tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26146724084025606222024-02-19T21:24:01.929-08:00Hawthorne's PatchworkHawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-65020401927700862562014-06-27T08:02:00.000-07:002014-06-27T08:02:17.780-07:00Very personal Psalm 139<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At my retreat at the <a href="http://www.all-hallows.org/" target="_blank">Community of All Hallows</a> last month, Sister Sheila encouraged me to read through <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A+1-18&version=GNT" target="_blank">Psalm 139</a> (verses 1-18) again. I sat in the sunshine, slowly reading, and as I did so it seemed God asked me to turn the words around so that He was speaking instead of the Psalmist......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Juanita,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have examined you</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and I love you. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I love you at rest and in action;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I love all your thoughts.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I walk with you in your journeying</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and stay with you in your resting;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have walked all the paths you take.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I have heard all the words you speak.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I guard you closely behind and before,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and my arms are always around you.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Where could you go to escape from my Spirit?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Where could you go, that I am not?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I am in your highest praises, your greatest joys,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and I am in your darkest places, your deepest fears.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I am in your Light Days,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and I am in your Dark Days;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>my Presence fills even your Grey Days.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I it was</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>that called you into being.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I imagined you</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and breathed you into life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I rejoice that I made you!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And all is for Love - I love you!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Shout it from the hilltops - I LOVE YOU!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Whisper it to the trees - <span style="font-size: x-small;">I love you!</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sing it</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>dance it</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>write it</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>roll in it</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>spin in it</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>revel in it - </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I love you!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I love you!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I LOVE YOU!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And I always will.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTwhZzv-jvgFkSJlq7UUtrdUxC0eth7yu6mqtil28eDRlYHpjMoc6d5t5AZLDyE0qm4eb-FkjQAyj1Hi8XPD_hZcjCsJJjuW59eQKT-CNIJMBQhyd_MKtcAMF7P1mtHl7uydl4-HXUFVu/s1600/Jump-for-joy-2-cartoon-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTwhZzv-jvgFkSJlq7UUtrdUxC0eth7yu6mqtil28eDRlYHpjMoc6d5t5AZLDyE0qm4eb-FkjQAyj1Hi8XPD_hZcjCsJJjuW59eQKT-CNIJMBQhyd_MKtcAMF7P1mtHl7uydl4-HXUFVu/s1600/Jump-for-joy-2-cartoon-image.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0000ee; font-size: x-small;">http://thetruthshineswithin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Jump-for-joy-2-cartoon-image.jpg</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Now, dear reader, go back and read it again, but put <u>your</u> name at the beginning!</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-53780841430150579692014-06-23T11:22:00.000-07:002014-06-23T11:22:08.078-07:00To Elizabeth<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some thoughts on the eve of the feast of the birth of John the Baptist....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Were you anxious, Mother Elizabeth?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Barren all those years, yet now - miracle of miracles - pregnant!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>At your age!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>All those years of scorn and pity from the other women,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>all those years of self-torment and self-blame:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"The scriptures say the good man will be blessed </i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with many children,</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so what have I done wrong?</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or is it my husband, Zechariah, who has sinned? </i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is God punishing us by withholding life?"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, no, Elizabeth,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has a very special job for you and your husband!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are to give birth to the Messenger,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Herald,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Way-Preparer.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your tiny son, kicking in your womb,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will bring the dawn of the new age,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a new covenant, between God and the world - </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yes, the world! - </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not just your own people, the people special to God,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but all peoples because, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at last,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Israel is ready to learn that <u>all</u> peoples are God's.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here you are, on the eve of the birth,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pacing around,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">panting with pain,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">coping with the pangs of the coming birth.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you afraid that your old body will not cope,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when even young women labour so?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you fear you may die in the process?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet, like all mothers-to-be, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you probably feel it will be worth it,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that your own death doesn't matter,</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>as long as your child is born safe and well.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I wonder what Zechariah is feeling?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Mute, he cannot easily share his concern for you.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Tensely sitting with the other men,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>left out of Women's Mysteries,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>waiting for God's miracle to be born.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And what of your cousin, Mary?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>She, too, carries a Miraculous Child -</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>one more amazing than anyone can imagine!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When she visited you in your sixth month</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>you felt the Quickening of life recognizing Life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How you both rejoiced!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Has anyone thought to tell her and Joseph</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>that your child is on his way?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How glad she will be!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And how many questions she will have to ask</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>of what it is like to give birth!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ah, Mother Elizabeth, </i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bear with the pain,</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for it will all be worth it </i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when you hold your special child </i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in your arms!</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rejoice, Mother Elizabeth,</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rejoice!</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the herald of your Saviour</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is soon to be born!</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zjOEd62UWobvgTQ9SX2WaoNXEOvrMwuoiE241oJdLhZZFKnB73VRO9PXsfKiIEmifW4fVCAiWtw69AithwV_C0Yl0SS5j25FtEUood0J-Gv6bwEgHjBVRtyHp9jadJllKsOrze7RZZmr/s1600/mother_and_son2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zjOEd62UWobvgTQ9SX2WaoNXEOvrMwuoiE241oJdLhZZFKnB73VRO9PXsfKiIEmifW4fVCAiWtw69AithwV_C0Yl0SS5j25FtEUood0J-Gv6bwEgHjBVRtyHp9jadJllKsOrze7RZZmr/s1600/mother_and_son2.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image by Google search </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>http://www.bible-people.info/mother_and_son2.jpg</i></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-33382533786361913112014-06-02T11:30:00.000-07:002014-06-02T11:30:03.295-07:00Let Your God Love You!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have recently returned from an individual guided retreat at<a href="http://www.all-hallows.org/" target="_blank"> All Hallows Convent, Ditchingham</a>. I have visited All Hallows a couple of times before, staying for a few days each time, joining the Sisters for worship and a midday meal. It is a place of peace and of welcome, and I felt at home there from the very first visit; indeed I wrote in my journal that I could hear God singing from the roof there, like a Chaffinch or a Robin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were greeted with tea and cakes, and with a beautiful little vase of wild flowers in our rooms. After tea, we maintained silence (except for worship, and for chats with our guides) until breakfast on the last day. It was tricky remembering to show the day to day civilities by gesture instead of in words, but there was a real feel of Companions On The Journey Together with us retreatants. And, my goodness, did we make up for it with chat at that last breakfast! ;-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each day we met our guides, talking together, sharing together and going away with Bible readings or other quotes to think upon. We then prayed, meditated or thought in silence; in our rooms, in the communal living room, with the baby bunnies and red-legged partridges in the gardens, or as we walked the beautiful country lanes around there. We read, we stitched, we knitted, we slept, and we just allowed God to reach us as He wanted to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sister Sheila was my retreat guide. At the first meeting, she gave me a poem/prayer that really hit deeply, so I thought I would share it here. I don't know who wrote it, but will gladly acknowledge the author if I ever find out! Here it is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be silent. Be still.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Alone: empty before your God.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Say nothing.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Ask nothing.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Be silent.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Be still.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Let your God look upon you.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>That is all.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He knows.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He understands.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He loves you</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>with an enormous love!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He only wants</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>to look upon you</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>with his love.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Quiet.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Still be.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Let your God</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>love you!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSfN6aUXK5D6Gx0f6PNTx-uTNaV2ybYgDNa2bEc8Ax_mpiu1Y-4YpgvdwxLf7rClo31vSR72QJAi3NYi66e7hIkpRShxcOKm2ai8nDJhLaYCQpgCj1iGVYhdkWeivG824xUGkjVuQMNow/s1600/Joy+in+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSfN6aUXK5D6Gx0f6PNTx-uTNaV2ybYgDNa2bEc8Ax_mpiu1Y-4YpgvdwxLf7rClo31vSR72QJAi3NYi66e7hIkpRShxcOKm2ai8nDJhLaYCQpgCj1iGVYhdkWeivG824xUGkjVuQMNow/s1600/Joy+in+God.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Image from Google Images search http://www.care2.com/greenliving/its-official-meditation-cures-stress.html</i></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-43713263887831000552014-05-22T15:09:00.001-07:002014-06-02T10:30:21.679-07:00Set my people free!<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Prayer for Prisoners</u></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh God,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who sent your Son</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To set the captives free,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have pity on those who are trapped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their minds -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The depressed,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The addicted,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those with dementia;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Break their bonds,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gracious Lord,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And set them free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOqVCxEUmn3F4M18EOt_tPc7FgeN7_UI3tpRdwJ657mp2858t13tvmlkF_sTcf6Kn_JKk1MvRK355S-Pgn2FkmnxCf1qJSVYyG2W3LZEdTUegc185b9zq2y0ROkcUgjyadURUhLmZvI_K/s1600/Depression+SuperStock_1830-2070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOqVCxEUmn3F4M18EOt_tPc7FgeN7_UI3tpRdwJ657mp2858t13tvmlkF_sTcf6Kn_JKk1MvRK355S-Pgn2FkmnxCf1qJSVYyG2W3LZEdTUegc185b9zq2y0ROkcUgjyadURUhLmZvI_K/s1600/Depression+SuperStock_1830-2070.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Image found by Google Images http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1830-2070</i></span><br />
<img src="webkit-fake-url://7829D328-D67C-4757-9EA6-1CEE905CAF2A/imagejpeg" />
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-85019156527733319922014-04-24T14:47:00.000-07:002014-04-24T14:47:52.759-07:00My Jesus, my Jesus...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Have just been to see a local production of "Jesus Christ, Superstar" - need to express my feelings.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'My Jesus!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Jesus!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's all I could think</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as I watched them act out His story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Took me by surprise, that "my" - really personal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hadn't realised how much I love Him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tend to pray more to the Father</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">than to a personal Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet this deep, deep feeling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>erupted</u> from within me,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>burst</u> out from my heart - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My Jesus! My Jesus!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're hurting my Jesus!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the tears rolled down my face,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it changed to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh God, oh God, oh God!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like an echo of Jesus'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My God, my God, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">why have you forsaken me?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Peter touched </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the chained Jesus' hand,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">begging His forgiveness for betraying Him,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">how I wanted to touch Him too,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to tell Him how much I love Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could turn this into a sermon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">about touching Jesus' hand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in every act of love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">every person we reach out to;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but, right now,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all I want to do</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is to kneel at His feet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and tell Him I love Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Jesus, my Jesus,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my Love x x x</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0SDrCCVcBNo6uW1UJnk56JvruX9zUttV-39jI7IfNPOeuiolUgXgw2tIE5A-FEXVP-iEyn3AfG-riNCuE1KYqmoFiQJzp3eL9eJj670Q_t1qvHJZ6YCHWE_h94tNVdWxpDlC9dqp_Tlv/s1600/feet+of+jesus_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0SDrCCVcBNo6uW1UJnk56JvruX9zUttV-39jI7IfNPOeuiolUgXgw2tIE5A-FEXVP-iEyn3AfG-riNCuE1KYqmoFiQJzp3eL9eJj670Q_t1qvHJZ6YCHWE_h94tNVdWxpDlC9dqp_Tlv/s1600/feet+of+jesus_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Image via Google images, http://tammynischan.blogspot.co.uk/2010_10_01_archive.html</i></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-88779187545136035232014-04-23T08:13:00.001-07:002014-04-23T08:13:32.157-07:00Mary Magdalene reflects<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Happy Easter everyone!!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There have been some really moving services in my church this Holy Week and Easter Day. I have been truly humbled by God's presence there, and in the people present (who, after all, are the real church, not the building!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the evening of Easter day, our curate, Zoe, read some pieces from <a href="http://www.kevinmayhew.com/info/contributors/nick-fawcett/reflective-services-for-lent-holy-week-easter.html#.U1fSpPldWa8" target="_blank">"Reflective Services for Lent, Holy Week and Easter" by Nick Fawcett,</a> and I was blown away! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy reading stories aloud - a legacy of over 25 years of teaching in Primary schools - and so I have tried to record one of the reflections for you. In this piece, Nick puts himself in the place of Mary Magdalene, about to tell the disciples the good news that Jesus is alive - if they'll believe her! <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(N.B. I had to turn the sound up fairly loud when I replayed it. I'll have to get advice from my technical brother on how to improve the sound quality!)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxV8Ehwy0mcwCMUNSfy_pGNd83A94X-TAICuoYOHr9qH-e-Cz1byQw558QCMHaIN-xXYPb6WN0HgpJ1XqKAzg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7n9XGBH9npl5vwxta6W_uW1uJv2SdfVpEZ4FwfoUIbvQd_2eulBZnqX4rxkT8nAuUCbaICCyYYjebomiOv5kjm2LfN21vzXg67itRtLuPOJFuHnJbO5py1jRYn16rHEAQ-wWU7jX7x7Y/s1600/Mary+Magdalene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7n9XGBH9npl5vwxta6W_uW1uJv2SdfVpEZ4FwfoUIbvQd_2eulBZnqX4rxkT8nAuUCbaICCyYYjebomiOv5kjm2LfN21vzXg67itRtLuPOJFuHnJbO5py1jRYn16rHEAQ-wWU7jX7x7Y/s1600/Mary+Magdalene.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found by Google images search from </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>https://www.lds.org/liahona/2003/06/jesus-is-risen?lang=eng</i></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-51830537213549290042014-03-29T12:02:00.001-07:002014-03-29T12:02:54.198-07:00Drama Queen 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what I originally wrote in my journal about the Dramatic Gestures, which I unpacked for the last blog post. Says the same kind of thing, but slightly differently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To give up the Dramatic Gestures -</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>not because it's WRONG or SINFUL</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(The spirit of Blame and Self-hate),</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>but because it's Not Necessary</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(The spirit of Realistic Love):</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I don't <u>need</u> to do these things</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>to gain God's love,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>because God loves me already.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I cannot buy God's love with 'holy gestures' - </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>nothing I do,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>or give up,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>can make God love me </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>any more than He already does.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And nothing I do or say,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>or don't do or say,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>can make Him love me</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>any less than He already does.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>God loves me.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Full stop.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Not dramatic exclamation mark,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>or capital letters,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>just quiet full stop;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>nothing more needs to be said.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHls9FjlrxcIeEKd_1VPSXI-pYQhT2OfGSm1i1p0La069dWLcQoI6BsZ_7OmEk8jikgMU5QSH40PQSzGCXMjlIAYj8Pst66b9nOs35Or5w9JtwdXWqA05nsaVbHyz0SNcjsqDwfkpGDpu/s1600/jesus_love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHls9FjlrxcIeEKd_1VPSXI-pYQhT2OfGSm1i1p0La069dWLcQoI6BsZ_7OmEk8jikgMU5QSH40PQSzGCXMjlIAYj8Pst66b9nOs35Or5w9JtwdXWqA05nsaVbHyz0SNcjsqDwfkpGDpu/s1600/jesus_love.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Pic by Google Images search http://pastorcarolmora.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/jesus_love.jpg</i></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-79647971327758092532014-03-17T10:40:00.000-07:002014-03-17T10:40:52.974-07:00Drama Queen!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to confess to having a weakness for the Dramatic sometimes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it stems from all the stories of heroes/heroines I have read and loved since I was a child - you know, fairy tales, fantasy stories, King Arthur and his knights and all that. Of course, when you read these you naturally cast yourself as the <i>Noble Knight On A Quest </i>or the<i> Wise Lady Dispensing Wisdom</i> or the <i>Beautiful Princess Admired By All</i>. When I became a Christian I read stories of saints and martyrs and, naturally, saw myself in those roles too - the <i>Tragic Martyr Who Bravely Held On To Her Beliefs No Matter What</i>. There I stand, on top of the high place, wind blowing my long hair and long skirts, looking nobly, determinedly, (but humbly) into the face of danger, the sun making a halo behind my head, swoon, swoon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, this is all very well when you're little, or when you're reading the book, but what about Real Life? Ah, now that's where the problems begin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I look back on my life and realise how often I have made the same Dramatic Statements. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My family will be familiar with the usual ones:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I'M NEVER CUTTING MY HAIR AGAIN!! </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Biblical Nazarite, Amish, or historical reasons. But, after a year or two, I get fed up with long hairs all over the floor and in the bath, and the amount of time it takes to wash and dry.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I'M NEVER EATING CHOCOLATE/SUGAR AGAIN! </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Which is sometimes expressed as..</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I WILL EAT HEALTHILY FROM NOW ON!</b> or </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I WILL RESPECT MY BODY! </b> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Yes, a very hoary chestnut, that one, never maintained beyond a week or two!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I gave up teaching, I realised I had the freedom to try out my pipe dreams...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I WILL GROW ALL MY OWN FOOD, AND BOTTLE/PRESERVE IT MYSELF! </b> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(But I only like gardening in certain weathers - not when it's too hot, too cold or too wet.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I WILL LIVE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Except in Winter when I get cold and the lack of light triggers my S.A.D. - and when I want to use my laptop, or the microwave...)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I WILL BE A NATURE RESERVE WARDEN!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(See note above about weather.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I WILL GIVE ALL MY TIME IN SERVICE TO OTHERS!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Until I'm exhausted and then feel resentful.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>I WILL PRAY 4 TIMES A DAY, LIKE NUNS DO!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(But they live in community, to support each other; and they don't need to cook all their own meals or go shopping.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>I WILL GET UP AT DAWN EACH DAY!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(But this goes completely against my body clock.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All very laudable statements, but none of them are <b>realistic</b>. Of course, when the Grand Promises get broken, and the Dramatic Gestures can no longer be sustained, I end up </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">swooping down from the mountain tops down, down to the very depths of guilt and self-hate, wallowing in my supposed awfulness...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I'M A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE PERSON!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>HOW CAN GOD EVER LOVE ME?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I AM THE WORST OF SINNERS! </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guess what? These are Dramatic Gestures too - and they're just as unrealistic as the other ones!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why do I do it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mostly it comes from a desire to be a good person, to please God. I am trying to earn God's love, to win respect from other people and, yes, sometimes I suspect I'm showing off a bit too! (<i>Sorry!</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, when you look at it, this all stems from insecurity, from a lack of belief in God's love for us. It's so hard to really believe and accept that God actually loves us <u>just as we are.</u> We don't have to earn it. We don't have to buy it. God really, really, REALLY loves us!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, from now on, <i><b>I'M GIVING UP DRAMATIC GESTURES!</b> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, wait, that's another D.G. isn't it?! Hmm... let's change it... I pray that God will help me to live more realistically, to trust Him more, and believe in His love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>*cue sweeping strings and triumphant brass...*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-23805808912243334432014-03-07T08:12:00.001-08:002014-03-07T08:12:44.963-08:00Catching up<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Gosh, such a long time since </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> written on here! </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> been meaning to write all the hundred and one things </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> thought of since last
August but, somehow, other things take priority and time just slips away. And
now, where do I start? Which of those 101 things do I begin with? Hmmm....I’ll
start by giving you some very belated news.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Last July, I became a <b><a href="http://www.friendsofjulian.org/front-page-block/companions-julian-norwich" target="_blank">Companion of Julian of Norwich</a></b>.
