Kale or sprout?

I was wondering why the price of kale's s gone higher in some supermarkets but not at our local marke (Stone). I read the following in the Telegraph not in a health magazine!

For all the attempts by fashionable chefs to dress them up with pancetta, chestnuts or even hazlenut chimichurri, for many people there remains something fundamentally unpalatable about Brussels sprouts.

So it comes as something of a surprise to find that the humble - and much maligned - sprout has given birth to the latest 'superfood’.Born from a cross between Brussels sprouts and kale, the flower sprout has not only become increasingly popular with British shoppers but is now being exported around the world. Sales have grown by 300 per cent in the last three years and it is now being stocked by a number of leading supermarkets, including Waitrose, M&S, Asda, Sainsburys and the Co-op. 

The new breed of green vegetable, which was first developed fifteen years ago, is praised by its advocates for its sweet 'nutty’ flavour and versatility in the kitchen. Like kale and sprouts, the flower sprout is also classed as a 'superfood’ because it is a good source of vitamins and dietary fibre.

Voila! At the moment, its the vegetable that our two rabbits love the most...I should try it and then convince my hubby that it's tasty too! 

I'm off playing badminton at Weston village hall.

Have a blessed Monday.

Enjoy the Christmas church services

Last night, Steven went carolling at Stowe last night and I joined him later on. Everybody had a great time. 

Sunday 22nd December
St Peter's, Hixon - Team Service and Communion 10.00
St Peter's, Hixon - Carols at the Inn at 7.00.pm where the 'Inn' is the Bank House pub
Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve
All Saints, Sandon -  Christingle at 4.00.pm.
All Saint's, Milwich - Crib Service 4.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Christingle 5.00.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Christingle Service 6.00.pm
St. James the Less, Fradswell - Christmas Communion 8.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
All Saints, Milwich - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. James the Great, Salt - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
All Saints, Sandon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
St. Rufin, Burston - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Hopton - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Gayton - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St John's, Stowe  - Christmas Communion at 11.15.am
Sunday 29th December
St. John's, Stowe  - Team Service at 10.00.am - farewell to Jason

Service cancelled due to bad weather

Due to the snowdrifts and bad access to Sandon church (a 10 o'clock service) our confirmation service had to be cancelled. Philip, our team rector phoned Bishop Jeff who was digging his car out of the snow up in Barlaston, just on time, and then succeeded to ring all the candidates. 
Fortunately it was decided that we would have a service (at 11:15) at Weston which is of a more accessible church with a better parking. The weather forecast was -I am told- looking quite good yesterday. It was a lovely Palm Sunday service, with excellent hymns, and well attended by parishioners all around Mid-trent churches team. The younger ones made different coloured palm leaves which we shook when we sang 'At the name of Jesus' composed by John Michael Brierley (b. 1932), one of my favourite hymn.
On a funny note, Imo decided to go for a walk with her friend Kathy and was looking for a pair of wellies (size 5). I told her to look in the garage to see if her sister's wellies (size 4) would fit. She found them and brought them to us complaining that there were bits of paper in it. So I emptied them in the garden and to our surprise, with the bits of paper came a fair amount of sunflower seeds. She tried them on but they did not fit. Some time she left. Then Steven, the good looking vicar (!) told me that the rural mice had probably selected those boots for their spring nest and hoard. I told you that the neighbour's cat Lucy always comes uninvited, thinking about it, I am glad that we have this cat keeping the rural mice at bay. 
Have a blessed Sunday. Yours in Christ. N.

