Wednesday 30 November 2016

Wednesday this and that . . .



 Its hard to believe that we are sitting on the last day of November 2016 and tomorrow December will begin.  Is it just me, or have the past eleven months just flown by at the speed of light, or seemingly so at any rate.  This morning dawned cool and crisp and freezing.  My little tootsies about froze on the kitchen floor as I put Mitzie out and I wasn't long in turning on the boiler to heat the house up.  Well, we really only heat one room  . . .  the lounge.  And we have our bedroom turned on to low.  We don't like it too warm in  there.  The heat is never on when we go to bed.  It stays off all night and we turn it on in the morning.  The bathroom is always freezing, even if we have the radiator turned on in there.   We keep a gas fire in there that we turn on when we are getting washed in the morning.  That room has always been freezing.  I don't know why.  The radiator gets hot, but it doesn't seem to spread out into the room.

It was cold and clear and sunny yesterday and so we went off into town in the morning.  We wanted to pay the rent and I thought I would take advantage of the day being so sunny and, to be honest, I worry about Todd going off on his own.  I know he would pooh pooh at my worry, but I just can't help myself.  We paid the rent and then I wanted to try to find some gold glitter nail polish so I could just do the tips of my nails with it for Christmas.  We went into Boots and I found some which looked perfect.  Got it to the easy cash and for some reason it wouldn't scan so we moved to the person cash and stood in line only to discover that it was not for sale.  It was a freebee that was only available if you bought something else.  Well, it didn't say that on the display or I missed it at any rate, and so we left empty handed and a bit annoyed.  But oh well . . .  that's the way the cookie crumbles!  I did find some at the Market and at a fraction of the price that is charged for most polishes.

We treated ourselves to a drink upstairs at M&S in their cafe.  I love LOVE M&S.  Especially at Christmas.   Their cafe's are so clean and there was Christmas music playing.  I enjoyed perusing the little girl's christmas dresses before we went into the cafe.



 This one caught my eye.  Oh, but it was so pretty and had a little slip underneath.  It reminded me of the dresses I made my girls for Christmas one year in this same colour.  Theirs were made of blue Velveteen and had white satin removable collars. They looked so pretty in them . . .



And then there was this one . . .  red coduroy with a crinckly red crinoline underneath and smocked bodice.  So cute.   When Maryn was little I sent her several smocked dresses.  Both very pretty.  I never got to see her in any of the clothes I sent over to her, but oh, I did have fun buying them.  I don't buy them anymore, but that doesn't stop me from looking and wishing.

Grumbledore  huffed and puffed the whole time I was looking and kept reminding me that we didn't have any little kiddies of our own.  I think he was afraid I was going to cave in and buy something.  Men!  I didn't, but I did enjoy perusing, despite the huffing and the puffing!

 Todd had a hot chocolate and I had a Clementine and Cranberry Presse (it's a cold carbonated drink with sparkling water and fruit juices).  Did you know that their hot drinks come with a tiny little shortbread biscuit cut out?  Todd had a little shortbread Christmas tree.  It was so cute!

I love Marks and Spencers.

Then we went into HMV, which is a shop which sells dvd's, music, video games, etc.  I was looking for Its a Wonderful Life, but couldn't find it.  We did find this however  . . .



Yep.  The BFG.  (Big Friendly Giant)  Based on the book by Roald Dahl.  We ended up buying it with the money Doreen had given us for cooking her roast. We both love films like this and we sat here and watched it last night totally delighted.  We were not disappointed in the least.  It was magical and funny and sad and scary.  It was just everything.  Today's technology is so amazing.   I was in wonder at all of the special effects.  It all just seemed so real.  Love, LOVE.  So, it wasn't Its a Wonderful Life, but it was very entertaining nonetheless.  With any luck we will find Its a Wonderful Life on the telly at some point.  I am sure we will.



