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 from the past week which brought untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.

 

Getting to meet Sybil and her friend Peter.  I am always a bit nervous when I meet someone for the first time.  We all have preconceived ideas of what people are like from how they write and talk on here and I am always conscious of my weight and I am always worried about what people will think of me.  From the first minute it was like we have just always known each other.  She was thoroughly delightful and so was Peter.  I felt completely at ease with them from the get-go.  The time flew by far too quickly.  I was humbled that someone would make the effort to come all the way up here just for lunch, spend a few hours and then face that drive again all the way back. We have vowed to not let it be the last/only time we spend together in person.

 

Being able to talk to my mom on the last day of the year.  I love my mother so very much.  She is everything to me.  She doesn't have a lot to say these days as her life has gotten narrower and narrower.  She hardly leaves the house now, except for appointments.  She has one toe which is really sore and makes it very painful for her to put on footwear. Nobody seems to know what the problem is. She is going to see a specialist soon hopefully.  She remains quite chipper however.  I can still hear a smile in her voice.  We talk about mostly the same things and that's okay.  I am just very grateful to still be within talking distance, and I know the day is soon coming that I won't be.  But this is about small and wonderfuls and I think that the blessing of having her for a mother is no small thing, but pretty wonderful. 

 

A New Years Eve treat of a Magnum ice cream bar. It was very good.  Ice cream is not something I have very often.  I hate that it is so hard to scoop. With these little babies there is no scooping and you get the added blessing of a rich and crisp chocolate coating. 

  

We had our big meal early in the afternoon yesterday so last night we celebrated New Years Eve with a grilled cheese.  Usually we just have toast at night, but last night we went all out and did the big cheese  Todd has his plain, I like to dip mine in tomato catsup.

Do we know how to live or what?

 

We spent our evening with Barbra Streisand.  Her voice is as  beautiful as it ever was.  Listening to her songs brings back a lot of memories. Music has the power to connect you with all of the special moments and milestones in your life.  At any rate, I highly recommend watching this special concert of hers.   

 

All of the Christmas Decorations, Nativities and Cards which have been blessing us throughout the month of December.  I will be taking them down today.  I am always a bit sad to put them away, but the fact that we only get to spend a little time with them during the year is what makes them even more special.  I love that the month of December, which is so dark outside, is filled with light and love within the walls of my little home. 

 

Mitzie Cuddles on New Years Eve.  There weren't a lot of fireworks I don't think, or if there were, she wasn't that bothered this year.  I find that the older she gets the pinker her chin gets.  Her brothers were all brown cockers and that brown gene comes out as pink on her chin.  Oh how we both love her so. 

 

Sharing it all with this guy.  The Yin to my Yang.  I don't know what I would do without him. He is truly everything to me. We are like peas and carrots, fish and chips, bangers and mash, roast and gravy.  We just belong together. 

  

Life with all of its twists and turns and ins and outs.  Its ups and downs and turnabouts.  To be here is a blessing.  The past year has been a marvelous mix of good and bad and everything in between, without too much of the difficult and not a lot of bad, and deep pockets of joy.  Lets hope that 2018 is just as kind to us. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°Fireside enjoyments, homeborn happiness

and all the comforts that the lowly roof of

undisturbed retirement,

and hours or long uninterrupted evening know.

~William Cowper  •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

I saw this video on my daughter's Facebook page and it intrigued me, so much so that I had to try it.  In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Cake Pan Chicken.  Quite simply delicious!

Happy New Year to each of you.  I hope your year is a wonderful one.  God bless you all and have a great Monday and week filled with oodles of small and wonderfuls.  Don't forget!

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

And I do too! 

PS - Could you please share a few prayers for my friend Shirley and her family who lost their husband/father very unexpectedly early yesterday afternoon.