This is a worldwide group of people, lay or clergy, who wish to follow Julian’s
teachings in their lives. Companions try, as best they are able, to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">reflect the unconditional love of God in
their response to others and to themselves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">exercise compassionate empathy in their daily
lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">meditate and intercede for the world for at
least 30 minutes a day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">seek spiritual nourishment from regular study
of Julian’s <i>“Revelations of Divine Love”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">make at least one visit to the Julian Shrine
in Norwich during their lifetime, if possible<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We make these promises annually and, as I only live about
45 minutes away from the Shrine, I made my promises there. It was a beautiful,
moving occasion with nine of us, including my Mum and Daughter, in the tiny little
room. Canon Beryl, my Rector and one of my sponsors, led the short service and
Daphne, the other sponsor, read the Bible reading I had chosen <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A7-12&version=GNT" target="_blank">(</a></span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A7-12&version=GNT" target="_blank">1 John</a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A7-12&version=GNT" target="_blank"> 4:7-12).</a> We sang, unaccompanied, <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjLuG4sza3U" target="_blank">Be Thou My Vision</a></i>, and Liz Thomas, a Companion, presented me with a certificate, badge and medallion. There were other Friends of Julian present too, including Sister Pamela from
All Hallows Community, who provide hospitality for visitors to the Shrine.
(And, indeed, tea and cakes afterwards!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Here are some piccies:<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlTr1RA-d4XF6fVzBPcKh1kVHBtDENJmOXFCnUG5nzH6YfxmwIzYTHHsrExsOcbmDTYiryYoan5oagg3hnjSoldraGM4gDNDoxiIaLW-YPskovs7lHSJWN9Diyiybqo4YnBGLtt0gBLAQ/s1600/CJN+refs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlTr1RA-d4XF6fVzBPcKh1kVHBtDENJmOXFCnUG5nzH6YfxmwIzYTHHsrExsOcbmDTYiryYoan5oagg3hnjSoldraGM4gDNDoxiIaLW-YPskovs7lHSJWN9Diyiybqo4YnBGLtt0gBLAQ/s1600/CJN+refs.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Me, with Canon Beryl and Daphne.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IN417GfFyQK_NeUKvtlSMtN1_2O8ihVnSWjSN1vgxF7UnPnpS06XF1VazlGomUGXG1MioliM1WuF6KjeQCZlc3f4n2z_LzFXGnBkz3QYmKa5ymlbDKBSBl63Qnn-Bd4pI8takGseWdFN/s1600/CJN+with+Vic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IN417GfFyQK_NeUKvtlSMtN1_2O8ihVnSWjSN1vgxF7UnPnpS06XF1VazlGomUGXG1MioliM1WuF6KjeQCZlc3f4n2z_LzFXGnBkz3QYmKa5ymlbDKBSBl63Qnn-Bd4pI8takGseWdFN/s1600/CJN+with+Vic.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My beautiful daughter is on the left, </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">and my wonderful Mum is next to me, on the right of the picture.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Incidentally, I made the purple dress I am wearing, rushing to finish it on time. Since the fabric frays easily, I later had to reinforce the seams to make up for the short cuts I had taken!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I think that will do for this post - hopefully will post another of the 100 things left soon!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Blessings to all who read this! x x</span></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-5080724995964520592013-08-16T03:16:00.001-07:002013-08-16T03:16:01.857-07:00God's butterfly touch<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Came across this beautiful poem today in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Waymarks-Journey-Ray-Simpson/dp/1848672225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376648087&sr=8-1&keywords=waymarks+for+the+journey" target="_blank">this daily prayer book</a>.....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
man whispered, ‘God speak to me’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
a meadowlark sang.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But
the man did not hear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So
the man yelled, ‘God, speak to me’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
the thunder rolled across the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But
the man did not listen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
man looked around and said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">‘God,
show me a miracle!’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
new life was born.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But
the man did not know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So
the man cried out in despair,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">‘Touch
me, God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
let me know you are here!’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">whereupon
God reached down<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
touched the man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But
the man brushed the butterfly away,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
walked on.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="http://www.fotothing.com/photos/f0a/f0acfb56652eb8ca4f7cfc3a7516033f.jpg"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:76.95pt;margin-top:525.6pt;width:228.55pt;
height:172.15pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\NITASP~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="f0acfb56652eb8ca4f7cfc3a7516033f"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98JGwK3_RE7PKUpih2qJMiJaC0Kgerrqr8zSwFHEZQlv9oW6-vU6SkEK7MA-UxNlxSjFsRhpQoiNMQpbi2S4G1aGm6Y7ZEbg4mGZguP5UO56wjCrLp99witqfH681AdBh07EVIGeir9gt/s1600/Butterfly+on+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98JGwK3_RE7PKUpih2qJMiJaC0Kgerrqr8zSwFHEZQlv9oW6-vU6SkEK7MA-UxNlxSjFsRhpQoiNMQpbi2S4G1aGm6Y7ZEbg4mGZguP5UO56wjCrLp99witqfH681AdBh07EVIGeir9gt/s320/Butterfly+on+hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.fotothing.com/photos/f0a/f0acfb56652eb8ca4f7cfc3a7516033f.jpg">http://www.fotothing.com/photos/f0a/f0acfb56652eb8ca4f7cfc3a7516033f.jpg</a></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-53902476629194547052013-08-14T15:10:00.000-07:002013-08-14T15:10:18.032-07:00Talitha Koum! Get up, little girl!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's reading was <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205:%2035-43&version=GNT" target="_blank">the story of Jairus' daughter, in Mark 5:35-43.</a> Jairus, the leader of the synagogue, an important man, is desperately worried about his daughter who is dying. He turns to Jesus for help. On the way there he is told it is too late, she has died. Jesus carries on regardless, turfs out all the weeping mourners, and chooses just 3 disciples and the child's parents to witness the miracle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What struck me today was all the little details included - the girl's age, the actual words Jesus uses, that He held her hand, and that he told the parents to give her something to eat. This is surely the memory of one who was present. I wonder who passed the story on - Peter? James? John? Or maybe the girl's parents? Can you picture them retelling it, from person to person, till it got written down?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I dwelt on the words Jesus used -Talitha Koum! - which means "Little girl, get up!" Can you hear the love in those words?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Get up, Little One!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>God's got a job for you.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>By your very living</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>you will proclaim God's healing power,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>His loving care for his children.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Get up, Little One!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Show the world there is hope</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>when all seems lost.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Get up, Little One!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Show everyone that Death is not final,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>that Love triumphs over all.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Get up, Little One!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And be my witness</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>to the world.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And, one day,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>when you are old</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and Death comes for you again,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I shall take your hand once more</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and say "Get up, Little One!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>as your spirit joins mine for ever.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKcM7RI-m-GLYIte8VH7R95S8Po4AO18IZDgnasVqL0pMsU7hRt7qFIVqI-lL8xuQ1lYVyHM3qQeuDFWJUfLxXoqLD2U_P5D5SCr6rHWU3Nl9eU4SRno59hcyF7fDOmTY9Et_2Nva9bwH/s1600/jairus-daughter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKcM7RI-m-GLYIte8VH7R95S8Po4AO18IZDgnasVqL0pMsU7hRt7qFIVqI-lL8xuQ1lYVyHM3qQeuDFWJUfLxXoqLD2U_P5D5SCr6rHWU3Nl9eU4SRno59hcyF7fDOmTY9Et_2Nva9bwH/s320/jairus-daughter1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://figurativeartlivingmasters.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/del-parson-1948-american/">http://figurativeartlivingmasters.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/del-parson-1948-american/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-38422388737094867592013-08-12T04:35:00.000-07:002013-08-12T04:38:50.924-07:00Lectio Divina - Legion, the Gerasene<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectio_Divina" target="_blank">Lectio Divina</a> - reading the Bible in a meditative way, imagining yourself there in that situation, looking for meaning.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reading for this morning's daily prayers was <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205:%201-20%20&version=NIVUK" target="_blank">the story of the man from Gerasa </a>who is so filled with demons he calls himself 'Legion'. As I read it, tears filled my eyes. I understood some of his pain as I have had depression myself and witnessed my husband captive to his own fears. I needed to write what I felt, so I share it with you now....</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>That poor man;</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A legion of conflicting voices</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>waging war in his head,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>tearing him apart,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>tossing his battered mind from one to another</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>like a precious object</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>thrown by malicious bullies,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>while he stood by</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>helpless and weeping.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The pain he must have felt!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The agony of helplessness</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>that made him roar and rage,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>beyond any man's help - </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>how could they see</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>the war inside him?</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How could they know how it felt,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>when even cutting your body</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>to try to release the demons</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>seems your only help.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And then Jesus came-</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jesus!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Compassion shining in His eyes,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hope radiating from His healing hands.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And at first the man was afraid.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How would it be to be free?</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This terror was so awful,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>but it was <u>his</u> terror,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>familiar to him.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>What - who - would he be without it?</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It had been so long now,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>he couldn't remember </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>what sanity was like.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And Jesus looked,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and He touched,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and He healed.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And suddenly the fear was gone.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Gone!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The weight was lifted!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The dark, rumbling clouds</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>replaced with blue sky and sunshine.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He could see again - </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>truly <u>see</u>!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The distorted, haunted,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>ghost-screaming world</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>replaced with beauty and love,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and hope!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Then he remembered who he was - </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>a beloved Child of God,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>wanted, </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>protected, </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>safe.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And as he wept at Jesus' feet, </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>all the angels of heaven</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>wept and rejoiced with him.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He was Home at last.