Dear Neighbor . . .

 

FEBRUARY 7th, 2026

Estate Lane

Middleton, Nova Scotia

-15*C/4*F

partly cloudy

3 days of snow expected 

from tomorrow on

Dear Neighbor,

To be honest, I really don't have a lot to write about these days. My life has gotten very narrow since all of this malarky with my kidney stones, etc. I haven't been able to walk far without needing to go to the loo, which has meant that I haven't really been able to get out of the house much. I really do not know how people manage to go to work with a stent in, but somehow they do. It boggles my mind. I will be happy when it is all over.

Each day passes somehow and stuff gets done, but not a lot. Not really. I have become a bit of a voyeur and it's not all it is cracked up to be.

 

(source)

Its hard to believe that a little over a week has passed since Eileen moved in with me. She has been great company. Today she has her Bible study at her church, so the lady from that will be picking her up to take her to it and bringing her back home afterwards. I believe Tim will be there also. I hope it is not too difficult for her, although I can imagine that it won't be easy. Just so long as he doesn't have his new girlfriend with him. That would be tres awkward. Alas, it is something she will have to get used to. They have a very small group of friends and community, because of their learning disabilities, so they are bound to be thrown together in a lot of situations, and this is a very small town. Overall, she seems to be doing okay, but it is hard to say really. I think she holds a lot of it in.

I was thinking about how difficult life is when I was taking my shower this morning. Life is so very hard, and for everyone. How much more difficult it must be to have to traverse all of the problems life throws at you when you are developmentally challenged. In some ways I would imagine things might be a bit easier, but it must be super hard to deal with some of the monumental things life hands us. 

She had bought herself a Grade Three curriculum workbook with some of the money I had given them for Christmas and she was working in it yesterday. There is Math, English, Social Studies, etc. One of the things she was doing yesterday was called "Acrostic" poetry. 

"In an acrostic, the first letter of each line spells out a word or phrase that’s generally related to the topic of the poem. There are several different types of acrostic, including a double acrostic where both the first and last letter of each line spell out a message. Another type of acrostic is the abecedarian, where the first letter of each line goes in alphabetical order. Acrostics are often one of the first types of poetry kids learn, by writing a poem using the letters of their own name."

This was something I had not heard of before, or if I had it was something I had long since forgotten. It was fun to try to make up a poem like this. 

The math on the other hand  . . .  not so fun.  😟 I am very poor at math myself.

I had ordered her a knitting spool to give her something to do.  I figured she could use some of my scraps and it would keep her hands busy. It came a couple of days ago. We tried to figure it out yesterday.  I even brought up a video on YouTube for this exact tool, but I was unable to figure it out.  I will try again today. I know it can't be all that difficult. 

Our father had made us knitting spools when we were children out of our mom's old wooden thread spools. We used to play with them for hours, making long snakes of yarn and then sewing them together to make thing like little mats, etc. We had lots of fun with them. There was no fancy tool to loop the yarn over the cogs, just a safety pin. It worked beautifully.

I hope we figure it out soon. 

 

I have discovered a new YouTube channel which we have both been enjoying. Les Frenchies.  She is American and he is French, although he had lived in American for many, many years.  They decided a number of years back to move to France and leave America and their channel is all about their adventures in France (Paris typically.)  We have both really enjoyed the videos we watched.

Watching them shop in Carrefour brought back some nice memories for me of going there with my friend Joy and her husband Simon many years ago. We also watched a video on them visiting Costco, iconic Paris Bake Shops and trying out Onion Soup in a variety of restaurants and ranking them. 

All very interesting and entertaining. 

Armchair travel, one of my favorite things to do.

 

(source)

Last night after we had both gone to bed the emergency alarm went off on our phones, scaring the life out of us. So loud and startling. The RCMP were notifying residents of Digby county to seek immediate shelter and stay inside due to an Armed man being about. A bit scary even though he appeared to be quite a distance away.  The highway he was travelling on goes right past the back of my house however, so a bit unnerving even so. Thankfully we were tucked safely up inside and locked in for the night.

The sound of the alarm didn't half startle us however. There is nothing like being at the point of falling asleep and having that go off to get your blood coursing through your veins!

