Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

  JUNE 25th, 2026

Estate Lane,

Nova Scotia

14*C/58*F

Mostly sunny

No Umbrella Needed Today

Dear Neighbor,

Surprise!  Yes, I am writing to you a day earlier this week as tomorrow Cindy, Eileen and I are going to take that road trip we had planned for the other week. Eileen is really looking forward to it. We are going to maybe pick up a few last things for her apartment and we all have a great day planned. It should be fun.

Yesterday they moved a few larger items over to Eileen's apartment, like her bed and television. I was crying in bed last night thinking about her moving out. Oh, I know that it is necessary. I will miss having her here. Its silly to cry, after all she is only moving to another part of town. It's not that far away and I will be able to see and spend time with her any time I want to.  I have just enjoyed having her here so very much. These past six months have been a real blessing to us both. And yes, I do worry about her being in her apartment on her own, which is also silly. She has lived on her own before. All will be well. 

We have plans to still do the Wednesday night suppers with family, and then Saturday night movie nights and Sunday family dinners. So . . . still a lot of time to spend together. I'm just being a big baby.

 

(source)

Speaking of Wednesday night dinners, what a fiasco last night was. We got there and were all seated, but then had to change our table. It was right under the heat pump and the air conditioning was blowing right on top of us. Not pleasant at all and very cold.  So we moved over a table. The waitress took all of our orders.  Dad ordered a Cheeseburger and fries, no ketchup on the burger. Hazel had her usual baked haddock dinner. Eileen wanted the lasagna and garlic bread. Cindy and I both ordered the Crispy Chicken Burger special, which came with bacon and BBQ sauce on it and fries. We both requested no Steak Seasoning on the burgers. Too much salt.

Almost an hour later the waitress came to say that none of the orders had gone in due to a technological glitch. Usually they go in right from the iPad thing the waitresses carry, and it had failed. But she assured us that we would get ours next. Hazel had to send hers back because her fish was overdone and burnt.  Dad had ketchup on his burger, but he ate it anyways.  There was Steak Seasoning on both Cindy's and my burgers.  Oh, and this is the piece de resistance. There was a lipstick stain on Cindy's glass of water and she wasn't wearing lipstick. Eileen's lasagna was perfect and she really enjoyed it.

And dad kept saying he misses Chinese food. He wants to go to that horrible Chinese restaurant in Greenwood. Cindy would take him anytime and she and Dan will just go to Wendy's. So maybe that is what they will do next week. Maybe Eileen and I will try something else.

It was not the waitress's fault last night. I don't think any of us blamed her. It was just one of those things. Some days are just like that.

The lipstick on the glass though  . . . .

 

(source)

I had this recipe that I really wanted to make earlier this week for Cinnamon Coffee Crinkle Cookies . . . An Amazing Ultimate Recipe for 12 Cookies

You really cannot trust what you read or what you see any more.

This is what was promised.  I didn't think it looked like AI. If something looks AI generated I always give it a skip.  Looks can be very deceiving, however.

I am a very seasoned baker. Most of the time when I bake anything, it turns out without fail.  This is what I got . . . 

 

Is this even the same cookie???? It sure doesn't look like the same cookie.  I followed the ingredients and directions to the "T".  The only thing I did differently was to let them chill overnight. The batter was very sticky. The cookies are way darker than the photograph. The sugar crinkles look like warts, and they spread in the pan like crazy. Even though I had left three inches in between them, they still spread out to touch each other. 

Plus they are not nice cookies. Not nice at all. They are far too sweet and the texture is like goo.

I tried to leave a comment on the recipe page. No comments allowed. That should be the first warning signal when you go to make something. If they don't allow comments, then they are probably not very reputable. They probably haven't even cooked or baked what they are sharing. Its all just click bait.

 

(source)

Plants that wake when others sleep -

Timid jasmine buds that keep

Their fragrance to themselves all day,

But when the sunlight dies away

Let the delicious secret out

To every breeze that roams about

~Thomas Moore, Jasmine

There was jasmine in the hedgerow that ran along the back of the cottage property that I lived in when I worked at the Manor. In the summer the scent of it would whisper through the windows at nightfall, a most pleasant smell to fall asleep to . . . 

