Saturday Nice . . .

 

(source)

It's the little things I shall enjoy.

The sheltering hedge . . . the paper boy

Shieing the paper at the door;

That little minute just before

I light the candles on the cake;

The crazy flower beds I'll make.

Not having to be bright and gay,

Being yourself the whole long day,

Taking your time for household chores,

Not worrying about the floors;

Pushing the curtains back until

The sun pours over the window sill.

Putting small knick knacks here and there,

A shelf for things beneath the stair,

Giving away to foolish whims,

Filling the teacup 'till it brims;

Sponge cake for supper . . . eggs on toast

Browning potatoes with the roast.

Knowing that here within these walls

The quiet bedroom and the halls,

Are sanctity and peace of mind,

That here a lonely heart may find

All it has sought through rain and storm,

A little house to keep us warm.

~Edna Jacques, Home of My Own

Hills of Home, 1952

Each night when I lay in bed and whisper my prayers, I always thank God for this wee home of mine. I try never to take it for granted. A home of my own is what I prayed for and a home of my own is what God gave to me. On a quiet street with nice neighbors, with a wide front porch to sit out on and a pretty screen door, a lovely maple tree in the back yard . . . enough space to spread out in and to fill with the things I love. A shelter. A haven. An answer to my most heart felt prayers. It is not the home I imagined. It is not really mine, but rented, and that's okay. I know this is where God wanted me to be because this is what God gave to me.

"Remember the days you prayed for the things you have now."

 

(source)

We are coming into fresh bean season now. I picked up my first mess of beans the other day. I got a mix of yellow and green. I do so love fresh beans and I love the yellow ones most of all. Mom always called them "wax" beans. Yellow beans are commonly referred to as "wax beans" due to their smooth, glossy appearance and color that resembles bees wax, which is a defining characteristic of their pods. There is a degree of delicacy and refinement as opposed to green beans. 

I love them both, but the yellow ones  . . .  they have my heart.  When I lived in the U.K. you never saw yellow beans. They were extremely rare. I did grow some from seed and I enjoyed every one of them.

I like to steam them lightly and then dress them with a bit of cream and butter, some salt and black pepper. They are so very delicious done this way.

 

(source)

I am so pleased at how well Eileen has settled into her place, although to be sure, she is looking forward to coming here to spend the night tonight. And I am looking forward to having her.

Yesterday I washed all of the pink bedding from her bed at her old apartment. She had wanted me to just get rid of it as she said there were wasps in it.  I did not see any wasps, dead or alive and it is such a pretty pink, so I washed it all and will drop it off at her place when I go to pick her up. I also have bought her a set of cutlery.  The ones I gave her that dad had given me are real silver and are tarnishing. I did buy silver polish but I can't really see her polishing it, so I will get that back and keep it for myself I suppose.  I can polish it at any rate.

That reminds me of all the polishing I had to do when I worked at the Manor. There was no end to the copper and the silver in that house. I was always polishing. I would just get it all finished when I would have to start back at the beginning again. The housekeeper as well.

It cured me from ever wanting to really have any of that stuff myself. Mom had a silver tea set that was never used and silver plate cutlery that got used only at Christmas and Easter. Special occasions.

 

(source)

I brought a large quilt printed with pink cabbage roses to Eileen's the other day. It is to cover her sofa with. We used the matching shams to cover the sofa pillows. It looks quite nice.

She has her appointment with the Gyno department on Wednesday afternoon.  Hopefully we will know more about what comes next after that. Her worker Cassidy is taking her. I hope they will telephone me afterwards to let me know what is what. I know I will be seeing Eileen for supper that day, but she is always a big vague with these things. I am never quite sure how much of them she really takes in, so I would prefer to talk to her worker so I can know what's what.

Each night I pray that things will be dealt with more sooner than later and that all will be well.  And that I will live long enough to see her through to the end, happy, healthy and settled.

 

(source)

I suppose that is every mother's wish for their children.  

I want to go to the shops early this morning as I want to pick up a chicken to roast. I thought it would be nice to have a chicken dinner today with Eileen.  I have some Paxo stuffing that she wanted to try so I will make stuffing balls, and boil some new potatoes, cook some beans and broccoli. It will be good. If we get a chance after I pick her up, maybe we will drive up to Peltons and pick up a pie.

