Expectations Meet Grace

by admin on December 7, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful), People In My Heart with No comments
(My families dainty Christmas tree, all decorated up by my three eldest children.)

Just watched a program about expectations. It shared the importance of finding the fine balance between bonding and empathising with the people you are close to and then expecting them to be like you.

When you start to see the similarities you will often assume they see, think and will react in the same way as you, or that their life is very much like yours. The fact is no matter how much we empathise, or connect, with people we are putting our slant on that too and we have to remember they are their own person.

The best thing we can do for those we love, in this regard, is empathise with them and wrap that in love so it doesn’t leak into unrealistic expectations of them. Expect too much, and then others failing you hurts, but it wasn’t that person who failed you as much as it could be you putting too much on them.

Assume the best of people when they make decisions that ‘let us down’. Seek to understand where they are coming from, and that it might be unlike anything in your world view; then offer your loved ones a large dose of grace.

TTFN

The Engagement (Marriage Monday)

by admin on December 5, 2011 in Adventure and Me, Life Keeps Changing, Marriage Monday, My Romance with 5 Comments
Under A Tree
Two young people sit under a tree, at their favourite city park.
He is reading to her, from Galatians…
She is leaning against him.
Mid sentence he turns her around and asks ‘Will you marry me?’
In shock, she threatens that this had better not be a joke.
In a demanding voice she points out he seems surprised that he asked, and had better be very very sure.
The color returns to his face and he starts to giggle while assuring her of his sincerity.
There under the tree two young people kissed, for the first time.
They both where trembling.
She cried and said yes.
He hugged her close.
The children near by, in the park, christened the event with an chorus of ‘ewwwwwww’!
There was no ring, but they didn’t need one to know their hearts where stuck together.
There was no bowing of the knee, no ceremony and honestly no planning, but they didn’t notice.
All they saw was one another and all they would remember was the question, the answer and the kiss.

Over a month later they returned and he bent to one knee, she put on her best surprised face and he unrolled his sock and took out a ring for her. It had been their secret for a month…

And it all started under a tree in their favourite park.

~

P.s. When we renewed our vows, on our tenth anniversary, we went back to that tree and took photos together, thus the two photos at the top of this post. The first is us in 1999 and the second is us in 2010.

First Monday of every month at Chrysalis

TTFN

Thrifty Holiday Attire

by admin on December 4, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, Little Things with No comments
(The brightly coloured small fitted cardigan was so pretty! All the more pretty for 4 dollars.)

I take great pleasure in finding what I need at thrift shops, it all helps keep this single income family running smoothly. I went on the hunt for a dark brown long sleeved cardigan, a white long sleeved cardigan and a holiday dress for myself yesterday during nap time. My husband took over and set me free to shop for a few hours.I found the dress right away. It was more then I had hoped for with a sweet feminine look to it, modern in cut and SPARKLY. Ideal for the holidays and 9 dollars!

Although I found a long sleeved cardigan it was neither brown nor white but my favorite color, turquoise. I had to leave before finding exactly the right brown and white sweaters but I will find another calm afternoon to go for it again.

Finally, I spotted a long sleeved, transparently soft material, mid-evil inspired wrap that I couldn’t pass up for three dollars. It was a good night and although I am still hoping to find the two cardigan colours I am missing from my collection I feel successful. Ah, how lovely are the calm afternoons where I can take my time hunting through the massive array of clothing at thrift shops. The hunt is just as fun and rewarding as the finding of the treasures.

TTFN

Doily Appreciation

by admin on December 2, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, People In My Heart with No comments
(A favourite doily from Grandma)

While the doily may not be in general a in trend style around the house I have noticed they are popping up everywhere else. I have seen some cute versions of them framed in stylish ways, necklaces with tiny crochet doilies and one of my favorite trendy scarves is basically one long doily.

Thanks to my Grandma Hicks I have a fabulously large collection of them now. I love presenting them on surfaces, in their traditional use, but I have plans to frame some pinned to pretty wall paper and I found a fabulous craft there you turn your sweet doilies into adorable dressy collar complete with pearl buttons.

Thanks to Grandma for these handmade treasures and I sure hope I can get over to learn how to crochet from you soon!

