Tuesday 27 May 2014

The Simple Woman's Daybook

  photo smallsimplewomanicon_zpsac834e67.jpg

FOR TODAY, May 17th, 2014

Outside my window...  
It's actually very overcast this morning.  We had a nice and sunny day yesterday, but I am not sure what it is going to to today.  Perhaps this will change and the sun will come out again.  Here's hoping!

I am thinking ...
✻ღϠ₡ღ✻(¯`✻´¯)
          ✻ღϠ`*.¸.*₡ღ¸.✻
 "The world is full of people looking for spectacular happiness 
while they snub contentment."
~Doug Larson

Do I forget to enjoy the mundane in my search for the spectacular, and in doing so overlook contentment???   I don't think so.  I'm about as content as content can be.  ☺

I am thankful ...
For each of you.   It may sound rather sad that my life should be so narrow that this counts as much as it does, but it's true.   Getting on here each morning and pouring my heart out to you, my much beloved readers/invisible friends is an integral part of each of my days.  You mean the world to me and I love, LOVE this part of my day.  I would be lost without it.  A big chunk of my heart would be missing.  I am very thankful for each of you, even those who are silent invisible friends.

In the Kitchen ...

 photo SAM_4945_zpscc49703b.jpg

I'm cooking leftovers today  . . .  with my Stove Top Spaghetti.   This is super tasty, and economical and easy to make.   We loved it.  Well . . . I  loved it.  Todd just ate it.

On my "To Cook" list ...

 photo 2146e6be3d5735a825ea9c98eff8187c_zps69075169.jpg

Having the missionaries twice for supper next week on both Tuesday and Wednesday.  (Sisters  one day, Elders the next).  This looks like the ideal recipe.  I can serve it on both days with not too much hassle I think!  From Lets Dish Recipes.

I am Creating ...

 photo 55fa16c187c39a803824e83cb756f365_zpsfe41c39e.jpg

Sparkle Party Crowns.  What little girl (or big girl for that matter!) wouldn't love one of these.  It's glittery and magical and I want one of those just to sit on a shelf in my craft room.  And maybe sometimes I will wear it when I am crafting and it will help my craft MoJo even more!  From Kelli Murray.

 photo 69bab8315c12dd9427cf3003d67ca3c0_zps9f94266c.jpg

I just adore this altered spoon.  It's whimsical and quite "Faerie" in appearance.  I love anything that is "Faerie" as you know.  I am going to look for an old spoon and do this myself.   Found on Sketchbook.

DIY hot glue confetti heart

I adore this little Confetti Heart.   I love heart anything, but this is unusual and so colourful.  I have tons of paper scraps in my craft room.  Could this be something I might do with them???  It just may be!  From Dollar Store Crafts.

Spoons mmmm

Chocolate Party Spoons!  I think these are totally A D O R A B L E !!  Found them on  a tasty little blog called, Delicious Delicious Delicious!

 photo 9b9fbbc1f4fab556d042e1d9323a8b35_zps94e5cf38.jpg

Re-usable sandwich wrap.  What a brilliant idea.  There is a complete tutorial on Crafty Stylish.  I think it's just fabulous.   What a money saver, no more buying sandwich baggies, and better for the environment too!

I am going ... 
I think I am going to have to change this question because for the past six month or so I haven't gone any place really except for church and grocery shopping, with some Visit Teaching thrown in for good measure.  I think I am becoming quite boring.

I am wondering ...
Not long now until the craft CD is on the television.  I am wondering how well it will do.  I really hope that it does okay.  I am also thinking about my next cook-booklet, and pondering the direction I will take with that.  I have so many ideas floating around in my head for things.

I am reading ...
 photo My_Loving_Vigil_Keeping_novel_Carla_Kelly_zpsa049f73d.jpg

My Loving Vigil Keeping, by Carla Kelly

To Della Ander’s relatives, it seems like an absurd whim when the young educator accepts a contract to teach in Winter Quarters, a coal mining camp near Scofield, Utah. After all, she lives with a socially prominent family in Salt Lake City. Why teach in a place as hard as a coal mining camp, even if the Winter Quarters mines have an enviable reputation for safety? It’s no whim to Della. She yearns to reconnect with the life she knew as a child, before tragedy yanked her from a home equal parts ramshackle and loving. But when disaster strikes, what the teacher learns in Winter Quarters will change her life forever, and her heart.