Yesterday by the time I got home from taking dad out with his friend Maryann, I was too tired to cook much of anything.  I had picked up some sliced turkey and a fresh roll at the shops so I had that made into a sandwich along with some potato salad. (The Stonemill one from Costco) Its all gone now as I had brought a largish container of it over to Eileen's the other day. I also made a small Taco Salad from a kit at the grocery store, but it was too spicy. I couldn't eat it. (A store-made kit.) The dressing was like fire on my tongue. 

 

(source)

Each day I am trying hard to finish one large chore.  Yesterday it was to go through my dresser and get rid of things which needed getting rid of.  I had a whole black bag of stuff to take away. I don't know why I hang onto pairs of trousers that are two sizes too small for me. Realistically speaking I will never get into those again. Hope springs eternal, but really . . .  I know myself and it's probably never going to happen and if it does?  Well, I will just buy new ones. I will give myself permission to buy new ones.

I will have earned them.

 

(source)

There is a part of me that wishes I could be thin enough to wear the really pretty things, like this sweater.  The realist in me know that will never happen. Those days are long gone, but I can still appreciate the beauty of them.

 

 

 

(source)

I do so love pretty things  . . . but I can be content with admiring them from afar. It would really be a waste for me to have such things as I would never have an opportunity to use them. And that's just fine with me.

 

(source)

Eileen and I are going to watch a film tonight. I would love to watch something Jane Austinish, but I really don't think she would like that.  Although she does love anything like Anne of Green Gables. I don't want her to be bored.   Maybe a movie like Pollyanna would suit us both? I love the old Disney films. Anything with Haley Mills in it.  I loved her when I was a child. I had a Haley Mills paper doll. I used to love to make her new clothes copying the outfits that I had seen her wearing in various films.

Some of the films I really enjoyed when I was younger were The Parent Trap, Pollyanna, The Trouble with Angels and (I know this is a bit racy) A Summer Place with Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. I thought Sandra Dee was so elegant.  I used to like the Tammy movies as well.

Do you remember going to the movies on Saturday afternoons?  Half an hour of cartoons and a feature film for about not a lot of money. 25 cents got you into the film along with a drink and some popcorn.  The theatre on the base used to be jam packed with kids on a Saturday afternoon. My mother used to make me bring my sister with me. She was hard work. She never wanted to stay in her seat. She would be trying to get up on the stage or open the fire escape doors.  To be honest, she was not that old and neither was I. That was too much responsibility for me. As much as I loved her.

That is one of the things about being the oldest child. You do have a lot of responsibilities foisted upon you.  Its just the way it is.

 

(source)

I don't really have a lot else to share with you this morning. I was a bit later getting up and having my shower.  Usually I am up before six a.m. but it was after that time this morning. To be honest I never sleep straight through the night. It is always broken up. I am up at least twice to go to the loo. It has been like that since I had the stent in from the kidney stones. I had thought it would get better, but it hasn't really.  Or maybe it is just that I wake up and think I need to go, whether I do or not, and then start thinking that if I don't go I won't be able to get back to sleep for thinking about it, so I go.

I would so love to have a night where I sleep from the time my head hits the pillow until I wake up in the morning light. These days I find myself more and more having to have a short nap later in the afternoon, or I am falling asleep watching television in the evening.  And I don't really like doing that.

So that's it for this week  . . . 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

*Sometimes the most

productive thing you can do

is to relax.  ~Mark Black

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  French Toast Crumble. An easy  breakfast casserole that you can make the night before.  With an almost bread pudding-like base and a sweet oaty crumble topping. Very delicious. Especially served with bacon, sausage and drizzled with some maple syrup.

I really hope you have a lovely weekend. Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy.  Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!    

   

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 JULY 10, 2026

Estate Lane

Nova Scotia

19*C/66*F

Rain and thunder storms

Dear Neighbor,

Its dark and rainy this morning and I have heard rumblings off in the distance. Still fairly warm however, so that's good. Its supposed to clear in about an hour.  They are calling for rain over the next few days. I hope they are wrong as I don't want Doug and his family to have a rainy time at the camp they are attending, but I suppose that the camp will have things in place in the case of rain. Anyways, I hope they are having a good time and that they continue to do so.

