Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

 A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.

Eileen and I 

back in about 1986 or so

I was one of her Brownie Leaders

Happy Owl, that was me even I don't look so happy

Weekends with Eileen. (I like this old photo of us together. She was crossing her eyes to look silly.) We had a fairly quiet weekend. I had a lot of pain issues so we did a bit of shopping at the grocery store after I picked her up to get her drinks and treats and then came back here. I cooked us some supper. We watched a nice movie in the evening. An old favorite of mine. "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes."  Eileen likes it too because there are children in it and she likes anything Margaret O'Brien is in or Shirley Temple.  

I didn't get to church because of my pain issues so I watched my church on Zoom and Eileen watched hers on YouTube.

Then we polished her silver. My father had given me a case of silver cutlery. I gave it to Eileen but it needed polishing. I bought the silver polish and she brought the silver over with her and we both sat here in the afternoon polishing it up and it looks nice and shiny now and she knows how to do it herself next time it needs doing.  So a bonus skill learned!

She did some of her Diamond Art in the afternoon. I worked a bit. We made supper, ate supper, watched a bit of TV, etc. 

A fun time for us both.  She will be going back home later today.

Normally we would go to Cindy's for a family dinner on Sunday, but Cindy took this Sunday off to go golfing. Eileen had seen my recipe for Sweet & Sour Chicken Nuggets on my EK Facebook page earlier this week so she wanted me to make them for us for our supper. We made them together and enjoyed them with some steamed rice that I cooked in my rice cooker. We also had some frozen broccoli with it.  Let's just say, she is a fan.  That makes me happy.

 

(source)

(I love how this picture looks like angels standing in the woods.)

Being able to attend church online via Zoom. I am able to still sing the hymns, hear the prayers, etc.  Yesterday was Fast & Testimony meeting so I was able to hear the testimony of others. It always strengthens my own testimony to be able to hear the testimony of others. They are so uplifting.

An old paramour of mine happened to be there and he bore his testimony. One of the things he said is you don't have to believe in God to live a good life you just have to live your life as if you did, in faith that one day you will believe. I liked that. Sometimes believing comes hard, or can seem next to impossible, but living by righteous principles and teachings can be a lot easier, and eventually you never know, Belief may come, and if it doesn't, well . . .  you have still had a good life.

I wasn't able to bear my testimony in church so I will bear it here. 

I am one of those who has a strong faith and belief in God, my Heavenly Father, and in His son, Jesus Christ. I don't need to see them to feel their presence in my life. It has been evidenced to me in a bazillion little and large ways.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and cares about me. He knows me by name. He knows and counts every tear, and every hair on my head is numbered, as are my days. I may not be fully able to comprehend how this is so, but I know and believe that it is. I know that I am beloved by my Savior Jesus Christ and that there is nothing I can experience here on earth, both the good and the bad, that He doesn't already know and understand. He knows because He felt it all, all of our pain, our sorrows, our failures, our joys etc. in the Garden of Gethsemane. I can get myself through anything because I know He has already trodden the wine press, and He will succor me throughout my trials, because He has already been there. He is intimate with every detail of our lives, and He loves us anyways, enough to give away His life on our behalf.  Enough to help to carry our burdens if we will let Him. Enough to walk beside us every step of the way through this valley of tears that we call life.  His love has helped me to be able to forgive the unforgiveable. And I know and believe that He will be there with me at the end, when I finally will be able to see Him in person. As the song says, "I can only imagine what my eyes will see when His face is before me . . .  

Surrounded by your glory 

What will my heart feel 

Will I dance for your Jesus 

Or in awe of you be still 

Will I stand in your presence 

Or to my knees will I fall 

Will I sing hallelujah 

Will I be able to speak at all 

I can only imagine 

I can only imagine . . .  

I know I am not the only one who feels this way.  God is good. 

 

(source)

Warm and sunny summer days. There is a part of me that wishes that I could go for long walks and enjoy the sunshine. Walk along the beach, etc. I am grateful that I was able to do those things in the past and the memories of doing so sustains me. I will be able to do this again one day when I get to the other side.  In the meantime, I can enjoy the warmth of the sunshine on my skin and the sight of it as it lights everything up. The way it parties on my front deck and tickles my flowers.  The way it trickles down through the leaves of the maple tree in my back yard and dances upon the grass.

