Wednesday 31 May 2017

Wednesday This and That . . .


This is a pretty little photo I snapped in Chester yesterday with my phone. I have been watching phone camera tutorials and trying to learn now to take better photos.  It is the top/roof-line section of some shops kitty-corner to the cathedral.  I thought they were really pretty with the relief work on them, resembling somewhat embossed German Springerle.  I have probably walked by them a thousand times, but never stopped to really look at them.  They are very Tudor in appearance and the chimney's are pretty also, or am I just biased?  I don't know.

Its funny how you can walk by something so often and yet never drink it in.  I have vowed this year that I am going to take in everything around me, appreciate it more  . . .  take more notice.

 

I took this photo just down the street a little bit as it curves down towards the main drag.  Not sure you can tell that the street is tiled or not.  That is an eyeglass shop on the far left and hairdressing salond next to a small Italian Bistro/bakery on the right.  Oh the smells coming out of those doorways are amazing.  I love the rooflines and the white and black tudor styling of the buildings.  I love that Chester has not gotten rid of this old architecture as it is really a part of its charm as a city.  Many people come here each year to drink it all in.


I also snapped a shot of the Chester City Touring Bus.  Its an old Victorian bus that you can hop on and take a guided tour of the city.  I have not done it yet, but we were thinking that when Tim and Eileen come over in September we will take them on it. Its not cheap, but it will be worth it and I think they will enjoy it a lot.  You can get a closer look at the tiled streets here along with the pavements.  Those black poles are called Traffic Bollards and they keep vehicles from riding up onto the pavement.  That double yellow line, means no parking.



I picked up my new spectacles at Spec Savers.  These were the ones I really wanted and they are on my wish list if I ever get some extra cash.  they are called Pearl.


This is what I settled for.  They are bronze coloured metal at the front with coffee coloured sides.  They were £20  less in price than the other ones.  I like that the nose piece is moulded in the ones I really like.  I am not fond of the separate nose piece thingies.  They can get loose and pinch, and all sorts. The others are also easier to keep clean.


I was laying in bed reading last night in this book and I read this part that I thought to myself, I am going to have to share this with you all in the morning  . . .

"It was at this inn that I got, for a ridiculously small sum,
a lunch which more than ever endeared me to Wharfedale,
for after a man has had a morning full of beauty there is no
better cap to it than a lunch which in itself is a thing of beauty.
There was a rich, dark soup which was not only hot, but full of
the flavour of vegetables, then turkey with thyme and parsley stuffing,
roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, a fruit tart with a crust it was
a shame to break and a joy to eat, a portion of Wensleydale cheese and
a cup of as good a coffee as you could expect in England."

Now does that not sound so very appetising? As I read it the fork in my mind was poised above the plate and I was longing for a taste of that rich, dark soup.  Now that is good writing if a travel book can make your tastebuds tingle.  I really am enjoying this book however and not the least because of passages such as this.


Speaking of writing, all has been submitted now for the book and I was told yesterday by my Editor that he will soon be sending me the final proof for me to see.  I am starting to get very excited.  I really, REALLY hope that it does well, for if it does then next time I will be able to write the book I really wanted to write instead of the book they wanted me to write.  (If that makes sense.)  Fingers crossed!


I got some cotton yarns yesterday to bring with me on our Trip later in June so I could crochet some cotton dish cloths.  Monique tempted me.  Its all her fault.  😉  She had shown some lovely ones on her blog that a friend had sent to her as a gift.  They had such beautiful "ice-cream like" colours. (You can see them here.)  I am in love with colour and while I might not sport a lot of colour on my person because I am humble like that (ahem, haha) I do love to work with colour as you know.  Colour brings me joy.


I got really hard on myself yesterday and I finally tackled my wardrobe and my dresser and I got rid of  . . .  wait for it  . . .  FOUR bags of clothes.  Yes.  Four bags.  Four bags of clothes that I have no idea why I was keeping them.  There is no way on earth that I will ever, ever fit into them again and lets face it  . . .  in all honesty, if I ever do get back to that size I will be wanting NEW clothes, not old ones and so I just was ruthless and plucked and plucked and plucked until now there are only things I love and things that fit.  Job done, and some lucky lady is in for a treat when she stumbles on them in a charity shop.  Some of them still had price tags on them.  Seriously.

