a spirit of simplicity

  I didn't’ get many photos this week.  Sunday was the 5 year anniversary of my step-daughter’s death. In years past this date racked my world for a month. This year I was able to feel the sadness at all she missed but also recognize how blessed I was to be able to have her in my life.  I happened to glance out of the window on Sunday morning to see this beautiful sunset. I think I posted earlier in the week that it was a sunrise because that is what I normally see. By sunset I’m most either at work or driving home. But when I paid more attention to the photo this morning I realized that the sun rises from a different direction than this photo so it must have been sunset.  It’s pretty either way and I’m glad I was able to step out the back door and get a photo.  I got a gift from an old friend when we got together a few weeks ago. She gave me the mug and the Irish part of it prompted me to add some Bailey’s to my hot cocoa.  Michelle over at  Living our days  always has wonderful b

  Sun rising of a morning.... It was so pretty Sunday morning I stepped out back to take a picture. Sometimes it’s all bright orange, red, and pink and other times It’s just sort of a beautiful brightness rising up over this little town that I live in.  ~ ~ ~ Pictorial Tuesday .  Our world Tuesday .  Image-in-ing Nature Notes Take time on Tuesday My corner of the world You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  t But I am like a green olive tree In the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God Forever and ever. Psalm 52:8 ~ ~ ~ Today is the fifth anniversary of the death of my step-daughter, Ashley.  It is not true that it gets easier. You just adjust yourself to it.  Sunday scripture blessings Scripture and a snapshot You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  I would add a glimmer of dragonfies to the list as well An eclipse of moths A bouquet of flowers A gathering of friends ~ ~ ~ Nature Notes Our world Tuesday    Pictorial Tuesday    Image-in-ing You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  Monday: Quinoa lentil pilaf -roasted chicken breast -steamed broccoli Tuesday: Shepard’s pie Wednesday: roasted tofu, green beans, and mushrooms, basmati rice Thursday: fettuccine with peas, asparagus, and artichokes Friday: pad Thai Saturday: salad and leftovers Sunday: fish, salad, rice ~ ~ ~ The hearth and soul Meal plan Monday Menu plan Monday Little cottage link party

  t And above all these put on love,  which binds all these in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14 ~ ~ ~ Sunday scripture blessings Scripture and a snapshot You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  It was school vacation week and since I work at a school I spent four of those days at my daughter’s house. I spent Monday and Wednesday nights there as well. She appreciated the extra help since my newest granddaughter was just 3 weeks old...well almost 4 weeks old now. She’s growing so fast! We knew my grandson, Verne, would be wonderful with the baby but we were a little concerned with how Abigail would do. We didn’t have to worry though she is doing fine. Verne is such a great big brother that Abby just follows his lead.  My other daughter, Hannah, came to visit one afternoon with presents for all the children. She gave Verne a little wooden sword and he immediately became a pirate. His sister became a pirate as well.  Verne and I watched one of his favourite movies. It’s an old DVD with four short cartoon stories about the American heroes John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunion, and someone else who I can’t remember. It wasn’t a Disney film though and the illustrations were ab

 Into the conservatory  February is mostly a grey month here in New England.  Every once in a while however, the sun comes out and lights up the conservatory of a morning. This is the tiny room where keep most of our instruments, some plants, my pretty desk... And a spot for meditation and devotions. ~ ~ ~ The hearth and soul Little cottage link party You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  t Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 ~ ~ ~ Scripture and a snapshot Sunday scripture blessings You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  We got two snowstorms in the past week or so.  One all day Sunday and another one on Tuesday. The were both snow that looked beautiful.  My school closed campus for 2 weeks because of COVID so I’ve been working from home. That leaves me with time to do some slow cooking which I love. Onions are the start of all things deliciousness.  I’ve also had the chance to putter around the house and get some deep cleaning done.  I bought a baby BT2 guitar. It’s a small Taylor. I have no idea how to play but I’ve been wanting to learn. I needed a smaller guitar because I am just over 5 feet tall and my husband’s guitar is just too big for me.  I went to visit my grandchildren yesterday. Little Natalie has grown so much in the few short weeks! She’s gained a pound in 2 weeks! She’s such a calm little baby. Verne and Abigail love her so much! ~ ~ ~ Friday Fave Fives Thankful Thursday