Only a few weeks will pass and summer will be all but over. The days will be shortening quickly and the nights will start to visibly draw in and be cooler.  Summer will be on the wane.  I will enjoy it while it is still here with us, and try not to complain about the humidity, even if I really don't always like it.

 

(source)

There is so much in the month of August to look forward to.  The gardens are giving of their abundance this month. Peas and beans, potatoes, corn, early squashes, tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries and blueberries, carrots, onions, peppers  . . .  the peaches are showing up in the markets now.  Soon it will be apples and pears  . . .  

How blessed we are to live in a country with such abundance. When I was young I used to put away a lot of it for the winter months. That is no longer practical for me, but the impracticality of it doesn't stop me from enjoying the blessings of it now. And I do.

My two furry companions. They are always with me when I am at home. Nearby at least for the most part. My cozy companions. I love them so much. They bring a lot of joy into my life.

I am really enjoying the hummingbirds at the moment. They have gotten even more active at the feeder and the battles have begun. So fun to watch.

My family . . . I am so grateful for my family. For their love. For their company. For their presence in my life. I love them so very much and consider them to be one of God's greatest gifts to me. They may not be perfect, but they are perfect to me.

 

Friends in real life and invisible friends.  All of the love and support I get from each one of you and them. It means a lot to me and I am very thankful for it all.

Life is a beautiful blend of ups and downs and highs and lows. I am so thankful for all of it. Faith, family, friends, home, talents, etc. Life is good.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The Sun shines on everybody.

You just have to keep believing.

~Dontrelle Willis

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Chicken Shawarma Bowls. Quick. Easy. Delicious. The perfect bite. At least for me anyways. A bit spicy, but not overly so. Very simple to make.

I hope your week ahead is loaded with an abundance of small and wonderful things. Be blessed. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!    

   

Saturday Nice . . .

 

 

(source)

Out of the fullness of years I sing,

Out of the wind and rain,

Songs that are forged by the heat of life

Welded with peace and pain.

Out of the harvest of years I sing,

Bringing my sheaves of song,

Garnered from fields that have known the storm,

Reared where the winds belong.

Out of the furrows turned and brown,

Wine of the sun and sod,

Mellowed and aged in the out-of-doors,

Scourged by the chastening rod.

Out of the heart that won it's peace

And claimed the right to be free,

Come friend and sit where the sunlight falls

And sing along with me.

~Edna Jacques, Fullness of Years

Beside Still Waters, 1952

Some days I feel older than others. Yesterday was one of those days.  I ended up not going out. By late morning I just felt depleted and I just didn't feel like I had the energy or the will to wander around the shops, etc. So I ended up messaging Cindy and letting her know. I did not like to disappoint anyone, but there will be other days and more opportunities. I will have to try to get out today to get some cat food. I will be picking Eileen up around 1 and she wants to go to the grocery store to get herself some drinks and snacks for the weekend, so I will get a few pots there. The cats will eat it or go hungry. It's as simple as that.  They can be very stubborn when they want to be. But I know that they will not starve because food will be there and if you are that hungry you will eat it.

 

(source)

Do you remember that I told you earlier this week that two ambulances were down the end of my street. One left with the siren going and then the other one followed a bit later. Well, it was Jane.  The lady who lived at the end. She passed.  I was sad to learn of that yesterday. She was one of the first people to speak to me when I arrived on the street. Such a kind lady. An avid birder and gardener. I knew she must not be well as nothing had been done in her garden this year at all. Her partner of 45 years was pretty much bedridden so she was probably in the second ambulance.  It is sad, but Jane is out of pain now. She is soaring with the birds she so loved to care for.

(source)

It is hard to believe but we are in August now. The days are becoming that little bit shorter. It is dark now when I go to bed, or darkening, and only just beginning to get light when I get up in the morning. I went to check my post box this morning and the guinea fowl were across the way. There were only two of them this morning so I am wondering what happened to the other two. Perhaps they had just gone on ahead.

There was a tiny white moth on the mail box. It was shaped like an airplane in it's resting state. I think it is what is called a plume moth but I can't be sure. I should have taken a photograph of it, but alas I did not. It was not a very big moth, but quite interesting.

