My mind wanders . . .

 I have to confess that Todd and I have become really big fans of The Gilmore Girls.  It is not something which we had ever watched when it was on the television.  I suppose we didn't think we would like it, but we have started watching it on Netflix, with series one and we are hooked.  It is just a nice, nice show.  Set in a storybook Connecticut town which is populated by an eclectic mix of dreamers, artists and everyday folk, this multigenerational drama about family and friendship centers around Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory. Lorelai owns the town's bed-and-breakfast, the Dragonfly Inn, with best friend/chef Sookie, and contends with weekly dinners with eccentric, well-off parents Richard and Emily Gilmore (who always have something to say about their daughter's life).

It is a thoughtful, funny and beautifully written show about the relationship between a mother and daughter.  Its witty and very entertaining and yet at the same time you get right into the hearts and feelings of its characters.  I think we are on episode 18 of the first series now.   In one episode this week Rory's boyfriend breaks up with her.   On the surface she appears to be okay with it, but you can tell that she really isn't, and of course by the end of the episode she and her mom are crying together on her bed.

Oh boy, that brought back to me all the pain of teenage breakups . . . and heartaches.   I probably had my heart broken a bazillion times when I was a teenage girl, mostly by boys who didn't even know I existed.

 

I never had a real boyfriend until I was sixteen.  I wasn't really allowed to date until I was sixteen anyways, and so I didn't.   It never occurred to me that I could date without my parents knowing about it.  I wasn't allowed and that was that.  Basically I was a pretty good girl.   My very first real boyfriend was my ex-husband . . . . and I have to say we were totally in love with each other.

 

Totally besotted.  He had been our paper boy for a number of years and at first I didn't really like him very much in that way, but then all of a sudden I realised that I did.  Very much . . .  and then we were pretty much inseparable after that.  We didn't go to the same school by that point.  He had dropped out of high school and was going to Vocational School, taking Carpentry.  I was in Grade 11, and so during the week, we didn't see each other a heck of a lot, but we did see each other pretty constantly at the weekends.   We were totally in love and wanted to get married.  He joined the Military and I stayed in high school.  He moved far away.   We ended up breaking up and my heart was totally broken, and I suspect his was too.  I married someone else, and had my oldest son. That marriage broke up and then my ex and I got back together and we got married and had another four children.  We were married for twenty two years before we ended up breaking up for a second and final time and it was probably even harder the second time around than it had been the first time.  So much time together, so many memories and so much water under the bridge.

Break-ups are never easy.  No matter what your age or experience.

 

You give away and lose a little piece of your heart each time and you think that you will never feel whole again and then . . .  you do.  Because . . .

 

This happens  . . .  you find a Todd.


And it doesn't hurt anymore and you realise that you are happier than you've ever been, or ever will be.  And that all the tears and heartaches and turmoil you had to go through to get you to this point were absolutely worth it because you could never have appreciated what you have now, unless you had had what you had then.  If that makes any sense . . .  and I hope it does.



For time and all eternity . . .

I had best get off here and start preparing for my day.  I am teaching a lesson this morning in church Sunday school.  Wish me luck!

But, since it is the first Sunday of the month I will bear my testimony to you.

I know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows each of us by name.  He cares about us as individuals.  When we cry, He cries and when we laugh, He laughs.  He wants nothing more than for us to be happy.  He sent us here to earth so we could grow and learn and stretch and so that we could become more like Him.   The scriptures are our road manual and the Saviour is our exemplar.  If we follow His teachings and example,  and try to be more like Him, our lives can be fuller and happier.   It is not always easy, but it is always worth it.  I love my church and its leaders.  I cannot imagine a life without the Gospel, love and power of Jesus Christ to guide me and to help me.  Life is good.   Very good.  I'd like to be thinner, but hey ho . . . I am who I am.  And I like me.



Baking in The English Kitchen today  . . . Carrot and Poppyseed Loaf.  Delish!


Have a beautiful Sunday.  May it be blessed and filled with joy and goodness wherever you go and whatever you get up to.  Don't forget  . . .

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And I do too!!

Saturday this and that . . . .

With the first of September came a new moon . . .  sailing into the sky with bright stars streaming in her wake, thin and slight and skipping over foaming silver crested clouds . . .  stealing quietly through the heavens over city, field and vale.

I think the  moon is a miraculous vessel of the night.  A drifting, floating fairy thing.  This tiny bow of light that would drag oceans from shores, compel great waters, deep and wide and hold in check the surging seas, setting the rhythms of the tides.

Its pretty amazing when you really think about it.  So many think that all of this happened by accident.  How could that be so . . . that all of this which surrounds us and which guides our days and nights . . .  that it could all be just a fluke, from the smallest tiniest thing to the largest and most magnificent.  To me it all speaks  to me of a magnificent creator . . . given as a gift to his most beloved of all His creations.  Us.

"There is no God!  the speaker cries,
 Don't let your thoughts be chained;
This universerse evolved itself,
The world is self-contained.

