Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 

 OCTOBER 23rd, 2026

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

5*C/41*F

windy with rain expected later

Dear Neighbour,

Not quite as cold this morning although my weather app says because of the wind it is feeling a lot colder out. I can believe that. I have turned on the in-floor heating in my bathroom so that it is warmer in there. 

Eileen is still sleeping. She got up when I did this morning to go to the loo. She's been doing that most mornings.  But then she goes back to bed and sleeps for a few more hours. She is doing quite well, all things considered. She still has not ventured out of the house and she is still half reclining in the lazy boy chair when she is awake, Still not doing diamond art. But she is walking around a bit better and is toileting herself now. For the most part. I still have to help her pull up her pants, etc. She cannot bend or reach.

She had quite a busy day yesterday. My cousin Maria came to see her in the morning and brought her a nice little vase of flowers (artificial) and a little teddy bear. Eileen was thrilled. We had a lovely visit together the three of us, and then her worker Amy was here for another couple of hours. After that Eileen did have a nap.  She sleeps a lot, but that is to be expected and I think is aiding in her healing. Overall, I think she is doing very well. Each day brings small improvements. It has only been 2 1/2 weeks.

 

(source)

The trees around the street are looking barer with every day that passes. Winds, rain, etc. these all bring them down. I think we have seen the best of them now. One thing I have always wanted to do is to see the leaves in New England in the autumn, although I suspect that it is are not all that different than the leaf show we are treated to here in Nova Scotia.

Vermont/New Hampshire is an area I have long romanticized in my mind.  I often thought in years past that if I could live anywhere in the world, it would be there, and dreamed of winning the lottery and moving there. Not so much these days.  But now that I am older, my wanderlust has lessened a lot and I am quite content to just stay home. 

 

(source)

It seems hardly possible that Halloween is a week tomorrow.  It just doesn't seem like Halloween this year. I do have treats in, ready to hand out for the children. Eileen is hoping that she can be the treat hander-outer. We will see how that goes.  

Halloween is always very exciting on this street. Because we have relatively no traffic here on my street and there is a sidewalk that leads through to the next street over where they also have no traffic, we get lots of children. It is quite a busy night. I love to see all the children in their costumes, especially the younger ones. They are so excited.  A lot of the parents seem to dress up as well, which I enjoy as well.

Such an exciting time for the kids.  

 

(source)

I am feeling a little bit bummed this morning. I am not sure why. Perhaps I am feeling a bit stir crazy, I  don't know. I certainly don't have any reason to feel sad.  Eileen is doing well and things are going alright, but I was a bit upset last night when we were talking and Eileen let it slip that her youngest brother had been in the car with them when her dad took her in to Halifax. I didn't let on that I was, but it disturbed me a bit that she hadn't said anything before.  She told me that her dad was taking him to the airport to pick up his wife, that wherever she had been and was returning from, she had broken her arm and that she wasn't able to drive her car. Their little boy was spending the day with the Stepmom's daughter and then the stepmom was going to be taking care of him overnight.

I think that is the part that is making me feel sad. I never got to see or spend time with any of my grandchildren when they were small. When I returned here six years ago (in just a few weeks time) I had such high hopes that I would finally be able to spend time with one of my grandchildren while they were still small. Liam would have not been quite a year old at that time. I bought that tiny rocking chair for in my house, thinking it would be Liam's chair and I have never even seen him, or gotten to spend any time with him.  He will be 7 on his birthday next, and I think it dawned on me yesterday that I probably never will and that has made me feel incredibly sad.

 

(source)

It just makes me feel incredibly sad that this woman who has been incredibly mean-spirited throughout all the years is deemed more worthy to spend time with my grandson than I am.  It really does break my heart. I just think I am coping well with all of that, and then something like this will happen and my heart breaks all over again.  I used to think that maybe "one day" . . . but I have come to realize now that "one day" is never going to come and I have lost hope. At least about that.

These things are things that I struggle with on a daily basis, and most days I am able to stuff the feelings down and move past them. I am usually a very positive person, or at least I try to be, but at the moment I am really struggling with them.

I felt almost angry at one point yesterday.  When my cousin Maria was here.  I was angry with Todd for all that he took from me. What his lies and deceit had stolen from me. Over 20 years with my family. All of the births of my grands. The opportunity for me to maybe find someone that I could have shared my old age with. Relationships with at least two of my children. Not being able to spend the last years of my mother's life with her. The list is rather lengthy. I try not to dwell on it, most of the time, but for some reason at the moment my feelings are very tender about it all.

Nobody wants to hear this. This too shall pass. I know it will.  I need to dwell on my blessings a bit more.