During the day the hedge would be abuzz with bees and the like. One time I even spied a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feasting on the blooms. I was certain it was a Hummingbird, but it was not. There are none of those to be found in the U.K. Just the moths who trick us into thinking we have seen the bird.  

Once I found out what it really was I was just as excited as if I had actually seen a Hummingbird so it was all good.

That was such a beautiful environment to live in. When I think about it, what a great experience that was for me having been born and brought up in Canada and having lived a simple ordinary life. Almost like a dream really. If I had not lived it myself, I would not have believed it. 

Life is a beautiful thing with all of its twists and turns. You never quite know where it is going to take you.

 

(source)

Cindy's birthday is coming up soon. I wonder how we will celebrate it this year. Her Birthday is on the 6th and mom's was on the 9th. For years and years I have mixed the two up because they are so close together.  I remember now because I tell myself that Cindy's comes first. I would tell you how old she will be, but I won't because she doesn't like people to know.  Lets just say she is older than her teeth and younger than her hair.

I have ordered something special as a gift for her, but am waiting on it arriving. It should have been here last Friday, but I am still waiting. I cannot tell you what it is because she reads this and that would be telling her. 

Something I have always struggled with it keeping secret the gifts that I get for others. I get so much pleasure in gifting others that I almost burst from the joy of it all right from the time I have decided on the gift. It was really difficult for me when my children were growing up, buying Christmas presents for them and then having to wait until Christmas to give them their gifts. I could not wait. But I did. Because I had to. But it was so hard.

Most of my pleasure in gifting comes from seeing the recipient open the gift. I try really hard to buy gifts that I know they will love. I am the same with cards. I always buy a card that I would like to receive myself. I put a LOT of thought into cards.  

Oddly enough I am not that great at receiving gifts. I feel embarrassed and shy about it. Almost like I don't deserve to get what I am being given. I am more comfortable going off on my own and opening my gifts in secret than I am in doing it in person. I wonder am I alone in that? 

 

(source)

I will need to go out today and get birdseed. The blackbirds and starlings have emptied my feeder and I have no seed left. I know  . . .  they don't really need to be fed in the summer months, but I enjoy it so much. So do the cats.  Perhaps that is selfish of us.

Last night when Eileen and I got home we spent some time picking the dead blooms off of the Petunias in the front of the house. I am never sure what is the right way to treat plants. I love to look at them and I revel in their beauty, but when it comes to care, I am totally ignorant. Perhaps that is a question for mister google later on. I do know I was told not to water my geraniums too often or it would turn their leaves yellow, so I am trying not to do that.

I still want to buy myself a clothes drying rack so that I can hang some things up outside to dry. It would only be small things, nothing large like bedding. You would need a HUGE rack to be able to do that.

One of these years I will get myself a patio set so that I can comfortably sit outside in the summer and enjoy some fresh air. But then I would feel bad about leaving the cats indoors. A Catio would be nice, but then again, I don't want them to get a taste for the outside or they will always be trying to sneak out.

Its a conundrum.

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

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*To find a seashell is to discover

a world of imagination.

~Michelle Held

In The English Kitchen today Easy Biscuit Muffin Breads. I baked these the other day, a small batch recipe making only six breads, and they were fabulous! Very quick and easy to make. You can put them together in seconds and then bake. No fuss, no muss, just stir some ingredients together and spoon them into muffin cups. I baked these in my toaster oven/air fryer.  They came out fabulous and even taste good two days later!

I hope you have a beautiful Thursday. (Almost said Friday there, but I hope you have a great Friday as well.)  I will let you know how the road trip goes on Saturday when I write again.  Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy!  Don't forget in the meantime  . . . 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

Well it rained off and on all day yesterday and it rained during the night, and a showery day is in the forecast today as well.  I don't mind, it keeps the flowers well watered and that saves me a chore.

I meant to tell you about my eye appointment yesterday but totally forgot. There has been another huge change in my prescription. So they have booked me in for another appointment in December. I have ordered new eye glasses. I knew my vision had become increasingly blurry and had been having headaches. If there is another change in December then he is going to refer me to the specialist for cataract surgery. But all told, diabetically speaking everything looks a.o.k. which is always a relief to me.

