Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 

FRIDAY, May 30th, 2025
Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
14*C/57*F
skies mostly cloudy

Dear Neighbor,

My dear brother left yesterday and so now I am rolling around my wee house like a marble in a box. It has been quiet in here since, but we will adjust and soon be back into our regular routine soon. We did have a lovely week together as a family and made some lovely memories for sure!

The weather was really nice for most of the time David was here. I think it only rained one day.  It was sunny and warm the rest of the time. We had a few escapades with ticks, but other than that everything went relatively smooth.  David was able to get dad's new computer up and running and he managed to get my x-box working again so now I can watch DVD's. He did try to tutor me a bit on editing movies for YouTube, but to be honest it all went over my head, so that's where we stand with that. I am still unsure how to move forward with it, if at all.

On his last night here, Cindy, Dan, David and I went out for an Indian meal at the new Indian restaurant that opened near us just recently and had a banging meal! It was fabulous. I discovered a new bread. Parotta.  I am in love with it! It was the lightest flakiest bread I have ever eaten. I have gathered a few recipes for it and will give it a go here at home.  Watch this space.  We had some beautiful samosas with a lush chutney to begin with and then several curry and rice dishes.  All were incredibly tasty. I can't wait to go back again sometime.  The best part was enjoying it all together. 

Dad did not go. He does not like Indian food. He went to the Big Scoop and had a hamburger steak dinner with Hazel. Old habits die hard, I guess!

My brother is really into Japanese anime and television.  He did live there for over four years so that is only natural.  He got me watching this Japanese Drama on Netflix called The Hot Spot and it's really good. I am up to episode six now and am enjoying every minute of it. It's quite entertaining. Kind of like the Japanese Friends in a way.

He left go to back to Ottawa yesterday and we were sorry to see him go, but it was lovely to get to spend this time together as a family.  Here's hoping we get to do it again sometime soon. 

 

 

The Guinea fowl have been daily visitors. They come trundling along pretty much every morning.  I don't know where they are coming from but they are very comical to watch.  They came specifically to bid David farewell yesterday, I am sure.  As we were putting his things into Cindy's car they were there and we were able to get some closer photographs of them.  

David is now home safe and sound and dreaming of going up in his Glider more sooner than later!  I think it needs a paint job first. He did keep up with the daily going's on of the flying club he belongs to while he was here and apparently there were quite a few great gliding days that he missed! One supposedly with the best conditions for flying they had had in over 50 years!  Oops!

Cindy took this picture at the golf course, I think. At first, I thought it was a lady slipper, but when I blew it up a bit, I can see clearly that it is a moth of some type. Very interesting!  Does anyone know what kind it is?  Look at those pretty wings. Isn't it fabulous how in nature things like this are beautifully crafted to blend into their surroundings!

Someone brought this to my attention.  I thought it was very interesting.

Someone is selling a used copy of the book I wrote on Amazon for almost $3000. Can you imagine?    I should be flattered I suppose that they feel it is worth that much!  I really need to check into finding another publisher to republish it. I get asked about it every day by people wanting to buy a copy. I sincerely doubt however that anyone would pay this price for one! ha ha!  And if they would, I have a copy if they want to buy one! 

Again, ha, ha. Not for sale.

 

(source)

The days have been lovely and warm, often too warm. My heat pump is still not working, so I am not able to avail myself of the cooling feature. The guy did come one day along with an electrician, but they need to order a new part. Its leaking some kind of gas.  It could take one week or two weeks or longer before the part comes and they are able to fix it.  I hope it doesn't take too long as the hot, sticky, unbearable weather is just around the corner. I have had three fans going most days already just to keep the air moving.

I got some rhubarb washed, trimmed, chopped and frozen so that I can enjoy some rhubarb treats.  I do so love rhubarb.  It is a favorite treat. I wish you did not have to add so much sugar to it to make it edible, but as a rare treat, it is heavenly bliss to me.

