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!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

(source)

What wound'rous life is this I lead! 

Ripe apples drop about my head;

The luscious clusters of the vine

Upon my mouth do crush their wine;

The nectarine and curious peach

Into my hands themselves do reach;

Stumbling on melons as I pass,

Ensnar'd with flow'rs, I fall on grass.

Meanwhile the mind, from pleasure less,

Withdraws into it's happiness;

The mind, that ocean where each kind

Does straight its own resemblance find,

Yet it creates, transcending these,

Far other words, and other seas;

Annihilating all that's made

To a green thought in a green shade.

~Andrew Marvell, (1621-1678) from The Garden 

Thoughts  . . . I'll have whatever he's smoking, lol. Seriously though what an interestingly fanciful perception of what is obviously a garden filled with a variety of fruit trees and other delights. I think to myself, what an interesting man. I want to get to know him more  . . . 

 

(source)

A fanciful portrait of a fanciful man

He is known as a pivotal figure in English Literature. Thought to be the single most compelling embodiment of the change that came over English society and letters in the course of the 17th century. In an era that makes a better claim than most upon the familiar term transitional, Marvell wrote a varied array of exquisite lyrics that blend Cavalier grace with Metaphysical wit and complexity. He first turned into a panegyrist for the Lord Protector and his regime and then into an increasingly bitter satirist and polemicist, attacking the royal court and the established church in both prose and verse. It is as if the most delicate and elusive of butterflies somehow metamorphosed into a caterpillar. 

He was the son of a clergyman, attending Trinity College at 13 and gaining a BA degree from Cambridge, and travelled extensively in Europe throughout his lifetime.  Really he led quite a fascinating life which you can read about here. His political writings, particularly those against the royal court of the day and established church have earned him a reputation as an ardent patriot and defender of religious and political liberty, with a significant influence on English Literature.

I think were I to hold a dinner party with a variety of guests plucked from history, I might consider inviting him. He would be a very interesting man to hold a conversation with I think.

 

 

(source)

  

I fell asleep to the deep rumbles of thunder last evening reverberating through this valley I live in. Deep and low they made the windows shake, although I did not see any lightening flash.  Just the  rumbles of thunder and then the drumming of rain on the rooftop as it fell.  Indeed this morning the street in front of the house holds puddles that have not yet dried so I know that my petunias and geraniums got a good dousing. A good thing as I felt too tired to water them when I got back from my sister's. 

It was a somewhat busy day yesterday. I did my work in the morning and then drove over to see to our father and make sure he got his lunch. Cindy had left a sandwich for him in the refrigerator and I brought him a cookie to enjoy for afters.  We spent a bit of time visiting before my sister and Dan returned from picking up our brother and his wife at the airport.

I don't often get to spend time with dad on his own. His world has become very narrow now. His mobility difficulties and lack of hearing really hamper him. You need to shout to be heard and you need to speak very slowly, which makes conversation difficult. Many times you need to repeat your words more than once and even then there is no guarantee he has actually heard you.  My brother is very soft spoken. Even I have difficulty hearing him sometimes. It will be interesting.

I did not stay long as I had a few things to do at home, but I went back over around supper time. I did not eat but did enjoy several hours visit with everyone. It was nice to see my sister-in-law as we had not seen her for a few years. They were going to go to the shore today and then we are all meeting at the Big Scoop for dinner later on. Eileen is pretty excited about that.  She loves her Uncle David and Aunt Christine.  She spent a week or so visiting them on her own once. It was a while before she got married so a long time ago now. I think David's girls were all still living at home at the time. They are all grown up now. 

 

(source)

I've been watching The Chosen, in the Wild with Bear Grylls on Amazon.  Well, I've watched two episodes. One where Luke Dimyan who plays Judas in the Chosen was with him and the other one with Elizabeth Tabish (Mary). All I can say is those are some very brave people. The things they end up doing in the Wild. I doubt I could ever do them. For one, you could not pay me enough to eat a scorpion or a tarantula. Or jump out of a helicopter, slide across a deep ravine on a pully, etc.  Nope, nope, nope.

