Doing time….

What I’d like to know is, does this only happen in Northern Ireland?

and while we’re on the subject……

How do you go about swallowing a watch?

 

Mummymac.

Outside….

These pictures show why I haven’t posted many of our garden.  This is just the second year of our official vegetable patch though we have grown a few in other parts of the garden before.  The fence behind my men always shows up in the photos and it isn’t pretty.   Last week I painted the fence and we set to getting that jungle infront of the fence sorted.  It was an area where we had removed hedges from years ago as they were the boundary from the houses behind us before our house was built.  ie there was a field where we now live.

Thankfully the fence looks much better, the rocks are in situ, I’m really pleased with the border and the plants are now planted.  We are glad to have another area of our little garden sorted.

Click on the photos to enlarge the images.

My favourites are this weeping willow I see they can really need a frequent hair cut!

I just love that this particular one is called Kilmarnock!

I’m also interested in what happens with this Hydrangea I brought this round from my fathers house where it has been for approximately 34 years, since my parents moved into that house.  They brought a few from my paternal grandfathers house way back then and never had room for this one. Now it’s out of the pot it should grow as big as the rest and I can’t wait to see what colour the bloom is!

Now I’m wondering what size my little plants will be next year and what area of the outside to tackle next

What are you doing in your garden these days?

Mummymac

This post is part of the Show and Tell at Kelli’s House.

 

the plot….

A while back Juloyes asked what veggies we had planted this year and to be honest I forgot to reply so I thought I’d list them here.  We don’t have a large space for growing but we do like to try new varieties.

Lettuce

Spring Onion

Carrot

Cabbage

Broccolli 

Peas

Broad Beans

Brussell Sprouts

Rocket

Sweetcorn

Chinese Leaves

Leeks

Parsnip

Tomatoes

Courgettes

We also have 3 healthy looking Blackcurrant bushes which I am hoping produce well this year.

JP is in charge of sowing seeds, everything is coming along nicely apart from the one planter I sowed with herbs

 

May fuel prices.

Rebecca has been gathering up the varied prices of fuel all over and it’s been interesting to see who is paying the most!

I took this picture at the weekend.

According to my handy dandy converter

Unleaded is coming in at £1.13 per litre

which is $2.23 per litre

which works out at $8.44 per gallon.

The Diesel which is probably more popular because it used to be cheaper works out at

$9.42 per gallon.

This link shows the BBC broadcast about the protests.  There is also a very interesting graph which shows the rise in fuel costs on the mainland.

Our electricity is set to do something similar!

It’s unbelievable!

Mummymac.

 

 

Reading Roundabout….help!!!

** This posted has been up-dated due to more recommendations coming in and there are many more suggestions in the comments - Thanks - Keep them coming!! **

 

I’ve blogged plenty about our church’s Reading Roundabout.

The concept is a number of ladies, a number of months and a number of books.

The books we are reading in the current year are listed here.

It appears I’m going to have more ladies involved for the next years reading and so I’m going to need 15 books.

I’m trying to come up with some books for the next year which although doesn’t start until October, will no doubt be upon me quickly.  

I was wondering if any of you could advise me on your top few books which come into the Reformed Christian category.

This is only our third year of the Reading Roundabout and while I do use the church library and our own books we also buy a few copies each year.

The list so far which is open to change is something like this,

 

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.

Overcoming the World by Joel Beeke.

The Nine Day Queen of England Lady Jane Grey by Faith Cook

Is God past his sell-by date?  by John Blanchard

A path through suffering by Elisabeth Elliot

Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahanney

 

other possibilities which I won’t buy all off,  are…..

Stepping into the Shadows by Rosemary Sookhdeo  (I’m not familiar with this book but it was recommended by one of our deacons, you can read about it here).

Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman

A Chance to die The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael  by Elisabeth Elliot

In my Father’s House by Corrie Ten Boom

Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper

 

So can you offer any suggestions?  I normally like a variety of Theology, Biography, Practical Christianity.   