I especially love it stewed and spooned over ice cream.   I know, so naughty.

 

(source)

I have an appointment now for a Stress Test at the hospital in Kentville on the 15th of June in the morning. I am dreading it. I have never had a stress test as far as I can remember.  Cindy had hers a week or two back.  I am quite afraid of this to be honest.  I am stressing about it already. 

At least I will already be in the hospital so it shouldn't cost me another ambulance ride if anything occurs.

 

(source)

Everything is pretty much back to normal now and things are settled down back into our routines today.  We are going to take Dad and pick up his friend Maryann this afternoon and Cindy and I will do a bit of shopping while they visit with each other at the mall.  I need a few bits.  I wasn't able to really get to the shops over the past week as I gave my car to my brother to use.  

Eileen and Tim are going on a weekend away with some of their friends today.  I think they will be in Truro. It is a thing to do with this group they belong to and there will be a banquet and a dance, meetings etc. She was really looking forward to going. I brought her over some clothes that I no longer wanted yesterday afternoon. All clean and pressed and she is going to take some of them with her. She was very excited about that.

 

(source)

I am determined to get more play into my life.  My earnings have been way down this year so far, and I am stressing a bit about the taxes I am expected to pay.  You pay installments on the projected earnings for the year, and they are based on what you earned last year.  With my earnings being down by 2/3 I just cannot do that. I don't have the money to pay them.  I have decided to pay 30% only of whatever I earn and that will have to suffice.  And that will leave me living close to the knuckle, but by the time next tax season rolls around hopefully they won't expect as much and all being well my pension might even increase a year from July. In the meantime, I will have to just make what I have stretch as best as possible. That means trimming my sails a bit and practicing some faith in God. He has never dropped me yet and so long as I keep trying, He will make sure I am okay. I know this to be true.  This new AI stuff is a real kick in the pants to anyone who is legitimately trying hard to make a go of it online.

You can work your socks off and get nowhere. People like being lied to it seems. Fake photos, etc.

 

My oldest baby turned 50 yesterday. It is hard to believe that I have a son that old, but there it is. I was able to facetime with him for a bit in the afternoon.  It was really great.  I was only 19 when I had him. Not much more than a child myself, but oh how happy I was!  It was love at first sight and I have been loving him to pieces ever since!

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day!

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.Children have neither past nor future.

They enjoy the present, which

very few of us do.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Jean D La Bruyere° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ 

In The Kitchen today, One Bowl Honey Glazed Buttermilk Bran Muffins. These are a fabulous bran muffin. It does make a dozen nice sized ones, but they freeze well and are delicious!  The honey butter glaze is entirely optional but does add a special little something to them!

I hope you have had a great week. I have missed you and its great to be back and writing to you. I hope your day today goes well and that you are happy, healthy and fit.  Whatever you get up to today, don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!! 

Dear Friends . . .

 

(source)

 

Estate Lane
Sunday, May 25th, 2025
Rainy and very chilly

My dear friends,

I thought I would take the opportunity to write you a brief catchup on all of the goings on here at mi casa.  My brother David arrived without any problems on Thursday.  We had a lovely supper here that evening and have been enjoying all of each other's company ever since. I don't think he slept too well the first night that he was here, but that is quite normal. I think excitement, etc. get in the way of being able to sleep and it can often be hard to settle down on the first night. I didn't sleep too well either!

This afternoon he has gone up country to spend some time with his old school chum Phil, so I thought I would hop on and share a bit about how much we are enjoying having him here.

Cindy and I are enjoying having our baby brother around and dad of course is really enjoying having all of his ducklings together. It is just plain nice.  We have reached that stage in life where we never know when the next time will be that we will be able to see each other in person, if ever and so we are taking advantage of and enjoying every moment that we can. To be able to meet together as a family in happy circumstances such as this is a great blessing indeed.