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqFWD8McCQZvQoNh8_OPO9J9lCv23HgOdbtI8ssToc0pZy2v5XPhbx3n0ZOLmppBAq_q0ZKRxA5r0zuk6k4hRlOR9tLDsLkvi6Q4F1lvguopM1fwj7VGScyVcfb_-wgA3MT6g1dAvnLxw/s1600/CONTENTMENT_by_iamthemindfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqFWD8McCQZvQoNh8_OPO9J9lCv23HgOdbtI8ssToc0pZy2v5XPhbx3n0ZOLmppBAq_q0ZKRxA5r0zuk6k4hRlOR9tLDsLkvi6Q4F1lvguopM1fwj7VGScyVcfb_-wgA3MT6g1dAvnLxw/s320/CONTENTMENT_by_iamthemindfire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Image from Google search </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://iamthemindfire.deviantart.com/art/CONTENTMENT-176419114">http://iamthemindfire.deviantart.com/art/CONTENTMENT-176419114</a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-11763835387961713172013-05-25T12:58:00.000-07:002013-05-25T12:58:00.763-07:00Empty feeling prayers<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes when I pray I feel alight and alive, filled with joy and energy. Other times I feel nothing; the words of the prayer book are just sounds my mouth makes, echoing in an empty room, and in the free prayer time I can't think of anything to say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I leave prayer time rejoicing I praise God for it, but when I leave feeling flat and disgruntled I feel guilty and apologise to God for not doing better. This morning was just such a 'nothing/empty words' time and, when I began to apologise, I felt God saying this;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>Don't put yourself down just because you didn't <u>feel</u> good during prayers.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> Feeling is irrelevant. Your prayers are surely heard, no matter how good </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> or bad you feel during or after them. You have set aside time to pray, time </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> to be with God, and that's what matters.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> I don't act on prayers according to how much you felt them. I act on <u>all</u></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> prayers because they are addressed to Me. If you feel good afterwards,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> that is a bonus. My Spirit still flows through you, whether you feel it or not.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! What a loving God we have! Praise His name!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3MaTj3p-i-TD1nbJus7uWuGzVDGKl7EGwlozlyTBHWgt8Ge8M9PIxPEVdTNGw6px6klYfC_7xDk9WSeTUHYy9p8SzyNSiHDW8LZFzYIBNW_Ob9Msp1TvlW0bcHfJ1NSq0rrhNWGFQFG9/s1600/Mother+Julian+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3MaTj3p-i-TD1nbJus7uWuGzVDGKl7EGwlozlyTBHWgt8Ge8M9PIxPEVdTNGw6px6klYfC_7xDk9WSeTUHYy9p8SzyNSiHDW8LZFzYIBNW_Ob9Msp1TvlW0bcHfJ1NSq0rrhNWGFQFG9/s320/Mother+Julian+reading.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Mother Julian bellsofnorwich.net</i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-15511430515116159882013-03-18T05:16:00.000-07:002013-03-18T05:16:25.582-07:00Sanctuary, Sanctuary!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My ears need sanctuary today from the noise of the Flooring People removing the tiles downstairs in my living and dining rooms! (Not that the men themselves are making the noise you understand, just the machine they're using.) However</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the sanctuary in the title is my newly refurbished bedroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In August 2011 things had got so bad with my husband's alcoholism that I couldn't bear sharing a room with him anymore, so I bought myself a bed from a charity shop and moved into the tiny spare room. The main bedroom was just awful - food, urine, blood and faecal stains on the carpet, the bed broken where he'd fallen on it so many times, and the smell!!!! Urrgghh! This tramp, this unwashed, unshaven stranger who used to be my loving husband..... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, a few months after God took him home for healing, I decided to reclaim the room as a joyous, peaceful sanctuary. I ripped out the carpet and dismantled the bed. I took down the built-in wardrobe (which I'd never liked) and gave it all a thorough clean. I decided to paint the walls a healing green, a Springtime colour. It needed several coats as the original colour was deep pink on one wall, and lavender blue on the others. I had new doors fitted on all the upstairs rooms - most of them used to stick or wouldn't shut properly. I had the beautiful wooden floor sanded, stained and sealed, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I vowed to furnish it with used items as far as possible - and to leave a big space in the middle for dancing prayers!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, at long last, here it is.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37oFPXulsriRO855iIAVcAj8FQTQiSbZoFP4QuCOhZMrOPYpTEYRb0efBY4-okn_iP1kE3rA-G9ixnRnuwpGwsaclQ_OJJ7Fad6he78t2F0AmoJItsW31JUIn-_rqn-KLq6cremoETY3A/s1600/Door+Plaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37oFPXulsriRO855iIAVcAj8FQTQiSbZoFP4QuCOhZMrOPYpTEYRb0efBY4-okn_iP1kE3rA-G9ixnRnuwpGwsaclQ_OJJ7Fad6he78t2F0AmoJItsW31JUIn-_rqn-KLq6cremoETY3A/s320/Door+Plaque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the outside of the door is this beautiful plaque </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which my daughter brought back from her visit to Ireland....</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAB-tr9TtJ05K-Ebmj_dmpFb8oCv2nfwdKAc13bDnFV45NxwzsLqfTGhuryNoEsnpSA1fRfEc3VUzjAOpM4TwN1MJSoydl0SJQsKTfGx212mydcBXm7yvrIxr-Z5yaNdkMtrz9fxRpk3T/s1600/Back+of+Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAB-tr9TtJ05K-Ebmj_dmpFb8oCv2nfwdKAc13bDnFV45NxwzsLqfTGhuryNoEsnpSA1fRfEc3VUzjAOpM4TwN1MJSoydl0SJQsKTfGx212mydcBXm7yvrIxr-Z5yaNdkMtrz9fxRpk3T/s320/Back+of+Door.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and on the back of the door are some Shaker style pegs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwsXmGgUZVwemLMDoKuR-8-Kt9Uz9w1-cKl-VIdXk0TgMXyAKO-r0KZy0_Ra-frtJ3-XJv6UHThdVXabI-cZPgUksg2eS-n9wEZkScbX7zj3WPYDtygCPL5k0KQTS_Pb6xqqfnOnMwkl3/s1600/Bed+Covered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwsXmGgUZVwemLMDoKuR-8-Kt9Uz9w1-cKl-VIdXk0TgMXyAKO-r0KZy0_Ra-frtJ3-XJv6UHThdVXabI-cZPgUksg2eS-n9wEZkScbX7zj3WPYDtygCPL5k0KQTS_Pb6xqqfnOnMwkl3/s320/Bed+Covered.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The head of the bed is in the niche that used to be the built-in wardrobe. During the day the bed is covered to protect against muddy paw prints.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtey9Eyc2RFPeKDRGpSo3bmY05IVUEwR5bdXcORw2oET_4gf_lEc_nnOp5tbKHN9CloJl6j6lQOYkqXqtB1eiZgGX48RfeLVnxqh_8wtahppM2GLjXEZO2ERlGTpfP9jDYCW10F3Tj-L1d/s1600/Coverlet+Throw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtey9Eyc2RFPeKDRGpSo3bmY05IVUEwR5bdXcORw2oET_4gf_lEc_nnOp5tbKHN9CloJl6j6lQOYkqXqtB1eiZgGX48RfeLVnxqh_8wtahppM2GLjXEZO2ERlGTpfP9jDYCW10F3Tj-L1d/s320/Coverlet+Throw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a close up of the pretty coverlet I bought from Sainsburys.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR0Br8pnZqfGgnmGlSsJQmqGFFdsJJwzkGPTUSR6euY-t5x5pKJ2f8JtHlP8OsuHi4kMCXpAzaqBIilEojowZ1LagC9D-enfVrTC17-cHbXLmINiRQWbUJHAJGQVBkhFU84-BHM6I9-OD/s1600/Bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR0Br8pnZqfGgnmGlSsJQmqGFFdsJJwzkGPTUSR6euY-t5x5pKJ2f8JtHlP8OsuHi4kMCXpAzaqBIilEojowZ1LagC9D-enfVrTC17-cHbXLmINiRQWbUJHAJGQVBkhFU84-BHM6I9-OD/s320/Bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the bed without the protection - as modelled by Bramble, who wanted to see what I was up to. I made the duvet cover and pillowslip myself, using a beautiful yellow gingham with daisies </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fabric, an old white sheet, and some little yellow ribbon roses. It doesn't really show properly in the picture, unfortunately.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhSraa751XGH8ryT-BjKNNfapU0c33679BYPeeB_B1UnQ_0gzZHOB1mcImI0995K-ZAKNnJ_UFuAdkf6_ZN3quMIrujdQAUVetUZMtjRU2sKO8oe3on8yTyd68Uae4T5dPdEM4IfWUMPs/s1600/Curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhSraa751XGH8ryT-BjKNNfapU0c33679BYPeeB_B1UnQ_0gzZHOB1mcImI0995K-ZAKNnJ_UFuAdkf6_ZN3quMIrujdQAUVetUZMtjRU2sKO8oe3on8yTyd68Uae4T5dPdEM4IfWUMPs/s320/Curtains.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The curtains are made of the same fabric. When the sun shines through it's like daffodils in Springtime!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvug_x2OC4zBQkriznEf0y1hNYfNo0OFeoWozY39oOwjd2KYw9V6x7SICj8veQmekVUV7g5nElNdtpReqjNz2OK13PqFtDKyZV-fmjMuj-D2Py8gxMycEKetNrjeDq4-TB3lQgFvE7eH5/s1600/Walsingham+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvug_x2OC4zBQkriznEf0y1hNYfNo0OFeoWozY39oOwjd2KYw9V6x7SICj8veQmekVUV7g5nElNdtpReqjNz2OK13PqFtDKyZV-fmjMuj-D2Py8gxMycEKetNrjeDq4-TB3lQgFvE7eH5/s320/Walsingham+Cross.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above my bed hangs this lovely cross, bought on a visit to Walsingham. It has the Lord's Prayer on it, and is so bright and colourful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lDXKX8hNTkIfiqO3ZZw7kopaOtwnv7AcYTS4LavE5IPfyMmdzRkigupkvk2opR9Lsh11wO0s4ek1CRs-n5G-ys2QwEQpBIuCzq8sNZsPNM7Pm8WiGrFLvOomteM7kz55ax8ar_-JsGWF/s1600/Bedside+Cabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lDXKX8hNTkIfiqO3ZZw7kopaOtwnv7AcYTS4LavE5IPfyMmdzRkigupkvk2opR9Lsh11wO0s4ek1CRs-n5G-ys2QwEQpBIuCzq8sNZsPNM7Pm8WiGrFLvOomteM7kz55ax8ar_-JsGWF/s320/Bedside+Cabinet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bedside cabinet came from the shop at our local recycling plant. On it you see two Bibles (KJV and GNB), alarm clock, reading glasses, pen and paper - for thoughts that occur in the night!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ewvT7y5ythV_4MeqywCy8KtVFtWcTesmIZq_9wDUIGOsgSF3QauC9EnHdMHPKut_NFZbtRixnzjyE949hvzsvX2sVXQPWtR-m3fj_8b65KXED_xz6DSJui5xMIj_JOflUqRzWE2JOYMy/s1600/Chest+Drawers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ewvT7y5ythV_4MeqywCy8KtVFtWcTesmIZq_9wDUIGOsgSF3QauC9EnHdMHPKut_NFZbtRixnzjyE949hvzsvX2sVXQPWtR-m3fj_8b65KXED_xz6DSJui5xMIj_JOflUqRzWE2JOYMy/s320/Chest+Drawers.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a chest of drawers for clothes, with a mirror, hairbrush and rosary on top - and Luna's back end as she passes by!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZkglQwlZFXb-x_5oKlDLpfDEIbj3w-sYAvOPYnXpvuU2BVEusk4EiG7ZiKkz6d7cQLYcHwgclXPwVStslsXSMzrURYFez9Bvcf63Qhp4G1R-feSepkkuQ9GTC78gvS58yyAkci0qi-w8/s1600/Old+Chest+Drawers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZkglQwlZFXb-x_5oKlDLpfDEIbj3w-sYAvOPYnXpvuU2BVEusk4EiG7ZiKkz6d7cQLYcHwgclXPwVStslsXSMzrURYFez9Bvcf63Qhp4G1R-feSepkkuQ9GTC78gvS58yyAkci0qi-w8/s320/Old+Chest+Drawers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This beautiful old chest of drawers is another charity shop find. On top is an old dressing table set I got from Ebay a few years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk25Pi7ylXqM61Uwmj-lPZ1LeT3JtJBavmATPsUhZw4Fe-Gz2dU7bHrPvXTgBvu7K4m53jDl6jSjzb5lT-5TGJl0B13w-_eNZmqhyphenhyphenPT7A6-TkYd0-ogm0URVkw5oSs-J4CJaHN0sHdSTZ8/s1600/Clothes+Brush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk25Pi7ylXqM61Uwmj-lPZ1LeT3JtJBavmATPsUhZw4Fe-Gz2dU7bHrPvXTgBvu7K4m53jDl6jSjzb5lT-5TGJl0B13w-_eNZmqhyphenhyphenPT7A6-TkYd0-ogm0URVkw5oSs-J4CJaHN0sHdSTZ8/s320/Clothes+Brush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a close-up of the back of the clothes brush, so you can see the embroidered (silk?) back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEfNXF1RuzKaS30EMQPfJBcxuWhOxKmaZbegBjaMdjZjg0kWPATkywEBz-GCuA15xspn72_Nt2uevYmaJprqxnWDvTj9saLGfZ3rL2qkV0sQsrRji_7sFgWLlHMYoeq9aSOGe2AsLwOci/s1600/Wardrobe+and+stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEfNXF1RuzKaS30EMQPfJBcxuWhOxKmaZbegBjaMdjZjg0kWPATkywEBz-GCuA15xspn72_Nt2uevYmaJprqxnWDvTj9saLGfZ3rL2qkV0sQsrRji_7sFgWLlHMYoeq9aSOGe2AsLwOci/s320/Wardrobe+and+stand.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My lovely little wardrobe, and a stand, both charity shop finds. I have to tie the handles together to stop certain kitties from trying to find their way to Narnia then getting trapped cos I haven't noticed they're there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT_ZvZNfKMH2R9RW3n2cdKgf_se3jYw2ttG6Esq78gU7e3wurqGOwq1ygGhwIgUB83Y3OHcTfATTD9J-QL-2GtVQILjPAcNIftiWFuvzIU1n40iSwoadMtoizGdqN3-HCNphIWPxnRkUE/s1600/Ottoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT_ZvZNfKMH2R9RW3n2cdKgf_se3jYw2ttG6Esq78gU7e3wurqGOwq1ygGhwIgUB83Y3OHcTfATTD9J-QL-2GtVQILjPAcNIftiWFuvzIU1n40iSwoadMtoizGdqN3-HCNphIWPxnRkUE/s320/Ottoman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Ottoman belonged to hubby's parents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOHuJIoh6LPRozupTrF6nugGCkpjwi9kB14mN0BJcmuDU9Eu8IvHLyfMmRsOteXb0EhMAYQiTDzFVC4wuTohVbT4Bw_sYCkj8FYfRe-kK-Nf1OUk9UgJZGFwAUyEKQB_KI30PyPhKmLZY/s1600/Washstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOHuJIoh6LPRozupTrF6nugGCkpjwi9kB14mN0BJcmuDU9Eu8IvHLyfMmRsOteXb0EhMAYQiTDzFVC4wuTohVbT4Bw_sYCkj8FYfRe-kK-Nf1OUk9UgJZGFwAUyEKQB_KI30PyPhKmLZY/s320/Washstand.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My lovely, lovely wash stand!! It's actually a tea trolley that belonged to hubby's Gran. On the top layer is an enamel bowl from Ebay, enamel jug from QD, soap dish from charity shop and home made deodorant. In the middle is a towel and flannel, and at the bottom is a metal bucket for used water, covered with an old towel, dyed, and used to stand on when I wash. (Also useful to stop a daft Bramble from trying to drink the soapy water!) I soooooo love taking my time with my morning ablutions in my own room, and it will be really useful on a hot Summer's day to just refresh myself here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7NoNm_8VmcvJjV3b6D878BkzJbiOQFVYMU0qFZ19ePNGfLuw4KH0x9Y6-BTKADMKrH4i7hMa4B0EusKFmGivU4Eb4s5gJXw7pz2K232mT62lgVWXArzJyjr41T2KzxeCOOv9IPowMn83/s1600/Soap+Dish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7NoNm_8VmcvJjV3b6D878BkzJbiOQFVYMU0qFZ19ePNGfLuw4KH0x9Y6-BTKADMKrH4i7hMa4B0EusKFmGivU4Eb4s5gJXw7pz2K232mT62lgVWXArzJyjr41T2KzxeCOOv9IPowMn83/s320/Soap+Dish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look how pretty the soap dish is!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRo052Fm6GRpLsQ2MlW_E9FX52TL26slKDNjmRVqCHQbq6G9alI90qijE1kgXbJOsrpiFDKIDmRvmBWMlxlSpggeyk1u2wFXxGNd3lAA89GkACzFrN_gfTDZkOrfRc0pDZHLyjhrjG0PKn/s1600/Bureau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRo052Fm6GRpLsQ2MlW_E9FX52TL26slKDNjmRVqCHQbq6G9alI90qijE1kgXbJOsrpiFDKIDmRvmBWMlxlSpggeyk1u2wFXxGNd3lAA89GkACzFrN_gfTDZkOrfRc0pDZHLyjhrjG0PKn/s320/Bureau.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always wanted a bureau! This is another charity shop find. You must think the charity shops near me are bulging with such bargains, but sometimes I have waited months before finding what I wanted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Ah7klOiEJbnATjg_CMHgbfsp6y8hQmZ4UfWoiw8J7XqYfGpqePxpHxHlc3Vh1V_7EFiHCn4RC3LlqziiWtSH-c506JwhSVa0Sj6wI0WCT6HdkuqmRUCeSeqjROAnAdDwnZ2Q_6rg55G/s1600/Inside+Bureau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Ah7klOiEJbnATjg_CMHgbfsp6y8hQmZ4UfWoiw8J7XqYfGpqePxpHxHlc3Vh1V_7EFiHCn4RC3LlqziiWtSH-c506JwhSVa0Sj6wI0WCT6HdkuqmRUCeSeqjROAnAdDwnZ2Q_6rg55G/s320/Inside+Bureau.