“To Those Who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine. Small mediaeval Italian Castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be Let furnished for the month of April. Necessary servants remain. Z, Box 1000, The Times.”
This advertisement for an Italian Castle enchants me and gives me cause to dream. In a dreary, cold winter in England, two ladies, Rose and Lotty, become friends and persevere through many doubts to rent an Italian castle in April. It makes no difference that the book and movie are set in the era between the World Wars, when Lotty opens her window on the gardens of San Salvatore, I am there too.
The first time I was captivated by the story of Enchanted April was through the movie. The novel by Elizabeth Von Arnim, written in 1922, was harder to find. It is available in print again, and is also available free through the Guttenberg Library.
I’ve enjoyed browsing through the Guttenberg Library, searching out old stories and books I read as a child. If you love vintage stories, but can’t find the books you would love to read one more time, search for the title in the Guttenberg Library.
The score for Enchanted April is also beautiful, listen for a moment—
One of the books I’m reading for my morning devotionals is a volume of wisdom by Mother Teresa. When I read today’s Daily Prompt, I immediately thought of her. If anyone personifies acting locally and reaching the whole world, it would be this tiny, but spiritually strong lady. Though her life on this earth has ended, her wisdom and witness live on.
“We need to give Christ a chance to make use of us, to be His word and His work, to share His food and His clothing in the world today. If we do not radiate the light of Christ around us, the sense of darkness that prevails in the world will increase.”“Mother Teresa/No Greater Love.”
It’s a fact, there are many stresses in life. At this point in time it seems there are more than usual. I began to list a few and stopped myself, we all know what they are, in fact many of us are victims of the times we are living in. So, here’s a quick, easy and inexpensive escape—DOODLE a Bit.
A night or two ago I sat down with a blank journal. I chose to start small and gathered felt-tipped pens and colored pencils. I had some photographs of my grandchildren from Valentine’s Day weekend, and decided to make our celebration my first theme.
“A doodle is a drawing made while a person’s attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes.
Stereotypical examples of doodling are found in school notebooks, often in the margins, drawn by students daydreaming or losing interest during class.Other common examples of doodling are produced during long telephone conversations if a pen and paper are available.” Wikipedia
My first attempt is not fine art, but it was FINE RELAXATION. I had forgotten how completely relaxing it is to do simple, easy artwork. My advice: if you are stressed, grab a piece of paper, a pencil or pen—and DOODLE away.
At times in this world of trouble we need a reminder of where our focus should lie. Please pray today and every day for those enduring religious and ethnic persecution.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” Robert McCheyne (1813-1843)
Let each of us remember to pray every day for our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” ~ Ephesians 6:18
It’s a perfect day for a rerun blog post. Many people bake these delicious cookies during Thanksgiving and Christmas. I bake them whenever the craving for pumpkin grabs ahold of me. They are delicious and the pumpkin makes them very nutritious. They are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy!
My Grandmother Broadwell always baked these amazing pumpkin cookies for family and friends. I can’t bite into one without thinking of her. Every year, especially around the holidays, I bake up a batch or two. They are scrumptious, and best of all pumpkin is loaded with vitamins.
Pumpkin Cookies
Sift together:
2 Cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cream together:
1 Cup shortening (I use butter)
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup pumpkin (canned)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional:
1/2 Cup nuts, and/or 1/2 Cup raisins
Mix together. Add nuts or raisins if desired. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes.
While the cookies are baking make up your frosting.
3 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons milk (2% is okay)
1/2 Cup brown sugar
Heat this and bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook for 2 minutes taking care not to burn. Cool. Add 1 Cup powdered sugar (add more if needed, icing should not be thick, but rather runny) Add 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla and spoon over cookies.
My newest venture into the world of untried produce is Savoy Cabbage. I’ve seen this vegetable many times, but choose instead the well-known and less expensive generic cabbages. I realize I have probably unknowingly sampled Savoy cabbage in a restaurant or company dinner out, but I have not purchased or cooked one.
The cabbage itself is much prettier than its plainer cousin; the leaves are frilly and a beautiful lime green. I decided boiling or sauteing alone was out of the question and searched the Internet for an alternative. I didn’t find anything outstanding so I added a hodgepodge of items from fridge and pantry and came up with my own version of a Dijon sauerkraut. I didn’t measure or write down a recipe, but these are some of the items I added: half a can of beer, Dijon mustard, a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce, some sea salt, freshly ground pepper and herbs. I cooked everything in a saucepan until the cabbage was softened and the liquid condensed.
