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)

I am a bit late getting started this morning. I had to take a trip over to Eileen's to make sure she was okay. She had asked me to wake her up at 8 a.m. and I did not get any response when I tried. I even tried calling her on the phone, but no response, so I thought I better drive over to see if she was okay.  I was worried that maybe she had started to hemorrhage again, or worse that someone had broken into her place and done something to her, or that she had choked (a real fear when you live by yourself), etc.  Thankfully when I arrived the only thing wrong was that she was still asleep and she had her phone on silent. Whew!  Crisis averted.

I am grateful that I live close enough that I can just hop in the car and drive over to make sure she is okay.

 

(source)

I have been enjoying spending time together as a family. It's been nice to be in each other's company. All three of us siblings, our father, etc. My sister in law and Dan. We've enjoyed catching up and reminiscing, eating some delicious meals together, making new memories, etc. My brother and his wife leave to go back tomorrow. I will be sad to see them go.

Dad has also really enjoyed this family time. That has been really nice to see and be a part of.

 

(source)

We did not get the nasty weather that had been predicted for this weekend. It did rain a bit but it was not really torrential which had been predicted. I am grateful for that. It is quite humid out there this morning however, and really cloudy.  It says 100% humidity on my weather ap, but I am not sure what that means. Sticky I guess. Thank goodness for heat pumps which work as air conditioners when it becomes unbearable.

 

(source)

I was able to get to church again yesterday. Glenna is actually back from her holiday away with her male friend. He actually drove us yesterday. Glenna took a fall when she was away and dislodged one of the lens in her eyes, so she didn't want to drive. She will see the eye surgeon later this week and hopefully it can be repaired. Anyways, it was nice to see her and hear about her trip and to go to church. Partake of the sacrament, sing the hymns, hear the talks, etc. The Relief Society lesson was also very good. This is the last one we will be having on the old hour-long format.  Starting in September they will be moving to having an RS lesson as well as a Sunday School lesson each week, each of a 25 minute duration. Our time in church will remain the same, but more will be packed into the two hours than is now.

 

(source)

Eileen and I got  a sweet little package in the post from Virginia. Thank you so much Virginia. That was so kind of you.  I wish I had thought to get a photograph of the cute little Hallmark dolls she sent to Eileen. They are adorable.

 

I found an example on Pinterest. So adorable. Eileen just loved them. And the stationary was lovely that Virginia wrote her notes to each of us on and a couple little vintage cookbooks. I mean  . . .  what a delightful package. Again, Virginia, Thank YOU so much. You were so very kind to us. 💛

 

(source)

Life is a mix of many things which bring me peace and joy. I truly am blessed. Each night when I say my prayers I try to find three things which have happened during the day that I am grateful for, and I can't stop at three. I always find way more. I am living the life I never thought I would have again. I am at peace with myself and I am content.  God is good.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The quieter you become

the more you can hear.

~Socrates 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Curried Pineapple Glazed Ham Steaks.  Simply delicious. You can have this tastiness on the table in less than half an hour.

I hope you have a beautiful day and a week filled with a multitude of blessings, both large and small. 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!    

   

All Things Nice . . .

 

(source) 

Old things abide - the good and true,

Things that are born and bred in you,

The love of children - faithful men

Spring in the warm sweet fields again,

Old people puttering 'round the place

Peace like a light on someone's face.

Bright lamps that shine above the snow,

And send out such a heartsome glow,

Across the lonely country night,

The glint of wings that catch the light,

A prickly thorn . . . a rambling brier,

Golden rod setting the world on fire.

A blue print apron and a shawl,

An old cow sleeping in a stall,

The odor of new hay and sheaves,

Rain dripping softly from the eaves,

A little girl with rosy cheeks,

A dog so smart he almost speaks.

Old things abide - a garden patch,

An old shed with a rusty latch,

A supper table warm and bright,

Windows shining against the night,

A mother gentle and serene -

These are the sort of things I mean.

~Edna Jaques, Old Things Abide

Roses in December, 1944

Most of the poems in this volume of poetry were written just prior to the end of the second world war. It was a very different time. Old fashioned values, which I embrace . . . they never go out of style. What was of worth then is of worth now, maybe even more so as our World appears to crumble around us more and more as the years pass. We have so much, and yet for many it is somehow not enough. Greed prevails it seems. Envy  . . .  People seem to want to look at life through a filter . . . they are not content in their own skins.  Bigger, better, prettier . . . thinner. Younger. 