 

(source)

Eileen and I started watching this show on Prime yesterday with Jennifer Garner in it. Five Star Weekend. We both really liked it, so much so that we binged two episodes. The wealth in this film however is outrageous. It is hard to believe that people are actually that rich, but I know they are.  I mean I worked for them.  But it's nice and the storyline is quite compelling and the scenery is beautiful.  And . . .  Eileen is enjoying it so we will watch the series all the way through.

Plus I really like Jennifer Garner.

It will soon be time to start watching all the Hallmark Christmas chick flicks. I like those. They always have happy endings.

 

(source)

Normally on Fridays I would be going out with my sister and dad to take him to the mall. That's not happening this week. I don't think I could risk leaving Eileen on her own for that long. Maybe next week. I am missing my outings a bit, but its okay, I would not trade the privilege of being able to do this for my daughter for anything, or all the Friday outings in the world.  Things will be back to normal soon enough.

Her goal is that she can move back into her apartment after Halloween, but I really don't think that is going to happen. Especially where she is still not venturing out of the house, can't face sitting on the sofa, not doing her diamond art, etc. Unless something drastically improves over the next week, I don't see her being able to move back to her place. And that's okay with me. I am here for her as long as I need to be.  But I did suggest that we get a small notebook and that she write some goals in it and then start actively working towards them.  I will dig around the house today and see if I can find one that I don't mind parting with.

In any case, my life being as narrow as it is at the moment, I have run out of things to talk about, so I will end this now  . . . 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*But they who wait for the lord

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings

as eagles; they shall run and

not be weary; they shall walk

and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Meatloaf Pie.  This is a tasty version of meatloaf that everyone in my family always loves. No small wonder as it is incredibly delicious!

I hope that you have a lovely Friday.  May it be filled with light and with love.  Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

My Favorite Things . . .

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . these are some of the things in life that I enjoy, and which make me happy, inspire me, or put a smile on my face. Maybe some of them are yours too.  Let's share!

 

(source)

A stoneware mug to warm the hands. I love stoneware.

 

(source)

Cozy throws  . . . 

 

(source)

Fresh apples  . . . 

 

(source)

Gourds and pumpkins  . . . 

 

(source)

Butter Cookies . . .  love them.

 

(source)

Fairy Lights  . . . 

 

(source)

Botanicals  . . . 

 

(source)

Rare words  . . . 

 

(source)

A good cardigan  . . . 

 

(source)

Tudor architecture  . . .  reminds me of the manor house.

 

(source)

Chocolate Cake  . . .  yes please  . . . 

 

(source)

The power of positive thinking  . . . 

 

(source)

Woodland walks  . . .  I wish  . . . 

And those are my favourite things for this week  . . . maybe some of them are also yours?

A thought to carry with you . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The greatest gift and blessing
in life is being a mom.
~Vicki Reece

In The English Kitchen today  . . . Old-Fashioned Lemon Curd Glazed Pound Cake . . . Moist and delicious with a tender crumb and sticky lemon glaze that is to die for.  This is really tasty and very simple to make!

I hope that you have a lovely Thursday. We are thinking, if the weather is good, that Eileen might go out for a walk today and get some fresh air. Baby steps.  Have a lovely day and don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

 

(source)

Isn't this just the cutest little kitten. It reminds me a bit of my Nutmeg when he was a kitten. Similar, but not. Here is a photo of him  . . . 

Actually, now that I look at it, Nutmeg was cuter. But then again I am more than a bit biased. Last night he was laying next to me on the sofa and he was snoring. I said to Eileen I wish you had your hearing aids so that you could hear this.  You would love it. 

It really is the sweetest sound. He lays there next to me, with one paw on my knee and Cinnamon lays on the soft right behind my head with one paw stretches out towards me.  I think they must love me or something.

 

(source)

I had a pretty good time on my respite visit yesterday.  I did manage to fill the time. Will came to be here with Eileen and they watched Hocus Pocus and he told bad dad jokes and I went out for two hours on my own. First I went to Spurs Farm Market and had a boo around there. Tuesday is always bakery day and so I nabbed a fresh loaf of olive sour dough and two of those jam filled Breton cookies we enjoy, plus they have their Sweet Tart Apples (the ones with the red flesh) and I got a 1 QT basket of those to make some applesauce or something. (They make the best applesauce.) That olive sourdough is so good. I don't even need to put butter on it. I just tear off a chunk and eat it as it is. It is so delicious.

After that I went to the Independent Grocery store here in town. I had a good boo around. I haven't had a good thorough walk through a grocery store in a while. I got a few bits, and collected some stamps to give my sister for the knives they are selling with stamps. They didn't have the cat food I was wanting however so I went to the other grocery store and walked around there. I got some of those yogurt pots that Eileen and I like, with the fresh fruit and the granola in them, and I got Eileen a strawberry milk and then I got my cat food, had another bit of a wander around and then it was near enough time for me to go home. I was going to go up to Peltons, but I had spent enough money for one day by then so didn't.

