Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

FRIDAY, January 23rd, 2026

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

-4*C/25*F partly cloudy 

cold and snowy days ahead

Dear Neighbor,

I am really late getting this started this morning. I finally had a good night's sleep last night. I have spent the last week in virtual agony, taking tylenol with it doing absolutely nothing for me. Finally early last evening I decided to take one of the heavy duty pain killers that I had left from before the procedure and within half an hour I was feeling half human again, and I am feeling half human still.  No running to the washroom every ten minutes and giving birth to a razer blade. Very little pain.  Just more human.  I am going to call my Doctor's office today and ask him to call me back. If this is what it takes to get me through the next three to six weeks, I want it.  And I am not one to take pain killers if I can help it.  

My friend Jackie called me last night and she could tell just by my voice that I was not myself. She said this isn't right and it isn't normal. You need to do something about it. That's when I decided to take the pain killer. 

Like night and day my friend. Like night and day. I have not been living these past seven days, I have merely been existing.

 

(source)

I called my next door neighbor Sheila last night to check up on her. I had not spoken to her since before Doug came.  I wanted to make sure she was okay.  She was, which is good. I wanted to apologize for not sending over any meals to her.  My sister did take a piece of our father's birthday cake last Saturday night, but that is all. She said she really loved the cake, that is was very sweet, but delicious.  Apparently Midge across the way is moving back to her old unit on the next street over.  I had thought something was afoot by all the cars that were coming and going at her place and the boxes leaving the garage. Plus they took down her screen door.  She had moved from that place to this unit because she said she didn't feel safe at the other one as it backed onto the woods. I am curious as to why she would want to move back, but in all truth it's none of my business. I will miss having her as a neighbor.  

Admittedly they are much nicer units with in-floor heating and a more open and brighter kitchen.  They are also more expensive.  I am happy where I am. But I will miss Midge and her little dog Peanut.

I hope someone nice takes her place.

Speaking of birthdays and cakes. This is a photograph that Cindy took last Saturday supper time of Dad on his Birthday. He doesn't look too shabby for 92.  It was really nice of Cindy to bring everything over to my place so that I could celebrate his birthday with everyone. Dad has his new hearing aids now and is hearing a lot better than he was, which is a relief to all. His world kept getting narrower and narrower as he was unable to hear much of what anyone was saying to him.  Now he is able to hear most of what is being said, which is great!

I missed going out to supper with Cindy and him on Wednesday night this week. Maybe next week. We will have to wait and see.

 

(source)

I am hoping that I can get a few things done around here today.  I have not done much of anything for the past seven days except watch television and nod off whilst doing so.  Small cat naps off and on throughout the day. Life has been pretty boring, admittedly.  I still do not think I will be moving very far from my home, but I think if the pain is abating a bit I can do a bit more around here, like actually cook something. I did cook that chicken and broccoli dish earlier this week, but that took everything out of me to do so.  Perhaps today I can cook something and not have myself feeling totally depleted afterwards.

Hope springs eternal as they say. Baby steps will be in order so I don't knock myself back again.

 

(source)

We are expecting light snow this afternoon. From what I have been reading they are expecting some bad weather all the way across the US and up into Canada over the next days.  Starting with ice and then snow on top of that. Winter storms.  Cold temperatures. That is January. Cold and snowy.  I am so grateful to have a roof over my head.  What a blessing that is in this day and age when so many do not. 

I hope I never take my home for granted. My son Doug says that he fears for the world his sons are growing up in. Both he and his wife work full time at their jobs, which earn them not much more than minimum wage and they still don't have enough between the two of them working and earning to be able to afford to rent a home large enough for the family.  They live with his in-laws in their big old farm house. 

Years ago, it was not unusual for multiple generations of family to live together under one roof, with everyone contributing to the wealth and well being of the household. I can see things having to return to that type of lifestyle if things do not improve for people.  I do not think that it is necessarily a bad thing.

Doug cannot see a future for his children where they will be able to get good jobs and be able to afford to live in their own homes. Not if they stay on the Island. Leaving the Maritimes is nothing new either.  Maritimers have been leaving the Maritime provinces to find employment for years and years. In fact there was a film made about it in the 1960's or 70's called "Goin Down the Road." I know many of the kids I grew up with left to move out West back around that time. There was just not a lot of opportunity left here. We have always been known as the poor provinces.

 

(source)

I confess to being so bored at one point yesterday that I tuned in the news. ABC I think it was. I quickly remembered why I do not watch the news. Such gloom and doom. I cannot believe some of the things which are going on in the world at the moment. It is a wonder anyone has any hope at all. 

I quickly turned the channel. I did not want to invite any more of that than I had to into my home. Yuck.

I would rather be uninformed than to have to listen to all of that.  I am rather proud of our Prime Minister though.  He represents us well on the world stage. And that is all I will say about any of it. I trust him to keep our country safe.

 

(source)

So now all I have to decide is what I am going to do today. Maybe I will play with my paints at some point. Or bake something. Cook a simple supper. Tidy up. There is no end to the possibilities that await me.  I will call my Doctor for sure.

I apologize if I have been a bit of a Debbie Downer these past days. I will try to do better from here on in and to be more upbeat. Thanks for all of your love and support despite my malcontent.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The whole world 

is a series of miracles,

but we are so used to them

we call them ordinary things.

~Hans Christian Anderson

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。 

My new old recipe in The English Kitchen today.  Baked Herb Crusted Cod. Tender, flaky cod is coated in a crisp, golden herb crumb that bakes up beautifully in the oven — no frying, no fuss, just clean, fresh flavors and a wonderfully light texture. This is delicious. 

I hope you have a wonderful Friday.  Be safe and warm. Find peace and happiness wherever you are.  Be blessed. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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

And I do too!