Prayerful Conversation with GOD

“Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one's heart, it's pleasures, and it's pains, to a dear friend.


Tell him your troubles, that he may comfort you; tell him your joys, that he may sober them; tell him your longings, that he may purify them; tell him your dislikes, that he may help you conquer them; talk to him of your temptations, that he may shield you from them; show him the wounds of your heart, that he may heal them; lay bare your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell him how self-love makes you unjust to others, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and others.

If you thus pour out your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subject of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back, neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of their heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God.”

~Francois Fenelon~

Artists of Distinction

There are few pleasures more enjoyable to me than to spend time with my nieces, watching them express themselves verbally, artistically, mentally and above all, virtuously.

We just completed a paper project, each of us choosing our own colour and style schemes. Each one turned out so uniquely and positively gorgeous, at least I was stunned by them.

 What was even more perfect was the laughter and memories that are cut and glued into the project.

Thank you little LadyBugs for a perfect day!

Presence and Privilege

"Waiting on GOD--presence and service--is not the means to an end, not a trade off for a special commission. To be present for Christ and responsive to His requests, however large or small, must be privilege enough." David Timms

Ode to Joyous Nature

This morning was pure delight as I sat in the midst of three 9 week old pullets enjoying their ritual of search and peck followed by a dust bath. The little satisfying chirps, trills and clucks performed a symphony easily rivaling Beethoven's 9th.

Dust Baths

After a few moments, the orchestra was enhanced by a fledgling white crowned sparrow who edged closer and closer, uncapped feathers sticking out here and there like porcupine quills!

Shortly thereafter, a hummingbird hovered overhead and then lighted on an overhead branch. He joined into the music with his marbled throat clicking together.

I was stunned by the beauty of the moment, surrounded by five uniquely beautiful birds who were performing music composed by the unseen Maestro.

Cutting Culinary Teeth on a Michelin 4 Star's Whisk!

I just had a delightful date with my two nieces. With towels slung over shoulders and muscled determination, they emerged fourteen egg whites and ten egg yolks later as 5 Star Pastry Chefs in my book!

Chocolate meringues

Poached Vanilla Meringues

The dessert called for three separate receipts; the base layer as a rich chocolate meringue, the middle layer as a poached vanilla meringue and a creamy poured vanilla custard bathing the entire presentation. Each step took intense preparation and pleasure as I watched them try to master perfect egg cracking, and as they saw the physical properties of the egg whites or egg yolks change into a different form. After the first two stages were complete and while waiting for step three to commence, I told them how proud I was of them and the products they had created and ended by remarking that most Moms and Aunties start out by teaching pancakes or something equally simple, but "No"! I was giving them one of the most difficult receipts to master according to french pastry chefs.

Dust Baths

From little fuzzy golf balls...

to feathered bones!