It was nice to get out though.

This made me laugh this morning. Mom always had the radio on in the mornings. Most of the time we didn't pay real attention to it. We just kind of ate our breakfasts, and the music would be playing in the background, maybe Art Linkletter and Kids say the Darndest Things, a bit of news.  But on a snowy day, we were glued, hoping to hear that school was being cancelled. I don't know why it was so exciting to me, because I actually really enjoyed school, but there was always something really exciting about having an extra day off, a freebie as it were.

There was a sliding hill not too far from where our house was situated that we called Texaco Hill because there was a Texaco Filling station right across the road.  We would spend most of that day sliding down the hill on big pieces of cardboard, crazy carpets, flying saucers, sleds, etc. Whatever we could get our hands on. The hill would be loaded with kids all enjoying the pleasures of a fresh snow fall and an extra day off! Those were the days.

We would come back home from the end of it all with pink cheeks and noses, our breath huffing through the air, exhausted and played out. Snow days were never a disappointment.

 

(source)

Eileen and I were really pleased to note that Netflix now has Bewitched, the old television series, on it now. We have been enjoying it. It was such a good show.  I always loved seeing Samantha's clothes when I was a girl and their home always seemed to be so luxurious to me. Plus the idea of being able to just twitch your nose to do things and get things, well that was pure magic.  Then there is the love story of Samantha and Darin.  It was just a good, good show, and it still is.

We've also been enjoying Mad About You and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.

Eileen was feeling a lot better yesterday and has been doing more for herself. She is still sleeping a lot however.  Last night she thought she might be ready to go to the Big Scoop today, but then this morning when I had her up to go to the loo, she thought maybe she wasn't quite ready, which is absolutely fine. She spends much of her waking time in the lazy boy as she says it hurts too much to sit on a proper chair. She might try it for a bit today however as she is missing her diamond art. She did eat a bit more yesterday as well, which was good.

All told, I see small improvements each day. She is not really in a lot of pain now that I can see. Mostly just when she goes to the bathroom. There is a lot of bruising down there as well, which really surprised me.  I had not expected that, but then I really didn't know what to expect. Most of the dressings from the incisions have fallen off, which is to be expected and they look clean and healed, which is good. 

I do get her up to walk every hour when she is up. She uses the walker and this week has been walking for 10 minutes at a time. She seems to enjoy it, which is good.  Yesterday Zillah, my next door neighbour on the right side brought her over a card which really pleased her also.

So all is looking well on the Eileen front. I am so grateful. She is now thinking that maybe in another two weeks, perhaps after Halloween she will be ready to go into her own apartment, but we will see.

 

(source)

A lot of the leaves are coming down now. The tops of the trees are looking quite bare with stick arms reaching up into the sky and leaves dancing up and down the street with every puff of wind. The skies have been a brilliant blue however and it is hard not to be happy when you look at them. I am sure they are not any bluer than they are at any other time of the year, but the leaf colour and baring branches just make the blue seem more intense.

We have had a mild frost every morning this week, and my heat has been on pretty much all of the time. Well, the heat pump at any rate. I am so grateful for my heat pump. It keeps me toasty warm, without being over the top.

 

(source)

My cleaners were here yesterday as well. In the morning.  They always do such a nice job and it smells so fresh in here.  I had bought a new shower curtain and liner so they put that up for me and changed Eileen's bed for me in addition to their other chores. I know they are being paid, but those are not things on their regular list and so I really do appreciate their kindness in doing them for me. I have been saving up some money to give them in their Christmas Cards once Christmas rolls around as a special thankyou for them. There is the option of adding a tip when their company sends their invoice out each time, but I am not sure if they really get that money or not, or if the company takes some of it, so I would rather just give them some money in a card at Christmas as a special thanks for all that they do.

I really do appreciate them, plus they are quite amenable and pleasant. That makes a difference. I like them.

I was  cleaner once upon a time and I know how hard it is. When my kids were really small and we were living in Alberta (I only had the three at the time.) I cleaned the offices on the base and the schools at night with another guy. That was really hard work. I also cleaned houses for inspection for people that were moving out. White glove inspections. That was super hard work. The stoves were always a real chore.  They had to be pristine. I remember doing the base Doctor's house and taking out two buckets of sludge from his stove. I don't think it had ever been cleaned. 

Talk about hard work.

 

(source)

Because we moved so much with my husband being in the Military, it wasn't possible for me to have a "career." I was always doing something however, to bring some extra income into the home. Cleaning, typing, child minding and a host of other things. Always.  I suppose that is why it hurts my feelings when those two of my kids say I never did anything for them. 

Never mind. I do have three children who love and appreciate me.  I had a lovely facetime with Doug at the weekend. He was making chili with Josh. Josh is grinding his own flour now. Using a mortar and pestle. Talk about hard work!