I know not all siblings grow up to be as fond of each other as what we are, but we are blessed in that way. We just plain love each other, warts and all. And that is as it should be.

 

(source)

We surprised dad by meeting him for breakfast yesterday morning. Dad was pleased as punch. We went to dad's usual haunt and the food was awful as it usually is.  (Shudder) But dad was just beaming that we had surprised him in such a way. I think I was the only one who was unhappy with my breakfast, but I had ordered scrambled eggs and in all truth the whole thing made me feel very queasy and so I could not eat it. I did eat the baked beans (which were sweet but very good) and the toast.

Afterwards we came home and David decided he wanted to take a walk before the rain started. He walked up the side of the main road that goes past my side road, right on up to the mountain and back. He did not leave the verge at all. (Brave I think as they really drive fast and just roar up and down that road).

When he got back we played a rousing game of Electronic Battleship!  I won.  Not to brag or anything.  I did have fun playing it with someone, another human being, rather than playing the game itself. Just as we were finishing he felt something on his neck and lo and behold there was a tick. YIKES!

He has been bitten by a tick in the past and had Lyme disease for several months.  

How the tick got on him yesterday we have no idea, but it had not latched on yet and we were able to flush it down the toilet. We then shook all his clothing off and threw it into the dryer and he took a shower and I vacuumed the whole house again just to make sure we hadn't missed any. 

I will go at the first opportunity to get some flea and tick drops for the cats. I always thought as they were indoor cats they were not at risk, but I think this goes to show we are all at risk. David had not gone into an grass or near trees, but somehow a tick got on him. He thinks probably in the wind?  Who knows! 

I am itching just thinking about it!

Just before he left to go meet his friend today, our good friends the Guinea Fowl were back. Yay!  I wish they would hop over here and eat some ticks in my grass!  Anyways, it was something exciting for David to see and tomorrow there is an open house at the railway museum in town, which he might enjoy seeing as well. 

We are going to Cindy's for supper tonight. She is roasting a chicken. I am looking forward to that as she makes really good roast chicken and gravy!

Nothing else to be said except we are enjoying our time together.  It will pass by all too quickly so we must make the most of each moment.

I will write again soon. I hope this finds you all well and safe, and happy.  Be blessed and don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

(source)

 

It has turned positively frigid here this morning. Not quite down to zero but close enough.  No frost however, which is good for anyone who has already put in their gardens. There is an old saying, "Don't cast a clout until May is out." I guess there is some substance to that.  

I am not putting in any flowers this year or buying a hanging basket.  I am not even sure I can get the girl in to do weeding. I want to, but it's all money isn't it. Not sure I can waste the hundred dollars.

So, this happened yesterday.  Jon graduated from Holland College as a Precision Machinist.  Very proud of him. I was able to watch the whole graduation ceremony on YouTube. It was very well done. The best Grad Ceremony I have ever seen to be honest.  Nice speeches, music, etc.  Best of all getting to see Jon.  Jon has done very well, despite being autistic.  Way to go Jon!  We are all very proud of you!

 

(source)

What an amazing looking stalk of Brussel's Sprouts. I love them. They are one of my favorite veggies.  I especially love the tops, but you never see them being sold where I live.  I used to buy them all the time at the farmer's markets in the U.K. Sprout Tops. They make a nice pan of greens. Nothing is wasted about this plant over there, bar the stock.  I wish they did that here.  Sprout Tops are fabulous.

 

(source)

How glorious is this. I love white blossoms.  If I could afford it, I would have a white garden. I think they are stunning. Over in the U.K. there are lots of gardens that you can go and walk through and enjoy, usually attached to stately homes and historic properties, which you can also explore, for a fee of course.  Not all are privately owned. I would say the majority of them are owned by the National Trust, who maintain them, both the homes and the gardens.

