A Brilliant Surprise

   

       What is better than an unexpected gift?  A personally, hand-made gift from a dear friend.  To be shown how much one is loved and appreciated through a special expression of friendship fill one’s heart with wonder.  Well, such events fill my heart.  

          Last Saturday afternoon, (10th April) I was watching television when “Maverick” walked into the lounge.  He’d been out to deliver the weekly church newssheets. 

[I produce the newssheets for the three parish churches.  “Maverick” very generously delivers them to the appropriate people for Christ the Worker Church and St. Francis, while I deliver the ones for St. Mary’s.]

          “Maverick” leans forward and kisses me.  Then he says: “I have something for both of us, but primarily for you.  It’s from Mrs. “B”.  I think you’ll love it.”    

            From behind his back he pulls a shopping/ carrier bag.  I take it, noticing it is rectangular in shape, rather flat and was therefore is not food.  I pulled out a framed drawing of Maisy.  Wow!  What a blessing!  It is simply executed in oil pastel, and that is what makes it so lovely.  It looks just like Maisy.  So, of course, I had to scan it and post it!

I hope you enjoy it too.

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

“Lady Helene”

What makes a "Good Friday" Good?

2016-03-27 Good Friday

          True friendship that is cherished and nurtured becomes a precious treasure.  It is marvellous to invest in the lives of people with whom one has similar faith, call to mission and areas of interest.  Since my teens I have been blessed with such friendships. 

          In 1997 I applied to join the staff of YWAM Seamill in Scotland.  http://www.ywamseamill.org/  Even before I arrived, I made the acquaintance of some special people.  “Ellianna Daniel” worked in the office as an administrator.  It was she who received my application for staff and kept me informed of progress.  I would occasionally ring her from Indiana, asking about what to expect and if she wanted me to bring anything for her from the USA.  “Ellianna” was always so helpful, answering my questions about the type of clothing to bring, information about the community, etc. 

          When I arrived in West Kilbride, I was introduced to “Ellianna’s” husband, “Simon ”.  During the two years I worked with them, their family grew by the birth of their first son, “Eli”.  Still single myself, I’d had an aversion to pregnant women and babies.  But I fell in love with that baby.

 “Eli” is now 18 years old and has four siblings:  sister “Callie” age 13 years; brother, “Jamie” age 11 years; sister “Amira”, age 7 years and “Amie” age 18 months.

          This precious family and I have managed to keep in touch by cards, e-mails, phone calls and occasional visits.  On Friday, 25^th March, they flew down from Scotland for the weekend.  Cooking for nine people rather than two was a nice change.  Sharing food around the table was accompanied with anecdotes of the past, as well as plans for the future. 

          As for Maisy, well she was delighted to have new friends in the flat.  Every family I know has at least one animal lover.  For the “Daniels” it is “Amira”.  Maisy’s play growling rose and fell as “Amira” played tug-of-war and fetch before dinner and again after. 

          It is quite easy to say that for “Maverick “ and me, we had another evening of Friday night feasting. 

          Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

“Lady Helene”

         

 

26 Saturday--Easter Activities

Every year St. Mary's Sunday School does an activity with the young people around the story of Gethsemane.  The result is a beautiful flower display that the children create with potted blooming plants.  Above is this year's result.

"Maverick" and I had lunch with friends in the afternoon, as well as spending the afternoon with them.  

With Meat on the left--and beans on the right

 

On Thursday I'd cooked two pots of chili; one vegetarian and one with meat but no beans. 

Cooking two pots of chili wasn't too difficult.  I cut up celery, onions, carrots (Yes, carrots, okay!), and bell / sweet pepper to brown in oil.

To the two pan I added a packet of Old El Paso taco seasoning.  This shortcut helps with getting the flavour just right--but can easily adjust if someone wants to add tobasco sauce.  

At this point I added the meat to one pan.  Once the meat was browned, I added to both pans one tin of chopped tomatoes and 1 tin / box of passata (sieved tomotoes).  To the pan without the meat, I added one tin of pre-cooked kidney beans.  After stirring well, I let it come up to a soft boil and then turned it down to simmer for about half-an-hour.  

When it was cooked through, I turned off the heat.  I let it cool overnight on the stove.  The next morning "Maverick" was kind enough to find containers to transfer it into.  It sat in the refrigerator until Saturday.  

