Dear Neighbor,

 

(source)

  NOVEMBER 6th, 2026

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

17*C/63*F

mostly cloudy with a weather

alert in effect

Dear Neighbour,

Its quite a bit milder today, but there is a heavy rainfall warning in effect.  Yesterday was Guy Fawkes day in the U.K. There is a couple from my church who hold a bonfire every year to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day, but I reckon it will be put off this year. I need to drive Eileen to her bible study this morning. I hope the weather isn't too nasty to do so.  I am not a huge fan of nasty weather.

I also need to get cat food. I could say that every day, lol

 

(source)

The Missionary sisters had asked me if I would participate in a phone lesson with them at 8pm. Once again the person bailed, didn't answer the telephone. The other night it was the door. I totally understand people changing their mind. The church I belong to isn't for everyone, but really you shouldn't waste people's time like that. Not that the missionaries would ever say so, but I know how disappointing it is when people don't do what they say they are going to do. 

I was once the person who hid behind the door. It happens. People hear something they like and want to know more, but that's in the moment  . . . with time can come uncertainty and even fear I guess. You can't blame them for that I suppose, but common courtesy dictates that you let them know ahead of time. That time you've canceled on could have been used for someone else.

 

(source)

I have really vivid dreams. I dream in technicolor. I was having one just prior to waking up this morning that was particularly vivid. I was at some kind of speciality children's clothing store and I was trying to buy some clothes for my daughter Amanda to start the school year in. There were racks full of lovely clothing, very colorful and nice, but not in her size. Then I thought I am in the wrong spot so I asked a floor person and she said I needed to take the elevator to the 19th floor where they had the right size. So I did that, but instead of going up the elevator went sideways and I could look out the window like I was in a car. I remember going over a bridge that was set over a pond and there were big flat fish in the pond that looked like swimming slices of watermelon, with bright red flesh and green edges, and I could see black speckles like seeds on them. I arrived at the right place and I had picked a few really cute outfits, but was kind of second guessing them when the floor person came to get me saying that my sister had called and I needed to go home, something about my dad.  And then I woke up.

Dreams, are weird things, and most of the time mine include my children, or some other loved one. Anyways this one left me thinking that I need to write my obituary out because  . . .  I want people to know what was important in my life, not what someone else thinks was important.  So that is another "to do" added to my list. I will have to try hard not to be "wordy", which could be a problem for me because I tend to be rather "wordy" at the best of times.

 

(source)

I was talking to a nice girl on the phone yesterday from Utah. I subscribe to Living Scriptures television and they had a short survey. It turned out this girl's brother had served a mission in the England Manchester Mission and she had also served in Chester. But not when I was there. What a small world it really is. Little things like that make me smile. Is that what is called Serendipity? I don't know. Made me happy anyways.

And this is not a really happy week of the year for me if I am being honest. Well, parts of it are happy. Other parts are not.

"Here's to the journey ahead.  As always I know it will be hard.  The things in life which have the most meaning to us often come at a high price and with lots of work involved. I have never been a quitter or a person to just lay down and say die. I might have the odd wobble and I may shed a few tears along the way, but I never say die. What's the worst that can happen?  

 

Well, if it does, I will be in a far better place.  Either way I will be in a far better place than where I am now. This is a journey that is well worth the risk."

That's something I had written on here the day before I left to come back to Canada. Oh how brave I was trying to be. I was actually terrified. Of the Covid virus, of an unknown future, of a bazillion things. But I trusted and I moved forward and now I am living my happiest life. Oh sure, there are times I wish that I didn't have to go it alone without a special person to share it with, but meh . . . one thing life has taught me is that you can't really have it all, no matter how much you might wish to.  I have my family close by, and my two cats.  A nice roof over my head, and a meaningful purpose in life that helps to keep me busy, and anything else that I might need. I really have nothing to complain about.

 

(source)

Tatiana and I were messaging back and forth for a bit yesterday. Oh how I miss my dear, dear friend. I think we have known each other for well over 20 years now.  Remember she did come to stay with me a few times when I was in the U.K. I am old enough, or close enough, to be her mother. A kindred spirit. I do hope that one day she will be able to visit me here in Canada. That would be lovely. You've got to have a dream to have a dream come true. And who knows, maybe if I ever get this knee op I am needing I might get to visit her in Greece. Greece is somewhere I have wanted to go since I was a child and saw that film The Moonspinners with Haley Mills. I watched that again with Eileen not too long ago and the desire to visit Greece was still strong. I would love to visit Italy as well, but not on my own.

