Wednesday 31 July 2019

What will you leave behind?


This morning I am going to tell you about an auction . . . an auction like no other . . . it's no ordinary auction. In this auction, people are able to bid on unclaimed items which have been left behind in safe-deposit boxes. These are items which have been deemed so important . . . that people have paid good money to have them safeguarded . . . in steel.

Diplomas, children's report cards, letters . . .

You shuffle along, past the coin collections and gold pocket watches . . . past the jewelry to documents and small items, all sealed in plastic bags.

Boy Scout Patches, receipts from a Waikiki hotel, a child's crayon drawing of a bunny rabbit . . .

All unclaimed property, waiting to be auctioned off on the block . . . each one the forgotten or overlooked possessions of owners now passed on . . . 



Rosaries, letters, train tickets . . .

Each bag holds a mystery, the clues arousing curiosity, but giving no answers, but a few. In one there are the immigration papers of a man who arrived at Ellis Island, in America back in 1906. Did he discover all the promise that America held for him? Did he find what he was looking for???

Two marbles, a few stones, and a belt buckle . . .

Very curious. Do these things represent special memories of an event or a special person???

Passports, telegrams, newspaper clippings . . .

The yellowed article from a 1959 newspaper reads . . . "Vlahovich's Mother Sobs At Guilty Verdict." Imagine it . . . a mother's son convicted of murder. The mother wept, pleading with the judge involved to spare her son. "Take my blood," she weeps. "Kill me!" You find yourself wondering . . . did she watch her son die in the electric chair???  


Undeveloped film, birth certificates, marriage certificates . . .

Mingled here . . . the unofficial business of life along with the official business of life . . . a curling lock of golden hair, a child's corrected paper along with a poem . . . "Grandmother's Attic," typed out on a yellowing sheet of paper, the print now slightly fading . . .

"While up in Grandmother's attic today
In an old red trunk, neatly folded away
Was a billowy dress of soft and gray
Of rose brocade were the panniers wide
With quilted patterns down the side
And way in the back against the wall
Of the little old trunk was an old silk shawl
Silver slippers, a fan from France
An invitation to a dance
Written across the program blue . . .
Was "Agatha dear, may I dance with you?"


It's as if all those at the auction have been given entry into hundred's of Grandmother's attics . . . except these are the attics of hundreds of unknown people. 


Diaries, photographs, the ink print of a newborn's feet . . .

In the light of lives now lost, these items speak volumes about life . . . suggesting a sense of finality, the realization that life on earth is limited and will one day come to an end, and at the end . . . material possessions don't come with you . . .

So . . . what will YOU leave behind???

A small metal box filled with mementos speaks volumes about what is valued . . . but that is only a whisper when compared to the legacy of life, itself. Amidst our "he-who-dies-with-the-most-toys" world, perhaps we should dare to leave something a little bit more special . . . 



All these pictures here this morning are ones that I took on a visit to Boulogne, in France, about 12 years ago now. (Time flies when you're having fun!) We had gone over there with friends on a day trip. It was summer and the sun was blazing and the company fabulous. In Boulogne we were fascinated by this garden which had been planted . . . only a temporary one . . . created out of cast off vehicles, bicycles and the like . . .


I was absolutely fascinated with it . . . this idea that what might have been considered refuse . . . and left discarded to rust in a car dump, could be revitalized and made into something which really was quite, quite beautiful. The perfect epitomy of re-purposing found objects  . . .  You look at each vehicle and wonder about who might have owned it at one time.  What were their lives like, what stories could be told, how many kisses were planted on blushing cheeks in the front seats, how many fields plowed and planted, how many bicycle rides along the canal  . . . what stories lay hidden in the past?

Boulogne is one of my favourite French places to visit. I especially love the area which lies within the walled part, with it's cobbled streets and quaint shops.  I guess  I just love France, especially when you get away from the really large cities.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
Someday I hope to enjoy enough of 
what the world calls success 
so that somebody will ask me, 
"What's the secret of it?" 
I shall simply say this: 
"I get up when I fall down."
~Paul Harvey 
•。★★ 。* 。  



Sole Fillets with Lemon & Thyme 

In the English Kitchen today  . . .  Panfried Sole with Lemon & Thyme.  Deliciously simple!

Have a wonderful Wednesday.  Its just bucketing down here and quite windy, but it will be a bit of a welcome respite from the mugginess of yesterday!  I might crack on with more sorting out. Whatever you get up to today, don't forget  . . . 


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And I do too!    

   

 


Tuesday 30 July 2019

The Simple Woman's Daybook ...


 


FOR TODAY July 30th, 2019 


Outside my window...
Its dry at the  moment and the sun is shining, but it has been raining and it is supposed to be showery all week.  Yesterday was very humid and sticky. I don't mind heat but they can take humid and sticky and sticky it where the sun don't shine! We have a ton of wasps this year.  One tree in the back yard is covered with them.  I've already had to kill several in the house. They are the small ones, the vicious ones! 


I am thankful for ...
Raid. Wasp spray.  


One of my favourite things ...
At the moment. Raid. 


In the kitchen ...  

Today I've done a round-up of my Favourite 10 Main Dish Salads to help you keep your cool in the Dog Days of Summer!  


