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 which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.  

We had the best Sacrament Meeting yesterday.  After the Sacrament had been blessed and passed, the rest of the meeting was given over to music. Everyone was encouraged to come up to the front and tell the congregation what their favorite hymn was and why and then we all sang the first verse of that hymn.  It was a really inspirational meeting. Music has the power to feed your spirit in a most wonderful way.  It can make you feel happy or sad, uplifted, etc.  It made a lovely change from the usual talks.  I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed and I know I was not alone. It was enjoyed so much that we have been promised we will do it again another time. It was just really nice to be able to focus on the music of the church and why/how it inspires.

This is my brother-in-law Dan. I know I often sing the praises of my other family members, but I thought that today I would share with you how much I appreciate this man. There is nobody on earth quite like Dan. He has such a kind heart and is incredibly supportive of the people he cares about. He feels deeply for the environment and for his fellow beings. He would poo poo that, but it's true. He is a man who cares about people and the earth. He quit his job to move down here to Nova Scotia with my sister to help take care of my mom. And he does a multitude of things for my father that often go unappreciated.  Sweeping out dad's garage, helping to get his garbage out, washing his car, etc. just the tip of the iceberg. He's been out looking for Dad's cat in the wee hours of the morning.  And he does it out of the goodness of his heart, and love for my sister.  He is always willing come and do things for me as well, such as help me put together furniture, put my tires in the car, wash my car, etc.  That is how supportive he is of the ones he cares about.  He loves the holidays, every holiday, and he celebrates each one with gusto! I love that about him. And he adores my sister. That is patently obvious in the way he looks at her. He is a good and kind person. He always makes me laugh and smile.  I love him very much. Our family would not be the same without Dan.  

I'm really grateful for Zoom. All through Covid Zoom enabled me to be able to attend church remotely.  On Friday I was able to attend the funeral of my good friend Jewel's husband and support her in a way I could not have done otherwise. We are so blessed to be able to have the technology that we have and to be able to use it in the way that we can.

 

(source)

Misty autumn mornings and bright autumn days.  I love this time of year.  It's not too uncomfortable to sleep at night, and I am a great lover of cozy. I love the cozy smells and feels. I love the colors, although in fact most of our leaves have fallen now. Tonight, we get to enjoy Halloween and see the children trick or treating in their costumes.  I love that.  Cindy and Dan are coming over and we are doing Halloween together again. I am having everyone for supper. Dan will come over after work. He has carved two pumpkins. I am not sure if he is dressing up or not. He may not have time to do anything like that. Glenna had said that most of the people on the street were not doing Halloween, but I am, and I know that she is. It's one of my favorite nights of the year! 

 

(source)

Doing things with Cindy, even if it is only shopping.  I just love spending time with her. She's my best friend.  We don't see eye to eye on some things, but for the most part we do. We laugh together, we cry together, we just really enjoy spending time together.  Well, I do anyways, and I am pretty sure she does also, or she wouldn't be spending time with me. My sister is such a kind, compassionate, and talented person, a very caring individual. She would have made a great nurse, I am sure. Out of the three of us, she is the most intelligent.  I am not half as smart as she is.

Whenever I need good advice, I know I can rely on her to give me the best advice. I am far too impulsive. She thinks more before she acts. Oh, I just love her, so much, but you all know that. I'm her biggest fan.

This little guy was on my window for quite a while the other day. It's just a moth. Nothing spectacular.  He stayed for quite a while. I took a few photos of him and he didn't fly away. This was the best one, the one where he shows up the clearest. I think nature is just wonderful.  There is beauty in even the simplest, dullest things. It is wonderful to be able to look at things like this and see the miracle that they are. How everything around us is intricately woven, designed and put together with purpose. How it all fits. 

I know that lots of people don't believe in God and that's okay.  I do, and you all know that. I just see his presence all around me, in all of these small details and objects. It is all a miracle to me. I have always seen with my spiritual eyes, even when I was a child, and I am grateful for that.

I have started a new study through She Reads Truth, this one is on prayer.  I have always prayed.  And my prayers have always been answered, not always in the way I expected them to be, but always in the way I needed them to be.  I love prayer.  This two-sided communication with my Heavenly Father.  I feel His presence each day as I pour my heart out to him. I know He is there.

