It's been a long time...

You know it's been a long time when you forget how to do something. For me there are several things falling into this category, and am sad to say that they are good things that I feel I should try to make more room for.
First up is spending quality time in meditation with God. Iain, my husband graduates in 2012 and is hopefully going to find a church who would like him to minister. I know that God has a plan for us and wants to share in this time, so I really need to put aside a sacred time to spend with Him each day.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali.

Other areas include blogging, writing in my journal, running, going to dance classes, reading, baking, oh and having a desk which is actually nice to work at and not just a dumping ground for things that I really ought to do, but only when I've got some non-school work time.
In comparison to this though, Iain and I are finding time to meet with friends, which I am so thankful for as friendship is important to us.

Last year was easier as my role at school was different, I was only teaching dance. Whereas this year I have my own class again, and as nice as it is to be with a nice bunch of kids who you have the privilege to see develop in their characters and learning, boy oh boy it does consume so much more of my time.
This academic year is going well but there is still some way to go in terms of my own efficiency and work-life-balance.
In run up to Christmas as things in the classroom begin to slow down, mostly due to the fact that once glitter, tinsel and Santa begin to make appearances, the children begin to go a little loopy! Now rather than just sit back and relax, I've tried to make the most of this opportunity to get as much done as possible for when we return in January - therefore no work over the Christmas holidays - yippee!!!

It will be a good break in which hopefully I will adopt some habits that will take themselves into the new year.

I hope you have some quality time to do the things you love over Christmas.

Liz xxx

Recipes for Round Mini Lemon Drizzle Loaves

Here they are, the two recipes I used to make my R.B.O.K. Round Mini Lemon Drizzle Loaves.
I used a pre-made syrup from Vanessa Kimbell's Prepped! and the Nigella Lawson recipe Mini Lime-Syrup Sponges.


Lavender Lemonade
Makes 1 litre
Prep time 25 minutes
Cooking time 5 minutes
20 lavender flowers (in bud)
500g caster sugar
500ml water
Zest and juice of 7 lemons
1. Put the lavender, sugar and water into a heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5-6 minutes. Ass the lemon juice.
2. Strain and allow to cool before transferring to a clean bottle. This should store in the fridge for 3-4 weeks. Dilute to taste for Lavender Lemonade, or use as Lavender & Lemon Syrup.


Mini Lime-Syrup Sponges
125g unsalted butter, softened
175g caster sugar
2 large eggs
Zest of 1 lime
175g self-raising flour
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons milk 
8-bun mini-loaf tin, buttered very well. (I used a 12 cupcake tin)
Preheat the oven to 180oC/gas mark 4.

Cream together the butter and sugar, and add the eggs and lime zest, beating them well. Add the flour and salt, folding in gently, and then the milk. SPoon into the mini-loaf pan, and cook for 25 minutes.

While the cakes are cooking, prepare the syrup by putting the lime juice and suagar into a small saucepan and heating gently so that the sugar dissolves.

As soon as the mini-sponges are ready, take them out of the oven and prick them witha  cake-tester all over. Pour over the syrup evenly. Try to let the middle absorb the liquid as well as the sides, then leave it to soak up the rest. Don’t try to take the cakes out of the pan until they have cooled slightly and the syrup looks like it has been absorbed, but be aware that if you leave these to cool completely they might be very difficult to get out of the pan.

So, after an hour or two, turn them out onto a rack and grate some lime zest over them before serving (or selling).

Makes 8.

Enjoy!

xxx

Random Bake of Kindness

Random acts of kindness are brilliant aren't they. I've heard so many wonderful recounts of people's experiences with showing kindness to often strangers. One being, giving the car park attendant, on the dry summer's day, a cool can of coca cola. Or paying the car behind you at the motorway toll.
I know that when I've given a random act or received - it's made my day. So I thought it was great when Vanessa suggested we join in with the Random Bake of Kindness. It seemed to me to be the next level in showing gratitude. You need to decide who you're going to bake for and why, and to tell them why you're doing it. I feel that we don't express enough just how much we appreciate things sometimes. So this is brilliant, and I know of at least two more people for whom I want to do it already!
So for my R.B.O.K. I decided to bake little round lemon drizzle cakes.