I remember one time when I was working at the Manor there was a large Hawkmoth that had gotten into the kitchen overnight. (They had a habit of going to bed and leaving the kitchen lights on and the windows open.) I went to put the Mr.'s toast into the toast and it flew out at me from behind the toaster. It was huge and had the most beautiful wings. They looked like large oak leaves. Very pretty to see.

 

(source)

It has rained again in the night. We have gotten a lot of rain this week and it is cloudy this morning. The forecast says scattered rain showers are expected this morning. We will see. We can use it. It's been too dry and the gardens will soak it up. I did not have to water my plants yesterday as they had gotten a lovely soaking the day before. I may not need to water them today either. We will see. 

Molly from down the end of the road came to my door last evening. She has the prettiest blue eyes. She had an invite for me to a Birthday celebration for Glenna across the way. it is on Tuesday afternoon. Thankfully I have already bought a card for her. her birthday is not until the end of the month, but I do think Glenna was planning on going out West with her son and his family to visit her daughters sometime this month so perhaps she is not going to be here.

Cindy asked me for some ideas of what I wanted for my Birthday, but I really cannot think of anything. I am so blessed to have all that I need. Just love I guess. I don't know who couldn't use a bit more of that. Time. I could use more of that as well. I need my cats nails trimmed and some help trimming Cinnamon's bottom. (It gets matted.) I don't really need anything else.

 

 

(source)

You love the roses -- so do I. I wish

The sky would rain down roses, as they rain

From off the shaken bush. Why will it not?

Then all the valley would be pink and white

And soft to tread on. They would fall as light

As feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be

Like sleeping and like waking, all at once!

~George Elliot 

I miss all of the roses we had in our gardens in the U.K.  We had them of all colors. Red, pink, yellow, peach . . . in the back there was an arch with a gate separating the patio from the grassed area. The arch was covered in yellow climbing roses. So pretty when they were in bloom. 

I don't seem to see many roses around here. Perhaps the weather is too cold in the winter?  I see lots of wild briar roses, but not a lot of cultivated ones. Other flowers grow well however.  Roses do require a lot of care.

I was thinking last night about how this street has changed since I moved here. On the other side of the street there are now only two people who were here then and on this side only two people who were here then.  I suppose that it the nature of living in a neighborhood filled with Seniors. The residents living here can change quite a bit from one year to the next. But what a wealth of experience and knowledge are held on these streets. Its quite remarkable really when you think about it.

There is one lady across the road who belongs to a dinner club. Once a month, every month, they get together for a meal. But everything in the meal, all of the dishes have to have one main ingredient, which is the choice of whoever is hosting it that month. She was talking about this at the last Birthday get-together I went to. She was saying that she had to come up with a dessert that used potatoes. Someone suggested potato fudge. I find myself wondering now what everyone made.  What an interesting concept that is. A dinner club like that.

 

(source)

I just messaged Eileen to make sure she was awake.  She has been going to Tim Hortons each day in the morning. It's great that she is getting out and about and getting some exercise.  One of her workers took all of her air fresheners and threw them away.  Apparently one of the workers is allergic to scents. I didn't think that was right that she should do that. Eileen has a different worker every day and she might not even have the same ones from one week to the next.  But they got thrown away anyways.  At Eileen's expense. They were not cheap. Not much I can do about that but I don't think it is right.

I know that scents do bother some people, but I am not sure if it is an actual allergy. Then again, who am I???  Not an expert for sure. I don't like really strong scents and there are some things I don't like the smell of, but I wouldn't say for me it is an allergy. 

You have to pick your battles I guess.

 

(source)

I am going to try to go to the Farm market behind me this morning for just a few things.  I need some potatoes and I want a few vegetables. Maybe some beans and some corn. I would like fruit too, but I can get that later when I go to the grocery store with Eileen. Probably watermelon and perhaps even some blueberries. They seem the safest bet. I was hoping to make a blueberry cake one day. August is the season of blueberries, and corn.

And beans. Another few weeks and we should be seeing some of the early Winter squashes arriving. I love squash. Corn, Beans and Squash. A trinity of flavors that are usually ripening at the same time. I think the native people's called them the Three Sisters.

