Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

Cindy and I had a fabulous time together yesterday. I left here about 9:30 to go fill up my car and then went over to hers. My flu shot wasn't until 10:20 but there wasn't much point in coming home really. I would have only been home for a short before I had to go out again.  We left her place. I had my shot and then I picked up a few Birthday Cards.  

The Chemist in town has the nicest cards. I know you can get cards at the dollar store for cheaper, but they are cheap cards. I like to send people nicer cards. To me a card is an expression of love, and my love is worth more than a dollar store card. That's just how I feel.

The Chemist asked if I wanted a calendar for 2023 when I was at the cash. You could get a wall calendar or a purse sized calendar. There are not many places still giving out calendars these days. I quite happily accepted a purse sized one. It's always handy to have a calendar in your purse.

 The town of Kentville has their display of pumpkin people on again this year.  As you drive through the town you will see them in groups all over the place.  So much fun. Last year they had dinosaurs interspersed between them, this year it is animals.  Lions, hippos, bears giraffes.  All very well done.  The pumpkin people are getting up to all sorts.

I am not sure how long it takes to put together this display but it's really delightful. I look forward to it every year, and I know that has only been two now that I have seen them, but I still enjoy them very much.

It's worth the drive to Kentville.

From there we went on up the Valley to Michaels in New Minas. With this old bladder of mine, I have to hit the loo before anything else these days.  I am finding a lot of what I do revolves around the proximity of public loos these days, and the cleanliness of them.  Michaels is hit and miss. Sometimes you go in and it's a mess, but usually it is quite passable. I always report.  The one at the Superstore in Kingston is absolutely deplorable. I will not use it.  The ones at Walmart are usually pretty good.  The one at home is best of all, and so I try to time my trips out so that I don't have to use one, if I can.

Yesterday of course, I couldn't. We were simply out too long.

I picked up a nice little four-foot lit artificial Christmas tree at Michaels. I had a gift certificate for $50 and a coupon for 40% off and so I got it for quite a nice price. I figured with the grandsons going to be here this year for Christmas, I had best get in a tree.

These new pre-lit ones are quite nice.  I remember in the old days the trouble my father had to go through every year checking out the lights for the tree. If one was out, none of them worked and so he would have to check each and every bulb.

This will be the first Christmas I have ever had any grandchildren in my home. I am really looking forward to it. It will be quite simply lovely if it comes to fruition.

 

(source)

On the way back we stopped at Forsyth's farmer's market outside of Berwick.  We usually stop at the other one (Pierce's) but it was already closed for the season.  What a disappointment the market was. We walked away with nothing and found ourselves wondering why they were even open.  What they had left was all moldy, wilted, wrinkled, withered drying out, etc. and everything was humming with tons of fruit flies and wasps.  We were both quite shocked to be honest.  It was like they couldn't be bothered to clear out the dead wood and were just leaving it there to decompose.  We both looked at each other like  . . .  can you believe this?  And left. 

 

(source)

I have to be honest and say that it left me truly wondering about their reputation as a farm market. If you cannot be bothered to keep things clean and tidy and well . . .  decent,  edible (at the very least), then I am not sure I ever want to buy anything from your shop. It really was really revolting. This was a deal breaker for me. They obviously have no pride or integrity if they can still have these things for sale to the public. I would have been ashamed and embarrassed were I them. Thankfully I am not.

 

(source)

From there we went to the Superstore. I stayed in the car at that point because I needed to go to the bathroom again and, well (see above.)  I gave Cindy my money and she went in to get her few bits and pick me up some sweet potatoes.  I didn't mind sitting in the car. I am a people watcher. I love to watch people to-ing and fro-ing.  As I watch I think about them and what their lives might be like. Everyone has a story and a purpose.  People all have good days and bad days.

I was thinking about Diane Schiffer and those little walks around her drive that she does every morning in her night clothes and her robe. How secure she must feel in and of herself to be able to do that.  It must be very freeing. I am sure her neighbors think her to be quite eccentric, but does she care?  Heck no! I wish I was brave enough to be able to do the same. I am sure it feels quite wonderful. I'm not sure the tickers of the old guys across the road could handle it, however. 😵 One of them is on oxygen already. It would probably do him in.