A trip like that needs company.

Nutmeg has taken to having a nap with my Hello Kitties in the afternoons. I took this photo of him in there yesterday. I am not sure if he was impressed with me waking him up or not. He's such a funny character.

This was him playing dead on the carpet last night. He's so funny.

And meanwhile  . . . 

Cinnamon was catnapping in the basket by the window. Nothing was disturbing her sleep. Its hard to believe that they both used to fit into that basket.  I have had them for five years now. They have surely added a full measure of joy to my life.

 

"Everything I release creates space for

everything I need."

This speaks to the idea that letting go is not a loss, but an act of trust. When we release old worries, unrealistic expectations clutter, resentment, habits that no longer serve us, or even the need to control every outcome, we create room for new opportunities, peace, growth and joy to enter.

• What leaves my life makes room for what is meant for me.
• By letting go of what no longer serves me, I welcome what nourishes me.
• Every release is an invitation for something better to arrive.

This carries a gentle reminder that abundance isn't always about gaining more. Sometimes it's about making space for what truly matters. This prompts me to ponder what is it that I am holding onto that no longer belongs in this season of my life and what might become possible if I released it?

I think I know  . . . 

 

(source)

Never underestimate an ordinary life. Beauty lives in imperfection, and the most enduring magic is often found in everyday moments.  A hot drink, a freshly baked loaf, laughter around the table, birds at the feeder, or a walk beneath autumn trees can be every bit as meaningful as life's milestone moments

I think something happens to us when we reach a certain age.  Suddenly you seem to have more days stretching behind you than you have sitting in front of you and life just becomes more precious than it ever was. That is a wisdom that comes with age I guess. I do sometimes wish however that I had clued into it a lot sooner.  Like when my children were growing up, and I had all my little chicks in the nest. I wish that I had enjoyed those moments more than I did do. Oh, I enjoyed them, but I guess I just didn't realize back then just how precious they would be to me later on in life. I was caught up in the never-ending stream of laundry waiting to be done and other mundane things. Had I known then what I know now  . . .  I would have let the laundry wait sometimes, and catch myself up more in the precious moments of the everyday. 

I'd have sat down and eaten the peanut butter sandwiches with them. Stopped and watched a cartoon or two, laughing right along side of them.  Grabbed a video game paddle more than I did do and spend a few extra moments smashing Donkey Kong Barrels with them, or collecting coins. 

But, I didn't, and now it's too late.

 

(source)

I want to be a woman who  . . . wades into uncharted waters with an open heart. I wonder why I didn't do that when I was young enough for it to make a difference. I was too caught up in what other people would think I guess.

 I will confess I have had this guy messaging me on Instagram for about two weeks now, and he makes me laugh.  He fancies himself being a great singer and a dancer, and well, he tries. I will give him that. In all truth he reminds me a bit of my brother in law Dan. Not the least of which is his age. He's only 56, and I have told him I am 71 and that I am way too old to be thinking in romantic terms about a man his age, but he doesn't seem to care. 

I just can't let myself believe however that this could in any way be anything else other than something to put a smile on the face and perhaps take away  few lonely moments. At the same time however, I am very wary about this type of thing. I mean, that's just what got me into trouble in the first place, except the age difference was the other way around and we all know how very badly that ended. The other night he sent me a video in which he was singing "Brown Eyed Girl" to me, and it made me smile, but it also really scared me.  Because I found myself feeling a bit silly about it all. I had to say a prayer to my Heavenly Father to protect me because  . . . well, you know. My sister is right, I am very vulnerable and this feels wrong and one thing life has taught me is that if something feels wrong, it usually is.

I have never told anyone this before, but, when I landed at Heathrow to meet Todd for the very first time and I saw him, I had a bad feeling about it all. But I shook it off as just being nerves. I should have listened and walked the other way. When your gut tells you something is off, you need to listen to it. Ignore your instincts at your peril.

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*November is the pearl grey month ,

the changeling between warm, crimson October

and  cold white December.

~Margaret Atwood

Traditional Newfoundland Dressing, in The English Kitchen today.  I made some of this for our supper the other night and Eileen and I polished it off last night. In all truth, this stuff is so delicious I could eat a plate of it and nothing else.  Yes. It IS that good!  A few simple ingredients.  That's all. Easy and quick to make.

I hope you have a lovely Friday.  I hope that the sun is shining wherever you are and that you feel blessed beyond measure. 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!