A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~ Author Unknown

One of the best parts of summer is having the children be able to visit more often!

My second daughter arrived yesterday morning and will stay until tomorrow morning. It is a delight to see her! We’ve had a wonderful time, visiting, baking, having dinner. This morning, we plan on doing a bit of shopping and stopping for a little something at Starbucks. I do not know what the rest of the day holds for us. It matters not to me as I am loving spending time with her.

Speaking of nature walks, I almost forgot to mention something that I read somewhere online about the outdoors and mosquitoes and such.  Rather than spray on OFF or another pesticide on yourself to keep those pesky insects away, you can put a fabric softener sheet in your pocket and it is suppose to do the trick. My husband tried this and he said it worked wonderfully.  He took a box with him to share with his group and they gladly took one.  Last year, everyone had plenty of bites but this year not a one.   You might try it and see if it works for you. It is a healthy and thrift alternative to pesticides.

*I do not think it works against fleas but I fancied the picture so that I simply had to post it.

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
Jane Austen

My dear husband led a photo nature walk yesterday at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center.  He had a nice size group of 12 people.  The Nature Center is so beautiful and peaceful.  Thankfully, the heat was not too bad early in the morning.  I had hoped to go along but my foot is still healing.  I am enjoying the beautiful pictures that he captured and I thought I’d share one with you.

*If you click on the photograph, you can see a larger version of the picture.  (I want to wander down that path!)

“If we would have a true home, we must guard well our thoughts and actions. A single bitter word may disquiet the home for a whole day; but, like unexpected flowers which spring up along our path full of freshness, fragrance and beauty, so do kind words, gentle acts and sweet disposition make glad the home where peace and blessing dwell. No matter how humble the abode, if it be thus garnished with grace and sweetened by kindness and smiles, the heart will turn lovingly towards it from all the tumults of the world, and home, “be it ever so humble” will be the dearest spot under the sun.” ~ Circa 1882.

Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose. ~ Author Unknown

Can you imagine my delight to discover tiny treasures left by my fairy friends?  I woke this morning and went for a walk in my garden and what should I find but a trail of presents all wrapped up in fairy white paper.  One, two, three, one, two, three, and of course, one, two, three.  The last little gift included a note written in the sweetest little cursive writing on a large maple leaf.  The note said:

Please accept these tokens of our affection and treasured friendship. Presents three: for you from me. Do share them here and there and spread our fairy good will everywhere.

As so I shall! Please allow me to share with two lovely readers precious fairy gifts: one, two, three.

The first gift is the lovely book, Flower Fairies Magical Doors ~ Discover the doors to Fairyopolis.

What happens when a little girl moves into a new house and discovers a tiny door? One day she manages to open it . . . and her world is forever changed when she gets her first peek at the homes and the magical world of the Flower Fairies. As she starts to explore her neighborhood with a friend, they discover that there are more doors—all leading to the most secret of fairy places.

Filled with gorgeous paper ephemera, pop-ups and special interactive features on every spread, this beautiful novelty book leads the reader to eight fairy doors to open and investigate. Each door has its own individual shape, color and characteristics— some are decorated, others have little signs or notices, a set of footprints leading up to it, or magical fairy glitter at the doorstep. As the book progresses, more of the fairies and their world are revealed, culminating in an exciting and secret fairy nighttime ball.

The second gift is a very sweet Flower Fairies Sparkly Sticker Book.

Sparkly Flower Fairies stickers is filled with simple games and activities. There are more than 45 large and sparkling stickers in the center of the book. Use the stickers to solve the puzzles and to decorate the colorful scenes throughout.

Lastly, the third gift is a precious Friendship Key. The key comes with a vintage little tag and this poem:

You hold the key to friendship
The key you gave to me
Of love and understanding
Where ever I may be

With the key of friendship
We gain our strength to cope
To unlock life’s great mysteries
And face each day with hope

The key brings us assurance
That help is always near
And reminds us of the values
That both of us hold dear

The key is lasting kindness
And knowing that you care
It’s knowing that you are my friend
With life’s great joys to share

one, two, three ~ for you from me

If you would like to enter this month’s From My Heart To Yours Drawing, please leave a comment in ANY post between today (July 23th) and Thursday (July 29th). You can comment as many times as you’d like. Each comment counts as an entry for the Drawing. If you would like to post about this Fairy Drawing on your blog, you will receive another entry. If you post the little From My Heart To Yours Drawing button with link on your website, you receive even another entry. If you do so, please let me know. Please feel free to invite your friends and guests, the more the merrier! You do not have to have a blog to enter the drawing.

I will announce the winner (chosen by random.org) of the drawing on Friday, July 30th.