 

(source)

Yesterday would have been our mother's 94th Birthday.  Cindy, Dan and I went up to the cemetery to spend some time in the morning. It was lovely and peaceful up there, but quite dry. Dan and Cindy weeded the little flower bed in front of mom's tombstone and Cindy and I watered them.

I noticed our cousin John has had a beautiful headstone laid.  I messaged my cousin Sheri to tell her how lovely it looked (his sister.)  She told me that our cousin Maria had bought it and had it installed, so I messaged her. What a sweet testimony of love it was to see.

I quite liked the look of it. It is very similar to the one I wish to have. I will have to look into it.

 

(source)

Eileen got through her first night in her apartment alright, although she did sleep on her sofa and not on her bed. Hopefully she slept in her bed last night.  She had her visit in the morning. Her worker helped her to unpack a few bits and then she walked down to Tim Hortons, which was good.  Great exercise for her to walk there and back. She messaged me when she got home and I went over with a few things for her.  I brought her her tool box and some blankets, a nice throw to put over the sofa, and some potato salad.  Things are looking very nice in there. She was watching the new Little House on the Prairie (which I also started yesterday). I showed her how to pause the television when she has other things to do such as phone calls, etc.

At any rate, she seemed to be very happy and comfortable.  She was going to make herself some Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with tomatoes for her supper along with some hotdogs. I messaged her at bedtime and she was fine. 

I think everything will be okay.

 

(source)

I got quite a bit of laundry done yesterday and cleaned up the bedroom where Eileen was staying. Changed the bed, etc. Swept, vacuumed and washed the floor. So that is all sorted. I found a few things under the bed that she had forgotten so I brought them over when I went to hers. 

By late afternoon I was quite tired so I lay back in my easy boy chair to have a quick nap. Cinnamon always jumps up and has her own nap laying on top of me. She makes biscuits and sings for a while first and then lays back and snoozes. Its "our" time.  Sometimes Nutmeg will come and chase her off and have "his" time with me as well.

My nap was interrupted (I didn't mind) by the lady next door. She had an invitation for me to come to a little Birthday get-together she is having next Tuesday afternoon for the new lady from across the street, so that she can get to know the ladies on the street better. What a lovely gesture to make.  

I often see her (her name is Zilla) going around doing things for the neighbors. She is quite fit for her age. She brings them their newspapers, checks their mail for them. I have seen her weeding the garden and raking up in the lady across the street's yard and her husband brings over her garbage and green bin on garbage day so she doesn't have to. She needs a walker to get around. (The lady across the street.)

Zilla was telling me she does crafts and goes to the sales in the autumn. That's my kind of person.

 

(source)

I picked up my eye glasses earlier this week, but haven't been able to wear them for very long yet. I know I need to just put them on and leave them on and I will get used to them, but I have had to go out a fair bit and don't want to get sick in the car from my eyes being wonky.  There is quite a difference between the old lens for my left eye and the new lens, plus they are the ones that get dark in the sunlight, so they will take a bit of getting used to.

I will eventually.

 

(source)

There is this food blogger I have been following for a number of years now. I purchased her first cookbook back when I was still living in the U.K. Half Baked Harvest. She takes the most beautiful food photos, and I used to love watching her reels and videos.  She is probably one of the most successful food bloggers in the world I reckon, aside from Pioneer Woman.

I have had to stop watching her and following her.  Its been like watching someone literally die in front of your face. Very alarming. This young woman clearly has an terrible eating disorder. You never did really see her eat anything that she cooked, or at least you never saw her swallow any of it. She did take the occasional bite.  The last few years all you see are her hands and they are getting thinner and thinner.  She posted a video of her talking a few weeks back and I was horrified by what I saw. She is literally nothing more than a skeleton with skin.  Anyone who showed concern for this in the comments was quickly shot down by other commentors and told to mind their own business, or called a bully.

I can't watch it any more. Its been haunting me ever since.  I fully expect one day to wake up to the news that she has passed away.  I hope not, but I expect it to happen.

