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.   

 

 

 

 

Doug and his lovely family on a windy boardwalk. Love this photo. Everyone looks so happy.  From left to right, Josh, Jake, Kayla, Jon and Doug.  It is such a blessing to me to see all of them together.  I am so grateful that Doug continues to progress and heal, and that they are a family that is able to and loves to enjoy special together times like this.  I tried to do lots with my kids when they were growing up, but my own parents didn't do a lot with us. It was a different time I guess. My dad was busy making a living for our family and my mom taking care of the home. Once my brother started school, my mom went back to work full time also. We didn't really do holidays as such, or days out. We did make a lot of happy in-home memories however.  I love that all of my children are able to and happy to enjoy days out with their families.  That makes me very happy.  

 

 

The unconditional love of this sweet one. She is my constant companion throughout my days and even my nights.  She really missed me when I was away last week and was oh so happy when I arrived home.  She almost turned herself inside-out!  I am the food lady.  We shared many, many cuddles. 

 

 The opportunity I have each week to partake of the sacrament and renew my covenants.   It seems like such a small thing and it probably is, but it means the world to me.   It is a special time for me, when I focus on the Saviour and all that He did for us . . .  a time to remember Him, and to honor that remembrance by partaking in that special ordinance each week, and beginning a new week afresh.  Little mini washing cleans . . . small and wonderful . . .  yes.  

  

Today is a special day for me.  Twenty years ago today I entered the waters of Baptism and covenanted myself  to following the Saviour. It is a decision I have never regretted.  It has not been very easy at times, and indeed that first year after I was Baptised was probably one of the most difficult in my life, but it was all worth it.  I know it was the right decision for me to make. It set me on the Covenant Path back to my Heavenly Father. It is a decision that has brought me great joy, peace and comfort in my life. 

  

Wildflowers.  Of all the flowers in the world they are my favourite kind because they just grow. You don't need to pamper them, or coddle them. They just spring up and make you smile.  The birds and the insects love them. Butterflies love them. They help to remind me to bloom where I am planted and that I don't need to be stand-outish, or uber-special to be SPECIAL! I am good enough and actually pretty wonderful just as I am.  There is great beauty and much value to be found in all living things.  

 

The art of making a pie for someone (s) you love. I had not baked a double crusted pie in a very long time. Todd was after me to do something with the abundance of berries in our garden and so I baked him a Strawberry pie the other day while he was out. There was something just so relaxing about getting out all my ingredients, making and rolling the crust, fillling, etc.  As I puttered and baked, I relived a million memories in my mind of pies made, and pies eaten, all the people in my life I had baked pies for, eaten pies with, who had baked pies for me.  As I puttered and baked, I thought of my grandmothers and my mother and I thought about how much love goes into baking something special for the ones you care about.  I reckon if more people in this world baked each other pies . . .  a lot of our problems would be solved, and we'd all have pie to enjoy. 

  

Winding yarn into balls.  I love doing this. All my yarn is wound into balls. I know its not necessary, but I just enjoy the mindless exercise of winding . . .  around and around and around. And it looks so tidy when it is done.  I am the marie kondo of yarn balls  . . . 

 

I don't know a lot about gardening or about plants, but I know what makes me happy, and this makes me happy. I am so happy I decided to plant some geraniums on our dining room window sil.  They make me smile every time I look at them. I don't know how long I can keep them going. I know nothing about plants at all.  Perhaps I need to put them in larger containers?  I don't know  . . .  

 

A company which sells frozen fish wanted to send me some of their product to try.  I said sure!  Why not! They were so generous. I was amazed when it arrived.  Cooked Salad Shrimp, raw King Prawns, Smoked Haddock, Cod Loins, Haddock Loins, Salmon Fillets.  Such a lovely lot of fish. We are really going to enjoy this, and it fits in well with what I am trying to do with my diet these days!  Talk about the Windows of Heaven opening up and pouring down blessings!

 

Being awake each morning and able to watch the sun rise and then being able to watch it set at the end of the day.  Isn't it marvelous that we are given such a beautiful gift at both the beginning and the ending of each day? 

 

New fabrics to play with.  I've been saving my pennies to be able to buy these.  Swiss dot . . . I see doll dresses. Now I need to save enough to buy some fabric to make curtains with some of the same I think. There is no feeling on earth like the one you get when you are just on the precipace of creating something new.  Its pretty wonderful!  

And those are my small and wonderfuls for this week . . .

 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *"Happiness is the art of 

never holding in your mind 
the memory of any unpleasant 

thing that has passed."
~anonymous  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

 

 
 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Sheet Pan Hoisin Pork Tenderloin Dinner for Two.  Deliciously simple and on the table in about half an hour.

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

 

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And I do too!