I used two recipes for this creation. Firstly I had a bottle of Lavender Lemon Syrup which I'd made from Vanessa Kimbell's 'Prepped'. Again a brilliant flavour which can be used for several other recipes and for making lemonade. I made mine when the lavender was in bud, and it does give a delicious flavour, it isn't essential however so can be made as just a lemon syrup.
The second recipe is from Nigella's 'How to be a Domestic Goddess'. Its based on the Mini Lime-Syrup Sponges and made a useful reference for quantities as I wanted to bake them in the tray as she had done with a mini-loaf tin.
This was such an easy recipe, and although I was over generous with the syrup - they were very, very moist - having the syrup ready made it a very quick bake. I will post about these two recipes in a day or so as I don't want to take away from the R.B.O.K. focus right now.
It wasn't difficult for me to choose who I would give my first R.B.O.K. to. And I know already that I won't do justice to how much gratitude that I and others I know feel for Anne's loving and caring nature.

As it happened I knew of Anne before I met her. Iain (my Hubby) and I did an internship at a church in Solihull in 2009, knowing that he would next be studying at a Ministry college in London. To where it just so happened the previous minister of the said Solihull church was now lecturing. In Solihull we realised how appreciative the people had been of Peter, the previous minister, and just how much they missed Anne his wife, so I was keen to meet Anne and felt confident that I wouldn't be disappointed.
It seems funny looking back, not knowing Anne, because I know Anne so well now. Not only do I join Anne with the other partners of those working or studying at the college for fellowship and shared times, but I go to the same church and we work at the same school. Infact, we always have so much to talk about and it doesn't matter if we've seen each other every day, there's still more to share!
Now it's not that Anne is only good at chatting as she is excellent at listening and remembering. So often I see Anne with people and she remembers so much about what is going on in their life and asks after them. Anne would probably be the first person to say she's not perfect, but it is so refreshing and encouraging when she shares something that has maybe not gone the way she hoped, and she reflects on why that might be. It's so healthy, she doesn't bury it away but shares it and is considerate of it in the future.
Here is a Truly Good Woman and she is inspirational in her friendships, marriage, family, work and church. I know I am blessed in having her friendship, while Iain is at college, and I very much look forward to years of shared times and catching-up when we have moved to a church of our own.

Anne I thank you for your friendship, for your constant encouragement and advice, for Oswestry and for your example.

I pray that you feel encouraged by this post and that your friendships are always blessed.

Much love, xxx

Little Round Lemon Drizzle Cakes

IMAG0481, a photo by Liz Pope on Flickr.

I'm being lazy and uploading photos via phone to flickr - not SMART- but lazy :)

Random Bake of Kindness

Anne & rachel, a photo by Liz Pope on Flickr.

Anne and Rachel receiving my Random Bake of Kindness.
More to follow later today...must actually go prepare my classroom now, putting it off long enough!

Above Diamonds

I've done it! I've taken the plunge and changed my blog name. 'Above Diamonds' is smidgen less pretentious (but not too much) than 'truly good woman' but hopefully it sets a better balance.

I'll be looking for diamond photos now and wondering whether my new blog name will have put me off of your lists? Oh well it'll be fun checking in on peoples blogs anyway.

Liz x

Blog name change

So I've been thinking for a while about changing my blog name. The general direction is going to stay the same and I still want to manage the three sections that have made 'Trulygoodwoman'. However, I haven't been too comfortable with the present name for quite some time.
I've decided to keep the Proverbs 31 theme but to go with the name 'Worthmorethandiamonds'. There are several US similar versions but mine will be a little UK / EU version.
I plan to do this in the next day or so. I'm not sure what this will do to your following but I hope to see you soon.
Love Liz xxx

Flavour Giveaway

At the risk of sounding like a Prepped! Groupie - seriously, I just keep going on about it! I just must recommend the Plum and Cardamom Crumble creation- it's sooo yummy! And so, I am giving away a humble and yet delicious packet of Green Cardamoms.
I love that the flavours are a paradox of being traditional and yet refreshingly new when combined together.

