Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 April 17th, 2026
Estate Lane

Middleton, Nova Scotia

6*C/43*F cloudy

Dear Neighbor,

I heard thunder early this morning. Loud rumbling in the dark skies, but it did not amount to much. Either that of I fell easily back to sleep if it did. 

It has been a long time since I have experienced a real thunderstorm. We used to have wicked ones when I was a child.  Dark skies torrential rain, the thick smell of ozone in the air and loud rumbles with streaks of lightening that split the skies in two. 

Our mother was deathly afraid of thunderstorms. She would crouch in the corner, hands above her sheltering her head. From what I don't know.  I wish I had asked now. But I didn't.

Funny how that goes. When someone is with you, there are all sorts of things you never think to ask about, but when they have gone . . . well, you can think of loads of things that you wish you had the answers to, but . . . you left it until too late.

 

(source)

Eileen has her bible study this morning. She is really vigilant in doing her homework for it. I am not sure how much she actually understands, but it keeps her busy and she enjoys it. They have been studying the Book of Revelations. A hard nut to crack at the best of times. So much apocalyptic language and visions.

Eileen has always loved learning, even though it is not something which has come easily to her. She loves to be given grade school workbooks that she can practice in. She has a really thick one in her room, covering all sorts of subjects, but she is rather busy with her diamond art at the moment. She has a huge one of a lion that she is working on and has almost finished. I need to get a photo of it to show you sometime. It's quite beautiful really. All different shades of golds, browns and yellows. It will be lovely when it is done.

I quite understand the attraction to the art. You can easily lose yourself in it for hours. Very relaxing and you are building something beautiful at the same time.

 

(source)

We finished watching the latest series of Love on the Spectrum.  There were unhappy endings for some. I have to wonder at the wisdom of subjecting people who are already the object of people's negative behavior to even more by placing them on a worldwide venue where they can be subjected to worldwide derision and meanness. Really.  I know that most people are quite kind and supportive, but there is an element of people out there that can be so hurtful and mean. Who really don't care what they say, when they say it or who they say it to.  And this type of behavior is rampant on Social Media.  Many of the people in this series have Social Media accounts, and I know one of the participants and his mother have been subjected to some very negative feedback because of a relationship ending. Everyone has an opinion and not all are supportive.  And many of the negative voices are quick to speak up and spout off. 

I do not think I would ever allow or encourage a loved one of mine to participate in such a thing as this show, as much as I love to watch it myself. I think the danger of them getting hurt is too large. Life is difficult enough for these sweet people.  I am all for them finding love, just maybe not in a public arena where they can be subjected unduly to a abundance of ridicule and hatefulness.  Unkind remarks and attitudes. And it is, as I said, rampant in today's world.

Anyone who puts themselves out into the public arena needs to build a thick skin for themselves. There is a very unkind world outside that door. Everyone is a self-proclaimed expert.

 

(source)

It was nice to see the guinea fowl back this week. They didn't half bring a smile to my face.  They are such loud creatures and so silly acting, but great tic eaters so I would always encourage them. They seem to know their way home, which is good. I don't really mind them visiting me.  The cats love watching them and I find them quite entertaining myself.

I don't know who they belong to, but apparently they can really travel quite a ways from where they belong.  I hope that this batch doesn't decide to make their way across the main road like the other batch did. It is not a kind road to any type of animal. People hit the gas pedal as soon as they turn onto it and there are never any police around to enforce the speed limit. They have bigger fish to fry.

Once upon a time there was a lovely police force in this town, but all of the local forces were done away with and replaced by regional branches of the RCMP, who really are stretched to the limit and trying to cover a vast area. Petty crime has become quite rampant in our small town. Mostly thievery. 

There is a Facebook group dedicated to outing the criminals.  I am not sure how I feel about that. It smacks of vigilante-ism.  I have looked at it a few times and they don't mind outing people or sharing names of the perpetrators for all the world to see. Are they even correct in their assumptions?  Who knows! They think they are and that's all they care about.