This time I got the glasses that get darker outside. I have not had those kind in years, but I felt they might help with the glare when it's really sunny. I have never been able to really wear sunglasses. They kind of make me feel sick to my stomach, so I am hoping these will make a bit of a difference without that happening.

Dan and Cindy went over and hung Eileen's living room curtains yesterday. They did a really great job. I think they look really nice. I have ordered her a curtain and some magnetic rods for her front door window.

I also ordered two magnetic curtain rods to hang it up. It comes with a tie back you can use in the middle to pull it back during the day.  Nobody can see through it, but it does allow light in. So she can have her privacy and light.

Basically all we are waiting for now is for them to bring over the big stuff like her bed, dresser, television, etc. Then it will be ready to live in.  I hope she will be comfortable and feel safe. This will be a big step, her living on her own. She did live briefly on her own back in the early 2000's. But then she started living with a lady and her husband from church where she lived until she got married to Tim. So this will be a bit of a change for her, but I am sure she will cope very well. I am close by at any rate and only a phone call away. As is my sister.  And her dad is not that far either, plus she has all of the CSS workers to help out.

All will be well.

 

(source)

I was thinking this morning about how shy I was when I was growing up. Painfully so. I would never stick up for myself or speak out, not about anything. That probably made me a target for bullies. Well, no doubt about it, it did make me a target. I am not so shy anymore, well not about most things.  There are still situations I am not comfortable in.  I don't like crowds or large social gatherings. I am much happier in a small group. I also don't like to complain about anything. I tend to take things as they come.

For the most part I think most people are doing the best that they can or know how to do and how can you fault anyone for doing their best?

My sister has always been the one to stand up for me. She is like our mother. She doesn't let anyone try to get anything past her. She will speak up and stand up for what she thinks is wrong. I applaud her for that and wish I could be more so.  I am pretty brave when I am hiding behind my keyboard, but in real life it is quite different. I am not brave at all.

 

(source)

Eileen and I watched that old John Travolta movie yesterday, Phenomenon. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the music in it. I have been a John Travolta fan since high school when he played Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back Kotter. I have pretty much liked everything he has done, although admittedly I have not seen all of his films.

I am not a fan of Quentin Tarantino films so I have not seen any of those. For the most part, I like nice movies, and am not a huge fan of violence, blood and gore.

I also don't really like movies like Space Odyssey or Planet of the Apes. I love a happy ending, and films which verge on the edge of being based on true stories. I love period films and shows and I adore vintage television and old films. I don't care how corny they are. I find them very charming.

 

(source)

For the first time in a while I got three recipes done and dusted yesterday and a fourth one that I will finish up today. I haven't done that in forever. I don't know where my time evaporates to, but it goes and most days I am lucky to get one recipe done. 

I have been doing this recipe blogging for a very long time now. It is something which I really enjoy and keeps me busy. I only share the good things with people. You never, or hardly ever see the failures. You can be pretty sure that if I share something with my readers then it is a recipe that works, or at least that has worked in my kitchen. I cannot be held responsible for recipes that don't work when people change them or don't follow the direction. 

That always makes me laugh when people say, this didn't work  . . .  after they have completely changed the recipe.

I get a lot of nitpickers on my EK Facebook page. People who never comment and then will have something to say when I spell something differently than they think I should, or when I call a North American Biscuit a Biscuit.  All of the experts come crawling out of the woodwork then. Or when I will post a traditional British recipe, the experts come crawling out then as well. I recently posted a recipe for Cornish Splits. (A sweet yeasted roll, split and filled with jam and cream, or simply buttered.) Oh, the things people had to say about those. Insisting they were Devon Splits, or Cream buns, or Greg's Cream Cookies, etc. Another person criticizing me for cutting them open and not tearing them open. It happens every time I post a British recipe.

Why can't you just say that looks delicious? It's a good thing I love what I do. I think I would do it even if I didn't have to make a living for myself.