I think they used to be planted together as well, with the idea in mind that the hardy stalk of the corn would be able to support the vines of the squash and beans.

I started to try to watch this film on Amazon Prime yesterday. I have to say I gave up before it was even half through. It was not really a nice movie I didn't think. Perhaps I did not give it enough of a chance. I have quite a short attention span anyways, but this was not holding it at all. There are much nicer and worthier ways to spend my time.  I just thought since I was having a bad day physically that I would watch a film.  This was a poor choice.

On a bright note, I finally did catch the fly that was buzzing around.  It finally lighted on the window out front and I was able to electrify it with my electric racket.

Oh, speaking of electrics. My microwave oven appears to be not working right. The panel on the front with all of the number buttons. The bottom three number buttons seem to have stopped working. I suppose I can still use it with the other six.  I am not wanting to buy a new microwave oven at the moment and what do I do with the old one? I cannot lift it down or carry it out and I don't believe you are allowed to leave it out by the road for pick up. Oh, and I was reading yesterday that due to a fire at the local rubbish depot, pick up times for rubbish are going to be much longer as it is needing to be driven much further away to dump off. 

I just bought Eileen a microwave oven too   . . . I will just have to keep using mine until it gives up the ghost entirely. As long as most of the button still work then it's still okay. That's my theory anyways!

I don't know if I have told you about this girl before or not.  I have been watching her on YouTube for a while now. I enjoy the soft gentle pace of her videos and she doesn't seem to have an agenda like so many of them have. It just seems like a soft space to land in. I really enjoy it. Old ways, values, etc.

On a side note, I really don't know how these young moms do all that they do. I never had much time to explore things like this when I was bringing up my children. Mind you, because my husband was in the Military and was  away a lot, I was on my own more often than not.  I had double the responsibilities. When I had my fourth baby, I had three in diapers. Not to blow my own horn or anything but, they were cloth diapers also because . . .  who could have that many kids in diapers and afford disposables. It seemed like I was always washing diapers.  

I was always washing diapers. lol  Anyways, with  that and everything else I had to do I would never have had the time to produce and curate such interesting videos. MY hat is off to these young moms who seem to be able to do it all.

One thing I really like about Jennilee is that she doesn't seem to be using her children like so many other influencers do.  You do see her children occasionally but mostly in the background. I am not sure how I feel about these moms who are always making their children the focus of their videos. I don't actually think it's very healthy for the kids. It's probably not safe either. It smacks of "stage door" moms to me. I could be wrong. It is just my opinion.

Anyways, if you are looking for a nice video channel to watch The Pioneer Home is a good one. They are fixing up a small building on their property for use as an Air BNB as well. I think it is a really cute small space.  I quite enjoyed watching that video.

I am fast running out of time this morning so must bring this to a close.  I used to be able to write one of my blog posts in under an hour's time. It seems to be taking me longer and longer these days, and I am not sure if any of them are all that interesting any more, but oh well, it is a habit I am not about to stop even if nobody comes to read. It's my journal and I really do enjoy the writing. If you are still here after all this time I applaud you!  And I thank you.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The winds of Grace

are always blowing,

But, you have to raise

the sail.

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Mini Lemon & Raspberry Cakes, No Bake.  These are so simple to make, quick and easy, using only a few ingredients. The perfect dessert to make for a last minute group.  Filled with raspberry jam and toasted almonds and frosted with a lush lemon cream cheese frosting.

Have a beautiful weekend. Whatever you get up to I hope it brings you peace and joy. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

JULY 31st, 2026

Estate Lane,

Nova Scotia

18*C/64*F

Mostly cloudy

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this finds you well on this last morning of July, 2026. How did that happen?  How are we already at the end of July? It seems that it was just yesterday that we were celebrating the new year and now we are halfway through the summer. This year has been going by far too quickly. I wish it would slow down just a bit so that I can catch my breath. I am sure you probably feel the same. Time, it passes by far too quickly . . . minutes, days, months, years  . . .  that we can never get back. Oh boy . . . I guess we better make each one count for even more eh?

 

(source)

It feels quite humid this morning, which isn't really surprising. We got bucket loads of rain yesterday. I didn't even venture out to check my post box. It was just bucketing down for most of the day. There was no need to water the garden last night.

