Small and Wonderful Things

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life.   It's the small things in life which truly mean the most.  Simple abundance . . . it's the best.



This is a cuddly looking Cameron after his bath.   My kids step-mom posted it on my daughter's FB page.  I was grateful for that because it meant I could see it and steal it.  He looks so fresh and cuddly.  I remember how lovely my babies were just after their baths.   The hair still a bit damp and that soapy smell on the back of their necks.   Their cuddly warmth in my arms.   Why do babies have to grow up?  Why can't they stay safe in your arms forever???   I guess that's why God made hearts the way He did.  That way we can carry them with us always, no matter how far away they are or how grown up they become . . .



Again, not the greatest picture and , yes . . .  also pinched  (blurry cell phone I reckon and she needs to learn to keep her hand still when she is taking a photo) but I just adore this photo of Maryn listening to her papa tell her a story.   She looks totally enraptured.  It reminds me of when I was a girl and my father would read to me, which he did frequently.  In fact he did it so often that he can still remember one of the stories word for word, and so can I.

Jerry mouse stepped out of his mousehold one day.  "My!" he cried to his friend Tuffy as he looked across at the big people's kitchen.  "What a beautiful day!  Let's go for a walk!  Let's go for a ride!  Let's go for a picnic!"

And as I remember and read those words, I still hear them in my father's squeeky little mouse voice.  My Jerry mouse had a French accent.  (My father is French Canadian)  I reckon I was the luckiest little girl in the whole world, don't you?



Next to Mitzie, I think Baxter is the cutest dog ever.  He's playing hide and seek here.  He doesn't think anyone can see him.  I think it's adorable.  He has personality plus.  Next to Grand Babies, Grand Fur Babies are the bestest.



Watching Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir skate for a silver medal in the Sachi Olympic Pairs Ice Dancing comp.  I have not been able to see any other skating, so I was really pleased to be able to catch this last evening.   All of the dancing pairs were brilliant from what I saw, but my heart was a little bit more with this couple.  It can't be helped.   You can take the Canuck out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the Canuck!!  This couple have so much chemistry together.  Does anyone know if they are actually a "couple" or not?



Sunday evening Dates with Call the Midwife.  I love, LOVE this show.  We are halfway through the season now and each week has been a double hanky week.   I don't want to give away any spoilers, but boys oh boys girls, they sure know how to pluck at the heart strings!!   I blubbered my way through most of last night's episode once again.   This is exceptional television viewing.   Why don't they make more shows like this???   I can't get enough of it.  Sunday evenings are a great viewing night now on the BBC, with Song's of Praise, Country File and then Call the Midwife!  Of course at 9 we switch over to ITV for Mr Selfridge, and why not.  It's pretty special too!

"For just as the swan's last song is the sweetest of its life, so loss is made endurable by love and it is love that will echo through eternity." (voiced over mature Jenny)

And there you have it my small and wonderful things for this week!   Please could you keep my good friend Lura in your prayers.   She's back in hospital again with a mystery illness.  I hope she will be ok.  She's had quite a year already, what with her gall bladder having to be removed and now this mystery problem.  I do so hope that the Doctors will get to the bottom of it soonest and fix it!

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

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  `•.¸¸.•´ 
"The sign of a beautiful person is that
he always sees beauty in others.
~Omar Suleiman
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I'm baking potatoes today in The English Kitchen!

Hope your Monday is filled with small and wonderful things! 

Psst!!  Not to blow my own horn or anything, but The English Kitchen has been nominated for a Best Blog Abroad award on The Kitchn.  I sure would appreciate your votes if you think I deserve them!  (Don't feel obliged, but it would be nice!)  And yes, it's nice just to be nominated.