Finding joy in the everyday

Father, 'twas Thy love that knew us Earth's foundation long before: That same love to Jesus drew us By its sweet constraining power,
 And will keep us, Safely now, and evermore. Now that changeless love enfolds us, All its wealth on us bestows;
 While its power unchanging holds us
 In a holy calm repose. God and Father, Unto Thee our worship flows. God of love, our souls adore Thee!
 We would still Thy grace proclaim,
 Till we cast our crowns before Thee, And in glory praise Thy name;
 Praise and worship. Be to God and to the Lamb!   From The Little Flock hymnbook, 1856 J. G. Deck, written circa 1850, verse 2 by F. A. Darrah, d. 1936 Photography link: Source * * *

 I couldn't think of anything worthwhile to write about, so here is a collection of random photos from around my house! . . .Happy weekend . . .  Ruby turns 1 on the 13th November, isn't she gorgeous! She is the cuddliest cat I know. The my youngest son turned 18 on Thursday and all he wanted was books about cichlids (a particular group of fish breeds).  In fact he is MAD about fish, it is all he talks about! Here are two of his cichlids. These are my new Russian Dolls - but they do have a very practical use, they are measuring cups. My last set of measuring cups were 24 years old, about time to upgrade.    I was outside taking photos of the garden with Charlie and she saw a bird fly over, for around 30 seconds she stood on her back leg watching it.   Stepping Heavenward , a novel written in 1880 by Elizabeth Prentiss and is about a young woman's journey through life from teenager to woman.  It is written in the form of a journal and shares Katy'...

Wise words from Laura Ingalls Wilder I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. If enough people think of a thing and work hard enough at it, I guess it's pretty nearly bound to happen, wind and weather permitting.   Once you begin being naughty, it is easier to go and on and on, and sooner or later something dreadful happens. Oh no, I never do much ironing, except the outside clothes. We must not iron out the fresh air and sunshine, you know. It is much more healthful not to, the doctors say.” Seriously, there is something very refreshing about sheets and pillow slips just fresh from the line, after being washed and dried in the sun and air. Just try them that way and see if your sleep is not sweeter.   Remember well, and bear in mind, a constant friend is hard to find. The only stupid thing about words is the spelling of them. I love the quote on ironing - I am with Laura on this one, there is ...

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,  and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalms 95:2 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Psalms 98:4 PS This includes when I am cleaning that horrid oven of mine or doing the iron!!

  Anthony Van Dyke (1599-1641), Baroque painter (which I am a fan of, in particular Baroque music) - self portrait above Born in Antwerp, Van Dyke (along with Peter Paul Ruben who was his tutor) became the most important Flemish painter and one of the best known Baroque artists.  He was called to England by Charles I, King of England and Scotland to become the court painter. In a ten year period he painted 350 paintings, 37 of the King and 30 of the Queen.  The wife of Charles I, Queen Henrietta Maria (younger sister to the King of France) was no beauty, it was told her skin was poor and her teeth yellow, however Van Dyke knew how to please the royals as see in the painting below of Henrietta - looking quite stunning! The Royal Children (above and below a few years apart) - The eldest son would become Charles II following the death of Oliver Cromwell (1658) who became Lord Protector in 1653 after the be-heading of Charles I. However James, Charles II younger brother w...

You may judge a person more truly by the books and papers he reads than by the company he keeps, for his associates are in some measure imposed upon him; but his reading is usually the result of choice.  The person who chooses a certain class of books and papers unconsciously becomes coloured in their views, rooted in their opinions, and the mind becomes trained to their way of thinking.   from The Golden Gems of Life, 1880 When a friend told me she only read Mills and Boon, my opinion of her changed, just by her revealing her reading habits I got an insight into this woman that I didn't know.  She went on to tell me these books were just entertainment and fun to read.  I didn't share my view of them with her as I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but I thought they were just rubbish.  I do agree that when you walk into a persons home and look at their bookcases or bedside table you can get a quick idea of their character by the books you see.  It tells y...

