The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

FOR TODAY, February 28, 2017

Outside my window ...

The days are lengthening.  When I got up this morning I could already hear the morning chorus and see light showing on the horizon.  The bulbs are up, the camelia bush is blooming . . .  spring is getting ready to spring.

I am thinking ...

Todd begins his radio-therapy today.  What changes will the next month bring?  Will it be successful?  Will they be able to erradicate the cancer?  Here's hoping and praying that they will!  We will go through whatever we have to go through to that end. 

In the Kitchen ...

 

Flaky Pizza Scrolls with homemade pizza sauce for dipping.

On my "To Cook" list ...

From Garden and Gun, DIY Moon Pies.  These look good.  Todd would love these.

Good to know ...

5 tips for decorating around a television.  From Home Stories A to Z.

I am creating ...

 

 My sewing box so far.   There is a Scottie Dog needle case, ladybird scissors, button cards, button bottle, some pretty ribbon on a peg, two small tin holders (One with straight pins in it, and the other with safety pins) a stitch ripper, thimble and a measuring tape, plus thread cards still to fill.   I also made a wooden spool pin cushion which looks like a Scottish Tam.  All tucked up in a Scottie Dog Shortbread Tin.

 Little Miss Celebration.  Stand Up Paper Eggs for Easter.  Love these.

 Saint Patrick's Day Joke Teller.  A free printable for kids from Bren Did.

 Quirky Sleep Masks to Crochet.  From Top Crochet Patterns.

 

Knitted kitchen Towel holder.  Becoming Crafty.  I like this.  A great way to use scrap yarn.  

I am reading ... 

 

Abide With Me, by Elizabeth Strout.
Katherine is only five-years-old. Struck dumb with grief at her mother's death, it is down to her father, the heartbroken minister Tyler Caskey, to bring his daughter out of silence she has observed in the wake of the family's tragedy.

But Tyler Caskey is barely surviving himself. His cold, church-assigned home is colder still since Lauren's death, and he struggles to find the right words for his sermons; struggles to be a leader to his congregation when he himself is lost.

When Katherine's schoolteacher calls to discuss his daughter's anti-social behaviour, it sparks a chain of events that begins to tear down Tyler's defences. The small-town rumour-mill has much to make of Katherine's odd behaviour, and even more to say about Tyler's relationship with his housekeeper, Connie Hatch. And in Tyler's darkest hour, a startling discovery will test his congregation's humanity - and his own will to endure the kinds of trials that sooner or later test us all.

From the Orange Prize-shortlisted author of Amy & Isabelle, this is a startlingly beautiful novel about love and abandonment, faith and hypocrisy; and the peril of family secrets…

This is very good!

I am looking forward to ...
The end of March.  Not that I am wishing my life away or anything.

Dreaming about ...

 

Cutwork plates  . . .

Pretty cups  . . .

 

 Blue and White  . . .

 Wildflower bouquets  . . .

 Mail  . . .

Something to watch ...

 

The remake of Roots.  Unsantized and graphic, but it is very well done and more realistic than the original.  We have watched episode one.  Very good.

A favourite quote for the day ...

(¯`v´¯)
 `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸. ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.
              ( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.. 
         Happiness is a state of mind . . . 
                       Its all in the way you look at things.
                                  ~Walt Disney

Makes me Smile ...

 

 Vintage Illustration . . .  television, films, etc.   It was a nicer place  . . .

One of my favourite things ...

 

I love the Whitman's Sampler chocolate box.  I used to pick up one of these, or maybe even two every time we went to the US.  Even the tiny ones are cute.

Corners of my kingdom ...

 

A bluebell wood . . .  it won't be long now  . . .

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!  

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.

Last night I slept like a baby.  All the night through.  Did not wake up once and in fact slept in a whole hour longer than I usually do, not getting up until gone 6:30, which is so unusual for me.  I must have needed it!  It is very rare I sleep the whole night through without waking up umpteen bazillion times!  It was great!

Being both the perpetrator and recipient of acts of kindness.   Kindness is a gift which never stops giving.   I have received so many kindnesses in my life and happily I have also been able to give acts of kindness.  Being kind just never gets old.

 

I think I am finally mastering the art of simplication.  It started with reducing the e-mails in my e-mail box and keeping to a rule of no more than a hundred at a time.  It continued with not saying yes to every offer that came my way, every invitation, etc.   I have been able to get rid of oodles of un-needed stuff that, no matter how nice it was, I was never going to use.   And it continues.  Simplifying your life is very energizing.  It really is.   What a load off,  physically, mentally and emotionally. 

