Finding joy in the everyday

The other day on my Facebook page I asked my readers what they called their midday meal and their evening meal. It was interesting how it varied and not necessarily by location or country, often determined by what their parents called these meals. The history of mealtime is fascinating, so when I stumbled across a secondhand book called " Dinner with Mr Darcy"  (by Pen Vogler) which included a chapter on mealtime during Jane Austen's life, I was quite excited. What we know today about mealtime, isn't really that old or very traditional - rather a continuous change that has been occurring for centuries and continues to change as we speak.  I thought it would be interesting to share some of the changes that have occurred over the centuries and hope that you find it as exciting as I did!! You could call this a very brief (and rather confusing) history of mealtime!! All I can say, I am glad I live in an era that eats 3 meals a day and simple courses! The Ro

Today Sunday 28th September A perfect spring day Outside my window What was once a lovely garden has all been cleared ready for a studio to be built in October  A new fence The perfume of spring I am thankful . . . For the sunshine, rain and spring Having the most wonderful dad who I can have long conversations with For a smooth and problem free month of September I am wearing . .  Long pink and grey stripped skirt, white t-shirt and pink cardigan.  I can hear . . .  Birds singing Music playing Neighbours mowing their lawns Whistling from my husband In the kitchen A bowl of homemade hummus Fresh pineapple and sultana muffins making the house smell yummy Indian lamb curry (defrosting for dinner) New measuring spoons to measure a drop, smidgen, pinch, dash and tad! Will be use to make non-dairy yoghurt for my sons.  Around the house . . .  Dust, it just keeps coming

Art Friday: My dream home I thought it would be fun to "design" my dream home based on art by selecting all the attributes that I would love to have in my home.  Of course this is just dreaming but it was fun to do.  So lets start with a white house near a lake with a lovely sunroom, perfect for a winters day. What a lovely spot this would be:) I do love a beautiful wide veranda and this one would be perfect. Imagine the cool breeze from the lake on a summers evening. A cosy but sunny place to sit in winter, sunny, bright and full of flowers.  Imagine this just off the kitchen, with place to sit and read while dinner is cooking and a welcoming room for eating one's dinner. It would be so cosy in winter with the wood fire and a delightful place in spring and autumn. Windows over looking the lake letting in cool air on a summer evening. This is a room that welcomes guests. The dogs and cats would just love that wood fire. I could imagine c

Have you ever heard of a " cheese " wedding cake? A cake 'made' entirely from cheese.  I hadn't and found it fascinating when I was told by a friend that he had been to a wedding and the cake was made of cheese!! He was expecting a cheese cake in the traditional sense. Here are some ideas I found on Pinterest - what do you think!! Whilst I loooooove cheese, I think I would stick to the traditional cake!! ******

Flawed, but Valuable to God “ the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV) The Bible says, 'We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.' ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV ) Some people don't read the Bible because they think it's all about saintly people whose lives have no bearing on reality. If you feel that way, read the book of Genesis. The dysfunctional families there will make yours seem normal! Cain was jealous of his brother Abel so he murdered him. Lamech introduced the world to polygamy. Noah, the most righteous man of his time, got drunk and cursed his children. When the men of Sodom wanted the two angels who visited Lot, in order to save himself Lot offered them sex with his daughters instead. And the Bible still refers to him as 'godly'! ( 2 Peter 2:7 ) Abraham slept with his wife's maid, got her pregnant and then banished her and her son to th

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.  (1 John 5:21) I have lost count of the number of times I have read “I must have a thermomix”, “I am so jealous”, I can’t live without mine”, “I must persuade my husband to buy me one”. I sat in the car on Friday listening to a dear friend of mine raving about the thermomix and how she rushed home after a demonstration and tell her husband “she had to have one”. When does a simple item for the kitchen become something we “ must have” or “couldn’t live without” and try and persuade everyone else to have one. When does one slip into idolising something? It appears it happens quickly and often without us even realising it. We are so vulnerable to  persuasion. For this reason we must always be on guard and God has give us a very direct instruction in regards to  idolatry   —   FLEE .  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14) The definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is “ the worship

I n The Garden I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses . . . And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other, has ever, known! He speaks and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that he gave to me, Within my heart is ringing . . . And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other, has ever, known! And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other, has ever, known! ***** We don't need to be in the garden to "Walk with Him, talk with Him" - He is with us 24/7, so no matter where you are in the coming week, remember He is beside you.   And don't forget to rest, we live in such a busy world where everything is moving so fast an

Art Friday: Time for tea According to the " About  Food " website: It is believed that credit for the custom of the Afternoon Tea goes to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford in the early 19th century. The usual habit of serving dinner as late as 9pm left the Duchess hungry in the late afternoon. To stave off the hunger she would order tea, bread and butter and cakes to be served in her room. This was thought to be an excellent idea and the habit caught on and the afternoon tea was born. However it is important to remember that at the time of the Duchess of Bedford, they knew nothing  about  baking powder, so the  delicious  light cakes we enjoy today at afternoon tea (such as the Victorian Sponge) were not eaten. Most cakes were heavy (rather than delicate) and more like a bread. It wasn’t until 1843 did the first modern version of baking powder was created and manufactured by Alfred Bird (1811-1878), British chemist and founder of Bird and Sons Ltd (custard makers).

I often read "I wish things were the way they use to be" and to some extent I agree. There are many aspects to past times I would love see returned, but equally, there are other aspects I am glad have changed. Like all things, we view the past with rose coloured glasses and we are quick to find fault in the present. I decided to write a list of the "then and now" to see some of the changes that have  occurred  over the last 50 years or so. Even if the present isn't perfect (nor was the past), we must always remember that this is just a temporary home and we are passing through this life to something far more beautiful and perfect.  "For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Then Dad worked and mum stayed at home Three to six children per family Married women were not allow to work in many industries Dad often stayed in one job his whole career working his