The Simple Woman's Daybook

 FOR TODAY June 18th, 2013

Outside my window...
I think we've have a glorious day ahead of us.   It did not rain yesterday, but neither was it full on sunny.  It was dry though, and I'll take that when I can get it!

I am thinking...
.

Letting go is the hard part.

I am thankful...
I am thankful  that my sister and her partner are safely ensconced in Nova Scotia.  Praying now that the transition will go well for everyone.

In the kitchen...




That's a Chicken and Ham Lasagne, over in The English Kitchen.   It was seriously delicious!   REALLY delicious.   Scrummo!
.I am wearing...
Nothing new here!  Except today it is a light cotton nightie.  I've put away the flannel for now!

I am creating...


A painting I did yesterday.   I have been taking an online watercolor class from Tascha.  She's another Canadian.  This is the second course I have taken of hers and it's good.  I highly recommend her classes.  They are affordable and you always learn something new.  That's not a bad thing, learning something new.  ☺



I am really loving these Stones.   I used to paint on rock with acrylics all the time.  I think a few stones like this in a bowl would be a real conversation starter upper.   You can find them here. 



Love this idea of freezing wild flowers in ice cubes.  They are so pretty and would be perfect for company and it's an easy thing to do!



I also love, LOVE this ruffled Tote.   These would be so easy to make and you could color co-ordinate them with your clothes.  You can find the tutorial here. 

I am going...
I have an appointment with the Dentist this week for a check-up.  I hate going to the Dentist.   I am sure they are used to people hating being there.   I have really sensitive teeth and the cleaning process causes me untold amounts of agony.  It really hurts.

We have people coming over for supper tonight.  Doing pork chops.  Todd will be a happy man.  He loves pork chops.

The guy missionaries are coming for their tea on Saturday this week.  We have one from Portugal and one from San Diego, California.  As you know, I love spoiling the missionaries whenever I can!

I am wondering...
I am wondering whether I should put my artwork back into the gallery or not.  I removed it all before I went to Canada.   It is tourist season now . . . and we do get a lot of tourists in Chester . . . what do you think?

I am reading...




The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson
 As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed ‘The Ice Cream Girls’ by the press and were dealt with by the courts.

Years later, having led very different lives, Poppy is keen to set the record straight about what really happened, while married mother-of-two Serena wants no one in her present to find out about her past. But some secrets will not stay buried – and if theirs is revealed, everything will become a living hell all over again . . . 

I guess there was a television mini series of this book whilst I was away that I missed.   I would have liked to have seen it.

I am hoping...
My mother's memory begins to improve.  I can't really say with any assurity that she hadn't been already losing her memory before the operation. I only had a couple of days with her before she went into hospital and one of those was spent sleeping and feeling tired.  Talking to her on the phone every day like I did before I flew over for those six months or so, I had noticed that she was repeating herself a bit . . . but then again I do that sometimes myself . . . 

I am looking forward to...
Todd is giving a talk on the Plan of Salvation in church on Sunday next.  I am looking forward to hearing what he has to share with us! 

I am learning...
I am learning to be more patient with myself.  That's not easy.  Some days it's like taking two steps forward and three steps back! 


Around the house...


(source)
 Oh that I had a closet that I could do this in!  This is a most fabulous idea.  A closet baking centre.  I'd like that Kitchen Aid mixer too!!  (A gal can dream, right?)

I am pondering...
There are days when I wonder why I get up each morning and do this.  I don't get many readers these days . . . . but then I stop and ask myself why do I do it?   The answer is . . . that I do it because I love to do it, and whether anyone reads it or not, it is fulfilling some sort of desire in me and is a form of journaling for me.  I do enjoy it very much.  In the beginning I blogged because I wanted to share my thoughts with my children.  They could not care less.   It has turned into something I do for myself and so I will continue . . .



A favorite quote for today...
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."
~Psalm 19:14

One of my favorite things...

I love chickens.  If we could afford it we would have chickens.  The expense scares us off . . . that and the thought of what you do with them if you have to go away . . . plus they would ruin the grass in the garden and eat our berries.  I do love them though . . .

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Dinner guests today, Dentist tomorrow, Missionaries on Saturday.  A bit of work, a bit of play and everything in between.   A good week.

A peek into my day...


I do some of this each day.  I just don't look as "perdy" when I do it!  I do wear an apron though . . .

A thought to carry with you through today:

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."
~Matthew 7:1

Have a wonderful day everybody!

It's a berry kind of a day . . .

The grass grows high this time of year . . . in meadow and in field . . . and in the back garden.  Mitzie comes in smelling  all green after a romp through it's lush green velvet surface.   I love it . . . not sure Todd does though . . .

Lush green velvet equates lawn mowing for him . . . but really???  Is there anything on earth that smells nicer than a freshly mowed lawn?  I think not! Mow on Todd!

Our strawberry plants are just loaded with growing berries.   I can't wait!   We are supposed to have a nice sunny and warm week this week, so I predict we'll be able to begin enjoying them before the week is out.   Likewise the gooseberries.



