The Happiest of New Years

Source: morguefile.com

"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way." ~ Minnie L. Haskins

Of one thing I am certain, whatever unfolds in the coming year, I continue to have the confidence that the same God who brought me through the ups and downs of the past 12 months has not gone into retirement. So I choose to place my trust in His Faithful Ability to help me walk joyfully and with peace of heart into this brand new year. No matter what lands on my doorstep.

Oh yes… my 'resolution' for this new year? To come back to that place I once knew more intimately of being so aware of walking out my days expressing the Royal law of love every single moment.  Not to worry about numbers, as Mother Teresa once expressed, but to truly love and honour the one who happens to be nearest me in the present moment. Which, of course, also means walking nearer the One who is called Love Himself.  I find it's not possible to love well otherwise.

That's my heart's yearning ... how about you, what do you yearn for this year?

Here's my deepest wish you and yours in 2012... May you experience His perfect ‘daily bread portions’ of love, peace, joy, health and wealth in every area. Not to forget, myriad glimpses of heaven on earth in unexpected places... 

So that your joy may be full!

Hugs,
Brenda
xox

Reading Over the Christmas Holidays

Carli Jean / unsplash.com

In the winter she curls up around a good book

and dreams away the cold.

BEN AARONOVITCH

These quiet days between Christmas and New Year's are the perfect time to crack open my new books and disappear between their inviting covers for a while. All the while sipping Scottish breakfast tea and nibbling slices of fruitcake. It's a match made in heaven.

Here is what I'm dipping into these days:

The Writing Diet, Write Yourself Right-Size

by Julia Cameron

I had this self-help book in the back of my mind ever since Lin mentioned she was reading and enjoying it.

"Over the course of the past twenty-five years, Julia Cameron has taught thousands of artists and aspiring artists how to unblock wellsprings of creativity. And time and again she has noticed an interesting thing: Often, in uncovering their creative selves her students also undergo a surprising physical transformation-invigorated by their work, they slim down. In The Writing Diet, Cameron illuminates the relationship between creativity and eating to reveal a crucial equation: creativity can block overeating."  excerpt from Amazon.com

The Scent of Water

by Elizabeth Goudge

Originally published in 1963, this novel has been re-released by Hendrickson Publishers just this year!  I was first introduced to Elizabeth Goudge by another Brenda, a beautiful blogger who shares with her readers her own love of books.

“Jean was visited by one of her rare moments of happiness, one of those moments when the goodness of God was so real to her that it was like taste and scent; the rough strong taste of honey in the comb and the scent of water. Her thoughts of God had a homeliness that at times seemed shocking, in spite of their power, which could rescue her from terror or evil with an ease that astonished her.”

Surprised by Oxford

by Carolyn Weber

Written by a fellow Canadian who studied in Oxford, England.  Now that makes me think of C.S. Lewis and Narnia and...

"Surprised by Oxford is the memoir of a skeptical agnostic on a surprising journey toward a dynamic personal faith in God. When Carolyn Weber arrived at Oxford for her graduate studies in Romantic literature, she felt no need for God. Her childhood in a broken but loving family taught her to rely on reason and intellect—not faith—for survival. What she didn’t know was that she was about to embark on a love story of her own—one much deeper, more colorful, and more surprisingly God-shaped than any she’d read before." excerpt from book synopsis

One Hundred Names for Love

by Diane Ackerman

It's a beautiful memoir about 'a stroke, a marriage, and the language of healing'. I read the library's copy a couple of months ago and knew I wanted to read it again as she shared so many interesting things about how the brain works and how she and her husband are 'recovering' from his stroke... all written in such a beautiful way.

Eat, Shrink and Be Merry

by Greta and Janet Podleski

These delightful women have created a fabulous and humour-filled cookbook which Rick and I are hoping to cook our way through. So far we've sampled the broiled salmon with a cream dill sauce and tonight we're trying the grilled pork tenderloin with a tangy apple jelly and Dijon mustard sauce. Yum!

* * *

Wishing you a pleasant day. 

Heart hugs,
Brenda

xo

A List of A Different Kind

HERE'S A LIST you don't have to check twice, and you don't have to admit if you've been naughty or nice either.  Just a little fun as we count down four more sleeps!


1. Are your lists done or are you still working on them? Some years I'm all done by this time, but have to admit I've still got a wee gift list as well as a food shopping list to finish by Friday.

