365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 146 - 152

Day 146

Reflection

Let peace reign

Quote

Really healthy soul of man/woman/artist has all colours;  Healthy soul is as rainbow...Yaroslaw Rozputnyak

Scripture

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you...and I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes....Ezekiel 36:26 - 27

Day 147

Reflection

The only barriers and road blocks are the ones you set yourself

Quote

I rather love the world. It is fantastically exciting, infinitely threaded with gold...
Richard Burton

Scripture

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 1 Peter 3:13

Day 148

Reflection

Everyone who truly knows you believes in you, do you believe in yourself?

Quote

All anybody needs to know about prizes is that Mozart never won one...Henry Mitchell

Scripture

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy..Psalm 145:8

Day 149

  Reflection

Everything is possible, can you believe it

Quote

You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face.  And show the world all the love in your heart.....Carole King

Scripture

You too now will have sorry; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.. John 16:22


Day 150

Reflection

Smile, it may be someone’s miracle

Quote

Grace fills empty spaces....Simone Weil

Scripture

Your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.. Matthew 6:8


Day 151

Reflection

You are beautiful

Quote

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet....Frederick Buechner

Scripture

The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous..Psalm 146:8

Day 152

Reflection

Take the time to nurture yourself

Quote

Oh earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. ....Thornton Wilder

Scripture

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance..James 1:2-3

Picture of the Week - Spread your wings....

This little beauty landed on the hinge of our conservatory door, it was taking in the last of the suns rays, and showing off its colouring.  What projects do you have that you need to get off the ground?  Are you ready to spread your wings?

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 139 - 145

Day 139

Reflection

It’s time to recharge your batteries, let the renewal begin.

 Quote

Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s

cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half

possession. Do that which is assigned to you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.....Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scripture

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labour in vain who build it;.... Psam 127:1

Day 140

Reflection

Get ready to really breath

Quote

Everything in the past died yesterday. Everything in the future was born today....Unknown

Scripture

Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge....Proverbs 23:12

Day 141

Reflection

Shine, some light into your life

Quote

A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Scripture

In righeousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear..Isaiah 54:14

Day 142

 

Reflection

Take the time to enjoy the little things in your life

Quote

We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people’s models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open...Shakti Gawain

Scripture

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it...Psalm 37:5

Day 143

Reflection

There is a time and a place for everything, and everything in its season

Quote

Sometimes the most urgent and vital thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest.....Ashleigh Brilliant

Scripture

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God, How great is the sum of them, If I could count them they are more in number than the sand...Psalm 139:17-18

Day 144

Reflection

What miracle awaits you?

Quote

One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar....Helen Keller

Scripture

The Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught..

Proverbs 3:26

Day 145 

Reflection

Don’t endure you live, enjoy it

Quote

Each day comes bearing its gifts, Untie the ribbons. ...Ann Schabacker

Scripture

Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations; Thou didst establish the earth and it stands...Psalm 119:90

Picture of the Week - Street Entertainers

Street Entertainers in Covent Garden

Covent Garden is always very lively, with so much going on, performers and entainers, stalls, and luscious smells....

This Centurion was most expressive

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 132 - 138

Day 132

Reflection

Everything in its season

Quote

If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable. Seneca

Scripture

Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  and the God of love and peace will be with you.  11 Corinthians 13:11

Day 133

Reflection

Everyone who truely knows you believes in you, do you believe in yourself?

 Quote

Art has been defined as a neurotic who continually cures himself with his art. Lee Simonson

Scripture

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish...John 10:27-28

Day 134

Reflection

Miracles are all around

Quote

I honour health as the first Muse. ---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scripture

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants; and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemmed..Psalm 34:22

Day 135

Reflection

Shine a light, sometimes miracles do not look like we think they should look!

 Quote

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal....Ralph Vaull Starr

 Scripture

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.  Does He speak and then not act?  Does He promise and not fulfill?  Numbers 23:19

Day 136

Reflection

Expect a miracle

 Quote

Artistic growth is, more than anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness. The stupid believe that to be truthful is easy: only the great artist knows how difficult it is....Willa Cather

 Scripture

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you  James 4:8

Day 137

Reflection

You will soar like the eagle

Quote

Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits...Brian Tracy

Scripture

God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus..