Isn't it wonderful however that we live in a day and age where such things as emergency notifications like that are possible!

 

(source)

I have been craving pancakes all week.  Pancake day (Shrove Tuesday) is on the 17th, so not long away. I am not sure I can wait that long however. I am really wanting pancakes now. I am also wanting cake.  Very little has been done in this house as far as that kind of cooking goes. There have only been simple meals for the most part. Things I have had frozen previously, and one night I made those TikTok egg omelet sandwiches. Pretty boring.  I may try to get something cooked today and see how that goes. I have been slacking off for far too long. I need to get up and do something. To cook something. I need to go grocery shopping. This living out of the store cupboard is getting pretty boring. 

I can order things like cat food from Amazon, kitty litter too. The cats are well cared for. For myself, I am really craving some fresh vegetables, and I need some potatoes. Maybe today I will try to go to the farm market behind my place. We will see how things go.

Otherwise, there isn't really a whole lot going on here. I have plans to change my bed today and do a general tidy up, perhaps bake a cake, make a meal from scratch. Lets hope it goes well!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*You need to let the little things

that would ordinarily bore you

suddenly thrill you.

~Andy Warhol• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

Another new/old recipe in the kitchen today.  Easy Baked Rice Pilaf.  This has always been a favorite side dish in my family. Oddly enough rice wasn't something we had very often when we were growing up. If mom cooked rice at all it was Minute Rice. As an adult I have come to love many kinds of rice and enjoy cooking it in a variety of ways. This oven pilaf is a delicious option!

I hope that you have a really nice day today.  Stay warm. Stay safe.  Keep out of trouble, lol.  Whatever you do get up to, don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

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)

Snow drops. We are a long ways from seeing them here.  But they are a beautiful harbinger of Spring in the offing  . . .

 

(source)

The Song of the Blackbird . . . so pretty.

 

(source)

Knitted shawls  . . . 

 

(source)

As a child I loved riding my bicycle.  I felt like I was almost flying.

 

(source)

Fresh cinnamon buns  . . . 

 

(source)

Moonlit shadows on snow  . . . 

 

(source)

Tenacity  . . . 

 

(source)

Beauty tucked away in unlikely spaces  . . . 

 

(source)

Cranford  . . .  I loved the series  . . . 

 

(source)

Lacy hearts  . . . . 

 

(source)

White linens  . . . 

 

(source)

A handknit sweater  . . . 

 

(source)

Cottage charm  . . . 

 

(source)

Lamp light  . . . 

 

(source)

A pretty blouse  . . . 

 

(source)

Things that sparkle  . . . 

 

(source)

English Cockers  . . . 

 

(source)

Brownie bites . . .  little bites of heaven . . . 

 

(source)

The wonders of nature . . . 

 

(source)

Fresh lemons  . . . lemon anything  . . . 

 

(source)

Cats  . . . such unique personalities  . . . 

 

(source)

Kitchen windows  . . . 

And those are my favorite things for this week  . . . 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Walk towards the sunshine

and the shadows will

fall behind you.

~anon• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Peanut Butter and Jam Cookies.  For the kids  . . . 

I hope you have a beautiful Thursday. I need to try to get to the Drug store today to pick up my prescriptions. I am all out of the one and low on the rest.  I should have picked them up on Tuesday.  Anyways, whatever you get up to today, 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)

 

I still haven't figured out yet if the Groundhog saw his shadow or not. I know Monday was pretty cloudy here so I am thinking not. Not that it really makes a difference as there will be six more weeks of winter no matter what.

I was so grateful for my sister driving me to and from the hospital on Monday. When we got up in the morning we were not sure as it had snowed a bit during the night, and the roads had not been cleared yet. But, bravely, Cindy decided to go for it and off we went.

The roads were pretty snow covered all the way in, but thankfully there was lots of traffic on the road carving a path to follow and we got there within the time frame I was supposed to arrive. Cindy stayed with me up until they took me down to the operating theatre.  She went to the craft store then and was back when I was taken to my room afterwards.

I have to admit I was quite discouraged when they told me that another shunt had been put in. But apparently I won't have to be put out for them to remove that one. Just some numbing stuff and the urologist will pull it out.

