What a difference a day makes . . .

Looking out the back window this morning, I see a dull grey sky . . .  and it's cold.  Brrrr . . .   I am debating whether I want to put the heat on or not.  So far I haven't, but I still may yet.  Yesterday the sun was blazing away in the sky and although it was cool, it was still pretty beautiful out.  Its hard to feel cold on a sunny, sunny day.  There is just so much to smile about.  And the birds were all singing to beat the band.

They're still singing today . . .  they sing in all weathers, bless . . .  but I think that if I could understand bird-speak the words they are singing would be a whole lot different today than they were yesterday!



Todd had to go out with the Zone Leaders yesterday afternoon and this cheeky girl stopped by for a visit.  I was so happy to see her.  We see each other at church all the time, and she only lives around the corner from us now (with Jose of course), but we never ever have a chance to have a good old gab!  I realised how much I miss having her around.  I said as much to Todd last night.  What a ray of light she was in our home.  Anyways, we had a great talk and laugh together.  I will have to pop down to her house one day and see how they have settled in.  We have the same landlord, except she seems to get more out of him than we do.  Perhaps it is those pretty baby brown eyes.  Hmmm . . . .



Tatiana has made a lovely wedding album for me to send to my son.  I have not looked inside because I don't want to spoil her lovely wrapping of it.   If the inside is only half as gorgeous as the outside, he and Sara are in for a real treat!  What a loving thoughtful gesture from a dear sweet friend.  There was also an album for a mutual friend of ours, but its not  mine to show you.  Also gorgeous I am sure!

 



This was sitting on our doorstep when Ariana went to leave to go home.   A gift from Doreen, no doubt.    I am not sure why Billy didn't knock on the door, except for the fact that our car was gone, and so he probably thought we were out.  We went to see Doreen on Sunday and take her the sacrament.  This was sitting over on the side and I had remarked on how pretty it was . . .  as you do.   I will have to be very careful in future not to say I like things like that when I am at her house.  I don't want her sending me stuff like that, as kind as it is of her to do it.  I go to see her because I care about her and for no other reason.   She used to be Todd's next door neighbor when Todd and I met and she was one of my first friends over here in the UK. Even when we moved down South we used to call her once a week just to see how she was getting on, and when we went to move back up here, she was one of the first people we went to see.  She has been a great friend to both of us, and I love her to bits.   I just don't want her giving me things all the time . . .



We had gone out yesterday morning to get a few groceries,  and I picked up a few cards for up and coming occasions.  Two birthdays and Father's Day.    Todd always says I should make my cards, but I am always afraid that people will think I am too cheap to buy one if I make them.    personally I love homemade cards, but then again  . . .  I am rather easy to please.  I am just happy to get a card!




I splurged and picked up one of my favourite food magazines.   Delicious.  I have been a fan since the beginning, and I bought this solely based on the cover and that delicious looking rhubarb tart/cake, even though in reality I probably could not eat it based on the amount of sugar that must be in it to make the rhubarb edible  . . .  sigh . . . I am not sure of how many recipes inside I will make.   I am one of those people who are afraid to browse inside a magazine before I buy it.  I can remember being a store clerk and thinking poorly of people who did that . . .  its a bit like cheating I think, and so I don't do it.  I was too tired last night to go through it, but I will give it a good going over today!  Judging by the cover and the fact that its my favourite magazine, I am sure I will not be too disappointed!




I played with this a little bit yesterday also . . .  I really love it and can't wait to get it filled with recipes and such.   Love, LOVE the red gingham looking cover.   I adore red gingham you know  . . . and I adore Susan Branch, so it's win/win all over the place!




And it has stickers!  Pages and pages of different ones . . .  alphabet ones, quote ones, kitchen tools, etc. and lovely scrapbook papers, and cute section dividers, each one being very unique from the other.  At the back of each divider is a pocket that you can slip loose things into . . .  this one here has Emergency substitutions painted on it  . .  . and I love the pages.  So quaint.




This is my favourite page.  It was really difficult to pick a favourite page as they are all so gorgeous.  I decided upon this one however because it has tea pots and polka dots and tea cups and holly hocks . . .  and the spot where she has saved a spot for a photograph looks lace trimmed.  It's all so very "me!"

Don't you think?

  



And then last night in bed I was revisiting one of my favourite cookery books that I have had for a while now.  Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes, by Jeanne Kelley.  I think she must have just the most gorgeous of kitchen gardens  . . .  a kitchen garden that most people would dream of having . . . and chickens.  I do so want to have my own chickens.  Mind you it is rather difficult to find someone to watch a dog if you are wanting to go away, I can only imagine how difficult it would be to find someone to watch a flock of chickens  . . .




This book has the most gorgeous looking photos and tastiest sounding  recipes in it  . . .  each one seemingly more delicious than the last, using beautiful fresh ingredients  . . .  . and the font  . . .



I am in love with that font that is used for the recipe titles.  It looks fabulous.  I also love the different patterns on some of the pages . . .  like you are looking at a very old book . . .  and I love the gingham.  I love red gingham, but blue gingham is a close second.

Gingham says home sweet home to me.

 

You know you can get blue eggs here in the UK . . . . well, pale blue anyways.  They come from Cotswold Legbar Hens and are fairly expensive.  



Clarence Court are the most popular producers.  Yep . . .  that Clarence Court.

I am now wishing I had planted yellow tomatoes . . . . instead of just red and I am wishing I had some Cotswold Legbar Hens.  Probably cheaper just to buy the eggs.  ;-)

And with that I will leave you with a thought for today . . .

`*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ`*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ`*.¸.*´
Home is the place that . . .
when you go there,
they have to take you in  . . . 
~Unknown
`*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ`*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ`*.¸.*´


Spiritual Enlightenment



In The English Kitchen today  . . . .  Crunchy Cheese Potatoes.  Delish of course!

Have a fabulous Wednesday!  (How can it be Wednesday already???  No!!  Time is going too quickly!) Don't forget!

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And I do too!!

Happy Day!