Saturday, April 30, 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Journey



"For a small reward a man will hurry away on a long journey,

while for eternal life many will hardly take a single step."





~Thomas a Kempis

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Pitfalls of Shopping.....



.....just a few days after Easter.

Miniature truffle Easter eggs.

Boasting six different "delicious flavors".

Like Lemon On Dark Mousse Au Chocolat.........or Cherry On White Mousse Au Chocolat.

Even Blueberry Vanilla.......

The very last box.

Marked down to just $1.99.

I know I shouldn't have.

But I did.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Wild Onions




The children have been returning from their long outdoor rambles with pockets stuffed full of these. I smile, because I remember doing the same thing myself! Wild onions are so tasty in or on just about everything.....




We've been getting quite a lot of rain lately, but it's quite all right with me. A feathery green mist of budding leaves is slowly creeping through all the woodlands and thickets. And the birds are up before the sun, and then long after dusk, filling the air with music. I love Spring......




I stopped by our new/old house on Saturday and found so many lovely little surprises awaiting me. Not only have all the crocuses, daffodils, and tulips that I bought last fall come up, but:


~There are other daffodils and tulips springing up in random areas of the yard and little tiny grape hyacinths as well(!).......I'm thinking they must be the remnants of a long forgotten garden;


~A huge bush out south that we were trying in vain to identify is covered in gorgeous magenta buds;


~And all the old lilac bushes are starting to slowly show signs of life.......as well as an ancient trumpet vine........




I am so excited!!!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Hot Cross Buns....





This year I decided to deviate a bit from what I did last year, since my Knight isn't a huge fan of cinnamon and raisin filling. I hunted through my cupboards looking for inspiration and pulled out chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Absolutely fabulous!



(I enjoyed some of the left-overs this morning with coffee ~Mmmm!)



I definitely will remember this for next year.......

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Egg Dying



















Hope you all have a very blessed Easter!






Friday, April 22, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Holy Thursday

"And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread; and blessing, broke, and gave to them , and said: Take ye. This is my body. And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank of it. And he said to them: This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many. Amen I say to you, that I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had said a hymn, they went forth to the mount of Olives. And Jesus saith to them: You will all be scandalized in my regard this night; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed."



Mark. 14:22-27

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lent: Day Thirty-seven

Well, I never did get the linen closet organized, as I had intended.......

But~

The lamb cake is made and cooling on the rack;



And the laundry is folded (~three large mounded-to-overflowing baskets worth!)







There is chicken noodle soup on the stove, a nice fire in the wood-stove (~it's been a cold week!), and I can hear the sound of happy children playing together.



Yes. God is good.



Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Inside Looking Out....









Among the things my Knight-in-shining-armor brought back from his business trip was a new camera (~well, new to us, as he "Craig-listed" it).


I have been having too much fun.







Lent: Day Thirty-six



There is so much I want to get done. But I keep telling myself that I must be realistic......


Easter will come, whether I'm ready or not. And thank heaven for that! ;)

Monday, April 18, 2011

Lent: Day Thirty-five


I do love the scent of hyacinths.......


Saturday, April 16, 2011

Lent:Day Thirty-four

I just keep reminding myself that "April showers bring May flowers"..... ....Then all the rain doesn't seem quite so dreary!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lent: Day Thirty-three


"The spiritual life is the easiest, sweetest and happiest thing in the world ~to love God and be loved by Him.

To do His will is to love Him.

His will is to be found in the ordinary little things of every minute.

We please Him and win His love in the same way as we please and win an earthly friend.

There are very few invariable rules in the spiritual life,

but this is one:

Pray in the way that you like best."




~Father Considine, S.J.

Defining Cuteness

I am convinced that if one were to look up the definition of cuteness in a current edition of the Merriam-Webster Picture Dictionary, one would undoubtedly be confronted with what you see below:




If not, the aforesaid dictionary will have lost every ounce of credibility........ in my estimation, that is;)

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Lent: Day Thirty-one


Another gorgeous day!

I am hoping to get my peas planted.......

.......something I've been wanting to do for the past month!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Lent: Day Thirty

Lilac buds.

It's amazing how they just happen after a spring rain.....

Monday, April 11, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-nine



I spied these bits of sunshine from my kitchen window this morning, and they are just what I needed!

My knight in shining armor left yesterday afternoon ( it's a business trip......you know, dragon slaying.........or, more properly, learning the latest in dragon slaying techniques...;), and won't be back till very early Saturday morning. I miss him. But I keep thinking of ladies I know whose husbands have to be gone for weeks at a time........and sometimes even months! They are amazing. Thinking of them helps me keep my chin up.

It is a gray day outside, but we had such a lovely sunny weekend........

And the weather is mild enough to have the windows open, so I am counting my blessings:)


Saturday, April 9, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-eight


Sunshine and Saturday.......


.....it's one of my favorite combinations.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-seven


"Without the Way, there is no going;

Without the Truth, there is no knowing;

Without the Life, there is no living."



~Thomas a Kempis

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-six


I made a homemade coconut cream pie last Sunday (Laetare Sunday). It was my first time and it turned out very well. So well, in fact that I've found myself thinking about it all week........



Lent. It isn't supposed to be easy, is it? ;)

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-five



"In the evening of life we shall be judged on love."



~St. John of the Cross

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-four




"If you bear the cross unwillingly, you make it a burden,

and load yourself more heavily; but you must needs bear it.

If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another,

and perhaps a heavier."




~Thomas a Kempis


Monday, April 4, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-three




Rain



"The rain is raining all around,

It falls on field and tree,

It rains on the umbrellas here,

And on the ships at sea."


~From A Child's Garden of Verses,

by Robert Louis Stevenson





~Though we are much too far away from the ocean to know if the latter part of the poem would prove true.......wish we were close enough!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-two





Kites. On my quilt. One for each child. Excepting Blue, they all had great fun picking out "their colors". And there is plenty of room for future additions...... ;)

Friday, April 1, 2011

Lent: Day Twenty-one

Just a bit of horseradish does wonders to plain old mashed potatoes..........