I like old things. I like small homes, decorated humbly.  Faces with wrinkles that show you the bearer has lived and loved and laughed. Eyes that look wise and tongues filled with wisdom, the kind that only comes from living your life honestly, weathering the ups and downs with integrity, love and joy. I would be lying if I said I did not wish to be thinner . . . I would, but not emaciated . . . I also want to enjoy all the good things life has to offer and that includes butter . . . and sometimes often jam.

I do not ask for much. Just to have enough. Enough for me and then a tiny bit more so that I can share a bit with others. That brings me great joy. It always has. My love language is giving. Oh, that brings me so much joy.  I love to share. Wisdom us teaches that a joy shared is a joy doubled. And yet a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved.

It is funny how that works is it not?

One of the mysteries of life. 

 

(source)

Eileen got all the way up to Kentville yesterday morning only to discover that the appointment was not really what they thought it was. It was to do the procedure that she had already had done, and so she came back. No results are in yet so we are still waiting. I thought that had been rather quick, and to be honest it was a bit worrisome to have her be called in so quickly, so am happy that it was not for any results.

We continue to be patient and to hope. I will be picking her up at noon today for our sleepover.  We have a lot to do today.

 

(source)

We did not get much artwork done yesterday. Well, Christine did. Cindy was not there for most of the morning as she was at the hospital with Dad.  I spent most of my time chatting. It has been several years since I got to spend time with Christine and I don't think we ever have had time one on one, so it was really nice. 

She had taken a photo of Cindy and Dan's house so she was busy sketching that and then painting it while we chatted, plus she had a project that she was doing/preparing for the art classes that she teaches co-ordinates for the people who reside in the care facility her father had been in. 

David and Dan were gone to visit a friend of David's who lives further up the valley. He and David have been friends since high school, so a long time now. The plan was to take Dan up in David's friend's small plane. They had a great day and then went out to lunch, so they were not overly hungry when they got back, but that's okay. The rest of us were.

Dad's procedure went okay. (That's my Doctor, Dr. Fomani, doing it.) He was able to drain the cyst and relieve some of dad's discomfort with it. Now the hard part will be keeping dad from bothering it. I am sure it was quite an uncomfortable thing, but it is done now and hopefully will heal well.

When he and Cindy first got home, Dad said he could see better. I thought that perhaps maybe the cyst had been pressing on something, but his eyes got wonky again so I guess not. He thought the Doctor's uniform was pretty jazzy though. He was a bit tired so had a rest, but was up and ready to eat when supper time rolled around, and enjoyed a nice supper.

This is a photo my brother took at the Wildlife park near where I live when they visited it the other morning. The wetlands were dried up but there was still a lot to see.  Apparently this tree is marked by woodpeckers. This is what results from their pecking.  I know that I do hear a lot of woodpeckers hammering away a lot of the time, and I have several little ones that come to my feeder.

I thought it looked very interesting anyways and thought you might also enjoy seeing it.

A photo that my brother took at the restaurant the other night. (Wednesday) Unfortunately he cut out Christine and my dad, as well as Hazel who was down at the end across from me. If it looks like most of us were saying the same thing we were. I think it was the word "cheeseburger."

It was a good night out. We all pretty much enjoyed our meals for the most part. I ordered the turkey dinner. My stuffing was a bit dry, like it had been sitting too long, and my vegetables were cold, but the turkey was good as was the gravy.

It was just really nice being there together as a family. 

Cindy made us all dinner on Thursday. She made some lovely quiches. She makes great Quiches and we had fried potatoes and string beans with them.  Delicious.

I provided dinner last night. Chicken Pot Pie with Greek Salad and fresh fruit and I had picked up a Lemon Meringue pie at Peltons as well. Freshly made, how could I resist! 

My brother is getting his fair share of pastry while he is down. lol  It wasn't planned that way. I think he and Christine were going to go for a long walk after supper last night.

Tonight we are going out for an Indian meal which Eileen and I, and Cindy too, are really looking forward to.  I am a bit concerned about the long walk from where we will have to park to the restaurant, for both our dad and for myself, but we will do it. It is right on the main road, and near the lights/intersection, so you cannot really stop to let people out. 

We will manage. We do have a wheelchair for dad.

Look who was waiting for me on my doorstep when I got home last night.  Yes, it is Holly Hobbie. She is busy getting acquainted by her sisters on top of my dresser at the moment. She was my birthday present to myself.  My sister and I did not have a lot of dolls when we were children.  I love dolls. I am making up for it now.

 

She has such a sweet face . . . I am happy that I finally broke down and bought her. I had been looking at her for weeks and weeks and weeks  . . .  and hmming and hawwing to myself about it. Then I told myself, why not. Yes, it is a lot of money, but at this stage in life why not make a few of your dreams come true. I had wanted a Hollie Hobbie doll since I was a child. Now I finally have one. I do feel a tiny bit guilty about it, but what the heck. What good is a dream if you can't make it come true.