2.  Hot Cocoa or mulled apple cider? Hot Cocoa... and don't spare the whipped cream and chocolate shavings either!

3. Turkey or Ham? Turkey with Mom's recipe for stuffing, and lots of it.

4. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree? I love a real tree, but for years we've set up a very pretty artificial one and put candle-like lights on it.  As a child I loved it when we'd come home from school one afternoon to discover that the tree had been chopped down and was now waiting for the okay to haul inside.  That meant Christmas was almost here.

5. Decorations on the outside of your house this year? Very simple this year -- lights on the house and a wreath with the long-tailed velvet bow on the door.

6. Snowball fights or sleddin’? Sleddin' (although it's been a while since I've done that. Snowball fights were a menace to eyeglasses).

7. Favorite Christmas song? That's too hard to narrow down; it depends what grabs my heart and fancy on a particular year. Sacred: Joy to the World; Secular: Sleigh Ride would be right up there.  When I'm not paying attention, I most often find myself humming Deck the Halls.

8. How do you feel about Christmas movies? I like them - love The Bishop's Wife, the old Bing Cosby ones (White Christmas, Going My Way, Bells of St. Mary), While You Were Sleeping, You've Got Mail...to name a few. I also enjoy movies that add to the ambiance, but aren't necessarily Christmas, e.g. Anne of Green Gables (there a scene with Christmas festivities going on).

9. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music? Is it ever too early? Some Christmas music I can listen to any time (usually the classical stuff by Bach or Handel).

10. Going to someone's house or they coming to you? This year we're off to my sister's where we get to christen her newly-built home; it's out in the country and overlooks the Rocky Mountains.

11. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when? I love the Christmas Story from Luke 1-2, King James Version (the one I grew up on and learned by heart without even trying, I'd heard it so many times). I love to read and ponder, like Mary, throughout December.

12. What do you do after presents and dinner? Sit around and visit, snooze, play games, nibble.  Laugh and tell stories.  Listen to the kids do their piano recital pieces, maybe sing carols.

13. What is your favorite holiday smell? The spicy smells of cinnamon and cloves; the turkey cooking on Christmas Day; evergreens as they warm when they are brought into the house.


14. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day? Our family tradition until siblings started getting married (needing to go to in-laws) was to open our presents on Christmas Eve, but now we wait until Christmas Day.  Rick and I usually do our own exchange of gifts early Christmas morning, tucked up in bed with something steaming to sip on as we savor packages and giggle together at the fun.

15. Favorite Christmas memory? As a young child, sitting in the darkened living room on a quiet evening watching the tree lights while my mom made supper in the kitchen. I felt cozy and safe.

16. Favorite part about winter? Snow; short days and early twilights; that Christmas is in the middle of it; looking for the birds come to the feeders on cold days; watching the joy of kids and dogs playing in newly-fallen-snowman-worthy snow!

17.  Write Christmas cards or send e-cards and Facebook greetings?  Both now.  But I still love looking for the perfect Christmas cards that become part of the message I want to share from my heart, which usually includes a letter or note (to go snail-mail and arrive in someone's letter box).

And now I'm off to tackle my other lists.  From the heart of my bottom bottom of my heart, I wish you a beautiful day --- as Mary Engelbreigt would say, Be warm inside and out!

Hugs,

   

Waiting For Christmas

I shall never forget the day last year, right around this time, when Miss Kitty came and asked me to move her pillow from her chair to the table sitting in front of the bay window. She was very clear about what she wished. Today, as I remember and miss this sweet kitty today, I'm posting those photos as a little comfort to myself. Hope you enjoy too.

Miss Kitty Waits For Christmas

Miss Kitty instructs her staff to please take

her chair cushion and lay it on the table --

That way she can look out and be more comfortable

while she waits for Christmas to arrive. 

Peering out on the frost-bitten day,
she finally finds the best spot and settles down.

So while Missy tends to her post,we happily tend to ours
as we work on our last day preparations...

before the arrival of Christmas Eve --

which to me is the most beautiful day of the year.

Wishing you lots of JOY,

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...

Linking to The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... the sun has risen and the sky is that not-too-ambitious pale December blue. It promises seasonal temperatures minus the biting winds. 

I am thinking... about a quote I found recently by William Blake -- In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.  I think that might be something to ponder a bit.

