Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 FRIDAY, October 3rd, 2025

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

4*C/41*F

A clear and sunny day in

the forecast

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are feeling well this morning. I have somewhat of a cold. I know, you are probably saying to yourself that I seem to come down with something every time my daughter comes to stay with me, and that is true. I don't think the two things are related, however. It's just a cold. I have tested myself twice for Covid and both are negative. It's not a bad cold, not yet anyways. Just one of those niggling colds that make your nose and throat feel all puggy.  That hangs around for days and days before it decides to become a real cold and take you down.

UGH.

So long as it doesn't go into my chest, I will be fine.

 

(source)

We had a nice day together yesterday. Cindy, Eileen and myself.  The colors of the leaves on our drive up the valley were spectacular.  You could see the smoke from the Lake George and Aylesford Lake fires off in the distance and an emergency evacuation alert order for that area did come through on our phones while we were out. This has been a really bad summer for these things. Still not much rain to speak of.

The town of Kentville had all of their pumpkin people out. They do it every year. Scattered throughout the town there are displays of pumpkin people doing various things. They are usually themed. I think this year the theme must be spooky shows. I recognized Scooby Doo and Doctor Who and Nightmare Before Christmas.  People love to bring their children to see them. A lot of work and planning goes into making them and they are something which is looked forward to every year.  

 

(source)

I thought this was really interesting.

We had not been long in New Minas and were on our way to Wolfville to go to the farm market there when Eileen got a call. Her CSS worker was supposed to have been meeting the Pest control guy at her apartment yesterday. Eileen and Tim have had a problem with wasps in their place.  It seemed that the fellow wasn't going to be coming until between 3 and 4 and this girl had another appointment at 3 apparently.  So, she wanted us to come get Eileen's apartment key.  I had to tell her to just leave it between my two front doors because we were too far away at that point.

It kind of put a damper on our day. I could tell Eileen was fretting about it. She gets really nervous about such stuff.  That's why she has a CSS worker. I was a bit annoyed, but it was what it was. Eileen and I ended up not going into as many places as we had planned, but there will be other times.

We got back to Middleton and picked up the key.  Drove back up to Eileen's apartment and dropped her off as it was already 3. Then I quickly dropped Cindy off and went back to Eileen's place, where Eileen and I sat in the car waiting until after 4.  The guy finally showed up around ten past. 

He did not even go into the apartment. Eileen has sussed out where they were getting in by that point so he sprayed some stuff into the hole in the eaves, plugged it up and then said he would be back in a couple of days.

UGH again.

Anyways, we came home then and unpacked all of our bounty and settled in for an evening's relaxation.

 

(source)

We did have a good day together, regardless and we were quite tired after all the running about, waiting, etc. We will do it again another time. There will be plenty of chances.

She got herself a little paint by number thing at Michaels.  We had coupons for 30% off of one of our purchases so I used mine to get some Arches watercolor paper. I really do want to start painting more often. I miss it. I also got some micron pens.

I picked up a baked potato squash at one farm market and a nice loaf of sourdough bread.  It was lovely and fresh. I do so love sourdough bread. I had my own starter in the U.K. but I have not bothered here as I have no place to really keep it.  I can buy a good sourdough locally.  It is just as well.

Other than that, I really didn't get much. A few cans of the Sprague Pea Soup at Giant Tiger (it's the best soup) and some crackers. That's about it.

Perhaps that girl interrupting our time together was a good thing. I spent less money, ha ha.

 

(source)

We are down to two Guinea Hens now.  The two dark ones. The lighter mottled one and the white one have disappeared.  I can only assume that both have come to their doom and been hit by cars/trucks.  It's sad to think about.  I have really enjoyed watching them and their antics this summer. I don't know who they belong to.  They just showed up one day and kept coming.  They are a very wandering bird by all accounts.  I don't think you can pen them in.

There is a frost again this morning. The rooftops across the way are all painted with silver sparkles. Of course, it melts quickly as the sun gets higher in the sky and hits it.

Pumpkins are showing up on most people's porches and doorsteps. Every year I think about getting a couple but then I don't. I was looking at the plastic ones in Michaels yesterday. There were some really large ones and on offer as well, but they were very light. I felt they would just blow away.