The finished sauerkraut dish wasn’t very pretty; the presentation on par with the canned or bagged sauerkraut I often have on hand, but the taste was much more yummy. The Dijon mustard added substance and the beer gave the dish a surprising tang. Best of all, the homemade sauerkraut was delicious cold. I also appreciated the bigger pieces of cabbage compared to the stringy strands I find in a can.
The big question: Will I buy Savoy Cabbage again? Absolutely. I loved it.
“Like the rest of the cabbage family, savoy cabbage has high nutritional value. It is very low in calories, and contains no fat or cholesterol. It is a good source of dietary fiber, and protein. It is also rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as: Thiamine (B-1), folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, manganese, calcium, copper, phosphorous, and copper. They are also an excellent source of both Vitamins K and C. Each of the different types of cabbage have high nutritional value, as well as tremendous antioxidant and disease combating properties. These properties make cabbage one of the worlds healthiest foods.” ~ SavoyCabbage.org
Symmetry – “For this challenge, share an image of symmetry. Don’t limit yourself to architecture — you can bend this theme in any way you’d like.”
Symmetry – the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis.
Bird’s Nest Fern – Longwood Gardens Conservatory
This beautiful Bird’s Nest fern while not being perfect in its symmetry, is still a good example of a plant growing in a symmetrical manner. Growing a Bird’s Nest Fern is easy. The plant is more resilient against dry conditions than the more feathery ferns. An added plus is a Bird’s Nest Fern is a low-light plant.
Another example of symmetry is a gravestone. This one, weathered by years, wind and sea salt can be found in the graveyard on Block Island, RI.
A few years ago my son took a trip to Hawaii. Knowing my love for rocks, he brought me home two pieces. One turned out to be a piece of coral, but the other was odd, and had a funny texture when we held it in our hands. I can’t remember when the waxy feel of the rock joggled the little snippet of memory I had on ambergris, but it did, and I suddenly realized the texture pointed to the rock being ambergris. I did a bit of research, and yes, it had a definite ocean smell. It also had bits and pieces of squid beak and sand mixed in…yes, I had a real piece of ambergris. I was elated.
“Ambergris is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales.
Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor. However, as it ages, it acquires a sweet, earthy scent commonly likened to the fragrance of rubbing alcohol without the vaporous chemical astringency. Although ambergris was formerly highly valued by perfumers as a fixative (allowing the scent to last much longer), it has now largely been replaced by synthetics.” ~ Wikipedia
As with any treasure, the quest was on to find more, and I did. The next piece of Ambergris was found in the opposite ocean, a piece of ambergris floated to me on a bed of seaweed, this time a gift from God. This piece is greyer in texture, not as aged and sweet as the first, but still a welcome find. It also has pieces of Squid beak embedded within it.
As you can see, my pieces of Ambergris have been cut in half. The other halves are with my nephew now, who was so intrigued by my treasures I was happy to give him pieces of them. I loved the fact that when I shared the piece from Hawaii, the resulting half resembled a heart. Somehow, in the sharing, the piece became even more special to me.
If you find a piece of “funky” stone on a beach and don’t know whether it is ambergris or just something yucky and gross, do the hot needle test on it. An example of how to perform this test can be found in the following Youtube video. Happy Ambergris hunting…who knows…you might find the biggest piece ever!
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
We all long for it, but achieving it is not as “Simplistic” as it seems. Enjoy these “Simple” quotes and a few gentle reminders that Spring is on its way.
“Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” ~ Socrates
“Whatever science and philosophy may do for mankind, the world can never outgrow its need of the simplicity that is in Christ.” ~ Lucy Larcom
I’ve planted sweetpeas quite often over the years, but I have never been wildly successful. I manage to grow them, and love their sweet fragrance and pastel colors, but the vines have never been lush and produced as many blossoms as I have wished. Who knew I was supposed to be pinching the sprouts as they grew? How did I miss this tip? I certainly pinch out most seedlings to force branching; why didn’t I realize I should do the same with my vines?
