Thursday 28 February 2019

My favourite things . . .

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A few of the things which catch my eye, inspire me, pluck at my heart strings, make me smile, or that I just enjoy.  Maybe they will do the same for you.  
 
 

Potato Chips.  So much so that I dare not have them in the house as I can't leave them alone. When I was a child my mother would buy in large bags of potato chips for she and my dad to enjoy with watching the hockey games on Saturday night. On Grocery day or on Hockey night she would give each of us children our own little small bowl of them. There would only be a handful in each, but they were so tasty.  She used to hide them behind my father's dresser in their bedroom.  Every now and then my sister and I would help ourselves to a sneaky few.  I don't know if anyone else did or not, but I am sure my mother thought they were magic evaporating bags of potato chips! 


The illustration art of Scott Gustafson.  I think his work is amazing and it is all done by hand, with no digital implementation at all.  I have four of his Fairy Tale plates that I collected years ago.  Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, The Princess and the Frog, and Little Red Riding Hood which you see here.  The detail and colouring of each of his paintings is amazing.  In this one, the wolf looks so real you can almost smell his wolfish breath  on that little innocent face of Red Riding Hood.  I think his work is the best!  


 
 
 
Fashion Illustration.  I think I fell in love with it when I was a child.  Our Encyclopedia had a whole section on clothing through the ages with detailed drawings of every era.  It is a wonder I had not worn the print from the pages I looked at them so often.   I think I was born to be an illustrator.  I wish I had had the opportunity to go to art school.  


 
 
The BBC and Jane Austin.  Nobody does it better.  I adore Historical Drama anyways, but when the BBC is in charge you just know it is going to be done well. 
 
  
 
Sewing Notions. I love them.  In hobby stores I could spend ages just looking at them, perusing, browsing, adoringly.  It has been ever so  . . . 


 
The Classic Victoria Sponge Cake.  Of all the cakes this is my absolute favourite.  And they are so quick to make.  Just equal weights of everything, beaten  together and baked in layer pans  . . .  and then filled with jam and buttercream and dusted with icing sugar or caster sugar.  There is nothing tastier on earth. 
 
 
Mug sweaters  . . .  helping to keep your drinks warm and your hands from burning . . . 
 
 
  
 
Spindle beds  . . .  I have always wanted one  . . .  


 
Red Gingham Tablecloths.  They just say come in . . .  sit down . . .  eat.  My mother had one that I always loved. 
 
 
  
 
Fairy Lights  . . .  any way, any kind, any how. any place  . . . that's a part of why I love Stars Hollow.  All the fairy lighting.  Having fairy lights is like inviting in a little bit of magic.  

 
  
 
Vintage Christmas Baubles  . . .  love glass baubles. 
 
 
  
 
Victorian Houses with all of their gingerbread trim  . . .  


 
Pink cars  . . .  
 
  
 
The smell of fresh coffee. You don't have to drink it to appreciate the smell.  I used to love it when I bought a pack of coffee and punched open the lid . . .  that first little whiff of aroma was heavenly.  
 
 
 
Cottage gardens  . . .  with green and pastel spires . . . lush foliage . . . you can almost hear the bells tinkling . . . 
 
  
 
One final favourite thing for today  . . .  seeing something I made for someone being enjoyed.  This is our Doug and Jake enjoying the blanket I made for them.  My son facetimed me last night and they opened the box in front of me.  I had filled it with some odd bits for the boys and Kayla and this blanket.  My son said it smelled like his childhood home and Grammy's house.  I think it smelled like family.  I guess family has a smell.  Who knew!  Making the people I love happy.  Another favourite thing.
 
And those are my favourite things for this week.  What are some of yours??
 
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *
If you look the right way
you can see that
the whole world is a garden.
~Frances Hodgson Burnett.
The Secret Garden  •。★★ 。* 。 
 

All Dressed Hummus 
 
In the kitchen today  . . .  All Dressed Hummus.  Tasty and healthy too!  I adore hummus! 
 

Hope you have a beautiful day.  Love and be loved! Don't forget! 
 
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And I do too!    

   
 
 




Wednesday 27 February 2019

Thoughts on hope . . .


"Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul.
and sings the tune
without the words,
and never stops at all."
~Emily Dickinson

I sit here at my desk this morning . . . and my ears are full of the beautiful melody of the song thrush which sits on the roof of a house across the way. The car is covered with an early morning dew and I can still see the moon hanging in the early dawn sky. It is quite chilly  . . . but the song thrush doesn't care . . . he has a song to sing, and sing it he must. 




