Mindful Monday #1...

 It's Monday, almost 6pm and I'm waiting for hubby to come home from work, so I thought it would be nice to write a short post, encouraging you in your own new week. 

I like Mondays, they feel as though I've taken a deeper breath, my attitude excited about what the day has to hold within the home and garden after the slower rythym of our weekend. I wrote a short to-do list after breakfast, and apart from the daily sweeping of floors, a load of washing, making the bed, cleaning the loo, and doing the dishes, today I focused on preparing some food and moving the large bookcase back in to the front entrance.

Last week I baked a really yummy slice, Berry and Apple, but forgot to show you...

...and I took a photo of the recipe in case you wanted to try it. 

I didn't have any buttermilk, so I just used normal milk with a teaspoon of vinegar to sour it. Works a treat. 

My husband isn't a fan of cake, but he loves a good crunchy biscuit (cookie) or a slice. I'm very much a slice girl, and I regularly try different ones from my older cookbooks as they have simpler steps. And they taste good. Always important. 

Today I chose to make an old favourite from one of my favourite retro cookbooks, which first caught my eye (whilst posting a parcel) at the local post office and which I have lovingly cherished for about ten years now.

It's a Raspberry Coconut Slice, and is a family favourite, especially when we have a glut of berry jam to finish. Normally I make it with raspberry jam because that's my second favourite jam (plum is number one), but today I used the last jar of strawberry jam in my pantry. Soon the price of fresh strawberries will drop and I can make up loads more jam to see us through the next year. 

Whilst I was taking these photos, I picked up the book by the edge and the cover slipped off. Now, in ten years I had never removed the cover...but what a beautiful find underneath! So wonderfully vintage, like old floral curtains of the 40s and 50s...

Tomorrow I will trim, fertilise and water all the indoor plants, then dig up the little volunteer seedlings from our pink Ixora in the garden and pop them in some good soil and new pots to get established over the coming spring. I also need to fertilise and mulch around the row of chrysanthemums near the front walkway before hubby installs a white picket fence which he's been working on for me. 

Before the hard heat returns around October, I want to spend as much time as I can in the garden, bringing some of my many garden dreams to life. 

Just like in the garden, all sorts of seasons come and go in a regular procession, and each one has its purpose. My very ordinary life has seasons too, and after many decades rushing through them, now I like to savour every day, every little moment, because today will never come again, so why would I want to pass it by so thoughtlessly? 

When you're in that autumn season of life, one of the four big seasons of aging, there's more behind you than in front, and that makes each golden sunrise, and every orange-red sunset all the more miraculous...all the more a gift to be grateful for. I thank God for my life, for the family He blessed me with, for a mind that is always learning, a heart that seems to hold more love this year than last, and His hand which gently reaches out to slow me down a little more as my years increase. Funny that, the years pass with increased swiftness, yet my day to day life quietly slows, whilst my appreciation for all that's been given by His grace, is magnified.

Have a lovely week my friends, embrace the moments, hug lots, listen to the birds, sit outside and close your eyes awhile to just be still. Eat something delicious, read a good book, rearrange a room, sing out loud, smile at everyone you meet...and give thanks to God. 

Hugs

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