I do confess that lately I have been struggling a bit emotionally. It is coming up to my wedding anniversary and the anniversary of my escape back to Canada.  I know that these moments do come further and farther between however, so that is a good thing.  I just immerse myself in things I know that will uplift my spirit.  Good music. Good books. The Scriptures.  I have been reading Grace to Become by Emily Belle Freeman again. I love her books

"Hear the Word, search the Scriptures, read good books, receive the sacraments, pray; confer, for these be as so many conduits whereby the creator conveyeth grace unto the soul of the creature." 

I am not sure who Emily quoted from here, but I know this is truth. The more I do these things the more peace I feel, the more comfort. I am a covenant maker and more importantly "a keeper of covenants". 

When I make a promise or a covenant, I try my best to keep it. I draw comfort from that.

I am not sure what I will get up to today. I know I am going out for my Wednesday night supper tonight with my dad and his lady friends.  I am looking forward to that. Maybe not the food so much, but to the spending of time with my dad. Love my dad.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *Our hands can't throw stones

if they are busy washing feet.

Fill your days with love and service.

~Hank R Smith•。★★ 。* 。 

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Sweet Pickled Pork & Sauerkraut.  This is delicious comfort food for me.  Love it.

I hope that you have a wonderful day.  Be happy. Be content. Be blessed. Don't forget! 

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And I do too! 

 

And away we go!

No post today!  I am off to get my flu shot and then Cindy and I are off on a road trip. We didn't get to go last week so we are off and at 'em today! I have a few Birthday cards to pick up and we are going to Michaels.  Then to the Convenience store to pick up a few bits that we ordered from Costco last week! No Jonny's today as they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!  Not sure what the weather will do, but we shall see.

Had my oil changed yesterday and the car all Winterized, so we are good to go.  I'll be back tomorrow with something to share with you, no doubt!  God bless you all!

Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

 A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best. 

Saturday night supper with Dad.  Dad called me about 3:30 in the afternoon on Saturday to tell me I was invited out for supper with him and Cindy and Dan. I was pleased to be invited. We all met at Angies (a family restaurant just around the corner from me) and had a lovely supper together. The best part was being together as a family.  We ate some good food. We laughed. We just enjoyed each other's company. Family times are the best of times.

Sunday dinner with Cindy and the family. Yesterday she cooked a roast chicken. It was lovely. She made stuffing as well, and a blueberry pie for dessert, or bear pie as my father calls it. Again the best part was being together as a family.

Sometimes it feels weird being in my mother's house and her not being there anymore.  I spent a lot of time in the house with mom through the years, many, many memories. I know that Cindy has to make it her own and I totally applaud that. That is as it should be. There are still the odd things that remind me of mom, though, like her rocker by the window. And it makes my heart ache sometimes to see it empty. I hope that she is content where she is.  I look forward to seeing her again one day. (Not too soon though!)  I think she would be happy that Cindy and I live so close to each other now and that we are the best of friends. Mom and her sisters were always the best of friends. They are all together now.

 

(source)

This little neighborhood I live in where everybody watches out for everyone else. I know that should anything happen, it will be noticed, and someone will be on the case. Just like in the old days.  We watch out for each other.  Every morning when I get up, I check to see if the old guy's lights are on across the way. I'm not sure what I would do if they were not. Probably just keep watching to see if there were eventually signs of life.  If not, then I would probably call my neighbor Sheila.  She is the one brave enough to go and knock-on doors to make sure all is as it should be.  She is in touch with everyone. Me, I am not. They would probably think it was weird if I knocked on their door to see how they are. And I know, I shouldn't care what other people think.

