The Simple Woman's Day book . . .

FOR TODAY, August 9th, 2011...



Outside My Window...

It is decidedly gloomy and cold. Summer seems to have left us for the time being.



I am thinking...

I am still working on the healing my heart business, but have been quite distracted by all that is going on in London. My mind cannot seem to get around it all! I don't understand the motivation behind the mindless destruction and chaos! A part of me is worried that it will spread. I know that we have been warned that these types of things will occur in the latter days, and that it is just another sign of the times we are living in, but it is very frightening and disappointing to see us having devolved into such a hedonistic and uncaring society. Have these louts no heart for the innocent people's businesses and homes they are burning and looting? I think that the Government should say enough is enough, impose martial law and bring in the army before it gets even worse.



I am thankful for...

My new glasses. At first they felt a bit strange, but I think I am used to them now. I can actually read with my glasses on now, and in fact can work on the computer with them on as well, which is something I haven't been able to do for years!



From the kitchen...

See below.



I am wearing...

A blue nightie and slippers. If the cold temperatures contine I will have to go back to wearing jimjams!



I am creating...

I have stacks and stacks of finished cards sitting in my craft room, all glued and glittered, and bagged and stickered up. I still have to list them in my Etsy Shop. I know, I said that last week and still have not gotten around to it. I have created a few new beauties though:







This first one is called Dare to be Different. I love the bright colours. She has a very cheery feel to her.







Love in a Garden grows, very soft and ethereal.







I am also taking an e-course at the moment called Flying Lessons. It is being taught by Kelly Rae Roberts. I am enjoying it very much thus far. It has been helping me to face my fears and I am hoping that it will help me to be more pro-active in getting my art business off the ground.





I am going...

I am going to the Dentist this afternoon to have that offending tooth that has been bothering me off and on for so long removed. I hate to have to do it, but there is no choice in the matter. Enough is enough.



I am reading...







The Girl in the Mirror, by Sarah Gristwood



Jeanne, a young French exile orphaned by the wars of religion on the continent, is brought to London as a young girl disguised as a boy. Growing up, the disguise has not been shed and she finds a living as a clerk, ending up in the household of Robert Cecil. As she witnesses the intrigues and plots swirling round the court of Elizabeth I in the last days of Gloriana’s reign, she finds herself sucked into the orbit of the dashing and ambitious young favourite, the Earl of Essex. The queen draws near to the end of her life, with no heir to follow, and the stakes are high.



As Essex hurtles towards self-destruction, Jeanne finds her loyalties, her disguise and her emotions under threat – in a political climate where the least mistake can attract dire penalties.



This is a beautifully written and evocative first novel, rich with the details of life and politics of Elizabeth I’s court. Jeanne’s struggle for survival and love is interwoven with her passionate pull towards the gardens she documents, a lovely and seductive backdrop to the novel.



Still on this novel and enjoying it!



I am hoping...

That my mouth is not too sore after the tooth extraction. I have a lesson to prepare for Relief Society on Sunday and I want to be able to concentrate fully on it.



I am hearing...

Early morning sounds . . . the clock on the mantle humming as the wheels inside it turn. The odd car as it goes by. Mitzie snuffling as she snoozes, all curled up behind me on the sofa. The tap tapping of the computer keys as I write. The wind is blowing. There has been quite a turnaround in the weather it seems. It's cold and not very nice at all.



Around the house...

Ironing, hoovering, dusting . . . the usual household chores. Probably not much different than anyone else's house I think!!



I am looking forward to...

We have the missionaries coming for tea later this week. I love feeding them and spending time with them. They are great lads. I couldn't believe that Elder Yeager had not spoken any English before arriving on our shores from Germany! His English is so well spoken and with hardly an accent at all. I am planning on spoiling them again this week, and why not! They work so hard serving others, and it is nice to be able to serve them in return.



I am pondering...

I have been reading a great book on the Atonement of Christ called, Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson. It's really bringing me a new perspective on what Christ actually did for us. You can read one of his talks here, which gives you a glimpse of what is in the book. It's very, very good, and I highly recommend.



