HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - ODDS AND BODS IS STARTING WITH VIRGINIA BEAR

Virginia - Good Morning from Virginia

Now that’s about the size of my coffee mug that I like to start my day off. Yes, I am kidding! I don’t want to be wired through to the rest of the week. Only in my dreams, and talking about dreams…

I found this week's dream cottage…

This looks like a good thing to have handy.

How to prune lavender - top left image says “Prune lavender after flowering.”

Top right image says “If not pruned, lavender will become woody. Lavender is a 

short-lived perennial. Bottom left image says “Pruning lavender between late

Summer and Autumn. Bottom right image says “Result”.

I am trying this also. 

DIY means Do It Yourself Pest Spray - Ingredients - 1 cup of water 

10 to 15 drops of Lavender essential oil - A spray bottle

Instructions - Combine water and lavender essential oil in the

spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray around

Windows, door frames and baseboards. Lavender naturally 

repels moths, flies and mosquitoes!

and look whose waiting for us around the back…

along with his friend.

We will have a good old natter. 

Did you ever listen to the stories told when people were invited over for tea when you were very young? I am remembering back 70 years ago and have probably told this story before, because that's how it goes when you have been blogging for years and years and years. 

When my parents had friends over, there was always someone who would entertain us. One lady was Mrs. Bissell, who also had the honorary name of Auntie to my sister and me. We loved her and always looked forward to her visits. She was probably as old as I am now, maybe even younger. She hadn't long returned from visiting her brother in the Outback. As we were designated the 'kids', we would always sit on the floor and the grownups, quite rightly so as at this age I don't know even if I could get down on the floor, had dibs on the chairs. I remember being riveted by Mrs. B’s latest adventure in Australia. Later, we usually had a singsong and Dad played the piano. (This was our entertainment. We always had a radio, and my parents bought a TV when I was 13 years old, but we still preferred to read books and play board games, I had coloring books and loved cutting out my paper dolls.) Mum fixed tiny sandwiches with the crusts cut off and brewed endless pots of tea at these gatherings. Mr. Bissell would join Dad in a tot of whiskey. The picture below with the poem reminded me of those days.

That was a perfect house whether you liked food or sleep, or

Story-telling or singing, or a pleasant mixture of them all.

Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear and sadness.

~J. R. R. Tolkien~

Come on around, I'll make us a hot drink, or a cold lemonade and a bite to eat, on a warm day (as I sit shivering. It's been a wacky spring). We will also have tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off but I won't make you sing, not today. The weather is warm in my dream, but it has a gentle breeze to cool us down, and we will enjoy telling a tale or two.

We can also take a walk around the garden. It looks very inviting through those gates.

I looked in my wardrobe and picked the perfect dress to wear. I wish this was really in my wardrobe but hey, it is my dream.

We will visit Rowena Robin in her potting shed. 

You never know whom we will come across on our walk back.

But now it’s time for a mug recipe. I never try these things before I add them. One of these days!

Brownie in a Mug - 1/4 cup flour - 1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa - Pinch of salt - 2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons water - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix. Microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Enjoy!

Fun with food?

The crows seem to be out and about. I knew there was a reason I liked crows so much, even if we do call them a Murder of Crows. And yes, they are noisy but...

Did you know? Crows are quite similar to humans and visit

their aging parents many years after they have left the nest.

How about a new word. I love this one.

Ubuntoo - noun - a profound African philosophy that embodies the spirit of 

togetherness; the belief that our humanity is intertwined, and through 

compassion and community, we rise.

Or this one.

Wabi-sabi (wah-bee-sah-bee) - noun - the Japanese appreciation of life’s 

imperfections; finding beauty in the flawed, the aged, and the incomplete, 

and embracing the transient nature of all things,

Nakama - a deep bond beyond just friendship, people who stand together, share

burdens, and support one another like a found family. 

It's time for Kind and Wise Words

"Keep what is worth keeping, and with a

breath of kindness, blow the rest away."

~Dinah M. Craik~

When it doesn't fit in with how you are feeling,

there are times when it is okay to say no. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but hopefully they will understand and if they don't, let them move on in peace, kindness and love.

“All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached

by the frost.” - J. R. R. Tolkien

“There will always be someone who can’t see your worth.

Don’t let it be you.” - Mel Robbins

Things I can control: my choices - my boundaries - my behaviors - my thoughts -

my actions - my attitude - my habits - my routines - asking for help - 

how I express myself - how I treat others - how much effort I put forth - 

how I talk to myself - how I treat my body - what I focus on.

Things I cannot control: the past - the future - other people’s opinions -

what other people think or do - the news - the economy - social media -

my age - other people’s mistakes - other people’s words - how other people feel - 

natural disasters or the weather - the passing of time.

And always remember…

In case no-one told you today…you are beautiful, 

You are needed, you are special, you deserve the best,

it’s okay to not always feel strong.

You are loved ❤️ 

Wishing you all a wonderful day,

and thank you for visiting me.

(With my thanks to Pinterest for today’s inspiration.)