Maybe one day Cindy and I can go out and pick up a couple pumpkins.

 

(source)

I was so tempted yesterday to buy a basket of vegetables. The farm markets had baskets full of peppers, onions, etc. that you could buy to make up pickles and such. I used to really love doing that type of thing. Mind you I had a large family that would eat it all up so that was good. It hardly seems worth the effort now that there is only me. I still have not eaten all of the applesauce that I canned last year, and here it is almost time to make new applesauce.

I will have to get it eaten up.  Maybe Eileen would like a bowl of it later on with some ice cream on top. That sounds like a plan.

My kitchen was always a hustle of activity this time of year when the children were growing up. With school days, lunches to make and all of the preserving I used to do. Plus, I always made sure that there was something freshly baked to greet them when they came in the door after school. Those were such happy days. I can remember my mother telling me that they would pass far too quickly and . . .  they really did.  Sometimes I feel that I was so busy that I didn't have time to be as present as I wish that I had been or that I could have been.

And I am still too busy most days to do the things that I wish I could.

 

(source)

This was a bit of a sad week, what with the loss of our dear Prophet President Nelson and followed by the shooting in the church in Michigan, then the incident in Manchester, UK yesterday. Eileen and I watched a pretty amazing video on YouTube last evening on Thoughtful Faith. A number of GoFundMe's have been set up to support the families impacted. This really touched my heart. One in particular has been created by a member of the church named David Butler for the shooter's family.  This fund has raised over $300,000 so far which is great.  Too often people forget that the perpetrators family are also victims when such things happen. They, too, have lost a loved one and will have to live with the ramifications of their actions. They are also innocent victims. The shooter left behind a wife and children, one of whom has serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support.

I am grateful that, despite the horror of this incident, it has served to bring out the best in people. Love is always the answer and was at the root of all of the Savior's teachings. Something we always need to hold on to.

I think that if people could focus on the ways we are all the same, on our beliefs that are similar, rather than the differences, it would go a long way towards overcoming the divisiveness that is so prevalent in today's world. 

 

(source)

One of my friends moved to Colorado Springs this past July. I am really enjoying seeing her posts on Facebook of all the happenings in her new home.  Especially the high school football games.  She posts pictures of them and videos with the marching bands, cheerleaders, etc. It is really a big deal.  Very exciting. I had no idea that it was taken so seriously, and it is heartwarming to see all of the support which is given to these high school teams. Football was not really a sport that was played here in small town Nova Scotia when I was at school. Basketball, Hockey and Track and Field.  Volleyball for the girls and field hockey. 

I played volleyball and field hockey and also did gymnastics, although I am sure I was never very good at any of them. I do remember how much those field hockey sticks hurt when you got hit in the shins with one. Lots of running involved.

I was never involved in extracurricular sports. Just what happened during gym class. I was responsible for taking care of my sister and brother after school so had to get straight home to do that. But, in all truth, even had I not had to do that I would probably not have gotten involved. I am more of an armchair athlete. I did not come from a very sporty family.

My kids did participate a lot in sports. Anthony played football, Eileen was into Cross-Country skiing.  Amanda did almost every sport going, but especially loved Volleyball. She was also on the Nova Scotia Ultimate Frisby team. Doug was into Rugby and good at it and Bruce, well, he was into everything, Hockey, Soccer, etc.

I was quite happy that my children enjoyed sports. There will always be a part of me that wishes that I had been so myself.

 

 

(source)

Time to close this missive now. Eileen is up and I need to get her some breakfast before I drive her to her Bible study at the Baptist church in town. She is really looking forward to that. She will be with me until Sunday and then Tim should be home.  These days together have gone by very quickly I have to say. I have really enjoyed them.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*If you have knowledge

let others light their candles by it.

~Unknown  • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today, How to Make Middle Eastern Kofta.  Simple and delicious! I have a great love for Middle Eastern food.  These are herby, a bit spicy and really tasty.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!  Whatever you get up to I hope it adds to the beauty of your 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!