One Sweet Kitty

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

It's been a weekend mixed with joy and sorrow.  In life that's often how things come.  The joy of the Royal Wedding, as wonderful as it all was to watch, was tinted with a sorrow of the heart as I watched my dear, sweet Miss Kitty slowly dwindling away.  Unwell for a while, we kept hoping that she'd rally.  She was already tiny and with no desire to eat any more, there seemed little else the vet could do for her.

By yesterday evening we knew in our hearts that she couldn't carry on this way, and our very caring vet said it was the best for her too. This afternoon, as she lay with her head nestled on my hand,  and Rick stroking her as she used to enjoy, we bid her farewell and she gently slipped away.

In memory and celebration of

Miss Kitty

May 1995 - April 30, 2011

Thank you, dear Father, for giving us this sweet kitty

to love and be loved by her.

Thank you for the great pleasure and comfort

she gave us so freely.

 

Thank you for all the sweet and funny things she did

that made us laugh with joy and rejoice that she was in our lives.
 

Thank you for loving your little creatures

and for receiving what you love back to yourself.

We celebrate her life

and give You praise for your good gift to us!

"Well loved"

 

We'll miss you so, so much, Missy!

Furry hugs and little purry kisses,

Congratulations to the Royal Couple

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

We stayed up! We watched! We cheered!

We loved the dress --

She looked sooo beautiful and happy!

We enjoyed all the regal pomp and ceremony

and the wonderful music!

We admired the creative hats and fascinators!

Ahhhhh....

While they continue to celebrate,

I'm off for a wee nap!

Congratulations to

William and Catherine

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

May joy and sweet friendship

be yours all the days of your lives!

Simple Pleasures Thursday

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"How to be happy when you are miserable.

Plant Japanese poppies with cornflowers and mignonette

and bed out the petunias among the sweet-peas

so that they shall scent each other.

See the sweet-peas coming up.

Drink very good tea out of a thin Worcester cup

of a colour between apricot and pink. . ."

~ Rumer Godden



Simple pleasures all of them!  Miss Godden had the right idea!

In the Kitchen

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

These cookies have black pepper in them, which seems an odd ingredient for cookies.  But the unexpected twist hints at something just a little out of the ordinary.  Believe me, they are delicious! How can we tell ?  There's only spicy crumbs rattling around in the bottom of the cookie tin and we only baked them yesterday!

My nephew says they go great with milk... I found them tasty with a nice cup of coffee.  And I think they'd be awesome as an accompaniment with ice cream drizzled with strawberries.

 

Spicy Oatmeal Crisps

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp grated whole nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup packed brown sugar

5 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/2 cup regular rolled oats

********

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cups; level with a knife.

2.  In medium bowl, combine flour with the next 7 ingredients.

3.  Beat sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer until fluffy.

4.  Add egg; beat well.

5.  Stir in the flour mix, as well as the oats.

6.  Drop by level tablespoons 2' apart onto greased or sprayed baking sheets.

7.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crisp.

8.  Cool on pans 1-2 minutes or until mostly cool.

9.  Don't leave longer - they'll break, so finish cooling on a wire rack.

10.  Store in cookie tin (if there's any left, that is)

Yield:  2 dozen

Here's to the sweet -- and spicy -- things in life!

Thinking About Hope

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"Where flowers bloom
so does hope."
~ Lady Bird Johnson


"Expect to have hope rekindled.
Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.
The dry seasons in life do not last.
The spring rains will come again."
~ Sarah Ban Breathnach


And now these three remain:
faith, hope, love.

 ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13

Rise Up to New Life

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

You sure can feel the anticipation and JOY in this dance

celebrating and remembering

the death, burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For those who celebrate.. and those who don't...

Wishing you a joy-full weekend!

He's alive and I'm forgiven

Heaven's gates are open wide...

Friday's Giveaway Winner

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

...Brenda @ Bee's Nest...

 Congratulations !
Hope you have fun using the tote bag !

THANKS again to everyone for joining in the fun this week.

Thanks also to Kathy for creating this cute sprightly bag
just for this giveaway!

I've enjoyed reading each of your comments

and learning what you'd put in the tote if you won it.

It gave me a glimpse of who you are to by what you'd use it for.

If I were Sherlock Holmes, I might tender a stab at telling you

what your list gave me in clues.... but... we are not him!

Suffice it to say you EACH have a unique style

that adds grace and beauty to our world of blogging!

I'm glad our paths crossed!

Blessings and wishes to everyone for a great weekend!