I predict a tasty Strawberry Shortcake in our near future!  I like to make the biscuit kind.  I know some find the sponge cake ones to their preference, but my mother always made hers with biscuits and so do I.   If there isn't a biscuit involved in one way or another it's not strawberry shortcake to me!



I love this Strawberry and Mozzarella Salad too.  It's deliciously different and quite refreshing.   You get the salty bits from the ham, the peppery flavour of the fresh rocket, the sweetness of the berries and the milky mildness of the cheese.   An early summertime favourite in this house to be sure!

Oh, I do so love strawberry season . . .strawberries and June go together like peas and carrots!  Whether you grow your own, or go out to pick them in a sunny  field . . . or even if the shops is where you have to get yours . . . strawberries ARE June!

 

A big blue bowl heaped up with fresh berries is about as beautiful a centerpiece for the table in June as you could ever find, don't you think?   Especially when it is accompanied with a nice jug of Jersey cream . . . UN-whipped and ready to pour . . .

"One must ask birds and children how cherries and strawberries taste."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


(source)

Not a lot on today . . . I have the re-run of my fasting blood test this morning.   My tummy is grumbling and here I am thinking about eating berries!  I do know how to torture myself!

My sister arrived safe and sound at my mom's on Saturday evening.  I spoke to her briefly yesterday.   I didn't keep them on the phone for long.   I imagine there is plenty of adjusting going on.  It will be difficult for mom as she has lived on her own for 30 plus years now  . . . and my sis, well . . . she has given up everything to do this.  It's hard when the person you are caring for doesn't recognize that they need caring for . . . I think it can be somewhat of a thankless task.   She has our family's gratitude at any rate.  In truth my mother's memory is really failing her.   Statistically speaking, one in three people over the age of eighty that have been given general anesthetic suffer from some form of "short term" memory loss.  And that is from one dose of it . . . my mother had three.  Best case scenario is that it is temporary memory loss,  and we are hoping this is the best case scenario . . . but with each day that passes and no sign of improvement, our hopes are becoming somewhat dashed.  It must be very frustrating for mom too . . .  please to keep them in your prayers . . .

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

"Poetry and music are very good friends.  Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream . . . they go together."
~Nikki Giovanni

You get two in The English Kitchen today . . .

 

French Dip Burgers . . . .

 

Deviled Appetizer Meatballs.

Check them out here . . . and have a fab Monday!








 

Happy Father's Day to all . . .

Children do not realize
How deep is father's love, how wise . . .
They do not fully understand
The strength that's in his guiding hand.
And yet he's always held above
The childhood things that children love,
And as they grow the long year through,
That love for him keeps growing . . .
Until they learn the full extent
Of what a father's love has meant,
The worries he's concealed within,
How really wonderful he's been,
And here's to one beyond compare,
The Dearest Father Anywhere!

On this Father's Day, 2013 I want to wish a very special Father's Day to all the dad's in my life.  Each one is special to me in their own right and I love them all.



To my own dear father . . . thank you for the laughter, the music, the books and the love.   I could not have asked for a better father.  You mean the world to me.




My much beloved Todd, you are the world to me.  If I could do it all over again, I would have loved to have had a family with you.   Alas . . . I can not.   Your gentle caring ways, steadfastness and love mean everything to me.



My brother David.   You are a wonderful father and it shows.  You have four fabulous girls there and a lovely wife.   Your skills as a father and a husband show in all that they do and they are.   The greatest gift a father can give his children is to love their mother, and that you have done.   I honor you, and love you very much.



Anthony, my first born . . . you are a dear, dear father to your children and it shows in all that you do for and how you care for them.

 

You're fun and you make pancakes.  You're a sweet and gentle soul.
 They love you so very much, and so do I. 



Doug, my gentle giant . . . you are such a wonderful, sensitive and caring Father to your three sweet boys, and a great husband to Kayla.  You love the Lord and your children love Him too.   You are a treasure and I love you very much.



Tom, I could not have asked for a better husband for my daughter Amanda, or father for our own sweet Maryn.   Your kind and gentle ways captured my heart from the first time I met you.   You are a special man and it shows in all you say and do.

 

Bruce, if the way you care for your niece and nephews and little Baxter are any indication, you will one day be a FABULOUS dad!  You are a sweet and sensitive soul, and I know you don't like to hear that coz you are macho, but it's true.  I love you too!



Tim, you may not be a dad, but you're the best darned Uncle my grand kiddos could ever have and a wonderful husband to my girl.   I love you very much!  (You're a real fun guy too!)

 

Most of all I am grateful to my heavenly Father for all that he is to me.  He helps me to be a better me and I know that He is always with me, no matter when, no matter what, no matter how . . .

Happy Father's Day to all the father's in my life and to all the father's in yours!

I have been painting these watercolor  post cards lately.  I plan to sell the originals.  If you would like one of them, just let me know!  Each are signed by me.



Lone Angel . . .

  

Bluebird . . .

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

"People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day." 
~Winnie the Pooh

  

Baking in The English Kitchen today . . . Maple Walnut Scones, in honor of Father's day and my father's love for maple walnut anything!

Have a wonderful Sunday!