A day out at a National Trust property was always one of my favorite things to do.  I got to visit Chatsworth, which was Winston Churchill's home, Bateman's, which was Rudyard Kipling's home,  and a whole lot more.  I think my favorite gardens were a toss up between the garden's at Sissinghurst and Tatton Hall.  The gardens were both amazing. The ones at Tatton Hall were much more extensive, but both were beautiful. 

But then again, any garden is beautiful. 

 

(source)

I got quite a lot accomplished yesterday. I have a bit more to do today and then all will be in order for my brother's arrival tomorrow. I think he lands a little bit after 11 a.m.  It will be another few hours before he makes it here, however. It is a two-hour trip pretty much from the airport.  I will have everyone here for supper tomorrow night. I am not making anything too special.  Just meatloaf and scalloped potatoes, some veggies.  That's all. No dessert as David is staying away from sugar as sugar feeds tumors.  I will have some sugar free Jello for Dad because he always looks for something sweet at the end of his supper and he likes the sugar free Jello. 

I think dad and Hazel are going for Chinese food tonight for their supper.  I declined.  The food is substandard, and I think the restaurant is dirty. Plus, it's expensive.  There is a sad lack of good places to eat in this area.  Most of the food you get at any of them is food that comes from a frozen packet.  The most praise you will hear from people is that the portions are large.  People here seem to value "Quantity" over "Quality."  And that is what sells.  I would rather have quality myself, but it is sadly lacking. Mind you we have not tried the new Indian place that opened up in Kingston. Perhaps we can give it a go while David is here.

I have never replaced my tea cozy that I made myself way back when I was living in the U.K. Maybe that can be my goal after David leaves to go home and things settle down.  I did love it. It was quite colorful. I don't know why I have such a love for things like tea cozies. I cherish the one that Ginny made for me. 

It is one of my most beloved and cherished things. Such a special gift from such a special friend.

I was remembering a tea party that I did for the Sister Missionaries over in the U.K. one year. It was so much fun.  The girls really enjoyed it as well, I think.   

These little cucumber sandwiches were so much fun to make.  I had all the stuff there to do things like this.  Pretty trays to display cakes and things on.  Tiered sandwich and cake holders, etc. 

I have no such things here and to be honest I don't have any place to store then anyways. My house it too small. I have barely enough room for what I do have. It would be nice to have a tea party however.  Something else to think about and perhaps make happen before the end of the year. 

Oh, it is nice to dream. You have to have a dream in order to make a dream come true.

My sweet friend Tatiana has started a web page. It is called The Written Loom. It is going to be about things that inspire her.  The first few posts are on the joy of writing letters, etc. Tatiana writes beautiful letters. I love each letter that I get from her.  Each one is a feast for the eyes and the heart from the outside in.

Aside from that she is a beautiful calligrapher and book binder, also journal maker.  And she is taking care of her elderly parents. Her mother suffers from dementia and her father has a bad heart condition. Tatiana has had to quit her job for the most part to stay home and care for them. 

The job of being a caregiver is often a thankless job.  I am so grateful for my sister who gave such loving care to our mother and now our father. It takes the heart of an angel and the patience of a Saint to do so. People who have loving family members to care for them in their dotage are very blessed I have to say.

 

(source)

I finished watching The Stolen Girl on Disney last night.  Interesting end, but no stealers from me. I started watching Fred and Rose West, a British Horror Story on Netflix. I had to stop it because I didn't want to go to bed with stuff like that on my mind. I still need to finish Toxic Town.

I don't know why I am such a huge fan of British Television. I think it is because it is so very well done. You really cannot beat it in my opinion. I also love Nordic Noir. Even with the subtitles. 

I have a ton of things to get done today so I best get off here and get at them!  Time is running out.  I will do a brief post tomorrow morning but then I expect I won't be around very much until after my brother leaves. I will have recipe posts coming up each day for the most part, however. That is my bread and butter. I have signed up for a five week course beginning in June called Sticky Blogging. It was not cheap, but I am hoping it will help. I am struggling to pay the rent since I added the jump to button on my food blog. Hopefully I will learn some additional skills to help me out!