Based around the true events of the Scofield Mine Disaster of 1900, this suspenseful romance from award-winning and bestselling author Carla Kelly is sure to please longtime fans and new readers alike. Thrilling and heartfelt, it’s a must-read. This is the third novel I have read of hers and I am truly enjoying it.  I love stories based on true events.

 photo 16142191_zpsdd506a2e.jpg

Until You're Mine, by Samantha Hayes
This  book starts with the description of a young girl sprinkling her tiny-tears doll with ‘magic dust’ to bring her to life, when the girl has no live baby in her arms by the time she is twelve, she throws her doll onto the fire in disgust. This book is dominated by mothers; mothers-to-be and women who long-to-be-mothers, step-mothers and mothers of teenagers. Underlying each page is the feeling that there are untold truths and half-told lies. The quest for the truth leaves me with a sense of unease, a longing to know what is going on while fearing what the next page will  reveal.   Just starting it, but already have that "can't put it down" feeling.

I am hoping...
I am really hoping the sun comes out today!  I wanted to get out into the garden and take some photos of what's blooming.

Makes me smile...
 photo 10303733_10152109083201188_4967952481676223509_n_zpse29b65ab.jpg 

Looking at this photograph makes me smile.  It makes me think of my maternal grandmother whom I loved dearly.  It makes me think of a lost era . . . simpler times.  Grandmother's don't look like that any more do they?

I am learning ...
That the more I think I know, the less I really do . . . I am grateful for an inquisitive mind.

Around the house ...
 

From Our Blue Front Door, a garage sale dresser turned into a television stand.  I am loving this!  I shall be looking for an old dresser now!

3 Ways to Get an Antiqued Look When Painting Furniture 

3 ways to get an antiqued look when painting furniture from Painted Furniture Ideas.   I have an old drop front desk that I want to paint and am hoping this will help me to make it more interesting looking.

Make your own shabby chic lampshade 

A shabby chic lampshade tutorial from  Simply Ciani.  It's a brilliant tutorial and looks very easy to do.   I love it!  I can see this on our bedside table lamps!  FABULOUS!

DIY-French bath cabinet 

I love this bath cabinet, found on 4 the love of WOOD.  There are a lot of brilliant tutorials for decorating on that page.  Just wonderful.  I really love the French feel of this cabinet.

DIY Fabric Rug tutorial 

A tutorial on how to make a carpet using any fabric that you have fallen in love with.  I found this brilliant tutorial on All Parenting Dot Com.

I am pondering ...
I think that when you get to the stage in life where you have more of your life stretching behind you than you have of it sitting in front of you, you begin to ponder a lot of things . . .  each day becomes more precious.

A favourite quote for the day ...   
 photo 1016584_321052461369433_1175467279_n_zpsa05f533a.jpg 

`*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
(¯`v´¯)
 `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
  ¸.•´¸.•~♥♥♥~•.~ 

"Expect to have hope rekindled.  Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.
The dry seasons in life do not last.  The spring rains will come again."
~Sarah Ban Breathnach

One of my favourite things ...

lace curtain behind curtains, in cream or beige. 

I quite simply adore lace curtains.  If I had my way all of my windows would be thus adorned.  Here in the lounge I have some lace panel curtains that I have had since the 1980's.  I bought them at the Eatons Department Store.  I have always loved them, and I always will.  I paid a lot of money for them way back when.  They were worth every penny.

A peek into my day ...
Daydreamer... 

I am a daydreamer and can often be found staring off into space.  My mind takes me to all sorts of places when I am doing mindless labour such as hoovering or dusting.   It helps to pass the time.

⋱ ⋮ ⋰
   ⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small*´¯`.¸¸.☆
   ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆
   ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
   ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬
   ░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░  


Wherever you go and whatever you do I hope there's a wonderful day planned for you!  