If you’d like to add the From My Heart to Yours Fairy Drawing button to your website – here is the html code for you:  (you can change the pixel width if you would like a smaller button)

<a href=”http://www.simplyheartandhome.com/?p=3951″><img style=”width: 160px;” src=”http://xf9.xanga.com/e03f661620d33270084279/s215430519.jpg” alt=”fairydrawing” /></a>

It has been one of those days. You know the ones – where most everything seems to go wrong. Yesterday started out well and then ended not as well. I am trying to think of it as an opportunity for growth (in patience and endurance).

My husband seems to always be away when there are rough days. He doesn’t time it that way (or so he says!); that it is just how it works out. He left early yesterday for meetings in Maryland and will return home late tonight. I am counting the hours.

Little Miss Matilda Bear is not feeling well. She has some sort of stomach bug and has needed close attending to. Poor little dear. She is not running a temperature. She ate well and drank her water yesterday. She did not sleep well at all (nor did I). I decided to sleep in the downstairs bedroom so I could take her outside more quickly if needed. It was a wise decision but both she and I are exhausted today.

I have decided to give her only rice with a bit of boiled chicken later today. From everything I’ve read, it is best to let their stomach rest for 12 – 24 hours. The chicken and rice should be easy on her tummy.

I had hopes of posting my summer giveaway today but I believe it will have to wait until tomorrow. Blessings to you.

“. . . It is one job where you enjoy the results right along as you work.

You may work all day washing and ironing, but at night you have the delicious feeling of sunny clean sheets and airy pillows to lie on.

If you clean, you sit down at nightfall with the house shining and faintly smelling of wax, all yours to enjoy right then and there.

And if you cook — that creation you lift from the oven goes right to the table.”

~ Gladys Taber, Stillmeadow Seasons

A short drive and a walk along the cobblestone path led my dear husband and me to the dearest Victorian Bed and Breakfast. We didn’t want to go too far away yet wanted to escape to the beautiful Hunterdon County countryside. This is my first New Jersey Bed and Breakfast experience. My beloved and I usually go to Connecticut to a favorite inn of ours. I researched B & B’s in NJ and came up with a few names. The B & B that we chose had the best reviews by far and I can certainly understand why. We took a leap of faith and booked our anniversary weekend at the Main Street Manor in Flemington, New Jersey.

I can honestly say that I have never had a better Bed and Breakfast experience. The inn is simply lovely. The innkeepers, Donna and Ken Arold, were so gracious and welcoming. Not only was the inn beautiful but it was spotless. When we arrived home, I had the urge to give my little cottage home a complete cleaning and add additional special touches. I accomplished about 85% of what I wanted to do and then I fell down the stairs (but that is another story)!

With Donna’s permission, I am including photographs of the inn. Unfortunately the pictures I took were a bit fuzzy. The pictures here are from their website.

Though it was quite hot that weekend, we were still tempted to sit and watch the world go by on the Manor’s sweet front porch.

At the bottom of the stairs of the foyer was a beautiful victorian lamp next to the guest registry book.

The parlor was so beautiful.  Donna had wine and cordial set out for the guests and later brought out cheese and fruit.

Near the parlor is the library.  I think this was one of my favorite rooms.  Throughout the inn, there were wonderful books of all sorts.  There were poetry books, nature books, and books about dogs just to name a few kinds of books.  Donna and Ken do love dogs and we were very pleased to meet their labrador, Quincy.  He is a handsome fellow and very well behaved.

Another favorite room is the dining room.  Coffee and tea were available at any time.  Shortly after we arrived, Donna put out a lovely fresh lemonade.  I believe it was lavender flavored.  I may be wrong about that but it had a wonderful floral lemony flavor.  She also had baked a delicious peach cobbler, chocolate chip cookies, and zucchini bread.  The cookies all but disappeared!  My husband favored the zucchini bread and I could have eaten the entire peach cobbler myself.  I later asked Donna for the recipe and she graciously shared it with me.

Breakfast was served at 9 am in the morning.  Donna and Ken made breakfast a delight.  We started off with coffee, tea, and a wonderful fruit juice – mango and other exotic flavors.  Next, we were served yogurt with fresh berries.  Mmmm!  Lastly, we were served out of this world blueberry pancakes and sausage.  I ate every bite!

There are five lovely bedrooms, each with its own private bath.  The rooms are named after flowers: Forget Me Not, English Rose, Bay Laurel, Labrador Violet, and Morning Glory.

My dear husband and I stayed in the Labrador Violet room.   The room was perfect!  It had an antique white iron bed with feather mattress, a bay window, and beautiful Victorian furniture.  I loved all the precious touches and the books!  We both slept so soundly.  The house was so quiet and we felt as if we were home.

The bedroom pictures are of the Labrador Violet room.  You can see pictures of the other lovely rooms and more on the Main Street Manor website.

Staying at the Main Street Manor was the perfect setting for our 30th anniversary.  We enjoyed every moment and were blessed by Donna and Ken Arold and Quincy too!

