Dear Neighbor . . .

 

AUG 7th, 2026

Estate Lane,

Nova Scotia

18*C/64*F

Sunny

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this finds you well on this beautiful Friday morning. As you can see the sun is shining brightly here and it is lovely and warm. There is still a heat warning in effect however so it will be another stinker of a day.

I don't mind the heat so much so long as we don't get lots of humidity. There is rain expected for four days in a row to come starting tomorrow, or so it is predicted.  The grass is looking lovely and green, which is nice to see. It is hard to be blue on a day which is so beautiful. Thank goodness for a heat pump which will keep it comfortably cool in here. I don't have it on yet. I probably won't need to turn it on until later today. In the early part of the day the front of my house is all in the shade. It doesn't get really sunny until later in the day.

I took down the hummingbird feeder late in the afternoon yesterday, cleaned it and re-filled it. They had almost emptied it.  Once I refilled it however the wasps/hornets are clustered around it and the hummers are having a difficult time getting close. I find that very annoying, as I am sure the hummingbirds do as well. They can't get into it (the wasps) but still they chase the hummingbirds away.

The whole point of having a hummingbird feeder is to be able to feed and watch the hummingbirds, not wasps.  There are two other feeders on the street, so they won't go hungry for sure, but I am a bit annoyed about it all the same.

 

More than 300 people across 27 US states have fallen ill with salmonella from jalapenos coming from Mexico.  First it was the lettuce, now jalapenos. There is none in Canada yet. 

It does make one more than a bit afraid of buying any fruit or vegetables coming from Mexico.  Right now that's not much of a problem as fresh local produce is coming in quickly at the moment.

Speaking of fresh and local, yesterday I had some delicious local peaches. They are a bit on the small side, but they were really tasty. Cindy had bought some the other day and she gave me two of them. I could not eat a whole punnet of them before they rotted so it isn't really practical for me to buy them, which reminds me I did buy a lot of beans the other day, so I really should do something with them today.

This is a photograph that Cindy took of the sun setting over Port George last night. Its so pretty along the Northern shore this time of year. A lot of people go up there to cool off and to watch the sun set. 

Its also nice to drive over during the day. I like to sit at picnic tables they have there and just look out over the water. A lot of people walk their dogs along the beach in Margaretville.  Further down the coast there is a spot where you can park and watch the seals sunning themselves on the rocks.

This really is a beautiful province to live in. A lovely place to land and live out the rest of your life at. Here in the Valley, it is pretty quiet. There is not a lot of night life for young people I suppose. We have a large population of retirees here. The younger people usually gravitate towards the cities.

The valley is pretty quiet.

Anyways, I thought you would enjoy seeing this photo. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

 

(source)

I am really enjoying the Miss Dimity book I am reading. (Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton) Its been a while since I have found a book that I have been able to enjoy this much. Usually I get them started but lose interest part way through. I find myself looking forward to my reading time at the moment, wanting to see what happens next.  I like a good mystery.  And I love anything English. And vintage-like, so all-told this is a great combination.

I have a great love for anything vintage. For 1940's 50's decor, dress, etc.  I think the old ways are great ways.  I do love modern conveniences though, so maybe a sweet combination of the two is what would work for me. I like my cordless vacuum and my dishwasher.  Oh and my modern washer and dryer as well.  And computers . . . and mobile phones. So yeh . . . I like the old ways, but with a modern twist.

 

(source)

There is a part of me that looks back with longing at the days when I used to do a lot of preserving of fruits and veggies for the Winter months. I enjoyed it so much and everything always got used. I had a great sense of pride looking at my preserving cupboard shelves and watching them filling up with bejeweled jars of jams, pickles, etc. 

One favorite I used to make, this time of year, was a chili sauce. It was made with tomatoes, onions, peppers, peaches,  and pears. It had a bit of a snap to it, but it was so delicious. We could eat it just out of the jar as a side at the table, but sometimes I would use half a jar or so in my Swiss Steak. It added a lovely flavor. I think that was my husband's favorite as well.

I did up tons of Dill pickles every year that the children loved, and bread and butter pickles, relishes, jams, jellies, chutneys and later in the summer/early autumn Apple Butter.

I was watching Jennilee at The Pioneer Home doing some canning the other day. Her husband had brought home 180 pounds of tomatoes so she was busy making tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, salsa, etc. And she is pregnant.  Oh to be young and fit enough to be able to cope with raising a family and still have enough energy to do all of that canning. I am in awe of her. I really enjoy her videos.

She also has a mail club that she started, The Pioneer Post. I subscribed to that the other day. I haven't gotten my first letter yet, but it is on the way. 