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside. The ink stand was bought from Ebay several years ago - it's good to have a proper place for it now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdOZ8D32CsfmrdtXIypwVG_d3ciTbrJYdMggG5g9yK8N2I63GyRpObUA7bBoUA0PAwJO3oJ4qhzStuARBUvJ8XrfJH5c3pOIRpcK2z7_7bD4xDUmvCwUV7qJRHvYEBqCk7CkWNnGIIQvb/s1600/Willow+Tree+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdOZ8D32CsfmrdtXIypwVG_d3ciTbrJYdMggG5g9yK8N2I63GyRpObUA7bBoUA0PAwJO3oJ4qhzStuARBUvJ8XrfJH5c3pOIRpcK2z7_7bD4xDUmvCwUV7qJRHvYEBqCk7CkWNnGIIQvb/s320/Willow+Tree+Me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On top of the bureau is this Willow Tree figure. I love the simplicity of the Willow Tree 'sculptures', the way feelings are shown by the inclination of the head and position of the body. When I had come to terms with being on my own, I bought this figure because she represents me in my new phase of life - she is thoughtfully sitting, contemplating God and the simple life He has given her, serene and content.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd3FV4AiBac6OVvPGhOXL_8JS1oGNzUMSMioRD6obmvchv00CW8a5sdVoRgQuO4cERHoW2JqInwVGF73NpU80TEcbo-EPxIuhVRkKY_EISbEV6eRsip7HD8tq5UHb3zPOzfjEr3WV3vjO/s1600/Amish+Piccy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd3FV4AiBac6OVvPGhOXL_8JS1oGNzUMSMioRD6obmvchv00CW8a5sdVoRgQuO4cERHoW2JqInwVGF73NpU80TEcbo-EPxIuhVRkKY_EISbEV6eRsip7HD8tq5UHb3zPOzfjEr3WV3vjO/s320/Amish+Piccy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, finally, a picture I intend to hang when I can find where I have put the hammer and nails. The picture itself was found by Google image search, and the quote is from an <a href="http://takingthetideoflove.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">online story</a> by my lovely web friend, <a href="http://www.kindredofthequietway.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ember</a>. In case you can't read it, here is a close-up...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPYkzKHIbeNeW_DdgMl2pB7ML3JHXwkfGcSAAD3DfY05yGIbmPvIIA1J_B4cCmK_i6PoDm4jd91dEd101kQ4JYZj2E6SIJDvyyPB4d7cO8F5x7i0B9CVoRVN2gw1ZLLpWbIIJ3miMzJOY/s1600/Ember's+Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPYkzKHIbeNeW_DdgMl2pB7ML3JHXwkfGcSAAD3DfY05yGIbmPvIIA1J_B4cCmK_i6PoDm4jd91dEd101kQ4JYZj2E6SIJDvyyPB4d7cO8F5x7i0B9CVoRVN2gw1ZLLpWbIIJ3miMzJOY/s320/Ember's+Quote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there we are......hope you enjoyed the tour, and may all who read this post find their own places of serenity and sanctuary x x </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-51725206227974656112013-03-09T09:30:00.000-08:002013-03-09T09:30:47.891-08:00Decisions, decisions<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi everyone. (Hi Dr. Nick! Oops sorry, slipped into The Simpsons then for a minute...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't left the planet, I've just been busy sorting things out in the house. I have, at last, completed the main bedroom and moved in but I want to tell you more about that when I've taken some pictures, and I want to take the pics on a sunny day so you can see the room at its best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shall be very busy this week too, as I have to move everything out of my living and dining rooms so they can be re-floored. I've enjoyed ripping up the old, grotty carpet - very cathartic! As Facebook friends will know, I found an old local newspaper beneath the carpet, dated February 1976!!!!! Even more bizarre was the fact it was the very issue which had a birthday greeting for my cousin's 18th in it! Under the carpet are some old tiles ('Marley' tiles, according to the flooring chap.) which are a very uninspiring brown colour. They are also very cold on the feet! I've been using a folded blanket by my feet, or a footstool, when I relax in the evenings. Tiles also have less friction, as my cat discovered when he ran through at top speed (as is his wont) and went skidding across the floor! Hee hee!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully, in two weeks' time, I shall have a beautiful wooden floor. But the decisions that have to be made....!!! Did I want real wood or laminated? That was an easy one - real. Which shade? Which width? Which stain? Pre-treated? (And all this accompanied by a long history of how good France is at growing wood.) I'd just got my head round it all and got a date fixed, when he suddenly launched into skirting boards. Apparently they have to rip out the existing ones, which are then rarely good enough to be re-used. So do I want this one with all the ridges in? Or this one with none? Round edged? Straight edged? Wide? Narrow? What have you got already (No idea!), as it needs to match the rest of the house (Why? Doesn't bother me!). Aaaaaaarrrrggghhh! I don't know! Just bung a bit of wood round the edges for goodness sake - it's only there to stop the hoover/carpet sweeper bashing the walls!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deep breath now, Hawthorne. Calm. Trees gently waving in the summer breeze....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had better all be worth it, that's all I can say!</span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-7668220704046300312013-01-22T10:17:00.000-08:002013-01-22T10:51:57.135-08:00Belated Happy New Year!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi everyone! How's 2013 going for you so far? May it get even better as the year goes on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me catch you up with some of the things I've been up to. The main reason I haven't posted for a while is that I got myself a Christmas job at Boots (Chemist and beauty shop). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xouymho_yGV6i4WCZolVfOx3NGz-F0d2DyIw0rSnaj6XPG0K2uglUTApWEOOp7C0XWqBiiZYU_pkHLcKw17hM8MFzpZQ2KIVKTkriZ0kkB_lbCfftTn0ajyF_LE5yGwlczb8xKdx0sMu/s1600/Boots+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xouymho_yGV6i4WCZolVfOx3NGz-F0d2DyIw0rSnaj6XPG0K2uglUTApWEOOp7C0XWqBiiZYU_pkHLcKw17hM8MFzpZQ2KIVKTkriZ0kkB_lbCfftTn0ajyF_LE5yGwlczb8xKdx0sMu/s320/Boots+girl.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry about the picture quality - it was taken on my mobile phone. I worked full time, 5 days a week, from 7.30 till 4.30. That 7.30 start was a killer! I was up each morning at 6, which is really difficult for this bed-lover, in order to feed my two cats, rabbit and wild birds before leaving. It was also really hard setting off in the dark and returning in the dark, so I made sure I went out during my lunchtimes to see daylight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for the job itself, it was really manual work; lots of opening boxes, lifting stuff, loading trolleys, shelf stacking, shelf tidying, and helping customers find where things are in store - AND I LOVED IT!!! Having been a Primary School teacher for 27 years, it was so good to do such a physical job without all the mental stress and, best of all, no work to do in the evenings and on Sundays!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I completely forgot to factor in for a Christmas job was that I would need to work at <u>Christmas</u>! I had Christmas day and New Year's Day off but was back there for the Boxing Day sales. When Daughter came home from uni for the hols I only saw her in the evenings and on Tuesdays and Sundays. Never mind. It was a really good experience, and a good thing for the c.v. They said they were really pleased with me for 'mucking in and getting on with it' and wouldn't hesitate to employ me again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must admit it's been lovely to take my time again now, and my cats love that I'm around to make a fuss of them. Here's Bramble, my boy cat, hiding under the doormat, waiting to ambush his sister when she comes down the stairs:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WBxal7oQtYn_qvdccYryehblMVckbEeFa88ah6_H9hGloL-AR7NB7LIBbC-FX9sKxMBJ4kiWmQrIK6gp7aiz3SPIq01izwTNtYupnqKKlIv8OEemms1-SHBt8p1qkyA2x-sJ9PPnaqev/s1600/Ambush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WBxal7oQtYn_qvdccYryehblMVckbEeFa88ah6_H9hGloL-AR7NB7LIBbC-FX9sKxMBJ4kiWmQrIK6gp7aiz3SPIq01izwTNtYupnqKKlIv8OEemms1-SHBt8p1qkyA2x-sJ9PPnaqev/s320/Ambush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here he is again, this time in the kitchen, having batted something under the mat:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiG4CmPXQk3LqrzkscmyV3Iz7icQSJg7Y0Ais01idtP0lfFmOGAJuECkcYEeGHls0yIZOQM0GvDICK1ol_U1H9f13HGJv9_NLA4QyGMylAOK0rXKNOORaR_Z9kAVxHgaCrxpPF8RRNeoeB/s1600/Kitchen+fun+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiG4CmPXQk3LqrzkscmyV3Iz7icQSJg7Y0Ais01idtP0lfFmOGAJuECkcYEeGHls0yIZOQM0GvDICK1ol_U1H9f13HGJv9_NLA4QyGMylAOK0rXKNOORaR_Z9kAVxHgaCrxpPF8RRNeoeB/s320/Kitchen+fun+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's his sister, Luna, taking a nap on the back of the couch:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI1ahrvKtHGBlugRw6_jIQhNHLKVQssZlyxlFuhUhwScelWVwIRpIKAQQ4Use12tGTKy6nveO8QIpc6IGdYXn5vmYgxrHONRrfaTAWatQ1mJn1AY7R0wi5TgmcT5So2b79Ludu-ZIRJpS/s1600/Sleepy+kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI1ahrvKtHGBlugRw6_jIQhNHLKVQssZlyxlFuhUhwScelWVwIRpIKAQQ4Use12tGTKy6nveO8QIpc6IGdYXn5vmYgxrHONRrfaTAWatQ1mJn1AY7R0wi5TgmcT5So2b79Ludu-ZIRJpS/s320/Sleepy+kitty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've done a little cooking too - <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1364/spicy-root-and-lentil-casserole" target="_blank">Spicy Roots and Lentils Casserole.</a> From this.....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C9NjqeAodM8fAv1BlkWfzpl1T7KWsWAFj8qZ8AYiEuzhp6P8DfcqM5iCmsatUVszWVqLja9a39H1Q-kCRbobNiNm4RE8JdbpQeAjtG1tXt3w7lEKA5q7r2BjRjMY7tfYSS4n-7MNj0Rg/s1600/Spicy+Roots+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C9NjqeAodM8fAv1BlkWfzpl1T7KWsWAFj8qZ8AYiEuzhp6P8DfcqM5iCmsatUVszWVqLja9a39H1Q-kCRbobNiNm4RE8JdbpQeAjtG1tXt3w7lEKA5q7r2BjRjMY7tfYSS4n-7MNj0Rg/s320/Spicy+Roots+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...to this:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3eISnkaHr0wRJIWRgzbhrmqCncOte9hRnFz9XOYgE57OdFp1ZilT_LjWdM9NkS8wqv5zZ3QZmgCIXDP0xz3604nftGBVgEPzqXCsjL6aC6ye-5ll50mX1urxtarmyFL7rcCjj0sS2mf3/s1600/Finished+Spicy+Roots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3eISnkaHr0wRJIWRgzbhrmqCncOte9hRnFz9XOYgE57OdFp1ZilT_LjWdM9NkS8wqv5zZ3QZmgCIXDP0xz3604nftGBVgEPzqXCsjL6aC6ye-5ll50mX1urxtarmyFL7rcCjj0sS2mf3/s320/Finished+Spicy+Roots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I used the <a href="http://hawthornespatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2012_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Gooseberries I bottled last summer</a> to make a yummy pie for dessert:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtZjRzo1Fru21rrblZN5KahKf5YVp1odh-0S7zoSvMWhrOdFW_bAg2_cDfBQx8WR1WMXxpOc4Ypurl-_dPMwbV9Qf9U51_WLndWZ55YabZY-RJAldEu16TfofKla-npaP2CtPj7kKfgSi/s1600/Goosegog+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtZjRzo1Fru21rrblZN5KahKf5YVp1odh-0S7zoSvMWhrOdFW_bAg2_cDfBQx8WR1WMXxpOc4Ypurl-_dPMwbV9Qf9U51_WLndWZ55YabZY-RJAldEu16TfofKla-npaP2CtPj7kKfgSi/s320/Goosegog+pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flopsy enjoyed eating the ends of carrots and parsnips left over:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCFNZzPMO6ZI3rrYpzdEaWb5FbYLoQj1jP20TTiqR-spaWa7yeKaI4womx6SCOqYSpprsu1MVhY90jB_D6-XvMLbn9WNFXmIPjnnqdUGD7yYqY3LrB5udNwiTQrHshB-Kf-S9xuy8DAbx/s1600/Bun+enjoys+ends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCFNZzPMO6ZI3rrYpzdEaWb5FbYLoQj1jP20TTiqR-spaWa7yeKaI4womx6SCOqYSpprsu1MVhY90jB_D6-XvMLbn9WNFXmIPjnnqdUGD7yYqY3LrB5udNwiTQrHshB-Kf-S9xuy8DAbx/s320/Bun+enjoys+ends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've had snow here for the past week and my water butts have completely frozen up. Should have insulated them! I like to use the water to flush my toilet, so I thought to myself "Now what would my ancestors have done for water in these circumstances?" I expect you're already yelling the obvious answer at the screen, but it took me a whole day to realise.....melt snow of course!!! Durrrr!!! So, much to the cats' mystification, I put three buckets worth next to the radiator:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJiAIlURhYnOJKgiTxs8iEvXQZe32aY7nr_ZQHQWhpKV60NdidqXlSQ-pm9YL3DX0i7CoRqL-_PLhOM-mZQsTjgaytO7iN_vWFG1UAj-4b-QyDfgDLWxdPr3SZ2SmTqnAyj3K01QhGM98/s1600/Buckets+of+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJiAIlURhYnOJKgiTxs8iEvXQZe32aY7nr_ZQHQWhpKV60NdidqXlSQ-pm9YL3DX0i7CoRqL-_PLhOM-mZQsTjgaytO7iN_vWFG1UAj-4b-QyDfgDLWxdPr3SZ2SmTqnAyj3K01QhGM98/s320/Buckets+of+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was surprised to find it took most of the day to melt. I knew from science lessons, and milk bottles on the doorstep, that frozen water takes up more space than melted water, but those three buckets only yielded one bucket of water. Hmm....live and learn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, here's a picture of my favourite Christmas pressie, which Daughter got me from my wish list on Amazon - a hurricane lamp!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1LjFdr1op-xxvW3zFu68eH3F5iZKs_oTwUmajZ2u_4chYXokElSWnivyQ7VH7O_RYiFgC6XNRc6juqy1icNv3qOy_fCP7_84YxFLk8A-US-EVVscssJu_UmjX0wvWaQstrNUDMMMDkOH/s1600/Lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1LjFdr1op-xxvW3zFu68eH3F5iZKs_oTwUmajZ2u_4chYXokElSWnivyQ7VH7O_RYiFgC6XNRc6juqy1icNv3qOy_fCP7_84YxFLk8A-US-EVVscssJu_UmjX0wvWaQstrNUDMMMDkOH/s320/Lamp.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't it beautiful? I had the wick too high at first, which has left a sooty stain on the glass, but I've got the hang of it now. I found almost odourless indoor lamp oil at The Range (nearby shop) so I am very happy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings to all who read this blog! x x </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>P.S. Oops! Just noticed I've posted pics of Bramble's ambush before. Oh well, it still makes me laugh every time I come downstairs and see that tail sticking out.</i></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-21777936481193914122012-12-08T13:24:00.000-08:002012-12-08T13:24:31.318-08:00Mon Beau Sapin...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi everyone! Last time I showed you the little choir people I made for our church's first Christmas tree festival. Thought you'd like to see them in place, along with some of the other trees. Local schools, churches, businesses and societies were invited to decorate a tree - 27 in all. I haven't got pictures of them all, but here's a selection....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2_I0NECA9UdYWTJIurriM_CSe42K9Z-UXYHxxvRBEkVNMSEOY0j4trDGf8cm9bdUpWWacX-aMUjaa-AWQMXHBjKBdvpgHouizpWqX1JWgl2FlxV4vS7LkeJgfBZ2suTKMatazPxSM1YZ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2_I0NECA9UdYWTJIurriM_CSe42K9Z-UXYHxxvRBEkVNMSEOY0j4trDGf8cm9bdUpWWacX-aMUjaa-AWQMXHBjKBdvpgHouizpWqX1JWgl2FlxV4vS7LkeJgfBZ2suTKMatazPxSM1YZ/s320/001.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Church choir tree.