Tuesday, 5 August 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book

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FOR TODAY, August 5th, 2014

Outside my window ...
You can tell the days are getting shorter. It is not as light out as it has been these past few weeks.   Will it rain today?   Will it be sunny?   That remains to be seen!

I am thinking ...
 ✻ღϠ₡ღ✻(¯`✻´¯) 
          ✻ღϠ`*.¸.*₡ღ¸.✻
Yesterday marked the 70th anniversary since Anne Frank and her family were arrested by the Germans.   She was sent to Auschwitz and would be dead six months later.  It also marked the centenary anniversary of the start of WW1.  Has mankind not learned anything?  Our world appears to be a much worse place than it has ever been.  Hatred and evil abound. The family is under attack.  People have more than they have ever had, and yet it is still not enough.  More people are lonely and alone.  Depression and mental illness abound.  And yet . . .  I know that, just as all of these bad things exist, there is good . . .  a lot of good.  I cling to that.

I am thankful ...
For waking up this morning.  

In the kitchen ...




In the kitchen today, I am sharing some of my Seasonal Favourites including this delicious Plum Clafoutis!

On my "To Cook" list ...
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White Chocolate Brownies from  Midwest Living.   Seriously delicious looking.  Now that's a brownie Todd would sink his teeth into.


I am creating ...
I found a fabulous blog called a Fanciful Twist.   It is filled to overflowing with fabulous crafty things.  Everything I show you today is going to come from there just because it is so marvelous!

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Sparkley Bottle Brush Trees.   She shows you how to bleach them and everything.  A complete tutorial.

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A Princess Pin Cushion.   Again a complete tutorial.  It's so precious!


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Sparkly Stars.  No instructions, but how hard can it be.  You cut out cardboard stars, spread them with glue and glitter and then hang them.  I am going to do these as a garland I think, to hang on the mantle!

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Newspaper Roses!  Aren't they different!  Again, a complete tutorial!

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 Sparkly Paper Snowflakes!  Seriously simple, and again, a complete tutorial!


I am going ...
I am cooking at the Youth Camp this week on Thursday and Friday.   Tomorrow I have to get my hair cut and tomorrow our Student also arrives to stay with us.

I am wondering ...  
I am seriously wondering how this is going to work out with this student.  I am hoping it all works out fine.  It will be a huge change for us to have someone else actually living with us.  It has been a good thing in many ways already, as it has helped us to pare down and organize and get rid of a lot of things.  Yesterday I defrosted our freezer.  Everything is ready for her arrival.  I am trying to think about all of the positives.  This could be a really fabulous experience for us.  She will be with us for ten months and is studying nursing.

I am reading ...



Tapestry of Fortunes, by Elizabeth Berg
In this book four very different women delve into their pasts in order to share their futures, fates and fortunes.

Cecilia Ross is a motivational speaker who encourages others to change their lives for the better. Why can’t she take her own advice? Still reeling from the death of her best friend, and freshly aware of the need to live more fully now, Cece realizes that she has to make a move—all the portentous signs seem to point in that direction. She downsizes her life, sells her suburban Minnesota home and lets go of many of her possessions. She moves into a beautiful old house in Saint Paul, complete with a garden, chef’s kitchen, and three housemates: Lise, the home’s owner and a divorced mother at odds with her twenty-year-old daughter; Joni, a top-notch sous chef at a first-rate restaurant with a grade A jerk of a boss; and Renie, the youngest and most mercurial of the group, who is trying to rectify a teenage mistake. These women embark on a journey together in an attempt to connect with parts of themselves long denied. For Cece, that means finding Dennis Halsinger. Despite being “the one who got away,” Dennis has never been far from Cece’s thoughts.

I have only just started it, but you all know how much I love the writing of Elizabeth Berg.

I am hoping ...
I see great improvement in my thumb after three weeks, although first thing in the morning it is still clicking.  I am thinking I may need to wear a splint at night?  I don't know.  I sure hope it doesn't get any worse, but continues to get better.

Makes me smile ...

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Wanting a Daschund puppy.  I think Mitzie would not be as bored if we had another dog, someone to play with, but also afraid that her feelings would be hurt if we got another dog.  Perhaps if it was a baby she would be okay with it.  I don't know . . . this picture of this puppy makes me smile though.  Could it make her smile too?