I have my own neighborhood watchers.  Nothing misses their view.  They are ever watchful.  They watch the leaves blowing around, the birds, the chipmunk (gone to sleep now I think), every car that passes, every delivery that arrives.  Whenever there is a knock on the door or the doorbell rings they come to investigate and Nutmeg promptly goes to hide beneath the sofa or the bed. (He is such a chicken.) Cinnamon is the brave one.  When I leave to go out, they are on the windowsill watching me go, and when I return, they are on the windowsill waiting for me.  As soon as I open the door from my garage into the house, they are waiting there on the carpet wanting a scratch behind the ears and a hello, we're glad you came home.

I decided to try out the self-cleaning feature on my oven on Friday. I should have done it earlier in the day, but stupid me I decided to do it at about 3:30 in the afternoon. I just pushed the button.  After a half an hour or so I thought so myself, I better check online how long this is going to take. So, I looked up the stove online. (No manuals came with the house.) It said it would take three hours, but it also said to take the oven racks out first.  

DUH

I didn't. So, I think I may have ruined the oven racks, but I am not sure if maybe they weren't already ruined. I hadn't ever noticed. It also said to only use in a well-ventilated area.  My place is not well-ventilated. There is a fan over the top of the stove, but it just feeds back into the house. After about an hour the fumes were really bad. (And my stove wasn't even really dirty, I just wanted to try it out.)  I had the front door wide open and the front window.  The cats were hiding under my bed. SO, I opened the bedroom window and then shut them in and put a towel in front of the door so they would be safe. I was also worried they would jump on top of the stove to investigate and burn their little paws. The front top of the stove was hot.

I had a headache and felt congested. I just sat by the window and waiting.  Freezing a tiny bit because it's a lot colder these days.

Finally, after about 2 1/2 hours I thought what if I just press the clear button on the stove, so that's what I did, and it stopped the program. Whew! I waited another half hour or so and when the stove door finally unlocked, I closed all the windows and door and let the cats out.  There was only a tiny bit of ash in the bottom of the stove, but the racks are definitely dull and no longer shiny.

I won't be doing that again!  I am grateful for the lessons learned doing it this time however!

 

I've been silently putting this into practice.  It's been pretty wonderful in many ways. I just keep going over the many names that have been used to talk about the Savior in my mind whenever I have a few minutes to spare.  Yesterday I was going over them in my mind while the Sacrament was being passed.  I think of a name, and then think of how it has made a difference in my life, or how it could make a difference in my life.  

Jesus 

Name above all names 

Beautiful Savior 

Glorious Lord 

Emmanuel 

God is with us 

Blessed Redeemer 

Living word 

Jesus Lord God Almighty 

Wonderful counselor 

The prince of peace 

Above glory 

Man of sorrow 

Man of God

Just a few . . . 

I like this  . . . 

My tires are all fixed and ready for winter. Today I am taking the car and having it winterized. I think that involves checking all the fluid levels, etc. I am grateful that I have enough money in my savings to be able to do things like this. The better I take care of my car, the longer I will have it.

Facetimes with Doug and his boys. I love them. It will soon be Jake's birthday. He is turning 12.  They are all growing up quickly, my grandchildren.  I am very grateful to have a relationship with both Doug's and Anthony's boys. Grateful also that they take the time to know their Great Grandfather.

Of course, I love all of my grandchildren and pray for each one of them daily by name. Perhaps one day I will be blessed enough to have a relationship with all of them. Our God is a God of miracles.

Life is good. I cannot complain about anything. My days pass by and are filled to overflowing with countless blessings. I am so grateful I am a person who sees that.

A thought to carry with you . . .

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

 *The phrase "Do Not Be Afraid"

is written in the bible 365 times.

That's a daily reminder from God

to live every day being fearless.

•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today . . .  French Sandwich Pain au Lait.  This was a really lovely loaf of bread. Done in the bread maker.  Very nice.

I hope that your week ahead is filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things. May your cups truly runneth over!  Don't forget! 

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And I do too! 

 

All things nice . . .

 

 

(source)

A dream house that just sort of grew

Stone upon stone with halls and stairs,

Shaping itself into a home,

As if in answer to your prayers.

