Thursday 31 October 2019

My Favourite Things . . .

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOPpfEd5Zsq2tbOc2-UBk6Njak8VrG7e7evggWXGZ2mh-j53ekFS5_iJ7oLR7meELGbGOHT1tpJoMRH-WDForIBx-F86puBU5K_uuGKf1hWiGc5Jko8kG6S71gFooUD3ZEZNrNzAWfJI/s320/alfp_favorite_things.png 
 
These are a few of my favourite things.  Maybe some of them are yours also!  A few of the things which catch my eye, inspire me, pluck at my heart strings, make me smile, or that I just enjoy. I hope that they will do the same for you. 
  
 

This Harris Tweed Dog Brooch. Not on the High Street. Cute!  



They come in cats as well, and mice! 


  

I love LOVE going to new places! 



Gold cuticles  . . . 


  

Cream Buns . . .  



Funny memes  . . . 


  

Grease  . . .  is the word, is the word . . . is the word . . . 



Real linen sheets, not that I have any, but a gal can dream . . . 


  

Wendy Houses.  Apparently there is one at Windsor Castle that the Queen and her sister used to play in. I have seen the one at Chartwell (Churchill's home.) As a child I would have loved to have a Wendy House. This looks like the cadillac of Wendy Houses.


  

Vintage Advertising . . . 



Family Affair . . .  I wanted Cissy's clothes and hair  . . . 


  

Arched doorways  . . . 


Screen doors  . . . .  



  

Paper shelf liner . . .  


  

Foot stools  . . . 


  

Cups and saucers  . . . 



Now how did he get in there  . . . . ahem  . . . 


  

Joan Fontaine  . . .  did you know she was still alive? 



This  . . . . 


  

Sandwich spread sandwiches  . . .  yes, on cheap white bread.   



Halloween  . . .  mwha, mwha, mwha, mwha . . . 

And those are my favourite things for this week.  Must move as my back is protesting.  Oh, great news!  The chiropracter had an opening come up for this afternoon, so I took it!  Here's hoping!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
Only people who are 
not happy with themselves
are mean to others.
Remember that. •。★★ 。* 。 




Soul Cakes 

I made Soul Cakes for Halloween.  


Have a wonderful Thursday! Don't forget! 


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







Wednesday 30 October 2019

Values . . . .

(source



If you can hear the whispering about you
and never yield to deal in whispers too,
If you can bravely smile
when loved ones doubt you,
And never doubt, in turn,
what loved ones do; 


 

If you can keep a sweet 
and gentle spirit in spite of fame, 
fortune, rank or place
And though you win 
your goal or only merit,
you can win with praise 
or lose with equal grace.  


  


If you can meet with unbelief, believing,
And hallow in your heart a simple creed.
 If you can meet deception, undeceiving 
and learn to look to God for all you need,
If you can be what a girl should be to mothers,
And be unto the others as 
you 'd have the others be unto you . . .
no more and yet no less.   


(source)

 If you can keep within your heart 
the power to say that firm,
unconquerable "no"
If you can brave a present 
shadowed hour
 rather than yield to
build a future woe. 
  


If you can love, 
yet not let loving master,
but keep yourself within 
your own self's clasp
And not let dreaming 
lead you to disaster.
Nor petty fascination 
lose your grip. 



 If you can lock your heart on confidence, 
nor even needlessly in turn confide.
If you can put behind you 
all pretenses of mock humility or foolish pride;
If you can keep the simple homely 
virtue of walking right with God,
Then have no fear that 
anything in all the world can hurt you,
And, which is more, you'll be a woman, dear.
~J P McEvay, If  


(source)  


  I found this piece in a old book this morning and loved it and thought that I would share it with all of you.  These are things that are so lacking in today's society . . .  tender virtues, once taught in the home and re-enforced in school . . . that are now deemed old fashioned and out of touch, but boy . . . would they make a difference in life and in the world were they to come back in vogue.  I guess I am just a simple person with simple values. 


(source


Sometimes I have a really difficult time understanding the world that we are living in.  I see a photo of a beautiful woman, such as the one above but  . . . then I see all those tattoos and I find myself questioning why anyone would want to do that to themselves when they were already perfect?  Its not like a t-shirt or a sweater that you can just take off when you get tired of it.  Its forever.  

Not that I have anything against tattoos. My sister has a sleeve and its quite pretty.  Its the fact that this person has their whole body tattooed.  That I have a problem comprehending.  And they're not even beautiful ones. Skulls  . . .  huge words  . . . evil looking snakes.  It just boggles my mind.
  


I think we are living in a "look at me" world.  A world where millions of voices are screaming look at me, look at what I am, what I've done, what I have, etc. but its not like its even that they want you to look at them because they are extolling virtues that are worthy of extolling.  And yet our world is crumbling around our ears.  We're destroying our planet almost faster than we can hope to repair it.  People are dying, hurting, suffering  . . . in unimaginable ways.  And yet, we hold  people up on pedastles that are famous for simply being famous . . .  whose only redeeming quality might be that they are easy on the eyes and have lots of money. 