I found a good explanation of why you should pinch sweetpeas quite by accident while browsing blogs and garden sites. Why Should I Pinch Sweet Peas?
“Pinch sweet peas for the first time when you set nursery plants out in spring. If you plant sweet pea seeds, make the first pinch when the seedlings are about 4 inches tall. Thereafter, pinch the vines throughout the season, whenever you think the plant will benefit from more bushiness or when the vines begin to look long and leggy or untidy.
The first pinching is most important, because early pinching directs the sweet pea’s energy to the development of strong roots, resulting in a healthy plant that is resistant to disease and pests. Pinching also forces the plant to branch out, creating a full, bushy, compact plant rather than a long, leggy plant. Each pinched vine displays new lateral growth.” ~ SFGATE
I usually soak my sweetpeas for twenty-four hours before I sow them. This year I am planning on using the winter-sowing technique for my sweetpeas. Updates will follow.
The prickly pear I sampled last week was a complete disappointment. I’m thankful I read Melanie Mendelson’s account of eating a prickly pear in her “Melanie Cooks” blog, How to eat a Prickly Pear, as her information was exactly what I experienced when I cut into my prickly pear.
The fruit was a gorgeous color and had a bit of a sweet scent. I also could see why Melanie said she wouldn’t buy another one; the fruit was FULL of seeds.
I scooped out a bit of flesh with the tip of the spoon. I found it uneatable. The half teaspoon measure of fruit was filled with six seeds, maybe more.
I won’t be buying this fruit again, but I will try growing a prickly pear plant from the seeds to have something to show for the $1.49 I paid for it. The recommended way to start these seeds is to soak in citrus juice first to break down the hard shell.
“If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noise. If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do? Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love. If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever.”
SCALE
– “This week, share an image that highlights a size relationship — make us pause and take a second look to understand the scale of the elements in your photo.”
Gerbera Daisy with a visitor.
It’s February…dreary and cold in much of the world…we need a little giggle!
There are some blessed with more money than they know what to do with, others have just enough, and then there are the rest of us who make-do with what we have and keep appliances, furniture and clothing for as long as we possibly can.
Frugality is a good habit to develop, and a good way to live, but all of us now and then need the boost of a small luxury. For me this usually means a houseplant, a new art supply or something for the garden.
African Violets can often be found for a dollar or two, but a year or so ago I spotted a sample of this beautiful violet at the Philadelphia Flower Show and just had to have it. I don’t know if it was the frilly edge of green circling each petal, or maybe the name “Mystic Mermaid,” but my heart pitter-pattered and I reached for my wallet at the African Violet plant stand. The violet I purchased was double, perhaps triple the price of a grocery store violet, and consisted of half a dozen leaves, but I took the speedline home with daydreams of the plant blooming in my home. It has taken quite awhile for my violet to fulfill my dreams, but it has been worth the wait.
We all need a few small luxuries in our lives. I still get excited about robin’s egg pieces I find when walking in the Spring. I carry them home in the cradle of my palm, but they are extremely fragile, and shatter in a few weeks. Love for the real thing makes me quite the pushover for ceramic, wood and papier-mache robin’s eggs that are often found in shops in the Springtime. These also make my heart go pitter pat. Another small luxury that adds a bit of joy to my life.
Did you happen to notice the backdrop to my photographs? A page from “Anne of Green Gables” seems so appropriate as a backdrop for my small luxuries. The character of Anne Shirley found joy in small things and was thrilled over the loveliness in the world around her. If you’ve never read this book, please do, it is a wonderful story for all ages. There is also an excellent mini-series available in most public libraries based on the Anne of Green Gables books.
And so…this brings me to the end of my post. It might seem a little trivial, but it is just a reminder to those of us in throes of Winter with its diminished sun and cold temperatures; be good to yourself and indulge in a small luxury this week. It will bring a little rush of Springtime to your heart. Blessings!
Winter rain brought me a blessing this week; I glanced out my window and was immediately entranced by the huge drops of water clinging to the bare branches of a nearby tree. Summer foiliage would have obscured this view. In the pared down beauty of the winter landscape I was able to glimpse hundreds of earthbound diamonds glimmering like stars in the rainy mist.
“May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
~ Old Irish Blessing
I love this song by the Dove Brothers, a classic Southern Gospel quartet. This tune and rhythm will make you want to jump up, sing and dance.