Fab ideas LINKED HERE,
and a necklace idea HERE,
OH and this sweet collar HERE,
More with a bracelet idea HERE,
and a scarf idea HERE!!

TTFN

X-mas Craft

by admin on December 2, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

I think my little hand made books are cute and cheerful! They mean a lot to me, as I don’t craft very often. Christmas seems to bring it out in me like no other time of year. My mom was just saying how this time of year brings out the seamstress in her and she can’t help but joyfully get busy at her sowing machine. She JUST brought down a box full of dolly clothing for my girls, oh how they treasure Nanny’s doll clothing.

Often my crafts include the kids, like the paper garlands one or two Christmases ago or the yarn dolly angels my eldest daughter and I made for our tree years ago. This year the project was just for me.

I made up two sweet little books and wrote two little stories about why babies and stuffies (stuffed animals) are meant for one another. They will be gifted to two very sweet little babies from my own dear extended family; the stories along with specific stuffies I choose for the little ones.

Oh do you wish you could see inside? I did the art work too and I am very pleased with the portrait drawings of each child with their stuffed toy. I feel like the pictures actually look like the babies I am giving them to. Considering my sketching style is faceless that isn’t always easy to accomplish.

With the gifts wrapped, and one packaged for the mail, I am beyond eager for the babies to meet their stuffy companion!

(This is one of the Christmas cards I sent out years ago, it is called ‘delivering the gifts’)

Ah I adore babies and stuffies and Christmas time.

TTFN

Owls

by admin on December 2, 2011 in Domestic Damsel, Little Things, People In My Heart with 1 Comment

Posy the owl pillow, a treat for my couch.
I have a wooden owl statue in my living room as well. I like owls. I like them largely because my grandmother Smith liked them so much, Decorating with things that remind you of loved ones is never a bad way to go.

TTFN

Love Your Enemy

by admin on November 29, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Feeling It (Thankful), People In My Heart with No comments

43-47“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

~Matthew 5:43 (The Message)

Even Christians squirm at this teaching of Christs. It is easy to forget how powerful a love Jesus has called us to live in. We are called to live in HIS love and not ours. It is easy to do what is only natural and not go above and beyond loving those you find it easy to embrace, but this doesn’t make it right for us to turn from his clear teachings. Often that which is easy isn’t what is right and we know that deep down.

All the walls preventing us from practising this teaching come from a root of selfishness. If we are walking in our own strength we will slip into the mindset of the world, but then why call oneself a Christian if we don’t seek to live as Christ?

Living his way is only accomplished by sacrificing your whole self to living in and through him. Jesus is more then willing to take all you and your STUFF on. Are you willing to take on a completely counter cultural saviour?

P.S. May your heart be stirred to remember, when faced with a seeming foe, that Christ saw EVERYONE as worth loving. They might not be worthy of it, we aren’t usually worthy of it either, but Jesus declared they and we worth him dying on the cross.

For an inspiring message CLICK HERE to listen to the audio recording.

TTFN

Winter Wonderland Maquerade Tea

by admin on November 27, 2011 in Adventure and Me, Bits Of My Personality, Domestic Damsel, Foodie Like Me with 1 Comment

Trying something knew and having a winter tea was an adventure for me, especially when I decided to have my first masquerade party. After seeing so many pretty masks in October I was looking for an excuse to wear some. My summer tea this year was a grand affair but many important ladies where not able to attend and so I decided to throw a winter-y event.

Most of the evening I wore a lovely brown fur cape I have that has the prettiest satin bow paired with my pink dress gloves, but it got a little warm. My youngest daughter managed to keep her furry red scarf on all night, with her feathered mask, and she must have drank tea all night long. My oldest put on her cat mask and looked adorable in a hand made pink collar that my mother had found. Icing on the cake was finding out last minute that my Mom was going to be able to attend. She was so much help and such a great conversationalist.
It was grand fun to see what everyone picked to wear and all the creativity and uniqueness my circle of women have. One talented friend came in a costume dress she herself had made. Another had made her own lovely blue mask. A third had her daughter make hers in true sweet heart of a mother style. We had a lady who looked the princess in her gown of soft blue and ladies in more modern attire that suited their sophisticated taste.As usual everyone contributed to our snacks and we had a beautiful spread. It was so pleasant to see a collection of modern women drinking from my pretty collection of ‘real’ tea cups and all in all it was a sweet evening.You just don’t fine two women completely alike and they are so fabulous to get to know, each and every one!