Tomorrow our church starts its #Light the World campaign, which is designed as a sort of Advent Calendar for the world.  It is an effort to remind people that Jesus is the reason for the season and the Light of the World and so as a church we are endeavouring to make the world a brighter place all the way through December.  Well, we should be doing that every day anyways, but there is no more special time than at Christmas.  We have been encouraged to fill each day in the month of December with at least one small act of service.  There is a special Advent Calendar for the whole family which you can download with tons of ideas.




And I found this lovely printable one that you can use with children, which you can find here on A Year of FHE.  You don't have to be a member of the church to use these tools and help your family to focus their lives a bit more on the Saviour during this upcoming Holiday season.  I wish I had had resources like this when my children were growing up. I know that the Internet brings with it a whole new set of challenges for families, but it is also a wonderful wealth of resources too, if used properly!


Also did you know that The Mormon Channel Radio is playing Christmas Music 24/7 all through the holidays!  I have been listening to it on my ipad, but then yesterday had the brilliant idea that since it is an ap, why couldn't we download it onto the television and so we did just that!  And now we can listen to it via the television whenever we want to.   (Right now I am listening to Bing sing God Rest You Merry Gentlemen.) Sometimes I even impress myself!  It hadn't dawned on me until yesterday that it is an ap and that as we have a smart tv we should be able to download the ap onto the television. The mind boggles.  Modern technology is fantastic when used for the good!  I like the Mormon Channel anyways.  It is filled with awesome videos, talks, etc.  I could spend hours on it.  I love the videos where the children tell the stories of Jesus.  Children have such a beautiful way of putting things.



Another fun thing we did this week was to take a selfie of ourselves, which was a LOT harder than I thought it would be.  My sister in law had e-mailed me wanting an up-to-date photo of us for the family calendar they make up each year, and I didn't really have one.  So we grabbed my phone and tried to take some selfies.  Oh, we did laugh a lot while we were doing it.  Todd kept looking at the wrong place, or my mouth would be open as I was talking and trying to micro-mangage the experience.  (Bad me)  But we got there in the end and I guess it didn't turn out too badly.  My cheeks look a bit like apples and you can really see my grey hair. I don't think I will have to dye it granny grey, it looks like if I leave it long enough it will do it all on its own!  We did have a good giggle however and some of the photos were so bad, and so funny.  We got there in the end though, had a good laugh along the way, and that's what counts!

Oh, and the real reason we went into town yesterday aside from paying the rent is that I wanted to pick up some Christmas Cards.  I had been trying to make cards this year, but I just can't get them done.  I need to start earlier next year.  The same thing happens to me every year.  I have all these plans and not enough time to execute them.  Oh well, my heart is in the right place!

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day  . . .

⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰
A bird sitting on a tree
is never afraid of 
the branch breaking,
beause its trust is not
on the branch, but
on its own wings.
Believe in yourself.
⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰

Spiritual Enlightenment

 

 In The English Kitchen today, something for your holiday entertaining.  Holiday Cheese Spread.

Have a great Wednesday.  Stay warm and safe,  and look for the blessings to be found in every day!  Don't forget . .  .

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And I do too!


Tuesday 29 November 2016

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .


 

FOR TODAY, November 29, 2016

Outside My Window ...
Its dark and cold.  -3 to be exact.  I am not sure what that is in farenheight, but its below zero here!  Brrrr....  winter has arrived.

I am thinking ...
How did we get to the end of November?  This year has whizzed by far too quickly!

In the Kitchen ...



A Traditional Toad in the Hole.  For two people.  Crispy bacon wrapped sausages baked in a yorkshire pudding and served with gravy, mash and veg.   Comfort food.

 On my "To Cook" list ...
 





















Sunday Chocolate Cake.  From Cookies and Cups.  This looks like a good Chocolate Cake. Mind ... any chocolate cake looks good to me!

Good to know ...
  

Seven Stir Fry Sauces from Sweet Peas and Saffron.  These could come in really handy.

 I am creating ...



From Planet June.  A free pattern for a crochet mini wreath Christmas tree ornament.

