Monday, 4 February 2019

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.  


A boy and his dog. This is Jake and Baya. This young man is so filled with life and always spends at least a few minutes talking to me when my son facetimes me. It cheers my heart to no end. He's my cheeky little chappie, and Baya is just a lovely, lovely dog. Little rays of sunshine.  


With everything that's been going on, I completely forgot to mention it on the 30th of Jan, but somebody had a birthday and turned 9.  To top it off I had sent his Birthday card about 2 weeks too early.  I suppose I had a lot of distractions on my mind.  Luke is my oldest son's youngest and in this photo he and his older brother Gabe are reading the envelope of the card I sent.  I put some nice stickers on the outside, because I think mail should delight you from the outside in!

 
And this obviously did, judging by the pleased expression on is lovely little face.  He is my grandson that loves Pugs, so the last few birthdays I have gotten him Pug cards, and stickers and of course there was a wee bit of dosh in the card.  Now they are older, I think a bit of dosh is probably the best gift to give. Then they can just buy what they want.  Oh, how I love these wee family members of mine. 

This is our Doug's wife Kayla and their oldest son Jon.  They had him out on a date night.  I love that they do things like this with their boys.   I think its great!  Jon and Kayla are doing selfies here.  Some are goofie and some are not. 


  


They took it in turn.  I love these sweet little families my children have created for themselves. I think all any mother wants is for her babies to be happy . . .  for them to be healthy, and loved and secure.  You can't ask for much more than that. All my wee families are blessed in this way.  It warms my heart. 

Jon is pretty crafty (in a good way).  He's doing a Home Ec project at home and is in deep concentration.  I like that boys now do Home Ec also and that they are learning skills that will stand them in good stead all of their lives, like sewing and cooking.  
 

  


What a super, super job he did on this!  Well done Jon!  Kayla is well versed in the needle arts.  She has always done crafts, and of course I do as well, so there is clearly an artistic gene in the family . . .  


In fact, Doug just finished this model of the Ghost Busters car and is set to do a Kit car (from Night Rider fame.) Clearly we are a crafty bunch!  


  


The multitude of condolences we have received as a family during the recent loss of our mother.  Cards both in Canada and here in the UK, e-mails, private notes, etc.  All have been very much appreciated and have touched our hearts in a special way.  We thank you for them. We are so very grateful for the time and consideration taken.  Our hearts are broken, but your kind thoughts have helped, they truly have.  


I found this quote from Abraham Lincoln and it resonated with me. Our mother was a great woman of faith.  She loved to pray for people and prayed daily for anyone who needed them, and I know she prayed daily for each of her children, and grandchildren, etc. She was a praying woman.  She taught me to pray as a child and I am a praying woman.  I am ever so grateful for that . . .  for a life that was covered in prayer and upheld in prayer and I still feel her prayers surrounding me.  They will indeed be with me forever.  
 
  


I love you mama.  I miss you deeply, but I am grateful that you are whole again in all ways  . . .  in mind and in body, and free from pain.  My belief and faith that this is true helps to sustain me and I cannot be sad about that. I cannot be sad about that  . . . 

 
The opportunity I have each Sunday to partake of the Sacrament and remember Him, to take His name upon me, and to renew my Baptismal Covenants.  This is by no means a small thing, but it is a truly wonderful thing.  I may never be able to fully comprehend the Atonement of Christ, but I will always be able to appreciate it and avail myself of it's healing powers . . .   It is a great blessing in my life.   

   
 
Grateful for the hugs . . .  both in real time and from afar.  


The comfort that is to be found in routine. In doing things as you have always done them, even when you don't feel like doing them. Routine just helps you to keep moving forward . . .
The love and support of my husband.  He is so special to me.  I love him with all of my heart and am so grateful to have found him. I wish we could have had a family together, but alas that was not to be.  He is a good man and I am blessed to have him in my life. Everyone should be so blessed. 
And a multitude of other things, large and small.  Every day may not be a good day, but there is truly something good in every day.  You can't find it if you are not actively seeking it.  Its there, just waiting to be discovered.  It truly is there  . . .

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
We must constantly remind ourselves
that He is God and we are not. 
~Jeffrey R Holland   •。★★ 。* 。   


Garlic Steak Bites & Potatoes  


In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Garlic Steak Bites & Potatoes.  Simple, easy and delicious.   Yum!


I hope your week ahead is filled with small and wonderful things.  Don't forget along the way,
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════
 

And I do too!


Sunday, 3 February 2019

Something for a Sunday . . .


I hardly ever have enough time these days to do a proper post on Sunday mornings, so I am going to start something new.  I am just going to post a picture, and then you can tell me what it makes you feel or think in the comments.  I will too.


Saturday, 2 February 2019

February Light . . .



In February one notices all of a sudden that the days are drawing out . . . slowly lengthening.  It's been going on for a while, a minute here . . . a minute there, since the 21st of December . . . but now it is becoming much more noticeable . . .  I like the lengthening days.

There are moments in February twilight when the colour of the dusk deepens to a blue haze . . . and you are struck with an awareness of beauty that is half ecstasy and half sorrow . . . caught between two worlds. 