Question of the day... do I know what season my heart is in at present? I like to use the garden's seasons as a metaphor, e.g. new life in Spring, growth and bloom in Summer, harvest for labours in Autumn, rest and hibernation in Winter. 

I am thankful... for the box of Christmas cards I found with this particular painting in its collection (below).  I can easily imagine that I'm the one sitting so contentedly on the Shepherd's lap.
  

from Daymaker Inspirational Gifts, Barbour Publishing Inc.

From the learning rooms... I'm taking a night class right entitled 'transform your life, transform your city'. 

In the kitchen... we just had freshly brewed coffee (from Panama beans) and a toasted raisin-cinnamon bagel a-drip with melted peanut butter. Yum!

I am wearing... a black legging with a lacy spaghetti-strap top (still in my jammies). 

I am going... shopping with hubby for a new winter jacket. He wants to be sure I'll be warm when the temperatures plummet. I hope I can find both warm and pretty in the same jacket. And although I like the warmth of down, usually I feel too much like a Mrs. Waddle Downy Duck when I put on such a jacket.

I started reading... Jan Karon's Shepherds Abiding. Perfect for this season. Just cracked open the covers late last night to catch a few moments in Mitford before heading off into la-la land.

I am looking forward to... the weekend. We have a Christmas choral concert on Sunday afternoon. They usually give opportunity for the audience to join in a couple of rousing carols at the end. That is always one of my favorite things to do -- to sing the old familiar carols simply and sweetly. 

I am hearing... my computer humming. No birds around yet. No music on, Christmas or otherwise.

Around the house... I came in last night from my class. It was cold and dark outside (except for the shimmer of the moon way, way up). Hubby had already gone to bed, but he left the Christmas tree candle-lights on, and when I walked in I felt a rush of joy... for they offered such a warm welcome.

Wishing you a beautiful day and a wonderful weekend!

Brenda

xox

December Thoughts

 

Dear Beautiful Friends,

You probably wonder where I am.... I'm wondering where I am too. Because at present I have no concrete thoughts to share with you. The flow isn't there. It's not that I'm not thinking of you and it's not that I'm not taking moments for wee visits...but the desire to write about anything, even about my favourite time of year, pales at the present time.

For in the midst of my usual joy in Christmas activities I have been experiencing a great longing to draw near the fire within my heart and sit nearer the feet of Jesus... to wonder at His great gift... to just be quiet and soak in His presence. Which, as I've said, makes everything else pale in comparison.

Which is maybe why I don't really feel like posting these days. Even my own personal journal scribblings have slowed (something that doesn't happen often). I don't want to write about my usual little joys -- somehow the throbs of my heart have been listening for something else. I want to feel His love, hear His kind voice, listen to the beat of His heart for a world He loves so much... so writing about ordinary things (as wonderful as they are) just doesn't fit the season right now.

I wanted you to know I'm not far away, my heart is near, even if there aren't any words right now.

As you prepare for these special days, His heart is near, and I wish you your own true glimpses of heaven in unexpected places. I'll return.

With my heart,
Brenda
xox

Baking in the Air

Here's a question about Christmas baking. Thinking of Christmases past, what would you say is your ever-favorite holiday treat? And what would be your most poignant memory connected to baking or cooking this time of year?

For me, it's the whole idea of making Christmas fruitcake... the excitement that swirled around the kitchen table as Mom and Grandma would spend the day before measuring, chopping, and mixing all the fruit, peel, raisins and nuts. Little hands would sneak the odd cherry or almond.... usually to the mild chiding to get your hands out of there.

Then would come the measuring of brown paper to line the loaf pans (of course now I use parchment), greasing them down...

 

Pouring in the lovely batter, and then watching as the pans with their rich treasure slide into the oven. The anticipation built as we all seemed to be waiting for the spiced fragrance to begin wafting through the kitchen ... those exotic smells of cinnamon and cloves and ginger.

Nowadays fruitcake seems to get a bad rap around these parts, but both my hubby and I love fruitcake, and we always look forward to cutting generous slices to eat with steaming cups of black tea on a wintry afternoon.

The photos here are for a light fruitcake -- you can find the recipe here.

On that spicy note, I'm away,

Brenda

xox

Was That A Glimpse?

Or was that a Flicker?

Yes, yes.... I do believe this handsome fellow who landed on the seed bag near our arbor is indeed a northern flicker.  A species that I don't think has ever visited our yard before. So what a treat to catch sight of this beauty the other day. Notice the heart-shaped red marking on his head...striking, isn't it?