David and Christine living their best life up on

the foggy shore the other morning.

They are such lovely people. I have always loved my brother, 

but I also really "LIKE" him.  I love and "LIKE" my Sister-in-Law as well.

They are good, good people.

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

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

˛*We can only be said to be truly alive

 in those moments when our hearts 

 are conscious of their treasures.

 ~Thornton Wilder  *。*˚*。*˚ 

In The English Kitchen today, Easy Two Ingredient Pie Cups.  This was the dessert I made to bring over to Cindy's the other night. She had made it for us a number of weeks ago and I wanted to recreate them to post on here as per a request, so here you go.  Simple. Easy. Delicious!

I hope you have a lovely weekend. May you be richly blessed with all that you stand in need of and that 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!    

   

 

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

 

Quite the Sunset  

AUGUST 21st, 2026

Estate Lane

Nova Scotia

17*C/64*F

Mostly Sunny

Dear Neighbor,

Hello on this lovely late summer morning. It's not too hot yet, but it will get warmer as the day progresses. I have a busy day ahead of me, but that doesn't mean that I don't have time to write you a nice letter.

Today is the day that Eileen goes back to the clinic to find out what comes next. I made sure she was awake bright and early as her appointment is really early.  She said she didn't sleep well last night, which is understandable. She is a brave woman. Her worker is taking her. She will let me know later what is happening. I am hoping and praying that its all very treatable and that we can have it dealt with more sooner than later. 

 

(source)

We can and will get through this.  I am supporting her every step of the way. She has a lot of people who love and care about her and is surrounded with prayers.

Cindy is taking Dad to emergency this morning. He was not feeling very good yesterday. He has had this lump/cyst at the base of his head/neck which has become swollen and inflamed. The Doctor was wanting it to go down before it was dealt with but it is causing him a lot of discomfort and seems to be getting more swollen. So she is going to take him to emergency to see if they might be able to lance it or something. 

Not nice, I know. Hopefully they will be able to do something about it and he will start to feel better.

 

(source)

David and Dan are going up country this morning to one of David's friends who has a small plane. They are going to take Dan up for a flight over the valley. It should be quite interesting and exciting for Dan and they certainly have a good day for it as it is going to be a fine day.

Cindy, Christine and I are supposed to have a painting morning. Or we will after Cindy and Dad get back from the hospital. Once I finish here I will go over to Cindy's and keep Christine company until Cindy gets back. 

Then I am supposed to be getting supper for everyone. It won't be anything too fancy for sure. I have reserved two large frozen chicken pot pies from the Chicken Farm. (They are as close to homemade as you can get. Made in small batches from scratch using all natural ingredients and organic chicken.) I will have those with some salad and I am going to pick up a fruit tray for dessert. I will do it all at Cindy's as it is just so difficult for dad these days, all the moving about, etc. Tomorrow night my brother is planning on taking us out to an Indian meal so if I cook it at Cindy's that means dad doesn't have to deal with going out two nights in a row, on top of being at the emergency this morning. 

Sometimes you just have to do what you just have to do.

 

(source)

I was a little bit nervous getting up and going into the living room this morning. Yesterday morning when I went in and went to turn the lamp on, there was a huge grasshopper sitting on the pillow on the sofa right next to the table that the lamp is on. Okay, so it was only about an inch long, but it might as well have been six inches long, I was that startled and scared.  I quickly went and got my stick vacuum cleaner and attached a brush to the end and I sucked that grasshopper up before he could jump away or on me or whatever.

What make me  wonder though, is how I did not notice it being in here the night before, as it must have been in my home the night before and why the cats were not after it? It must have been keeping a very low profile.

Between one thing or another with wasps, ants and now this grasshopper (and we won't talk about fruit flies) this has certainly been a year for wildlife getting into my house in one way or another!

I noticed yesterday that my next door neighbor has a wasp deterrent hanging on their front porch. It looks a bit like an elongated hot air balloon.  I should get me one of those. Then maybe the wasps will leave the hummingbird feeder alone.

 

 

(source)

I think David and Christine have been enjoying their visit down thus far. They have stayed very busy. Yesterday they, along with Cindy and Dan, explored a wetlands nature park that is just down the road from my place in the morning and in the afternoon David and Christine went to Port George. It was quite foggy however. But Christine did get some interesting photographs of some of the topography and sea life. There are seals there that sun themselves on small Islands, but the Islands were hard to see. I have been there before to watch them. After that they went exploring at a small nature area at the end of Cindy's street and Christine was able to take some photos of interesting looking fungi.