I'm now making Cardamom sugar and can't wait to try the other recipes. In the meantime, check out my reviews blog for how I got on with the crumble Truly Good Woman Reviews 'The crumbs of Crumble'.

The winner will be chosen by random number generator - just leave a comment to say which flavours are inspiring you in the kitchen and how they can be used. Entries close at 10pm on Monday 8th August.

(A chance of winning the Giveaway is only open to UK residents - sorry!)

Working through the night

As I am sure you have noticed I haven't been blogging very regularly for some time now. Largely this is due to life being too good! I'm very ambitious with my time, or should I say overly optimistic? I do so much, and so often things like blogging, craft or sorting out the pile of filing, end up on the back burner.
However, if you look back to see the times when I have blogged, it is often nearing midnight or in the early hours. There are those times when, I've still had so much to do and it's already late but I've been inspired to post something and so it just can't (it simply cannot!) be postponed.

Put it down to my determined nature, or could that be 'I've decided I'm going to do it, so I have to do it now!' There are many times each month when I am up late, determined to get done whatever project I am working on. This is what our scripture focus for today is talking about:
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
We also see here a woman who knows that she does a good job, she doesn't begrudge that it may take a long time, and others know they can trust that she will get the job done.

Ready for the task in-hand

I always read the scripture that I'm studying in several translations and a commentary so to get a fuller picture of what is intended for the reader. Today's reading is one which immediately meant something to me for what I am going through now, but when I read it in other translations it had a fuller meaning. Isn't that interesting? 
Look here:
She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. (New Century Version)
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. (New International Version)
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. (New King James Version)
The above were helpful and inspiring, but did somewhat make me think that I ought to be doing more bicep curls and triceps dips!

Whereas the following, in more simple language (what does that say?) spoke to me directly:
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. (The Message)
She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. (Amplified Version)
My faith tells me that we all have a God given purpose. Sometimes that purpose can be difficult, even painful. Last year was really difficult for me, I almost quit teaching, but I'm glad to say I didn't. And it may sound trite but I know the experience has made me stronger.
This year has been brilliant, and although not without it's struggles, it has given me back the confidence to go forward. 
Tomorrow I am going to be jumping up in the morning, dressing for work, eager to get started for I am meeting my new class for the next academic year. I already know them and my team of colleagues so I know how blessed I am. And because teaching is teaching and all that it involves, the highs and the lows, I am praying that the Father builds with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes my arms strong and firm.
Amen. 
xxx

Lavender time

On a house outing to Box Hill (as visited by Jane Austin's 'Emma') last year, with our fabulous friends from college, we stumbled across Mayfield Lavender. It was a gloriously sunny day, we'd had a cream tea picnic on Box Hill and visited the ruined Folly. With laughs and walking, it really couldn't have been topped.

Then on the way home we discovered a sensational field of bright blue. One of our cars had noticed it on the way and much to our joy it was open to visitors and had a shop!!!
If you're in reach of Surrey, Mayfield Lavender, is well worth a visit. They do have an online shop but being there in person is so much better because the smell is amazing.

The day was growing into a beautiful evening and we were standing in the middle of rows upon rows of lavender taking photo upon photo. Of course I bought a massive bunch of lavender, enough to divide amongst my friends, and to spread across the flat in various vases (dry) and to use for lavender sugar.

Another reason to love Vanessa Kimbell's Prepped! is the delicious lavender chapter. I can't wait to make my trip to Mayfield lavender and then get on with the recipes. Take a sneak of the types of glorious flavours in Vanessa's lavender chapter with the post on Mail Online 'Lavender and Lemon Cake'.

Twitter & the Prepped! book launch

For a while now I have wondered about twittering myself, and with gentle encouragement I have decided to take the plunge!

On the main I'm looking forward to keeping in contact with friends who already tweet, but there are also lots of lovely bloggers who tweet so I'm looking forward to that too.
My tweets will probably include lots of things I thought I might blog about but never actually get around to.
You can find me as @trulygoodwoman I'm going to see how this user name feels for a while, I'm not too sure about branding myself as truly good, but hopefully people will realise my intention when they link to my blog.