TTFN

Yo-Yo Ma;Alison Krauss – The Wexford Carol

by admin on November 24, 2011 in Uncategorized with No comments


Beautiful, new favorite Christmas carol. Feel free to turn on these songs I post to listen to while reading the near by posts. I usually post the song with the write up below in mind.
TTFN

Dedicated Tea Drinker

by admin on November 24, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Foodie Like Me with No comments

I suggest you get a cup of tea and pull yourself, and it, up to this here computer and then read on!

Don’t get me wrong I like my coffee, and espresso especially, a lot but it is a heavy duty drink and I have got myself used to just a cup a day and anymore really does seem HEAVY to me. Tea, on the other hand, is available for every ordinary and extra ordinary occasion in my days. It is a comfort drink to me where coffee is kinda get pumped up and go for it drink. Tea is cozy, coffee is intense.
I wake to my black tea each morning with breakfast. I find it slows me down in a lovely way by being an excuse for couch time; ‘I could use a sit down and a cup of rooibos‘. When my tummy is upset, even just from nerves, then my mint green or mint chamomile are a good friend and confidant. Wrap my hands around a cup of it and breath…drink… think… breath… When I feel like rewarding myself, usually with a side of chocolate, the double chai is there to make me feel like I am having a hurrah moment or a personal little party (any reason will do, did the dishes really fast LETS CELEBRATE, pass me the chocolate and tea).
Ah yes, tis a grand thing to drink tea and to think I used to wonder at the amount my great great aunt Ruth could drink in a day and the amount of times she would break out the tea pot and cups to sit with… I am just as bad if not worse. When I am home for the day I stare down a full cup of tea over and over and over and over and…

Here’s a little facebook post I put up to get some fresh ideas for tea types. And after my post are some of the responses.

Asking all dedicated tea drinkers to share their top 5 favourite teas with me:

Here are the four teas I count as favourites as I go to them through out each and every day… (the teas I own and enjoy are a much longer list for sure)

  1. Rooibos (plain)
  2. Stash’s Double Spice Chai (gotta have my chai SPICY)
  3. Stash’s Mojito Mint Green (the only green I can really enjoy)
  4. Twinnings Earl Grey (my faithful morning friend)
  5. Peppermint Camomile (when I wanna calm right down)


One pal was all about loose leaf tea and a company called ‘Steeped’ in particular, here are her picks:

 1. Machiatto dreram (roobios)
 2. Dark chocolate Chai
 3. Earl grey de la creme
 4. Toffee crunch (roobios)
 5. Eggnoggin (green tea/black tea mix)

My second friend to share had three and I have to say, knowing she ADORES pomegranates and introduced me to pomegranate tea, I wasn’t surprised by her choices:

i like chai, peppermint, or pomegranate (green tea)

Third response was this:

Rooibos Caramello. It’s from my favourite tea store called The Blue Teapot in North Vancouver.

Fourth response:

I like Cherrybana by Paper Street Teas. Fruit combo, great warm, amazing chilled.

Fifth response:

Blooming teas in a glass teapot are my fav… Then a good authentic chai.

The Sixth response was my husband, he needed to put his two cents in:

1) Rooibos Provence is pretty amazing.
2) I also enjoy Mulberry Leaf tea from time to time.
But watch out for teas by a company named BIJA, yes they are healthy, but you might have a nicer drink by simply filling your tea cup with dirt and weeds.

Seventh response:

I have a fav ginger tea….can’t remember who makes it though.

Eighth response was from one of my sisters:

My favourite is Lime Gelato from David’s Tea, it is amazing. My next favourite from there is Buttercream. They are both pricey , but I am always glad I splurged when I have them.

Ninth response:

I love Chai! Twinnings Earl Grey, then Ginger Peach, good ol’ Orange Pekoe, and Lemon zinger for when I’m sick.

TTFN
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