A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Here's a smattering of what's caught my eye these days.........


My mouth is watering to try Aunt Millie's 'secret' scone recipe that Duchess over at Rose Tea Cottage shares with her readers. After all, what could be better than a tea party with freshly-baked scones served warm with clotted cream and jam.


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Perhaps that's what Bill Stubbs means when he talks about his ideas of luxury--it's not about wealth or status, but of discovering the beauty around you, whether it's a beautiful piece of jewelry, a lush garden or a simple cup of tea.

I came across for the first time the link to his website A Moment of Luxury. I hadn't heard of him or his television show until now, but a quick browse through his website reveals lots of interesting things to visit: a blog, articles, on-line webcasts of some of his television shows. I look forward to future visits.


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Oh, and I just had a delightful visit over at Jan Karon's website. Since my last time there, everything's updated. Her latest Father Tim book is being released in October of this year (yah!).

Once you enter her site, look for a small line of text near the bottom "Jan talks about her life and work" and you'll be able to listen to this gracious author speak from her heart about her writing. You'll catch a glimpse of why her Mitford books have sold 20 million copies.


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And I've been reading between times. Don't think I've ever mentioned that my lime green and hot pink covered bible is always part of my daily reads....although I'm not 'religious' about it, I like to start and end my day reading something from its encouraging pages.

At the moment, I've also got near at hand books from my own shelves, a couple borrowed from family, and some from the library..... (I sometimes think I know what a bee must feel like as it flits from blossom to blossom gathering nectar... a little here, a little there and together it all makes something nourishing and sweet.) Here's a small peek at my ever increasing pile.



The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith (from the series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)..... "As always in Smith's gentle celebrations of life in this arid patch of southern Africa, the best moments are the smallest." (The New York Times)

Live the Life You Love by Barbara Sher..... I flipped it open the other day and found a whole chapter on dealing with resistance, that lively force that seems to batten down the hatches just when you decide you want to make some changes in your life.

A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick..... Although I'm not a quilter, I can certainly appreciate the beauty, grace and creativity of such handwork. I'm still only at the beginning of the book so I look forward to seeing how Marie takes the pieces of her story and quilts them together.

The Call by Rick Joyner..... The message of this book challenges those who follow Jesus Christ to begin living the truth with which they have been entrusted... it's a call to life.

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And by the clock, I see that it's now time for me to dash away.... I wish you a wonderful day .... may glimpses of heaven catch you unawares and fill you with delight.

Hugs,

Writing and Beads

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten -- happy, absorbed, and quietly putting one bead on after another."

BRENDA UELAND
If You Want to Write, 1938

Now that puts writing on a whole different level! I remember playing with my mother's button jar and what an absorbing activity it was to find the prettiest , biggest or shiniest buttons for my stringing project.

Note to Self: Get coloured beads. Find pretty jar. Put on desk as reminder of how writing should make me feel!

Must dash! Happy Monday!

Simply Sunday

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Photo from glittergraphics

"Lord, give me an open heart to find You everywhere, to glimpse the heaven enfolded in a bud, and experience eternity in the smallest act of love."

from Life in the Spirit, Mother Teresa

Happy Sunday!

A Purr-fect Ending to This Tale

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

If you want to read an amazing story about a cat who had to use one of his nine lives, you may want to pop over to Cindy's at Notes in the Key of Life and read her posting about Toda the Miracle Cat.

As you know, I LOVE kitty cats and it really wrenches my heart (and stomach) when I hear how ill some people treat living creatures. But this story has such a wonderful, amazing ending, I just had to share it with you.

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The cute little furball in the picture above looks like he's ready for the weekend...... me too! Hope you have one that's wonderful!

Their Best Light

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"Treat your friends as you do your pictures,
and place them in their best light."

Jennie Jerome Churchill
(1854 - 1921)




Happy Friday!

Random Dozen

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

I enjoy coming across these lists of questions or sentence prompts in blogland --- they've been good at causing me to think outside my normal range of ideas. Here's my go at 2nd Cup's Random Dozen. For more info, just click on the graphic above.

Enjoy your day!








1. Do you use the labels various charities send you as “free gifts"?

Yes, I do. Sometimes I send a contribution back, but not always. I've wondered about the 'rightness' of using them if I don't support them with my cash, but I got over it. My using them indicates my support, and it's free publicity for the organization when I use them on my envelopes.



2. What is your favorite time of day (or night) for skywatching?

I love the long summer evenings in northerly Alberta, where twilight lasts a long time. I enjoy watching the sky and clouds change as the sun drops lower and lower into the horizon.



3. What is the most adventurous you've ever been with trying a new food? (Keep it G-rated please)

Probably it was the time many years ago when I ate octopus at a Greek restaurant. That seemed pretty adventuresome for me.



4. Have you ever heard a rock sing? (Trust me, there's a reason for this one!)

No, I can't say I have.... and I hope I never do..... 'cause I'm reminded of that verse from the Bible that says if we don't praise God, the rocks will cry out praise in our stead. I'd sooner do my own praising!



5. If you could learn a language you don't presently speak, what would it be?

Ever since I lived in Venezuela for several months after I graduated from college, I have had a hankering to learn Spanish and be truly fluent in it. As well, I'd like to learn French, since I do live in a country (Canada) where we have two official languages.



6. Al Capone's tombstone read, “My Jesus, Mercy.” If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

I hope that someday it could say"She walked in love."



7. If you were a famous musician who was known by one name, like “Cher,” “Sting,” or “Jewel,” what would it be? It doesn’t have to be your first name, but it can be, if you’d like.

Drew a blank on this one....... maybe 'Bren'.



8. Have you ever been inordinately “into” a television show?

Don't watch much television these days. I used to enjoy the nighttime soaps like Dallas or Falcon Crest (waaaay back when).



9. When you sneeze, do you go big, or do you do that weird “heenh!” sound that makes people think you’re going to blow your brains out? Any other variation we should know about?

Oh dear.... nothing genteel about my sneezes.... they're usually quite eruptive.



10. Do you still read an actual newspaper that you hold in your hands, or do you get your news elsewhere?

I like the feel of paper in my hands, so yes, I prefer my newspaper in paper format. Hubby likes to get the news on TV and internet, so I get caught up that way too. ... Oh yes, it's much more comfortable for Kitty if the news comes on something she can lay on (although she doesn't do that as much as Mr. Sullivan (my gray lad) used to do. That was his favourite.



11. Are you a good speller?

I've always been a good speller, and LOVED spelling bees in elementary school. Seems my proof-reading eyes are always on duty; a bit disconcerting to find what seems like more typos than there used to be... sometimes even in my own postings (errr).



12. At what time each day do you start thinking about lunch?

Depends on how early breakfast was.

A Furry Nap Before Lunch

2010 by Brenda Colleen Leyland

There are so many great graphics and cute pictures over at glittergraphics. When I saw this one, I had to download and share it with you. I mean, it must have been a very hard morning for this little fellow.

"You cannot look at a
sleeping cat and feel tense."

~ Jane Pauley