Letters in the post. As Martha would say, "Its a good thing."

I was watching Kirsten and Joerg yesterday and they did a tour of their home. I love seeing other people's homes. I find it fascinating. I also watched a tour of this other couple's home in Lunenburg.  Obviously money is no object to them. Stunning.  (And it's just their summer house.) I think they are probably from as we would say it, "away." Meaning from Ontario and they have a summer house here in Nova Scotia to escape to every summer.

How the other half live. Very interesting to watch however, so if you are into decor, etc. I recommend both of those videos.

My house it nothing fancy. Its just a bit of this and a bit of that and a whole lot of in-between!

 

(source)

Dad hasn't been feeling really well lately. His iron is down so the Doctor has prescribed some iron for him. Cindy is taking him to the Doctors this afternoon.  He will be 93 on his Birthday in January so I suppose it is only natural that he should be slowing down. Normally on Fridays we would take him out with his friend Maryann, but not today. (She will be really disappointed.) He has a lump on the back of his neck that appears to be growing and his eyes are giving him a lot of problems.  The other night at dinner he wasn't his usual self. He hadn't gone for his tea that afternoon either.  However when the waitress came over and made a fuss of him he did perk up a bit. He is a real ladies man.

David, our brother, is due to come down for his visit on the 17th.  We are all looking forward to seeing him and Christine (his wife). I hope Dad will be well enough to enjoy his visit.

Monday, Eileen goes for her biopsy. She is understandably nervous about it, but she will be asleep for it and will be coming back here afterwards. I am praying very hard that the cancer will not be too far advanced, and that they can quickly and safely deal with it all.

What a year this has been in one way or another. Some years are just like that.

 

(source)

This made me smile this morning. Now wouldn't that be nice.  Chocolate and 8 million dollars. Oh the problems you could solve then. The hug would be nice as well. 

Not that money solves problems, but it can sure ease a bit of discomfort. Just think of the people you could help. I hope the chocolate is Lindt.

And with that I am going to close this off. I am late getting started this morning and have had quite a few interruptions as well, so its been hard to concentrate.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Remember the hard parts in life

are just chapters in your story.

Not the whole book. There are 

still good things to come.

~unknown

In The English Kitchen today  . . . Cheesy Tuna Casserole for One. This was really delicious. Quite a hearty serving. I am sure you could stretch it to feed two people by adding a few sides.  In any case, it went down a real treat!

I hope you have a lovely Friday. I am not sure what I am going to do with today yet. We will see what happens. Stay safe when you are out and about. Keep your cool, stay hydrated. 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)

Ginger cats. No surprise there I'm sure! I just think they have very engaging personalities.

 

(source)

Vintage mixing bowls. Mom had one just like this  . . . 

 

(source)

Fresh beans. Green, yellow, any kind. I got some the other day that look dark purple but when cooked are a deep green. Very tasty, all of them.

 

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Pretty cups and saucers  . . . 

 

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Dining al fresco  . . .  this looks like a lovely spot.

 

(source)

Flowery curtains  . . . .

 

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Flowery dresses  . . . 

 

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Fresh Raspberries  . . . . 

Raspberry Celebration Cake.  I used to make one of these for my birthday every year when I lived in the U.K. It is a really delicious cake. Studded with fresh raspberries and filled with buttercream and raspberry preserves.  It's a stunner.

 

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Old barns  . . . 

 

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Fresh peaches  . . . 

 

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Fresh plums  . . . . 

 

(source)

Pink roses  . . .  so pretty  . . . 

 

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Small sea shells  . . . 

 

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Blueberry Bakes  . . . 

 

(source)

Indian corn  . . . 

 

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Waffles  . . . 

 

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The gift of a sunrise every morning. What's not to love?  Magical  . . . 

 

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Peek-a-boo  . . .  my heart melts  . . . 

 

(source)

I love this coverlet  . . .  and the lamp.

 

(source)

Sunflowers  . . . 

 

(source)

Pottery mugs  . . . 

 

(source)

Misty mornings  . . . 

And each of you. Thank you for being here. You are appreciated.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*You are not going to master the rest 

of your life in one day. Just relax.

Master the day. Then just keep doing

that every day.

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Aunt Betty's Old Fashioned Fruit Cobbler. Simple to make. Using larder ingredients.  Fabulous served warm with some vanilla ice cream on top. You can make it using any fruit filling you like.  I used Strawberry Rhubarb. This is some delicious!