  

I love, LOVE everything about this knit ribbed cardigan.  From Red Heart UK.  I love the 3/4 length sleeves, the assymetrical front, the big buttons.   Its a winner all round!   Free pattern.  Love the collar also.

 

I would love to knit this for Todd.  He gets so cold in the Winter and we  have discovered that somehow he has lost his winter dress coat for Church.  I suspect he left it at church and it has been thrown away when they had the Spring Clear out.  😭   Pattern is from Annies, but not available, so I will keep searching for one that is.  Darn, darn, darn  . . .



 A mini Suitcase from Helene Dalmar miniatures.  A complete Tutorial.  My Beacon Hill.

 

Crochet Santa Hat Decorations.  These would be great covers for Ferraro Rocher Chocolates.  Yum!  Cute!   Again, I can't find the pattern.  Sigh  . . .

 

Fab and Free, free printable Recipe Binder in three colour options.

I am reading ... 
  

A Spool of Blue Thread, by Anne Tyler



This novel is a portrait of the Whitshank family across several generations. Denny, 19 when the story starts, something of a prodigal son, is reminiscent in his charming, maddening, potentially delinquent way – balanced bewilderingly yet convincingly between helpfulness and fecklessness – of Jack, the returning bad lot in Marilynne Robinson’s Home. Tyler is in the top rank of American writers, and moments in this novel have an affinity with Canada’s Alice Munro too. But what she has that neither Robinson nor Munro possess to the same degree is an irrepressible sense of the comedy beneath even the most melancholy surface – or sometimes peeking just above it – in human affairs.

Just beginning and not sure if I like it or not yet.

I am looking forward to ...
We are having the last set of Elders for supper on Thursday.  Looking forward to that.  They are not as long appointments as they used to be however.  The Mission President has said that they are to be from 5 pm to 6 pm and that they need to be out and working by 6 pm on the dot.  This means they are not getting a lot of tea appointments at present because most people are just getting home from work at 6.  Sad but true.

Dreaming about ...
  

Advent Candles . . .  has been many a year since I have done them . . .



Pretty and loose braids/plaits . . .  with I could see to the back of my head, but alas, I cannot  . . .



 Toasty Toes  . . .

 

Apple Pies  . . . pretty as a picture  . . .



 Frosty rose-hips  . . .

Something to watch ... 
 

 A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Bishops Wife,  Miracle on 34th Street, Its a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, The Santa Claus  . . .  The Family Man.  I love Christmas films . . .

A favourite quote for the day  ...
 (¯`v´¯)
  `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸.
                     ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ. ( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“`
                                        * .¸.* ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..

Never dim anyone's light so you can shine . . .
Just shine . . .


 Makes me smile ...
 

Oh, I would love a kitten  . . .

One of my favourite things  ...
 

I wish you could actually look in here and see your reflection because its YOU!  yep!

Corners of My Kingdom ...
 

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall . . .  on my bucket-list for sure ...


And that's my daybook for this week!

 ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆
 ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆

✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬
░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░


Wherever you go and whatever you do, I hope there's a great day ahead of you! Don't forget!

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 And I do too!
 

Monday 28 November 2016

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.



 Frosty mornings and the beauty they create.   I spent some time in the garden with my phone snapping a few photos.  The first is of a rose which got caught . . .




And then a spider's web which I managed to capture.  Webs always look so mystical when caught in frost or rain don't you think?



I have all of my packages ready to post to North America now.  Took some doing, but they are ready to go out.  And on the plus side, the bookies are slashing the odds for a White Christmas.   So that means (If I am right) that the odds of a White Christmas are more in the favour of a yes than a no?  We shall see!


I finally got to do a facetime with my mom.  It was only for a few minutes and the sound/reception was poor, but we did get to see each other.  I am not sure that she liked it very much.  She has never taken well to change.  But I did and it was nice to see her.  I am not sure I will do it again however.  I had toyed with the idea of getting her a tablet in the new year, so we could do this often, but I don't think that it would be a very good idea upon thinking about it.   She hates techonology and she hates change and I just think it would cause her a lot of stress and hassle.  Best to just leave things as they are.