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivofUWaPSKbLgqWOaoAIWLU6DQ7EH_MLJXr_72hPU_ufHlUJruE8zkrPh8PVLaHOMgwwx6ECKP8Y6NAQuOXU3PltU5mnOd1wi38lIijZTbn6Q3uCW26J5bgWgmQ_4sxkuJkeDhSAGz592k/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivofUWaPSKbLgqWOaoAIWLU6DQ7EH_MLJXr_72hPU_ufHlUJruE8zkrPh8PVLaHOMgwwx6ECKP8Y6NAQuOXU3PltU5mnOd1wi38lIijZTbn6Q3uCW26J5bgWgmQ_4sxkuJkeDhSAGz592k/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Closer up.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX3TKnaLLvEDT4yItbV4ByNn9yjt1LLPWNKC9LhaxpkRdYYjAr_0hqu_SdRJi6rHsn4dnITFzNHw8Gq4Kl3zamOmNJ-c81hLQjrJF1EBZ-ZksLRdxQa3zhAMQMAVr_FfUbMdcCRH7JwHd/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX3TKnaLLvEDT4yItbV4ByNn9yjt1LLPWNKC9LhaxpkRdYYjAr_0hqu_SdRJi6rHsn4dnITFzNHw8Gq4Kl3zamOmNJ-c81hLQjrJF1EBZ-ZksLRdxQa3zhAMQMAVr_FfUbMdcCRH7JwHd/s320/002.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Tree by a local Primary school.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBlJv52hDHwBj7xOiOVw_06IKApKerwappLPWqxAejWs-Odwkf2KlCqT40SAmxA4KCkxXdcByi32Evxc6NKSAau0mg8eSH436EHVV0cPrZcw-X2bP6FGtEVrSh9SuDmEb2IKMGzt9CL9P/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBlJv52hDHwBj7xOiOVw_06IKApKerwappLPWqxAejWs-Odwkf2KlCqT40SAmxA4KCkxXdcByi32Evxc6NKSAau0mg8eSH436EHVV0cPrZcw-X2bP6FGtEVrSh9SuDmEb2IKMGzt9CL9P/s320/003.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Submitted by local Catholic Primary school; the tear drops have prayers on them for the healing of the world.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLgfV4dr55-ZvbGr20RRicaZF6TYlS_wZioOmXlarX50Stbn62KvIvT7VX_gVQVuRtXJCuZdIs_HRVXM-jDC1QrYb3oK0dVXUfaXJeeKgtm_71fWywsc_1KMtrWNqUb4iIT6nna1JOqXs/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLgfV4dr55-ZvbGr20RRicaZF6TYlS_wZioOmXlarX50Stbn62KvIvT7VX_gVQVuRtXJCuZdIs_HRVXM-jDC1QrYb3oK0dVXUfaXJeeKgtm_71fWywsc_1KMtrWNqUb4iIT6nna1JOqXs/s320/004.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>From a nearby church. They copied pages from a music hymn book and shrunk them - why didn't I think of that?!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7mdBjvZMDp3WTsl8_g2YpQFXT3DvqxeHMP2gndHULfckvipACv5SlvEi1yTp1KMRAqqHdDhIixVP-mTY8ByovwuhzPBGRekvzMgQ5aGnwYnZenQ4FBCmbvs7CYgtuMPEm0KiFM0KjDMe/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7mdBjvZMDp3WTsl8_g2YpQFXT3DvqxeHMP2gndHULfckvipACv5SlvEi1yTp1KMRAqqHdDhIixVP-mTY8ByovwuhzPBGRekvzMgQ5aGnwYnZenQ4FBCmbvs7CYgtuMPEm0KiFM0KjDMe/s320/005.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Angels from the realms of glory....</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUX59cBSq81KpijhqAfrDvIAYF-dRGZAnjKiNSATn4uBNWRaMzSPdCaVN3zoT91B7nyFmwTNicakoQ7JZpI6n7e9Ro0CyiJIlVHPRTWBmJDHcgkViJ6f2D7VA4qVJOjTGAwdDc6M3bK33/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUX59cBSq81KpijhqAfrDvIAYF-dRGZAnjKiNSATn4uBNWRaMzSPdCaVN3zoT91B7nyFmwTNicakoQ7JZpI6n7e9Ro0CyiJIlVHPRTWBmJDHcgkViJ6f2D7VA4qVJOjTGAwdDc6M3bK33/s320/006.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A simple but effective idea from the church run playgroup - artificial flowers dipped in glitter.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuefKjyQhOhM7YWf4WYK9PhrBQneXJ3XzMC9KIW245im-uySnrk_sAZYuqoyG8fJfR4b99_aOl2U4pCiuVd7AgtR430CD0T5PYVtdqA5fknoebtJTu9DixjHUYHsH_hAkVkfIzHuKc_j2D/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuefKjyQhOhM7YWf4WYK9PhrBQneXJ3XzMC9KIW245im-uySnrk_sAZYuqoyG8fJfR4b99_aOl2U4pCiuVd7AgtR430CD0T5PYVtdqA5fknoebtJTu9DixjHUYHsH_hAkVkfIzHuKc_j2D/s320/007.JPG" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Our church Prayer Shawl group meet weekly to knit, crochet, weave and sew items, praying as they are made, to bring comfort to those in need. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA7n5QTXkcQUI2_eGPMnjx8oFhVZBZxJFYemMT-8SjJXZv4Qxgl085M4h_No6M210OdqER6bdhCh7j1wtdIMK52-JLa29uhNbGh1P8OaaizENfKImYdHevFRalr08R3940kwFh26sKYbb/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA7n5QTXkcQUI2_eGPMnjx8oFhVZBZxJFYemMT-8SjJXZv4Qxgl085M4h_No6M210OdqER6bdhCh7j1wtdIMK52-JLa29uhNbGh1P8OaaizENfKImYdHevFRalr08R3940kwFh26sKYbb/s320/008.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Angels and stained glass biscuits from our Footsteps (Sunday School) and Messy Church groups.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCABqubXCBBM0Pi-kzPIRsGS8FVOGFN4vET3ZPVIfpLLSR_ici1Dd0TRNc5-UZKhckg_xUubRDFWoy-ppIneXOjW5RHR8lYEJB8FUkqsXz4GYQa3i0280rNcnGx1l4wHunLumqDk7EtJMb/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCABqubXCBBM0Pi-kzPIRsGS8FVOGFN4vET3ZPVIfpLLSR_ici1Dd0TRNc5-UZKhckg_xUubRDFWoy-ppIneXOjW5RHR8lYEJB8FUkqsXz4GYQa3i0280rNcnGx1l4wHunLumqDk7EtJMb/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Angelic close-up.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_lKHrYKdc3agTlcEF-aCK29C58o_cKgqxfi9zhSNjeNqrvB4t-v9lw5mqT8i5TSlcnPXvya5B277-FiZAjDAKSeaQYZzqHH4bPL1Jh5FUbguLl66T6u4qyG52f2eoXYzUhNdunkoxpqD/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_lKHrYKdc3agTlcEF-aCK29C58o_cKgqxfi9zhSNjeNqrvB4t-v9lw5mqT8i5TSlcnPXvya5B277-FiZAjDAKSeaQYZzqHH4bPL1Jh5FUbguLl66T6u4qyG52f2eoXYzUhNdunkoxpqD/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A hole was cut in the centre of the shortbread biscuits, crushed boiled sweets filled the hole and these then melted during the cooking.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjx6kQNSsdOIh4Sz8qw1jwwktc_qpz0glifLu76fx-rRIXR0G_DC7f33bAztUV0Qlr1zVlb8i0HhVWRXtW0AxDltUCG15ySPiiBb3rMQsxORZR-_s45HwJ5y0tQvuWAWie3LcOPR9TfcT/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjx6kQNSsdOIh4Sz8qw1jwwktc_qpz0glifLu76fx-rRIXR0G_DC7f33bAztUV0Qlr1zVlb8i0HhVWRXtW0AxDltUCG15ySPiiBb3rMQsxORZR-_s45HwJ5y0tQvuWAWie3LcOPR9TfcT/s320/011.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The scouts made their own tree, as well as the decorations.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznbclikyAynNSKhkBCibOkS1JA0pgLh_d6JMiNNGvmKFMh4IMbUekZBSgX89fUIVNRnvu7DCBxP5tQayo95QMYCrxAfI0s9N-LUZb4gsX6FI_AfKchXYOaxkNfmZYhtsVB-jxHD16Ds2x/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznbclikyAynNSKhkBCibOkS1JA0pgLh_d6JMiNNGvmKFMh4IMbUekZBSgX89fUIVNRnvu7DCBxP5tQayo95QMYCrxAfI0s9N-LUZb4gsX6FI_AfKchXYOaxkNfmZYhtsVB-jxHD16Ds2x/s320/013.JPG" width="155" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The body of this life sized angel (Or, rather, human sized - surely angels can be whatever size they want?) is made from lots and lots of paper bun cases. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh60wHIBZ7Awow9XERWxaPM_mouxuHI0U_y-LE_nHVvRkBBv07K7sKIl3jfOtb6Izz-uy3zmJhYDf2ciUHhDF7TBH1rVxibn0gdM-SkZ7vdwlhcCz_W87BAKW2SDKF4u2qcmVIZ5PaXUGM/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh60wHIBZ7Awow9XERWxaPM_mouxuHI0U_y-LE_nHVvRkBBv07K7sKIl3jfOtb6Izz-uy3zmJhYDf2ciUHhDF7TBH1rVxibn0gdM-SkZ7vdwlhcCz_W87BAKW2SDKF4u2qcmVIZ5PaXUGM/s320/015.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Another Primary school's tree. Brought back many happy memories of past Christmases in schools in which I have taught. Who can forget those happy, excited children whose faces and hands had more glitter and sequins than the things they were making...</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarWEvFP0TP9vI-UnyGaLV9zaxBw170EGALf8-3UNjEtZOZizWsd7ogo7-gY-htjhyvgYCB0-ibQSTB-YUdtWxhdZDRAyiC-QC11Y9jAjDD6BId1-SgNJImutB_Bw_YQofjhbKgY3AdQT6/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarWEvFP0TP9vI-UnyGaLV9zaxBw170EGALf8-3UNjEtZOZizWsd7ogo7-gY-htjhyvgYCB0-ibQSTB-YUdtWxhdZDRAyiC-QC11Y9jAjDD6BId1-SgNJImutB_Bw_YQofjhbKgY3AdQT6/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The east end of our church. These two trees will stay up till Epiphany; the rest were taken down after the festival.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXrGkPbi508J-zpxuFa8NGMqw0HIezkEyEdP55eCPbgUKEWEx4WTI0GOwflIOEbruO-v_Mz4GoJ5_v17QZ6eNPj5237XLE8Aou7ojFcB0ylO1IvzNfjVvfifSLilFThFkQDH3IcN-Ta6V/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXrGkPbi508J-zpxuFa8NGMqw0HIezkEyEdP55eCPbgUKEWEx4WTI0GOwflIOEbruO-v_Mz4GoJ5_v17QZ6eNPj5237XLE8Aou7ojFcB0ylO1IvzNfjVvfifSLilFThFkQDH3IcN-Ta6V/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The bellringers' tree. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtCoyWNgmIpjcjFud72HuCsfEn8vrGVCyLypEf-rcKWZyAVheTX_lRrdGtGXKtYqBAtXCYwE0-YE8FhwzhXqZRMp4RGS5mis9I-Ueu7OWUv8aqS9HfwAkt4NnqydzzpnijoTOHnbGT_65/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtCoyWNgmIpjcjFud72HuCsfEn8vrGVCyLypEf-rcKWZyAVheTX_lRrdGtGXKtYqBAtXCYwE0-YE8FhwzhXqZRMp4RGS5mis9I-Ueu7OWUv8aqS9HfwAkt4NnqydzzpnijoTOHnbGT_65/s320/050.JPG" width="189" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And, finally, visitors were invited to write a prayer request on a star and tie it to this tree.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-1762797632882650622012-12-01T14:21:00.000-08:002012-12-01T14:22:48.576-08:00Take Me Home, Country Roads<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had a lovely drive out the other week (14th November) in the country lanes around the Norfolk villages of Shernborne and Anmer, and thought I'd share some pictures with you. It was a really still day, not a breath of wind. Just beautiful!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My eye was drawn to a flash of bright pink in the otherwise bare hedgerow - a Mallow!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVunWb6CdvllYPXyzNGxziUX_H5US-P1tz0MsHo_-0ORnwlMKdOy8-3_mI4Scqyh9enJEj7pqArZRvZBr7oRVkNjbsHRSAnZAo6NJPCbMgi5ULxSDxyiEPdHt-M_ffMo38WqRIz5NU8T2/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVunWb6CdvllYPXyzNGxziUX_H5US-P1tz0MsHo_-0ORnwlMKdOy8-3_mI4Scqyh9enJEj7pqArZRvZBr7oRVkNjbsHRSAnZAo6NJPCbMgi5ULxSDxyiEPdHt-M_ffMo38WqRIz5NU8T2/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Beautiful Autumnal tree - Beech or Oak I would guess.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E2hqF4egpFTu4TkfQAqRwqkdv9xvoTUfPGWjHAyTGLQdvgqRTYiFwZ1zvmg6M06SB-OpX24NUwcAKhRxaKCAWCeeOMYQmPdnmzmFI0iFMhoVYW_3V-B7EuoX-3TtXJoyszqP8Zd5A5bN/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E2hqF4egpFTu4TkfQAqRwqkdv9xvoTUfPGWjHAyTGLQdvgqRTYiFwZ1zvmg6M06SB-OpX24NUwcAKhRxaKCAWCeeOMYQmPdnmzmFI0iFMhoVYW_3V-B7EuoX-3TtXJoyszqP8Zd5A5bN/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>So peaceful.....</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lAzcwXIPABE2PON3EF-Tqu5kulEJicEIn0dgwU_O0ohrjWcehtF7HwmGksoB4Iu7wlke5kc8WdguFWcDD7HNOS2eUxAC0Z6IHkyBO0htTrTqwYtQsC9A0V1tA7jZ9gXG-om5wYDEIRw2/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lAzcwXIPABE2PON3EF-Tqu5kulEJicEIn0dgwU_O0ohrjWcehtF7HwmGksoB4Iu7wlke5kc8WdguFWcDD7HNOS2eUxAC0Z6IHkyBO0htTrTqwYtQsC9A0V1tA7jZ9gXG-om5wYDEIRw2/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Deserted road....</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNohS4pdIHK-XrShCB1nbFUJ1uikSJMH0SPqxaYfqJhNj5PqPinxyLgqsWmqAeB0unTvIxK9Es9ntwLHOqom67GXIVzo23XBmZguintgZl0j_QKcjl6aojAHPHQz9h4KnAMxAMvzxngVC/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNohS4pdIHK-XrShCB1nbFUJ1uikSJMH0SPqxaYfqJhNj5PqPinxyLgqsWmqAeB0unTvIxK9Es9ntwLHOqom67GXIVzo23XBmZguintgZl0j_QKcjl6aojAHPHQz9h4KnAMxAMvzxngVC/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>...which was just as well, since it was too narrow for two cars to pass each other!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5g88IhhySwMiiCMbHNetqbMdmeD-JzOSSDYIGG4DI9xWh7L3rrZ1aqKrRRJc6PDTZ1JsOtedXpNvlfJs4wh3pE86XNDwM5TNYDMYHBh-VueSvKlmR1AkfZ9WAmnE-6GCTCyCz7WIvWY9/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5g88IhhySwMiiCMbHNetqbMdmeD-JzOSSDYIGG4DI9xWh7L3rrZ1aqKrRRJc6PDTZ1JsOtedXpNvlfJs4wh3pE86XNDwM5TNYDMYHBh-VueSvKlmR1AkfZ9WAmnE-6GCTCyCz7WIvWY9/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Gateway to a field. There were hares in this field, but too far off for my little camera to pick up.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uXph704TjIpgX9Ty3iw77K_6d4NOfMrd5yS47GRFp3bs9_tCBtc4dXYVCjmhQIKprvXFgCrzdhyphenhyphenOutCC9Tr13M9aBNEqV5A1P8iPUvjH0lfFY9b1EHhncMKPlmqNGCl5Im7dk8GjBswJ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uXph704TjIpgX9Ty3iw77K_6d4NOfMrd5yS47GRFp3bs9_tCBtc4dXYVCjmhQIKprvXFgCrzdhyphenhyphenOutCC9Tr13M9aBNEqV5A1P8iPUvjH0lfFY9b1EHhncMKPlmqNGCl5Im7dk8GjBswJ/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>All of a sudden there was a great cacophony of noise overhead, as hundreds of geese flew in.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPoDCkaV9CEmM_08PseQ3SxituYO7MaV-ATduGpX01cG7Hq-oTU0SeDQ_wgainrSVd3UlSzCg8kFjs__zMLdD6h4ENOJZa28S4Zbma3OkY53lb3Q7iUrZuv0SZF02GRz9FhMw1i2l7vt4/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPoDCkaV9CEmM_08PseQ3SxituYO7MaV-ATduGpX01cG7Hq-oTU0SeDQ_wgainrSVd3UlSzCg8kFjs__zMLdD6h4ENOJZa28S4Zbma3OkY53lb3Q7iUrZuv0SZF02GRz9FhMw1i2l7vt4/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>They landed in a field and, after a little chat to each other, settled down to eat. I wish I'd had my binoculars so I could tell you what sort of geese they were.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBtpRh2u65HebcYlJzpQqtfU2gvHDJzzkhgXjt9RshRBZUKyKSeY0F270vAp7uzmm63g1fbEdfIEGYZu6iH56GN4R2IiIhceAooN8pS99S6BNzl8AHdio1rO3L-Lu8M-oW-EzVoA5MRJ7/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBtpRh2u65HebcYlJzpQqtfU2gvHDJzzkhgXjt9RshRBZUKyKSeY0F270vAp7uzmm63g1fbEdfIEGYZu6iH56GN4R2IiIhceAooN8pS99S6BNzl8AHdio1rO3L-Lu8M-oW-EzVoA5MRJ7/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, to finish the post, a few random photos....</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Goodness, my doormat is awfully bumpy!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXS6xhdhr-EdYx1ZoqJ6eWPNFzHFPpfOhANpLjdUwAscfgMVhPwthJohZ10TzcPM_o6MVWU-aTCWfY_YcDkaI2dwRToUk2m02GjG6TezsSgd-XSo6I9vzYSqesxLvRmkKtXtMamGf7GAZ/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXS6xhdhr-EdYx1ZoqJ6eWPNFzHFPpfOhANpLjdUwAscfgMVhPwthJohZ10TzcPM_o6MVWU-aTCWfY_YcDkaI2dwRToUk2m02GjG6TezsSgd-XSo6I9vzYSqesxLvRmkKtXtMamGf7GAZ/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ah, it's Bramble, waiting to pounce on his sister when she comes down the stairs!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sumBgh04XnuRw4iFlQNw0jWWh3mW5rC_4fOfQ2d-dGAOAWAFW0ZETQXGLny_XDdngCPNoR_BttoMKEyIpMyZLG0HaFzks49GuBD_GlRciaCHJ0MUCSYNT3JnyE-OxR1YwEfbmhiMjOZP/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sumBgh04XnuRw4iFlQNw0jWWh3mW5rC_4fOfQ2d-dGAOAWAFW0ZETQXGLny_XDdngCPNoR_BttoMKEyIpMyZLG0HaFzks49GuBD_GlRciaCHJ0MUCSYNT3JnyE-OxR1YwEfbmhiMjOZP/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Our church is having a Christmas Tree Festival. I made these for our Church Choir tree, in the colours we wear. Everyone drew their own faces. (A few were missing at this stage, including our conductor and organist.)</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr-kR061mKtEELwgKbDERMMA3q0YFBVR4D_cP3BfP8VOik992UJ7yKVU0aLl0n_YHL51l7Fd5RJHfFHygA1yRiP0wEPSNm4GOWX1VeHoYWstjBOqEtGKeCFNlUIkoymUxCs3_yfGC_-gv/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr-kR061mKtEELwgKbDERMMA3q0YFBVR4D_cP3BfP8VOik992UJ7yKVU0aLl0n_YHL51l7Fd5RJHfFHygA1yRiP0wEPSNm4GOWX1VeHoYWstjBOqEtGKeCFNlUIkoymUxCs3_yfGC_-gv/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is me! Do you think it's a good likeness?