Talking of lovely bloggers, I had the joy of making it to the book launch of Vanessa Kimbell's Prepped! at Rococo Chocolates Motcomb Street in Belgravia. It was brilliant of course to meet at last Vanessa, but it was also lovely to meet other fellow recipe testers. Vanessa so kindly gave me a signed copy of Prepped! for testing several of her recipes. I know that this will be a book that I come back to time and time again.

Those that were able brought samples of the recipes they had tested and it was a time of foodie discussions, congratulating Vanessa, and browsing and buying some of the delicacies of Rococo Chocolates - I personally bought the Otto Rose, and Otto Lavender.

After the official launch bit we then went onto a nearby pub for wine and continued chatting.
I think what made the event even lovelier was seeing the friendships that had grown from blogging and through testing Vanessa's recipes. This wasn't just the end of the road, it was the beginning of friendships.

Not Hasty

I used to be very hasty with decision making. I didn't like the fact that a decision needed to be made and so often made it quickly to have it done with, but unfortunately it wasn't always the right decision.
I've become much more considered now, and also wait, if the decision permits until all options have been considered fully and given in prayer.
I like today's verse for the example our Truly Good Woman gives with this also. 

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.Proverbs 31:16

She is patient, considerate of the outcomes and looks to maximise the benefits. And not forgetting, that she casts her burdens in prayer and faith.

The appeal of the Exotic

Today's focus for Proverbs 31 is verse 14:

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 

So here is a woman who, with the available finance and time, will go out of her way to buy appealing quality food stuffs. I think I'm right in saying that, in the Hebrew, 'from afar' is in reference to from another country. For these good foods from afar, she would have travelled to a reputed market stocked by the well-travelled merchant ships. 

Now, I don't know about where you live, according to my blog stats you're pretty well spread out across the globe, but, here in the UK exotic food stuffs are easily accessible in most supermarkets. Also, where I live in South East London, many grocers sell the most amazing fruit and vegetables from all over the world.
To be honest, it doesn't take even too much imagination, time or money to rock on up to Sainsbury's. Instead, we seem to be living out a bizarre world where it takes more effort to buy something that is produced and sold locally.
So to spin this on its head I'm going to celebrate the woman who likes to go out of her way to buy appealing foods which end up taking her more time travelling to buy, but don't fly from across the globe with a carbon foot print to boot.
Presently, for me this could mean a short train ride to the lovely Borough market with a short and sweet visit to the Cinnamon Tree Bakery. With handmade biscuits baked in Camberwell, it's pretty local. 


Where would it be for you? 


Liz xxx

Back online!!!

At last I am here...back online from my laptop, with access to my 1092 emails - aaagh!!!


I sooo love being able to blog properly again, that although it's late and I can hear my husbands footsteps as I type and I know he's going to say it's too late to be doing this - I just want to post about so many things...


However, I've had the kiss on the head, and know that I shall have to wait till tomorrow to join you all in blogland.
I hope you're all well, and can't wait to catch up on your blogs.


Liz xxx


p.s. I just love this button that Vanessa gave me - check out her blog, her book is out in June and it's going to be tasty, tasty, tasty

/http://writingacookerybook.blogspot.com/

Inspirational women

This is yet another post typed from my smartphone, but thankfully proper full screen & keyboard blogging is within sight, and I should be online by the 26th. It's been a long time :(

Just a quick post, I wanted to share a website I came across. It's truly inspirational, about women throughout history either through the bible or through the course of Christianity. There's so much to read too!

www.womenofchristianity.com

Isobel Kuhn who worked with the Lisu tribes of Northern China is a good missionary biography to start with if you haven't read any before.

After the 26th I shall be returning to my proverbs 31 series.

Lots of love & joy for Easter. He is risen!
xxx

Summer 2010

Summer 2010, a set on Flickr.

I'm so glad Spring is here and hope to have some lovely summer days like we did in 2010.

