Jeanne's Bliss Blog

Friday, April 30, 2010

TGIF



Hearts understand in the ways the mind cannot


In a Matter of Speaking


Today is a slice of Heaven on Earth
Spending most time out in the garden or with Grandma

and visiting all the garden centers
and putting lots of Starbucks's coffee grounds in my gardens

Hummingbird feeders are full
and bird baths too

Hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple packed in juice- undrained
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 medium or 3 small size (over ripe) bananas- mashed
1/2 cup chopped pecans- toasted

preheat over to 350 degrees-

Combine first 5 ingredients, in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Don’t beat. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, and bananas.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350- for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center, comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks, right side up.

Meanwhile, prepare cream cheese frosting.

When cakes are cooled, place one layer on platter and spread top with frosting. Place second layer on top of first layer and frost cake. Sprinkle toasted pecans on top.
Before serving. I like to chill this cake for about 20 minutes, uncovered until frosting sets.
Store in fridge up to a week.

cream cheese frosting-

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese- room temperature
1 stick of butter, room temperature
3 3/4 cups of confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Place cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer on low speed until combined. Add the confectioner's sugar. a little at a time. Blend with mixer for 1 minute until sugar is all incorporated. Add the vanilla . then increase the mixer speed to medium and blend until fluffy, about 1 minute.
Use frosting immediately to frost cake.
This frosting makes a lot, save the extras for more goodies.
Enjoy!

Lovely Cake recipe from my sweet friend


Please visit her fabulous blog


I watched It's Complicted last night.
I loved her garden and her shop
and the music

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Jennifer's Joys



Off for my walk
I am looking for a pair of pants just this colour
Source of this photograph unknown to me

I am also looking for pants the same colour as this top.


Waving Flag


Jennifer will sing this song at her graduation

Lyrics to Wavin Flag (Hope for Haiti)
This is the song we're singing in June for Grade 6 Graduation.

Young Artists For Haiti – Wavin’ Flag Lyrics

[All]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin flag

[K'naan]
Born from a throne
Older than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone

[Nelly Furtado]
But it’s my home
All I have known

[Sam Roberts]
Where I got grown
but now its gone

[Avril Lavigne]
Out of the darkness
in came the carnage
threatening my very survival

[Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan]
Fractured my streets
and broke all my dreams

[Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman]
Feels like defeat to wretched retreat

[All]
So we strugglin’

[Kardinal Offishall]
Fighting to eat

[All]
And we wonderin’

[Kardinal Offishall]
If we’ll be free

[Jully Black]
We cannot wait for some faithful day
it’s too far away so right I’ll say

[All - Chorus]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)

Ahhho ahhho ahhho

[Lights]
So many wars, settling scores
[Deryck Whibley of Sum 41]
All that we’ve been through
and now there is more
[Serena Ryder]
I hear them say love is the way
[Jacob Hoggard of Hedley]
Love is the answer that’s what they say
[Emily Haines]
But were not just dreamers
of broken down grievers
[Hawsley Workman]
Our hand will reach us
and (?)
[Drake]
This can’t control us
no it can’t hold us down
[Chin Injeti]
We gon pick it up even though we still struggling
[Pierre Lapointe]
Au nom de la survie (In the name of survival)
[all]
and we wondering
[Pierre Lapointe]
Battant pour nos vie (Fighting for our lives)

[All]
We patiently wait
for some other day
[Fefe Dobson and Esthero]
thats too far away so right now we say

[All - Chorus]

[Drake - Rapping]
Uhh – well alright
How come when the media stops covering
and there’s a little help from the government
we forget about the people still struggling
and assume that its really all love again, nahh
see we don’t have to wait for things to break apart
if you weren’t involved before it’s never too late to start
you probably think that it’s too far to even have to care
well take a look at where you live what if it happened there?
you have to know the urge to make a change lies within
and we can be the reason that they see their flag rise again
lyrics courtesy of www.killerhiphop.com