Giving myself permission to fail.   Life gets so much better when you take the fear of failure out of the equation.  All my life I have been striving to be the best at everything and all my life I have been falling short of the mark.   These past few years,  I have given myself permission to fail, and life just got better, easier, happier. 

This was also the year I learned to accept my imperfections and forgive myself.  Being able to forgive yourself for stuff is a really big deal.  A really big deal.

Talks with my mother, holding hands in church, listening to great talks in church which both uplifted and inspired, partaking of the sacrament, doggie cuddles, cake, your lovely comments, a Susan Branch Post and a Willard.   All small and wonderful things which filled my life with joy this past week.

A thought to carry with you.

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. . 
˛*If you must look back, do it forgivingly.
      If you must look foward, do so prayerfully.
            However the wisest thing to do is to be
                in the present . . .  gratefully.
                     ~Maya Angelou   •。★★ 。* 。


Spiritual Enlightenment

In the English Kitchen today, in honor of Pancake Day on Tuesday . . .  Banoffee Pancakes!  Fabulous and simple as well!  I challenge myself each year to come up with something different and I think I cracked it again!

Have a fabulous week.  I hope it is filled to overflowing with many, many small and wonderful things!  Along the way don't forget!

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And I do too!

Paper Clip Moments . . .

This is a true story.  One of our Missionary Sisters was on the bus recently with her companion.  She noticed some shiny new paper clips on the floor of the bus and thought to herself, how very odd.  She heard a small voice in her head which told her to pick them up, but she thought to herself, how very silly  . . . what a strange thing to do.

Then when she and her companion got off the bus, she noticed  more on the ground at the bus stop.  Shiny new paper clips just sitting there.  Again she heard a small voice in her head which told her to pick them up and again she ignored it.  

All through town that morning she kept seeing shiny new paper clips scattered here and there. The voice ket telling her to pick them up and she kept ignoring it, thinking it was a silly thing.  They were just paper clips, after all . . .

 

It wasn't too much longer when they came across a woman sitting on a bench with a sheaf of papers she was trying to sort out.  She looked a bit upset so they stopped to see if they could help her.  She had a course she was teaching that morning she said, and she was trying to sort out the materials for each student.  She then showed him a small empty box.   She told them somehow her box of brand new paper clips that she had needed for this lesson had opened up and emptied in her walk through the town and she had only a few left in the box.  She had lost most of them.

The sister missionary felt a bit chastised.  She knew that by ignoring the promptings of the spirit to pick up those paper clips she had probably missed out on a really special teaching opportunity.  At best now all they could do was to help the woman sort her papers . . .

Yes, they still could share the Gospel with this sweet lady, but they could have really had a more impressive lesson had this dear Sister Missionary not ignored the promptings of the spirit to pick up the paper clips as she saw them . . .

As I listened to this story I was prodded by the spirit myself and I thought, how many sweet experiences in life do I miss by ignoring the promptings of the spirit.   How many times am I prompted to give someone a call and I don't . . .  or how often does the spirit tell me to say hello to someone and . . .  I don't.   I tuck myself into that safe little box and refuse to leave my comfort zone, to open my mouth, to reach out . . .  to listen to what the spirit is telling me to do, or to act on what it is telling me to do.

How many special Paper Clip moments do I miss in doing so?  Food for thought.

As children bring their broken toys

wih tears for us to mend

I brought my broken dreams to God

because He is my friend.

But then, instead of leaving Him

in peace to work alone

I hung around and tried to help

with ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,

"How can you be so slow!"

"My child," He said,"What could I do...

you never did let go." 

 Look at this beautiful Six Year Old creature I found.  How utterly delightful.  I love it.  What a terrifically sweet photograph of dear little Maryn at her Birthday Party yesterday.  She looks well pleased with herself.   Of course I am biased, but I think she is the most adorable granddaughter ever!

My friend Valerie always posts the most thoughtful things on Facebook.  I always look forward to what she posts.  They are always uplifting and positive.   Things which make you think, smile, sigh with longing.   Things that make you go ahh . . .

Must dash and be about my morning now, the time is fast waning and I have so much to do before I leave for church.  Shall I leave you with a thought for today.  Why not!

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. . 
˛*Endurance is not just the ability
   to bear a hard thing . . .
        but to turn it into glory.
            ~William Barclay   •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment

Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . . . Squidgy Prune and Ginger Cake.  Scrumptious!

Have a wonderful Sunday.  May your day be blessed with love, peace and joy.  I love Sundays!  Don't forget!

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And I do too!!

The old grey mare . . . she ain't what she used to be . . .

It's later than you think  . . . .  everything is farther way now than it used to be . . .