Brave people.

The Chosen is probably one of my all time favorite television series. I think it has been done so very well, with all of the characters in it being portrayed so very realistically. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched it from beginning to end at this point and I am watching it again in anticipation for the release of the next series on November 15th. Prime will probably crash from the weight of people tuning in on that date. 

Series six will be very hard to watch as it will follow the day of Jesus Crucifixion, from the time of his arrest in Gethsemane to his death on the cross. All along, right from series one, my emotions have been very keenly involved and invested in this show as I watch it. I have cried so many times and been able to really feel the characters.  I cannot imagine how I am going to feel watching this next series. It is going to be gut wrenching, but necessary.

And then we have season 7 to look forward to  . . .  the resurrection. 

If you have never watched the Chosen I can't tell you how much you are missing out on in not doing so. You do not have to be a believer to enjoy it. It is excellent. Jonathan Roumie plays the best Jesus ever. He is very convincing in the role. Very.

 

(source)

I woke up at 5:30 this morning needing to use the loo so I did and then went back to bed, thinking I would just lay there until 6 but ended up sleeping right through until 6:30.  Most unusual for me.  Usually I go to bed at 9 pm. pray, listen to some talks and music and read until 10:30. Go to sleep while listening to the evening liturgy.  Sleep for about an hour, wake up. Go to the loo and then fall back asleep, where I will wake up literally every 2 hours throughout the night. Without fail. I know because I will look at the clock. Then I wake up at 6 a.m. and that's when my day starts. I cannot remember a time when I have slept straight the night through without having to get up several times at the very least. Not since before my kidney stones.  I don't know if this is normal. Usually I end up having a nap mid afternoon these days. Sometimes mid morning. All depending on what I have going on. I never used to nap. Obviously I need to nap now.  I dream very vivid dreams when I am asleep. Usually they go on all night long.  Just one long continuous dream. Last night I was dreaming about maggots. 

I know . . .  ugh . . . this was probably because I went to put something in the compost late yesterday afternoon and noticed maggots in the bin. Usually my compost is run through my countertop composter. It turns the compost into soil. I could probably just dump it in my back garden, but I put it into the bin. I compost most of my food waste that way, however it doesn't compost bones, hard stones and pits, large amounts of fat or cooked potato. I did some ham in it once and it got stuck. Took me forever to get that out of there so I learned my lesson with that one.  So you still do end up with some things that you need to put into the bin regardless. I love my composter though. 

 

(source)

I got myself a small masticating juicer. I haven't used it yet. I need to go and buy some fresh fruits/veg to juice. I used to have one in the U.K.  It was much larger than this one. This one is the perfect size for me. And I can put the masticated stuff into the composter. I love fresh juices. You can make all kinds of interesting combinations. I love pineapple, mango and ginger. I also love carrot and beetroot with spinach. Very healthy.

We are all meeting up later today to have dinner together at the restaurant we usually go to.  I will pick up Eileen. We have a reservation for 8 people which will be a large crew of us. I hope it all goes well. My dad will be happy to have all of his children there with him I am sure. Eileen just loves going out to dinner and to be honest so do I. It will be fun to all be together like that. I am looking forward to it, and with that I best leave you with a thought for the day as it is a quarter of 10 and I have a lot to do. I am really running later today!

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Interest is the most important

thing in life; Happiness is temporary,

But interest is continuous.

~Georgia O'Keefe

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Small Batch Corn Muffins.  This recipe makes only four tasty cornbread style muffins. They are moist and tender and sweet.  Delicious served warm, split and spread with butter. Yummy!

I hope that you have a lovely day. Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy.  Don't forget along the way of your day! 

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

A Day Book . . .

 

FOR TODAY, August 18, 2026

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

 

18*C/66*F mostly cloudy Rain expected over the next few days.

I went out to check my mail this morning and it felt quite humid to me. It's garbage day so there are bags lining the street.

I AM THINKING ...

