And Then We All Had Tea: A Day Book . . .

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

A Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, June 23rd, 2026

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

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It's wet, it's raining and it's garbage day. It will be a bit cooler today because of the rain.

I AM THINKING ...

Yesterday was my daughter's son's birthday. He turned 13. I have never met him or seen him other than in photographs. I did send him a card and a monetary gift, but I have no way of knowing if he got it. My gifts are never acknowledged. I just assume he and his sister get what I send to them. The most important thing is that I send them. Hopefully one day . . .

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I AM ALSO THINKING ...

I am wondering when Sheila is going to be brought to the hospital here in town so that Eileen and I can go visit her. I pray for her recovery every day. I hope she continues to do well.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

The power of prayer. It has sustained me the whole of my life. I learned to pray as a small child and I have been praying ever since. Sometimes my prayers are answered right away, other times I have to wait a long time, and still other times answers do not seem to come, but I know that in God's own timing and will, answers will come. Maybe not the answers I wish for, but that's okay. Prayer is a great comforter and companion nevertheless. And I trust in the will of God, either way.

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I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

Fresh local produce during the summer months. Berries, vegetables, etc. I wish I was young enough and capable of having my own summer garden, but alas those days are gone. I am grateful for farm shops.

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Creamy White Chicken Chili. An old favorite. Quick, easy and delicious on a rainy day.

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

Tuscany Butter Beans from Recipes by Anna. These look really delicious. We are trying to get more legumes into our diets.

THIS I BELIEVE ...

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He is always with me. I have had too many things happen in my life that denote His presence, tiny miracles, to believe otherwise. It cannot all be coincidence.

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

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Watching the sun go down . . . that light, the going to bed bird sounds, etc.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

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Children's laughter. It is infectious.

I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...

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Granny circles . . .

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Crochet pin cushions . . . so cute.

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Little knitted squirrels . . . not sure if they are real or not, but they sure are cute!

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Rose tie backs . . .

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Pretty little dresses . . .

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

Vintage cookbooks and recipes . . .

SOMETHING ELSE THAT I ENJOY ...

Vintage Illustration . . .

I AM READING ...

THE JOY OF SNOW, by Elizabeth Goudge

Childhood in the cathedral city of Wells, summer holidays in Guernsey, and reminiscences of Edwardian clothes, nannies and aunts mark this autobiography by the popular novelist and writer of children's book and short stories.

I have long enjoyed her works and I love reading autobiographies.

In her own words. “Old age, I find, is a time when you start doing all the things that in earlier years you reprobated in older people, and were certain you would never do yourself,m and if there was one thing more than another that I was determined not to do, it was to write an autobiography. But I was asked to do it by a few friends of the type to whom one says, in the words of Philip Sidney, ‘Your desire to my heart is an absolute commandment.’ And so I obeyed. This book is an attempt to recapture happy memories, and only happy ones, and with them some of the joy in places and people that I have known, and share them. And to share too, some of the conclusions I have come to about work and life.”

A very enjoyable read so far.

THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...