Though I have been writing here a number of years, I have decided to freshen up my little online journal by changing things around a bit.  I’ve added vintage posts to my right sidebar and have included new chapters.

Along the Cobblestone Path – Life’s journeys and travels

Around the Heart – Home life

Beauty for Ashes – Faith

Beloved Heirlooms – Romance, marriage

Cottage Garden – Gardening, flowers, and such

Cottage Recipes - Cooking, baking, menu planning

Domesticities -  Homemaking

From My Heart To Yours – Simply Heart and Home Drawing

Holiday Heart and Home – Holiday preparations and festivities

Lavender Tea and Thee – Quiet moments, books, teatime

Little Miss Matilda Bear and Me – Adventures with Little Bear

Little Blue Schoolhouse – Homeschooling encouragement and ideas

Simple Abundance – Living simply, frugally, and fully

I hope to write more faithfully and share much of what I’ve learned and how God has blessed me.

I love summer evenings.  And summer weekend evenings need a little something sweet.  With such lovely fresh fruit in abundance, you can make this berried treasure pie with any berries in season!  Enjoy!

1 pkg 8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp milk

1 graham cracker crust

1 c halved strawberries (or any berries in season)

1 pkg small vanilla pudding (instant)

1 c milk

1 c Cool Whip

Beat cream cheese, sugar, and milk until smooth. Spread in pie crust. Top with strawberries. Prepare pudding with 1 c milk. Fold in 1 c Cool Whip. Spoon over strawberries. Refrigerate.

I like to make it a day ahead of time so it is nice and chilled. I garnish it with additional dollops of Cool Whip and strawberries. Enjoy!

Today was the first day of school for Little Miss Matilda Bear. We decided to enroll her in obedience training classes. She is very obedient already but we thought the socialization and the little extra training would be a good thing for all of us. I researched quite a bit to find a quality trainer that teaches small classes. I was pleased to find a gentleman who teaches classes with only 4 dogs allowed in each class. Each dog gets special attention.

The first class went very well. Little Bear was a bit shy at first but then was pleased to meet the other dogs. She paid attention very well (especially to the treats)! We all have homework to do each day before our next class next Sunday afternoon.

Little Bear is very tired and happy to be home. I do believe she will take a good nap and then be ready for bed!

Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you. ~ Ogden Nash

How wonderful it is to have a quiet Saturday evening at home.  I would be perfectly happy not to hear a telephone ring.  Snuggling next to my dear husband is a wonderful end to this day.

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. ~ John Quincy Adams

Patience is not one of my finer virtues. It is something I definitely need to work on. Perhaps that is the lesson that I am to learn during this time of recuperation.

I love the quote from John Quincy Adams. It is so true. Attitude makes a big difference regardless of one’s circumstance. Rather than moan and complain about my predicament, I should look to this time as a gift of refreshment: a time to read,  a time to catch up on my correspondence, and a time for my imagination to sail away on a sweet little leaf for two.

I can imagine gracefully walking down this beautiful garden staircase.  I can only imagine it.  Because, as I was reminded again today, I am not very graceful.  In fact, I tend to fall especially down a flight of stairs.

I spent a good part of the day at the orthopedist’s office because I fell down the stairs and injured my right foot.  Thankfully, it is not broken but it is terribly bruised and swollen.  My toes are three times their usual size and quite painful.  I’m afraid all I can do is soak them and ice them periodically and bind them up.  I can not take any anti-inflammatories such as Advil.  All I can take is Tylenol (which doesn’t seem to do much).  The doctor offered me prescription pain medication but I really don’t want to take any of that.  Hopefully I can sleep tonight and the swelling will go down soon.  The doctor said it would take a couple of weeks.

I have been playing the Glad Game ala Pollyanna.  I am glad I did not fall before our anniversary and ruin the weekend.  I am glad I did not hurt my head, hip, or other more crucial bones.  I am glad my son was able to drive me to the doctor.  I am glad I was able to see the doctor today and so on.

I know in time that my foot will heal.  It is a time for patience and rest.

One of the good things that come of a true marriage is, that there is one face on which changes come without your seeing them; or rather there is one face which you can still see the same, through all the shadows which years have gathered upon it. ~ George MacDonald

Monday has completely passed me by and I find myself into Tuesday.  A lovely weekend away will do that to you.

We had a wonderful anniversary weekend away.  Thank you to everyone for their well wishes and such.  Though we have been married 30 years now, it feels as if we are newlyweds.  It is a rather odd feeling to be alone, just the two of us, once again.  We are enjoying this precious season immensely.  And I highly recommend letting your children grow up and move away.  (Not that I don’t enjoy my children too; I do!)

I hope to catch up on my writing very soon.  I have errands to do today and company coming for dinner.  I’d best take the umbrella as it is pouring rain.  Good day to you.