I am learning ...
I am learning to be more forgiving of myself.  That sounds like a simple thing to do, but it is not.  It is sometimes the hardest thing to do.

Around the house ...

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I just adore this patchwork blanket.  I like the pillows too!  We have those same night stands.  It comes from a really cute blog called Hopscotch Lane.

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I love, love LOVE this idea of wall papered blinds!  How fabulously cute!  And you could adapt it to any room, any paper, any colour scheme, etc.   From Tinkered Treasures by Elyse Major.  Such a fabulous idea!

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I am absolutely adoring this Dollar Store Vintage Linen Closet Makeover from A Sort of Fairytale.  Love all of the bright colours.  It's so cheerful looking.


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Stenciled Windows!!  Love.  Love.  LOVE!  From Design Inspiration, Planet Stencil Library.

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 I just adore this living room/lounge.  Love the flowered furniture, the carpet, the colour scheme.  Love it all.   I think I have a very feminine heart.  From Be Home Goods Happy.

 I am pondering ...
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine, almost always makes me high

I love these words from the John Denver song, Sunshine.    Sunshine on my shoulders does make me happy ...... does it make you happy?

A favourite quote for the day ...  

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

"In every crisis there is a message.
Crises are nature's way of forcing change -
breaking down old structures,
shaking loose negative habits
so that something new and better can take their place."
~Susan Taylor

Being positive about things never hurts.

One of my favourite things ...  

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I just adore this Newman's Own smokin Hot Dog Sauce.  It's so good.  And not just for hotdogs.  I love it so much I could eat it with a spoon, but I don't.  It's smoky and spicy and mustardy.  In short, perfect with hot dogs!


A peek into my day ...

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My camera and I are inseparable.  I carry it with me everywhere.   I have too often wish that I had it with me and so now I just bring it along.  This enables me to capture beautiful things like this rose just opening up.   Sweet.

And that's my day book for this week!
  
⋱ ⋮ ⋰
   ⋯ ◯ ⋯ 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 ═══════════ 

5 comments:

  1. Good morning Marie. I hope your day goes very well and that you and the Toddster make the most of these last quiet days.

    We have had an interesting week so far. Mum went to the podiatrist and ended up being transported to hospital. They have found she has an abnormality in her brain. It will be good to know what is going on.

    Gos bless.

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  2. It is sad to think of all the bad in the world. I'm hypersenstive to the sufferings and sadness out there. But there is sooo much GOOD! And yes, we must gently hold on to that. :o) So thank you for the reminder today. It's cooler today--only 20! A bit gloomy too--might be rain. We could need it though. And have been noticing the days becoming shorter, the evenings rolling up sooner. Lots of pretty sparklies here today--fun! VERY exciting this new adventure with your nursing student coming to stay with you. I hope it will go very well. It could be a chance for a new friendship with a young person for you & Todd (not least Mitzie too!) And for her, two loving, caring adults/friends in her life as well. It could be a win-win for all! ;o) So glad you are experiencing some improvement with you thumb--hope that become better & better each week. Ooo... a Dachie puppy... what a sweet idea! A puppy a big commitment, but such a reward too, though. Oh, and must say I love that wallpapered blinds idea--such pretties 'em up! Wishing you all a WONDERFUL WEEK there!! ((LOVE & BIG HUGS)) P.S. Thank you for you sweet comments on my most recent post. :o)

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  3. Looks like a busy week for you. It will be different having someone live with you. I hope it works out for the best. I used to cook at our youth camp each year when my children were young and attending the camp. It was 3 days and 3 meals a day so I spent a lot of hours on my feet. I still remember the swollen ankles and I was a much younger woman then. Hope yours isn't quite as exhausting. Glad the thumb is doing better and hope it continues to do so too.

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  4. 10 months,you are much better than we are..We're not used to being anyone except just us except our family.
    I bet you will love it and she will love you..
    Plus a nurse:)
    Call The Midwife almost:) almost:)
    Your finger is getting BETTER!..
    Believe that.. everything is stiffer in the AM..:)

    Lots of cute things here!

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  5. Great post Marie! You always have the right mix of topics and other things. The desserts look wonderful too! I bet you are so excited to meet your exchange student. Keep a calm energy and all will go well! She will love you both and Mitzie too!

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