True joy at Christmas in Mid-trent Churches

Sunday 16th December
All Saints, Sandon - Carol Service 11.15.am
St. James the Less, Fradswell - Christingle and Carols followed by sherry and mince pies starting at 2.30.pmSt. James the Great, Salt - Carol Service at 4.00.pmAll Saints, Milwich - The Village Nativity. The congregation goes around the village starting at 4.00.pm in Church
St. John the Baptist, Stowe - Candlelit Carol Service at 6.00.pmSt. Rufin, Burston - Carol Service 6.30.pm followed by Mulled wine and mince pies
Monday 17th December
St Andrew's, Weston & Weston Methodists - Carols in the Woolpack 8.00.pm
Friday 21st December
St Andrew's, Weston -  Ingestre Singers Christmas Concert at 7.30.pm Tickets £5 pre book - 01889 200002 / 270594
Sunday 23rd December
St Peter's, Gayton - Team Carols Service and Communion 10.00

St Peter's, Hixon - Carols at the Inn at 7.00.pm where the 'Inn' is the Bank House
Monday 24th December - Christmas Eve
All Saints, Sandon -  Christingle at 4.00.pm.
All Saint's, Milwich - Crib Service 4.00.pmSt. Peter's, Hixon - Christingle 5.00.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Christingle Service 6.00.pmSt. James the Less, Fradswell - Christmas Communion 8.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pmAll Saints, Milwich - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. James the Great, Salt - Midnight Communion 11.30.pmAll Saints, Sandon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day
St. Rufin, Burston - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Hopton - Christmas Communion 9.30.amSt. Andrew's, Weston - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St. Peter's, Gayton - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St John the Baptist, Stowe - Christmas Communion at 11.15.amSunday 30th December
All Saints, Milwich - Team Service at 10.00.am

Messy church in Weston

 Messy church is about spreading the good news about Jesus, our saviour, in an  informal environment usually on a school day.
This is just what's happening in Weston once a month on the fourth Thursday.
Children are having fun, parents and teens are either having a cupper or helping out. The event is always well attended.
So if you live in the area and haven't been yet why don't you give it a go. Bring along your friends and you do not need to book for the session.  The next one will be on the 22/03/2012 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. For more information, have a look in the Compass magazine.
Do you have a messy church in your parish? Let us know why you started it and how is it going.
The theme of this particular session was about light.

In John, we read that Jesus spoke to his disciples saying, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
God said, “Let there be light; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The first thing that God created on the earth
was light; and not because He needed light to see, but because the heavens and the earth were still dark
and void. The words God spoke, caused the light to appear from His very countenance and expel the darkness. ‘Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us” (Psalm 4:6).

The psalmist says ‘Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:105). When we walk with the Light of the world, we will never again experience darkness. Have a blessed week-end! Your sister in Christ. N

Women's world day of prayer

Chile
How many loaves have you?


This year, the service was held at Milwich. It was well attended, as parishioners came from the ten parishes in the team. 

Although superficially, with Chile’s rich list of natural resources things may appear to be flourishing, 80% of the wealth is owned by just 20% of the population, so there are many for whom life in Chile is a struggle. We enjoyed listening to 'The Song of Chile’.
The slides that were shown  illustrated some of the projects that are being run by Christian groups to empower women to be more independent and thereby take a greater control of their lives for the benefit of their families. A big thank to everyone who organised this lovely evening. 

A very special night!

Meet the Weston gang at the Woolpack as Roger and Gill were celebrating their wedding anniversary and Roger's birthday.
 1st photo, Steven,  Roger and (2nd photo) his wife Gill who invited us to their Xshush wedding anniversary! Also, it was great to meet up with Alison, Mickle and Marge and Dave. The atmosphere was great and we were in excellent company. 
That night, our conversations were interrupted by emotional comments  as we were watching live on tv the rescue operation of the 33 miners trapped deep underground in northern Chile! Praise the Lord!

Joy!

Some time ago, we cycled up to Weston, I must confess, with some difficulty, I'll speak for myself, being so unfit! Still, when we arrived there, we were wondering whether to keep on to Stone. However, Steven's bike needed some attention and we went to see our friends Alan and Pat.
Here are some photos of their lovely garden, ready for the Open gardens competition!
I particularly love the clematis. Mum had one very similar in the front porch and used to pamper it a lot.

 While we were having a long chat, I could not help noticing those baby birds as they were so noisy and hungry. Mum made lots of trips to feed them.

Weston Open Gardens

 Have a stroll through lovely gardens cared with love! You won't be disappointed.

Blessings.