Do parents these days expect schools to teach their children everything so nothing needs to be taught at home.  We have seen an increase of sex-educations classes being taught in younger and younger classes, we have seen classes on “bringing up baby” for teenage students and now in one state the introduction of “ethics classes”.  Once upon a time all these things were taught by parents in the privacy of the home.  Sex education was discussed with the children when the parents thought appropriate and as for “how to look after a baby” this lesson was often taught by looking after ones siblings — but not discussed in the context of a single teenage mum or dad. Parents had a choice about the delivery of these “lessons” and knew that they would not be overridden by the school their child attending. The new ethics classes are being introduced as an alternative to religious classes* in public schools and covers such topics as fairness, bullying, the importance’s of telling the ...

  His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto me: For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. ~ Annie Johnson Flint ~ Enjoy these photos from my garden  A field of purple daisies (in many different shades) and yellow   Broom (a native every-green covered in a mass of yellow flowers) Gazania - great for hot dry spots - these run along the drive way  Clivia - don't usually like our frosty climate but doing well in this sheltered spot  My little hid-away in the garden.  I love to sit here and read or contemplate  A spring bulb. Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament.  Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

I have been tagged by two lovely ladies, thank you Amanda at My Secret Garden and  Lady Rose at A Queen in Her Castle . Thankyou ladies. Instead of doing two of these I have combine the questions (as several were the same) - enjoy.    1.Where did you meet your husband, generally speaking? Workplace romance. 2. What is one of your most favourite movies? I couldn’t think of just one movie, so here are three favourites: “I am David”, “Miss Potter” and “An Affair to Remember”.  As to mini-series this would have to include: Emma (2009), Pride and Prejudice (BBC) and Jane Eyre (2006).   3. If you could have any career your what would it be? Owner of a small bookstore as in the movie “You’ve got Mail” with a little reading nook and perhaps a spot to enjoy Devenshire tea. 4. What character in the bible do you really relate to the most Elizabeth, she never ceased trusting God, even though she didn’t understand why she was still b...

Is there a poem that brings back childhood memories?  The poem below would have to be one of mine, thanks to my brother Nick who use to read it out loud.  If you haven't read Mulga Bill's Bicycle, it is best read aloud as Banjo was so clever with words and the story is very funny.  For those non-Australians, sing out if you come across a word that isn't familiar, there are a few in this poem. Mulga Bill's Bicycle by Banjo Patterson 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk,  that caught the cycling craze; He turned away the good old horse that served him many days; He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen; He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine; And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride, The grinning shop assistant said, `Excuse me, can you ride?' `See, here, young man,' said Mulga Bill, `from Walgett to the sea, From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh,  there's none can ride like me. I'm g...

I thought after the advise I provided on Monday for wives, I thought I would select some " DON'T's for husbands" from a book of the same name, this one was written in 1913. Don't worship your wife as a saint, and then when you discover that she is, after all, of common clay, spend the rest of your life mourning her deterioration. Don't keep her in cotton-wool.  She isn't wax - she's a woman. Don't try to regulate every detail of your wife's life.  Even a wife is an individual, and must be allowed some scope. Don't omit to bring home an occasional bunch of flowers or a few chocolates.  Your wife will vale even a penny bunch of violets for your thought of her. Don't dwell on the beauty of other women if you know your wife to be sensitive on the point. Don't forget to trust your wife in everything - in money matters; in her relations with other men; in her correspondence.  Trust her to the utmost and you will rarely find...

So much of the art that I have shared with you on Art Wednesday has been beautiful, often scenes of family, children playing, gorgeous dresses - a wonderful imagine of Victorian life.  However, it was probably a very romantic view that most people did not enjoy and it certainly didn't show the poverty or sadness that was affecting some many families.  Today's art collection is different.  These paintings show sadness, the reality of life . . . where a painting has captured a scene, that perhaps a camera would today.  They are still masterpieces but reveal the truth of events of the times.  " The Last of England ", 1855 by Ford Madox Brown In the 1850's my own family set off from German to Australia - never to return.  I wonder what they thought as they sat on board, did they know what Australia was like and how much sadness did they feel knowing they would never return to their homeland. The painting above shows a young family, notice the mother has hidden...