and straddle it so I could take his picture. He has such a great sense of humour and would do almost anything for me. He has crawled inside lobster traps in Lunenburg and now he has straddled a pig. What more could I ask for?

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

"Nothing is all wrong. Even a clock that has stopped running is right twice a day!"

There is a lot of food for thought in those few words, don't you think??

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!

Here is a cheap and cheerful main course that is easy on the budget, uses store cupboard ingredients and children just love!



*Taco Macaroni Bake*
Serves 4 - 6, depending on appetites
Printable Recipe

Cheap and cheerful! A real family pleaser! You can use low fat ingredients too, quite successfully!

1 pkg. (14 oz.) Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner mix

1 lb. of extra lean ground beef

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix (I like Discovery brand)

3/4 cup Dairy Sour Cream

1-1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided

1 cup Thick 'N Chunky Tomato Salsa

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 5. Spray an 8 inch square baking dish with some cooking spray and set aside.

Prepeare the macaroni and cheese dinner mix as directed on the packet. While the macaroni is cooking, prepare the meat with the taco seasoning as directed on the taco seasoning packet.

Stir the sour cream into the prepared macaroni and cheese. Layer half of this mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spread the meat mixture over top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese and then the other half of the macaroni mixture. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and top with the salsa and remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. Return to the oven and bake for a further 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Let stand a few minutes before serving.

I'm cooking up a lovely Springtime Frittata over in The English Kitchen today!