Wednesday 24 April 2024

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

 

Its another sunny day out there this morning.  Cool, its below zero, but it promises to warm up nicely as the day goes on, with a high of 12, but then tomorrow is supposed to be considerably cooler. These are the transitional days, with each day giving us a taste of what's to come.  A bit waffly perhaps, but eventually the warmer days will settle in and become more stable and reliable.


I know fingers are itching to get into the soil and start gardening.  There is an old British saying that goes, "Don't cast a clout, until May is out." There is a load of wisdom in that. There is no point in really serious gardening until May is about done as to do so early means to risk everything to a late frost that could undo all that you have worked on in one night. So moving forward with caution is the rule of the day here when it comes to gardening I suppose!



Back in 2008 I wrote a cookbook for my children to enjoy, filled with all of their favorites. I published it for them on Lulu Press and had copies printed for each of them as a Christmas gift that year. I really didn't know what I was doing at the time and would have done it a lot differently now, but it was a real labor of love at the time. 

 
Josh Cooking


It wasn't cheap actually. I spent a lot of money getting them printed and then mailing them out.  It does my heart good to see that it is being used by some of them, and by my grandchildren also.




Yesterday Doug and Josh made the enchilada recipe from the book and they said that they were delicious.  Oddly Doug did not remember eating them when he was a child, but it was something I always made after we had a roast turkey as they were something my ex husband really enjoyed.  We all did actually. Such a simple thing to be honest and a tasty way to use up some of the leftover turkey.  My family looked forward to them more than turkey soup.  

Anyways, it really made me happy to see them both cooking together from it. My work was not in vain for sure. And I love that a whole new generation is now embracing it.



I can't be sure, but I think I saw a hummingbird yesterday. Cinnamon saw it too I think.  I was sitting back in my chair with her on my lap and then she looked up and made that little chattering noise that cats make when they see something enticing and I thought I saw a shadow of something move by really quickly in the corner of my eye.  I kept watch then, but did not see it again. Mind, I don't have a feeder out.  Its a bit early, but I did go online to see when we could expect their return and I read that they had been sighted in Yarmouth as early as last week.  So I think I best get my feeder up soon, even if it does seem a bit early. There are not a lot of blooms about just yet so they will need feeding.


 

Have you ever started watching something and then wish that you hadn't?  I started watching a program on Netflix the other evening.  It had really good reviews and was in the top ten.  In fact it was number one in Canada on that particular day. I won't tell you what it is because I don't think any of you would like it. I also  think its soul debilitating.  I thought it was good the first episode, but then it got darker with the second one and by the third I thought oh no  . . . but I persevered and then in the fourth I was absolutely sure I should not have been watching this and I wished that I had not started it. I doubt very much that I will finish it. In fact I know that I won't. Things were seen that can't be unseen.

Just because something is popular that doesn't mean that its good  for you. In fact lots of times it is NOT good for you. This was not for me at any rate. I was really sorry that I had started it.


 


There was a brilliant sunset yesterday. It bathed the whole street in a golden light and the light coming in the window was so pretty. It bathed Cinnamon who was laying in her little basket on top of the scratching post in a beautiful golden light that went so well with her coat.  I could not resist taking a photograph of her. She was really enjoying basking in it.  Very content.



Nutmeg in the meantime was happily ensconced next to me on the sofa in bliss. Nap time. He was so content.

I know you probably get tired of seeing these two feature here on the blog so often, but I can't help sharing them. They have brought so much joy into my life. They do say a joy shared is a joy doubled!



 

Everyone has a story.  Everyone has a history. I don't think people get to be the people they are by accident. They are the sum of all of their experiences and their environment.  I don't believe there is anything but a charmed life.  I always like to try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I try very hard now, in my older years, as much as possible, to not judge people by their actions. Its not always easy.  It can be really difficult to forgive people when they have hurt you or done things to you that are less than nice.  I have learned that forgiveness is a gift.  Both for the the receiver and for the giver, but mostly for the giver.  Holding onto past hurts and sorrows is debilitating and doesn't do anyone any good. I think that most people . . . given the chance, do their best, and the best that they know how to do. When they know better they do better. This is an attitude that has really helped me in my life.  I am not always perfect at practicing it.  But for the most part I have been able to get past all the wrongs that have been done to me. 