I have been going to check my mail early in the morning most days. This is going to sound really bad. I hope you will forgive me.  The lady across the way, the one whose birthday we celebrated a week or so ago . . . if she sees me go out my door to check the mail, she comes out and sits on her porch and then grabs me as soon as I turn to go back to my place, and then I cannot get away. She beckons me over and then she talks and talks and talks. I end up sitting there on an uncomfortable stool forever, not able to get away.  It is not that I am mean-spirited, but I end up with a really sore back and I get behind on my work, etc. 

So I have been checking my mail around 6 every morning. I don't know what else to do.  I am not totally anti-social, but I want socialization to be on my terms. I totally understand that she lives on her own and has mobility issues. I do too, although mine are not as severe as hers. I can walk to my mail box. I just don't really have the time or will to sit like that, uncomfortably . . .  for ages, knowing that I have work to get done.

So I take my usual route. Avoidance. I alter my life so that I don't have to confront the problem.

 

(source)

I have ascertained that Nutmeg is afraid of flies. I have always known that he is a bit of a chicken.  For instance, when someone strange comes to the door or he sees someone approaching the house he takes off and runs under the bed.  My cleaners have only ever seen him once. The other day I decided to lay back in the easy boy and he came and lay down on my lap only to take off like a bat out of hell when the guy who was dropping off the flyers came by and walked past the front of the house throwing the flyers onto the deck. At first I wasn't sure why Nutmeg had done that, but then I noticed the flyers and it all made sense.

These last few days I have noticed that every so often he takes off running and hides under the table seemingly for no reason at all. His eyes like saucers.  Yesterday I figured it out. There is a small house fly in here. He is terrified of the fly.  He never used to be afraid of flies. He used to try to catch them along with Cinnamon. 

I am wondering if one of those wasps stung him when I had the wasp problem and if it has made him afraid of anything that flies? I am not quite sure what to do about it. Flies are going to get into the house. I do try to catch and kill them every time that they do, but this one has been particularly evasive. Its small and quick. It was on the ceiling in my bedroom last night and I hair-sprayed it. I thought I had gotten rid of it, but it was flying around the bathroom this morning, so it must have revived.

I do have an electrified battery operated insect swatter thingie. But in order to use it the insect has to be within reach and standing still. 

 

(source)

Eileen is coming to stay overnight for two nights this weekend.  Monday is a holiday here so she doesn't have a visit on that day so she asked could she stay over on Sunday night as well. I couldn't see why not, so we will be having a sleepover on Saturday and Sunday nights. She is really looking forward to it, as am I.  It will be nice to spend the time together.

It won't be long now until her biopsy on the 10th of August. She will be spending the night that night as well as she has to have someone watch her for 24 hours.  I am happy to be that someone.

I am praying really hard that this hasn't spread anywhere else, and that when they do the hysterectomy they are able to get the whole lot. I am hoping that it won't be long after the biopsy before they do the operation, and that hopefully we will be able to put this behind her and start the healing process. 

And that all will be well  . . . 

 

(source)

My knees have been pretty poorly this week, especially these last few days. On Wednesday night I could barely get from my car into the restaurant and then back again after our supper. I can only suppose it is the weather? I know it can affect people with arthritis quite a bit . . .  the weather. I should be going with Cindy to take dad this afternoon, but I am not sure I will be able to cope with the getting in and out of the car several times and then walking around Walmart. I may have to give it a pass, which is a bit of a nuisance as I do like to get my cat food there, and I do enjoy spending the time with Cindy. Chronic pain is no fun. But, there are people who are much worse off than I am, so I count my blessings that I can still do what I can still do. And not all weeks are like this. I have many more good weeks than bad.

 

(source)

In the utter stillness she heard the tinkle of the fountain, and smelled the roses, whose blossoms hung rich and motionless. So she drifted, drifted on the wistful feet of beauty, past the water and the swans. to the noble park, where, beneath a great oak, a doe all dappled lay with her four fine feet together, her fawn nestling sun-coloured beside her. 