I was looking every where for nail decals and gems yesterday for Christmas nails, but couldn't find any that would actually be here before Christmas, so scratch that idea for this year.  But next year, watch out!  Something to look forward to!



Feeding the birds.  We love doing it.   It costs a bit at times, but is worth every penny.  We enjoy watching them.  We mostly get sparrows, and the odd blue tit or robin and sometimes we get goldfinches (which look a lot different over here!)  Sometimes we get flocks of starlings and there are a pair of wood pigeons that are always out there.  We could watch them for hours.




I baked Todd some mince pies and we had pie crust cookies from the leftover dough.  I love pie crust cookies.

Perhaps too much . . .


Our time is coming to an end now.   As of the 14th of December our time as Missionaries will be done.  I hate to think that our mission is ending and there is so much more we would have liked to have done but it is the right time.  I am grateful that we could hang in for the last few weeks, but know in my heart that we could not do any longer.  We had thought earlier this year that we would ask for an extension, but something made us change our minds.  So glad that we did.  Not that we didn't want to serve longer, but with the health challenges we are facing at the moment, it is the right time to finish.  So grateful for having had the opportunity to serve, and wishing we had been better at it, but I know we will be blessed for having tried.



Puppy cuddles.  She is still not happy about being on a diet, but she has been losing weight, which is a very good thing.  I love being able to reach my hand out in the night and stroke her just as much as I love being able to reach out my hand and touch Todd.

Life is good.


A thought to carry with you . . .

⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰
Let me hear Your loving
kindness in the morning; 
For I trust in You; 
Teach me the way 
in which I should walk; 
For to You I lift up my soul.
~Psalm 143:8
⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰

I love the Psalms  . . .

Spiritual Enlightenment

 photo SAM_1746_zps10d5318e.jpg

In The English Kitchen today  . . . Grilled Mac and Cheese and Pancetta Sandwich.  Hedonistic, but tasty.


May the week ahead of you be filled with many small and wonderful things. Along the way don't forget . . .


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And I do too!


Sunday 27 November 2016

Sunday morning this and that . . .





It was such a bright and sunny day yesterday that we went off into Chester very early in the morning on the bus.  Twas cook and crisp and even . . .  just like the song!  They have the Christmas Market set up now by the Town  Hall.  It was the perfect day to explore it.  Not so late in the season that it was overly crowded (ie. Still breathing room), but not so early that nobody was there.  Actually when we first got into town most of the booths were not open yet at all, but later on when we left to catch the bus to go home, all were open and there was a mash of people, sounds and smells.   Nuts and spice and frying onions.  Just loverly!



I didn't get to see it at all last year, so this was a real treat for me.  So much temptation there.  Pancakes . . . fudge . . .  hotdogs  . . . burgers . . . there was even a bar.  Oodles of pies and cakes and everything oriented to Christmas.  I loved the Olive Wood Nativities.  Lots of slippers and mitts and caps . . .



Oh, if only I could have found a hat like Penny wears in this episode of The Big Bang Theory . . . .



with those two tails and the big fluffy white pom poms.  I might have been sorely tempted.  Even if I would look more than a bit silly in it.  At least I could feel like Penny.


 I did manage to get myself a pair of gloves which I have been coveting now for more than a few years.  And they were on sale.  Bonus!  I did a bit of work last week for a marketing survey on the telephone so we had a tiny bit of extra cash to spend, and I did need a pair of gloves or mitts.  I have given up trying to knit my own.   My hands would be dangling in icycles before that happens.  I just cannot figure out how to knit with four needles and I don't like the way the two needle ones look.  I am so sad that I lost my old mittens, but so happy that I found these.   I put them on right away.  The clerk in the shop cut all the tags off for me.  I felt very glamorous.  😇 





 This hat did sorely tempt me also, but I resisted.  In reality I don't like hat hair.  Although with long hair I don't think that is as much of a problem as it is with short hair.  Maybe I will knit/crochet myself a set of ear warmers instead.  We shall see.