[Nikki Yanofsky & Drake]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag

[Matt Mays]
and then it goes back
[Justin Nozuka]
and then it goes back
[Nikki Yanofsky]
Then it goes back

[Chorus - All]

[Justin Bieber]
When I get older
When I get older
I will be stronger
just like a waving flag.
[End]

I love you Jennifer
Thanks for always putting a song in my heart♥

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Basic Black



All photographs are ones I have taken or my Son and Ahram
except for a creation of my dear friend Dani
and the photograph of the orchid and the black stones♥
And one from Korean Vogue
and Vintage Movie Stars



I have been infatuated with things of black for the garden and home
black polished stones and all the things from Asia my Son and Ahram
have given me

My new black bunny for the porch and black and white photographs

Yet my world is alive with colour
It is spring and I embrace everything

Today is my dear friend Elaine's Mom's 85th birthday

Happy Birthday Mary I love you dearly.

Szeretlek

Love in Hungarian♥

Thanks to my dear friend Eve who has been leaving me messages in Hungarian on my comments I need to re-educate myself on how to learn to speak Hungarian again a few words at a time.
I understand most of it as my Grandmother often speaks to me in Hungarian but I don't know how to converse myself.

It is great to learn something new each and everyday.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

In All The Right Places



Black stones all throughout our home inside and out



Newest bunny for the porch

Everything I have is in black accents this year.




I love the way Betty dresses on Mad Men
I think January Jones is a most beautiful woman.



I love this Song
I love Lisa Stansfield


It' perfect April day outside and today is my fabulous Brother in law's 60th Birthday
Happy Birthday Allan
I love you and yours

I wish I was there in Nova Scotia with you celebrating and sharing the joy♥


Macy's Flower Show


Cherish all of your happy memories
they will make a fine cushion later in life♥

Monday, April 26, 2010

Grandma's Hands


Photograph as my Grandmother as a young bride



This is a favorite of Mine
I love my Grandmothers hands and everything about her.
Every day shared with her is beyond precious.
She is 95 now.

GRANDMA'S HANDS


"Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn ' t move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn ' t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I ' m fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear voice strong.

"I didn ' t mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked.. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw , swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn ' t understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

"These hands are the mark of where I ' ve been and the ruggedness of life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma ' s hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face."

Author Unknown to me

Sunday, April 25, 2010

A charmed Life



Remember all those ads from Benetton?




A Charmed Life


As my husband always says we are living the dream♥

Recipe for Healing
Healing
You will need:
Herbs: Pine needles,cloves
Objects: A seashell
Ribbon: White
If your feeling kind of under the weather,carry this charm to make yourself feel better fat. It chases away sickness and helps you heal.
It also smells very nice.

courtesy of my fabulous sweet friend Jennifer
(You can visit her blog by clicking on Jennifer's Joys)
in the sidebar

In April, in April

My heart is set
Where the pansy and the violet
And the daffodil,
And close-folded lilies grow
In borders dark with melted snow.
Wakening there from wintry sleep
With every bud I sunward creep.
The empurpled crocuses, that dare
With delicate veins the dawn-cold air,
Cradle me in their chalices
Amid the golden sediment.
There I lie in warm content
And listen to the velvet bees,
Watching their dark blue shadows fall
Along the half-transparent wall.
When the sharp-pointed grasses prick
Upward, all passionate to be free,
I share their conflict, fierce and quick,
With the earthen will; I know their glee.
In the star-tinted pimpernel
I hear the silver tongue of rain;
And learn the perfume thrushes smell,
Which makes their song as keen as pain;
And see, where long-lashed daisies crowd,
New revelations in the cloud.
That is why, when old I grow
And near my end, I shall not know.
For every year my heart is set
With the pansy and the violet
And the daffodil:
Submerged within their beauty, I
Transcend my poor mortality.


~In April
!Mary Webb
1881-1927

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows



My dear friend Judy has landed in Australia to join her daughter Renee

Here we go again.
Oz will NEVER be the same♥
Be good darlings♥



Your blast from the past for this Saturday



Seoul

Friday, April 23, 2010

Fox in our Neighborhood



If you look beneath the evergreens in this photograph the fox is just below them.