 With a pose like that, I'm thinking he's asking,
"So, which pose do you think makes me look handsomer?

My right profile...

...or my left?

Mr. Flicker, no matter which angle, you were worth meeting!  Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you come again real soon!

Wishing you glimpses and flickers of your own fine feathered friends,

Brenda

Sleepy Farewells

  

Do you ever go into your garden after a frost has taken the bloom off everything in it?  Do you murmur a little thank you to all your flowers, trees and shrubs, not to mention the odd bumblebee who might be making its rounds one last time? 

To offer a grateful whisper to them for having made your little corner of the world a beautiful place...

I almost imagine that they offer sleepy nods in response as they nestle in for a well-deserved rest until Spring.

I took the above photos a couple of weeks ago...before the snow arrived...and forgot to post.

All things that are beautiful
~ think on these things ~

and give thanks!

Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda
xox

 

Sugar and Spice Cinnamon Buns

VOILA!  I did it.  Remember I mentioned yesterday that I just might have to make cinnamon buns as it was such a blustery shivery day outside.  (It didn't take much arm twisting either!)

So between finishing off a book and its companion book review for my evening class, I had fun rolling out a small batch of these toothsome morsels, much to the delight of everyone in the household.

The recipe is posted over on my food site should you have the urge for something warm and delicious.

Here's wishing you sugar and spice and everything nice,

Brenda
xox

 

Decidedly Winter

Can you tell ... it's here in earnest now!

With temperatures well below freezing, bone-chilling winds from the northwest, and the skies heavy with snow (which the weatherman promises is sure to dump before day's end) it's a day for staying close to the home fires, if at all possible. And I'm very grateful that I can today.

The other day when the first real snow flurried around us like a tempest in the teapot -- creating a whiteout for a while and leaving its frosted signature on everything in sight -- I thought later it would been a fun time to take some kids and dogs for a tromp down some nature path.

Well today... not so much.  It's decidedly nippy out there.  I know, as I just got back from topping up bird feeders. Rather, it's a morning for staying inside, keeping the twinkle lights on all day, and putting on a bit of seasonal music, something like Vivaldi's Winter from Four Seasons, and then enjoying that second cup of coffee, as blogging friend Sandy always loves to say.

Here's wishing you joy for the journey... 

and everything you need pertaining to life and goodness!

Brenda

xox

Blogging Tip: How To Change Photo Sizes

This tip is for Blogger users

Ever notice bloggers who display their beautiful photos in big, bold, eye-catching sizes? Yet when you load a photo and you want to make it x-large, it's too big and it spills over into the sidebar... which certainly isn't attractive. But when you click on medium, it's too small?

How can you change the size to fit your blog column?

With a little poking, prodding, and praying for wisdom, I figured out that I could 'safely' change the size of the photo in the HTML code. Believe me, when I figured this out, I knew next to nothing about html code. So we tread carefully here.

If you're asking the same question, here's how to do it:

1.  Load your photo into your post.

 

2.  Click on the photo and select X-Large.

3.  Look for the tabs COMPOSE and HTML at the top of your post toolbar.

4. Click on HTML tab. Don't be afraid at what you see... I know it can look a little scary with all those symbols, but if you scroll through that mess until you see a code that has the words 'height' and 'width' in it... that's the code for your photo. It will look something like this:

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUnUQN5e_M5mxn5Noz4bvvJ2LsrT_YTbKH3zzQB5vwxAMtPUTKIeGg320kqkoWlh9n7hN6CYbD80uy7XVoKqDbyA3H57ekCk6ZR1kkR9fbdsVJTv8OUAZh-DearFEzKpdykiVcdQ9Z7Fm/s1600/342945mr2z51864q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUnUQN5e_M5mxn5Noz4bvvJ2LsrT_YTbKH3zzQB5vwxAMtPUTKIeGg320kqkoWlh9n7hN6CYbD80uy7XVoKqDbyA3H57ekCk6ZR1kkR9fbdsVJTv8OUAZh-DearFEzKpdykiVcdQ9Z7Fm/s320/342945mr2z51864q.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Notice the numbers in red -- 398 and 640. These indicate the height and width of your photo. The numbers are what you can safely change to make it fit the space in your posting column, and still look stunning and luxurious.