Now if I could only be as good at weeding
out my books.  That's a much
harder chore to 
complete.
...

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

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *.˛.If you want to improve your life immediately,
clean out a closet. Often its what we hold onto
that holds us back.
~Cheryl Richardson  •。★★ 。* 。

Spiritual Enlightenment



Oh, there is something tasty brewing in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Irish Coffee Cake Scones.  Oh boy, oh boy . . .  these are dangerous!

Have a fabulous Wednesday.  We are going to try to do some visiting of some shut-ins we care about.  Don't forget!


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And I do too!


Tuesday 30 May 2017

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

FOR TODAY, May 30, 2017

Outside my window ...
It is overcast, but looks like it might clear. I hope it does because I have to go into town to pick up my new glasses.

I am thinking ...
I dreamt about Donnie Osmond last night and his wife.  They kept following me around handing me buckets of money, lol.  Dreams are funny things.

In the kitchen ...
 

 Cheesy Potato Pancakes.  They make a great breakfast addition, but would be equally at home with a piece of chicken or steak!

On my "To Cook" list ...


 From Kleinworth and Co, Sugar Cookie Strawberry Pies.  These look delicious!

Good to know ...

I seriously need to do this  . . . 

I am creating ...

 

 Sock Monkey Slippers. From Ravelry.  Not free, but not expensive either.


 Crafters Boutique.  Free pattern and tutorial for a cute Mushroom Cottage.

 

Curio Crafts Room, a free pattern for crochet Peacock's Feather.  Makes great bunting.

 

 Cut Out and Keep, a diy Sock Sloth.  Cute!


 Six Pocket Bag from Love To Sew.

 

 Mrs Deckarts Art Room

I am reading ...
  



Everyman's England, by Victor Canning

"I travelled from King's Cross to Berwick-on-Tweed in a sleeper on the night express for no other reason than that I like to read in bed and, at the same time, feel that I am being rushed forward at a tremendous speed." 

 In this series of pen-portraits of England, commissioned by The Daily Mail in the 1930s, Victor Canning vividly conjures the pattern and colour of the 'great fabric of English Life' from Cumberland to Cornwall. His heartwarming, humorous and often irreverent observations of sleepy villages, pastoral scenes and busy industries provide a delightful insight into life between the wars.

Thoroughly delightful! I am really enjoying this vision of a slower, simpler, kinder England . . .

I am looking forward to ...
Getting my new eye glasses!

Dreaming about ...

Simple pearls  . . .


Rosary beads  . . .


Summer . . . clothes . . .


A jean jacket . . . I've never had one . . .


A comfy chair to curl up in  . . .

Something to watch ...


The Keepers on Netflix.  Compelling viewing.  Who killed Sister Cathy?  Brilliant documentary. In parts.

A favourite quote for the day ...
 (¯`v´¯)
  `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸. ✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.
              ( ¸. ❀⁀ ⋱‿✿“` * .¸.* ✻ღϠ₡ ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..
 You can't pour from an empty cup . . . 
        Take care of yourself first `*.¸.*´Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸. •´¸.•~♥♥♥~•. ~ ღϠ₡ღ¸.

 Makes me smile ...
 

 One of my favourite things  . . .
 

 Maple Walnut Ice Cream . . .  its so good.  This is Swiss. You can buy it at Ocado.

Corners of my Kingdom ...

 

Fingals Cave, Staffa, Scotland . . .  magical . . .

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!

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


Monday 29 May 2017

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.

 

Surprise lifts in the post just when you need them.  Feeling loved and blessed. So good. That envelope.  A trip to the beach without going to the beach  . . .


Trips to the Temple with the one I love. It was such a beautiful sunny day.  That sky ... so blue.  The clouds ... so fluffy.  The company ... just perfect. To get to sit in the Temple of the Lord after not having been able to go in a while due to health issues, etc.  Priceless.


