Whimsical Wednesday ~ Summer closes its doors ~

As summer closes its doors, I open mine to welcome fall. Although in Malta the change is either sudden or subtle, nevertheless I have been longing for cooler days, when the crisp air fills me with that little bit of extra energy that I lacked throughout the hot season. I guess I still feel that back-to-school excitement when I used to long for the feel and smell
of new textbooks, meeting my friends and settling into the everyday routine of a somewhat quieter season. In Malta I miss the magical colours of fall that are such a wonderful part of the Canadian scene I cherished but I still try to bring the autumn colours indoors in a fun and warm way which will provide a feast for the eyes and warmth to our spirit.

Start celebrating fall right now with these heart-warming ideas for decorating your home...
















The picture above is from shared files


Decorate with Fruit and nuts (especially red and yellow apples, bananas and
bright yellow oranges). Place a bowl of fruit on a table, in the hallway, in fact
anywhere where you think they will add colour. Let them be a reminder of
how important fruit is to our diet and within easy reach, you can enjoy them
more often. Add some nuts among the fruit or add another bowl with different
nuts and a nutcracker for a more stylish and functional display.


Add Pumpkins, Squashes and Gourds Place these randomly in a basket
or container for a splash of orange and brown autumn colours. Replace when
you use some of these in your cooking to keep your arrangement looking fresh.



Wreaths What better way to greet your guests (and yourself when you return
home) than with a seasonal wreath, it does not have to be anything elaborate.
You can use anything from fresh grapevine leaves to dried flowers to twine
around a basic wreath or make your own with potpourri (see link below).
You could also make one using artificial flowers, twigs and colourful autumn ribbons.


Check here for this lovely wreath idea on my sister Sue's Blog.


Click here for more ideas...

















I hope you enjoyed my very first Whimsical Wednesday,
I will share some more ideas and thoughts next week.

Take care.

L**k out for Whimsical Wednesday (starting tomorrow)

I find that I am not posting as much as I'd intended when I first started this blog. Sooo I am going to start something new here and hope to continue as long as I can with this project.
Some of you probably have heard of Wordless Wednesday in which the post is usually a picture with only a few or no words at all, letting the picture say it all. Now for me that is a little impossible, you see I love words and once I start there's no stopping me. I have chosen Wednesday to be the day in which I will post regularly with whatever whim takes my fancy...it could be a recipe, a quote, a discussion, a poem, an idea shared... AND I am calling it Whimsical Wednesday, so I hope you'll check in every Wednesday to take a l**k : )

Shells of the Sea

Shells of the sea
All unique, one of a kind,
Shells from an ocean
I've always loved to find,
Shells in wet sand,
Shells on the shore,
One shell on my palm
Makes me long for more...
The Master's masterpiece:
Golden treasures from the sea,
Each one so beautiful,
A Jewel to me!
Doreen Scerri © 2011

I wrote the above poem after looking at my sister Sue's Weekend Shadows pictures on her blog
which inspired me and brought back memories of my
childhood days looking for seashells together by the seashore. Thanks sis!

Staples and Rubber Bands and ...

Have you ever had one of your shoes give up on you when you are walking far from home? One of my summer slip ons did just that this morning as I was walking towards home after finishing some errands! One of the front straps came loose and that is not funny...well at that moment it wasn't! My mind went to top gear and, as I looked around me, realised I was in front of a tool shop, I wished it was a shoe repair store but beggars can't be choosers. So hopping on one foot, I entered this store to the amusement of the shop assistant. I was glad there were no other customers at that moment. As I explained my predicament in a few words, I asked if he could use a stapler to staple the strap back in place. Sooner than I have been writing this, he put in a couple of staples and I was back on the road walking very slowly and carefully as the shoe did not feel quite right : (

I managed to walk quite a few metres, even crossed the road safely...at the pace I was walking everyone must have thought I had hurt my foot... AND soon, yes you've guessed it, the strap came loose again and I plodded on as I knew I was close to a stationer. I had already figured out that if it had to come to this, an rubber band would do the trick better. As I explained my situation to the owner behind the counter, he handed me a few rubber bands and I put all three around my slip on to secure it in place. Thanking my second rescurer of the day, I left the store knowing I was closer to home and that the bands would work better than the staples had. Unfortunately I did not take the staples out and although they stuck in place they did feel uncomfortable.

I met my daughter further up the road and we went into a department store where a few days before I had seen a nice pair of shoes which I decided not to buy at that moment...BUT now was a different story AND they were still on sale AND yes you've guessed again...

Isn't it amazing how an unfortunate turn of events can help you make a decision that will make your day : ))

The Storm

I know we're in spring and getting closer to summer but I love to think of rainy days when the warmer weather sets in, it kind of gives me a lift to think the hot weather won't last forever! You can tell I prefer winter : )

I wrote this poem after the last rainfall a few weeks ago...

The Storm

Thunder's growling
In the skies above,
Lightning joins in
Like a hand in glove,
A spectacle to look at,
What a display...
Rain has now
Come out to play!
What is first a pitter patter
Is soon a downpour,
When I look at the heavens
I'm sure there'll be more...
One great sheet of sky
Flashes with lightning;
I hear crashing thunder,
It's all quite so frightening!
Yet as I watch and marvel
At such a wondrous sight
From this side of the door
I enjoyed the storm tonight!
Doreen Scerri © 2011

St.Joseph Poem/Prayer Bookmark

Here is the poem/prayer on a bookmark as my sister suggested.
I hope some of you can use it.

Click here to copy

St. Joseph's Feast and International Workers' Day

Dear St. Joseph,

As you taught Jesus,
the tricks of your trade
and showed Him all
the lovely things you made,
As you taught Him
your know-how in using His tools
and carefully led Him
to obey safety rules,
You must have been so creative
teaching Him all you knew
as from a Babe
into a man he grew.
We now humbly ask your protection
as all of us you guide,
that following your example
we, as workers worldwide,
Offer our daily work
as you did through your life
in faith and with vision
and especially in strife.
May all our efforts
one day reap a reward
for Work becomes worship
When done for the Lord.
Doreen Scerri © 2011

I wrote the above poem after being inspired by today's feast which incidentally is also the Feast of our Parish church since we honour St.Joseph as our Patron Saint.
I would also like to thank my sister Sue for sharing the quote For work becomes worship
When done for the Lord which is by an Unknown Author whom I thank as it also fit beautifully as a closure to my poem.

For the above picture I give credit to this page which is about St.Joseph the Worker