Computer says no

I've had no home internet access 4 almost 2 months now & my mobile is only recently back from a 2 week repair - I've been in a communications desert!
Right now this has been typed via my phone, so it's got 2 b short but needless to say I'm still here but missing my full screen view of u all.
Xxx

It's getting lighter!

I was always find January quite a difficult time mentally, so I am glad that I've gotten through this past January feeling much more upbeat.
I know there is much to be said about taking refuge in one's faith when things are difficult. Easier said than done (!), but I have definitely appreciated the activities of which I'm part of at church & my husband's college - this fellowship has all been light in my life.

And to top it all, the days are drawing out, the days are getting lighter.
Amen.
X

Shopping Around

Today's focus for Proverbs 31 is verse 13:

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands (NIV)

Or as translated in these other versions:

• She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. (The Message)

• She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.(NLT)

• She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands.(NCV) 

• She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it]. (Amplified Bible)

• She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. (King James Version)

What a sensible person. She may have compared several market stalls for prices, or even compared prices between towns? I still find myself doing that on occasion if the particular product is stocked in independent stores. However, we have our trusty web browser to help us 'go-compare', along with also bidding on auction sites. (One of my fave's to check out regularly is http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ Martin and his team give top advice.)

Well however we shop now, we can take example from the Truly Good Woman for planning ahead and being eager to accomplish her tasks. 

I have struggled to keep the steady character, described from 'Never Spiteful', on one occasion this week when I was annoyed with the Hubba. But from it I have remembered the importance of "communicate, communicate, communicate!" The Hubba and I always do better when we talk about how things are going or how something makes us feel.

Hope you're all well, Liz xxx

Giveaway WINNER!

This is fun isn't it - I love blog-land!

So this lucky person is one step closer to crunching their abs:

No. 4 - Betty of Mrs Yappy Dog Please email me your mailing address to trulygoodwoman@gmail.com

Chosen by Random Number Generator.

I've tried showing the list of 10 entrants - but my post doesn't like the encrypting stuff. 

Big love to you all - thanks for playing. xxx

Never Spiteful

Often we take it for granted that the bible has been translated into English, we take it as something old and completed. However, translating from Hebrew (for the Old Testament) and Greek (for the New Testament) into English, does give translators predicaments in losing emphasis. For instance, chair in the old Greek has about 10 different words, whereas in English it is always chair, but choosing one Greek 'chair' over another could change its meaning.
Therefore, when looking at the Woman of Proverbs 31 I have found it useful to look at the different translations through http://www.biblegateway.com/ This has enabled me to grasp the meaning more fully.
In addition to this I am using the commentary from Grace Communion International for help.

Our Proverbs 31 focus today is:

Her husband trusts her without reserve, 

   and never has reason to regret it.

Never spiteful, she treats him generously 

   all her life long.

Here is a man who has been blessed with a wife who gets on with things, who works hard to organise things, who knows how to find the best bargain and who is aware and conscientious about her family's needs.

What stands out to me is that she is 'Never spiteful', and that 'she treats him generously'.

I am not in favour of pigeon holing people to set roles, and even though I love the woman of Proverbs 31, I don't even think she is about being the perceived 'perfect' 1950s housewife. When looking at this sentence, I see a woman who is confident and comfortable with what she is doing in her home and work. She does what she considers needs doing and without reserve. There is no "I am only doing such and such, because that is all they would have done/would do".

She uses her 'know-how' for the job in hand, and sees it through to the end. There is no expectation of praise or reward, but instead a humble gratification that the best has been sought, and he has been helped or cared for.

For the coming days I am going to focus my attention to 'Never being spiteful, but treating him generously.'  

When looking for a picture I just couldn't resist this hard working fellow...

Three days left for the GIVEAWAY! Please see Truly Good Woman Reviews.

Who is the Woman of Proverbs 31?

Read Proverbs 31: 10-31 

She sounds amazing doesn't she.
I aspire to be such a talented woman who keeps God in the centre, and her family so well cared for.
I look to the example she gives and yet I know that I fall drastically short. For as much as I'm loving my job I can't say that I'm eager to get started - apparently I function much better after 11am...not much chance of a start like that in teaching hey!
And, I had set out with this blog hoping to share God moments and for it to be an encouragement in how we can all be truly good woman - yet looking over my posts I see that they are 90% about food! Whereas the truly good woman is not overly preoccupied with fancy foods:

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast 

for her family and organizing her day.