I think the worst is over?  At least I hope it is.

 

(source)

The roads were completely clear all the way home. All the snow was gone from them. Cindy dropped me off and put my garbage out for me as yesterday was garbage day. I really don't know how I would cope without her. Aside from the fact that she is my best friend.

Eileen went to see an apartment when I was at the hospital on Monday. It was not appropriate. Too many stairs and I guess it was really dirty, etc. I told them and her that she is welcome to live here with me until a proper apartment can be found that suits all her needs. There is no need to rush into getting something that is not suitable, safe or appropriate.

She is sad over everything and hurt, naturally, but I think she will be okay, and will actually better off in the long run. She is very capable and will do alright on her own.

 

(source)

Eileen and I were sitting here Monday night and all of a sudden the smoke detector started making the noise it makes when the battery is dying.  I thought oh no. I can't leave it because it is so loud and it will keep us awake.  I don't have a step ladder and even if I did it would not have been safe for me to climb up it on Monday night. The last time Cindy and I pulled the table over and Cindy got up on the table to change the battery.  But, I couldn't pull the table over either, or get up on it.  I called Sheila to see if she could call the husband of the lady next to me to see if he could come over and change the batter for us.  Sheila's nephew just happened to be there so he came over and changed it for us. What a blessing that was. I was so thankful.

Monday was loaded with blessings from beginning to end.

Eileen has been feeling bad about Valentines Day.  I can totally understand it. I have ordered her a Hello Kitty Teddy Bear and a heart shaped box of chocolates to give her on the day.  That should help I think. It will be a great distraction in any case, and she is worth it.

When the children were growing up I always got them something for Valentines Day, aside from the cards for them to give out at School.  It was never anything big and usually candy related, plus I would bake some special cookies or a cake for them and we would have a special dinner as a family. My husband, more often than not, would be away from home (military) and we never did date nights anyways.  Young people these days are much more "with it" that way. 

 

(source)

Last night Eileen and I had a cheeky treat of potato chips and dip.  She had picked up the dip while she was out to her CSS coffee hour in the afternoon and I had picked up the big Costco bag of Ruffles chips on the way home from the hospital on Monday. (Cindy stopped at the Cambridge Convenience to get coffee, and I got her to get us a bag of chips.)

Eileen was remembering how when they were kids every pay day I would get them a bag of chips and some dip and pop.  I would divide the chips into bowls for them and get them each a glass of pop and we would usually rent a movie and watch it together. I was surprised that she remembered that, but was pleased that it was a happy memory for her. So that is what we did last night. We each had a little bowl of chips, some onion dip and watched episodes of The Golden Girls on Disney. I think the last time I had watched any of those was when Tatiana was visiting me in the U.K. 

Eileen and I both enjoyed watching them last night.

 

(source)

I had to order myself a new Health Card. I seem to have misplaced mine with all the comings and goings. The last time I remember using it was at the lab last week when I dropped off my urine specimen. I know I had it then as the girl told me I didn't need it.  But I have no idea what I did with it after that. I can't find it at any rate so I called up and ordered a new one. Not free of course, but you have you have to do what you have to do. You need to have a health card to get health care.

And that is pretty much all that has been going on here in my Casa. I might try to go out to supper with Cindy and Dad tonight and bring Eileen. She would really enjoy that. It all depends on how my day goes loo wise. (Still having to go frequently, and when I have to go I have to go NOW!)

Eileen has a therapy appointment in early afternoon and I am just going to putter around here doing what I can.

So I will end this now with a thought for the day . . . 

A thought to carry with you  . . . I always loved Mr. Rogers.

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Love seems to be something
that keeps filling up within us.
The more we give away,
the more we have to give.
~Mr. Rogers• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

Another new/old recipe in The English Kitchen today . . .  Impossibly Easy Mac and Cheese Pie. I hope to start posting some new content soon, but in the meantime am updating some of the older things, which warrant taking a second look at.

I really hope that you have a wonderful Wednesday.  Keep safe. Stay warm.  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, February 3rd, 2026

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

Not today but the other night. I think Saturday. I got up about midnight to go to the loo and looked out my bedroom window and was mesmerized by the shadow of the maple tree against the snow under the light of the moon. I thought it was beautiful.