It is so lovely. I sit here and let the melody wash over me and allow it's beauty to brush across my soul. It's as if even he knows the import of this day, and a little dew on his toes along with the cold of an early morning is not going to keep him from telling the world!

There is something special about watching the sun rise in the morning. As you sit there and watch it slowly creep over the horizon, bathing the earth in it's early morning glow . . . something special happens. Your heart begins to fill with feelings that are almost impossible to describe. The increasing light of the sun which surrounds me, whispers to my soul, and my heart fills with hope. It is a joyous feeling. 





Who knows what this day will bring?? Nobody knows for sure . . . but I can hope that it will be something good . . . some treasure . . . some blessing unique to this day. Of course it could also bring tumult and grief . . . but that is where faith comes in doesn't it? We hope for a bright and beautiful day . . . we accept what we are given . . . we make the most of it and try to drag something good out of whatever it is . . . and if it turns out to be a bad day, we move forward in faith that tomorrow is a new day and hope that it will be better.

But in the meantime, I am thinking today will be another glorious day. Yesterday the temperature in North Wales reached a record breaking 21 degrees C (69 degrees F)!  People have seen bumble bees.  All week, Todd has been asking do I want to take a drive up to the Horseshoe Pass and I have been begging off, thinking it will be too cold.  This warm dry spell will  not last . . .  perhaps today I will surprise him and say yes!  We shall see.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *
Go to God first.
Trust the voice of the Spirit first.
Allow His wisdom to be the filter
in which you view all else.
~unknown   •。★★ 。* 。 



Balsamic Chicken & Mushrooms 


Cooking in the kitchen today  . . .  Balsamic Chicken & Mushrooms. Yummy! 

Have a beautiful Wednesday no matter where you are or what you get up to!  Don't forget! 


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And I do too! 
 

Tuesday 26 February 2019

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .



FOR TODAY, February 26th, 2019 


Outside my window ...
I am a bit later this morning, so the sun is up and the birds are singing. It looks like it is going to be a fine day.  I haven't had to put the heat on this morning at any rate.  The daffodils are starting to bloom and a neighbours tree is all aflush with Spring blossom.

I am thinking ...
Somehow I have almost gotten through February.  I finished January and am staring March in the face.  Time waits for no man, it does not stand still . . .  no matter what else is going on in your life.  It is all I can do to get through each day.  I hope this gets better.


I am thankful for ...
I have so much to be thankful for.  There is not enough paper or screen to count my many blessings on. Trying hard to focus on and be cognizant of them at present. Some days I do really well, and some days I don't. It is hit and  miss.

One of my favourite things ...  



My own Homemade Granola.  I made a fresh batch yesterday and I love the stuff. I always add lots of nuts for protein.


In the kitchen ... 
Tuna Salad Wrap


A healthy Tuna Salad Wrap with plenty of fresh veg on the side.  Yummy! 


On my "To Cook" list ... 


Preppy Kitchen.  This strawberry lemon cake is almost too pretty to eat, but I am betting it is pretty delicious!  I am pretty sure I couldn't do the decorations, but I think I know someone who could.


Good to know ... 
I am creating ...  



Not great in the morning light, but I think its done  . . .  





New Vintage Studio.  Holly Hobbie transfers.   




PK Olson, Animal Comfort Dolls on Ravelry.  Cute. 



Drops Design. Free Pattern.  



Sewing Organizer tutorial on Etsy. Not free.  Tutorial pattern PDF.

Oh my goodness ... 


Crunchy, spicy, tasty.  I love edamame.

I am reading ... 

  

The Woman in the Window, A J Finn

What did she see?

It's been ten long months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house like a ghost, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna's lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits day after day, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family of three, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a frenzied scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something no one was supposed to see. Now she must do everything she can to uncover the truth about what really happened. But even if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself?


I am looking forward to ...

The next episode of Dirty John. Gripping.


Dreaming about ... 
A flower sprigged bodice  . . .


 

Cuddly bunnies  . . . hug me again.


Cooling pies  . . .  and window-sils . . .


 

Lacy night lights  . . .


Reds, whites and blues  . . .


 

Could it get any prettier  . . . 

Makes me smile ... 
Something to watch ... 


   

One Day At a Time on Netflix.  Good clean fun.  Rita Moreno is priceless in this.


A thought to carry with you ... 
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *
By His light we see light,
and can walk in it forever.
~Jeffrey R Holland •。★★ 。* 。  


Corners of my Kingdom ...  



The Bat's Wing 16th Century Tea Room & Gift Shop in Godshill Village, Isle of Wight, UK. A pretty 16th century tea room, covered in wisteria.

And that's my daybook for this week!



  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 




✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.• ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥
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Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

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And I do too!