A fox in our yard yesterday morning




He ran down our driveway carrying a bird in its mouth.

Tearing down all our woods out here and the poor animals are losing their homes.
This is the first time I have ever seen a fox come right into our neighborhood hunting for food.

Last year I seen a deer on my street on an early morning walk.

Very sad to me so much nature is being lost for housing developments and commercial buildings.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day



A Photograph I took in British Columbia.


Every day is Earth Day

Save the planet it is the only one with chocolate.

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.
But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air,
but to walk here on Earth.

Thich Nhat Hanh

And I say to myself What a Wonderful World


Happy Earth Day


"Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap."

~ Robert Fulghum, (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)


Earth Day


All we are saying is give Earth a Hand

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Passion for Purple and Pink Ipods


Thanks Lisa for buying me this Ipod and thanks Nia for loading it with fabulous songs
and thanks to everyone who puts a song in my heart every single day of my life
I am blessed beyond belief♥


Kisses Bermuda





They gave each other a smile with a future in it.
--Ring Lardner






My newest Bunny♥




Our front gardens with purple flowers and Lily of the valley for my late beloved Mom♥

Outside the open windowThe morning air is all awash with angels
~Richard Purdy Wilbur~

My gardens have a passion for purple this year for Ahram's birstone for February
plus that is our wedding anniversary February 12th and it was also Justin's Dad's birthday these flowers are to celebrate all of the above.

I watched The Lovely Bones
I loved the way Heaven looked in this movie and I loved the tree with all the birds


Most pictures taken by me of our home and neighbors
some of the images are from Korean Vogue and greeting cards scanned.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A spring morning in our neighborhood



Some photographs of our yard and the very fine homes along the lake not far from us


Spring is surely God's masterpiece.

OUT OF THE VAST

There's part of the sun in an apple,
There's part of the moon in a rose;
There's part of the flaming Pleiades
In every leaf that grows.

Out of the vast comes nearness;
For the God whose love we sing
Lends a little of his heaven
To every living thing.

August W. Bornberger


Off to enjoy this fabulous spring day
There is definitely a SPRING in my step.

"A gush of bird song, a patter of dew A cloud and a rainbow's warning; Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue An April day in the morning!" ~Harriet Prescott Spofford
My friend Dani has been posting many lovely quotes regarding April on Facebook.
I love them all♥

Every house where Love abides and friendship is a guest is surely Home and Home Sweet Home for there the heart can rest ~Henry Van Dyke~

White Hare's Dream

Life is something to be enjoyed and lived rather than a well of suffering to be endure on the way to better things.
Life is not to be hurried through as a means to an end with our eyes on Heaven rather than the flowers by the wayside.
Life is to be enjoyed on its own terms.

From Stationery my Son sent me from Seoul a few years back.

Loved how they viewed Heaven in the movie
The Lovely Bones

Monday, April 19, 2010

Walking on Sunshine



A photograph I took yesterday of our front trees.

Time is relative
The mind makes it slow
The heart makes it fast
Our friends make it worthwhile
and an image makes it timeless.


The sun is shining brightly and hopefully it will warm up outside.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

And He's a SEOUL MAN



Let your heart be your compass, your mind your map, your soul your guide and you will never get lost...
~ Unkown

My son has arrived safely in Seoul once again...............

To Justin and Ahram a song I have been singing for your reunion
by Led Zepplin

And so today my world it smiles
Your hand in mine we will walk the miles.

Have a love fest for at least a million years.


"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." ~Henry Ward Beecher

Saturday, April 17, 2010

The Power of YOU



I love all my treasure troves around the house from loved ones especially the ones from Asia.