Philippians 4:19

Day 138

Reflection

There is a time and a place

Quote

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear....Ambrose Redmoon

Scripture

...He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things...Acts 17:25

Picture of the Week - Our 8 legged friends.....

There seemed to be an increase in our friends who have decided to take over the garden with all this warm weather we have had during the week.  This one decided to weave its' web across most of garden, had to relocate it 3 times but it kept coming back to the same spot.  I had never seen one being made before!

 

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 125 - 131

Day 125 

Reflection

You light up the room, don’t hide....

Quote

To the extent a person makes, invents or thinks something that is new to him, he may be said to have performed a creative act. ... Margaret Mead

Scripture

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power...Isaiah 40:29

Day 126

Reflection

You have the ability to step out, and soar....

Quote

There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment. ... Norman Vincent Peale

Scripture

The Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear... Isaiah 59:1

Day 127

Reflection

Are you spending too much of your time with naysayers

Quote

Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy....  Rabbi Abraham Heschel

Scripture

For thou dost light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness. ...Psalm 18:28

Day 128

Reflection

Living in truth....everyday

Quote

One sure-fire way to stay creative: force yourself to learn something new. ... Harvey Mackay

Scripture

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. ..1 Peter 5:7

Day 129

Reflection

How much time have you invested in your dream?

Quote

Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm. ...Robert Louis Stevenson

Scripture

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. ..Psalm 32:7

Day 130

Reflection

Make a start today, it’s never too late

Quote

One looks at life as a gift, a painting of lights and darks, each defining the other, not a series of good and bad things. Giving thanks, and often, frees the spirit and makes the heart secure. ...Fay Bohlayer

Scripture

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away... Matthew 24:35

Day 131 

Reflection

Take time to breath

Quote

When we are enthusiastic we are intoxicated with passion rooted in our true selves and it

flows into all we do. ---Linda Saccoccio

Scripture

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:6-8

Picture of the Week

Check out the mirrors on this bike......I tried to get a frontal picture but the traffic lights changed, so decided to take it looking through the wing mirror of our car.

Football at every turn!

Summer’s come to an end and the past few days have given us some hazy sunshine - Indian Summer I've heard, though we are having some rain today. The kids have been back at school for a few weeks now and with this brings the after-school and weekend activities that  require us to ferry them back and forth.  We've had unexpected growth in our house that produced an extra inch in my son's height, arms and feet and we are having to shop in the mens department to fit his 5ft 10 frame.  With all this training he has been doing these past few weeks we expect further growth and another trip to the store to buy some bigger sizes. 

I do marvel at the changes that are taking place literally before my eyes.  I posted a while back on how he is growing up so fast and is no longer the sweet little boy who used to want to hold my hand as part of the A-Z challenge called Growing

He has been attending training every week and wants to push this up to two – school work permitting and has also been doing his weights at home. 

Warm up before the game

Discovering he can watch American football on channel four and Sky sports one opened up another dimension, and he has been pre-recording the 1am programme to watch at his leisure.  We now have both Sekani with his  American Football and Alan not only watching English football on the tv he is also coaching 2 times a week for Aslan Football Club   – with the football season started August you can imagine what ‘joy!’ it has been in our house with cheers, roars and ‘yes’s’ with almost 24 hours of sports on the go!  I suppose I’ll have to get some ear plugs or schedule my creative walks and do some more photography, which isn’t a bad thing I guess....

Sekani played in a match on Saturday at Crystal Palace Stadium, there were lots of other tournaments going on from teams up and down the country.  They had to meet up at 7am kicking off around 10am and me and Alan were at the sidelines cheering him on till around 5pm.  I have a confession to make... I never thought it would be quite as exciting seeing them play, If I knew the rules I guess I would be better placed to know what was going on....Sekani said he will teach me, took lots of pictures and here is him in the throws of play - number 47.  (You hear me shouting in the background before I drop my phone).

and here as he attempts to block another player....

All in all I am not totally converted, but I might even be able to watch a game or two as I take a break from my art corner

If you can't beat them join them!