PS.  I heard someone say that when we
bless someone, it gives that person  the empowerment
to prosper in that area that's been blessed.
I like that!

In Every Leaf

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Today, I went in search of Spring in my garden.

So much still looks dead and dormant -- some shadier spots are even under snow.
 

-- Happily --

I found some cheeky crocuses

daring to rise against the odds and declare that,

"Yes, Spring is here, you may take hope!"

 

 

As many around the world gather this weekend

to celebrate and remember the crucifixion,

death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ,

I'm reminded of a thought attributed

to a Believer of another century:

 

"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection,

not in books alone,

but in every leaf in springtime."

~ Martin Luther

Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places! 

Wishing on Every Candle

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

 

"It's important," thought Pooh,

"to wish on every

birthday candle,

for you can't be sure which is the

wishiest one."

 (from a Hallmark Disney Card)

So reads the Winnie the Pooh birthday card I'm sending

this week to a long-time friend.

We not only share April as our birthday month

but we both bounced into this world on the same year.

So the good news is that we each get to

make 54 wishes...

because, after all, you can't be sure which

candle is the wishiest one!

Mmmm.... making wishes is serious business

so I'll have to ponder and share my list in a few days.

Happy Birthday, Ruth!

Till next time, here's wishing EACH OF YOU a happy day!

  


"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together
keep me in your heart,
I'll stay there forever."

~ Winnie the Pooh

A Closer Look at Our Giveaway

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Thought you might like to get a closer look at the hand sewn tote bag

that's being given away this Friday.
 

 

 

To enter the draw, click here and leave a comment.

Draw is on Friday, April 22nd!

Bird By Bird

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Last evening a friend and I were chatting on the phone a few minutes.  It turns out a project she was facing was sending her 'over the edge' of feeling quite overwhelmed.  Oh yes, I recognized that feeling, having experienced it numerous times over my lifetime.

But I was pleased when a little story I'd read a very long time ago from Anne Lamott's book, bird by bird, fluttered to the surface of my mind.  It seemed the perfect advice for the occasion.

In the event you are facing your own insurmountable mountain this week, here is the excerpt from the book.  Trust its sane truth turns the mountain into a molehill and beauty settles back in its place.

bird by bird

Some Instructions on Writing and Life
  Anne Lamott, 1994

"Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write.  (It) was due the next day.  We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead.  Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy.  Just take it bird by bird.' "

Wishing you grace for the journey today!

Blogging Woes...

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Alas and alack!  Do you ever wish you could turn the clock back by just a few seconds and reverse the results of some action?  Well, I had that moment this evening.

I hit the 'apply to blog' button while playing around with Blogger's newer templates, to see if there was some thing I'd like to try.  In my experimentations, I'm usually very careful NOT to hit the 'apply to blog', but as you can see...I did exactly that tonight!

It now means my my favorite original template which Blogger no longer offers is gone forever. And you will see, when scrolling through my site, this too-swift click of the button has created some photo sizes, formatting and style that is out of whack.

So I ask you to bear with me as I sort this out. The bright side of it all is that I shall have this opportunity to give my site a completely new spring makeover!  SO...perhaps that's not a bad thing in the end. 

Till later then... 

PS.  I did have fun learning how to customize my blog header over at Shabby Blogs. So all was not lost!

Don't Leave Home Without It!

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"WE RAKED BOOKS off the shelves by the dozens

and hauled them along on picnics,

to haylofts, up oak trees, to bath and to bed.

The one terrifying possibility was of finding oneself without a book."

Kathleen Norris, 1941

Oh my... that would be terrifying.  I recognize the feeling completely.  The one time I decide not to pop a book into my bag 'because I won't need it on this outing' is often the very time I find myself stuck, stalled, or otherwise in a waiting mode for something else to happen.

So...why don't I just take the American Express motto to heart and make it a non-negotiable rule:  no matter where I go or how short a trip I think it'll be, DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.

I found this wonderful quote above by Kathleen Norris over at REBECCA'S, who is a blogger brand new to me.

  

With such a quote leading  Rebecca's 'Books Read' section, I have the sneaking -- but delightful -- suspicion that we may have some 'kindred spirit' connecting happening.

So... to keep life beautiful even in the waiting moments... don't leave home without it!

Sprightly Tote Bag Giveaway

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

As I mentioned a while ago,
I wanted to have three giveaways this spring.

We've had the journal giveaway, the  sweet treat giveaway...


THIS WEEK
we are giving away a handmade TOTE BAG!


With so many retail businesses trying to do their part to
go 'green' and get rid of the use of plastic bags,

it's definitely CHIC to have
among your possessions useful -- and pretty -- bags
in which to carry home your treasures.

