Anyone reading my blogs will be thinking it's a continuation of my trip round the Galloway diocese. In a way they are connected because they are about everyday life and seeing God in all things.
After my husband, Hugh, died, I thought that writing a blog would fill my time and I did write one and it's scary because I don't remember writing it. It was only a few weeks after Hugh died. I remember asking my family,"What are blogs"? and they must have told me something about them because in the middle of the night, I created my first blog all about the social history of our families, both my husband's and my own. I even had a photograph on it and had typed out all the notes I had about our family history. It's on my computer somewhere. This is why I say, "Be kind to widows" because their minds are all over the place when their other half goes.
So, again, after my pilgrimage around the diocese I thought I would start again with the Blog idea. I wrote a few and stopped but now since last week, I have started again. I am tired and need to rest more so I thought, Blogs, so I'm up and running and please bear with me as I look at life.
Where does Tomato and Pear Soup come into this? Well, here in St. John's Church our young mothers came up with a fantastic idea of a Mothers and Toddlers Group with a difference. I think it was Marian's idea originally as she is a social worker and suggested, apart from mothers and toddlers, there could be daddies, grannies, grandpas and people who just need a bit of company.
It has been a glowing success and the daughter of a parishioner suggested making a simple soup for busy young mums and brought it yesterday, hence tomato and pear and she even printed the recipe and brought copies to go around. The committee thought this was a brilliant idea and are thinking of having this once a month.
We meet each Friday from 12.30-2.30 where the children play with the many toys we have, thanks to people's generosity. There's tea and coffee with cakes and biscuits and some of our talented young mums bring along delicious home baking. Games, sing-a-longs and story time are all part of the day. A real community effort.
Just as we were ending another successful Friday one of our senior citizens became ill. Thankfully, for the lady, we had Ellen who is a nurse and Marian who has first aid training. They handled everything brilliantly and Fran phoned for the paramedics who took our friend to A& E at Ayr Hospital. I'm pleased to say she is now safely back in her own home. Our young have so much to offer and we who are a bit older can do our bit too. Sharing and caring makes for good church and community, The Holy Spirit is working away quietly in our community. Thank you Lord, help us to open our minds to good ideas from time to time and guide us with You Holy Spirit.
Tomato and Pear soup recipe: Half this amount if you want a smaller amount:
A tablespoonful of olive oil
1 large onion finely chopped
2 400 g tinned tomatoes
2 410 g tinned pears[ in natural juice, not syrup]
1 pint vegetable stock [ I use a Knorr stock pot]
juice of two lemons
1 level teaspoon of dried mixed herbs
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the onion in oil till soft[not browned]
Add the rest of the ingredients
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes
Liquidise the soup[ if you do not have a liquidiser use a potato masher, forcefully!!]
Enjoy!!!
After my husband, Hugh, died, I thought that writing a blog would fill my time and I did write one and it's scary because I don't remember writing it. It was only a few weeks after Hugh died. I remember asking my family,"What are blogs"? and they must have told me something about them because in the middle of the night, I created my first blog all about the social history of our families, both my husband's and my own. I even had a photograph on it and had typed out all the notes I had about our family history. It's on my computer somewhere. This is why I say, "Be kind to widows" because their minds are all over the place when their other half goes.
So, again, after my pilgrimage around the diocese I thought I would start again with the Blog idea. I wrote a few and stopped but now since last week, I have started again. I am tired and need to rest more so I thought, Blogs, so I'm up and running and please bear with me as I look at life.
Where does Tomato and Pear Soup come into this? Well, here in St. John's Church our young mothers came up with a fantastic idea of a Mothers and Toddlers Group with a difference. I think it was Marian's idea originally as she is a social worker and suggested, apart from mothers and toddlers, there could be daddies, grannies, grandpas and people who just need a bit of company.
It has been a glowing success and the daughter of a parishioner suggested making a simple soup for busy young mums and brought it yesterday, hence tomato and pear and she even printed the recipe and brought copies to go around. The committee thought this was a brilliant idea and are thinking of having this once a month.
We meet each Friday from 12.30-2.30 where the children play with the many toys we have, thanks to people's generosity. There's tea and coffee with cakes and biscuits and some of our talented young mums bring along delicious home baking. Games, sing-a-longs and story time are all part of the day. A real community effort.
Just as we were ending another successful Friday one of our senior citizens became ill. Thankfully, for the lady, we had Ellen who is a nurse and Marian who has first aid training. They handled everything brilliantly and Fran phoned for the paramedics who took our friend to A& E at Ayr Hospital. I'm pleased to say she is now safely back in her own home. Our young have so much to offer and we who are a bit older can do our bit too. Sharing and caring makes for good church and community, The Holy Spirit is working away quietly in our community. Thank you Lord, help us to open our minds to good ideas from time to time and guide us with You Holy Spirit.
Tomato and Pear soup recipe: Half this amount if you want a smaller amount:
A tablespoonful of olive oil
1 large onion finely chopped
2 400 g tinned tomatoes
2 410 g tinned pears[ in natural juice, not syrup]
1 pint vegetable stock [ I use a Knorr stock pot]
juice of two lemons
1 level teaspoon of dried mixed herbs
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the onion in oil till soft[not browned]
Add the rest of the ingredients
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes
Liquidise the soup[ if you do not have a liquidiser use a potato masher, forcefully!!]
Enjoy!!!