I got to see Jon as well. Jake was still in bed.

Well, I have exhausted about all I have to say today so I will make an end to this now. Life is very good and I thank God daily for all of my blessings. I am a very blessed woman.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Don't watch the clock;

do what it does. Keep going.

Sam Levenson

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  French Onion Cottage Pie. There are few things more comforting on a chilly autumn day than a bubbling, golden cottage pie fresh from the oven, and this French onion cottage pie just might be my favourite version yet! With lovely chunks of melt in the mouth tender beef in a rich gravy with a beautiful crispy edged fluffy Parmesan mashed potato thatch on top. This is excellent. 

I hope that you have a lovely Wednesday. It will be a quiet one here. A bit of work, a bit of play, a lot of love.  Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy!  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!    

   

A drive by post . . .

 

This is a photograph that I took with my phone last night after I went to check my mail. (Nothing but junk mail. haha. More often than not these days, but at least it's not bills.) It was so beautiful that I just had to grab my phone and capture the moment.

Not my usual post today. I hardly slept on Sunday night. I was awake until almost 2 in the morning, and then last night Eileen woke me up at 2 am because she was itchy and it took me a good forty five minutes to sort her out and settle her again. Then I had a hard time falling back asleep. Some nights are just like that. I didn't wake up until almost 8 this morning. My cleaners are coming at 11 and then one of Eileen's CSS workers is coming at 1 to stay with her until 3 so I can have some time to myself. I had thought maybe my sister and I could do something, but alas she already has plans so I will have to go and find something to amuse myself with for two hours. I am sure I can manage that.  It will be nice to have a bit of a break.

In any case, I don't really have time to play this morning so this is a drive by posting. I'll be back tomorrow with a regular post. Hopefully!

Don't forget in the meantime  . . . 

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

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. 

 

(source)

The sight of autumn leaves dancing up and down the street to the tune of a bright blue sky. We have had more than a few of those days lately and they delight my soul.

 

(source)

Late yesterday afternoon I went out to put the compost in the bin that my next door neighbour so graciously allows me to share and I could smell it. Autumn. The air was filled with the scent of woodsmoke and autumn leaf.  It was beautiful. Although it was cold I just had to stand there for a minute to breathe it all in.  I love that smell.

 

(source)

All the pumpkins I see appearing on people's porches.  Some with faces already carved.  I love this time of year. I thought of getting a couple for myself, but I don't know how to go about it. I have never bought a pumpkin. Not like they are for sale here. They are all sitting in bins out doors. How do you go about it?  Do you just tell them at the cashier that you want to buy a pumpkin?

 

(source)

There is a heavy frost this morning. Each blade of grass is coated in crystal and the rooftops across the way are dusted with ice. I can see the russet tops of the trees with the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky above them. The sun is shining and it won't take long for the frost to become naught but a memory, but it is here now and it is beautiful.

 

(source)

Eileen seemed to have turned a corner yesterday. She was not experiencing as much pain when she went to the loo and was much more comfortable. She has been sleeping a lot. I am hoping today she will spend more time awake than asleep. I am slowly letting her do more for herself. Like pulling up her own pants, etc. Most of the dressings have fallen off her incisions on her belly and all looks well.  Any pain that remains is from below. That will take much longer to heal I think.  In any case, she is doing really well. I am so proud of her.  I got her our burger supper this weekend and she really enjoyed it, although neither of us could eat it all. I picked it up and brought it home. She did drink all of the milkshake that I got for her, so that was good.

She is still resting this morning. She did get up to use the loo shortly after I got up, and then went back to bed, which is totally okay. She has always been one to sleep in anyways. There are days I wish that I could.

 

(source)

I didn't go to church yesterday, instead watching it here at home online. The Area Mission President and his wife were there and gave the talks. It was nice to get to know them better. I am hoping that next week I will be able to leave Eileen long enough to go. It is the Primary presentation and that is always one of my most favorite Sacrament meetings.

We did listen to Gospel and uplifting music pretty much the whole day yesterday. The spirit it invites into the home is such a beautiful thing. I love it.

Life is good. We are blessed and we know it.  That is a part of the goodness in and of itself.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

*We are taught to fear

the autumn of our lives,

yet the trees show us how

beautiful it can be to let go

of what was never meant to stay.

~Aurelia Leafsong

In The English Kitchen today . . . Mocha Chocolate Caramel Swirl-A-Chino. I made this for Eileen at the weekend to try to tempt her appetite. She has been a bit off her food these last few days. She did enjoy it.  That made me happy. A once-in-a-blue-moon treat without the high coffeeshop price tag and very easily made.

I hope your day and week are filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things which bring you unlimited joy.  Be happy and be blessed. 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!