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day!

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.Be sure to taste your words
before you spit them out.
~unknown° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The English Kitchen today, the Classic Reuben Sandwich.  You can't beat the classics! This is a favorite sandwich of mine.

I hope you have a lovely day. I am going to try to get all the comments responded to before the end of the day!  Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy!  Don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

A Day Book . . .

 

FOR TODAY, May 20th, 2025

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

It's a bit overcast.  We had quite a rainy day yesterday and it has gotten a lot cooler than it has been. We are expecting some light rain and blustery winds later on.  I am amazed at how quickly the leaves have all come out since last week.  A few sunny and very warm days and everything is bursting out. My bleeding heart is in full bloom and the lilies are coming up, etc.

 

(source)

I AM THINKING ...

I have lots to do today.  I need to double up on some recipes etc. so that I have content to post for next week while my brother is here. I am not sure how much time I will have to work then, so I need to make up for it now.

 

(source)

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

I've got David's room all ready for him with the exception of putting on fresh bedding.  I will do that tomorrow. Cindy came over and helped me yesterday.  I really don't know what I would do without her. She is such a blessing to me. I love her dearly of course, always have done.  She is my best friend and always has been.  But you know all of that!

I am really looking forward to seeing David.  When you get to our ages you never know if this time will be the last time you see each other or not, so you make the most of every moment.  I will probably be very scarce on here while he is visiting, but I know you all understand.

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Air Fryer Frozen Mini Pizza. I know it seems a bit simple, but there are some people who wonder on timings, etc. for cooking things like mini pizzas in an air fryer. I have it figured out.  I do like my pizza to be a bit on the golden-brown side, but the timings given give you choice for it to be less done if that is what you prefer.

 

(source)

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

Classic Masala Dosa. Indian food from the Times. Oh, I hope we can get out for an Indian meal to that new place in the next town while my brother is here.

 

(source)

I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE ...

 

People are always more important.

 

(source)

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

A cold drink on a hot day.  Always nice.

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

I'll take the simple life any day of the week.  I no longer wish to do complicated.

I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE ...

One of the sewing kits that I had made when I lived in the U.K. I was able to bring this one with me. I wonder what happened to the others. I will probably never know. I would like to make sewing kits again but would probably not be able to get the decorative tins here.

 

(source)

A Christmas Pudding doll  . . . 

 

(source)

A cutting floor necklace  . . . 

 

(source)

A Toadstool Needlebook  . . . 

 

(source)

See no evil . . . 

 

(source)

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

Vintage plates.  I think I have 8 now.

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE I ENJOY ...

Cottage gardens.  Cottages full stop.

 

(source)

OH MY GOODNESS ...

That looks full on decadent!

 

(source)

JOYMAKERS ...

Duck ponds and feeding the ducks.

I AM READING ...

THE SPELL SHOP   by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut―a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love. 

 Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz―a magically sentient spider plant―have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. 

 When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy―and very handsome―neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home. 

 In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries. 

 But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop. 

 Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

An easy reading bit of fluff. We all need a bit of fluff every now and then.

THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...

 

(Source)

Pretty book covers  . . . 

 

(source)

County life  . . . 

 

(source)

Barns  . . . 

 

(source)

Mystical towers . . .  Rapunzel, Rapunzel  . . . 

 

(source)

Wishes not weeds  . . . 

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

My little red car  . . .  it gets me to where I want to go  . . . 

 

(source)

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

Being able to spend time with the people I love most in this life.  It's one of life's greatest blessings.

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

The Stolen Girl on Disney.  It's a cracker!

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.A garden's more than roots and stems

It holds small worlds and magic gems

Where gnomes toast honey, snails wear blooms

And joy grows wild in quiet rooms.

~Unknown  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

And that is my daybook for this week!  Thanks always for being here!

  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰

⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 

✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•. ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥╬

░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ 

Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!