Thoughtful Friday No. 73

"Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given.......; and his name

shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"

Isaiah 9 v 6-7 (the Bible)

Thoughtful Friday No. 72

"The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is

the potential capacity of the human heart"

A W Tozer

It's been a long time.....

I haven't posted in a while as life has just got busy and the real world a little more demanding!  However there has been much making in the tea and toast household - fabric journals, cakes and cookies and the like so here is a little glimpse.  I don't know about you but sometimes I get so involved that I completely forget to take a photograph and before you know it the gift has been wrapped (beautifully of course!) and given away!!  Here are some of the ones that didn't get away!

Date delights - recipe to come

Cranberry Christmas cookies, courtesy of here

CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Stir together until combined:

½ c. granulated sugar
¾ c. sweetened dried cranberries
½ c. white or semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ c. packed brown sugar
1½ c. flour
½ t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda
¼ t. salt
1 c. quick or old-fashioned oats
½ c. chopped pecans (or walnuts... macadamias... whatever)

In a separate bowl, mix together:

¾ c. (1½ sticks) butter, softened
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla

Add contents of cranberry bowl to the butter bowl. Stir until well mixed. Drop well-rounded spoonfuls onto parchment lined (or non-stick) baking sheet. Lightly flatten dough with the back of a spoon. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

(I toast the pecans or walnuts… whatever I have on hand… before mixing them into the batter. Do as you wish. If you plan, as I did, to give this as a gift mix, layer the first list of ingredients (in order listed) into a pretty jar or bowl and include instructions for adding the butter, eggs, and vanilla and baking. Recipe inspiration courtesy of Pampered Chef.)

I'll be back again soon!

Thoughtful Friday No. 71

"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today"

Will Rogers

Thoughtful Friday No. 70

"It is only in the darkness that we get to see the stars"

Macrina Wiederkehr

(image courtesy of webweaver via google)

Thoughtful Friday No. 69

"You cannot have a sweet and whilesome abode unless you admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms; so a strong body and a bright, happy, or serene countenance can only result from the free admittance into the mind of thoughts of joy and goodwill and serenity."

James Allen

Thoughtful Friday No. 68

"Reverie is not a mind vacuum.  It is rather the gift of an hour

which knows the plenitude of the soul."

Gaston Bachelard

Thoughtful Friday No. 67

"And in the sweetness of friendship,

Let there be laughter,

amd the sharing of pleasures

for in the dew of little things

the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

Kahlil Gibran

Thoughtful Friday No. 66

"Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought.

Our brightest flaxes are commonly kindled

by unexpected sparks"

Samuel Johnson

It was a beautiful day!

They are so obviously in love and it was SUCH a happy day.  (These are unofficial photos so not the best quality.)

The dress was a beautiful fit and she looked absolutely gorgeous

Fresh white roses in her pre-raphaelite hair looked amazing together with her posy of different coloured flowers.  Her sisters as bridesmaids all wore different colours and carried coloured chinese parasols as well as a small posy to coordinate with the colour of their dress.

And at the end of the reception there were chinese lanterns and the going away outfit was a chinese dress which made for a delightful blend of cultures.  So much I could say about the preparation before hand and I had hoped to do a chronicle of events but what was I thinking???? As the bride's mother I was far too busy to even get my camera out of the bag!!!   - 160 orders of service put together by hand, posies handmade to affix to the ends of the rows in the church, lots and lots of ivy to adorn the reception venue; candle lanterns, more ivy, place cards, fairy lights.  So many lovely people who contributed so much with so much love for the special couple.

And a very very kind friend who allowed us the use of her large house for the day (remember the wedding was 2 hours from where we live!).  Daughter's 2 and 3 and myself stayed over the night before and the bride to be was brought breakfast in bed!  Then more and more people arrived; the hairdresser, dad, grandma and friend, sisters 1 and 4, friends, friends and more friends until there was quite a housefull all getting ready together. Such fun.  Meanwhile dear friend whose house we were invading was ensuring we all had something to eat and drink as we prettied ourselves ready for 2.30pm when the ceremony took place at the church. And I am just loving looking back at these photos and reliving the day (even though I am supposed to be doing some work here in the home office!!!).  Hope you enjoy them too.

Thoughtful Friday No. 65

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful,

arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. "

I Corinthians 13 v1-7 from the Bible.