(source)

This is one of the Challenges our Prophet issued to us during the last conference. I used to keep prayer journals years ago. It has been a long time since I have done so. Prayer is such a huge part of my life and so I have challenged myself to practice the art of prayer more meaningfully over these next months.  I'm excited to see where it takes me.

This is a book I have just started reading. Have you ever wondered about how you would change the way you do things if you knew you only had a limited time to accomplish the things that you need to do? How many of us procrastinate doing the things we need to do, thinking that we have forever to get them done?  I mean to change that. I want to make each day of my life, no matter how many I have before me, count in a way that I never have before. That is my goal anyways.   I think Tim McGraw had a song about living like you were dying.  I remember when I first heard it, I thought, how profound.  What things would you say or do differently if you thought you might never get to do them again?  How would you spend your days if you knew they were your last?  How would your priorities change?  Food for thought.  Food for action.

Well, I must be about my day here.  I have a lot to get done today, and I am going to enjoy every minute of it, and so I will leave you with a thought for today . . .

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

 *She was one of the rare ones,

so effortlessly herself,

and the world loved her for it.

~Atticus Finch •。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Cranberry, Orange and Nut Bread. Quite simply delicious. A recipe from the old Purity Flour Cookbook.

I hope you have a wonderful week.  I hope it is filled with a multitude of small and wonderful blessings. I hope your cup runs over with them. Don't ever forget! 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════

 

And I do too! 

 

All Things Nice . . .

 

(source)

A kitten walks with mincing steps

Along a snowy path,

A clump of frozen golden rod

Is tied against a lath;

They rustle in the shivery breeze,

Like cat-tails when the rivers freeze.

The cattle stand beside the stacks,

Their backs humped to the storm,

They crowd together stupidly

to keep each other warm.

A few brave hens have ventured out

Like women motherly and stout.

There is a stillness in the air,

The birds' bright laughter gone,

The clouds bank up in sullen heaps

Against the chilly dawn.

Yet in the kitchen there is warmth

And food for small ones growing,

And hearts where love keeps tender watch

However winds be blowing.

~Edna Jaques, Early Fall

Beside Still Waters, 1939

Yesterday morning as the sun rose, I could not resist taking this photograph of the shadows the tops of the trees were making on the garage door across the street.  I thought it so very beautiful. I am a creature of light. Light and shadow fascinate me.

When I was a very small child, I can remember seeing the light from the hallway outside our bedroom door and the shadow it cast behind the door. It looked menacing to me for some reason. Like a Wizard in a tall, pointed hat. Or perhaps that spooky Santa Claus that my mother hung on the wall at Christmas time. It was a German Sinter Claus and he looked very sinister to me. I did not like him. Not. At. All.  And he had a tall, pointed hat. Just like the shape of the shadow behind the door.

Yes, I was irrationally afraid of Santa Claus when I was a child. We had a weird relationship. I loved the presents, but I was seriously afraid of him.

Anyways, these tree shadows were not menacing or spooky. I just thought them beautiful. 

The trees across the way are naked now. Their leaves having been scattered by the four winds that pulled them from their branches. Were they torn, or did they abandon themselves willingly to the dance. I prefer to think it is the latter.   Carried aloft on autumn's tune, in a ballet borne of change, twirling and swirling to the music only they can hear.

But shhh . . . if you listen carefully, you will hear it too. That whisper of change in the air.  We can be torn, or we can fall into the dance willingly. The change will occur with or without us. It is inevitable. Time always marches on.  I prefer to be a willing participant. I go with the flow . . . knowing that in a few short months (and they get shorter with every year that passes) the leaf buds will form and start to unfurl once more in the warmth of the Spring.  But first . . .  the brr months.

What a delicious tangle of limbs and soft fur. Twisting, purring, willing me to rub her soft sweet belly. Cinnamon has become very affectionate of late.  She comes to me wantonly wanting me to brush her with the brush, leaning into its bristles and singing her happy song as she does.  

