Finding joy in the everyday

Willy Lott's Cottage, Flatford, Suffolk The cottage is a timber-framed 16th century building made famous by being the subject of one of John Constable's well  known paintings. Home is a refuge, a place of rest, a haven of content, where the burdens of everyday life are relieved.  No matter how humble the home may be, how destitute its stores, or how poorly its inmates may be clad, you will find a friendly welcome from hearts beating true to your own.  The chosen partner of your toil has a smile when others have deserted you, a hand of hope when all others refuse, and a heart to feel your sorrows.  It should be the duty of all to strive to make home so happy that each evening will furnish pleasant memories to lighten the load of another day.  Make it so happy that you do not tire of it, but long for the hours when your day's toil is over, and you desire to reach it becuase it is the happiest and dearest place on earth. From "The Golden Gems of Life" by Fergu...

  Seagulls at Malua Bay, South Coast New South Wales Weather: Overcast and rain during the week, quite humid and muggy - very unusual for Canberra, which is hot and dry at this time of the year.  Today however is sunny and warm - but still muggy.  My hair has been horrible all week! Cooking : I managed to finally bake bread that DH really likes and so do I. I haven't bought any this week and hopefully won't need to for a while as I plan to bake all our bread from now on! I am quite excited that I managed to tactual this challenge (and slight fear).  It feels good!! These are some of the cupcakes I made for my future daughter-in-law.  She loved them and Tristan thought they were very cute.  His cupcakes had boy pictures on!! Children : My youngest has been at the coast this week and having a wonderful time fishing, collection shells, going for walks and relaxing.  However the weather has been overcast and wet so no swimming as it is just too col...

My dear son is turning 23 today Happy Birthday Tristan There were times when I thought you would never make it. Life was tough and it was like climbing Mt Everest. We did make it, you and I We had many tears . . . laughter . . .  anger . . .  joy And I am so proud of you.   Brothers  A mass of blonde curl s All grown up Self-portrait (year 6) He has asked me to make him a "monster" cake - similar to the one I made when he was five!!!  6 weeks old ~oOo~

 Brisbane River To my family in Brisbane who are being directly or indirectly affected by the floods, you are in my prayers at this very difficult time.  One cousin and her family have moved most of their belongings out of their home and now wait to see what happens.   Their street started to flood yesterday. The Queensland floods is of the magnitude we have never seen before, with 12 dead from recent torrents and 51 missing, it will be frightening days ahead for so many families.  I am sure most Australians, like myself, are struggling with the immense size of this flood and its destructive power, at present it covers the size of France and Germany and I am sure that is growing by the day.    Rockhampton We leave this crisis in the Lords hands and trust that He will protect our loved ones. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,...

 Lemons II Artist: Cindy Procious (born 1965 - ) Contemporary artist Cindy Procious is an American Realist painter, portrait artist and illustrator, living and working in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She paints still life, portraits and animals, but it is her still life paintings that I love.  Examples below are from her website , there are many other examples that I have not included that are also very beautiful. She is one talented lady. Procious works exclusively in oil add produces still life paintings on contract for Marine Arts Gallery in Salem, Massachusetts and portraits by private commission from her studio in Signal Mountain, Tennessee (so she will do a painting for you if you are interested!!). Pink Rose and Raspberries  Blue Hydrabgea in Nantucket Basket Nantucket Strawberries   Mixed Flowers in Chinese Vase  White Peonies Kate Emily   Giraffe ~oOo~

What is it in shopping which so attracts the feminine mind? It must be admitted that the sterner sex are, as a rule, indifferent to the charms of such expeditions, and will suffer much, rather than accompany a lady to a round of shops.  Others will go shopping, as they wrongly call it, simply to look in at the windows on the chance of seeing something pretty and cheap, when they rush in and buy it, and go home rejoicing and boasting to all their friends of the bargain they have lighted on. Some advice on the art of shopping according to GOA (1880) 1. Never buy a thing simply because it is cheap because it will be laid aside getting dingy and out of date, and when at last a use comes for it, its freshness is gone and you will wish you had never bought it. 2.  If ribbon (for example) is cheaper at a shop some distances from your home, consider the effort of getting to the shop (eg transportation) so what is gained by the cheaper ribbon is lost by the transportation and time ...

When in sorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . call John 14 When men fail you . . . . . . . . . . . . . call Psalm 27 When you have sinned . . . . . . . . . . . . . call Psalm 51 When you worry . . . . . . . . . . . call Matthew 6:19-34 When you are in danger . . . . . . . . . . . .  call Psalm 91 When God seems far away . . . . . . . . . . call Psalm 139 When your faith needs stirring . . .  . . .  call Hebrews 11 When you are lonely and fearful . . . . . . call Psalm 23 When you grow bitter and critical . . . . call I Corinthians 13 When you feel down and out . . . . . . . . . call Romans 8:31 When you want peace and rest . . .  call Matthew 11:25-30 When the world seems bigger than God . . . . . call Psalm 90 When you want Christian assurance . . . call Romans 8:1-30 When you leave home for labor or travel .  . call Psalm 121 When your prayers grow narrow or selfish . . call Psalm 67 When you want courage for a task . . . . . . call Joshua 1 If you...