</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXoSUR2HEA7LTCOl_6zDkntZlxUOoMwYuiY10ssA9d-NILptqI2Fqrbq_N9tbU12NgopZ1S_CqZPDJ6ikeAaPdg9wL8DMwoFHLLYKkXcwnVPFTI3QuK4A3k10i6E05hjbp3KAw-B7WuBh/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXoSUR2HEA7LTCOl_6zDkntZlxUOoMwYuiY10ssA9d-NILptqI2Fqrbq_N9tbU12NgopZ1S_CqZPDJ6ikeAaPdg9wL8DMwoFHLLYKkXcwnVPFTI3QuK4A3k10i6E05hjbp3KAw-B7WuBh/s320/022.JPG" width="254" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu6MioHV99lbmTFWS84vQ0xgIk2CJQ4WClUtjE68CYcdRvorBB7XAHQomkf4yZmrwUmxiEVUYVI7ULWkGPt2TpHGZ7SN_lmonLLpfwSJhyOVbrrmzxrffWss6gd6yL_ln45oeBYbHqLDn/s1600/Choir+robes+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu6MioHV99lbmTFWS84vQ0xgIk2CJQ4WClUtjE68CYcdRvorBB7XAHQomkf4yZmrwUmxiEVUYVI7ULWkGPt2TpHGZ7SN_lmonLLpfwSJhyOVbrrmzxrffWss6gd6yL_ln45oeBYbHqLDn/s320/Choir+robes+1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Advent blessings to you all!!!! x x x</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-84076555720872476942012-11-12T10:48:00.000-08:002012-11-12T10:48:09.841-08:00Pumpkin Soup<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never in my life tasted pumpkin. I know, I know, as a half-American that's a shocking confession. As a child I had never even <u>seen</u> a pumpkin, not even at Hallowe'en. I don't remember any fuss about Hallowe'en in rural Norfolk in the 1970s. In fact, I think I first heard about it all via Charlie Brown books and tv - definitely an American thing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, this year I bought some cute mini-pumpkins, called Munchkin Pumpkins, for display along with the large carved one. It seemed a shame to just put them in the compost bin so, after first making sure they were edible, I looked on the internet for a really easy pumpkin soup recipe. This is the one I found, from the <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7730/pumpkin-soup" target="_blank">BBC Good Food</a> site. All you need is pumpkins, onions, vegetable stock, double cream and seasoning.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, first you peel, de-seed and chop the pumpkins.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNoEHKf3X-7rqphueiafY69cZgBrrUFzgn2TdgSh49wyFXdXpxmoJwdTF3_X2qKSc9lLzhNe2FcALHO8R-RGt9AiT6PVoS4QY6yZx6yPRqPwkV_CGJ2Xsg3M0ANgC2G54dssInpQKWFyu/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNoEHKf3X-7rqphueiafY69cZgBrrUFzgn2TdgSh49wyFXdXpxmoJwdTF3_X2qKSc9lLzhNe2FcALHO8R-RGt9AiT6PVoS4QY6yZx6yPRqPwkV_CGJ2Xsg3M0ANgC2G54dssInpQKWFyu/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The peeling was a bit tricky - maybe it would have been easier if the pumpkins had been fresher?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, chop the onions.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzjtmn5dxP3cLeDXDEok4jYKhkM83p5QbdlKLmTrf1oQWaRQ3DKJ5883_spBcdMw2Fgw3x_EhQeISDZUKZ8ViW5UZJU9zxajhRojtZytZY6EGT-tLHCop6U1QdiPOBqK1FdrIznbSFPPu/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzjtmn5dxP3cLeDXDEok4jYKhkM83p5QbdlKLmTrf1oQWaRQ3DKJ5883_spBcdMw2Fgw3x_EhQeISDZUKZ8ViW5UZJU9zxajhRojtZytZY6EGT-tLHCop6U1QdiPOBqK1FdrIznbSFPPu/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gently fry the onions till softened but not coloured.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zepHgSVBu2sDplCtfaJcq49zCS8aDcbOGp9KFiwJlNOcNLN-s7OfI2Cpba53akZPoEPuzDPbqZ65OgG_Cp_RK_9gCcDNw5uuRkNwVA1P1qvPVrKx0YaVrN2bF9_GTDaHl-wuQgMJ2ggS/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zepHgSVBu2sDplCtfaJcq49zCS8aDcbOGp9KFiwJlNOcNLN-s7OfI2Cpba53akZPoEPuzDPbqZ65OgG_Cp_RK_9gCcDNw5uuRkNwVA1P1qvPVrKx0YaVrN2bF9_GTDaHl-wuQgMJ2ggS/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the pumpkin pieces and cook till starts to soften.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdywAmUTK_zcOT1oT6Zb1XfXrZOWbXc81yUB9jkmAhGWTjtoPlJGxNZFCvUeiSfGxastWv-tCIOW_2TzJw7vKsrV7wOx-mJ1AGksES7Suig84NEp99R7bRMoltLzWBnnWbcNW5shjpXmKt/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdywAmUTK_zcOT1oT6Zb1XfXrZOWbXc81yUB9jkmAhGWTjtoPlJGxNZFCvUeiSfGxastWv-tCIOW_2TzJw7vKsrV7wOx-mJ1AGksES7Suig84NEp99R7bRMoltLzWBnnWbcNW5shjpXmKt/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pour in the vegetable stock (I used Oxo), season and bring to boil. Simmer for about 10 mins till pumpkin very soft.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOPhs531Ra-8qE0oU87vojoQVW8CYTofMzC8Wg1qAgrYPSme45AUD75yvkgTD_2uu8NBTo4V3oANKkCH-BSRTJRmrSK_UrUNmfDqjUjdP-fzk4yn12TDehyAFd1hKid7R8nRPJUAU7VSj/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOPhs531Ra-8qE0oU87vojoQVW8CYTofMzC8Wg1qAgrYPSme45AUD75yvkgTD_2uu8NBTo4V3oANKkCH-BSRTJRmrSK_UrUNmfDqjUjdP-fzk4yn12TDehyAFd1hKid7R8nRPJUAU7VSj/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the double cream and bring back to boil.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9Q5wbt2KXxaaXIxJBsoy_4FpqibvRJ2WLvuyswUD0f57eBoPkTSobKBv-4ZZuzCxXlmw1H5ebyqd0GhW1kY1CYZ1sdKd4a3gUDfPk5vs55DmMVztCbBP39z-WU2W4dvkGfMWUuZnaLb-/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9Q5wbt2KXxaaXIxJBsoy_4FpqibvRJ2WLvuyswUD0f57eBoPkTSobKBv-4ZZuzCxXlmw1H5ebyqd0GhW1kY1CYZ1sdKd4a3gUDfPk5vs55DmMVztCbBP39z-WU2W4dvkGfMWUuZnaLb-/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now use a blender to puree. I love my hand cranked one!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8itMNO_ClLVSR2VKcW80JFmQ6L9jErACi8WRMvmWqOt9U7RRaPXPZ2ZOZHOzyFsKhuUVpePS6LqRHA5H4w4zd5XE-b789Dr4MR7_zzfX4PNRedqtOhU6ae620JYE18XK4iU9S4anyM7Sn/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8itMNO_ClLVSR2VKcW80JFmQ6L9jErACi8WRMvmWqOt9U7RRaPXPZ2ZOZHOzyFsKhuUVpePS6LqRHA5H4w4zd5XE-b789Dr4MR7_zzfX4PNRedqtOhU6ae620JYE18XK4iU9S4anyM7Sn/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ta da! Delicious soup!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNs0tG3K2LZG_waE0KBwdVE0YwgsPbzzTDrRsCW3OzeOd7f6KWNcIjSuhZoiyOC2YaML6Pm7wn3SNw01HYH4HcwVneyf2nN2zTlTE4GTNTkojiI4p22DfD066Kduz3aEnVeQS0jTgru2_/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNs0tG3K2LZG_waE0KBwdVE0YwgsPbzzTDrRsCW3OzeOd7f6KWNcIjSuhZoiyOC2YaML6Pm7wn3SNw01HYH4HcwVneyf2nN2zTlTE4GTNTkojiI4p22DfD066Kduz3aEnVeQS0jTgru2_/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So simple and soooooooooo tasty.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On reflection I think next time I would do the pureeing before adding the cream, since it was too liquidy at that point. (What I actually did was strain off the excess liquid, puree the rest, then add the liquid again.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure lots of you have your own pumpkin recipes to tell me about!</span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-41931995905827834962012-11-01T09:01:00.000-07:002012-11-01T09:03:45.244-07:00Ubi Caritas...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A year ago my husband, Keith Charles Hawkins, was released from the terrible addiction that had made a nightmare of all our lives. He turned to the addiction to cope with his fears and stresses, but I hope, pray and believe he is free from those now, healed and forgiven. Here are some pictures from his life:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYZVCbT79qNnmzq3OUnUTZdKwy9-oLGUyCuPnuapIO6gfPNOKsts1as8KP5BjPlF-Z0xhPion1bg1hmqXuzBjYrEa5dz6FtX5Ae1-ZIGAn7bOu2vYQViGDY9njc3fPm07kKNjuM8ZZbys/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYZVCbT79qNnmzq3OUnUTZdKwy9-oLGUyCuPnuapIO6gfPNOKsts1as8KP5BjPlF-Z0xhPion1bg1hmqXuzBjYrEa5dz6FtX5Ae1-ZIGAn7bOu2vYQViGDY9njc3fPm07kKNjuM8ZZbys/s320/1.jpg" width="203" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chubby bubby!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0QpjYJwO3_vBky3P0bJRkxFWGDGnH2dMEjlp6posEZ5fqP_TYLVR4K4DifS4qsdCPob9Te2gcngTEfgR3MjK-1qDK8WTd3HCFtZDuAnvKlt33GO1MAIi458cUmVki0R_i-qgwzixzE3S/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0QpjYJwO3_vBky3P0bJRkxFWGDGnH2dMEjlp6posEZ5fqP_TYLVR4K4DifS4qsdCPob9Te2gcngTEfgR3MjK-1qDK8WTd3HCFtZDuAnvKlt33GO1MAIi458cUmVki0R_i-qgwzixzE3S/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Batman outfit - a present to celebrate his new baby brother's birth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6malXcCMZNsRF2ORdO6iKAzozkE18g5tLLsf2c90QWKpBf9Uci6qJx-Pcf888ouRS4RR7iCOMqwt65yVsT65dQYD4JSiQRswsQKOlvwkHkeYToTV9gsX_zxqT8NCvhlGbfssn0-pEdin/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6malXcCMZNsRF2ORdO6iKAzozkE18g5tLLsf2c90QWKpBf9Uci6qJx-Pcf888ouRS4RR7iCOMqwt65yVsT65dQYD4JSiQRswsQKOlvwkHkeYToTV9gsX_zxqT8NCvhlGbfssn0-pEdin/s320/10.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a beautiful little boy!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRFNKs1TmKHMgcUR9kcV7qGYOoJLeqKDQMGbBc8YqbH8lCh9pIcbTe-bIO9XTgu_vSD_WhYdj_H14foShbUiigFE8gu_kCz-SZKObc7n365Qfzk-_5mVX1b46PmrhvS98SyOQkV3HxY0x/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRFNKs1TmKHMgcUR9kcV7qGYOoJLeqKDQMGbBc8YqbH8lCh9pIcbTe-bIO9XTgu_vSD_WhYdj_H14foShbUiigFE8gu_kCz-SZKObc7n365Qfzk-_5mVX1b46PmrhvS98SyOQkV3HxY0x/s320/17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1970s school cricket team. Keith played many sports for his school and his county.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfhIEvW2bd5NU2aak9VE0T6g5e5uXEhnwOfT9laeNQ2KMyH-_dISQXb4T3i6zcSaT_C6QRzGUaP3I10bDetL2g-h-WFI81IpOss-XkLEOaDoMxG6r83SIWTyLVDDS1eksJs0Nb0pPKKvY/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfhIEvW2bd5NU2aak9VE0T6g5e5uXEhnwOfT9laeNQ2KMyH-_dISQXb4T3i6zcSaT_C6QRzGUaP3I10bDetL2g-h-WFI81IpOss-XkLEOaDoMxG6r83SIWTyLVDDS1eksJs0Nb0pPKKvY/s320/25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running man - with hairy chest!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OEFxvqzVCugu15ZN4UXgFS0U3lHIbv-cM8drEZhb5TtVD20onxjD4fvN_REYkornX2lK4tOtS3CGXB7ueu1B4dUZZzchNiilpvHxCMEtJ-9mqpPYxVKPl3qVH2Rv6pV9fI_WYNUgyeje/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OEFxvqzVCugu15ZN4UXgFS0U3lHIbv-cM8drEZhb5TtVD20onxjD4fvN_REYkornX2lK4tOtS3CGXB7ueu1B4dUZZzchNiilpvHxCMEtJ-9mqpPYxVKPl3qVH2Rv6pV9fI_WYNUgyeje/s320/29.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With new girlfriend...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rJhxan-99BV8fyr8eFLoicvghIzL3D3VOGqzhTW16CVJuPL64Y1VQaK4khSucXQPPtAs_AUHo_97duiH3miGsJEnF9O_3tuzNwOigmECeZkvIYBFckKSqtHlFDaC5OdONZ280EGziK-Q/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rJhxan-99BV8fyr8eFLoicvghIzL3D3VOGqzhTW16CVJuPL64Y1VQaK4khSucXQPPtAs_AUHo_97duiH3miGsJEnF9O_3tuzNwOigmECeZkvIYBFckKSqtHlFDaC5OdONZ280EGziK-Q/s320/32.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Officially engaged.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTHoxuBcN1dqOTt1RYgFJT2Bkrt89IHIyCRCT_XKXDKXdee_yy5iSZv1zwAiRn5xU4UJNKDAdl2UMMqwKy1gxNNlC0YddvhyhAJQWRnyJ3-8OrCY3KO-jI9LY1-2U0cxYmUfA1rfZfpf8/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTHoxuBcN1dqOTt1RYgFJT2Bkrt89IHIyCRCT_XKXDKXdee_yy5iSZv1zwAiRn5xU4UJNKDAdl2UMMqwKy1gxNNlC0YddvhyhAJQWRnyJ3-8OrCY3KO-jI9LY1-2U0cxYmUfA1rfZfpf8/s320/38.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wedding day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqubyswDmsnJhhhIO3Sx-fZJmNWrkwn3YkAkcCPgHpCEInkw1khn6j0ihy8i9lTw_OMIBN_8xnaeEyQB4lhWhdf1Ag1hnaipH2ps_8e9j1nTNwDNrYiU3VUt3PmvoKugdbXPXekvL1pT-/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqubyswDmsnJhhhIO3Sx-fZJmNWrkwn3YkAkcCPgHpCEInkw1khn6j0ihy8i9lTw_OMIBN_8xnaeEyQB4lhWhdf1Ag1hnaipH2ps_8e9j1nTNwDNrYiU3VUt3PmvoKugdbXPXekvL1pT-/s320/41.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proud dad.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7E4e-mkntYxYwt45B8T7XyHR1Fz-yiwYEp4WxWnHf9Motg4XOvwBE2Z4EBhyphenhyphenCO1hfiKcDPmwlsuFOQ2hyphenhyphenVCywyCLZmKzO8jpHkp0wpgoPeQ_8wzCXPSCg7MGpxP3fbF_L9EP4c29fa1T7/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7E4e-mkntYxYwt45B8T7XyHR1Fz-yiwYEp4WxWnHf9Motg4XOvwBE2Z4EBhyphenhyphenCO1hfiKcDPmwlsuFOQ2hyphenhyphenVCywyCLZmKzO8jpHkp0wpgoPeQ_8wzCXPSCg7MGpxP3fbF_L9EP4c29fa1T7/s320/43.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love my toddler.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0OP-ckDe31nvFKRtGFaTwgSaxhpxcHX_V9ThF5XMszKM3EMLM8X3vFBNY-3u1OhvxY-ltDyGTGmc9AxzP8oIGVw0SjQ8cvcAscYgM0q2LUGio6AY6S4jtoFxTAZxo6F27oF27b3zEMjf/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0OP-ckDe31nvFKRtGFaTwgSaxhpxcHX_V9ThF5XMszKM3EMLM8X3vFBNY-3u1OhvxY-ltDyGTGmc9AxzP8oIGVw0SjQ8cvcAscYgM0q2LUGio6AY6S4jtoFxTAZxo6F27oF27b3zEMjf/s320/47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daddy/daughter pointing competition.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIpG-m25my2kec_nPrTtDG1D7SfhpAsXIpPsYGB7R0tS_Fkn_ixOhVP9oqtU5psKCPArNS8vF5ghInixDPNotcKaN1maX9mgpFKU1AOcy1SlqdQMy9M4zyel2779O53-uoF66IFmBDw71/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIpG-m25my2kec_nPrTtDG1D7SfhpAsXIpPsYGB7R0tS_Fkn_ixOhVP9oqtU5psKCPArNS8vF5ghInixDPNotcKaN1maX9mgpFKU1AOcy1SlqdQMy9M4zyel2779O53-uoF66IFmBDw71/s320/54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the doorstep together.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg2cFksOMYNeG_OCefsfbWsNe1-PL86s0B9QyxWuHCa2j2Bnq2DjpCYn4vPvC_AoHn5RJmfb3nQSt_FyIUopr_yUweKZJtXUh7t6R4DCIsArsuAb0rPoQc7cNJcdM-vRIO4yeptr2HfFs/s1600/55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg2cFksOMYNeG_OCefsfbWsNe1-PL86s0B9QyxWuHCa2j2Bnq2DjpCYn4vPvC_AoHn5RJmfb3nQSt_FyIUopr_yUweKZJtXUh7t6R4DCIsArsuAb0rPoQc7cNJcdM-vRIO4yeptr2HfFs/s320/55.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of several trips to Disneyland, Paris.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl-BgnOdgNqt8tVmcyIK4L4M-m82uKvN44DZT-dI2oXQpgkmNGQESg4unk7pBJq4st4kG7xQ1vL8UPkGMeBC-uwH4avRNsSzJN02Zij5wrbKesyqwwIOqVSd_1tzcJBti0LCgjmWMJWMO/s1600/58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl-BgnOdgNqt8tVmcyIK4L4M-m82uKvN44DZT-dI2oXQpgkmNGQESg4unk7pBJq4st4kG7xQ1vL8UPkGMeBC-uwH4avRNsSzJN02Zij5wrbKesyqwwIOqVSd_1tzcJBti0LCgjmWMJWMO/s320/58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Master Mason in 2000, we raised lots of money for the local hospital at our Ladies' night.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MZySxe6QBvLHQknlYTEY1nQqWhPlWbl_U1wzke-JTVvBN1CxzGpouiJx05D5JAONIRqIN7VMp-fvYqajUVW2yiT8luGqWL-U_AUADi7-RZPiIZKp298KgA1WYr6ymbC1DPmJ2tqnn434/s1600/59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MZySxe6QBvLHQknlYTEY1nQqWhPlWbl_U1wzke-JTVvBN1CxzGpouiJx05D5JAONIRqIN7VMp-fvYqajUVW2yiT8luGqWL-U_AUADi7-RZPiIZKp298KgA1WYr6ymbC1DPmJ2tqnn434/s320/59.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his work suit.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pT3K43qMEodKhMN8-BXXX2rO0kTur33_hL14AarUY57id6Mp8iamOuiHVE3EY4HmrrWhxsD149XX3PC8M5s5a6jPcHRHlxFoA0ej6f8xtuzoo9HR7far4cSzXtYps5wXRoBquWFGdqcg/s1600/60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pT3K43qMEodKhMN8-BXXX2rO0kTur33_hL14AarUY57id6Mp8iamOuiHVE3EY4HmrrWhxsD149XX3PC8M5s5a6jPcHRHlxFoA0ej6f8xtuzoo9HR7far4cSzXtYps5wXRoBquWFGdqcg/s320/60.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My handsome man.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Till we meet again..... x x x x</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-8854393898892536082012-10-30T07:43:00.001-07:002012-10-30T07:43:50.548-07:00Mysterious Ways....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God works in mysterious ways.... Gotta love God's sense of humour:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I went to the toilet as usual first thing in the morning and, as usual, my cat Bramble followed me in. (He likes to sit in the sink for some reason.) I looked at the floor and thought to myself once again "I really must get the mop up here and give this floor a wash!" I've been telling myself this for a week or more now, but I always forget again by the time I get downstairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, another thing Bramble likes to do is have a good drink out of the bucket of rainwater that sits in the bathroom, with which I flush my loo. The only trouble was this bucket was only half full, so said cat couldn't reach the water. Being a resourceful chap he decided to tip the bucket up...... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, my bathroom floor certainly got cleaned, though mopping with towels whilst still in my nightdress wasn't quite what I had in mind!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMY83qTsuerXcrT_I_S0AWdnEDKr9TyUlBezAGzNlPMOVsYzeNb37aGKptEqr6ZMRC7QFq7wDo1bj5tUakMj_IMCJhK3LvA8awNUREvLAzsAzpMiKXXLmCmSVArDM8OasyRZQqUhjL4XW/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMY83qTsuerXcrT_I_S0AWdnEDKr9TyUlBezAGzNlPMOVsYzeNb37aGKptEqr6ZMRC7QFq7wDo1bj5tUakMj_IMCJhK3LvA8awNUREvLAzsAzpMiKXXLmCmSVArDM8OasyRZQqUhjL4XW/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The culprit, in the sink.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-10617874955231925462012-10-16T13:16:00.000-07:002012-10-16T13:16:12.901-07:00The patience of Job.....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a time I've had these last couple of days! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It started well, with Daughter being home from uni this weekend. In order to make the most of the stay, and to get her back in time for a lecture Monday afternoon, we decided the best plan for her return was to drive to Birmingham (119 miles) on the Monday; then Daughter was to catch the train back to Aberystwyth while I had a break before driving home again. That plan was foiled by long traffic queues - missed the train.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plan B - park the car in long term parking, then both catch next train. Daughter would miss first lecture unfortunately, and I would return on next train, pick up car and drive home. Foiled again - being unfamiliar with Birmingham, couldn't find suitable parking at a price I could afford.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plan C - drive to Aberystwyth (122 miles), stay over night, return next day. This necessitated phoning to book hotel, cancelling several things planned for next day, and arranging for neighbours to leave out food for the cats. (Bunny was inside and had enough hay to make do till next day.) Might have worked if I had paid better attention at a junction and not pulled out in front of another car! Managed to hobble car off road and ring insurance people. I am VERY grateful to God that no-one was hurt, and that the other driver was very kind and understanding. Car was taken away to be repaired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, Plan D - train to Aber, stay overnight, return by train next day. Of course, I wasn't prepared for an overnight stay so had to buy toiletries, undies, a nightie etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that was yesterday!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, got to Aber train station in good time, bought ticket, boarded train. Then it was announced that, due to flooding on line ahead, we were to go by bus to Shrewsbury (75 miles). Off we went, many of us having a good snooze on the way. We were just 2 minutes late for the connecting train to Birmingham, so had to wait nearly an hour for next one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, although now an hour later than anticipated, rest of journey went well. When I got home, after 8 and a half hours of travelling, I found a message on the answer phone from Monday inviting me to a long-awaited job interview TODAY!!! Too late to ring them back, though I did try. Will have to ring them first thing tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLt_BgMjUDnq6_ttV0Dk4mCpqnh3OOMAIPapXt6zAQjJjRvX7wNkGj2jlteOckJb3fJGlxVN5sS8So16tpnHxmj8KAIU4REh8Xn4vkA994fRCVDEMV4U-m14NqrzbU2STRkar8GHxwvErS/s1600/crazy+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLt_BgMjUDnq6_ttV0Dk4mCpqnh3OOMAIPapXt6zAQjJjRvX7wNkGj2jlteOckJb3fJGlxVN5sS8So16tpnHxmj8KAIU4REh8Xn4vkA994fRCVDEMV4U-m14NqrzbU2STRkar8GHxwvErS/s320/crazy+woman.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image found on Google search.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah well, the main thing is that I got home safely, and Daughter got back to uni safely. And I got to read the whole of my Miss Marple book that a friend had lent me! ;-)</span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-75858431969649957442012-09-08T06:55:00.001-07:002012-09-08T06:55:39.567-07:00Random Piccies Around the House<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi everyone! Sorry haven't posted for a while - just been busy. Took some photos of latest harvesting and then wandered round the house, whilst I had the camera in my hand, taking more images to share with you. I know I like peeking into other blog friends' houses this way, so thought you might enjoy it too.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The climbing beans that I'd almost given up on, having re-planted them 3 times, have finally produced! Also in this piccy are courgettes (zucchini), and my first ever apple (Jonagold).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuqCkpRQRF2ThYjF-1mdV0UTVY-7Vl2NhXlncXCCz2zo0PU4JSQ8kXF0bqZuFYzWA6mkceLgb-2DvYQfrBW_jdDY52obitUR23wdmHPQZltOPkdUHQQldCB41vwrC09Y8iJjXEWWPijDd/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuqCkpRQRF2ThYjF-1mdV0UTVY-7Vl2NhXlncXCCz2zo0PU4JSQ8kXF0bqZuFYzWA6mkceLgb-2DvYQfrBW_jdDY52obitUR23wdmHPQZltOPkdUHQQldCB41vwrC09Y8iJjXEWWPijDd/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a cute doorstop I bought at Laura Ashley. I could have made it myself, or purchased it somewhere cheaper, but I had a gift voucher to use up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbA8fyhzGUAPBz7ocCFoPNIsJ0NtkLf1-tI3xFXMzO7fMMrh3_aW5w3c0laVqH2VLU2IfUJdVTKQKYkEmzah19M7mqJGdXMDtMj2cPD5qGJQ6o33TEPmX4esaTtjcc2a2cRxVQhOO-BI6/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbA8fyhzGUAPBz7ocCFoPNIsJ0NtkLf1-tI3xFXMzO7fMMrh3_aW5w3c0laVqH2VLU2IfUJdVTKQKYkEmzah19M7mqJGdXMDtMj2cPD5qGJQ6o33TEPmX4esaTtjcc2a2cRxVQhOO-BI6/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two beautiful wood carvings now that I picked up from the artist herself at a healing fair in Penzance. (I bravely ignore the capital 'E' in the first one....)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSerLECm69Q0lKRZHg3BgpEJ5kHx-pxwlH9QOV5opjYZ7Edrz998Caq8KEUkZAkBkzlsMqDH8-RCZnRsw5md3kOV22NmvMzozRT0D8R5sNBugpR1ZpCQ8TA9zYl1hIavtDTSWOyIHL44r/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSerLECm69Q0lKRZHg3BgpEJ5kHx-pxwlH9QOV5opjYZ7Edrz998Caq8KEUkZAkBkzlsMqDH8-RCZnRsw5md3kOV22NmvMzozRT0D8R5sNBugpR1ZpCQ8TA9zYl1hIavtDTSWOyIHL44r/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-ep_LCKsmwdFfeihmeTCc_2fReNGJqh6XG04pcmZeesSRkvr8tGb9y-RWAAZTumcnhyphenhyphenYP2W50kpFwgele0Zo5MonkDwxjj3fyu-B0KBvptUmCDd9oqbdSYvX3Prog3Uh7M09OrvWGRrO/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-ep_LCKsmwdFfeihmeTCc_2fReNGJqh6XG04pcmZeesSRkvr8tGb9y-RWAAZTumcnhyphenhyphenYP2W50kpFwgele0Zo5MonkDwxjj3fyu-B0KBvptUmCDd9oqbdSYvX3Prog3Uh7M09OrvWGRrO/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my Purry Panthers came to have a look..... (I think this is Luna, the girl.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dFu27f2ExKJ1bOevMrhz3eMHWnRL0k96Gh-GXVR4K5EslYECi07IGKtgkG1NeV6X6RoqIjFrDxyK9-Iqqof6i9qgY0OwRfo-4YzFSUGG2nrd5PYokLmZKstyQIvUyf_EXLdPpOe1y4V-/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dFu27f2ExKJ1bOevMrhz3eMHWnRL0k96Gh-GXVR4K5EslYECi07IGKtgkG1NeV6X6RoqIjFrDxyK9-Iqqof6i9qgY0OwRfo-4YzFSUGG2nrd5PYokLmZKstyQIvUyf_EXLdPpOe1y4V-/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some lovely fabric I picked up at a charity shop (old curtains), and the pattern I bought on Ebay which I intend (someday) to use with it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdJ1_cbhHIKzj6_a4NpZ7TIbeHNHsRQOpjEC0SqaP189QYtf6neh2icAXBkAzV-JyNR99oZHpps52IZlpXAeAnULVbxYQR6Uy3hvoUrhckli4QEykmZBeoxfZwjDC2Y3yxnUDTelI4Tld/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdJ1_cbhHIKzj6_a4NpZ7TIbeHNHsRQOpjEC0SqaP189QYtf6neh2icAXBkAzV-JyNR99oZHpps52IZlpXAeAnULVbxYQR6Uy3hvoUrhckli4QEykmZBeoxfZwjDC2Y3yxnUDTelI4Tld/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This painting hangs over our mantelpiece in the living room. It was painted by my late Father-in-law some years ago. He was in the merchant navy in his youth and adored old fashioned sailing ships. As he was red/green colour blind he had to ask us if he'd got the colours right - the sky was green originally!! He named the boat after his late wife, Irene Rose.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d4bKTf7tWJj2XLgD1TC4oEDvCSA5l_SMR6TSzWvgyu8JIKAdlMdu4I4tad2ku5HhNa00nQE_wxEOiYschRpryGG76xDPvbnQZNW5S6zM6DF2cvZvUwae8_UnKDsonGJ3U8KjwVe-QCte/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d4bKTf7tWJj2XLgD1TC4oEDvCSA5l_SMR6TSzWvgyu8JIKAdlMdu4I4tad2ku5HhNa00nQE_wxEOiYschRpryGG76xDPvbnQZNW5S6zM6DF2cvZvUwae8_UnKDsonGJ3U8KjwVe-QCte/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYL1VR-KGbRpEia784r1P2vyCG8RnNQwGVaIwpsJfUiR2tz_VQZ8In03eERE8hykYEsPhQH2-9A8tdwKozA6ZlpHwOGTEt6HmCw6vC1pEegVriG1peio7yU2u45dvCBRBDvNRoIyzQMSj/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYL1VR-KGbRpEia784r1P2vyCG8RnNQwGVaIwpsJfUiR2tz_VQZ8In03eERE8hykYEsPhQH2-9A8tdwKozA6ZlpHwOGTEt6HmCw6vC1pEegVriG1peio7yU2u45dvCBRBDvNRoIyzQMSj/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought these beautiful ceramic tile pictures at Caithness Crystal. It was difficult to choose which ones, but I love the brightness and joy of these two.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedndRsxqLjnjlBWkqIP1IrTaribsVzp3s6uXybFwif5ysk664jBBHaa20T0WjRFJZq-lfU5G67WJCXFZBR451EE68qLylJ6tJwXySzYmUQXJ0vrDx6NBjvxBhBVsXe8fNjETOxg1DZ8_Q/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedndRsxqLjnjlBWkqIP1IrTaribsVzp3s6uXybFwif5ysk664jBBHaa20T0WjRFJZq-lfU5G67WJCXFZBR451EE68qLylJ6tJwXySzYmUQXJ0vrDx6NBjvxBhBVsXe8fNjETOxg1DZ8_Q/s320/017.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These hang in my hallway. The picture of the wren is another charity shop find.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQG-IAdx5EjueQD3Kb3t15-liN_eHVC7jUnA0quqQskBV1LSaWdP_kFCuMX8aYbBKdmbb0x9K__YZJPp8AnEkfvdDs-mfwRZT5rUQcdyJ88DfJO3etnbXlaRCkLLB4On6VAzBrVkbWUao/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQG-IAdx5EjueQD3Kb3t15-liN_eHVC7jUnA0quqQskBV1LSaWdP_kFCuMX8aYbBKdmbb0x9K__YZJPp8AnEkfvdDs-mfwRZT5rUQcdyJ88DfJO3etnbXlaRCkLLB4On6VAzBrVkbWUao/s320/018.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In two weeks' time my beautiful Daughter will be off to Aberystwyth (I have to type that name slowly to get it right!) university. As she has chosen to be self catering there are a lot of things to buy. Naturally, she doesn't want the old fashioned stuff from the house that I've offered; only new stuff will do! This is just some of it. How on earth we'll fit it all in my car for the long drive to the other side of the country is a mystery still to be solved!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIpGOaGBixVnnz_yxcoRQGrO50DolEo9K1MtxktywIhO2Z9FUSsJi-70peQAhjYQOXjnqnw7HYZcsXIim_3ROORedU_4f8QKJ1d7UQJ5nOIps1Jm2YGpU72wSmgwP6654GXNfB-i0kIFh/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIpGOaGBixVnnz_yxcoRQGrO50DolEo9K1MtxktywIhO2Z9FUSsJi-70peQAhjYQOXjnqnw7HYZcsXIim_3ROORedU_4f8QKJ1d7UQJ5nOIps1Jm2YGpU72wSmgwP6654GXNfB-i0kIFh/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, here is the tv on the ultra modern glass table hubby loved but I hated.....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR27bPUwPJbTnl14G3r1wqpBEIU1iYHRgNOZ63cXySBp67Xwy8ii7w7jAxx42ahJCidIpMGFjnRNzV_AbVriqtRgUQ7lV46tx0b7VMcaYsmZQ2yRWttwU1CIL4SZ0RsW7gqatQOJNXxwO/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR27bPUwPJbTnl14G3r1wqpBEIU1iYHRgNOZ63cXySBp67Xwy8ii7w7jAxx42ahJCidIpMGFjnRNzV_AbVriqtRgUQ7lV46tx0b7VMcaYsmZQ2yRWttwU1CIL4SZ0RsW7gqatQOJNXxwO/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here's the much better, natural, wooden replacement I found in yet another charity shop...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqYoXH-7EAkwuMF90kMvLPgGtqZJkYKWTkXIUtWBs08jkiAV4OCAMMk_BjD8aQkpQ9vKJ0dOK6uEkG82e6lsErlvJVu4f9fW76IjBGDZcEvlcmxtOsW2KFId6ggTpEGs59sMwW6uR7tzX/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqYoXH-7EAkwuMF90kMvLPgGtqZJkYKWTkXIUtWBs08jkiAV4OCAMMk_BjD8aQkpQ9vKJ0dOK6uEkG82e6lsErlvJVu4f9fW76IjBGDZcEvlcmxtOsW2KFId6ggTpEGs59sMwW6uR7tzX/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ahhh, that's better! By the way, that monstrous tv is going too. The rental place can have it back and I'll buy a much smaller one, since I hardly watch the thing and Daughter will be at uni! (Don't worry, she does know what I've planned!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that's it for now - hope you enjoyed the piccies. Blessings to you all x x</span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-81861814846519516902012-07-30T16:35:00.000-07:002012-07-30T16:35:08.276-07:00July goings on.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July has been a busy month so far. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspired by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Preserves-River-Cottage-Handbook-No-2/dp/0747595321/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343688405&sr=8-1" target="_blank">this book</a>:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I5HuIMs_HQeupPph5YIMsEfKaHzj87Yyxw4mS8nd5pue-pKCWN_6kF0jrMUJVVrrcHPZt09GqBDFdPXZ1vo8RVVQG3LxnNaH5rcKQJHq9Aho7w5c8uvuYOj_EocxOoQ46Lkgr42fQEEM/s1600/Bottling+gooseberries+1+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I5HuIMs_HQeupPph5YIMsEfKaHzj87Yyxw4mS8nd5pue-pKCWN_6kF0jrMUJVVrrcHPZt09GqBDFdPXZ1vo8RVVQG3LxnNaH5rcKQJHq9Aho7w5c8uvuYOj_EocxOoQ46Lkgr42fQEEM/s320/Bottling+gooseberries+1+July+30th.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I'd have a go at bottling (or 'canning' in America) gooseberries. I bought some from a PYO farm I came across to eke out the ones I grew myself.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPKHTqbcSjGSy97OQGoRjeMag4BBoLMUNw47sZ4JFYZymHAGN8i9svHqrVWRy3Dnr93q45WGjRK5tN4xobDerp_LxmE6YZ28t4QpXgVZPuCHIrc0Xh3eRzx4TwStS_qBoFlctcy-qxCgw/s1600/Bottling+gooseberries+2+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPKHTqbcSjGSy97OQGoRjeMag4BBoLMUNw47sZ4JFYZymHAGN8i9svHqrVWRy3Dnr93q45WGjRK5tN4xobDerp_LxmE6YZ28t4QpXgVZPuCHIrc0Xh3eRzx4TwStS_qBoFlctcy-qxCgw/s320/Bottling+gooseberries+2+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used my new preserving pan to sterilise the jars and lids, with a tea towel folded at the bottom as instructed. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFsR2XTsaEZ6wkbkSP1fylqWT4aqol4oQDyxR-5HykTtLFlVQb0B1HAXKfJW-OMIbQIvGP3p49XADA6RS1xb3V3LZ1hhi5zVrKux86yKAjYy7wtCVJXnNrlplIfI5pt7Mmy4ReuvYxSfd/s1600/Bottling+gooseberries+3+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFsR2XTsaEZ6wkbkSP1fylqWT4aqol4oQDyxR-5HykTtLFlVQb0B1HAXKfJW-OMIbQIvGP3p49XADA6RS1xb3V3LZ1hhi5zVrKux86yKAjYy7wtCVJXnNrlplIfI5pt7Mmy4ReuvYxSfd/s320/Bottling+gooseberries+3+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Topping and tailing the gooseberries was rather tedious, but necessary. Miss Read, in her <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Village-School-Fairacre-Miss-Read/dp/0752877445/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343688796&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Fairacre</a> series of books, says she uses a pair of nail scissors but I prefer my knife.