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday. We had a heat warning in effect for the third day in a row.  Best to stay indoors in the cool and keep hydrated.  Whatever you get up to, stay safe! 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!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

(source)

 I was able to get to the mall yesterday and got to the phone store (thank you Cindy!) and got my phone sorted out. The problem was the VPN I had on it. Apparently you don't need a VPN on an iPhone. They have their own encryption. So in any case, it is sorted now and working great. Crisis averted and it didn't cost me anything for a change!

Also, to get to the phone store we took a shortcut through the pet store and I was able to get the right cat food, the one that Cinnamon will eat, so another problem was solved! 

 

(source)

On the way home Cindy and I stopped at the farm market. I picked up  a couple of ears of fresh sweetcorn, some new potatoes and beans. I got a nice loaf of walnut and cranberry sourdough bread as well. The sweetcorn was $1 an ear. I can remember way back when you could get a Baker's Dozen of sweetcorn for $1, and that was in the mid 90's. We used to buy it on the side roads in Southern Ontario when we were living in Georgetown. Corn farmers would have wagons set up and they would be loaded with fresh sweetcorn every day.  It was so good.

This was good too. I had an ear of it for my supper along with a new potato and some beans and some fish.  It was just frozen fish. I think it was Jane's frozen cod in bread crumbs and it was terrible.  Dry and tasteless. I ended up throwing the fish away. I won't be buying that again. I did enjoy the rest of my meal however. It was delicious. I love fresh vegetables so much!

 

(source)

I did get down to the Birthday get-together in the afternoon. I just drove my car down and parked there at the end of the street, and tried hard not to be overly embarrassed by the fact that I had to drive down. They had their walkers parked outside the door and I had my car. 

We had a lot of fun. There was tea and coffee. And water or juice for people like me who don't drink tea or coffee. (Glenna and myself.)  Someone had made peanut butter squares and someone else ginger crinkles and Zilla had baked a birthday cake. I don't know what we didn't talk about.  A really nice bunch of ladies. I felt like I was on the set of Steel Magnolias. Lots of laughs and wit and wisdom.  I was glad that I had gone. Zilla reminds me very much of my mother. Same mannerisms, etc. but then again, they grew up in the same area.

She was telling me yesterday how they used to skate on the frozen field next to my Aunt Orabel's house and they go into Orabel's kitchen afterwards and warm their feet on the door of the woodstove, which was folded open for them to do so. And she remembered the old white horse in the other field next to the house as well.

When my brother, sister and I were children we used to visit with that white horse in the field while mom visited with her Aunt Orabel. The poor horse was blind, but very friendly.

 

I came home and finished some work I had to do and then got my supper. (I took a photo of it to show my sister. I know . . . what are we like, lol) I looked at all my Birthday cards again. I will have to put up a string to hang them on.  What a nice problem to have. So many cards, I have to put up a string to hang them on.  We should all be so blessed.

 

(source)

In any case I had a very full day yesterday and was grateful for it. I haven't really done a lot over these past years.  Since my return to Canada. I've mostly kept to myself and not reached out much to others or spent a lot of time with anyone but Cindy really. I am not sure why that is. Oh heck, who am I trying to kid. I know exactly why that is.  I don't want to have to explain what happened to my husband, or why I am on my own. Or at least that is what I have been afraid of having to do.  Well, it never even came up, so what was I worried about?  It's probably the same with most of the things we worry ourselves over. We are probably worrying about nothing.

 

(source)

Today the summer has come at my

window with its sighs and murmurs; and

the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the

court of the flowering grove.

~Rabindranath Tagore, From Gitanjali

 

minstrelsy (American)

    [min-struhl-see] / ˈmɪn strəl si / 

noun 

the art or practice of a minstrel. 

 minstrels' songs, ballads, etc.. 

     a collection of Scottish minstrelsy.

I had to look up what the word meant, or even if it was a word. It is. So now I can hear the bees humming beneath the window as they dance across the tops of the flowers, burrowing in here and there, fluffy butts aloft,  to have a good long sup of the nectar of warm blossoms. Summer in a nutshell.

Sun bearing down. Shadows flickering beneath the dancing leaves. Bees humming. A gentle breeze murmuring and pulling at the tall grass at the edge of the lawn right where it greets the fence at the back of the house, tempting it to join in with the dance. 

It is hard to believe that the children will be back to school in just a few weeks. Hasn't it only been a few weeks since that school ended for the year.  But that is how a summer goes  . . .  it goes . . . far more quickly than we think it will . . .

 

(source)

How can we slow it down?  I don't know  . . .  be present? Wrap each day gently with the things which bring you the most joy?  Take time to savor the light, the smells . . .  the sounds and the tastes. Bask in the warmth of the sun while it is yet close to the earth . . . 