One of my favourite things...

Is sitting in the garden watching the goldfish in our pond and the frogs too. The lily pads are blooming and it is so very pretty at the moment. I think the fish have tripled in size since last year. We have 4 of them. I don't know what we will do when they get really big! We will have to give them to someone with a larger pond I guess!



A few plans for the rest of the week...

I have the Dentist today, the Missionaries on Thursday and of course my reading lessons which I am giving each day as well. My One Step Program on Friday and then the rest of the week is blissfully free, well . . . all except for my having to prepare that lesson. It is on Chastity and not an easy to topic to approach, but I'll do my best!!



Here is picture thought I am sharing...







This is me, dressed up for Sunday School at my Grandparents in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. I was almost five years old at the time. I am holding the little white bible that my Father gave me for Easter that year. I do not know what happened to that bible. It disappeared in the Divorce. I think my ex probably burned it like he did so many other things. Anyways, I look at the picture and I think to myself what would I tell that little girl if I could . . . I think I would tell her first and foremost that she is the daughter of a Heavenly Father and that He loved her very much. That is life-changing knowledge. Had she known and completely understood the implications of that simple fact then . . . she may have made very different choices in her life. I always knew there was a God. I just never thought I was important enough for Him to actually care for me personally . . . I am very grateful that I do have that knowledge now and that I now know who I really am.



And just as a closing thought for today . . .



"Your task . . . to build a better world," God said. I answered, "How? . . . this world is such a large, vast place, and there's nothing I can do." But God in all His wisdom said, "Just build a better you." ~author unknown



Its so simple. I'm working on it!



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 are some tasty little turnovers that are a great way of using some of those lovely raspberries in the shops at the moment. I am hoping that next year we will have some of our own, but in the meantime I buy them. They're so good. I especially love the Scottish ones. These little turnovers are fabulous!









*Mini Raspberry Turnovers*

Makes 12 small ones

Printable Recipe



Juicy seasonal berries in a crisp and buttery shorbread crust!



For the crust:

2 cups plain flour

7 ounces butter (14 TBS)

1 large free range egg, lightly beaten

2 TBS granulated sugar

1 TBS chilled heavy cream

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp salt



For the filling:

4 tsp granulated sugar (Can use more if the berries

are overly tart)

1 TBS plain flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

2 cups (8 to 10 oz.) fresh red raspberries, rinsed and air-dried

or patted dry with kitchen paper toweling

1 to 2 TBS milk





First make the crust. Combine the flour, butter, egg, sugar, cream, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor, and pulse until the dough starts gathering together in big clumps. Turn the dough out onto a counter and gather it together with your hands into a ball. Divide the pastry in half. Pat each half into a square shape, about 1 inch thick. Wrap each in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.



Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, using a floured rolling pin, roll out one square of the pastry into a 9x14-inch rectangle. (If the dough is too sticky, you can also dust it with a little flour.) Cut the dough into six (4-inch)rounds. Remove the excess dough from around the rounds and discard or save for another use. Run a metal spatula under each round to separate it from the counter.



Stir together the 4 tsp sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add the raspberries and gently toss to coat. Taste and add more sugar if the fruit seems tart.



Put a heaping tablespoon of raspberries (three to six berries, depending on size) in a single layer on one half of each dough round. Press gently to flatten the berries a bit. Dampen the pastry edges with a little water and carefully fold the other side of the dough over the berries to make a half moon. Press the edges of the dough together with your fingers or the tines of a fork. If any small cracks formed in the dough, pinch them together as best you can with damp fingers. Carefully transfer the turnovers to the baking sheet. (I use a spatula)



Repeat with the other square of the dough and the remaining berry mixture. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and chill for at least 15 minutes, and up to 4 hours.



Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6.



Brush the tops of the turnovers, avoiding the edges, with the milk. Sprinkle with the sugar and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool to warm or room temperature before eating. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.







It's Cream of Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese, but not as you know it over in The English Kitchen today!