  There is a strange loveliness in a February twilight.  Familiar places soften into a fading mist of gauzy proportions . . . looking somehow less real . . . magical even.   It lasts but for a moment, not much more than minutes really . . . and before you know it that blue light has thinned out to grey and it is gone . . . the magic has evaporated and it is simply becoming night time.

I wait for that special light to appear each day so that I can hold it in my hands for the few moments that it is there.   It never appears in January or March . . . or any other month of the year . . . only in February.   In February it delights my soul and feeds my heart . . . this magic of nature . . . and I am grateful for eyes and a mind which are able to capture it.  


 

We've had some very unsettled and stormy weather this last week, perhaps there is even more snow to come. We did not get much here in Chester, but a large swathe of the country got a fair amount. This is the time of year when snow begins to lose much of it's novelty I think!   Like a guest who has outworn it's welcome we are eager to see it's backside . . .  We don't get much snow here really . . . so we mustn't complain.

It doesn't even really get all that cold . . . not much colder than -2 or -3 or -4 . . . and yet for some reason it always feels colder to me.   I have been here for 18 winters now and I can no longer imagine temperatures like -27 or -30 . . . but then again I think cold is relative.   If you are cold, you are cold, no matter how low the thermometer drops, it all feels the same.  



I suggested to Todd the other day that we make our Valentines for each other this year.   Of course when I was talking about it, visions of hearts and flowers and the like danced in my head.   He doesn't think he is one much for making a Valentine though.  Somehow he thinks it will be a mess as he doesn't have an artistic bone in his body . . . it would be nice though, even if it was just a stick man on a page.

I have always wanted a heart shaped box of chocolates . . . you know the pretty ones festooned with ribbons and such . . . I know the chocolates inside usually disappoint, but I just want the box so I can hoard it with all of my other like treasures!!

I am babbling now so will put an end to your misery with a thought to carry with you for today  . . .

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

 *
Start this day with a song.  
Cast your burdens to the wind. 
 Dance in the new day's sun.  
Rejoice, for this day is a new beginning.  
It asks of you only that it be 
embraced and lived joyfully.
~Mrs M   •。★★ 。* 。 


Blueberry Cake For Two 

I baked these Blueberry Cakes the other day and they went down a real treat.  Sized for just two people.  I served them warm and topped with a little quenelle of clotted cream.  Ice cream would be just as tasty.  In the English Kitchen today. 

Happy Ground Hog Day! Have a wonderful Saturday. Stay warm and stay safe  . . . don't forget! 


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

And I do too! 
 



Friday, 1 February 2019

My Friday Finds . . .

 
 
A few of the things  I find each week that pique my interest, bring me joy, inspire me to learn, create, do, become . . . maybe they will do the same for you!  
 
 
An interesting looking ring dish by Lisa Junius on Etsy.   
 

 
 
Knitted Feline, by Alan Dart on Ravelry.  Not free, but not expensive. It looks so real! 
 
 
 
 
 
Hand felted Rat Slippers.  Darka Yarka on Etsy.  I really like these.  They aren't cutsie wutsie.  Very unsual. They have many different kinds of slippers available. 
 
 
Just Plain Living. How to live without a fridge.   
 

 
 
Quilting Digest.  Yo Yo Christmas Trees.   


 
Craft Gossip, Inspiration only from Trouble's Treasures.  
 
 
 
Sew Can She.  Adorable Tie Scrunchie. I really like these.  
  

 
Sewing.  Bit of Kindness pouch tutorial.  Just pop in a sweetie or a coin or whatever. Make someone smile today.  

 
 
Heart Strings Fibre Art, knitted Christmas Trees.  
 
 
Tip Junkie. Cereal box File Folders.  
 
 
 
 Open House Miniatures. How to make a folding doll house. Love this.  
 

 


 Creative Marima.  Inspiration only, but I love it! 
 
 
 
More inspiration. No source. But I do love the idea. 


 
  
 
Down Home Inspiration.  Cute! Those are  mini muffins, but you could use it to store anything for a gift for someone.  Candy kisses, Ferraro Roche, etc.
 
 
 
 
Kristen Horel.  Artists books.  Again inspiration only.  

 
  
 
Blueprint, Cute and quick crochet hearts.  
 
 
 
Birdcage and Thread. Crossbody Zipper bag. Tutorial.  
 
 
 
Developing Good Habits.  Great ideas.  
 
 
 
Little Miss Rose.  Handlettered Fonts for your Bullet Journal.  11 different ones.   
 

 
 
Life's Journey to Perfection.  Lesson and study helps for the year.   For the new Come Follow Me Program in the church. 
 
And those are my finds for this week.  I hope there was something of interest for you here.  
 
A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *
The hum of bees is
the voice of the garden.
~Elizabeth Lawrence •。★★ 。* 。 
 
 

Pepperpot Soup 
 
In the English Kitchen today  . . .  Pepperpot Soup.  Delicious, low fat, quick and easy to make. 
 
I still feel a bit like I am operating in a fog.  I will be okay for a little while, and then it slams into me, and I am torn to pieces all over again. I expect it will take a while and it will be a new normal. I don't think I have ever experienced a loss so painful in my life.  I never knew the feeling until now. There are no words to describe the level of bereavement.  No words.


Have a great Friday.  Don't forget along the way of your day! 

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

And I do too!