Saturday this and that . . .

 

What a hard few weeks its been with hurricanes, forestfires and earthquakes and the devastation they leave in their wake, and its not over yet. Its almost overwhelming to think about.  A young man who did his mission here in Chester, his wife who is expecting a baby, and their toddler, have lost everything they own . . .  but they are just one of many families, and people who have lost everything, including lives. I feel so sad for them all.  I count my blessings and I count them twice. Any problems I might be experiencing pale in comparison. Please keep them all in your prayers and if you can give or do anything else to help, I know you will.  The forces of nature are almost stronger than we can begin to comprehend.  

We've been watching a program on the telly about the great Mountain Ranges of the World.  Well, we have watched one and taped the next.  The one we watched was on The Rockies.  I used to live in Calgary, Alberta once upon a time, right in the foothills of the Rockies.  I could see the Rockies from my back door, off in the distance. 

 

They looked so close, but in reality were several hours away. We took a drive up into them one day, all the way up to Banff.  From where we lived, they just looked like mountains, but when we started to move up into them, they were magnificent.  Enormous.  Much larger, taller, imposing, etc. than I had ever imagined. Our oldest son was afraid they would fall onto him.  We had to keep reassuring him that they would not.  The idea of anyone being able to make their way over them to the West coast was hard to imagine, and yet they did. The tenacity of the human spirit to overcome obstacles is amazing. I am grateful that I was able to see their majesty up close . . . 

 

Then there is Niagara Falls.  I had seen many photos of them through the years, but seeing them in person was totally amazing.  I had no idea of the power and size of them.  The deafening sound of the water  . . . the air filled with mist and rainbows . . .  One has to see them to believe them, truly.  A photo does them no justice.  They are awe inspiring. 

The Great Lakes.  I had studied about them in school . . .  and I have driven all around them.  I lived for a time in a small town at the tip of the Georgian Bay which is off Lake Huron.  At school I had  no idea how truly massive they were. It took my ex husband and myself two days to drive around just the top half of Lake Superior. Stunning doesn't begin to describe the landscape . . . 

We live in an amazing world, an amazing universe.  

These are only a few of the great 

treasures it holds. 

 

I pray daily for those who are suffering and hope that

one day it will all be made clear,

and that the suffering of all

will end. 

Its the children that bother me most of all.

In the meantime, I do what I can, when I can, and however I can,

to help.

  

Am I the only person this drives crazy?  Why do they glue the last six inches of a roll of aluminium foil to the cardboard centre so that you can't remove it without tearing it all up.  I am assuming this constitutes a part of the length of the roll they are advertising on the outside of the package.  Where are my six inches that I just lost in trying to get this off the roll?  It annoys me to no end, even in the face of more important things  . . . paying my hard earned cash for something I cannot use. 

If I added up all the ends of the aluminium foil that I wasted

in a lifetime due to this, how many extra rolls would

I end up with?

hmmm

...

I suppose that is a bit like wondering how many days of our lives

we waste sleeping, watching telly,

and in other frivilous things 

and activities

...

You see how my mind works eh?

This is so true.  I spend all day every day doing stuff and yet at the end of the day it will appear as if I have done, achieved, accomplished . . .  zip . . .  nada . . .  nothing.  My weeks seem to disappear into thin air these days.  All of this time I used to dream about having on my hands when I retired, it doesn't exist, because I am busier than I ever was and yet I accomplish less. Am I alone in this? 

I think not. 

 

I love Cameron's cheeky grin in this. He looks like he has a big secret and Maryn looks like she can't believe what she is seeing.   Amanda looks unaware.  She looks so much like my mom in this. 

  

 These two cheekie chappies make me smile.

Stop growing!!

 

I went upstairs yesterday to start on some Christmas ornaments for the grandchildren, but after half an hour was back down again.  I can't seem to concentrate on any one thing for any length of time. My craft room is a tip.  Again.  I need to organize it before I can do anything.  Everything is all over the place. Its a bit overwhelming if I am being honest.  Its no wonder I can't get anything done.  Too much stuff, paper, books, fabrics, etc.  All over the place.  Its a tipping ground for whatever we can't find a space for elsewhere in the house. Most people have a junk drawer. We have a junk room. 

That's bad.

  

And yesterday I was sent the final/final draft of my cookbook.  They have managed to compact it to 722 pages now by moving things around a bit and are working on the cover.  Its becoming more real by the minute. I hope it won't be too long now.  On the plus side my editor said to me  . . .

"We think you've written a beautiful book." 

Now, that is making me feel really good about things.

I can't wait to see the cover.

I am very excited.

Can you tell?

...

A thought to carry with you through today  . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°Keep away from people who try 

to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really

great people make you feel that you, too  . . .

can become great. ~Mark Twain.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

Spiritual Enlightenment

Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Spiced Rum & Raisin Cookies.  Betcha can't eat just one!  (You can use rum flavouring instead of real rum)

Have a lovely Saturday. Don't forget along the way of your day  . . . 

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and I do too!