 

(source)

There are quite a few wild rose bushes at the beginning of our street. They are so beautiful this time of year.  I am sure that Brier Island is absolutely gorgeous at the moment as well. I wish I could still walk about without being in so much pain. I would take a trip down there with Eileen. I am sure she would love the day trip out. I still want to take her somewhere to stay overnight once all of this stuff is over. A place where we can stay in a nice room and have a nice supper, maybe with a pool. Would love to do some sight-seeing, but it's beyond me at this point.

Speaking of sight-seeing, Eileen brought her album here to share from her trip to Disney in Florida back in 2011. (I am never sure if it is Disney Land or Disney World.) That was quite a trip she took. She had a lovely time. They had the quick passes so that they didn't have to wait in line for things. She went with the lady that she lived with before she got married. They drove down and visited Amish country, etc. all the way down. 

When I was a child, I always wanted to go to Disney Land. Our next door neighbors had a station wagon that had those travel decals on the back windows and one was from Disney Land. I used to stand in the driveway and look at them and dream. 

I have always had a traveler's heart and a pauper's budget. I did enjoy all the trips I was able to take when I lived in the U.K. however. Those were really wonderful. I got to see and do a lot.

Now I do most of my travelling from my armchair and that suits me just fine. It is much more affordable although I do confess that I often wish I could taste what they are eating as it looks that good, especially when they are at Amish Buffets.

That's one thing I miss here.  British Carveries. All the Sunday Roasts and as much vegetables on the side as you could wish for. And Yorkshire puddings. There is nothing like that here.

Hmmm . . .  maybe it is time for breakfast.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Strong people don't 

put others down.
They lift them up.

~anon

In The English Kitchen today  . . . Swedish Pizza Salad. Apparently in Sweden this is what they serve with Pizza.  It's a delicious, lightly spiced and herby coleslaw vinaigrette.  We both really enjoyed this. It is low carb and relatively healthy. It also keeps in the fridge for about a week. 

I hope you have a lovely Wednesday. Eileen is going over to the old apartment today to sort out a few more things with Tim. I am going to clean my fridge. Maybe get rid of some of the half filled jars, etc. They seem to accumulate when I am not looking.  In any case, have a great day!  Stay safe. Be blessed, and 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 Day Book . . .

 

FOR TODAY, June 23rd, 2026

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

 

(source)

It's wet, it's raining and it's garbage day. It will be a bit cooler today because of the rain.

I AM THINKING ...

Yesterday was my daughter's son's birthday. He turned 13. I have never met him or seen him other than in photographs. I did send him a card and a monetary gift, but I have no way of knowing if he got it. My gifts are never acknowledged. I just assume he and his sister get what I send to them. The most important thing is that I send them. Hopefully one day . . . 

 

(source)

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

I am wondering when Sheila is going to be brought to the hospital here in town so that Eileen and I can go visit her. I pray for her recovery every day. I hope she continues to do well.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

The power of prayer. It has sustained me the whole of my life. I learned to pray as a small child and I have been praying ever since. Sometimes my prayers are answered right away, other times I have to wait a long time, and still other times answers do not seem to come, but I know that in God's own timing and will, answers will come. Maybe not the answers I wish for, but that's okay. Prayer is a great comforter and companion nevertheless. And I trust in the will of God, either way.

 

(source)

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

Fresh local produce during the summer months. Berries, vegetables, etc. I wish I was young enough and capable of having my own summer garden, but alas those days are gone. I am grateful for farm shops.

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Creamy White Chicken Chili. An old favorite.  Quick, easy and delicious on a rainy day.

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

Tuscany Butter Beans from Recipes by Anna. These look really delicious. We are trying to get more legumes into our diets.

THIS I BELIEVE ...

 

(source)

He is always with me. I have had too many things happen in my life that denote His presence, tiny miracles, to believe otherwise. It cannot all be coincidence.

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

 

(source)

Watching the sun go down  . . .  that light, the going to bed bird sounds, etc.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

 

(source)

Children's laughter. It is infectious.

I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...

 

(source)

Granny circles  . . . 

 

(source)

Crochet pin cushions . . . so cute.

 

(source)

Little knitted squirrels  . . .  not sure if they are real or not, but they sure are cute!