A house that took on width and shape,

Under the hammer and the plane,

Stout on its oaken beams and sills,

Its roof secure against the rain.

Small rooms that grew beneath the eaves,

Like cabins on a sturdy ship,

A graveled walk up to the door,

Rolled level as a landing strip.

A fireplace whose generous flue,

Gave promise of a steady draw,

A shelf above the cellar way,

Showing the tooth-print of a saw.

A picture window wide and deep,

That made a frame for half outdoors,

Where trees and vines and growing things,

Cast dancing shadows on the floors.

A home where family ties were deep,

And love was there to hold and keep.

~Edna Jaques, A Dream House

Fireside Poems, 1950

Fireside Poems was the book of poems that my mother kept in her bookcase for all of my growing up years. I can't tell you how many times I read it during that time. My mother let me take with me when I moved out West.  It is what made me fall in love with the poetry of Edna Jaques. I had to leave that old volume back in the UK when I moved back to Canada two years ago but was happily able to buy another copy. Edna's poetry speaks to the heart of my Canadian soul. It also reminds me of my childhood, and a much simpler, less complicated way of life.  Core values. Honest truths. I never tire of reading her words. Never.

 

(source)

I think that home is more of a feeling than a place. It is a feeling of belonging, of safety, of comfort. Home can be another person, a country, a town, or yes . . . four walls. Home wraps you up and holds you close. It whispers stay; you are safe here. You are loved here. You belong here.

That motel room that welcomed me on that cold November night almost two years ago now, with the fire burning in the grate, the bouquet of flowers on the table and the welcome note from my sister, felt like home to me, after a long and arduous, heart wrenching journey.  I will always be grateful for her care and ability to help to soften the blow of something which was probably one of the most difficult experiences in my life. Although it was not a place I had ever been before and a place I wouldn't stay at for very long, I knew that I had come home.

I love my little home. It is my haven in a world that is often very difficult to navigate. I could never have known two years ago that I would end up so content.  Or that I would be so blessed. I hoped that I would, but every day was a step of faith.  One by one those little steps of faith led me here, and I am at peace.  

My house, is a very, very fine house,

with two cats in the yard,

life used to be so hard,

now everything is easy

coz of you.

Life is much better than I could ever have hoped that it would be.  I know and recognize my blessings each and every day, and I give thanks for them accordingly.  

Life is a funny thing.  One of my childhood homes is just a stones-throw from where I live now.  I can look out my back door and see it. When I was a child and living in that house, I could never have predicted the journey life would take me on, or where it would bring me.  It is the same for everyone . . . we, none of us, ever know where we are going to end up, or where our life's journey will take us.  

 

(source)

Above all, trust in the slow work of God

We are quite naturally impatient in everything

to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown,

Something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress

That it is made by passing through some stages of instability -

and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;

Your ideas mature gradually - let them grow,

let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on,

as though you could be today what time

(and that is to say grace and circumstances

acting on your own good will)

will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit

gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing

that his hand is leading you,

and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself

in suspense and incomplete.

~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.

1881-1955

I read this last night in bed, and it resonated deep within me. So much so that I knew I had to share it with you. We are such impatient creatures. We want what we want, and we want it now.  These last few years I have had to temper my desires and wants within the fire of God's will for me. I have very much had to wait on His timing and to rely on His grace. I have learned, or attempted to learn, the art of patience. I can say with a surety that good things can come to those who wait upon the timing of the Lord and who trust in His goodness and will for them. Prayers are always answered.  Maybe not always in the ways that we expect them to be, and sometimes the answers are not the ones we were seeking. But always to our betterment, if that makes sense.

 

I had never expected that this is the way my life would end up, and yet somehow, here I am. I have learned to be content with where I am. I love my little home and my little life. I love my furry little family members. I am grateful for the journey which has brought me here, all the highs and the lows. I like who I am and who I have become, and the journey is all a part of that which brought me here. A part of my becoming.

