Finding joy in the everyday

1. Baked my first loaves of bread - I made a Jewish bread called Challah - however I didn't plait mine as you are meant to as making it was stressful enough! I thought it tasted very nice, DH wasn't as keen and said it tasted more like a cake than bread but my sons thought it was pretty good. 2. Cleaned out the kitchen cupboards, being quite ruthless about what to toss in the bin and what to keep - now I have heaps more space - to fill up!  Gave my eldest son a large cooking pot as he wanted to cook a piece of silverside - this gave me some extra room! 3. DH played on the swings on one of our walks and show me how to jump off.  I wasn't game enough to jump like him as I didn't want to break any bones! DH did take one photo of me but it was not very nice so I won't be publishing it! 4. Went to the post-Christmas sales and bought one skirt for $14 (reduced from $40) plus a couple of t-skirts that weren't on sale and some small plastic containers for the kitche...

Are you a gadget person, I will confess that I am.  When I see the latest piece of technology I do get a little excited and find a reason why I should buy it.  However I am not quite as bad in the kitchen as I have learnt the hard way - buy a kitchen gadget and within a few months the excitement has worn off and the item is tucked away all cosy in the cupboard and won't see much light for many months . . . years . . . ever!!! I have been reading And He Dwelt Among Us by A. W. Tozer and particularly liked his comments regarding gadgets.  Now Tozer died in 1963, so the gadgets we have today such as computers and the many "labour saving" devices in our homes had not been invented.  However when I read his views on gadgets, it could have been written today in 2011.   How excited we (I certainly do) get when we buy a new gadget for the kitchen and it does the job much quicker . . .  faster than what our grandmothers could have done with the same task in...

  Self portrait of the artist I love the way a painting can tell a story and today I have focused on just one of these stories.  I must apologies as I haven't selected the happiest of stories - this on is  about revolution, power and death.   The painting is The Death of Marat (1793) by the French artist Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825).   The painting below is of Jean-Paul Marat,  one of the most passionate leaders of the French Revolution and a personal friend of the artist Jacques-Louis David.  He was stabbed to death in his bath on the 13th of July 1793 by Charlotte Corday, a French Revolutionary figure from a minor aristocratic family. The letter he wrote whilst dying was in his hand. Marat was a Swiss-born French physician, philosopher, political theorist and scientist best known as a radical journalist and politician from the French Revolution and he was the champion of liberty.  Marat often sought the comfort of a cold bath t...

While I was in Sydney (New South Wales) staying with my cousin (once removed) Clara we visited Lake Burragorang which is in the Greater Blue Mountain Area.  The photos below are taken from one of its lookouts and it was most certainly very impressive to look at.  The lake is 52kms in length and has a shore line is 354km so it is quite big. At its deepest point it is 105 metres.  This water is very precious as it provides one of the water sources (for drinking) for the people of Sydney. When we saw the lake, it was almost full.  Clara and her children at the lookout. Danny was a little nervous being so close to the edge.  There are some magnificent rock formation within the Blue Mountains, many look like this.  Dolly (above) wanted me to take a photo next to these yellow flowers. Danny (below) balancing along one of the walls with a stick he found.  ~oOo~   As we were travelling back from Lake Burragorang we noticed all sorts of flowers growing o...

For the preparation that goes into Christmas Day, it is over before you know it.  My fridge is still very full but I have sent sons and fiance off with food parcels and DH is working his way through the ham and turkey.  I have almost recovered from all the activities on the day and now enjoying a few quiet days. I didn't take very many photos - but here are a few from our family day. The children young adults opening their gifts. Making the glaze for the ham - it smelt so delicious - if only the smell of apple, maple syrup, cinnamon and cloves could be turned into a candle!  Caius helped me prepare the ham. Tristan made the pavlova all by himself.  He baked the base on Friday (meringue) and decorated it with fresh fruit on Christmas morning. He used strawberries, kiwi fruit and passionfruit + grated dark chocolate and when he got bored with grating the chocolate he placed the rest into the middle!! He was so proud of his masterpiece. And it tasted very rich and del...

Traditionally in Britain, Boxing Day (26 th of December) was the day for giving cash and food to the poor, this was extended to include workers receiving gifts from their employers (I think I need to remind my employer of this tradition). I doubt there are many people today who will have a clue why they have a public holiday. It is also known at St Stephens Day. These days it is less about giving to the poor and more about the post-Christmas sales — where  people go crazy buying things they don’t need and can’t afford.  I have been to these sales and come home with things I don't really need and buy stuff that wasn't even on sale — and this year I will probably do the same!!! Have an enjoying Boxing Day.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 Behold , a virgin shall be with child , and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is , God with us.   Matthew 1:23 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes , and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold , there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,   Saying , Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. . . . When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, ...

ON HOLIDAYS How exciting! Sleeping in Reading (I have a large pile to work through!) Going on outings Afternoon rests Listening to music Catching up on movies Cooking for fun Blogging (I have some ideas!!) Crafting (next years cards) Spending time with DB & sons ...... until I return to work on the 10th of January. I will be enjoying every minute of these 2 weeks.

How often do you worry about your family, your finances, your spouse or about a friend?  We all worry to some extent.  Most of us can't help it.  We seem to worry over all sorts of things, sometimes quite trivia problems, others very important.  However if we follow the Word of God, we should not worry at all.  Because worry says "I don't trust you quite enough God to answer my prayers and meet my needs . . . I am going to worry just in case".   However I don't need to look far into the scriptures to find my instructions . . . they are very clear. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests known unto be made God. Philippians 4:6 If we live by faith, we need to believe 100% that God has everything under control. He doesn't need our help.  In fact He can do a far better job without us interfering. True. I have a long way to go to completely trust in God.  I think I ...

(Madam Ingres, 1859)   Jean Aguste Dominique Ingres : 1780-1867 French Neoclassical painter (a period of severe and unemotional form of art harkening back to the grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome). Born in France, his father was an artist (not successful) who encouraged Ingres to draw and play music.  He studied in both Paris and Rome and from the beginning of his career, Ingres freely borrowed from earlier art, adopting the historical style appropriate to his subject, leading critics to charge him with plundering the past.  Ingres's style was formed early in life and changed comparatively little, he abhorred the visible brushstroke, he was rarely successful in the depiction of movement and drama and although capable of painting quickly, he often laboured for years over a painting. He painted 450 portraits in his lifetime. One things I particularly like about Ingres' paintings is the way he does the fabrics of the clothes these women are wearing - the  richne...

My eldest son, Tristan texted me on Saturday from a shop that sells bears.  I knew he was there as he told me he wanted to buy his fiance a teddy bear for Christmas.  He asked me what I thought of Paddington Bear.  I said I loved Paddington and thought his fiance would too.  Later that afternoon he called in to show me his purchase and he handed me the bear in the photo above and told me he had bought me Paddington Bear!!!  I was so touched.  What a very dear boy I have.  Paddington now stands proudly on a pile of small books wearing his wellington boots, duffle coat, suitcase and hat. He is no longer lost and can live a very long bear life in my house. Tristan also bought his fiance a beautiful soft cuddly bear as well.  When bringing up children, parents are never quite sure how they will turn out.  Tristan has had his ups and downs - it has been quite the journey.  But at the age of 22 (almost 23) I am so proud of him.  He work...