 

(source)

Rose tie backs  . . . 

 

(source)

Pretty little dresses  . . . 

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

Vintage cookbooks and recipes  . . . 

SOMETHING ELSE THAT I ENJOY ...

Vintage Illustration  . . . 

I AM READING ...

THE JOY OF SNOW, by Elizabeth Goudge 

Childhood in the cathedral city of Wells, summer holidays in Guernsey, and reminiscences of Edwardian clothes, nannies and aunts mark this autobiography by the popular novelist and writer of children's book and short stories.

I have long enjoyed her works and I love reading autobiographies.

In her own words. “Old age, I find, is a time when you start doing all the things that in earlier years you reprobated in older people, and were certain you would never do yourself,m and if there was one thing more than another that I was determined not to do, it was to write an autobiography. But I was asked to do it by a few friends of the type to whom one says, in the words of Philip Sidney, ‘Your desire to my heart is an absolute commandment.’ And so I obeyed. This book is an attempt to recapture happy memories, and only happy ones, and with them some of the joy in places and people that I have known, and share them. And to share too, some of the conclusions I have come to about work and life.”

A very enjoyable read so far.

THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...

 

(source)

Quilted throws  . . . . 

 

(source)

Pretty tea cups  . . . 

 

(source)

Cottage gardens  . . . 

 

(source)

The old ways  . . . 

 

(source)

Butterflies  . . . 

MAKES ME SMILE ...

 

(source)

Red gingham anything  . . . 

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

The Other Bennet Sister, on Britbox . . .  plus we finished ALL of the Twilight movies. I had not seen the last two.

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Reading is a passport

to countless adventures.

~Mary Pope Osborne

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

  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰

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

  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 

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

░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ 

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!    

   

All Things Nice . . .

 

(source)

This patch was once a dress that mother wore

When Madge was young, I see her plain as day

Bending above the little new-born one

Laughing at her small hands . . .  she was so gay,

She bought it at a sale, I liked it too,

It matched her eyes that were so very blue.

This patch was Clyde's new shirt, he had a girl

A little neighbor living hear at hand,

And so he thought himself in love with her

Must have a fancy shirt, for they had planned

To go to town in the old carryall,

When he would finish plowing in the fall.

And this was Grandma's apron red as fire

She always loved bright colors, I declare

She'd pick out red or some outlandish shade,

She said she needed color with her hair,

and got the brightest shade that you could see

Somehow they seemed to suit her to a T.

And this was mine, pink with white flowers on

I wore it first the day I met your dad,

He said it matched my cheeks (but men say things)

I guess I didn't look so bad

It made a hit with him and anyway

It wasn't long before the wedding day.

The rose was yours, I saw it in a store,

The day we went to town to sell the cow,

It cost too much I know, but then and there,

I know I'd have to get a piece somehow,

I made it cute, with piping of pale green

It always washed up fresh and looked so clean.

Just an old fashioned quilt and yet it brings

Fond memories to set my heart aglow,

And bids me walk again down memory's land,

Held in the glamour of long ago.

Each day a patch with loving fingers sewn,

Holding the brightness of the days we've known.

~Edna Jacques, Patchwork Quilt

Aunt Hattie's Place, 1949

Oh how I loved reading this poem this morning. It brought back fond memories of my maternal grandmother's quilt which used to lay on our parent's bed. A mishmash of fabrics and patterns, it was a crazy quilt, yarn tufted with dark blue yarn. I loved to lay on it and trace my fingers over the patterns and wonder what they would say could they talk. So much life and so many stories, scraps loving gathered and sewn together and designed to keep a person warm. Almost as warm as the history held within its threads and the fingers which lovingly ministered to it all. 

History, it only exists so long as there are those around to document it and to remember it. When that all stops then those days and people are lost . . .  as if they were never here. That is a sad, sad thought. We must carry these stories and the people that lived them down to our children and our children's children, so that they live on.

Even when all we have left are the words to carry.