Sunday night visits from this sweet young couple.  Ariana and Jose stopped by last evening with Dexter, their puppy who is now HUGE!


Mitzie looks so small next to him.  She doesn't like him, but that is nothing against Dexter.  She doesn't like any other dogs.  She spends the whole time he is here, tucked up behind me on the sofa while he takes every toy out of her toy box and slobbers all over it, which she also doesn't like, but she is too much of a chicken to do anything about, lol.

Seriously this is one very sweet young couple and I love that they care enough about us to stop by and see how we are doing, plus yesterday they told Todd if he needed anything done in the garden to call and they would do what they could for him.  That was so kind of them.

 photo SAM_5080_zpsc5aeae3a.jpg 

Our Oriental Poppies which are blooming like crazy at the moment, but will be all too soon gone.  they don't last for very long but are spectacular while they are here. 

"Each time you pick a daffodil 
Or gather violets on some hill 
Or touch a leaf or see a tree, 
It's all God whispering, 
"This is me." 
~Helen Steiner Rice

 photo 1374069_409847825804538_564612783_n_zpsc436f626.jpg

My faith and reassurance that God is in Control. He knows the end of the story. We do not.  I trust ultimately in His goodness and mercy.

"Be still and know that I am God."
~Psalm 46:10



Sunny days and being able to hang the laundry on the line outdoors.  What a blessing.  What a heavenly smell when they come back in. I love it!


Sister Tamalolo stopped by last evening along with Sister Nyugi to say farewell. (This photo is frim a few months back)  Mitzie loves her.  She is being transferred this Tuesday to another area so she wanted to say goodbye before she left and we hadn't been to church yesterday. I love that the Missionaries care enough about us that they want to say goodbye before they move on to another area.  Its always so sad when one leaves us, but its also nice to meet a new one. These young people are amazing. So grateful to have them in our lives.


Sunday talks with mum.  I love my mum and am so very grateful to be able to talk to her each week.  I would call her every day, but I think it would upset her routine too much.  She has certain things she does at certain times every day and she has never liked unexpected interruptions to it.  We mostly just talk about the same things each week now, but that's okay.  I don't mind rehashing the same old thing every week.  I just love hearing her voice and being able to tell her I love her.


Happy Birthday to a dear, dear son who is turning 42 today!!  (This photo is 41 years old!  Hard to believe!)  I love him so much and hope that he has a beautiful day filled with all the things he loves.


He's a good husband, a good father and a good son.  He's been bringing joy into my life for 42 years. (This is him with his oldest son Gabriel.)  42 years ago a Mother was also born, and I am so grateful for that role I have played and still play in life.  It was something I always wanted to be from the time I was a little girl.  When I gave birth to our Anthony, all my dreams came true.  Love all my children, of course!!  But I cut my mothering teeth on this one and he hasn't turned out half bad at all.  He's a wonderful man.  I know I am a bit biased, but I am allowed to be! I'm the mama!

 

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *.˛.A candle loses nothing 
by lighting another candle.
~James Keller  •。★★ 。* 。

Spiritual Enlightenment  


Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . .  Bacon, Potato, Tomato & Rocket Salad with Goat Cheese and a Balsamic Dressing.  Seriously tasty! I love these types of salads, don't you?

I hope your week ahead if filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things . . . don't forget along the way . . .


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And I do too!


Sunday 28 May 2017

Sunday, Sunday . . . .


I've been sitting here this morning reflecting on how much life can change in a year.   For instance last year this time, Todd and I were still serving on our Mission, working daily with the young Missionaries and others in the Mission field. Life was hectic but in a very good way.  Flash forward a year and we are finished our Mission.  We knew that would happen, eighteen months is only eighteen months afterall and we so enjoyed our time, but the end came at the right time.  God's timing is always perfect.  Last year this time we had no idea that Todd would get cancer and I had no idea that I would be writing a cookbook for publication, both before the end of the year.

Life is a funny old thing.  Forest Gump was right 
when he said life was like a box of 
chocolates.

You do never know
which one you are going to get. 