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day - 118 - 124

Day 118

Reflection

Look at all your achievements not matter how small, you have come a long way

Quote

Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected to a critic. ... Jean Sibelius

Scripture

We all know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ...Romans 8:28

Day 119

Reflection

Right at this moment you are enough

Quote

I learned to live many years ago. Something really, really bad happened to me, something that changed my life in ways that, if I had my druthers, it would never have been changed at all. And what I learned from it is what, today, seems to be the hardest lesson of all. learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good in the world and to try to give some of it back because I believed in it completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned. By telling them this: Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby’s ear. Read in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness because if you do you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived. ... Anna Quindlen

Scripture

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life ...Proverbs 11:30

Day 120

Reflection

Where there is hope there is love

Quote

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go ....T.S. Eliot

Scripture

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established .. Proverbs 16:3

Day 121

Reflection

So many miracles have come from you

Quote

It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question. ...Eugene Ionesco

Scripture

Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. ...Deuteronomy 31:6

Day 122

Reflection

There are no microwave solutions to your dreams, just hard work, but it’s worth it!

Quote

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward. ... Ellen Glasgow

Scripture

Wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons... He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. ...Daniel 2:20-21

Day 123

Reflection

Right this moment, everything is where it should be

Quote

All art, whether it pleases us or not, helps to add colour, excitement, joy, or sadness and, most often, a sense of awe to our life’s experience. ...Henry O. Dorman

Scripture

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart ...Psalm 37.4

Day 124

Reflection

Love is the key, how much do you love yourself...

Quote

You’ve got to keep the child alive; you can’t create without it. ... Joni Mitchell

Scripture

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. ...Psalm 9:9

Time for Cake...

Alan blowing out the candles with my niece Symphonie looking on

Alan celebrated his birthday a couple of weeks ago and I had decided to get him a cake.  The local supermarket doesn’t have much choice of wheat free cakes so I went to the health food shop instead who had a larger selection, but nothing that visually looked like a ‘celebration cake’.  I ended up getting a Crimbles stem ginger cake, It didn’t look like a birthday cake so I glamed it up a bit and decorate it with some icing.  Not having done this before I wanted to keep it as simple as possible and got the ‘ready to roll’ variety.

What I didn’t bargain for was how much I would enjoy decorating the cake.  I guess it was about being creative, so with the icing, a bit of imagination and colour, anything is possible!

I got some lettering, hearts, sprinkles and got to work.  I even made a mini version of Alan reading his favourite book....the Bible.  I was so surprised at how easy it was and how effective it can be...I know I'm by no means an expert now!.  I improvised a bit and used marmalade to stick the icing but it added a lovely taste to the stem ginger pieces in the cake, in fact it tasted delicious and if you get a chance you should check out some of Mrs Crimbles products. They have also got gluten free recipes.

Taking a stroll down memory lane I thought about growing up as a child and the baking my mum would do...... Mum would bake her famous Fruit Cakes - a moist to the touch cake with flavours that complimented each other in a taste explosion in your mouth.  She baked when we were little and carried on up until around 2000 when dementia began to take hold.  She would put all the ingredients together effortlessly without recipes, holding the secrets in her head.  The cakes would come out perfectly all the time. 

We would argue as kids who would get the bowl or the spoon that that she used to mixed the ingredients as you knew this would taste equally divine, the bowl was the preferred option.  In those days we didn’t have problems with salmonella poisoning or we never heard about it.  I remember us getting excited with anticipation as the baking smells wafted through the sun drenched kitchen, the exotic smells of the nutmeg, mixed spices, vanilla essence and the wine soaked fruit that made the cake so moist.  We longed for it to be cooked and knew mum would let us taste a slice of the not-yet-cooled cake.  When she wasn’t baking cakes she made cupcakes, buns, breads, pies, you name it she could put her hand to it.  When I left home I tried to continue the baking family tradition, but as life took over, the tradition dwindled.  Every now and then I feel the urge to bake and have my sultanas and raisins pre-soaked in wine waiting....

I guess now that I can no longer eat wheat I will experiment with the other flour products you can get, and try out some of the recipes from my book, maybe a cake from scratch is due.....

My son’s birthday is coming up and I’ve brought some supplies to have a go with the baking and decorating, so then I’ll be able to taste the cake as well, will let you know how I get on!