My sister is off to the airport today with Dan to pick up my brother and his wife. I pray they all have safe journeys. My FB this morning reminded me that it was Peter Lee's birthday today. Poor Peter Lee. He's been gone several years now. I do miss him and his wife Audrey. They were very good friends. Peter used to email me a couple of times a week. I hope he has a Happy Heavenly Birthday.

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

I will be going over later this morning to check on my dad and make sure he is okay. Also to get him some lunch and take the dog out to do his business. I hope it is not bucketing down.

 

(source)

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

My happy quiet life. Simple days. Faith. Family. Friends. Home. Pets. Enough.

 

(source)

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

This little place that I get to visit each day and for each of you and your support and comments. It may take me a few days at times to respond, but I do get there. My lateness in responding is because I can only comment when I am on my PC. For some reason I can't leave comments on my iPhone or iPad. Not sure why that is. I can only sit at my PC for so long each day. That means it takes me longer to address comments. Sorry about that!  I do read each one and I appreciate each one as well!

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Potatoes O'Brien. For two. Simple and delicious. If there's a potato around, I am all in. I love LOVE potatoes. 

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST  . . . 

Mini Chicago Style Hot Dogs. The Tipsy Housewife.  Those look really good! I love hotdogs.

THIS I BELIEVE ...

This is truth and it happens seemingly overnight. Time passes far too quickly. 

 

(source)

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

Bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

Pink flowers, roses  . . . 

 

(source)

SOMETHING I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ...

Autumn. I love the sights, smells and feels. It is my favorite season of the year.

I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...

 

(source)

Cat coasters  . . . 

 

(source)

Scrappy clowns  . . . 

 

(source)

Snowflake garland  . . . 

 

(source)

Crossover Stich washcloths  . . . 

 

(source)

Scrappy quilted hot pads  . . . 

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

 

(source)

Framed botanicals  . . . 

SOMETHING ELSE I ENJOY ...

 

(source)

Dessert pies  . . . any kind.

I AM READING ...

AUNT DIMITY'S DEATH,  by Nancy Atherton

Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a bedtime story... ...Until the Dickensian law firm of Willis & Willis summons her to a reading of the woman's will. Down-on-her-luck Lori learns she's about to inherit a sizable estate -- if she can discover the secret hidden in a treasure trove of letters in Dimity's English country cottage. What begins as a fairy tale becomes a mystery - and a ghost story - in an improbably cozy setting, as Aunt Dimity's indomitable spirit leads Lori on an otherworldly quest to discover how, in this life, true love can conquer all. 

Lori Shepherd has nothing. She temps for a job, lives with two roommates, and has had her childhood stuffed toy, her only companion, destroyed. So her life is in shambles when she receives a letter from Willis & Willis, Attorneys. When she arrives at their home, she discovers that her childhood stories of Aunt Dimity weren’t fairy tales made up by her mother; Dimity was an actual person, her mother’s best friend. And now both her mother and Dimity have gone, and Dimity wants her to come to England and write the introduction to a children’s book made up of those stories. 

 But Lori has another surprise - both her mother and Dimity have written her posthumous letters detailing why they never told her about their connection, and her mother has left a photograph - the only clue to Dimity’s past life when her mother met her. She wants Lori to find out about the photo, because it will explain what Dimity would never talk about - her past. So, with the accompaniment of Bill, (Willis, Jr.) Lori sets out for London to find the truth and learn more about this fairy tale which wasn’t one at all . . . 

I am thoroughly enjoying this book. It has been a long time since I have looked forward to picking up a book and reading it in the way I am enjoying this one. I plan to read the whole series if I can. This is book 1. I am about 2/3 of the way through.

THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...

 

(source)

Pretty picnic baskets  . . . 

 

(source)

Bees and flowers  . . . 

 

(source)

Plush toys  . . . 

 

(source)

Cake  . . . 

 

(source)

Whites  . . . 

MAKES ME SMILE ...

 

(source)

Luna Lapin  . . . 

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

 

It never loses it's appeal for me  . . . 

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*I sat with my anger long enough

until she told me her

real name was grief.

~C.S. Lewis

And that is my daybook for this week!  Thanks always for being here!

  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰

⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 

✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•. ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥╬

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Have a beautiful 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!