I’d appreciate any help you can give.

 

 

(Note to our own ladies:  If you have any suggestions or own any of these books please let me know.  It really would be a pity to use our funds to buy books which are sitting on shelves  Thanks)

 

** updated to add **  A few suggestions came via private e-mail, I’m adding them here to keep them together.  Mrs B in Sacramento recommended Humility by CJ Mahanney.  Mrs J in GR recommended Lost in the Middle by Paul D Tripp, Free Grace and Dying love by Susannah Spurgeon and Too wise to be mistaken, too Good to be Unkind by Cathy Steere.

**updated 30th May to add,

Humility by Andrew Murray, The rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by J Burroughs (good one) and War of Worlds by Paul David Tripp were all suggested by contacts on facebook.

Mrs J in the Grand Rapids church who incidentally started the Reading Roundabout concept has suggested a few more, she has just finished Love your Muselim Neighbour by Edward Challen and also suggests God Knows My Size by Silvia Tarniceriu and also The Peacemaker books by Ken Sande.**

Any more?

 

Elaine

 

Musical Mondays

I’m posting this one today as my friend Janus brought a new book for the duet playing and now I/We are trying to master this one  

 

 

It could be a long week.

Mummymac

Not just yet then…..

I’ve just finished reading Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book The Afternoon of Life (Finding purpose and Joy in Midlife).  This is the first book by Fitzpatrick that I have read.  It comes recommended by Martha Peace and Elizabeth George.  

This book is part of our reading roundabout at church which is why I’m reading a book aimed at women in the 46-60 age group or as another excuse - to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

This book surely deals with some of the hardest issues we as women/wives/mothers go through.  And while I’m at the stage of having days when it’s easy to wish the kids were older and more mature, with their maturing comes independance and of course ultimately their leaving and cleaving.

Fitzpatrick not only deals with issues concerning the children leaving but also the possibility of them moving back in.  Some of the advice in this section was very practical and helpful.  

Drawing from the experiences of a number of “afternoon” ladies, she opens up helpful topics with a Biblical mindset, the menopause and other physical changes, unbelieving children, ministries suitable for the afternoon ladies, as well as the changes which occur in our marriages at this stage of life and advice on older women instructing the younger.

Each chapter ends with a few probing questions for further study and that along with the fact that it’s an easy ready makes this book suitable for all especially for those entering this stage of life.

I would describe this book as very practical and very Biblical with just a few points where I would disagree with Ms Fitzpatrick.  (Fitzpatrick is of the opinion that there is Biblical warrant for female deacons, admittedly she does go on to say that it doesn’t matter to her whether we’re given the title or not).  Although I would disagree on this point this book has so much practical advice for a group of ladies who can sometimes spend to much time searching for their area of service instead of getting on with serving.

Ladies we have much to learn….

 

Mummymac

 

 

 

 

 

The Least of these….

iplayer…

I’ve been watching the BBC Young Musician of the Year on iplayer.

There’s only a few more days left to watch it if you’re interested.

The Keyboard section has a young man from round here taking part.

The official web-site is here.

My husband told me who won before I had watched the final.

I won’t spoil it for you

Mummymac

 

The simple woman…

 

I clicked to the simple woman’s blog to-day through Kelli’s blog.

If there is one way I could be described it’s surely simple

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I decided to join in with the Daybook today to-night.

Outside My Window… our seedlings are peeking through on the vegetable patch.

I am thinking… it’s getting dark, it must be bed time soon.

I am thankful for… Redemption.

From the kitchen… Summer Fruit Pudding.

I am wearing... combats and my working top!

I am creating… space for my husband to work from home.

I am going… to a floral and cooking demo tomorrow.

I am reading… too many books at once.

I am hoping…someone else will clean my windows.

I am hearing... silence and it’s golden.

Around the house… everyone who is awake is using a computer.

One of my favorite things… seeing contentment in those around me.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Tuesday Bake, Wednesday Church, Friday Youth Club.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Check out the recipe here.

Mummymac.