  The campus of the school where I work was once a tree farm.  The windows in my classroom look out onto the big field and the train tracks. Beyond the tracks is  the 92 acre Sally Milligan nature reserve. It’s really quite beautiful when the snow is falling and one can see the white of the snow against the dark of the tree trunks...grey sky over all. When the train goes by on its way to Rockport or into Boston it looks like a picture postcard. One morning when school was not in session we were treated to the sight of two large coyotes loping across the field and slowly making their way throughout the trees and over the tracks.  ~ ~ ~ Our world Tuesday .  Pictorial Tuesday    Image-in-ing .  Nature notes Take time Tuesday You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  t I will sing a new song to you, O God; Upon a ten stringed harp I will play to you.  Psalm 144:9 ~ ~ ~ Sunday scripture blessings Scripture and a snapshot You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  I stumbled across this wonderful candle in the clearance section of my local home store. It does take up quite a bit of space in my tiny apartment but it smells of peony and it’s so pretty.  Even when it’s not burning the melted wax looks like a flower.  We have just one window in the kitchen Spider plant clippings currently take up the space on the window sill. Charming and filled with hope for the spring that will be here in just a few short months.  This is the view out beyond our kitchen window. The harbor is just beyond the last house you see looking forward and you can see it from the living room and bedroom windows.  Sunrise illuminates the kitchen though and the room fills with coloured sunlight as I sit to drink my coffee.  Glimmers of pink, yellow, and orange glow on the walls around me and I am happy to sit quietly in my small kitchen and observe the beginning of day. ~ ~ ~ Pink Saturday The hearth and soul .  Little cottage link party .  Charming homes and gardens You

  I finally got to meet my new granddaughter, Natalie Faith on Sunday. Verne and Abigail (her brother and sister) are over the world for her.  As you can see Verne took out a couple of his favourite match-box cars to share with me and Abigail brought fashion to a whole new level for the occasion.  She is in love with her brother’s old cowboy boots and never wants to take them off even though they are 2 sizes too big for her. I had my sunglasses on when I walked in the house so she went to get hers as well.  And sweet little Natalie Faith feels like a feather in my arms she’s so light. I was so happy to finally meet her and hold her and smell that beautiful new baby smell.  Monday night into Tuesday we were expecting a giant snowstorm...but it ended up mostly rain and heavy wind. The travel was lousy though and though we got rain the surrounding areas got snow so school was cancelled! Snow Day for me! I spent the day puttering around the house. I cleaned and organized the little room we

  We are in the midst of a winter storm. It’s grey and rainy and very blowy out there. The temperatures over just over freezing so we have rain and slush. Which is rather unpleasant but does cancel the school where I work so I get a snow day! The boughs of the huge pine tree between our house and the harbour are being tossed about as if they were branches on a much smaller tree. There’s something about seeing huge pine boughs swaying in the breeze way above your house that lets you know it’s windy out there.  I am sitting at my kitchen table drinking coffee in my pajamas and have no intention of going out of doors for quite some time...maybe walk down to the town landing this afternoon.  For now though... Here is a picture of the beautiful pine. The house behind it is a good three stories tall. I love to imagine the things that tree has seen.  ~ ~ ~ Our world Tuesday .  Image-in-ing Pictorial Tuesday Nature notes Take time Tuesday    My corner of the world    Community global You ar

 The good My sweet little granddaughter was born!  Natalie Faith! The fun I couldn’t go into the hospital because of COVID so I had to wait till yesterday to meet her. We were all so happy to see one another and Abigail decided to wear her favourite outfit for the occasion.  The random We had a bit of snow a few weeks ago but we are expecting quite a bit more tonight. Well....one forecast said we should expect anywhere from no snow at all to a foot and a half. Talk about random. ~ ~ ~ The good, the random, the fun

  t The Lord gives strength to his people; The Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11 My beautiful granddaughter, Natalie Faith, was born on Monday morning! This was the verse of the day for her.  ~ ~ ~ Scripture and a snapshot .   Sunday scripture blessings You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

  I have a beautiful granddaughter who was born on Monday morning. I am so very thankful for her. Her name is Natalie Faith. Because of COVID I couldn’t go to the hospital. My plan is to bring my mum to see her tomorrow.  I bought this large candle last year and only lit it for the first time this week.  It smells like peonies and the melted wax looks like a flower. It’s so pretty.  I made this activity for my toddlers at work and they really liked it! Bubble wrap inside a zip-lock bag with primary coloured paint. Red and blue for purple, yellow and blue for green, and yellow and red for orange. I taped up the opening quite tightly! We finally got some snow. It wasn’t very much but it looked pretty  against all the old homes as I drove to work.  I picked up the prettiest  potted mini daffodils at the market the other day. They were so pretty I picked up a pot for my mum as well.  Natalie Faith was born with a low birth weight. She also had to go under the bilirubin lights for 24 hours.