It's twice as far to the corner, and they seem to have added a hill.  I've given up running for the bus.  It leaves faster than it used to . . .

It seems to me they are making steps steeper than in the old days, and . . . have you noticed the smaller print they use in the newspaper???  Don't get me started on the small print they use on medicine bottles and leaflets.  Impossible to read no matter how hard you squint.

 

There is no sense asking anyone to read aloud.  Everyone speaks in such a low voice I can scarcely hear them.  What's up with that?  And the television . . . too much background noise to make out what people are saying.  Harrumpfff . . . .

And what's up with clothing these days?  The material in dresses seems to be getting skimpier . . .  especially around the hips . . .  and reaching my shoelaces is near to impossible.  Thank goodness for slip on shoes!

Even people are changing  . . . . they are much younger than they used to be.  There must be a baby boom, because there are a lot more young people about than there were when I was their age . . .

On the other hand . . . I ran into an old friend of mine the other day and she had aged so much she didn't remember me.  I got to thinking about the poor old dear when I was combing my hair this morning and as I glanced at my reflection  in the mirror, I realised . . . .

they don't make mirrors like

they used to 

either

...

Just a bit of humour this morning that strikes home a bit more than it oughta!

Look at that beautiful six year old smile.   How gorgeous is she.   I love it.  Maryn is growing u so fast.  This is her mum at the same age.

Why do they have to grow up so  . . . .  wish they could have stayed babies forever . . .

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .



.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. . 
˛*The world is changed by your example,
           not by your opinion.
             ~Unknown  •。★★ 。* 。

Spiritual Enlightenment

 

In The English Kitchen today, we have a delicious Apple and Blackcurrant Pie.  Yum!

Have a wonderful Saturday.  Its very windy and rainy out there again this morning.  Whatever you get up to, stay safe and don't forget  . . .

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And I do too!

My Friday Finds . . .

 

A few of the things I find each week which pique my curiosity or inspire me to want to do something, create something, cook something, or become a better person! I hope they will pique your curiosity or inspire you in some way as well!

Now this is a really nice idea.  A DIY Wood Slice Cheese Tray.  I love it.  From the people at BH&G.  Looks easy enough and quite unsual.

From She Knows, make your own mailable Cake Postcard.  Using a sponge and a few other bits and bobs.  What an unsual gift/birthday greeting!  Complete tutorial.

I love these painted flowerpot pin cushions!  They are adorable.  Easy also.  No source, just eye candy, but they look so easy to do you wouldn't need much in the way of instruction.

Flora Needlebook Pattern.  A downloadable PDF from Etsy.  The shop is called mmmcrafts.  I really like this.

Easy to sew DIY Washcloth Travel pouches for holding your toothpaste, etc.  From Whimsey Love. 

From Molly Moo Crafts a unique and novel way to wrap a gift.  I love it!  Oh that I had some kiddos to do this for!

Cardboard Box Play houses for kids, using leftover wall paper, etc.   Love it!  From A Beautiful Mess.

For those who are really energetic.  Paint your fence like a garden.  Beautiful.  From LushHome.  There are quite a few ideas!

From Ravelry.  Tawashi Knot Dish Cloth pattern.  A great way to use up scraps.  Love it!

Union Jack Tea Cosy Pattern.  Free if you buy yarn.  I like this. You can also buy the pattern for a nominal fee.   From Love Knitting.

From Lime Riot.  I love this.  Its such a pretty thing and so simple.   I think it is the simplicity of it which I love most.

Tips for creating a stitch sampler.  I love Samplers.  From Needle N Thread.  I used to love doing samplers in Counted Cross Stitch.

More Eye Candy.  Found on Tumbler.  No instructions.  Just inspiration.  Its so pretty.

 

I love this scarf.  It looks easy to do  and you could do it in any colour you wanted to do it in.  From A Crocheted Simplicity.  Free pattern.  

Pipe Cleaner Flowers for Spring.  How very cheery!  From One Little Project.   Sweet!

And those are my finds for this week. I hope you discovered something you might like to try for yourself! 

 

 Happy Birthday to the lovely Maryn today!  She is growing up so fast!  I wish I could spend time with her.   Its hard living so far away.  Perhaps one day.   She looks a delightful little girl.  I got to spend a whole day with her about five years ago now.  I had so much fun with her.  I would love to do that again.  In any case.  I hope she has a lovely day today!  I am sure she will.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

 Its a picture one for today because I fell in love with this and thought you might also like it.

 

In The English Kitchen today.   Cheesy Tuna Bake.  A storecupboard favourite with nothing artificial added.  Its simply delicious.

Have a superdy duperdy Friday.  No matter what you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!