Monday 1 January 2018

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  •。★★ 。* 。 


 

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.




10 comments:

  1. So sad for your friend..the olidays just compund everything..

    you are indeed very blessed! Your mom and her cake..love that..and always..Mr T and his celebratory hat.
    Neato you and Sybil..she's a true blue you can just tell..as you are I am sure..
    Bonne Année/author of the year:)!!

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  2. I watched that Streisand special a week or so ago. She is my very favorite all time singer, not discounting Elvis. Ha ! Wishing you both much happiness and joy for the New Year !

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  3. Tanks Monique! I feel blessed. I feel great sorrow for my friend. Remember the art I did recently of all the grandchildren? It was for them. I wish I was author of the year! Lol you are so kind! Xoxo

    It was so good Pam! We had been saving it for New Years! Thank you for your New Year Wishes! I wish for you the same!xoxo

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  4. Hi Marie...by the time you read this the year 2018 will have well and truly started. I'm sorry I didn't get commenting yesterday, the day just ran away from me. Like you and Todd I was in bed before midnight, I had been going to stay up but by 11pm I gave in. However just as midnight fireworks started so did the pain in my thigh,hip and back so I had to struggle out of bed and by hanging onto the walls I was able to come through to,the sitting room and sat on my chair, it was 2am before I was able to go back to bed...I can't understand why it is after an hour in bed my thigh etc seems to siese up...it's not as if we need a new mattress having got a special matrress recommended by our Dr a few years ago.....anyway I think I will have to give in and see Dr again to see if she can up the pills or change them I already take 80gr morphine plus a small pill that's supposed to stop the nerve pain...it does....anyway no more moaning a new year has started and I'm sure if we look for the good in everything we will remain happy.......hope you can keep a few of your resolutions. I heard someone say this morning that we should only ever make small ones that way we are much more likely to keep them...I think I am going to stop eating two dark coated corn thins every night, they are only 73 cal per biscuit but I'm sure if I dared work out how many calories I could save in a month by not eating them....So there we are that's my resolution........I am sorry to read of your friends sadness and pray that she will hang onto our loving God to help her through the community ng days....night night dear friend xxxx

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  5. I will pray for your friend Shirley and her family.
    Marie,I'm so sorry you lost another friend.

    I'm happy that you finally got to meet Sybil. It looks like you had alot of fun, from just seeing the picture! Lol.

    I'm leaving my decorations up longer bc I didn't put them up til almost the end of November.I usually put them up in the beginning of Nov. So I'm not sick of them yet. Lol.
    I leave my nativity wreath and angel wreath up longer.

    Seeing ur Todd with two hats on always makes me laugh!

    Big hugs!xo

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  6. Thanks very much Sybil, your prayers for Shirley and her family are very much appreciated. They have the comfort of the Gospel to help them, but I know it will be hard. Love and hugs. xoxo PS - Those chocolate coated rice things are one of my weaknesses too!

    LOL Jan! You make me smile also. Love and hugs. xoxo

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  7. Go see your mom, don't think you have to wait till you lose weight. You is you no matter the weight. I woud love to see my daughter, that's all it matters. Really, try to go and see her. Hugs.

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  8. Thanks Idoya!! I need to save the money first! A very tall order. Hugs. xoxo

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  9. I will send prayers for Shirley and family; so sad. I loved that you got the sweet visit with your friend Sybil and Peter. Yes, enjoy every single call with your dear Mom. Just reasure her thoughts and voice because I really miss my Mom.
    Your New Year's Eve seemed perfect. Magnum Chocolate bar; yum! Favorite comfort food for me is toasted cheese sandwiches; perfect!
    I loved the photos of Mitzie, Todd and you. Marie, you are a really beautiful woman.
    I do hope ou have a most wonderful New Year my dear friend!
    Blessings and warm happy thoughts for you and lots of hugs too!

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  10. Thanks LeAnn! I do treasure every inkling of my mother's voice, even if it is repeating words I have heard a million times. I pray that when I can no longer hear them in real life, I will always hear them in my head and heart. Love and hugs and blessings to you too dear friend! xoxo

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Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!