 

(source)

Eileen is off and out  early this morning to a yard sale that the People's First group she belongs to are having. I don't know how long she will be there, but it looks to be a fine day. It is a bit chilly still at 14*C/57*F but I am sure it will warm up as the day goes on. I must tell her to wear a sweater. I know she won't want to carry too much with her, but I don't want her to get a chill.  She was excited when she got home from being out yesterday. She and her worker had hung her shower curtain up and laid the bathmat out in her apartment. And she found out she is getting internet. I think that there is a special program through the CSS people that provides them with internet. It is called GEO Connects.  She was very happy about that. I think I will try to see about having my old laptop fixed up so that she can use it perhaps. So long as it doesn't cost a lot of money. We will have to see. 

Despite all that is scary at the moment, it is also an exciting time for her. New beginnings. A fresh start. I hope and pray each night that it will all work out well for her in the end, and that I am there to help to get her to the point where she is healthy, happy and safe. That is all any parent wants for their children.

 

(source)

A drop fell on the apple tree,

Another on the roof;

A half a dozen kissed the eaves,

And made the gables laugh.

A few went out to help the brook,

That went to help the sea.

Myself conjectured, were they pearls,

What necklaces could be!

The dust replaced in hoisted roads,

The birds jocoser sung;

The sunshine threw his hat away,

The orchard spangles hung.

The breezes brought dejected lutes,

And bathed them in the glee;

The East put out a single flag,

And signed the fete away.

~Emily Dickenson, Summer Shower

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer, as well as it being Father's Day. Another season begins. I find myself wondering how did it happen  . . .  how has winter suddenly become spring which has suddenly become summer . . . 

These days . . .  they seem to pass far too quickly for my liking. I want to throw a lasso around them and hold them closer, tuck them in tightly so they cannot escape. So that I can savor each one for that tiny bit longer. Hours  . . .  they pass and before we know it they are gone.  Time is like that I guess. It passes right in front of us and we scarce see it go by . . . as it trickles away, it does so slowly, so slow we do not notice it departing until it is gone.

Each summer I think I am going to get done many things  . . .  I make plans . . . plans to do this, that or the other  . . .  and if I am lucky I will realize but a few. But that is okay. God willing, summer will come again, and there will be new chances to accomplish what I don't get done this year.  The important thing  . . .  the thing which matters most, is that I grasp each day as it comes and make it count for something.

 

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I love this picture so yes, I AM using it again . . . 

My Great-uncle Silas used to live in a small stone reed-thatched cottage on the edge of a pine-wood, where nightingales sang passionately in great numbers through early summer nights and on into the mornings and often still in the afternoons. On summer days after rain the air was sweetly saturated with the fragrance of the pines, which mingled subtly with the exquisite honeysuckle scent, the strange vanilla heaviness from the creamy elder-flowers in the garden hedge and the perfume of old pink and white crimped-double roses of forgotten names. It was very quiet there except for the soft water-whispering sound of leaves and boughs, and the squabbling and singing of birds in the house-thatch and the trees. The house itself was soaked with years of scents, half-sweet, half-dimly-sour with the smell of wood smoke, the curious odour of mauve and milk-coloured and red geraniums, of old wine and tea and the earth smell of my Uncle Silas himself.

H.E. Bates, from My Uncle Silas, 1939

Old people do have a smell. I have been reading about it. As people age (from around age 40) their skin's natural antioxidant defenses decline, leading to increased oxidation and higher production of 2-nonenal. No, you are not imagining it. This compound has a distinct grassy, greasy, or musty odor. It is oil-based, which means it can adhere to various surfaces and textiles, making it difficult to eliminate completely through standard cleaning methods. You can get rid of it by airing out your home frequently and letting your house breathe.  Keeping soft furnishings and textiles washed and fresh.  House plants are nature's air purifiers.  Air fresheners, scented candles, etc.

Persimmon soap. I recently purchased some. My sister told me about it. (I hope she wasn't hinting at anything, lol)  She uses it. I bought some. It actually smells quite nice.  I use it every day now, along with my regular soap.  My friend Jacquie told me that she had been researching old people's smell also, and that old people really need to clean behind their ears very well, and their necks. 

I knew that there was a method to my madness in having  weakness for scented candles. I can now justify it.