 

(source)

Sit and stare time.  Diane Shiffer is a great espouser.  A time where you just sit for a few minutes with a hot drink in your hands and you just stay quiet and watch life unfold around you.  Rain drops slowly crawling down your window panes, the furry tummy of your sleeping cat as it rises and falls, air whistling in and out of it's tiny pink nose.  Quiet time where you don't let the damage of the outside world encroach upon. 

I am a huge fan of sit and stare time. It could be that too many of my hours are spent as such, but that's okay. I think it is vital to my peace and happiness. I am a noticer of things. Small and quiet things. Joyful things. Things that don't really matter to anyone else but me. 

I find it quite peaceful, and yes, it brings me joy.

 

(source)

What is it that inspires you?  Whatever it is, do that.  Sit with that.  I think that is one of the best ways to bring joy into your life.  Lately I am enjoying reading and studying the scriptures. I am not a scriptorian by any stretch, but I love to read them and I love to listen to people who are.  I watch Jared Halverson on YouTube (Unspoken) and I find his insights into the word of God really good. He actually goes through the scriptures line upon line. Some of his videos can be quite lengthy, but I break them down into smaller bits which are much more manageable for myself. With him I have read through the Book of Mormon, line upon line and the Doctrine and Covenants, line upon line. This year The Old Testament. 

I have never sat down and read any of these canons of scripture from beginning to end before or pondered them in quite the same way as I am with his help. And I am loving it. I am inspired by it.  So, What is it that inspires you?  Again, whatever it is do that. Sit with that. Joy will settle upon you in a tangible and beautiful way.

 

(source)

Its been quite nice having Eileen here. I will quite miss her when she gets her own place. We are great company for each other. Tim and his new GF have decided to just be friends which worries me. I truly hope that Eileen won't go back to him. We have talked about it a bit.  She says not, but  . . .  the heart wants what the heart wants doesn't it. I have tried to express to her my feelings that she is much happier without all of his drama. Really nothing has changed. He is still who he is and she is still who she is and sometimes it is just better to be friends than it is to be anything else.

Her CSS workers have expressed to her that she is much more settled and less anxious now that she is living with me than she was living with him. That is a plus I would say.  

She is feeling much better physically these past few days as well. Hopefully this second dose of medication will do the trick.

 

(source)

I am not sure what all I will get up to today. I have a few plans.  First I need to get Eileen settled and take her to her Bible Study.  Then I will come back here and do a bit of work. I have plans to go with Cindy later when she takes Dad to the mall with his friend Maryann.  Once more I need to get cat food. They don't like the last batch I got for them. Neither of them.

They are so darned fussy. You would think I would know by now. Nutmeg will eat just about anything, but even he doesn't like certain ones. Whereas Cinnamon is very fussy and will turn up her nose at most things quite quickly. She is very definitive in her tastes. Do you think it is because she is a female?

I don't know  . . . 

Well, Eileen is up now and so I need to go and attend to her.  That feels good. Oh, I know she doesn't really need to have me attending to her, but I like taking care of her. It brings me joy.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Above all, be the 

heroine of your life,

not the victim.

~Nora Ephron

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Hot and Crusty Curried Franks.  I have already had someone comment negatively about their appearance this morning.  They do look a bit bedraggled, but that doesn't mean they are not delicious.  My bread tore a bit when I was buttering it. It was very fresh bread, the best kind. I should have melted the butter rather than spread it. What you have here is hot dogs encased in a buttery bread jacket which has been spread with a homemade curry ketchup, honey mustard and pickle relish.  I sprinkled some crispy fried onions on top which probably didn't help. Oh well!  I have never been really good at presentation.  What you see is what you get.

I promise you they are very good.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday. Whatever you get up to, I hope that it brings you untold joy.  Be happy. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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

And I do too!