We live in a world where people cultivate followers rather than compassion  . . .  sometimes I guess it just makes me sad . . . 

Oh, I was finally able to get in touch with a chiropracter.  It took me most of yesterday, but I now have an appointment. Its not until Monday, so I have to be patient until then I guess.  I sure hope that he can help me! In the meantime I am going to risk going out of the house today. 

I had Todd book me into a hair salon for a trim and style.  I need a new photo for the new site I am writing on and my hair is a bit of a mess to be honest. I haven't had it cut or styled or anything in about 7 years or so. I guess I am worth it.  I did tell my boss that I was not very photogenic, so he can't say he wasn't warned.  I just hate having my photo taken, but if I have to have it done, then my hair might as well look half decent.  



I am thinking longish layers with a light fringe in front.  Nothing I can't just blow dry and straighten and go.  I am hair lazy. If its work then I can't be bothered.  Its that simple.  And with that I best leave you with a thought for today  . . .  I hope I can sit in the chair long enough to have my hair cut.  I will just have to do what I have to do.

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

 
*"Success is the sum of small efforts 
repeated day in and day out."
~Robert Collier •。★★ 。* 。 



Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Muffins 

Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Muffins.  In The English Kitchen today .  I baked them at the weekend and they turned out really nice.  The original recipe made 24 and I cut it in half. Now I am wising I hadn't lol, but my hips are grateful that I did. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday.  Don't forget! 


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════
 

And I do too! 


Tuesday 29 October 2019

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .



FOR TODAY, October 29th, 2019 

Outside my window ...
Its still very dark but it should be getting light out soon.  Its also very cold. I have the heat on this morning. I did yesterday morning also.

I am thinking ...
I wish I had an egg mcmuffin. Why are the English Muffins at McDonalds always so soft? I've never been able to buy one in the shops that soft! Wish I could!

I am thankful for ...
Just to be alive.  I have ever so much left to do. Not ready to go just yet!  Will I ever be ready? Is anyone?

In the kitchen ...
Nothing new but I am sharing  this.


Cinnamon Roll Croissants.  A real doddle to make and incredibly moreish.  


On my "To Cook" list ... 


Boston Girl Bakes.  Brown Sugar Brioche Cinnamon Rolls.  Wow!  

Good to know ... 

(source)  



I am creating ... 
  

Practicing sketching from this book.  Working on a pear at the moment. 


  

Crocheting a Baby Blanket.  Its the darndest thing.  The yarn is quite different than anything I have used before.  It is 100% lambs wool and very thin.  Apparently when you finish what you are crocheting you wash the article at 40* and the yarn fluffs out and becomes very soft.  Seriously the yarn for the whole kit fit into a box about 8 inches by 10 inches. Its like magic. It is a surprise for someone.  Not that they deserve it, but if you always do the right thing, nobody can accuse you of doing the wrong thing. 

(source)  

Love this pin cushion. Its a kit that you buy.  



Crochet Santas  . . .  its in Chinese, but the symbols look easy to follow. 



Kathy and Kiddos. Clothespin Reindeer.  


I am reading ... 

 

The Beekeeper's Promise, by Fiona Valpy 
Heartbroken and hoping for a new start, Abi Howes takes a summer job in rural France at the Château Bellevue. The old château echoes with voices from the past, and soon Abi finds herself drawn to one remarkable woman’s story, a story that could change the course of her summer—and her life.

 In 1938, Eliane Martin tends beehives in the garden of the beautiful Château Bellevue. In its shadow she meets Mathieu Dubosq and falls in love for the first time, daring to hope that a happy future awaits. But France’s eastern border is darkening under the clouds of war, and history has other plans for Eliane…

When she is separated from Mathieu in the chaos of German occupation, Eliane makes the dangerous decision to join the Resistance and fight for France’s liberty. But with no end to the war in sight, her loyalty to Mathieu is severely tested.

I am enjoying this book. It takes place in an area of France which Todd and I spent a few weeks a number of years ago, which adds to the pleasure.
  
I am looking forward to ...
The annual Ladies dinner that the women of my church have every year at Plas Hafod in Wales. It is always a lot of fun.  I hope my back is better by then! 

Dreaming of ... 


Alcove bedrooms  . . . 


  

Almost makes perfect.  LOVE this idea!  Extra seating and storage. 



Patchwork quilts . . . 



Writing Desks  . . . 


  

A place for everything and everything in its place  . . . 

Makes me smile ...  


   


Who doesn't love a love story?  I enjoy this, but Todd is only so-so with it.  


Something to watch ... 

  

I can't tell you how many times I have watched this film. Love everything about it.  Especially Elizabeth Taylor and her clothes, the house, etc. 

A thought to carry with you  ... 

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

 *
You must learn to trust
that there is a future 
that is waiting for you 
that is beyond what you
might be able to grasp
at this present moment.
•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 


Corners of my kingdom ... 


Portmeirion in Wales.  Maybe we will visit when my children are here next Spring.  Its on my bucket list in any case. 

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!   


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════   
 

And I do too!