Forgiving is the easy part  . . .  forgetting is harder, but it does get easier with time.

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. But I have learned that I am worth far more than the worst thing I have ever done and that my mistakes do not define me. Neither should they define anyone else.


 

I can hear the blue jays out there this morning calling to each other. I had put some peanuts out for the chipmunk yesterday and he did not take them all. I expect the jays have gotten them now.  The gentleman next door has a nut feeder hanging over his porch and the other day I watched a little downy woodpecker enjoying it for a few minutes. 

Nature is a wonderful thing to behold.  The other day Cindy and Dan watched a little red squirrel carry her babies from one nesting spot to another, one at a time. Cindy says there were five babies.  She had been nesting in an old birdhouse close to their house and Dan had been out working on the fence which had been blown over several times during the past Winter.  I expect she had been getting the new place ready for a few days.  What a treasure to have been able to see this process.


And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day. It will soon be time to do my morning cycling and I have a ton of things to get done before that happens!


A thought to carry with you  . . . 

 ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/   ~ \。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*Everyone has, inside himself,
what shall I call it?  A piece of
good news! Everyone is a very great,
very important character.
 ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
~Ugo Betti  
 ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
 ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •



In The English Kitchen today  . . . Spinach Rice. Delicious. Simple. Healthy. Sized for two. Gluten free and vegan friendly.  I'm strong to the finish when I eats me spinach!


I hope that you have a beautiful day!  Dinner out with dad tonight. Stay happy, stay safe 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!    

   






7 comments:

  1. How lucky Cindy and Dan were to watch the red squirrel move he babies. I put my hummingbird feeder up a day or so ago, bring it in at night if the temperature drops, not seen one yet, but I am ready. Nature never fails to amaze me. Have a lovely day. PS, the salmon casserole was delicious.

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  2. Not forgetting is big with me:( And I bet it was Baby Reindeer? I watched it all and even this morning waking up I thought..How could he go back there.Some people have very troubled lives.Good acting though.

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  3. Nice writing Marie...so lovely your grandkids are using your cookbook too!! Yesterday's poem I shared with several others who also loved it. I am not sure where you find such things, but thanks for your efforts and sharing it. I am not a poem person, but some like it yesterday are so lovely!!
    Hugs, Elizabeth xoxo

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  4. Most of the stuff on Netflix is garbage, designed to further dumb down the masses so globalist elites can keep fleecing them. People should wise up and stop wasting their money on streaming services.

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  5. Your words are true for me…forgiving is much easier than forgetting. I love seeing your good buddies, the kit cats! They always bring me a smile. Some of these programs are just too graphic and depressing these days, I try to stay away from them. When we do see some horrible scenes, I close my eyes. My husband tells me ‘it’s just a movie’….but I just don’t need any more strife and sadness and scary-ness in my life…ugh….I like happy and joy!
    Have a wonderful day, xo, V.

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  6. I have a hard time forgiving certain people in my life and, surely, will never forget. Shameful, I know. But, lovely read today. Wish we had red squirrels here; we have at least 10 greys in our yard. Our cat plays with the chipmunks but guess the squirrels are too big for her! Will be giving that spinach rice a whirl, as husband has been bringing in fresh spinach from the garden over the past couple of weeks. Yumm. Granddaughter and friends are coming this week and know they would not enjoy (don't think too many veggies go past their lips), so will be put off until next week. Have a great cycle today.

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  7. I really enjoyed this post, Marie. So full of positive and uplifting things.
    It must warm your heart to see your children and grandchildren making recipes from your book.
    Loved the Marvin Ashton quote and your insight following it.

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