They, each of them, have their very own distinct personalities. She is more aloof, independent. She does not seem to need the constant reassurance that Nutmeg needs. She is not jealous of any attention he might get, seemingly she is filled with a great confidence and belief in her own strength and positive qualities. She does not seek attention, but from time to time deigns to give me hers. I am always quite flattered when she does. She is quick footed and would be a great mouser did we have any, and I am most assuredly happy that we do not. But it is nice to know that if we did, she would be quick to rout them out and rid us of them.  She does not hide in the face of danger.

 

Nutmeg, my little man, is much needier.  He likes to be the center of attention, but at the same time is quite lacking in bravery and confidence when faced with the unknown. He is the first to disappear when someone different enters our sphere of existence and does not reappear until he is fairly certain there is no danger afoot. And he is the larger of the two, being quite easily twice her size. He appears bumbling in his exertions and ability to catch things, but make no mistake, he will catch them.  He dispatched every fly that entered our home this summer with great expertise. Slow and steady.  He is usually to be found lying next to me when I am sitting quietly, watching tv or working with my hands. He often comes by for a scratch behind the ears, a word of loving reassurance.

Oh, how I love them both. I knew that I would. 

Love isn't real until you give it away. 

 

(source)

It is very chilly this morning. I noticed a change in the air yesterday. We have had days of mild, warm temperatures where you didn't need to wear a jacket or even a sweater. Yesterday it changed and the air became charged with a definitive bite. I noticed it when I brazenly went out without my sweater on to check my mail. The sun was shining, but there was no warmth in it. There was a definite brr in the air. I turned my heat pump back on. I had kept it off all last week.  I am sitting here this morning typing to its reassuring hum. I have my leggings on.  I picked them up several months ago in a sale. This morning I am grateful for the warmth that they are giving to my normally bare legs. The thermometer says -1 now but was at -2 when I first arose. It has warmed up one degree. The sun is not yet up, but I think when it shows its face, every fallen leaf will be painted with crystals from the brush of Jack Frost. It is to be expected at the end of October.

The other morning, I went to fill up my car with petrol and the North Mountain looked so lovely. It was a bright sunny day here in the valley, but the mountain was shrouded in mist, with pockets of color appearing here and there. I wished that I had had my camera with me. I am never prepared for these moments. They take my breath away when I happen upon them, enraptured and speechless in their beauty.

My friend Jaquie came over yesterday to help me hem my Temple dress.  I bought it about six months ago or so. I had left my dress in the UK. Alas, it did not fit me, so I have had to order a new one. It's not easy to find one that I like. I am not a young woman. I am not up for frills and such, I like simple and plain. We had a nice visit Irregardless. My sister finally got to meet her after hearing me talk about her all these long months.  Cindy had had to take Dad to Kentville for an appointment and the Convenience store had messaged her to say my pecans were there, so she had stopped to pick them up for me and brought them over.  Jaquie was still here and so they got to finally meet.

This morning Cindy and I are going to go shopping together. I need to get some fruit and vegetables. I don't really need much else. I need to eat more of those. I don't think I eat enough.

 

(source)

Most evenings when I get into bed, I spend a few moments in reflection on the day I have just spent. It's a soothing end of the day ritual that comes before slumber.  I take time to pause and reflect upon the goodness of God that I have found in the day that has just passed . . . in the ordinary details, promptings followed, tender mercies, in the little things.

I always find them . . . discovering His fingerprint here and there throughout my day, evidence of His love for me.  It is a simple thing, and yet powerful. In tracing His goodness, I discover His generosity and I am humbly reminded each and every night, upon my reflection, that He cares.  For me. In the small, in the large, and in everything in between. He meets me there. I am grateful for that.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Little by little

one travels far . . .

~J.R.Tolkien

•。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today, Buttermilk Maple Spice Cake. It's a simple cake, but incredibly tasty.  A Home Sweet Home kind of a cake. Perfect for this time of year.

Have a beautiful Saturday. Stay safe. Stay warm. Be loved.  Whatever you do, don't forget! 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 

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

And I do too!

 

My Friday Finds . . .

 

A few of the things I find each week that inspire me to want to do better, to create, to become better, to read more, to watch, to just DO something! Things that delight, inspire, and bring me joy.  Maybe they will do the same thing for you!

Drops Design. I love these old-fashioned slippers. I think we all had a pair when we were young. I think mine were made from that old Phentex yarn. Not the most comfortable but these look like they would be soft and very comfortable.