Bright, cheerful, and easy to take with you --
This tote has been made by Kathy

just for this giveaway.

Giveaway Guidelines

Draw on

Friday April 22, 2011 - 8:00 am MDT

1.  Leave a comment

and your name goes in the draw.

2.  If you owned this little tote bag,

what do you imagine you'd carry in it?

That's your 2nd entry.

  

 3.  Tell me you're a follower/friend

and there's your 3rd chance.

4.  Share the giveaway on your blog

and you have your 4th entry.

Wishing you success!

How Do You See It?

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Claude Monet --  Artist's Garden at Giverny, 1900

Now... here is a positive view at being shortsighted. It's a quote within a posting I found at Mr. London Street.

“It’s great being shortsighted.

Because any time I like I can take my glasses off 

and the world looks just like an Impressionist painting.”

~ Daniel

This fellow's view makes me think about the fun I used to have as a child at Christmas time, when I'd take off my glasses and watch the twinkly lights on evergreen trees turn into halo-circled fairy-tale sparklies!

 

 Maybe we should take our glasses off more often?

And The Winner Is...

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

 

...The Veggie Fella...

 Congratulations !
Hope you enjoy your sweet treats !

THANKS to everyone for joining in the fun this week.

I truly wish I had chocolates enough to share with you all --

so that you could actually get the un petit opportunity to savor
the one you wanted to try first!!

Watch for my newest Giveaway coming up on Monday !

You won't want to miss this sprightly 'carry all' bag

-- handmade just for the winner of this giveaway !

Spring Delayed

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Still snowing tonight....

AHA.... the following explanation was found on the page of one of my Facebook friends.   So that's what's up here in northerly Alberta!

INSTALLING SPRING...
███████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 44% DONE.
 

Installation failed. 404 error: Season "Spring" cannot be located. The season you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable. Please wait a few weeks and try again.

 

Simple Pleasures Thursday

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Joining with Dayle at Simple Pleasures Thursday....

O U T S I D E    MY    W I N D O W

At first I was dismayed that I did not wake up to a morning

'embroidered with birdsong'.

I will admit it felt a little dismal to see our world covered

-- once again --

in swirls of snowy frosting.

BUT...

I was gratified to remember my grocery shopping and errands were done yesterday,

so I don't have to go out into the windy day.

There is no real reason not to enjoy the beauty

-- if not exactly welcome --

of what this day has to offer.

BESIDES...

Spring came to my house yesterday,

when a dear friend brought me this

lovely bouquet of blossoms

So, here's wishing you your own simple pleasures,

whatever that may be today!

 

'Un Petit' Giveaway #2

2011 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

This giveaway is about savoring the little pleasures...
the little moments in life...
because sometimes they just are the
SWEET-EST!

Over recent weeks I've been looking for ways to create mini-stops or 'un petit' holidays in the midst of otherwise busy days.

The other day I posted about the best gift is when we're present to the person we're with.  Sometimes that means being present to ourselves.  When we're alone, are we really 'present' to our own hearts whisperings?  Are we noticing the little gifts that come our way... those glimpses of heaven in unexpected places?

 

Through this little giveaway, I want to create one of those teeny stops for you by offering you a moment -- in fact 6 teeny moments -- to Stop. Taste. Savor. Enjoy. Relax. Notice.  Rejoice.

And what better way than to set one of these delectable chocolaty confections in front of you on this pretty little dessert plate. 

Jacek Chocolate Couture

The Escape 2011 Quarter Collection

has the following chocolates (a total of 6 tiny pleasures):

• Kiwi Kissed Cocktail - Fresh kiwi fruit with a drop of New Zealand’s 42 Below vodka.
• Citron et Poire à Paris - Lemon and pear ganache laced with fresh ginger and clove.
• Twisted Mayan - A twist on a Mayan classic; chilli ganache adorned with anise and vanilla.
• Tiramisu Truffle - Tiramisu truffle dressed in shaved chocolate and cookie crumbs.
• Thai Goddess - Lemongrass and coconut infused in silky white chocolate.
• Home Sweet Home - Decadent caramel made with 100% pure Canadian Maple Syrup.

Giveaway Guidelines

Draw on

Friday April 15, 2011 - 11:00 am MDT

1.  Leave a comment

and your name goes in the draw.

2.  If you had this little box of yum-yums,

which one would you select first?

There's your 2nd entry.

  

 3.  Tell me you're a follower/friend

and there's your 3rd chance.

Wishing you sweet success!