 On my "To Cook"  list ...  

The View from Great Island.  Double Dark Chocolate Shortbreads.

 
Good to know ...  

  
 Video Tutorial on You Tube. 


I am creating ...  

Crafts by Amanda.  Sea Glass Necklace.  Fab idea!  


   


Daisy Cottage. Quick and Simple Blanket.  


Stitching Together. Simple Star.  


Little Cotton Rabbits.  On IG.   



Sewrella.  The Avery Hat.

 

I am Reading ...  


The Silent Ones by K.L. Slater  

This morning, I was packing up lunches, ironing, putting on the laundry I should have done last night. Now my precious daughter is accused of murder.

When ten-year-old cousins Maddy and Brianna are arrested for a terrible crime, Maddy’s mother Juliet cannot believe it. How could her bright, joyful daughter be capable of such a thing? As the small village community recoils in horror, the pressure of the tragedy blows Juliet and her sister’s lives apart. And things get even worse when their daughters retreat into a self-imposed silence.

Can anyone reach Maddy and discover the truth before her fate is sealed? Juliet is crushed. Nothing will ever be the same for her darling girl. But she knows that to find out what really happened that day, she and her sister must unlock the secrets of their own terrible past, a past they swore never to speak about again…

Only just started this.  Its good thus far! 


I am looking forward to ... 
Having a good clear out. We did under the stairs yesterday, will be continuing in another area today. Its a never ending job, but it feels so good when one area is finished and you are ready to move to another one. 


Dreaming about ...  



Cute salt and pepper shakers  . . . 


  

Pale blue and white . . .  




Pretty Cake Pedestals . . .  if only I had the space  . . . 


  

If only  . . . 



Blue and white stoneware  . . . 

Makes me smile ... 

  

Grace at one  . . . 


Something to Watch ... 


Who Do You Think You Are on the BBC.  This season they are doing Daniel Radcliff, Naomi Harris and Jack Whitehall and his father to name a few. I love this show.  I love geneology. 


A thought to carry with you  ... 

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

 *
So do it, decide.
Is this the life you want to live?
Is this the person you want to love?
Is this the best you can be?
Can you be stronger?
Kinder? More compassionate?
Decide.  Breathe in.
Breathe out and decide.
~Merideth Gray  •。★★ 。* 。 


Corner's of my Kingdom ... 


Balintore Castle, Angus, Scotland 


 
And that's my daybook for this week!



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

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 




✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.• ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥
░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ 


Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

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And I do too!    

   
 

Monday 29 July 2019

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.   
 
 
 
Although my own family are far away and I never get to help any of them celebrate their Birthdays in person I have a family here in the UK that doesn't mind me being a part of theirs.  

 
  
 
Unconditional Love.  Affection without limitations.  Love from the soul and no matter what, no matter when . . . unfailing.  It doesn't matter if you have been out of her sight for 5 seconds, or 5 minutes or 5 hours. You get the same greeting when you return.  Love this wee one to bits.  

 
 
Another special presence in my life.  You can share many things with many people in life, but there is something extra special about the bond between sisters.  Your first best friend. Someone to cry with, someone to laugh with . . . someone who sometimes understands you better than you understand yourself. Through goodtimes and through bad. A constant in your life, for all of your life.  Love mine so much.  

 
  
 
Of all the roles I have been given in life, this is the one which has brought me the most joy.  I love all of my children very much. No matter what. This love is unconditional also. It simply just is there. Forever and always.  I love this photo of my oldest son. He was about six months old here.  It is hard to believe he is 44 now, and with two sons of his one, one a teenager!  I cut my mothering teeth on him.  I guess I did not do too bad of a job because he is a fabulously wonderful man.  Of course I cannot take all the credit, and I don't. It takes a village. 
 
 
 
She goes crazy barking and chasing the water from the hose when Todd is watering the plants. She is so happy and gets very wet, but it makes me smile so much to see her enjoying herself so much! Its just fun, fun, FUN!
 
  
 
The three J's  . . .  Love them so very much!  

 
 
My two angels  . . .  love them to bits also!   

 
 
The four musketeers  . . .  a family that hikes together  . . . 
 
 
   
 
I was so blessed to be able to give my children each other. There were moments when they were growing up that I doubted if they would ever get along, but  now they are adults, they are close and they love each other and I am grateful that they have each other.  
 
 

Someone to share it all with . . .the joys, the sorrows and everything in between  . . .  

After a very rainy weekend, the sun is shining today.  Its much fresher (well at least this morning it is) than it has been this past week.  Relief! I am not a huge lover of heat combined with humidity! Especially in the land of no air con!  It is supposed to flip back to rain tomorrow and for the rest of the week, so we best make the most of today. Well, we should do that every day anyways. 

Hmmm . . .  my back door is open and someone out there is making toast.  I love that smell, don't you?

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 
*
The ability to simplify 
means to eliminate the unnessary
so that the necessary can speak.
~Hans Hofman  •。★★ 。* 。 



In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Back to the 60's Hot Chicken Salad.  Seriously tasty, a bit nostalgic.  Yummy!

I hope your week ahead is filled to overflowing with a multitude of small and wonderful things.  Don't forget! 
 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too!