Sunshine, Fresh Air, & Being Still

Today I wanted to share something that's been on my heart...

I hope you find encouragement and inspiration in this post and leave refreshed and renewed as you go about your day ♥

We live in a day and age of constant go. From the moment you get up in the morning, you hit the ground running. And you don't stop until your head hits the pillow at night. Then it's time to do it over again before you can even imagine that another day has come. 

We all need moments of rest, of relaxation. Moments of stillness and times to be quiet and simply be. Laura Ingalls Wilder spoke some lovely words...
Some things like sunshine and fresh air are hard to beat.

Friends, sometimes we all need to just step away from the busy and from the day-to-day, and enjoy some of the simple things in life, such as sunshine and fresh air. One of my favorite things to do is to go driving through the countryside. There's absolutely nothing like the wide open spaces, being in nature, and admiring the vast beauty of the earth. And, every single time I do that, I come away with a clear perspective, an uncluttered mind, a fresh attitude, and a gratefulness for simplicity. 

 Busyness is praised and encouraged in our culture today. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing things and getting things done, we also need time to be still. Time to stop and smell the roses, if you will.

The point of home is to be a refuge for the soul, a place where beauty can be encountered, truth told, goodness touched and known. It's why home needs hush as well as bustle, silence as well as song. We can choose to never be quiet or alone. But it is only in the hushed spaces that we can clearly hear all that echoes in quiet skies, in the eyes of children, in our own inner voices. Silence is where we dream, create, and pray, and we need it desperately.

~"The Lifegiving Home" by Sally and Sarah Clarkson

You see, when we are constantly going, never stopping, we end up missing out on beautiful blessings. And sometimes those blessings may be little, but if we are too busy to even notice something as simple as a flower blooming, a lovely candle lit on the dinner table, a favorite quilt or blanket over our lap whilst reading a book, or a gentle rain sprinkling down outside our window, then we would have missed out on something lovely. Even the small blessings are blessings, and we must be still to notice them.

I share this post today to challenge you to stop and smell the roses, to take moments in your day to be still and take in the beauty around you. To love the people you are surrounded by. To enjoy the little things. 

For then, we will be able to see, enjoy, and taste the fullness of life.

Bless you, dear ones!
♥

Sweetly Simple Lemon Cake

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries 

of the earth are never alone or weary of life.

-Rachel Carson-

Cheery greetings to you on this Monday morning, friends!

Spring is certainly here in full swing, 

and perhaps this is most evident by the yellow pollen that lays atop 

every vehicle that's parked outside longer than an hour.

We did have a rainy weekend so hopefully, that helped wash away some of it

so that springtime allergies won't be quite so bad.

One of the things I love most about spring, however,

is the bright and happy flavor of lemon. 

I love lemons in both savoury and sweet dishes,

and today's recipe is a new favorite around here.

This cake is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy

{{pun intended}}

to put together and even easier to eat. Hee!

The lemon flavor really shines through and it

pairs perfectly with a nice, tall glass of iced tea. 

(Hot tea is wonderful too for those cooler spring days.)

Here's how you make it...

Sweetly Simple Lemon Cake

2 1/4 cups self-rising flour

2 sticks softened butter

1 cup pure cane sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

2 lemons, zest only

4 spoonfuls milk

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350*F, and prepare a loaf pan by spraying with nonstick cooking spray. Then lay a piece of parchment paper going longways and spray it as well.

Combine all of the above ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer for about two minutes, making sure everything is thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.

Pout the batter into the loaf pan and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.

Allow to cool in the pan for about ten minutes, then using the parchment paper, remove from the pan and let the cake sit on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Next, make the glaze:

Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar with 3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice. Gently pour over the cooled cake and allow to set for about 30 minutes before serving.

Cut into slices and serve.

This recipe was featured in my post all about our St. Paddy's Day tea party, 

which you can find HERE.

What are some of your favorite lemon recipes? Do share below!

Have a lovely, sunshiny week!

♥