Dear Neighbor . . .

 

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 FRIDAY, June 13, 2025
3 Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
11*C/52*F not yet 7 a.m.
Mostly sunny

Dear Neighbor,

I have my front door open to the screen door this morning. I have been doing that each morning to help to draw in some cooler air before the heat of the day hits. It gets so hot in here and all I have to cool it down at the moment are fans. I cooked three recipes yesterday (trying to get ahead as I have some appointments next week which will require me being away).  The sweat was just pouring down my forehead and into my eyes. Every once in a while, I would stop and go sit in front of a fan just to cool down. They can't fix that heat pump soon enough for me. Its been over two weeks now, going on three since they were here to look at it. How long does it take a part to come from Halifax? That's only two hours away. I may have to call and jog their memory.

This was the scene last night. Cinnamon was in her favorite spot ensconced right in front of the channel changer thingie. I did not have the heart to move her. She was sleeping so comfortably and looked so at peace.  She continues to do well as far as I can tell. I have a follow up appointment made for her to go to at the Vets on Monday.  

I was there yesterday with Cindy and little Mac. They call him the Mac Attack.  They know him well in there now. He is very docile now and very used to them.  It's a very quick appointment. Just in and out. Poor thing. He has suffered so much with this condition of his. He seems to be doing well and keeping his weight up, all things considered.

We do so love these pets of ours. They are not just pets. They are our babies.

 

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Today is Friday the 13th. Are you a superstitious person? Our mother was very superstitious, but I am not. Oh maybe to a degree, old habits die hard, but largely I just ignore these things.  Having the 13th of a month fall on a Friday is considered to be a bad thing. People fear all sorts of bad things will befall them. A huge movie franchise was formulated just on the date Friday the 13th.  

The number thirteen has always been considered unlucky in Western culture. So much so that 80% of high-rise buildings do not have a 13th floor, according to National Geographic. Hotels skip over Room 13. Some airports don’t have a Gate 13 or a row 13 in seating.  

I think it is all a bit hoaky myself. I was born on August 13th. Not a Friday, but nevertheless 13 has always been a lucky number for me!

I am really enjoying the sunsets these days.  This was the one last night.  Such a beautiful amber color flashing through the trees as the sun sinks lower into the sky.  It bathes everything in such a beautiful golden light. So pretty.

I am waking up much earlier in the morning, however. Most days around 5:30 a.m. That is the time the light coming into my bedroom wakes me up and I have so called room darkening curtains.  I do not mind getting up early really. It gives me more hours in the day to get things done, but I do find myself becoming very tired by end of day and falling asleep very easily on the sofa when I am trying to watch television.  I am totally toasted by 9 p.m.

 

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One of the recipes I made yesterday was for Sausage Gravy on Biscuits. It was something I had never tried before. I was not a fan. It tasted just okay, and I had adapted one of the Pioneer Woman's recipes for it. It also looked like vomit for lack of a better word. That won't see the light of day. I hate it when I waste money and time like that. The sausage alone cost me over $8, and I was really not a fan of the dish. Perhaps it is an acquired taste. I had a few bites, and the rest shamefully went in the bin because, well, I thought it was just nasty. I had thought it would be a good Father's Day breakfast post, but um, no. I would not feed that to my dad, not ever.

Back to the drawing board.  Not every recipe turns out to be shareable.

 

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I have not seen my friends the Guinea Hens for a few weeks now.  I don't know where they came from or where they have gone. They were quite a sight to see.  I have had lots of Jays, Blackbirds. Hummers and even some Gold Finches.  A pair of Mourning Doves as well. But no Guinea Hens.  Shame that as they eat ticks. 

These yard men came through yesterday and mowed our lawns again. It takes them literally seconds to do each lawn on that big mower of theirs. Then a guy comes around with a whipper snipper and cleans the garden beds and another guy has a big blower to blow the cut grass off of the drive and back onto the lawn. 

The lawns are looking quite dry actually. We have not had a lot of rain this season really.  My heart goes out to those West of us who are experiencing wildfires. It seems to be the same every year.  So devastating. There was one reported here in Nova Scotia, but apparently it is under control.  Wildfire season runs from March to October every year, during which time residents are told not to have any open fires burning between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. due to the heightened fire risk.  Huge fines are imposed on anyone who violates this. $25,000. "I pity the fool." as Mr. T would say!

In the meantime, many firefighters are being sent out West to help with the fires there.

We really are at the mercy of the elements. Fire, water, wind, earth . . .  we would do well to respect each of those.

 

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 I have had a few crazy days numbers-wise on the food blog these past couple of weeks.  I had over 110,000 one day and already today its up over 55,000. I don't know what's up with that. I do know that it doesn't translate into dollars. There are certain views that don't count, and these seem to be those.  The majority seem to be coming from Viet Nam. And Russia. They do not count those. I am not sure why.  I think they see them as Spam.  I am not sure what they are looking at. I wish I could make it stop. I am afraid I will be penalized in some way because of it. 

 

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I admit that occasionally I feel very homesick for England. I suppose when you have lived somewhere for as long as I lived there that is only natural.  I did live there for almost a third of my life. I miss the culture and the people, the weather, the freshness of the produce and the variety which was available. But I do love living nearer to my sister and father. Being able to spend time with them is priceless. I don't get to spend as much time with Eileen as I thought I would. She is sick much of the time.  I worry about that. I don't think it is normal to be sick as often as she is. She is also very busy with her activities with the Special Olympics and other groups that she belongs to, and she never wants to do anything unless Tim is also included. There are times when we could have lunch together or whatever, but she won't do it because Tim is not able to. I do not interfere. It is always her choice.  Hopefully we will be able to do something near the end of next week, once all of my appointments are done. We shall see.

Today, Cindy and I were going to take out Dad and Maryann, but Maryann is in Quebec with her daughter until the end of the month.  Cindy and I are going to go out and run a few errands anyways, but now we can do it on our own time schedule and nobody else's.  Much more convenient.

And I fear I am getting a bit boring now so I will close this off. Some days I have loads to share and others, not so much.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *.˛.Friends are the

Bacon Bits in the 

salad bowls of life.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ 

From my desk calendar this morning. I love all my Bacon Bits.

My sister had made nachos for her and Dan for their supper the other night and they looked so good I had to make some for myself. Air Fryer Nachos, for two. A great way to keep your cool on a hot day and still have something delicious to eat. And they cook in 4 minutes tops!

I am not sure how I am doing picking out catchy titles for the blog posts . . . "Keep Your Cool With Delicious & Easy Air Fryer Nachos!" That one scored high on the title checker at 73.  Apparently, you should aim for 70 or higher.  It's not easy to develop one I have to say!

I hope that you have a beautiful day!  Stay safe and be happy. Whatever you get up to, 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!!