Just then an urchin in the crowd
A skilful pebble throws
Whch accurately lands upon
The athiestic nose.
"Who threw that stone?"  the speaker roars;
At which the cockney elf,
Intuitively keen, retorts,
"No one!  It threw itself!"

So a patheric casualty,
Discomfited and worse,
Goes home to medicate upon,
This causeless Universe.
~Author Unknown 

  

I got  a surprise package in the post yesterday.  A late birthday gift from my oldest son.  Art supplies.  Two canvases and some brushes, gesso, paints and a palate.  He has great faith in me.  I haven't set down with my paints in a couple of weeks now. We have been so busy with other things . . .  sorting out the sheds while the sun shines, organizing the house in our cause to downsize, missionary work.  Sometimes life gets in the way of creativity.

I haven't had time this week to practice my calligraphy either.  I have new nibs my fingers are itching to try out.  But alas it has all had to wait . . .

And today I have to finish preparing the lesson I have been asked to teach in Sunday School tomorrow on prayer.   Actually it is finishing the lesson that began with the regular teacher last week.  She is a very good teacher and I have very big shoes to fill . . .  a bit nervous about that, but all I can do is my best.



My DNA test arrived this week and I collected my DNA and sent it off to be tested.  I am so excited about that.   I can't wait to see the results of it.   I have some ideas in my head about what my DNA is, but I am sure I will be surprised.  Its all very fascinating and so, so interesting.  I had to spit into this vial and fill it up to a line.  Its not a lot of spit, but its amazing how long it took to fill it.   Maybe my mouth was dry from excitment.  I don't know.  I finally did it, shook it with the stabilizer liquid, sealed it up and sent it off.  Now I just have to wait.

Patience.

 

This week we have been enjoying fresh tomatoes from our garden.  They taste so amazing.  I had forgotten how a fresh garden tomato tasted . . . I am going to plant some again next year.  And maybe beans again also, but not peas.  You don't get many for the effort when it comes to peas.  You would have to plant a whole field full I think.

I baked a cake this week from a recipe I found on Pinterest.  It was for a Lemon Pudding Cake and it was a total flop.  Seriously.  A TOTAL FLOP.  Don't make it.  I threw the whole thing in the garbage it was such a terrible cake.   I don't know what happened.  It just didn't work for me and I am a pretty good baker.   Put me in a real funk.  I don't like it when that happens.  I'm used to things working out, lol.  It was a greasy, oily, heavy mess.  YUCK.

Todd is taking the car in this morning to get the repairs done on it.  We are very grateful that it was only the shock absorbers and not anything more than that.  I am sure all of your prayers and happy thoughts helped.  Thankfully we had been putting aside some  money and it came to juse enough so we can cover it.  If it had been much more we wouldn't have been able to.     There goes the holiday fund again, lol

Oh well, the fun part of having a dream is, well, having it  . . .  and we can have the fun of saving for a holiday all over again.  ☺

I am prattling now, so I'll just end this off now with a thought to carry with you for the day . . .


⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰
I like to think that 
from heaven’s point of view, 
there are no borders. 
God sees each of us as His children 
no matter where we live. 
He is our “homing impulse.” 
We feel drawn to Him 
because He is our Father, 
and heaven is our home. 
~President Dieter F Uchtdorf
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I do love me some President Uchtdorf.

Spiritual Enlightenment





In the English Kitchen today  . . .  Coconut Cream Pie.  And it is very good too.  Pie for breakfast isn't a bad thing is it?  I'm a pie for breakfast kind of a gal . . . probably why I look the way I do.  ☺

I wish for you a wonderful Saturday.  Happy Labour Day Weekend to my North American friends.  Wherever you go and whatever you get up to, don't forget . . .

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 And I do too!!


Be safe and be happy!

My Friday Finds

A few of the things I find each week which pique my curiosity or inspire me to want to do something, create something, cook something, or become a better person! I hope they will pique your curiosity or inspire you in some way as well!

 

Cold Frames from old windows and wood.   From For the Love of Lillian.

 

Pie Crust Chips and Cinnamon Dip.  These look mighty good.  Would be perfect for an autumn get-together.  From Pampered Chef.

 

Country Cottage Cushion Cover.  From Ravelry!  I love the colours.

 

No source, but this Christmas Bunting is really cute.  With a pair of pinking sheers and some bias tape, ribbon and bits and bobs, it wouldn't be all that hard to make.



I love this lacy shall/cowl.   Pattern from Drops Design.

 

What the different tips do.   I like this.   I have always wondered which tip did which design.  Now I know.  From  Layer Cake Shop.

 

Stained Glass Bunting.  I wish  . . .  to buy, not to make.  But I love it.  I love stained glass anything.

 

Lil Luna.  Pretty Tea Towel Tutorial.  These are adorable.  I wouldn't want to use them.

 

10 secrets only professional closet organizers know.   From Real Simple.

 

Family Emergency Binders from Mom with a Prep.

 

Cute Button Packaging.  This is so sweet and so simple.  From  Blog Umbralle.

 

CD envelope Treat Pouches from Our Best Bites.  So cute.  Free printables.


  

Envelopes made from old maps.  Found on Wolf Cub Chronicles.