~D.H. Lawrence, The Rainbow

What a talent it is to be able to string words together like this  . . . words that are able to transport another soul into a world so sweet and tranquil. I am reminded of all the parks and gardens that I visited often when I lived in the U.K. Country walks and gardens so beautiful as to take the breath away.  Knole Park was one not too far from us when I worked at the Manor. It has a herd of 350 deer, so majestic, all wandering about.

It was the place where the Beatles filmed the Strawberry Fields Forever promotional video and where they filmed the 2026 film version of Wuthering Heights. (I have not seen that yet.)

But my favorite of all the gardens to visit was Sissinghurst. We went there many times. Also Scotney Castle gardens. They were a real favorite.

 

This was a photograph that I took of Scotney Castle on one of our visits there. It was such a beautiful location and the walk around the lake was lovely.  You could not go into the castle. It was largely a ruin. The ruins of a medieval, moated Manor House. But breathtakingly beautiful as you can see and when the gardens were in bloom  . . . simply amazing to visit. 

But that was the U.K. in general once you got outside of the cities. It was a country where stone walls and garden gates were all swathed in greenery and colour.  Colour that bloomed and sprouted from every nook and cranny, nature seeking a toehold in every opportunity which presented itself. 

How very blessed I was to have been able to live and work in such an environment. Memories of beautiful things that I get to carry with me forever. 

 

This was a photograph that I took in the gardens at Hever Castle.  This was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Another favorite place of mine to visit. I remember when I took Bruce there on one of the times I brought him over to visit me, there was jousting on the grounds of the castle. So much fun. Henry the VIII and Anne Boleyn were walking around. (Of course only actors.)

A land steeped in tradition and charm, filled with history and beautiful customs, and colours, and wonder and common sense.  A land filled with people and accents as varied as the colours on a map.  this is a land that I quite . . . simply . . . loved. What a great blessing in my life it was to get to experience all of that. My life is a lot quieter these days, but blessed in other ways.  Living near my family is something I am particularly fond of, and would not change for anything.

And with that I best end this off now and leave you with a thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.Be a pineapple,

stand tall, wear a crown 

and be sweet on the inside.  

~unknown •。★★ 。* 。 

This is a delicious sandwich I made for myself from what was in the refrigerator the other day. Fresh Tomato, Cheese & Cucumber Sandwich. It was too good for me not to share it with you. Rich sourdough bread, layers of cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, a lovely creamy dressing, etc. What a tasty mouthful it was!

I hope that you have a lovely Friday. Whatever you get up to, I hope that it brings you joy! Be happy and be blessed. Don't forget!

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And I do too!! 

My Favorite Things . . .

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . these are some of the things in life that I enjoy, and which make me happy, inspire me, or put a smile on my face. Maybe some of them are yours too.  Let's share!

 

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Farm markets  . . . especially during fresh vegetable season.

 

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Spindle beds  . . . 

 

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Homemade jam  . . . 

 

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A thatched roof and a cottage garden  . . . 

 

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Fresh air  . . . 

 

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A deep sink  . . . 

 

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Fresh plums  . . . 

 

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A good fresh loaf and plenty of butter   . . . 

 

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This  . . . 

 

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Cinnamon buns  . . . 

 

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Country church architecture . . . 

 

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Viaducts  . . . 

 

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A bucket full of posies  . . . 

 

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Love, love, love  . . . 

 

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Red barns  . . .  rail fences  . . .  and wild flowers  . . . 

 

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Candle light  . . . 

 

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A well set table  . . . 

 

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Nature  . . . it fascinates me.

 

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Old book covers  . . . 

 

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Outdoor water pumps  . . . 

And those are my favorite things for this week. I guess I just like pretty pictures of pretty things  . . . 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The strength of your spirit

is not measured by the storms

you avoid, but by the way

you rise with grace and courage

through them.

~Dede Hawkins   

I'm sharing an old Nova Scotia recipe in the EK today. Traditional Nova Scotia Hodge Podge.  A much beloved Maritime classic, created by using fresh, young summer vegetables . . .  carrots, beans, peas, new potatoes, cauliflower, etc. in a creamy buttery broth. Simple and delicious.

I hope you have a lovely day today. It's raining heavily here today, and that's not a bad thing. We need the rain. I just wish it didn't make it so dark in my house. Oh well!  Whatever you get up to today, I hope it brings you peace and 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!