Natalia Erkhova on Etsy. I love red and white toadstools. The pattern is not free, but not expensive either.

Pretty Darned Adorable. Crocheted leaves. So pretty.  

The Turtle Trunk. Every year I say I am going to make myself one of these and I don't. Maybe this year I will.

Knitting Pattern. Free pattern for simple adult house slippers.

Hand Knitted Things on Etsy.  Pattern pdf. So cute.

Georgina on Etsy.  Little Knittington Village. This is seriously cute. Quite a bit more expensive, but what a project for the keen knitter!

Liberty Creek. Primitive Snowmen ornies. Cute!

 

An inexpensive way to customize drinking glasses for holidays, celebrations, etc.   Sharpie Metallic pens.  From Heart Love Always.  What a super simple and cute idea!

Amazing ornaments, all made from wrapping paper.  Found on Skip to my Lou.

A novel way to wrap gifts, using black and white postcards.  I like this.  From Nicety.   I quite like brown craft paper for wrapping gifts.  There are tons of ideas out there for dressing them up.

Washi Tape ideas for wrapping gifts.  From Tabula Rosi.

Ten delicious ways to spice up your Hot Chocolate.  (I think if you click on it, it will open up larger.)  From She Knows.

Tea Bag Shortbread Cookies.  From Baking Mischief.   There are printable tea bag tags and bonus Hedgehog Cookies.  So sweet!

Doll Face Necklaces made using wooden beads.  So cute!  From Psselbolaget, the crafty Swedes.
I LOVE it!


And those are my finds for this week. I hope you found something of value that you can use. I find lots more than this, but these are things I think you just might like. I hope that you did!

A thought to carry with you . . .

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

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*There is no such thing
as a failed experiment,
Only experiments with
unexpected outcomes.
~Richard Buckminster Fuller

•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。

People asked, I delivered. My mom's recipe for Bread & Potato Stuffing.  Very Maritime provinces. I think it's delicious. It's quite simply my favorite stuffing. 

I hope you have a wonderful Friday filled with lots of good things. Whatever you get up to, don't forget! 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 

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

And I do too!

My Favorite Things . . .

 

  

 

A few of the things in my life which make my heart go pitter pat. Maybe they make your heart go pitter pat also!  

 

(source)

I, too, like the simple things.  I am an uncomplicated person. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

 

(source)

The autumn dance  . . .  

 

(source)

Magic, blessings, simple joys . . .  call them what you will.

 

(source)

The smell of Cinnamon.  Michaels smelled like cinnamon the other day.

 

(source)

Pockets, it's nice to have a place to tuck in your treasures  . . . 

 

 

(source)

This color. It would take a lot of courage . . .

 

(source)

A book that grabs you from page one and that will not let you go . . . 

 

(source)

The perfect companion . . . best friends. 

 

 

(source)

There's that hair again  . . . 

 

(source)

Halloween . . . so many sweet memories.

 

(source)

This is true in anything . . .

 

(source)

A life filled with gratitude . . .  

 

(source)

Sunrises . . . love them. Some are spectacular. Nature's colors . . .

 

(source)

A good stretch . . . helps get the wrinkles out. 

 

(source)

Old quilts . . .  how I would love to have one.

 

(source)

Piano music . . . one of these days . . . 

 

(source)

I wish it could last forever . . .  but then it would become every day, so it's probably a good thing that it is only a gift which comes once a year.

 

(source)

Chestnuts . . .  in London you could buy them in little paper bags, just roasted . . . hot and delicious.

 

(source)

Love is all we need . . . the Beatles had it right.

I hadn't been in bed too long last night when we got a wicked loud thunderstorm. It was lighting up my bedroom.  So grateful that I have a home to call my own.

Going out for lunch with Cindy today.  We are going to catch out last taste of Jonny's before it closes for the year. True Newf Poutine, here we come! (Another one of my favorite things.)

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*What we don't need

in the midst of struggle

is shame for being human.

~Brene Brown•。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today . . . Spiced Buttery Crackers. As my friend Diana said, Saltines with a twist!

I hope that you have a wonderful day!  Be happy!  Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 

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

And I do too!