Sometimes you get a cream centre, sometimes you get a nut, and  . . .  sometimes you get coffee.  Its okay I don't mind the coffee flavoured ones.  Well . . .  maybe a little, but I just swallow it and look for another one to take the taste away.  Does anyone like the coffee flavoured ones?  I wonder . . .

anyhoo . . . 
Change
...

Change happens.   Life is in a constant flux with ebs and flows, ups and downs, ins and outs, good and bad, joy and sorrow.  There is really only one constant . . . 


“As a young man, President Hinckley worked on a farm during summers and on weekends and holidays. On that farm he grew healthy and learned to work. And there near the soil and close to nature his confidence in God grew like the hundreds of fruit trees and vegetable seeds he planted, tended, and harvested.

“‘After a day of good, hard labor, my younger brother Sherm and I would sleep out under the stars in the box of an old farm wagon,’ President Hinckley [recalled]. ‘On those clear, clean summer nights, we would lie on our backs in that old wagon box and look at the myriads of stars in the heavens. We could identify some of the constellations and other stars as they were illustrated in the encyclopedia which was always available in our family library. We identified some of the more visible patterns in the heavens, but our favorite was the North Star. Each night, like many generations of boys before us, we would trace the Big Dipper, down the handle and out past the cup, to find the North Star.

“‘We came to know of the constancy of that star. … As the earth turned, the others appeared to move through the night. But the North Star held its position in line with the axis of the earth. Because of those boyhood musings, the polar star came to mean something to me. I recognized it as a constant in the midst of change. It was something that could always be counted on, something that was dependable, an anchor in what otherwise appeared to me a moving and unstable firmament’ ”

~Gordon B Hinckley


God is love and
He is always
there
...

On that we can depend.

Sometimes I get mail . . . look at what arrived in the post yesterday, bringing smiles along the way.


We got the cutest postcard from Lura and John.  It was a real surprise and so thoughtful.   They may have left their hearts here in the UK, but a little piece of our hearts go with them wherever they are.  Love, LOVE the thatched cottage, and the little heart cutout.  So clever.  so pretty.  See the rainbow just above the roof?  That's a reflection from one of the crystals in my window


Maybe one day I will have this many, but for now,
I have three, and I love how they
sparkle and leave rainbows on
all that they
touch
...

 

Here is something else which came in the post yesterday.  A delightful card from our Monique.  Such a thoughtful gesture and it could not have arrived at a better time.  Thank you so much Monique! 

The envelope is so beautifully stamped.  Love the verse.

"Memory is a child
walking along a seashore.
You never can tell that
small pebble it will pick
up and store away among
its treasured thihngs.
~Pierce Harris

 


 The card inside also beautiful and that necklace  . . .  so sweet.  Thank you my dear friend. Merci Beaucoup from the bottom of my heart.  There are no accidents.  You were inspired. Your thoughtfulness lifts me up and helps keep me afloat.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Are we not all ministering angels?
Never ignore a prompting
of the heart
...

That is how HE uses us to help bless those
in HIS keeping


 I am blessed.  Truly blessed.  Life changes.  It never stays the same.  Its in a constant flux, but it is always good.  God is in control.  We trust in Him. Always.

We won't be going to church today. Todd has had a bad night.  He seems to have more bad than good nights these days, so he is staying in bed.  When I got up, he had not slept a wink.  He did too much yesterday.  I told him to slow down, but you know men  . . .  he would not.  Anyways, last night no sleep.  I am praying he is sleeping as I write this and that he manages to get at least a few hours.

Insomnia, it is such a pain.   I have suffered with it my whole life.  Especially when I have something to do the next day of importance.  Its like a curse.  Last time I flew home to Canada, no sleep for three days.  I wish I was not like that.  It is annoying. It makes you not want to do anything, go anywhere. It runs in my family.  My father has it and both of my siblings and I suffer from it to a degree.  My mom however . . .  she could sleep on the head of a pin. Some people are just lucky that way I guess. 

In any case today I will watch the Mormon Channel while Todd sleeps, read my scriptures, listen to some good music.  I will still feel the power of His love, even if I cannot be at church.

And with that I am off.

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . . White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries.  Simple and tasty.

Be blessed.