I AM THINKING ...

Well, I was able to get into Kentville to have the procedure done yesterday.  My sister bravely drove out of her comfort zone on snowy roads to get me there. I was on time as well for 8:30. I was back home by 2:30 and the roads were clear by then. Good news is they removed the kidney stone. Bad news is they put in another stent which I will need to go back and have removed in another 2 to 4 weeks. I am thinking I will be glad to have this all over and done with. What a trial it has been for me. I am grateful however that it is nothing worse. We must take our blessings where we find them.

 

(source)

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

Every night when I say my prayers I make it a point always to thank God for my blessings, but lately I have been thanking him for three particular blessings pertaining to just that day. Funny thing, no matter how the day is gone, I can always find more than three! It's pretty amazing.

 

(source)

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

Where do I start. A sister who is willing to move out of her comfort zone to help me.  That we didn't get near as much snow as was predicted. That I am able to have my daughter here with me and help and support her.  That they were able to get the kidney stone. Last night my smoke detector started beeping. I don't have a step stool to get up to it to change the battery and I was not that steady on my pins anyways.  I called my neighbor and her nephew was there so he came over and put a new battery in it for me.  My blessings are endless.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

All of you. I have felt the happy thoughts and prayers, and I truly appreciate them.

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Not a new recipe, but a good recipe. Ginger Dunkers.  Buttery, lightly spiced cookies, loaded with two kinds of ginger and crisp for dunking in your coffee, your tea, your milk, etc. Crisp and delicious.

ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

Italian Lemon Jam. This looks and sounds really good. Tis the season for Citrus and I am needing to eat and drink more citrus!

THIS I BELIEVE ...

You cannot change the past but you can learn from it and use it to help create a better future for yourself.

 

(source)

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...

Yes. This  . . . 

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...

Maple scented candles  . . . 

I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...

 

(source)

Tiny people   . . . 

 

(source)

I ordered a knitting spool for Eileen. I have loads of yarn scraps. She can busy herself making coasters or placemats, etc. She is excited about that.

 

(source)

Paper hearts  . . . 

 

(source)

Book page garlands  . . . 

 

(source)

Paper hugs  . . . 

 

(source)

SOMETHING I ENJOY ...

The way it feels to crawl into bed at the end of the day. So good.

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE I ENJOY ...

Painting.  I need to do it more often.

I AM READING ...

MRS. ENDICOTT'S SPLENDID ADVENTURE, by Rhs Bowen 

Blindsided by betrayal in pre-WWII England, a woman charts a daring new course in this captivating tale of resilience, friendship, and new love by the bestselling author of The Rose Arbor and The Venice Sketchbook. 

 Surrey, England, 1938. After thirty devoted years of marriage, Ellie Endicott is blindsided by her husband’s appeal for divorce. It’s Ellie’s opportunity for change too. The unfaithful cad can have the house. She’s taking the Bentley. Ellie, her housekeeper Mavis, and her elderly friend Dora―each needing escape―impulsively head for parts unknown in the South of France. 

 With the Rhône surging beside them, they have nowhere to be and everywhere to go. Until the Bentley breaks down in the inviting fishing hamlet of Saint Benet. 

Here, Ellie rents an abandoned villa in the hills, makes wonderful friends among the villagers, and finds herself drawn to Nico, a handsome and enigmatic fisherman. 

As for unexpected destinations, the simple paradise of Saint Benet is perfect. But fates soon change when the threat of war encroaches. Ellie’s second act in life is just beginning―and becoming an adventure she never expected.

I am thoroughly enjoying this. Thoroughly.

I know I should be finished this by now, but life has gotten in the way.

THINGS THAT I FANCY ...

 

(source)

Hot cocoa with marshmallows on top . . . 

 

(source)

Barn owls  . . . 

 

(source)

Slip on shoes  . . . 

 

(source)

Light   . . . 

 

(source)

Spring crocus  . . .  it won't be long  . . . 

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

The Snow Sister on Netflix. Eileen really enjoys this film.

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Because

I have known despair

I value hope.• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

~Leonard Nimoy• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

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!