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AkGgIaUBYXjvXTH9Qfib8W17dEjXPvO_HP6ggmV8eVLTGXf6UJxssDJgSFeOR1sayvTdnfySpsbFkmasB6S2SPCW8AUqIt0xafPDfIBkXZ34Cm__omRdWS8S5zhVpzMap-kBlv5M6ZtS/s1600/Bottling+gooseberries+4+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AkGgIaUBYXjvXTH9Qfib8W17dEjXPvO_HP6ggmV8eVLTGXf6UJxssDJgSFeOR1sayvTdnfySpsbFkmasB6S2SPCW8AUqIt0xafPDfIBkXZ34Cm__omRdWS8S5zhVpzMap-kBlv5M6ZtS/s320/Bottling+gooseberries+4+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I packed each jar with fruit then added hot syrup (Just sugar and water). I screwed on the lids and slightly loosened them, then lowered them into the hot water and brought the water to 88 degrees Celsius for the amount of time it said (20 mins I think - it varies, depending on the fruit used).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR01PylS-zkHDpH3d3rk92SMRaBDCl_5vUpZoiqFmzGKv8Wofq1mER78_Pka6DYZEoDW27Yto32vMmgPLKIly-yAbqTaeWWVW_is02GH_wJASjNdGUY_Wj61vC9V5M7GWAGDh_eJ1lWyK1/s1600/Bottling+gooseberries+5+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR01PylS-zkHDpH3d3rk92SMRaBDCl_5vUpZoiqFmzGKv8Wofq1mER78_Pka6DYZEoDW27Yto32vMmgPLKIly-yAbqTaeWWVW_is02GH_wJASjNdGUY_Wj61vC9V5M7GWAGDh_eJ1lWyK1/s320/Bottling+gooseberries+5+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The finished result. Now that the fruit has softened there is loads of room left in the jars!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lHku5_gBSfRAEAQzZvU7GxnQxXE1d-QSvWpO5rBUHGUZM-tMdOU8GY6t9NvpCGksXUa-f0vA2E1LBF6ZxtMBkeL-yelzEeB_jTLlEmdTBMJWl7L9uUIZAhKX493hvojIUnSPAvX09QY1/s1600/Bottling+gooseberries+6+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lHku5_gBSfRAEAQzZvU7GxnQxXE1d-QSvWpO5rBUHGUZM-tMdOU8GY6t9NvpCGksXUa-f0vA2E1LBF6ZxtMBkeL-yelzEeB_jTLlEmdTBMJWl7L9uUIZAhKX493hvojIUnSPAvX09QY1/s320/Bottling+gooseberries+6+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was amazed at how the jar lids dimpled down, indicating a vacuum has formed. When you think about it this is just the same process as tinned fruit that you buy in the shop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm very excited about all this! I love seeing the pictures of Amish cupboards filled with jars of produce, and I love the thought of preserving food without needing a freezer. I've bought some smaller Kilner jars to preserve rhubarb, chopped peaches and chopped pears. I would like to preserve vegetables, soups and stews this way too but, due to low acid content and the danger of botulism therefore, I would need to get a special canning pressure cooker for these.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This month in the veggie garden</b>, after weeks of rain:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First potatoes dug up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbFY9N8D0zvd9-daTvUKIYxt8UQHRwVWSxOMrA3ZZRO1JCru8sT4NEXRk0iNlo-LOBi_xDxlj9VBRFXIvq4aXVdqGZ8hZ1Hkp1H7IpeD2YtalgXHSxgkbO6C5sYjP7_6kp2qhdw-W9s-K/s1600/First+potatoes+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbFY9N8D0zvd9-daTvUKIYxt8UQHRwVWSxOMrA3ZZRO1JCru8sT4NEXRk0iNlo-LOBi_xDxlj9VBRFXIvq4aXVdqGZ8hZ1Hkp1H7IpeD2YtalgXHSxgkbO6C5sYjP7_6kp2qhdw-W9s-K/s320/First+potatoes+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courgettes (zucchini) are forming. Had to pick these a bit smaller than usual due to slugs nibbling the skins off!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWe-PcmnV-4RExCCBqwTuyHW08-j2pFBmAB2pWfm2FR-lUR1y3qKYj55qGPFZePqeWSpwLu-aBULXn-_i0tLVmEnabncHEgRfS2ULLJDl6CYQFr8-v6YvXnJxJYs1ybz7WHzbi-8xm3ob/s1600/First+courgettes+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWe-PcmnV-4RExCCBqwTuyHW08-j2pFBmAB2pWfm2FR-lUR1y3qKYj55qGPFZePqeWSpwLu-aBULXn-_i0tLVmEnabncHEgRfS2ULLJDl6CYQFr8-v6YvXnJxJYs1ybz7WHzbi-8xm3ob/s320/First+courgettes+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My one remaining Pumpkin plant is now flowering. It always amazes me just how big Squash flowers are! I caught this one in the morning; by midday it had curled up again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKCKVTZLbrSLaSSGyKNbV1-x2jiwOVU6sokPkjaFCrrT4EFYWWz055zNoATbrcYCvaJwU7QXQalT4ORLlFZwxxvAhbpMBEe98I9haIYPhkwDL6f9OQ94eZXDwBkruxgdzVSgBcPnJJu6y/s1600/Pumpkin+flower+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKCKVTZLbrSLaSSGyKNbV1-x2jiwOVU6sokPkjaFCrrT4EFYWWz055zNoATbrcYCvaJwU7QXQalT4ORLlFZwxxvAhbpMBEe98I9haIYPhkwDL6f9OQ94eZXDwBkruxgdzVSgBcPnJJu6y/s320/Pumpkin+flower+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mint plants, which grow wherever the mower can't reach, are also coming into flower. The bees LOVE them!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqvKKpRw3TwQFqsmeecSixGDxByK5SzTlTWqiQmwf0JoOpj3yBbE-6PzQcyaDLV_OfkA6K9dC_fUfgtA1Kkd4aMETIHP9Y-2KofG4LNsMHvFWr0Tvx-_q5Wwvt4_bA-Z1KQX9BA4E9amX/s1600/Mint+flower+2+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqvKKpRw3TwQFqsmeecSixGDxByK5SzTlTWqiQmwf0JoOpj3yBbE-6PzQcyaDLV_OfkA6K9dC_fUfgtA1Kkd4aMETIHP9Y-2KofG4LNsMHvFWr0Tvx-_q5Wwvt4_bA-Z1KQX9BA4E9amX/s320/Mint+flower+2+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally my 3 'helpers'....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bramble,</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5Vs-zp1QTm_4cpIL26bo9hcKjtZFZwkCZixaUMOz7xLxhIRqSXhloDU-h5QshLmgDiGWWmyeP2G7ho-ZP1ydKOJY3Y1p8ulgoqY4zT7pLKZh5vHsBtCn-Lxcy8ku75BKOq4RNTg3cDAo/s1600/Bramble+3+July+30th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5Vs-zp1QTm_4cpIL26bo9hcKjtZFZwkCZixaUMOz7xLxhIRqSXhloDU-h5QshLmgDiGWWmyeP2G7ho-ZP1ydKOJY3Y1p8ulgoqY4zT7pLKZh5vHsBtCn-Lxcy8ku75BKOq4RNTg3cDAo/s320/Bramble+3+July+30th.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luna,</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQcBDn4DVIrICPIG1wvT7gIofUczB6cLrjNoAqsU9YT4e0Zo1tzAXGtOKG6CBKDj6_4yS8SKsZBWxayKDEw-ysYqQVJalcXYT9gv3Idad98Z-HehTM3Udvau75AcYIXUa1xFgyIsN3TJG/s1600/Luna+July+30th+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQcBDn4DVIrICPIG1wvT7gIofUczB6cLrjNoAqsU9YT4e0Zo1tzAXGtOKG6CBKDj6_4yS8SKsZBWxayKDEw-ysYqQVJalcXYT9gv3Idad98Z-HehTM3Udvau75AcYIXUa1xFgyIsN3TJG/s320/Luna+July+30th+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and Flopsy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUZKoDPXTbY5nmzRscN3I3Up594NxdFQvxJYDgmBW1-LpvM1-HzyGx7xvk32adJzDQ0VwNqHvV4XA94jmWz7rGUIGG5Me10RCe1eHpNxVK-tBtjpe5pG2A-57lR-ZVCTnQrU8oAiCh5_I/s1600/Bunny+2+July+30th+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUZKoDPXTbY5nmzRscN3I3Up594NxdFQvxJYDgmBW1-LpvM1-HzyGx7xvk32adJzDQ0VwNqHvV4XA94jmWz7rGUIGG5Me10RCe1eHpNxVK-tBtjpe5pG2A-57lR-ZVCTnQrU8oAiCh5_I/s320/Bunny+2+July+30th+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What have you been up to this month?</span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614672408402560622.post-67626850703132404332012-06-18T15:25:00.000-07:002012-07-30T16:36:15.332-07:00Veggies, water and washing<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some piccies from my garden today...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ94Xo5Y3xTanAIrFObDNQb445zJEhD5S3aw1XE9VP4YAkT9OJATPBBvfAtB-qIj9PlSXMx1Nhs7i-DQ9m5H4V2Vq2AK-rvYfMO7TgVTZj937Ca957L2KoHl_t59mW5Wm6DckwWWRJMK1x/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ94Xo5Y3xTanAIrFObDNQb445zJEhD5S3aw1XE9VP4YAkT9OJATPBBvfAtB-qIj9PlSXMx1Nhs7i-DQ9m5H4V2Vq2AK-rvYfMO7TgVTZj937Ca957L2KoHl_t59mW5Wm6DckwWWRJMK1x/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Busy washing day! Boil washed my un-paper towels, then hot washed towels, hand washed 3 things and ordinary washed the rest - 3 linen lines worth. I love to see washing blowing in the wind. It connects me with all the women all over the world, all through the past, who have cared for their families by washing their clothes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhhBrRHS-uFKaqaCYdrMKB1HaXzwQOFI32XFFCfm-3p_AZGsRBy980ViHWV0LwpRDJZ96d773ky6e_qSSBVFUEKzi4Yci6B_WYg_gsR0lIoQy4_jl_vJn56nQg6JAqHCZPydqXpeHTLoS/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhhBrRHS-uFKaqaCYdrMKB1HaXzwQOFI32XFFCfm-3p_AZGsRBy980ViHWV0LwpRDJZ96d773ky6e_qSSBVFUEKzi4Yci6B_WYg_gsR0lIoQy4_jl_vJn56nQg6JAqHCZPydqXpeHTLoS/s320/019.JPG" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have two water butts but they have yet to be connected to the drain pipes. Still, I leave the lids off to collect what they can and......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuWU3zWQ68l1cJBtIY4UoP6LmTVCfIq-UJPhLU5nsABi4NrNV9fZ5IYgp5CUHUgGUH9vIqgJsfa4BCCq09uV7MQEzHyURxwA39v7nkdi5vFkHOOijVYGkCnu1o9B7UF56pOq7LWHWfcX8/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuWU3zWQ68l1cJBtIY4UoP6LmTVCfIq-UJPhLU5nsABi4NrNV9fZ5IYgp5CUHUgGUH9vIqgJsfa4BCCq09uV7MQEzHyURxwA39v7nkdi5vFkHOOijVYGkCnu1o9B7UF56pOq7LWHWfcX8/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.... I leave all this out to collect more rain then pour them into the water butts. This has really transformed my attitude to rainy days from gloom to excitement. I love harvesting the rain God sends!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSS-9FaZki64WJkAZO95T4MTGz-g-j56_P09mR9940uQOXFYOWupPMYwICVh3P8klhn6Zkak8wOJahNj4VEcu5Wdb8vH9_MSX6tcSjFvJSEVuEyCsdUsVSEAc6kxbzgwPF975IKOZ2FQ7Q/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSS-9FaZki64WJkAZO95T4MTGz-g-j56_P09mR9940uQOXFYOWupPMYwICVh3P8klhn6Zkak8wOJahNj4VEcu5Wdb8vH9_MSX6tcSjFvJSEVuEyCsdUsVSEAc6kxbzgwPF975IKOZ2FQ7Q/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The St. John's Wort is living up to its name by blooming in time for St. John's day. (June 24th) Picture is slightly blurry, sorry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiT97IEirvcrzVpsMBE-39V597J9ht-zNfSpSJtHkaAp7kncr4PnESIvg3pLn1xylyf1V2pH7stu1CfesCg8nKu-72bUb1gdNxpqWbvRe8A7F089-3FXUJ_Hn0OYortuFEPFKv11r0fIs/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiT97IEirvcrzVpsMBE-39V597J9ht-zNfSpSJtHkaAp7kncr4PnESIvg3pLn1xylyf1V2pH7stu1CfesCg8nKu-72bUb1gdNxpqWbvRe8A7F089-3FXUJ_Hn0OYortuFEPFKv11r0fIs/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mint grows wherever the lawnmower can't reach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_2o_9vKUaE_IlN7BYPLykmqaHwEZDHEWn86H6zJuJGWROsKM0gBzMEhN2q-Mk_1uWzeyULjo8uVjtlSyy-DIip9D8m_4QgOIPWiP2IsO28Q1ssplghop48qFmiqjAsg3durVvybHOzqY/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_2o_9vKUaE_IlN7BYPLykmqaHwEZDHEWn86H6zJuJGWROsKM0gBzMEhN2q-Mk_1uWzeyULjo8uVjtlSyy-DIip9D8m_4QgOIPWiP2IsO28Q1ssplghop48qFmiqjAsg3durVvybHOzqY/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The potatoes are flourishing - looking forward to the first dig!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC1D95JWM6BT00GJCnixCJv_AePg__ojYbzIkOyFhVPSRD-rQQtZUFExNDnNavdNxh1xf3boq27x6pChFh9UFmNJZOQQ_tCzFzm40EScF8aDVQhCWQ6fIC5N79HbQMrA9uAFwg4jlq5Di/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC1D95JWM6BT00GJCnixCJv_AePg__ojYbzIkOyFhVPSRD-rQQtZUFExNDnNavdNxh1xf3boq27x6pChFh9UFmNJZOQQ_tCzFzm40EScF8aDVQhCWQ6fIC5N79HbQMrA9uAFwg4jlq5Di/s320/005.JPG" width="194" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By contrast the beans are really struggling. This is the second sowing, 24 bean seeds each time, and only 3 have made it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieECWHZqn4wXgZuzYmvAdbUnCLNb66zS9RVk1r-FoNDyKKnKnfZwmjcrHSFIhM7_gWiA_0SVDnP3pbnuTvZ2F5rJSt6HcMmHpA4nKapaKMJNLLdbiET9HsgQwQpTV1hUpIpCYd7_xN2CQg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieECWHZqn4wXgZuzYmvAdbUnCLNb66zS9RVk1r-FoNDyKKnKnfZwmjcrHSFIhM7_gWiA_0SVDnP3pbnuTvZ2F5rJSt6HcMmHpA4nKapaKMJNLLdbiET9HsgQwQpTV1hUpIpCYd7_xN2CQg/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The strawberries are beginning to ripen, a few at a time; not enough for a bowlful yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lexS4osdOCC0uNy_sFBjLmv4JvWMXrL29YVrghSS_tLoeM1US_OwvMufvHSWw6DVD2umrByg364LFumBmDBJHhk1xKlYKN3zocDDWrx2dOusN2WtykMDiXeUM6nDz9jdGC2fPnRClri6/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lexS4osdOCC0uNy_sFBjLmv4JvWMXrL29YVrghSS_tLoeM1US_OwvMufvHSWw6DVD2umrByg364LFumBmDBJHhk1xKlYKN3zocDDWrx2dOusN2WtykMDiXeUM6nDz9jdGC2fPnRClri6/s320/007.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apples are swelling on my new Jonagold tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Uq0X85tGHLGhROL4bP8ISQEnEJw1vbAmpGsgzBp1XpK8BaFCI91SrBfSJ4Oubzrv1vZ-zr_TB9VfrX6M9IJViukj9kzgztgUQXN1ogLbEEtzgP0TsVpMQy1OnVeflXBPeI-aj3qToOfa/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Uq0X85tGHLGhROL4bP8ISQEnEJw1vbAmpGsgzBp1XpK8BaFCI91SrBfSJ4Oubzrv1vZ-zr_TB9VfrX6M9IJViukj9kzgztgUQXN1ogLbEEtzgP0TsVpMQy1OnVeflXBPeI-aj3qToOfa/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The onions are coming along nicely - apart from the one I accidentally chopped with the hoe. Oops!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj2xlZqzy-5jRI-7mTLIPdtffOtQ4M_h2p0XFXVZ2H6W0P0cBAGKOa6omeB2sTOfKywbvU8_3krZ3bW8pR829eoCmeT4Who1g6huQ-8iJxI0HK54wk-CcM9rI0pT5laz0rjc7qa3zEk-/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj2xlZqzy-5jRI-7mTLIPdtffOtQ4M_h2p0XFXVZ2H6W0P0cBAGKOa6omeB2sTOfKywbvU8_3krZ3bW8pR829eoCmeT4Who1g6huQ-8iJxI0HK54wk-CcM9rI0pT5laz0rjc7qa3zEk-/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The courgettes have survived the slug attack....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSJnlLr_iObZBh8gDGfMw3wLAPdijB3nqES8oSUErt6lfkIXOdKkZGTDjZrElAS7q9qfFzXkoF3p5N5TYVLlkqQRPlTT9qhsPALLdgcCBGn1bX1H_X9EoOM1Y2C4LYUzJq5-D49blVV9U/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSJnlLr_iObZBh8gDGfMw3wLAPdijB3nqES8oSUErt6lfkIXOdKkZGTDjZrElAS7q9qfFzXkoF3p5N5TYVLlkqQRPlTT9qhsPALLdgcCBGn1bX1H_X9EoOM1Y2C4LYUzJq5-D49blVV9U/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">..... but this is the only one of 3 pumpkin plants to survive the chomping molluscs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIk9AaEB5GBsRgzNnwDkhDgqiPnjCi4lkZOGspDQ2DddmtAJhg3NSjjIlisI4yuZ1kdFzFR3ykaCjHaGK8sPL6ToKJJDPJGcsS6HPxAywc7hVxJSP0KSWg5VVNCH-uioEk3qGByWEuVPu/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIk9AaEB5GBsRgzNnwDkhDgqiPnjCi4lkZOGspDQ2DddmtAJhg3NSjjIlisI4yuZ1kdFzFR3ykaCjHaGK8sPL6ToKJJDPJGcsS6HPxAywc7hVxJSP0KSWg5VVNCH-uioEk3qGByWEuVPu/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gooseberries are almost ready to pick!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, two nosey pets who just had to come and have a look....</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRR-ZaxAzbKIfctTinDyyd8CutnQlSlmj4IlIzB1wcn9Mpz4PvOIgcupaNHjzTEJFrbUL5_o-aNTiBPtJ1g7n-zQP8Hz4E30SjzJeqqV3HGMFuYoTLRL55rfr2-U5VMwfhbf89Ka_a7Aa/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRR-ZaxAzbKIfctTinDyyd8CutnQlSlmj4IlIzB1wcn9Mpz4PvOIgcupaNHjzTEJFrbUL5_o-aNTiBPtJ1g7n-zQP8Hz4E30SjzJeqqV3HGMFuYoTLRL55rfr2-U5VMwfhbf89Ka_a7Aa/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luna, our little girl cat....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY-lNsizxh5RQFEsBDGLBhqQESN-NlBWC6JWpPhLU0k1MJ5G-Wk9axTuUSNY1Fvag0XvxsX52AzPgNizxE7MJDiiwOP-jlw9FE4lj0Dn0Sqc3kuC_Nsbu4WFeeJkFRp2oqnVhETulXuS2/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY-lNsizxh5RQFEsBDGLBhqQESN-NlBWC6JWpPhLU0k1MJ5G-Wk9axTuUSNY1Fvag0XvxsX52AzPgNizxE7MJDiiwOP-jlw9FE4lj0Dn0Sqc3kuC_Nsbu4WFeeJkFRp2oqnVhETulXuS2/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and Flopsy, peeking coyly over his shoulder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you've had a good day too! x x</span>Hawthornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08538563836252189874noreply@blogger.com9