My Favourite things . . .

 

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

 

Japanese Kokeshi Dolls. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is typically marked with the signature of the artist.  I don't have any, but have always wanted one. Instead I collect photos of them, which is probably cheaper and takes up less space.  

 

Community Cookbooks, and Junior League Cookbooks.  My love affair with my mother's Lawrencetown Co-op Recipe Book.  It has a red cover and is literally falling apart.  Largely due to my devouring it and copying out recipes from it every time I go home. The thing about these cookbooks is that people put in their BEST recipes, their tried and trues . . . for the most part, recipes that work and have been pleasing their families, sometimes for generations.

  

I love these Buddha Bowls by Elan McPherson.  I have checked and checked to see if they are available in the UK, but alas I have not been able to find anyone yet who supplies them.  They look so comfortable to use, like they nestle right into your hands.  I can imagine sipping warm broth from one of these being a very sophoric experience. I would feel like Peter Rabbit amongst the lettuces. 

 

I love Scarecrows.  I think the first scarecrow I was attracted to was the one in The Wizard of Oz. I just think a vegetable garden is not complete without a scarecrow.  I am not sure how effective they are, but they add to the charm! 

  

Snap Dragons. I am fond of flowers in general, but next to Sweet Peas, Snap Dragons are one of my favourites!  Any colour!

 

Emmeline, by Judit Rossner.  This is my favourite book of all time.  I cannot tell you the number of times I have read it. Published in 1980, Emmeline is based on  the local  legend of a woman who becomes ostracized by everyone in her hometown in Maine after a shocking, long-held secret becomes public. The story is a fictionalized account of the life of the real life Emeline Bachelder Gurney.I do not know why I am so drawn to this tale, but I come back and revisit it again and again. 

 

Hearts of any kind.  I am always finding them places as well.  I think that must means that heart shapes are a natural thing in nature. The coolest heart I ever found was one week on a Sunday morning back to our car after church.  I was feeling quite blue, tearful even . . .  family stuff  . . .  and I looked down on the ground and saw a piece of paper.  I picked it up and it was a white heart shaped piece of paper on which was written simply "You Are Loved."  Who says God doesn't care . . . if you are open to His voice He will speak to you, and sometimes in the most unsual and unexpected ways. 

  

Covered Bridges.  They are so quaint and pretty in a very primitive way.  They look like houses, but they are not. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered wooden bridges have a lifespan of only 10 to 15 years because of the effects of rain and sun.  So other than being romantic looking and attractive, they also have a purpose. 

 

Middleton, Nova Scotia.  It is my home.  It is a Stars Hollow kind of a town.  I love it. I would live there in a heartbeat if only I could. 

  

Geneology.  Its fascinating and addictive.  You never know who you might be related to.  I could spend hours on it.

 

I know they can empty a feeder in a manner of minutes, and be somewhat annoying, but I really like squirrels. They are very intelligent and they have plenty of character.  They are quite cheeky and fun to watch! 

  

Cake. I love cake. I don't like dry cake much, who does??? But a properly baked cake is a delight.  I have never met a proper cake that I did not like. 

 

Inukshuks. An Inukshuk is a human-made stone landmark or cairn used by the Inuit, Iñupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America. These structures are found from Alaska , United States to Greenland. Historically, the most common types of inuksuk are built with stone placed upon stone, and the simplest type of which is a single stone positioned in an upright manner. You do tend to see them all over the place now.  People build them everywhere.  

 

Tea Pots.  Simple ones. Unusual ones. Any type of tea pot.  Glass, ceramic, stainless steel, ornamental, painted, etc.  I don't drink tea, but I have a fascination for tea pots and if I had the space I would collect them.  I know . . .  something else to collect dust.

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

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.If you want to give light to others,

you have to glow yourself.

~Thomas S Monson     •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's Reading - Mosiah 2:28-41 

A Talk to read as well -David A Bednar - 'That we may always have His Spirit to be with us'
Question - If you had to write King Benjamin's message in 20 words, what would you say it was? What does the phrase, "render to Him all that you have and are", mean to you? 

 

My Thoughts -  Vs 30 made me think of our Prophet  Thomas S Monson speaking to us at General Conference a few conferences ago . 'For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day'... He admonished us to "Read the Book of Mormon". And I have made it a habit to do so ever since and my life has been greatly blessed for doing so. 

 

All of our Prophets, present and past, and the Apostles are such an example to me of what it is to 'render to Him all that you have and are'. Its about completely giving my life and my heart to the Lord and His work. Through obedience, repentance, service. The things King Benjamin has spoken of in this chapter! I really desire to give the Lord ALL that I have and am. He is so patient and loving as I'm learning how to do this. 

 
20 words: Learn from our fathers, Learn who you are. Keep the commandments of God, serve Him and endure. Be then happy.

 

 Tomorrow's Reading (Day 97) - Mosiah 3:1-18

Question -  What have you learnt from the reading today? What messages of hope do you see in these verses about Jesus Christ's Atonement? 

 

 

 

 

 

In the English Kitchen today . . .  Garlic Cashew Chicken.  Healthy and diabetic friendly.  This is truly delicious!

 

The Dishwasher engineer is coming back again this  morning.  I managed to do one load of dishes in it and it worked beautifully, but then I went to another one yesterday and it was going all wrong again, so we are once more dishwasherless.  I really hope they can sort this!

 

Have a great day!  Don't forget! 

  

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And I do too!