For my blog post column size, I usually need to change the width from 640 to 590. You might need to experiment a little. I don't usually change the height, but you can experiment if you want to make it longer as well. Just be careful not to change the proportions so much that it changes the perception.

Remember, you only change those numbers, nothing else, unless you know your way around HTML.  If something does go weird, click on the 'undo' button (backwards arrow) to bring it back to the original.

5.  Once you've discovered the magic size that works for you, that's all you need to do. Now click back on COMPOSE tab and make sure it's the size you want. Carry on with your posting, preview, and hit Publish.

NB.  You can also do this with video or YouTube uploads. Just always watch for the words 'height' and 'width' and change the size to fit your column.

Another Option. One blogger said she actually changed the size of her column so the photos would fit properly. Either way would work. You would change in your template settings. 

Hope this simple tip helps!

Brenda

God Knows How To Find You

In those times I can't seem to find God,

I rest in the assurance He knows how to find me.

~ Neva Coyle

I went through my greeting card collection the other day in search of a card I could send to a friend who'd been on my mind. I didn't find anything suitable for her but I did find a note card with the above quote.

I went to put the cards away, but felt drawn to first share the quote here. Perhaps there is someone who is reading this who needs to see these comforting words. If that's you, I pray you peace for your mind and heart for He is closer to you than even the mention of His name. Whisper it right now... Jesus.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Remembering...

Lest we forget....

 As we commemorate sacrifices past and present,
I am pleased to share these two Remembrance Day poems

written by my beautiful nieces...

It’s Not Fair, But…

It’s not fair, my country was invaded.
It’s not fair, my freedom was faded.
It’s not fair, soldiers had to sacrifice.
It’s not fair, parents had to pay the price.
It’s not fair, when families have to say goodbye.
It’s not fair, when people die!

But, I’m glad that it is done!
I’m glad, that I don’t have to worry about anybody’s gun.
I’m glad, my freedom is restored.
I’m glad, for this reward.
I’m glad, that I am free.
I’m glad my father came home to me!

by Chiante, age 12

A Sacrifice

They march in single file to the battlefield.
Their family hopes that at least they would come home alive.
The weapons come out, the tanks start roaring, the battle has begun.

They come home from the war, never the same as they were before.
Their families are thankful they came home, some with wounds, some without.
Their lives forever changed.
We are thankful for the sacrifice they have made.

by Sierra, age 9

Beagle Bailey The Best

THIS YOU'VE GOT TO SEE...

Not your usual 'play dead' trick --  Bailey takes it to a new level.

If you've seen it already, hey, it's worth a second laugh.

Note -- watch her front paw when her human buddy lifts it.

BTW,  I heard it told (based on neurological reseach now out there), YES, it's totally possible to teach an 'old' dog new tricks. Because our brain can always form new furrows to accommodate new ideas and new habits. So no more excuses.

Enjoy your day... here's to learning something new today!

Brenda

xox

Figuring Life Out

Today I offer you this little gift of a short video I found on YouTube. Although Figuring Life Out is the trailer for Ann Voskamp's recently-released book One Thousand Gifts, I think it's really too beautiful to be called a 'trailer'. Ann's poignant words and accompanying photos are sure to lift your spirit as she shares the marvels and joy found in a thousand gifts... or as I like to put it  'catching glimpses of heaven in unexpected places'. I was so moved I had to watch it more than once.

I hope you enjoy,
Brenda

For other links you might like to check out:

A Letter From Ann

One Thousand Gifts website

An Interview with Ann, Part 1

An Interview with Ann, Part II

On Being First

I don't know about you, but there are times when I wish I could be the first at something. As a child, I loved to run and I remember the exhilaration I felt those times when it was me who crossed the finish line first.

There is something energizing about coming in first -- I guess it stems from the desire to be good at something, to be so good in fact that, even if it's just for the moment, you are the best at it.

Now, I haven't been running any races lately, but after finding this thoughtful quote, I realize again there are lots of places and times when I can still experience the exhilaration of coming in first:

Strive to be first:

First to nod,

First to smile,

First to compliment,

And first to forgive.
~ Unknown

  

 Wishing you grace for first place!
Brenda

Photo source:  Microsoft Images

Saying Grace

"You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Most mornings I do ask for grace, mercy and wisdom to be my companions throughout my day. However, I do wonder how it would affect my activity... focus... thoughts... not to mention results, if I took those few seconds to speak grace, not just at meal times, but every time I move from one task or activity to the next.