My sweet friend Jennnifer has started her own blog

Love you Jennifer so happy you have your own blog♥

We wait all these years to find someone who understands us… someone who accepts us as we are, someone with a wizard's power to melt stone to sunlight, who can bring us happiness in spite of trials, who can face our dragons in the night, who can transform us into the soul we choose to be. Just yesterday I found that magical Someone is the face we see in the mirror. It's us and our homemade masks.”
- Richard Bach, Running from Safety: An Adventure of the Spirit

10 best foods for your heart

1. Oatmeal
2. Salmon
3. Avocado
4. Olive Oil
5. Nuts
6. Berries
7. Legumes
8. Spinach
9. Flaxseed
10 Soy
and I also think think is very good for your heart your mind your body and your soul.

Love is all you need.

I received another hand written letter on pretty stationery from my sweet friend Jennifer.

I love the fabric of hand written letters heart to heart

More than words letters mingle souls.
I love you Jennifer.
Thanks for all the joy you bring me♥

Friday, April 16, 2010

Weekend Weekend Cha Cha Cha


Source of this photo unknown to me it was sent to me in email.

Jennifers Joys


Here is a link to some Alice in Wonderland Games:
Links from Jennifer


Mary Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells.
That's how my garden grows.

Not sure if or who made it.

Jennifer


TGIF

Time to get into the weekend and have fun.

Life is short make FUN of it♥


Baby Bunnies



"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." ~Henry Ward Beecher

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Life is but a Dream Shaboom Shaboom



The Sleepy Princess by my darling friend Dani
I love you I love all you create♥



Very soon
a Reunion once again♥


Life is like a Train Ride

Life is like a train ride.
We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are delays. At certain stops there are surprises. Some of these will translate into great moments of joy; some will result in profound sorrow. When we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the entire journey. Those people are our parents!

Sadly, this is far from the truth.
Our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them. They too have journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of their love, affection, friendship, guidance and their ever presence.

There are others who board the train and who eventually become very important to us, in turn.

These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances, whom we will learn to love, and cherish.

Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along.

Others will encounter many upsets, tears, losses on their journey.
Others still, will linger on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need.

Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off….

Some will get on and get off the train so quickly, they will scarcely leave a sign that they ever travelled along with you or ever crossed your path…

We will sometimes be upset that some passengers, whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own.

Then again, there’s nothing that says we can’t seek them out anyway.
Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we may not even be able to sit next to them because that seat will already be taken.

That’s okay …everyone’s journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes.

We must strive to make the best of it… no matter what...

We must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for the best in everyone.

Remember that at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help.

We too may vacillate or hesitate, even trip… hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding…

The bigger mystery of our journey is that we don’t know when our last stop will come. Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop. Not even those sitting in the seat next to us.

Personally, I know I’ll be sad to make my final stop…. I’m sure of it! My separation from all those friends and acquaintances I made during the train ride will be painful. Leaving all those I’m close to will be a sad thing. But then again, I’m certain that one day I’ll get to the main station only to meet up with everyone else. They’ll all be carrying their baggage… most of which they didn’t have when they first got on this train.

I’ll be glad to see them again. I’ll also be glad to have contributed to their baggage… and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they will have contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.

We’re all on this train ride together. Above all, we should all try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until we each make the final stop and leave the train for the last time.

All aboard!
Safe journey!!

BON VOYAGE!




Life is an opportunity ~ benefit from it.


Life is beauty ~ admire it.


Life is bliss ~ taste it.


Life is a dream ~ realize it.


Life is a challenge ~ meet it.


Life is a duty ~ complete it.


Life is a game ~ play it.


Life is a promise ~ fulfill it.


Life is sorrow~ overcome it.


Life is a song ~ sing it.


Life is a struggle ~ accept it.


Life is a tragedy ~ confront it.


Life is an adventure~ dare it.


Life is luck ~ make it.


Life is too precious ~ do not destroy it.


Life is Life ~ fight for it.


~Mother Teresa~

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

My Beautiful friend Kathryn and her Ikebana Creations


Photograph as posted on my dear and beautiful friends blog.
Beautiful Ikebana Arrangement from my dear friend Kathryn at Collage Diva
visit her blog (link below) to see the other beautiful photographs
and her creations.