All my life I have been caring for others. Now, for the first time, I am learning how to care for me in a way I always should have.  It's a very freeing place to be. I truly love my life, and I am ever grateful for the journey which has brought me here, to this good place.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*A powerful expression of that love

is what the scriptures often call the Grace of God

The divine assistance and endowment of strength

by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings

we are now, into exalted beings of truth and light.

~Dieter F Uchtdorf•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 

Today, in The English Kitchen, Irish Blaeberry Pudding.  A blueberry pudding with a sweet/tart fruity base, topped with a buttery, tender and rich cake. It is perfect spooned into bowls warm and served topped with lashings of cool cream, or warm custard or a scoop of cold ice cream.

Have a wonderful Saturday. Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!

My Friday Finds . . .

 

A few of the things I find each week that inspire me to want to do better, to create, to become better, to read more, to watch, to just DO something! Things that delight, inspire, and bring me joy.  Maybe they will do the same thing for you!  

 

I love the colours of this baby blanket for a boy.   Found on My Sister's Knitter. 

 

DIY Lemon Peppermint Foot scrub.  From  Curious Charlie.  I love scrubs.  They can be really expensive though.  Making your own . . .  great idea!

Paint dipped bamboo kitchen utensils.  Super simple to make and a set of these would make a fab gift for the foodie in your life.  From The Deans List. Not sure if I like these colors though.

Now this cake stand is really pretty.   Would you believe that it is made from clear plastic chinet dishes?  I know!  Simple.  From evite.

No source, but all you need is an old fork and a pair of pliers.   A few bends and turns and you have a unique and very pretty photo holder!

 

Really pretty napkins eh?   As easy as buying some dark coloured plain napkins (or sewing some) and using a bleach pen and the eraser end of a pencil dipped in bleach. From Craft by Photo.  Such a simple idea! 

How to bleach pine cones.   From  E-how.  A bowl of these sitting on the coffee table would be quite pretty I think.

DIY Tart Pan Twelve Days of Christmas.   I think this is so sweet.   From Lilybean Paperie. 

 Car in a Jar Snow Globe, by Mason Jar Crafts.  This is so cute!  It looks really simple to do as well!  Cute gift!

Winter Fairy Garden Tea Cups, from Country Woman.   A D O R A B L E.

Homemade Baking Mix.  This is something I used to use a lot more of in the olden days.   Found on Happy Money Saver.

How to make paper mache hens out of cereal boxes.  You can find the Tutorial here.  I think they are so cute!

This little red bird ornament is so cute.   Found on Etsy.  How hard would this be to make.  Not that difficult I don't think!

Fab and Free Christmas Fonts from Design Editor.  I love different fonts.  I will be downloading some of these for sure!

A really cute pencil holder made from old rulers.  I love it!! Found on Eighteen25.  

How to machine sew on a binding.  Found on Bloomin Workshop.

12 Homemade Holiday Gifts that aren't Cookies.   There is everything here from spice rubs to homemade Vanilla extract.  Found on 100 Days of Real Food. 

I love these folded felt gift boxes.   They are simple and easy to make.  Found on Curbly.  The possibilities for using these are endless.

 

Now this is something I would never have thought of doing, but will do now!  Stamping on felt and then colouring in with markers!  Genius!   From Side Oats and Scribbles.  This is one of those things you just want to smack your forehead and say, "Now why didn't I think of that!"

Aimee's Victorian Armoire.  A nice apron. Supposedly takes one yard of fabric. Might take a bit more than that for me!

And those are my finds for this week. I hope you found something interesting amongst the lot! 

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Life is like a camera
You focus on what's important
Capture the good times
Develop from the negatives
And if things don't work out,
Take another shot  . . . 
~unknown 。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Kung Pao Chicken, the small batch. This was incredibly delicious!

I hope you have a wonderful day today.  I am going to pop up to the Super Store this morning. They have roasting chicken on special. I like to buy my chickens whole and cut them up into pieces when whole chickens are on offer like that. It works out a lot cheaper!  Whatever you get up to, don't forget! 

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And I do too!