I might manage breakfast myself if the thought of it doesn't make me feel sick (it never used to, what is this?) but the most I do for the Hubba is make him his morning cup of tea, although come to think of it I do feed the cats...
Anyhow, I'm not about to beat myself up but rather look with you over the coming weeks, at the example she gives and what this might look like in our 21st century.

To help me on my way I will use the commentry of Proverbs 31 from Grace Communion International 

Who is your inspiration for a Truly Good Woman, I'd love to hear from you.
Liz xxx

p.s. don't forget the GIVEAWAY! On Truly Good Woman Reviews.

Sneak Peak of the GIVEAWAY!

So my January GIVEAWAY is Karen Voight's 'Voight: Precision training for body and mind'. As posted on Monday on Truly Good Woman Reviews, this isn't a new book but it is great at targeting those problem areas. Now although, I wouldn't necessarily want to look as muscular as Voight, her exercises do develop a more honed, svelte figure whatever your shape. 

Here's a sneak peak:  

To enter you can do any of or each of the following, but the more you do the more chance you have of winning:

• comment on http://www.trulygoodwoman.blogspot.com/ about your New Years Resolution;
• Add yourself as a follower if you are not yet one;
• Show http://www.trulygoodwoman.blogspot.com/ as a blog you read on your own blog page.

Please add a comment to say if you have either added yourself as a follower or shown TGW in the blogs you read. Closing date is Saturday 15th January 2011.

Happy playing! xxx

Truly Good Food & a Giveaway!

So although I've been busy preparing for Christmas with home-made preserves since October, I don't tire of Christmas when January comes. We still seem to have so many different cheeses and pickles, I won't take down the decorations until the 6th January and I'm not tiring of playing board games. This is of course probably my way of denying that it is going to be work as usual.

Here is one of the recipes that we and some friends enjoyed on New Years Day.
Spiced Gammon in Cider
This is delicious hot and scrumptious cold with the Spiced Christmas Pears

• 2.25kg   unsmoked gammon
• 2 onions quartered
• Zest of one orange
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 8 whole cloves, plus extra for the outside of the gammon
• 2 ltr dry cider
• 3tbs dark muscovado sugar

1. Place the gammon in a large pan (I prefer to do mine in the slow cooker as it makes the meat succulent) with all the ingredients, except for the sugar. Make sure the gammon is completely covered, add water if necessary.
2. Bring to the boil over a high heat , then lower to a gentle simmer for 1 hour if in a pan, or if cooking in the slow cooker do so on the high setting for 3 to 4 hours. Then let the gammon sit in the pan for 30min.
3. Remove from the pan and, before it cools too much, peel off the skin leaving the white fat on the meat. Using a sharp knife, mark the gammon's fat with a crisscross pattern.
4. Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas 6. Place the gammon in a large roasting tin, lined with foil. Stir 1 tbsp of the gammon's cooking liquid into the muscovado sugar to make a thick paste and smother the paste evenly all over the gammon. Spike each diamond in  the crisscross pattern on the gammon with a clove.
5. Put the spiced gammon in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 min.  Serve warm or cold.

So far most of my blog has been about food, my intention for 2011 is to be much more varied and rounded as a Truly Good Woman. 

Not only would I be missing out on so many things that a TGW is, the Hubba and I could be dangerously close to being found rolling to the shops in need of bigger clothes. 

So, as with many a New Year the Hubba and I have resolved to do more exercise, please see Truly Good Woman Reviews for an exercise book recommendation and GIVEAWAY!

Other resolutions include posting a weekly Bible study/reflection on here, being more punctual for work, going to bed earlier (eeek look the the time!) and making sure the Hubba and I find regular quality time together. 

Please comment about your New Year Resolutions to be in with a chance to win the 'Voight: precision training for body and mind'. 

Liz xxx