Here I am in my orange silk robe from Asia all set to cherish my Ikebana Flowers

I send to you my love and smiles and a thousand glorious wishes to
keep within your heart.
Thank you for your love and golden gift of friendship
and your beautiful smiles and the flowers~♥
Flowers are food for the soul.

My beautiful and very talented friend Kathryn has created some more of her Ikebana flower arrangements (Japanase flower arranging) and they are all so gorgeous.
She posted this very special posting for me and I was deeply touched and honored.


Thank you Kathryn for always being such a very sweet and wonderful friend to me and always showering me with your love.

Give big hugs to your Son for me as well.

Kindness is the special art of living with a a loving heart♥


"When you are inspired... dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."

~ Pantanjali

Thank you for your golden gift of friendship,
the flowers and most of all YOU♥

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hummingbirds



Image scanned from a magazine I had



Photograph of the swan taken by my dear friend Dani and the quote below is by her as well.


Close your eyes And do not peek And I'll rub "spring" Across your cheek. Soft as velvet Smooth and sleek Close your eyes And do not peek.

I can hardly wait for the hummingbirds to return.

I mix 1 cup table sugar (cane) to 4 parts water
and change the feeders every 4 days.

Much love and many blessings to you all
It was raining this morning and is damp and cool out.


I love this poem so much
and was reminded of it again yesterday on my lovely friend's blog

Tea Time and Roses


Lovely Blog


Slowdance

Have you ever watched kids
on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Do you run through each day
On the fly
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done,
do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast

Time is short
The music won't last

Ever told a child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast

Time is short
The music won't last

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower

Hear the music
Before the song is over.

David L. Weatherford


Gregorian Moment of Peace




My friend Nia is selling her bike if anyone is interested


Be of love a little more careful than of anything

E. E. Cummings

Monday, April 12, 2010

Had I Heavens'













I am drawn to the colour purple this year to honor Ahram's February birth stone
the Amethyst.

Look out at the world.
Dream not of what is to come,
but remember what has been found.

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

She comes in Colours Everywhere She's like a Rainbow


My lovely neighbor gave me some bridal bouquet bushes to plant in our yard
to honor the special weddings in our family this year
2010 a year of MAGIC♥



"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

~Mother Teresa


She comes in colours everywhere
She's like a rainbow
The Rolling Stones

I love you sweet Princess K.
I cannot believe you are 2 now.
Here's to sweet fabuous you.





Very touching


Eat Pray Love comes out in theares August 13th
I cannot wait


"A gush of bird song, a patter of dew A cloud and a rainbow's warning; Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue An April day in the morning!" ~Harriet Prescott Spofford

Quote courtesy of my dear friend Dani the one above and blog design by Dani too.
I love you Dani♥

My Symphony

By William Henry Channing


"To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;

to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages, with open heart;
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
await occasions, hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony."

My husband planted the Bridal Bouquet Bushes that my neighbor gave to me
to honor the very special weddings in 2010♥

both my Niece and my Son are getting married this year.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

April Day



Photograph taken in Hong Kong by my fabulous relatives
Rob and Michelle
They loved their trip there♥

Fabulous



Above graphic and quote courtesy of my darling and talented friend Dani
I love you♥


"This I saw on an April day: Warm rain spilt from a sun-lined cloud, A sky-flung wave of gold at evening, And a cock pheasant treading a dusty path Shy and proud. And this I found in an April field: A new white calf in the sun at noon, A flash of blue in a cool moss bank, And tips of tulips promising flowers To a blue-winged loon." ~James Hearst, In April

Reading The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre
and a book recommeded to me by my dear friend Marilyn *Love you*
My First Best Friend by Nancy Lendemeyer

Listening to a CD made for me by my precious Erinn
and loving it
Love you Erinn♥
Thanks for putting a song in my heart♥


Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.
~Mother Teresa

Friday, April 09, 2010

Interview with God


Wishes upon the birthday cake and prayers for everything and
many thanks.



I thank you God for another birthday and all the people I love to share it with
I only wish Ahram and Justin could have joined me
We will have lots of celebrating to do in September.





