The Simple Woman's Day book

FOR TODAY, June 7th, 2011...

Outside My Window...
It is dry with a clear sky. I do believe it will be sunny after the initial dullness of the morning passes. That seems to happen quite often. A beautiful day is a beautiful day.

I am thinking...
I woke myself up last night shouting, "It's not true. It's not true. It's not true." I had been dreaming of my youngest son and in my dream I was trying to explain something to him. He had his shirt pulled up over his face and would not listen to me or even look at me. I think that this problem that exists between us is breaking my heart. I can't go into it on here but it is a major mis-communication between us. But how can you fix something when the other person refuses to communicate with you. You can't. I just keep praying that it will someday become right again.

I am thankful for...
A loving husband, a sweet puppy, children that DO love me, my mom and dad, sister and brother, all my nieces and nephews and all of my friends. I am blessed.

From the kitchen...
There isn't a heck of a lot. I might bake something today. Todd does love his cakes and cookies.

I am wearing...
A Blue Nightie with pink flower sprigs all over it. I have had it for ages. I got it at M&S a long time ago. It's comfy and one of my favourites.

I am creating...
Still working on my Christmas Designs. I am also working on beginning a new project but I'm not ready to tell you what it is just yet. It involves all of my passions. (Just a teasing hint there!)

I am going...
I have meetings tomorrow night, and Mitzie has to go to the Vet for her monthly program visit. One Step Program on Friday morning. I am also going to be beginning teaching a friend of ours to read. I hope that it works out well. Reading is so important and is life changing. You are so limited if you cannot read. Other than that, our calendar is blissfully empty. Perhaps we might go to the Temple one day. That would be nice.

I am reading...




The Work and the Glory, Pillar of Light, by Gerald N Lund

Still reading and enjoying:
PILLAR OF LIGHT begins the saga of the Benjamin Steed family, who, in the fall of 1826, move from Vermont to Palmyra Township in upstate New York in search of better farmland. Almost immediately they meet a young man named Joseph Smith and are thrown into the maelstrom of controversy that swirls around him. Is he deluded farm boy or prophet of God? Does he commune with angels or consort with devils? The answers to those questions - intensely personal, bitterly divisive - will profoundly affect the lives of the Steeds and many others. From the frontiers of early America to the complexities of the last half of the twentieth century, THE WORK AND THE GLORY series chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of one family caught up in the events of the Restoration

There are nine books in the series and this is the third time I am reading them. I always really enjoy them. Gerald N Lund is a brilliant writer. If you are interested in history, and in particular the history of the LDS church, you would really enjoy these books. They are wonderfully written. I highly recommend!

But . . . I am ALSO reading:



A Course In Weight Loss, by Mirianne Williamson

It's early days yet, but I saw the book on Oprah's Favourite Things show. What can I say . . . I like Oprah and she has good taste in books.

Nobody can say it better than the author herself.



I know, my reading hasn't changed for several weeks now. They are big books!

I am hoping...
That each of you is having a blessed and uneventful week so far. That the sun is shining where you are, and that your days are filled with little pockets of joy.

I am hearing...
Early morning sounds . . . the clock on the mantle humming as the wheels inside it turn. Mitzie snuffling here curled up behind me on the sofa. The tap tapping of the computer keys as I write. Birds singing in the garden. All is right with the world.

Around the house...
Two people and a puppy don't make much of a mess really. I suppose that Mitzie makes most of the mess. She likes to bring in clumps of grass and such, and despite our having promised to not get a dog that shed ever again . . . she does shed, but we wouldn't have her any other way! We love her so much!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
A bit of work, a bit of play and everything in between! Uneventful is good. If you could pray for Sheilagh's Ralph today I would appreciate. He is going in for a second eye operation. They are going to try to fix what they botched up several weeks back. I hope and pray they are successful with this op. Double Vision is no fun!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Can you stand yet again another picture of Mitzie??? I thought so! You're getting one anyways! She had a lovely first Birthday yesterday. Got thoroughly spoiled the whole day through. She got a new bone to chew on, some diced chicken for a treat and for her supper a tasty meat cake made from extra lean minced beef. She was in doggie heaven! I am not sure she enjoyed wearing the party hat I made for her, and she was a bit afraid of the candle, but she did enjoy everything else!! She is very patient to put up with all this human nonsense we force upon her. Oh we do love her so!

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. ~lewis l dunnington

Thankfully I've always been the type of person that usually sees the glass as being half full. I wouldn't have it any other way!

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's a quick and simple pasta salad to enjoy in these warmer days ahead. Oh, I do love summer type of food and am quite ready for it when the warm days arrive. Todd is not so happy with the pasta part of it, but oh well . . . You can't have it all can you? (I usually make him something else.)



*Tex Mex Pasta Salad*
makes 8 servings
Printable Recipe

A delicious pasta salad which uses things that I always have in my larder and that is quick and very easy to throw together. You could easily turn it into a main dish salad for 4 by adding some cubed ham or chicken and perhaps some cubed cheddar or Jack cheese.

1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/3 cup good quality mayonnaise (I like Hellman's)
Zest and juice from lime
2 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp ground cumin
3 TBS chopped fresh coriander
2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions and drained
1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup tinned black beans, rinsed
4 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk the salad dressing, mayonnaise, lime juice and zest, hot pepper sauce, cumin and coriander together in a large bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning with some salt and pepper if required. Stir in the cooked macaroni, tomatoes, spring onions and black beans. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour before serving.



In The English Kitchen today, Chicken Pot Pie with Cheddar Dumplings.