Christine likes to sketch and paint as well. She also teaches an art class at the home her late father was a resident of.  Just simple things but my brother attends also and helps out and the residents really enjoy this activity and the company/visits. They have always been people who give back to the community in whatever way that they can. That is something I really admire about them.  The Lord's hands in action.

 

(source)

Face to face with the sunflower,

Cheek to cheek with the rose,

We follow a secret highway

Hardly a traveler knows.

The gold that lies in the folded bloom

Is all our wealth;

We eat of the heart of the forest

With innocent stealth.

We know the ancient roads

In the leaf of a nettle,

And bathe in the blue profound

Of a speedwell petal.

~Mary Webb (1881-1927)

Oh how I miss the days that I could traipse around the countryside. I am an armchair traveler now and must content myself with the travels and words of others. How blessed we are to have so many talented people in the world to share their travels with us. I have always loved to watch David Attenborough and Michael Palin is another favorite of mine.  Also I like to watch canal boat journeys/holidays. The late Prunella Scales and her husband Timothy West did several canal boat journey programs. He was a great actor in the theatre and she was best known for playing Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers. They were both great actors of the stage, etc. however. Their son Samuel West plays Seigfried  Farnham in All Creatures Great and Small. 

Anyways, I do so love to watch these travel and nature shows. I did take a short journey on a Canal Boat with our friends Jo and Colin in the U.K. one summer when they brought their Canal Boat up close to where we lived. We had a short jaunt down the canal and then had lunch at a pub. There will often be pubs situated close to the Canals. It was such a lovely day and journey. I quite enjoyed it. So quiet and peaceful.

 

(source)

I spent last evening trying to wear my new eyeglasses. I have never had such a difficult time adjusting to a new pair of glasses before. I can only think that it is because I got the lens's that change to darker in the light. I did wear them for the longest time ever last evening.  For at least 3 hours.  I tried again this morning, but there seems to be a halo around everything.  It is either the glasses or my eyes are deteriorating even more, which I hope not. I have always said I would rather go deaf than blind. Not to be able to see would be so hard. That is what happened to our Aunt Thelma when she got put into the home. She had had her leg amputated and could no longer go up the stairs to her apartment as she was in a wheelchair and  then in the home she went blind from detached retinas that were not noticed.  She did not live long after that. I suppose she had lost her will to go on. It does happen.

I really must wind this down now as I need to get ready to go over to keep Christine company.  I will leave you with a thought for the day now . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The time you enjoy wasting

is not wasted time.

~anon

In The English Kitchen today  . . . Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Bake for two. This was simple and delicious. A lovely hearty breakfast, or even a simple supper. Quick and easy to make as well.

I hope that you have a lovely day.  May it be filled with love and sunshine. 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!    

   

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)

Misty mornings  . . .  because I know a bright sunny day is in store.

 

(source)

Orange Marmalade . . . love it.

 

(source)

Bouquets of pretty flowers  . . . 

 

(source)

Chocolate covered grapes  . . .  who knew such a thing existed.  

 

(source)

Glass jar storage. I love it.

 

(source)

A pretty entrance that starts outside the home  . . . 

 

(source)

Sunflowers  . . .  love, love, love  . . . 

 

(source)

Wild horses  . . . 

 

(source)

Homemade donuts  . . . 

 

(source)

The way light plays  . . . so pretty in a forest. 

 

(source)

Blueberries  . . . 

 

(source)

Foggy   . . . 

 

(source)

Vintage . . . 

 

(source)

Vegetables  . . .  there isn't one I don't like.

 

(source)

A warm jumper/cardigan . . . 

 

(source)

A pretty soup taurine  . . . 

 

(source)

Nesting  . . .  I am a nester  . . . 

 

(source)

mmmm . . . biscotti  . . . 

 

(source)

Acorns  . . . 

 

(source)

Grey and white  . . .  pompom fringe  . . . 

 

(source)

Enamel coffee pots  . . . 

 

(source)

Crochet blankets  . . . 

And those are my favorite things for this week.  I hope that some of them were also yours!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*When authenticity is valued over character,

Our willingness to bend the truth to

look authentic will eventually kill both

our authenticity and our character.

~Unknown

 

In The English Kitchen today. Baked Beans for One. Simple. Delicious. Comforting.  We really enjoyed these. 

I hope you have a lovely day. We all enjoyed our time together at the Big Scoop last night, especially Eileen. She loves to be with family. Especially when she knows that nobody there is going to be critical of her or judge her unfairly. We all just love her very much and she likes being with us. She is pretty hard not to love I think. Anyways, you all have a lovely day!  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!