My Favourite things . . .

 

A few of the things I really love in life, maybe some of them are yours also. Lets share together!  

I love LOVE music, but

did you know I have favourite kinds?

 

  

Big Band Music.  The music of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw.  I could listen to it for hours.  I also love, LOVE it when our modern stars sing music from that era as well.  I have all of Rod Stewart's American Song Book Albums.  I could listen to them for hours also.   Its just beautiful music, but no surprise there because I also love

 

The music of Michael Buble.  I had his song playing on here for a long time before I took music off the page. I have all of his albums and when I am painting, I love to listen to them. They make my  heart smile.   

 

Making Dolls

I have always loved making dolls and teddy bears.  I have not made one in quite a while now.

  

A few years back I was making all sorts of dolls, mostly my take on Raggedy Dolls (because she is my all-time favourite doll you  know).  I sold every one that I made and I did a lot of commissions as well. I don't have one myself, and I have never made one for Maryn. I think this year I need to change that. Although I have made plenty of other Dolls for Maryn. 

 

This was one of the first ones I made, and I did a kitty one, and a bunny one and a little girl one.  I have never seen her with any of them, which I find rather odd, but not surprising. 

  

Baked ham.  I always really liked Spiral Hams, but we don't get those over here.  I could eat it cold, in a sandwich, fryed for breakfast with eggs, roasted with potatoes.  I just love Baked Ham. 

  

Paper Valentine Cards.  I used to love getting my Valentines Day Cards ready for my class when I was a child. My mother would buy us each a book of Valentines cards that we had to cut out and then make the envelopes for, glue little valentine stamps on, etc.  I loved every aspect of the process.  I don't know if you can still buy those books of valentines or not anymore.  They were just wonderful! 

 

Orange kittens and cats.  When I first moved over here to the UK, we had an orange kitten named Dandy.  He was so sweet.  Todd already had two cats when we got married, but one died. When Tiggie died we got Dandy.  We ended up having to give them away because we were living in a Maisonette flat and one of our neighbors complained they were always going into her garden.  You can't keep a cat out of someone's garden, so to save the peace, we gave the cats away.  I often think about them. My mom has an orange cat now called Pumpkin, and she had another one for many years called Ginger.  I think the love of Orange cats runs in the family. 

  

Apple Pie.  My mother's apple pie.  I think everyone loves their mother's apple pie.  Todd often talks about the lovely apple pies his mother used to make.  I should make him one . . . soon.  Pie is dangerous for me to have around because I love pie full stop and can't leave it alone.  Its a pastry thing. If it is between two crusts, I am in love with it. I guess I am just crazy for crust. 

 

Pretty ceramic bowls.  I just love them. I could look at them for hours.  Any pattern.  Any size. I think food just tastes better in a pretty bowl. 

  

Susan Branch Mugs. I love them.  I love everything she does, so no surprise there.  This is the one I do have.  Nobody is allowed to use it, lol.  I have her winter mug on my wish list . . . 

 

They haven't gotten it in the British Shop yet.  I keep checking.  Oh, and her England mug that she is designing looks beautiful too.   I just think she is so very talented. But, having said that, I think the world is full to overflowing with talented people. Most never get discovered.

 

Sandwiches. I adore sandwiches.  I am like my Aunt Freda in that way.  She loved Sandwiches also. I could eat a sandwich for every meal, but I don't.  I am not sure, but I don't have sandwiches very often. I should make them more frequently, but then again, they would get in my mouth and I have enough problem with things getting in my mouth. 

  

This book.  I bought it last November and have been studying it.  I have never actually taken painting classes so I have never learned how to do watercolors properly, or studied the art of water coloring.  I have assembled all of the things I need now, including brushes, proper paints, paper, etc. Now I am going to begin in earnest trying to learn the right way to do it. 

I love learning new things and I have learned a lot

of new things in just studying this book.

I can't wait to learn by

doing.

 

When I used to drink tea, this was my favourite kind of tea.  I love, Love, LOVED it. I wish they made a version for Mormons.  I kinda miss it.  It smelled heavenly and I think a part of loving something is loving the way it smells. It was orangy and cinnamony and just like a big hug. 

 

Real corned beef.  I have not had it in forever.  You can't really buy it over here.  Over here you get tinned corned beef. My sister sent me some salt petre to make my own and I did it once.  I need to do it again.  You know that scene in Meet Me In St Louis where they are having Corned Beef and Cabbage for supper.  Gets me every time.  I love real corned beef.  I need to go buy a brisket I think, and start corning it.  Oh, and Pickled Pork.  I love that too. With Sauerkraut. 

 

I have always loved the Flip hair style.  I have never had hair that would co-operate with it. My hair has too much texture, too many waves. It's never lay smooth. Maybe in heaven I will get smooth hair that does what I want it to.

  

Pretty teacups, especially when accompanied with pretty tea cloths.  I think I need a tea party.  I did one for Todd and myself for dinner a few years back.  I think another one is long overdue, or an indoor picnic.  What do you think? 

 

The sound of my mother's voice.  It has never changed.  It might not be as strong as it used to be, but it is still my mother's voice.  I love it.

And those are my favourite things for this week. What are some of yours?

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.You can't calm the storm,

so stop trying.

What you can do is calm yourself.

The storm will pass.

~Unknown   •。★★ 。* 。

Spiritual Enlightenment

  

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's reading - 2 Nephi 33:1-15 

Question - What stands out to you from Nephi's final testimony? What blessings have you seen come into your life when you have acted out of obedience and faith? 

My thoughts - "the lord commanded me and I must obey'. These final words define Nephi perfectly, this is who he was. This is the pattern he followed and I'm striving for the same. I love this whole chapter. One thing that stood out to me - "The words which I have written in weakness WILL be made strong unto them;" Nephi was certain of this. This sure knowledge at the end of his days came from a lifetime of continual obedience to the lord. Of putting his confidence in Him not man. Of acting despite his weaknesses and then seeing *every time* this promise of weak being made strong being fulfilled, blessing his own life & the lives of others. 

 

It was several conferences ago that President Monson asked us to all read the Book of Mormon every day and promised that we would be blessed for doing so. I have read the Book of Mormon every day since and I can testify that I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ than I ever have.  Feeling close to them, a deepening of their presence in my life has helped me to feel a peace and a calm that I don't think I would have ever felt any other way. I know my life is better when I open my heart to the things they want me to know, and when I walk hand in hand with them. 

 

 I testify that when we embark upon or continue the incredible journey that leads to God, our lives will be better.  

This does not mean that our lives will be free from sorrow. We all know of faithful followers of Christ who suffer tragedy and injustice—Jesus Christ Himself suffered more than anyone. Just as God makes the “sun to rise on the evil and on the good,” He also allows adversity to test the just and the unjust. In fact, sometimes it seems that our lives are more difficult because we are trying to live our faith. 

No, following the Savior will not remove all of your trials. However, it will remove the barriers between you and the help your Heavenly Father wants to give you. God will be with you. He will direct your steps. He will walk beside you and even carry you when your need is greatest.

~President Dieter F Uchtdorf, A Yearning for Home.

I know this to be true.   

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 75) - Jacob 1:1-19 

Question - Why does it seem societies often fall as a whole? Why is it never just a few people?

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Grilled Steak with a Whiskey Sauce.  This is fabulous.

Have a wonderful Thursday.  Don't forget along the way of your day . . . 

 ═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 

And I do too!!