I love you precious friend

Please visit her lovely blog♥

Photograph sent to me by my dear friend in Scotland
A beautiful pair of doves and a most beautiful friend.
I thank you for your golden gift of friendship all year.
When we are at one with nature we are at one with God♥




Monument at Heavenly Rest where my late beloved Mom and late Sister are buried.





Christ on the cross in a church in Europe.
Photograph courtesy of my Uncle James and Inge.
I thank you both for your love and blessings and photographs
and sharing my life♥




Beautiful pin I am wearing, earrings, scarf, braclet, and lipstick
all gifts from Ahram.
I love you my darling.
I cannot wait for us all to be together in September.
As the song goes see you in September
See you when the summer's through.
You know my tastes so well.

Thank you everyone for everything.
I am blessed beyond belief♥



Interview with God
I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.

"If you have the time" I said.

God smiled. "My time is eternity."
"What questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

God answered...
"That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived."

God's hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons
you want your children to learn?"

"To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
"Just know that I am here... always."

-author unknown..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.

"If you have the time" I said.

God smiled. "My time is eternity."
"What questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

God answered...
"That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived."

God's hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons
you want your children to learn?"

"To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."




"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
"Just know that I am here... always."

~Author unknown



Various photographs that mean so much to me
Most taken by me
and Ahram and Justin
Various scanned images from greeting cards♥

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Birthday Celebration


Thank you for your love and laughter and happily ever after♥




A beautiful Christian Louboutin shoe as seen on this blog


Bless Shoe


Bless Shoe all for your love kindness, sentiments, gifts, phone calls,
jewellery, *Wedding invitations*
lattes, smiles, hugs kisses and a million glorious wishes..............
beautiful hand made bags, and table items...........flowers and shrubs for my garden,
garden ornaments, wind chimes............
flowers delivered, books, CD's Ipods and a gazillion other things............
emails, packages, letters, cards and most of all for you.
Many more lunches, dinners and Jeanne Fest activities to follow♥

You have made this birthday as always absolutely wonderful
in spite of it raining outside I am full of smiles and wonderful surprises.
I am truly blessed beyond belief to have each one of you in my life.





Roses from Ahram and in her birthday box with her gorgeous gifts sent,
most beautiful as always and the most precious
wedding invitations enclosed.
She and my Son will wed in September in Seoul.
The best birthday gift ever to dream of their wedding
and our times shared this coming September.
It is what I live for♥


From my beautiful friend Jennifer:

Thank you for all the wonderful emails you sent me over the year.
You add a sparkle to my everyday life.
Your sweeter then any flower.
More gentle than a feather.
Even brighter than a star.
But even if you were a flower, feather or star
YOU would be my still be my friend.

Much Love Jennifer


Today's Jennifer's Joys for my birthday

Have a happy birthday!

Sunset

Where ships of purple gently toss
On seas of daffodil,
Fantastic sailors mingle,
And then - the wharf is still.

-Emily Dickinson

I'm celebrating because I've got a friend who tells me all the things to be told.

-Our Town

The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go, - doesn't it?

-Our Town



Thanks for always being an awesome friend and always being there.

Much love and many blessings Jennifer

I love you Jennifer

I love everyone who loves me so well.
Thanks for making my world a Heaven on Earth.

Thanks everyone for making my birthday so very specil indeed.

I am told 8 is a most spiritual number as it reaches up to the Heavens and then comes back down to Earth♥

I am blessed beyond belief♥

A mail box brimming, door bells ringing, celebrations galore.
What more could a lady ever ask for and I am loved so well by so many.
I thank God and all of your for your love and your blessings on my birthday
and everyday of the year♥

On the last birthday card I received from my late beloved Mom April 8, 2006

How to make a beautiful life
Reflections for my Daughter on her Birthday

Love yourself
Make peace with who you are
and where you are in this moment in time.
Listen to your heart
If you can't hear what it's saying
in this noisy world
Make time for yourself
Enjoy your own company
Let your mind wander among the stars
Try
Take chances
Life can be messy and confusing at times
but it is also full of surpries
The next rock in your path
might be a stepping-stone♥