 We had a couple of hot chocolates in Caffe Nero.   They came totally adorned with cream, marshmallows and sprinkles.   I did not want all of that stuff, but did not have the heart to say so once they were presented to us.  Nobody asked.  As a diabetic, it is bad enough I am having the hot chocolate, but all that cream, marshmallows and sprinkles are not so good for me.  I just scraped it all off onto a napkin.  But they really should ask I think.   Pretty though  . . .

I have been checking out the nail art for Christmas nails, thinking I should be able to do something myself  . . . 


 This tutorial from More Beauty looks definitely doable.  I might be able to manage that.  Not sure how the left hand doing the right hand would work however.  Thinking . . . .




 Oh but this is sooooo lovely . . .  very party-like.  I could not find a source.  I just did my nails last night with pink polish and had to re-do three of them no less than four times.   I am hopeless and so I don't think doing actual nail art is in my future.  No matter how hard I tried, I kept banging them on something.  Sigh . . .


 This I might be able to manage however.  From Emily's Nail Files.  Apparently you just dab the glitter on with a kitchen sponge.   I could do that!  And its so pretty!

 

 In the afternoon I made Mince Pies while Todd had an afternoon nap.  These afternoon naps are becoming almost an everyday occurrence now.  And then he doesn't sleep very well at night.  When I got up this morning, he told me that had not slept all night last night again . . . I don't know what the solution is.  😢  And yet, last evening while we were sitting watching the television, he was snoring away in his chair . . . . 



Doreen called over in the afternoon to see if she could be really cheeky and would I cook a leg of lamb for her.   I said not cheeky at all, I would be happy to.  So Billy brought it over and I roasted it for her and then Billy came to pick it up when it was done.  She always insists on paying me.   I wish that she wouldn't.  It makes for a very expensive roast for her, but she won't take no for an answer.  I am happy to do these things for her.  I know if the situation were reversed she would do it for me.

Oh, and my nextdoor neighbor knocked on the door in the afternoon and said she was walking down to the shops and did we need anything. That was so kind of her.  I have nice neighbors.  Which reminds me I best get out there and buy some Christmas Cards.  We got our first one in the post on Friday.  I am way far behind this year.  Way far behind.  I could be doing those things while Todd naps.  Bad me.


 Look at this lovely happy family waiting for Santa to show up at their local Santa Claus Parade yesterday.  My son Anthony and his boys (Gabe and Luke) and of course his lovely wife Anne.  Looks like Anthony has shaved his beard off.  (YES!)  He was starting to look like a guy from Duck Dynasty there.  (Too bad they didn't have the funds like the guys from Duck Dynasty!  My poor boy has struggled all his adult life to provide.  Makes me sad and I wish I could do more for them.)  But what a happy looking little family.  Did my heart good to see this photo.  They look so happy. 

 That is what I miss most during the holidays  . . .  family.  Oh, I know I have Todd . . .  and I am blessed to have him, but some other family would be nice also.  We are thinking of inviting two elderly gals from our church over for Christmas Day this year.  Last year we had a Christmas Day loaded with activity.  Tatiana was here and we ended up at the Johansen's with all the Missionaries on Christmas Day.   It was such a busy day . . .

 photo SDC13326.jpg 


We do have each other however and that is quite a lot.  So many others are not so blessed as we.    I am rambling now so will end this off with a thought to carry with you through today . . .


✻ღϠ₡ღ✻ (¯`✻´¯)
                     `*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ
                         ❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥
"Where charity stands watching 
and faith holds wide the door 
the dark night wakes - the glory breaks, 
 Christmas comes once more."
 ~ Phillips Brooks 
❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥.¸¸.✿¨¯`❥✻❥

Spiritual Enlightenment 



In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Fluffer Nutter Brownies.  Oh my goodness.  😮  WOWSA WOWSA!


Have a beautiful Sunday.  May your day be filled with lots of love and laughter.  Don't forget along the way  . . .

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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and I do too!