Have any of you followed her?  I would be interested in your opinion on this. I know that there is not a lot that we as a viewing community can do, but what about her parents and family?  I don't know. I know it is really none of my business but its very distressing to watch someone die slowly in front of your face and not see anyone doing anything about it.

 

(source)

Speaking of diseases . . .  one of my cousins has been diagnosed with a very rare disease recently. Whipples Disease.  They have been treating him for Rheumatoid Arthritis for years but it appears now that it is this Whipples Disease which can be fatal if not treated.  He is in hospital now and is expected to be in hospital for about a month, and then treatments will continue at home, but he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. 

 

(source)

There hasn't been a lot else going on in my life at the moment.  Things pretty much stay the same. I started the new Little House series on Netflix. I have only just watched the first episode. It is quite different than the old series we are used to seeing, but so far it seems very good.  I am slowly working at decluttering some areas. Its that old adage, "how do you eat an elephant," one bite at a time. If you look at the full picture it can be overwhelming, but if you take it in small bits, then it is quite doable. I don't know how I accumulated so much in such a short time, but I have.  I don't want to be a burden on my family when I die, so I need to get rid of stuff now. I do want to enjoy my life, but I also don't want to leave them a lot of stuff to have to dispose of.  I have given a fair bit to Eileen already. I took over some tea towels to her yesterday.  There will be more things I am sure she can use.

And with that I best end this missive. Time is galloping on and I am running behind.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

*There's something about

childhood friends

that you just can't replace.

~Lisa Whelchel

I know I sure appreciate mine!

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Swedish Cinnamon Buns. These have cardamom in the dough and a sprinkle of crystalized sugar over top.  Other than that they are pretty similar to regular cinnamon buns. Yes, they are delicious. 

I hope that you have a lovely day today. May you be blessed with some sunshine and all that you stand in need of.  Be blessed. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

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)

This. Because it speaks truth to me. 

 

(source)

Kittens  . . . they are so sweet and innocent.

 

(source)

Bread and Butter, fresh bread, soft butter . . . and sometimes jam or marmalade.

 

(source)

Pies. Any kind. Fruit, meat, etc. If it's in a pastry it's calling my name.

 

(source)

Blue and white quilts  . . .  I had to leave mine in the U.K.

 

(source)

Pretty dresses  . . . 

 

(source)

Jars in caps  . . . 

 

(source)

Pretty honey jars  . . .  and spoons.

 

(source)

Moonlit skies  . . . 

 

(source)

A kitchen garden  . . . 

 

(source)

A Peter Pan collar  . . . 

 

(source)

The delicious simplicity of a vanilla cake  . . . 

 

(source)

The creativity of others  . . . 

 

(source)

Rustic simplicity  . . . 

 

(source)

I see a heart, do you?

 

(source)

Tea kettles  . . . 

 

(source)

Buttons  . . .  I love buttons  . . . 

 

(source)

Counters wearing skirts  . . . 

 

(source)

Country roads  . . . 

 

(source)

Clotted cream . . . with scones and jam.

 

(source)

Colored glass  . . . 

 

(source)

Old seed packets  . . . 

 

(source)

Sunshine  . . . 

 

(source)

Stars  . . . 

 

(source)

Straw hats  . . . 

And all of you! You are my kind of people. 

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

Eileen got moved into her apartment safe and sound.  I picked her up at 4 to take her out for supper. Afterwards I went back to hers to drop her off and make sure everything was okay with her television, etc. We talked a bit on messenger when I got home. I messaged her when I went to bed. I will give her a wake up message at 9:30 this morning.  She said she was lonely last night. That is to be expected. Hopefully she will adjust. Once she gets a cat that will change as well.

I never feel lonely. I am blessed that way.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*If it costs you your peace,
it's too expensive.

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Cuppa Cuppa Cake. Three simple ingredients. From the film Steel Magnolias. Very tasty!

It was a very busy day yesterday in one way or another.  I got Eileen moved out, my oldest son called and we facetimed, and then just as we were ending that Douglas and his family arrived for a visit. Then I took Eileen, etc. Today should be a bit quieter.  

I hope you have a lovely day.  Be blessed. Don't forget! 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!