Be happy
when you don't have whet you want
want what you have
Make do
That's a well kept secret of contentment.
There are not any shortcuts to tomorrow.
Yu have to make your own way
To know where you are going
Is only part of it.
You need to know where you have been too.
And if you ever get lost don't worry
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.
Life isn't days and years
It's what you do with time
and with all the goodness and grace
that's inside of you
Make a beautiful life
The kind you deserve.
I love you Mom
I miss you more than words can ever say♥


Lotus Dance

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

To My Darling Friend Dani Happy Birthday my Gorgeous One



A photograph from Dani's trip to New York in a church.
I love this photograph





Gardens, spring and you
everything I love


That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." ~ Emily Dickinson



I love you with all my heart.
A photograph I took in Vancouver with a tree with pink hearts painted all over it.
This is what I would do for you in your yard on your favorite tree
and have pink balloons and orental lanterns and wind chimes and all your favorite things.

I love you Dani♥


You Are Special
"SPECIAL" is a word that is used to
describe something one -of-a-kind.
Like a hug or a sunset
or a person who spreads love
with a smile or a kind gesture.
"SPECIAL" describes people who
act from the heart and keep in mind the hearts of others.
"SPECIAL" applies to something that is admired and precious, and which can never be replaced.
"SPECIAL" is the word that best describes YOU.

A Friend

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart,
chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it,
keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.
~Arabian Proverb♥

I love you my darling friend Dani♥
A world of love
a thousand blessings and may Heaven smile and hear your every wish
I love you
I'm so proud to call you my friend♥

It is also my fabulous brother in law Pat's birthday today my husband's brother.
My other brother in law Pat on April 13th.
Lots of April birthdays♥


I love wind chimes

I love you


I love you Dani


I love you Dani


Happy Birthday Precious Friend

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

On my walk this morning



Some photographs of our home our area and Olde Walkerville Ontario
This morning Spring was smiling and saying Enjoy Life♥

If your life looks cloudy
perhaps your soul needs a window washing♥

My most talented and amazing friend Dani designs this blog for me.
All creations are hers and I thank you for everything Dani
especially your golden gift of friendship all through the years.
I love you
Happy Birthday tomorrow
May Heaven smile and hear your every wish♥

Gardens are theatres



Greeting card courtesy of Ahram♥
I love you ♥
I received Ahrams package of love today for my birthday and inside the box
the wedding invitations for this Princess Bride to wed my son
It has made my birthday April 8th a slice of Heaven
I cannot wait until September.
Thank you Ahram for being the special Angel God sent Justin and I to love
us so well♥


Thank you Dani for the most gorgeous creations.

I love Wisteria I love lavender I love things from Asia
I love you
Thank you my darling friend
I love you so very much♥




One of the little sweethearts I love to share my life with and their family dog
Mylo

The greatest gift is people loving people and when we love we are but one step from Heaven♥




One of our tables





GARDENS ARE THEATRES;
Gardens are theatres
They are there to enchant,
to exhilarate,
and to captivate

When we are in communion with nature our souls are at peace



Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come♥

A good friend is like spring blossoming in the heart♥

There are many things in your life that will catch your eye
but only a few will catch your heart
Pursue those that do♥

Monday, April 05, 2010

Fairy Wings

Fairy Wings photograph taken by me at a shop I love so much




Beautiful fairy created by my most talented friend Dani
I love you ♥

Her birthday is April 7th. Us Aries ladies have it going on♥


Always leave room in your garden for Fairies to Fly



Beautiful easter eggs


Greek Potatoes

4 to 6 baking potatoes scrubbed clean and cut into chunks or wedges
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic crushed
salt and pepper
1 tbsp dried spices...I use salad herbs but you can use a Greek blend (clubhouse)

Toss potatoes into marinade.
Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes.
xox

Recipe from my sweet friend Gillian
Thanks so much♥
So good!!!



Fabulous




Love these

Have a Fabulous Easter Monday