Deer crossing the low river last year.
OCTOBER 1st, 2026
Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
12*C/54*F
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
Dear Neighbour,
Sorry I couldn't resist. Every time I say it's a cloudy day I want to say that. Yes, this IS a day early, but tomorrow my sister and I are going on a road trip so I won't have time to write my usual missive. I knew you wouldn't mind. Things are going to be a bit chaotic over the next few days. I am still figuring out how I am going to fit everything in, but I will get it done. At least the important stuff anyways.
We had our usual Wednesday night supper out last night, but it was a bit discombulated. There had been a really bad accident involving a car and a transport truck just the other side of the river on the way to Cindy's house early in the day yesterday, sadly involving fatalities. At the usual time for she and dad to leave, the road was still blocked so they had to come a different way, and when they went to go home, sadly it was also still blocked so they had to go a different way home as well. It's always upsetting when something like a bad accident happens. You are filled with a mix of sadness and relief that it wasn't you, especially when it is a road you take all the time.
Dad also had an accident just before they went to leave so Cindy had to get him changed, etc. He seemed very out of it last night. He is just not himself these days. I am seeing a rapid decline. Of course he did not have his hearing aids so that might have added to his confusion, but in all honesty I am not sure how much longer he can handle these outings, as much as he does love to go out. I think he even chose himself not to go a few times over this past week, so not like him.
(source)
Here we are now into the month of October. I think it is going to pass in a blur. This weekend is the Autumn General Conference for my church, with four sets of talks going. Eileen will be here Saturday night and I will get her settled in for what will probably be a couple of week's stay. She leaves on Sunday afternoon for Halifax, has her operation on Monday, and hopefully returns on Tuesday. Canadian Thanksgiving is next weekend, the 12th of October. Then there are weeks of recovery and Halloween to look forward to at the end of month. A busy, busy month when all is said and done, but I have to agree with Anne Shirley in saying I am a girl who loves Octobers. Every season here in the Maritimes holds it's own glory, but October . . . that is the jewel in Autumn's crown.
The air becomes as cool as an old metal teaspoon, and there is a faint tang of blue woodsmoke spice carried in the air. The colour of the maples dazzle the eyes, giving forth light like closer suns. The oaks glow with garnet fire and all the thickets are ablaze with scarlets, pale gold and cinnamon. Autumn's tune is in full swing and we cannot help but dance to it's sweet melody. It's such a pretty song.
(source)
Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love -- that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn. My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
~George Elliot (1819-1880), from a letter to Miss Lewis, 1 October 1841
I know just how Mr. Elliot felt. It is the season of glorious. I am really looking forward to our trip up the valley tomorrow. If I can remember I will take some photos to share on the weekend of the colours. I can't wait to get a jug of fresh apple cider. Maybe some good apples and of course there is the squash. I love the huge variety that we have available at this time of year.
Its funny how much I love squash. I would have never thought that I would as it was something I really disliked when I was growing up. I think, perhaps, that I just disliked the way that our mother cooked it. It was always boiled and soggy, without a lot of flavour. I do not blame her, she didn't know any better. That was just the way it was always done in her family.
As an adult I have come to appreciate this wonderful gourd for all of it's delicious properties. Steamed or roasted . . . I have not yet met one I did not enjoy. Done properly the flesh is sweet and earthy. I love it with lots of butter, salt and pepper, simply mashed, but I would never turn down a plate of it caramelized and roasted in the oven. I always add a pinch of brown sugar to it when I mash it and when I am roasting it a drizzle of maple syrup is never a mistake. There is NOTHING wrong about that!
(source)
There is a house that is just finished being built just down the road. There had been a lot for sale there for many years, filled with lovely big trees. I don't think it ever sold, but the person who owned it chopped the trees down and has built a house there which is now for sale. A simple 1100 sq foot bungalow, two bedrooms, one bath, open concept and they are selling it for almost $400,000. In an area which is economically depressed. I cannot imagine anyone from here being able to afford it. It will be bought, no doubt by away folk, same with the apartments. The rents for those are over $2000 a month.
That may not seem a lot if you live elsewhere or in the city, but here in the valley it is somewhat astronomical. Unless you are in the military you are not making huge sums of money. But people will somehow scrape it up. To be honest, I do not know how family's are making ends meet anymore. It must be so hard.
(source)
Sometimes I do get a bit afraid of how I am going to continue to pay for where I am living. My income is so reliant on the whims of the internet and google, to be honest, and AI is really playing with that a lot. I would be lying if I said I don't get scared at times. No fun when you are in your 70's at a time in life when you should be able to just sit back and enjoy your golden years, but it is what it is.
It does add a layer of stress to my life, I'm not gonna lie. I was feeling a bit stressed out by it the other day and then I read this, just when I needed to:
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you - you of little faith!
~Luke 12: 22-28 NIV
Talk about a reminder, and yes a chastisement. When I look at all the things He put in place for me to be here, now, I should not worry. I know it is only human to do so, but really . . . He has been taking care of me all along. Why would He stop now. And so I just keep plugging along, believing and hoping that all will be well. Things have a way of working out, one way or the other.
(source)
I am not sure what all I will get up to today. I have some work to do of course, probably double or trip the work that I would normally do to make up for tomorrow and then Saturday. Aside from that I will be tidying up and just doing the normal stuff I do every day. I do have laundry to put in and a few other things. Nobody has invented self cleaning clothing or houses that tidy themselves up yet, unfortunately. At least I never get bored. And so, with that in mind I best wind this down now.
A thought to carry with you . . .
☾ ° ★° * 。
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*We love our bread
We love our butter
but most of all
We love each other.
~Unknown
In the Kitchen today, something I made yesterday. Classic British Sausage Casserole. Delicious comfort food for cooler days. I divided it up into freezer containers and took it over to Eileen when I went to pick her up for dinner. It did taste fabulous and I knew she would love it. She is going to have one today for her supper and freeze the rest. Hearty chunks of thick sausage, in a lush and tangy onion gravy. What's not to like?
I hope your Thursday goes very well. Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy and peace. Don't forget!
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And I do too!