Each night when I lay myself down into my bed I lay there all stretched out on my back and think, this is the most comfortable that I have been all day. Oh, how blessed am I to have such a comfortable bed to lay on. I close my eyes and I enjoy the feeling of being there for a few minutes.

Perhaps that is what we need to do with the moments in our days . . .  to close our eyes and enjoy the feeling of being there and present in whatever it is that we are experiencing. The warmth, the breezes, the sunshine, the rain  . . .  and everything in between.

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

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Love is the greatest 

refreshment in life.

~Pablo Picasso

I didn't have time yesterday to cook a whole new recipe, photograph it, etc. so I rewrote an old post in it's place.  Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes & Capers.  Such a tasty meal. One of my all-time favorites. Tender and moist, golden scallops of chicken, nestled into a delicious sauce of sweet fresh cherry tomatoes and briny capers. This is so yummy! Quick and easy too!

I hope that your Wednesday brings a lot of summer joys to your table.  Fresh veggies and fruits, summer breezes, buzzing bees, joy . . . joy . . . joy.  Whatever your day brings, 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, August 4th, 2026

OUTSIDE MY FRONT WINDOW ...

All is well. Not a lot going on. It is garbage day today so my garbage is by the road. We have had a fair bit of rain off and on these past few days. A sunny, hot and windy day is expected for today.

 

(source)

I AM THINKING ...

All of a sudden yesterday my phone decided that I am unable to hook up to the internet. Not via data, not via my home wifi, etc. That means I am unable to upload photos so I really need to  go to the phone store and see what is up with that. I have tried forgetting the home network and reinstalling it. Restarting my phone numerous times. Rebooting my wife, which really was a wasted effort as I can get online with everything else in my home. It's my phone. I will need to go to the mall and the phone store, which is a bit of a worry for me due to the mobility issues I am having this week. 

 

(source)

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

The birthday get together this afternoon at the end of the street is apparently for me as well. I will have to go.  I am going to have to drive my car down and park it there as there is no way I will be able to walk down. This is embarrassing for me, but it is what it is. There is not much I can do about that.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

My home which is safe, comfortable, and peaceful. I am truly blessed. I do not take it for granted.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

My faith. It sustains me and keeps me going. It helps me to live a better life than I would ever be able to live otherwise. I know all good things come from Him. I know I am blessed.  I know I am carried.

IN THE KITCHEN ...

This quick and easy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake. This was very simple to make and delicious. Eileen had it for breakfast two days in a row. She said it was like a cauliflower quiche without the crust.  It made me happy that she enjoyed it so much!

 

(source)

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

Buckingham Palace Shortbread.  Shortbread?  Count me in! All in!

THIS I BELIEVE ...

We all have talents. We need to use them to help to make this world a better place. 

 

(source)

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

Bees and wildflowers.  They need each other and we need them.

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

Butter. I love butter. We always had real butter growing up. Never margarine.  We were really lucky. I hear some of the other kids that we grew up with talking about the things they had when they  were growing up and many of them talk about their moms running out of money before payday and them having to eat oatmeal, etc. We may not have had fancy clothes, or the latest toys in our home, or even an abundance of either. Our food may have been simple. But we never ran out and we always had three decent meals a day and we had butter. Real butter.  Real milk as well. Never powdered like many others did. The Armed Forces did not get a great rate of pay in those days. My mother was the one who eked out our father's meagre pay and made sure we had everything we needed.  Our father handed it all over to her and let her manage it. He got an allowance. In many other families, the mother got the allowance and it was often never enough.

SOMETHING I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ...

Seeing my brother and sister-in-law in just a few weeks time. We have not seen Christine in a few years now as she was busy caring for her father. He passed away a few months ago now, so Christine is free to travel more. I am looking forward to being able to see and spend time with them both. It will be nice.

I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...

 

(source)

Sleepy cats  . . . 

 

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Washable Swiffer covers  . . . 

 

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Pretty dish cloths  . . . 

 

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Kitchen hand towels  . . .  so nice.

 

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Mug Cozies  . . . so pretty.

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

 

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Fresh Figs  . . .  although I have not had one in a very long time  . . . 

SOMETHING ELSE THAT I ENJOY ...

 

(source)

Sunflowers and the way that they always look to the sun. Towards the light. We need to do the same.

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.

THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...

 

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Pressed flowers  . . . 

 

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Barn Murals  . . . 

 

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Summer's bounty preserved  . . . 

 

(source)

This. It doesn't say, but it looks like Scotland to me.

 

(source)

His master's voice  . . . 

MAKES ME SMILE ...

 

(source)

How could it not  . . . 

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

On Netflix.  Riveting  . . . 

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The secret to life is

finding joy in ordinary things.

~Ruth Reichl

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!