 

DIY String Tie Envelopes.  From  Mineco.

 

Something festive to wear to the office Christmas party this year.   A DIY festive hair band.  Simple.  From The First Apartment Living.

 

Fish bowl snowman craft.   Even one on it's own would be a pretty Christmas Decoration.  From  Crafty Morning.

 

Frosty's hat from Keepsake Candles.   This wouldn't be hard to do from scratch yourself, and probably a lot cheaper too.

 

From Hometalk, easy tips for getting rid of pests.



Ketchup Bottle Bird Feeder from Wildlife Gadgetman.

And that's my finds for this week. I hope you found something useful!!

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰
Do you want to be happy?
Let go of what's gone.
Be grateful for what remains.
Look forward to what is coming.
~unknown
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Spiritual Enlightenment 




In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Beefy, Bean and Spaghetti Casserole.  Delish!


Have a fabulous Friday!  Whatever you get up to today, don't forget . . .


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And I do too!!

PS - Thanks so much for your happy thoughts re the MOT for the car.  It was not as bad as it could have been.  Still have to come up with over £350 for repairs, but it could have been so much worse. ☺

Raindrops on Roses . . .

These are a few of my favourite things . . .

 

Noodles.  Any type of noodles.  Flat ones.  Skinny ones.  Curly ones.  Straight ones. With sauce.  Without sauce.  With just butter and salt.  With cheese, without cheese.  I just love noodles.  Kind of ironic however that I am married to a man that cannot stand noodles of any kind.  sigh . . .



Colour!  I love colour.   I have always loved colour.  In paints, in crayons, in pencils, in inks . . .  around me, on me, just everywhere.  I think if I had to choose between having my hearing or having my sight.  I would choose sight every time.  Colours are associated with feelings, tastes, sounds, etc.  At least they are for me.  Yellow is sunshine and warmth and sour  . . . pink is bubbly and sweet and very soft . . . maybe I am a tad bit cuckoo?  Do ya think?

 

September is one of my favourite of favourites when it comes to months.  As a child I always associated it with the beginning of school and I loved school . . .  new books and notebooks, pencils, crayons, shoes, maybe a new dress, new class, new teacher . . . as an adult I associate it as being the beginning of one of my favourite seasons, autumn . . .  with the changing colours, smells, textures, etc.  Already the leaves are changing and it has happened seemingly overnight . . .



Autumn it is my favourite time of year  . . .  air that smells of apples and burning leaves . . . that crisp feeling.  The sound of children back at school and playing in the playground . . .  crows . . .  the sound of geese flying over head, and south for the winter  . . . hot drinks that taste good again . . .  soup . . .

 

I am nuts about  . . .  nuts!  I love  nuts.   I could not pick a favourite because I love them all.   I like them plain.  I love them roasted and salted.   I love them in my granola.  I love them on top of crumbles.  I love the act of cracking them.  I love them honey roasted . . .  candied, in brittles . . . coated in chocolate.  I love them any way I can get them.  Although probably the best way to eat them is naturally, like a squirrel, even if it isn't the tastiest way.

  

Toasted crumpets, fresh from the grill and spread with cold butter  . . .  all of that tastiness soaking into every crevice and pore of that crisp yeasty surface . . .  crisp on the outside, spongy on the inside . . . with a nice hot cup of herbal tea.  The perfect way to while away a moment in time  . . .



A well made bed and the way it feels when you drag your aching bones and crawl into it at the end of a day.  I confess that I think I must have been a princess in a previous lifetime because I cannot stand even a nubbie on the sheets.  If one is there I will feel it right away and I must get rid.  A small grain of sand or a crumb feels like a huge boulder.  I cannot stand wrinkled sheets, not in the least, and I like my covers tucked in tightly at the end of the bed around my feet . . .  soft sink into pillows and mattress . . . just like a cloud.

 

The smell of oranges and cinnamon, cloves and anise  . . . nutmeg, ginger . . .

WAIT!  That is the smell of Christmas!  It is a cosy smell.  A homey smell.  A family celebration smell.  I love, Love, LOVE it!!




Mitzie-doodle hugs . . .  they're the best.  She really snuggles right in and you can feel the love.  Pure.  Simple. Unconditional.  True.

 

The art of P. Buckley Moss.  I have always loved it.  I also love the art of  Nancy Noel.



This is one of my favourite pieces.  I also love the one of the little Amish girl holding a white cat and the one of the Amish girl with the cows.



Creating anything  . . .  dolls,art, baking, crocheting, knitting, cooking . . .  just creating.  It is my happy place.

And those are my favourite things for this week. What are some of yours?

Please keep us in your happy place today . . .  our car has its MOT today and I have everything crossed it will get through it because if it doesn't I don't know what we will do. We don't have the money for repairs.


A thought to carry with you through the day . . .


⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰
Happiness does not depend 
on what happens outside of you 
but on what happens inside of you. 
It is measured by the spirit with 
which you meet the problems of life.
~Harold B Lee
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Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks.  Tasty, tasty!


I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday! Be happy and be blessed! Don't forget . . .


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 And I do too!!