 I knew it would taste better after a couple of days.  All the soup was eaten, which did please me.  I made a double batchof cornbread (as I was feeding 13 people), of which there were three pieces left over.  Now that is a complement.   

Most of Saturday afternoon was spent inside just talking.  That's because the weather was cloudy and raining.  

 I went to bed kind of early, as the clocks were due to turn an hour forward.  So I wanted to make sure I was refreshed for our Easter Sunday.

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith.
"Lady Helene"

Just one of those days...

It has been one of those days.  I start in one direction and something else comes up.

I put a load of laundry into the washer whilst I went to Amy's.  I meant to hang the clothes on the line to dry once I got home.  Instead I prepared lunch.

Amy had given me some camelias she cut from the bush in her garden.  Amy said there were for Mothers' Day.  I put them in water and placed them on the table.  They are so pretty, I wanted to share a photo of them on my blog.  

But Maisy has been barking a lot lately.  So after lunch I decided it would a good idea to wear her out.  We went out for a long walk.  I forgot about the laundry.  

On the way home I noticed the clouds filling up with rain clouds.  So I was undecided as to whether to hang the clean, wet clothes out or use the clothes dryer.  I decided to try the line.

When I got home, however, "Jon-David", ("Maverick's best friend) was here.  I forgot about the laundry, the photos and the blog.

After "Jon-David" left, I remembered that I needed to take care of a few things on-line.  By the time I'd finished those objectives, it was time to think about preparing dinner.

It is now almost bedtime.  But I was determined to share the photo of the flowers.  

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

"Lady Helene"

A friend, flowers and fun

               “Go look at my cactus on the window sill.”  Amy said as I walked into her flat.  I take the newspaper to Amy on Mondays and Thursdays.  So, I handed her the newspaper and took the shopping bag into the kitchen.  I would put the vegetable spread away while I was in there. 

                To meet my gaze was a blooming Christmas cactus.  Although October, it was in bloom now.  From the lounge Amy commented: “It’s supposed to bloom at Christmas time, but mine never does.  It always does it before.”

                Amy is 97 and lives alone, which most of her friends find amazing.  I met Amy through church.  A mutual friend with whom we attend church looks in on Amy on a regular basis.  When I first became aware of this, our friend was seeing her daily.  To provide a break for our friend, and give Amy another visitor,  I volunteered to take the paper twice a week. 

                Occasionally Amy will ring me and let me know that one of her daughters is coming and that I don’t need to get the paper.  But most weeks I ring her before going to the shops to see if she needs milk, bread, or any other item besides the paper.  

                Once I’m there, I take my coat off and stay for a chat, listening to her share about her life.  It means hearing a few stories again and again.  But on the other hand, Amy and I always have a laugh.  She likes to cook, and we’ll discuss food. She’s given me a couple of recipe books and shared recipes with me.   

                 Amy went into service when she was 14 years of age.  Her first job was as a mother’s help on a neighbouring farm.  At age 18 she went to London.  She met her husband there, and she found work in offices or shops.    

                Spending time with Amy is like spending time with my grandmother. 

                Occasionally Amy’s granddaughter will visit and bring flowers.  Amy very kindly and generously shares them with me.    

Amy shared these with me today:

First of all, I must define a term, knocker-up, 

Per Wikipedia  “A knocker-up (sometimes known as a knocker-upper) was a profession^[1] in Britain and Ireland that started during and lasted well into the Industrial Revolution and at least as late as the 1920s (mid 50s in Manchester, England. UK) before alarm clocks were affordable or reliable. A knocker-up's job was to rouse sleeping people so they could get to work on time.^[2”  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocker-up

Tongue Twister

Our knocker-up has a knocker-up to knock him up.  And our knocker-up’s knocker-up  didn’t knock our knocker-up up, so our knocker-up didn’t knock us up.

Riddles

1)      What goes up a chimney down but won’t come down a chimney up? 

2)      What goes up when the rain comes down

Answer to both:  an umbrella

        Amy has many memories from World War 2.  The other day she was reminiscing about watching the plans flying over during the blitz, at which point she looked over at me and asked; “Do you remember that?”

        “Amy, I was only born in 1958!”  At that we both laughed. 

  I think that is an indication of how people’s lives can intermesh, regardless of age.  It is sharing common interests, time and laughter.  I know my life is richer for knowing her.

 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

"Lady Helene"