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░L░O░V░E⊰✿⊰✿⊰✿⊰✿⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 


 

10 comments:

  1. lovely post as always Marie. hope your day is a nice one the sun has just come out down here after a rather wet looking start.
    i am havung a lazy day after a busy day yesterday. Peter picked the first of the early potato's last night si will have them tonight with mince should be a lovely taste...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning Marie. Believe me my life is even more boring. I am so housebound at present and it is beyond funny.

    Pardon me for asking but could you and your readers pray for dad. We are jumping through all sorts of hoops to place him in a home. Today we finally received the papers and they are full of mistakes. Mistakes that will cost mum hugely. One of the major problems is that the specialist who diagnosed dad's blindness has now declared him not blind. We are running out of time as the government rules change on the first of July. No one can really say what the new rules will be. They can only assure us it will be more expensive than if we get him into care before that date. In many ways I am angry as for 20 years someone has helped dad through every single day and now when we are all exhausted and crying all the time there is more and more to do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Seeing that picture of the reusable sandwich wrap made me thing of the sandwich savors I used to use for the children when they'd go off to school. I think they were tupperware. They were efficient for sure. It looks like a rainy day here. I'll be watching my daughters little 2 year old today . It won't matter at all if the sun shines it'll be loads of fun. He's a bright spot for sure. Hope you have a terrific Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I did wonder how you day went yesterday Sybil! I hope you had some sunshine for it! New potatoes sound lovely. Not sure what I am making for our tea yet!

    Suzan, I will definitely ask my readers to pray for you and your dad. I do hope you area able to resolve this situation in the best way possible for you all. It must be very distressing! (((((((((hugs))))))))))

    We used to have those tupperware sandwich savers as well Pam! Not only were they environmentally friendly but they kept the sandwiches nice and fresh and from getting squished! I hope you have a great time with your two year old grandchild! What fun! I can only wish for such fun! xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely post Marie. Your life is not in the least bit boring. It's choc-a-bloc full of goodness and love not to mention your gift for arts and crafts! George and I are going to see Julie Andrews tonight on the Liverpool arena. Really excited. ...Mary Poppins was my favourite film as a child. Much love xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. How exciting Kate!! I would be super excited too! I Loved Julie Andrews when I was a child too. Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, two of my favourite films!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't think you are boring at all, far from it.
    In the early days of the Internet online friends seemed a strange concept, and there were several cautionary tales of people who met up. I think this has changed now, and it is quite acceptable. Many of these friendships transfer to the physical world too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Marie,
    Long time no "see". I just came across your name in the comments on one of my old blog posts and wondered how you are.

    Your new blog has a lovely, clean, fresh look. Your spaghetti looks delicious. I'm glad I'm having some tonight!

    I hope you have a wonderful week.

    Please drop by!

    Blessings,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

    ReplyDelete
  9. A couple of days ago, you mentioned "smelling" your little fur-kid, and I had to laugh. I thought I was the only person in the world who must do that. My best friend in the whole world is my little buddy "Scruffy" but he occasionally gets called"Frito Feet" cause that's what his little feet smell like to me. Every day your observations on life bring another lovely memory or thought to mind. Today I could see my great-grandmother who I called Jammie, standing at her kitchen sink. I would love to knit you and Todd some heavy wool socks for when that time of year rolls around again. Let me know if you could use them

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are so right Tracey! I have met several of my "Invisible" friends and they have been lovely. I've never yet had a bad experience meeting one of my friends from on line. I would love to meet you one day! xx

    Hi Laura! I am glad you found me over here on my new space! I remember you well and often wonder how you are doing. I'll be by to visit you soon! xx

    Lynn, so glad to know I am not the only weird one! Also glad that I can inspire some happy memories for you. Ahh Frito's, haven't had those in years! I have a love/loathe relationship with them. Mostly due to having become car sick once after eating them! Wool socks! That is so kind of you! Would love some. Perhaps we can do a trade???

    ReplyDelete

Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!