What if saying grace actually shifts our experience from one level to another where grace swirls around us all day -- intercepting, under-girding, increasing, changing, deepening, enriching? Wouldn't it be a lovely exercise to undertake to help us center our thoughts back on the One who promises to walk with us.

(Hours Later).... I wrote the above earlier in the day -- and I just arrived back from an evening class where I was scribbling down notes as fast as I could, trying to catch the speaker's key thoughts and my particular favorite turns of phrases, when I suddenly recalled those words of Mr. Chesterton's. So for the scantest of moments I stopped trying to jostle words into the tiny space in the notebook provided... and I did say grace. First, it was a little joy bubble, then I felt a grin spreading. And I knew I had, indeed, been Graced (see my definition below)!

  

 

Want to Join Me This Weekend?

Sometimes it's good to test these things out. Does it truly make a difference to say grace? In what way? I believe it does, but let's experiment and find out for ourselves. So, I'm thinking about setting my thoughts and focus on saying grace whenever I begin something new this weekend. Today, Saturday, Sunday.

If you'd like to join me, leave a comment today -- then come back Monday and share with us (in this same comment box) about if and how saying grace worked for you. I'll be here!

 * * *

*Graced = when a person is given the strength and ability to do it easily,
without toil, yet with efficiency, effectiveness and beauty.
(my own definition)

"My yoke is easy and my burden is light." ~ Jesus

Wishing you a grace-filled day!
Brenda
xox

Photo sources:

Girl - Glitter-graphics.com

Rose - Antique Images

A Few Lights

 

As the daylight fades sooner these days, my little fig tree, festooned with tiny white lights, is now called into service each day as soon as evening shadows lengthen.  Her express purpose?  To create a cozy glimmer in the corner of my dining room.

Already the room feels cozier, softer, more inviting. A few lights... just a simple thing... but, oh, the pleasure I get every time I pass by.

Laura Ingalls Wilder once said, "I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."  We're discovering she's right, isn't she?

So here's wishing you cozy pleasures... whatever time of day it is when you read this and in whatever way they make you happy!

Hugs,

Brenda

 

The Glorious Apple

"I taught my children to treat life like a big apple. Bite it, chew it, suck it, let the juice dribble down your chin. If you bite a worm, spit it out. But don't stop eating that apple." ~ Arabella Ark, Ceramics Artist, Maui

Sometimes life isn't fair and sometimes, yes, it has worms in it. But think about all the other times when it's just plain wonderful -- juicy, sweet and delicious. If we stopped eating apples because we might happen upon a wormy one, imagine what we'd miss by doing so. Not to mention the simple joy of biting into a crisp, juicy apple, what about....

...apple pie with cheddar cheese
...apple dumplings in maple syrup
...apple tart
...pork chops with apple sauce
...hot buttered toast and apple butter
...apple crisp with vanilla ice cream
...flaky apple strudel
...hot apple cider
...toffee apples on a stick
...Waldorf salad
...apple fritters
...fried apple rings

Oh, my mouth doth water. Yours? Here's to the apples of life. Let's keep eating.

Hugs,
Brenda

A Little Grace Note

If there would be pumpkins in my garden they would have had frost on them last night.  That's why I was so pleased to discover this dainty one untouched by icy fingers when I looked out this morning. Neatly tucked under our lilac tree, her pink petals were sheltered... this time.

I felt her mild chiding when I brought her inside. Against the odds at this time of year -- we often have frost weeks earlier -- I took a chance by leaving her out all night. But now she sits here on my desk... sharing her gift of beauty with me one last time.

Little gifts... a tiny grace note of beauty... sometimes we're too hurried or harried to notice.

So I invite you to s.t.o.p. right now in this moment and look around. Listen. Breathe in and smell.  There's a little grace note waiting for you to notice.... it's your gift from Him.

Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,
Brenda
xox

You Are My Fans!

Y o u . . .

my blogging friends, are a wonderful reminder

that life is beautiful!

You've been a gift to me and I thank God

upon every remembrance of you!

Whoever thought up the idea of 'blogging'

I salute you... and thank you.

How else would I have met so many creative and amazing people!

To each of you, I'm just joying today

that our paths have crossed!

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others

cannot keep it from themselves.

~ Sir James M. Barrie.

Here's wishing you that same sunshine that you've brought into my life!
Brenda
xox

graphic source: Graphics Fairy