 

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This is so true and it actually has nothing to do with possessions. Practicing gratitude is key to having a more abundant life. The more you appreciate what you have, the more you attract into your life. Gratitude is not just a fleeting emotion; it is a transformative practice that can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life. Embrace gratitude, and watch as abundance flows into your life in unexpected ways. A positive attitude can significantly attract abundance into your life by shifting your mindset from scarcity to appreciation, creating a positive cycle of receiving more good things.  

The key to an abundant life lies in wanting and appreciating what you already have.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Gratitude: 

Daily Gratitude Journaling: Write down three things you are grateful for each day. This practice helps you focus on the positive aspects of your life and reinforces a mindset of abundance.

Express Gratitude to Others: Take time to thank people who have positively impacted your life. This not only makes them feel appreciated but also creates a ripple effect of positivity.

Mindfulness and Reflection: Spend a few moments each day reflecting on the good things in your life. This can be done through meditation or simply pausing to appreciate your surroundings. 

Start and End Your Day with Gratitude: Begin your day by acknowledging what you are thankful for and end it with a reflection on the positive moments you experienced.

This is the way I set out to live my life in recent years. There is nothing like losing almost everything you have to give you a fresh perspective on the things that are truly important and the things that matter most. I think I have always been a pretty grateful person anyways, but over these past number of years I have come to live and appreciate my life and acknowledge my blessings even more than I ever had in the past.  Its like magic . . . an attitude of gratitude magically turns what you already have and who you are into more.

Bailey

I called Carol yesterday for an update on Sheila.  She is doing very well it happens. The sister of our friend June (who lives one street over) is actually in the same room as her and they have a great time talking with each other throughout the day.  She is getting lots of visitors as well, which is great. She is waiting now to be transferred from Kentville to the hospital here in town, which will mean she will get even more visitors. It is not known yet when or if she will be returning home, but for not the prognosis is positive.

I found out more about Bailey as well. He is only about 6 years old, not an old dog as I had thought. He is relatively young.  Apparently until he came to live with Sheila he had been kept in a closet until he was rescued. Hearing that made me feel so sad. He is such a charming little dog with such a sweet personality.

He is living the life at the moment. Having such a good time at my sister's. Lots of attention and my father's cat is now courting him. (She is a funny cat that one.) My sister got him a bag of liver treats when we were out on Thursday which I am sure he really enjoys. 

It is a source of great comfort to Sheila to know he is being well cared for. One less thing for her to worry about.

 

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Not to jinx the situation or anything, but since I started rubbing all of my air exchanger vents with peppermint oil and inserting peppermint oil soaked cotton balls I have stopped seeing wasps in the house. Now I just concentrate on the one in my bedroom, as I am entirely sure that is how they were gaining access. It is not a smell that I particularly enjoy myself but what needs be. I will do whatever I have to to keep the peace between the wasps and me.

Oh, and yesterday I finally received two of those flower things I had ordered, only half of what I had originally ordered. And I will be honest, they are cheap, cheap, cheap and look nothing much like the ones I had thought I was ordering. They look like cheap dollar store tat, which, considering that they have come from China, is not surprising. (I had no idea that is where they were coming from.) To say I am disappointed is a bit of an understatement. I have stuck them in the garden anyways, and live in hope that the others will arrive at least. 

The original ad showed them being enjoyed by birds and all sorts. Oh, the power of AI. I need to learn to be much more discerning as do we all.

On a positive note, I had put the red and white toadstool wind thingie into my wagon planter on the deck. I believe it looks nice there, but it might not. Cindy will let me know. She is really good at these things.

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

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Kindness may seem small

but it carries with it

the power to change hearts,

brighten days,

and even transform lives.

~unknown

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Rocky Road Brownies.  Lovely little bites of fudgy chocolatey deliciousness!

I hope you have a great weekend!  I will not be posting on Monday as I have an early eye examination. My yearly. I hope it goes well. I know my left eye has gotten worse. I will be ordering new glasses this time regardless as the nose piece is missing on the ones I am wearing and it's time to get a new pair.  Whatever you get up to this weekend, I hope it bodes well for you. Be happy, 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!