All Things Nice . . .

 

(source)

Oh, make my soul a many windowed place,

Catching the sun from morning until night,

That I may see the glory of the dawn

And in the evening, stars of splendid light.

Oh, keep my heart alive to wind and rain,

My soul attuned to happiness and pain.

Oh, make my heart a mirror to reflect

A thousand images that break and pass,

Like dormer windows facing on the street

Catching small happenings upon the glass.

Oh, may I ever keep myself aware

Of clouds of glory that plain people wear.

And may I see, beyond a tired face,

The heart of the immortal shining through;

Dreams lovely as the day, hope's tender wings,

Brooding above the things that people do'

Fathers and mothers planning in advance

To give their little son his precious chance.

Oh, may I keep the mirror of my heart

Untarnished by the sorrow of the world,

To voice the wonder of a common life:

Smoke from a cottage chimney curled

Above a little yard where glory lies

In the bright splendor of plain people's lives.

~Edna Jacques, Oh, Make My Soul

Back-Door Neighbors, 1946

Oh, how this spoke to my heart this morning. To live every day to the fullest and to find joy in simple things. To always be aware of the feelings, hopes and dreams of others, whilst still carrying my own. Life, it's such a beautiful thing. The ups and the downs and ins and outs the sunshine and the rain. There is a lot of sadness, and a lot of mean-spiritedness about, but there is so much more joy and love. The negative voices shout louder is all. I am training myself not to hear the loudness, and to listen only to the still small things. Admittedly some days are much easier than others, but bit by bit the loud is being drowned out by the small and silent. That is the secret to a joy-filled life. When the still small voice of the heart speaks louder than the roar of the world.

 

(source)

Someone asked yesterday why did I not keep Eileen with me forever, and just get a larger place.  The answer is simple. I will not live forever, nor will her father. It is important that she establish a life for herself separate from us so that when the inevitable happens she will be okay. She belongs to a support program called the CSS. She has specialized workers who are there to help and guide her in every aspect of her life, budgeting, etc. You cannot be a part of the program if you live with your parents. There is a very long waiting list for the program.  I, for one, am very grateful for it because I know that she will always have the help she needs, aside from what her father and I can do while we are still alive. She does have siblings, but the ones who stay in contact with her regularly live far away and the other two, well . . . she has not heard from them or seen them in years. Its a shame really, but you cannot force people to care. 

Having her with me permanently would be lovely, but it would be selfish. But I will keep her here with me so long as she needs me to get her through this latest trial. And once she has gotten through it and healed, I will help her to get settled into her new place and started on her new life.

I started to pick up a few small things for her yesterday.  We are going to have fun making a list over these next weeks of things she needs and then ticking off the boxes as we acquire them, in between all the other stuff that is going on. Still have not heard anything as to when things will progress, but suspect that when we do, things will go swiftly. Your prayers and happy thoughts, as always, are very much appreciated.

 

(source)

I have a joy box. I've always had a joy box. It is a small box that is filled with small mementos and things which bring me joy. A pretty handkerchief, a polished stone, an old watch,  my missionary tags, etc. Nothing really of any value, just small things and reminders of things which in my lifetime have brought me joy. I am lucky to have any of them to be honest and am grateful for the forethought I had to bring them with me.

I suppose it is similar to a North American Native's medicine bag.  (I have one of those as well.) It is considered to be a very precious possession representing a person's spiritual life, filled with small tokens and remembrances which are considered holy and meant to be kept secret by it's owner. 

Most of what I have would mean nothing to anyone else, but when I look at them and hold them in my hands I am filled with remembrance and joy.  

A Joy Box, as Martha would say, is a good thing.

 

(source)

It was lovely to note all of the lovely May Blossom in bloom up and down the roads in our area yesterday as we were traveling. It will soon be apple blossoms. That was always a really big deal in the Valley. Apple Blossom season. It was marked by a huge festival at the end of the month of May. The Apple Blossom Festival. The early weeks of May, in the run up to it were marked by teas and events run in all of the small towns, etc. of the valley. A Princess was picked by every town. A Queen would be chosen to reign at the Apple Blossom Festival from all of the local princesses. This usually happened at a ball at the end of the festival. It was considered a big honor and she would reign until the following year when she would crown the next Queen Annapolisa. The whole week would be marked by street parades and other festivities. It was a really big deal. 

 Cindy and I were saying yesterday in the car that we never hear anything about it anymore so I decided to look it up and see what's happening with it. There is still an Apple Blossom Festival, but it mainly seems to involve some of the larger communities up the way, ie. Coldbrook, Kentville and New Minas. There are no Princesses or Queens, just a thing called Passions that Bloom, which invites youth between  to participate. 

“We are incredibly proud to offer a space where youth from across the Annapolis Valley can showcase their talents, passions, and future goals while building confidence, leadership skills, and meaningful community connections.”

I had not heard of this. I can see where there are 14 finalists. I am not sure how they were chosen. There is a concert, a teen dance, a bingo, a street parade, a car show, food truck party, children's parade, paint nights, kids carnival and tractor pull, etc. but I think it is all being held in Kentville.

Its a shame that it hasn't been promoted more, but maybe I am just not clued in.

It seems to be only a patch on what was once a very highly anticipated event here in the Annapolis Valley and, had I not looked it up, I wouldn't have even known it was happening.  I think that's really weird.  It used to be hosted by a different community each year.  My oldest son was born Apple Blossom Weekend and the mayor of the town that was hosting it that year was my Doctor. I remember him being really annoyed because he had things to do as the Mayor and I was interfering with his plans. It was a most unpleasant experience with me from beginning to end.  The only plus was the birth of my son. Hard to believe he will be 51 this year!  My but the years have flown by!

 

(source)

Oh how I long to have some time each day to practice my art or sewing, etc. It seems a very long time since I have done anything of that ilk. Its a shame really.  I used to spend a good part of most days being creative. I managed to cook, write two blogs, and still create. I don't know why I cannot manage to do it all now??? Mismanagement of time is all that I can think of. 

I need to fix that.

 

(source)

"When we were in the woods beyond Gowbarrow Park we saw a few daffodils close to the water-side. We fancied that the lake had floated the seeds ashore, and that the little colony had so sprung up. But as we went along there were more and yet more; and at last, under the boughs of the trees, we saw that there was a long belt of them along the shore, about the breadth of a country turnpike road. I never saw daffodils so beautiful. They grew among the mossy stones about and about them; some rested their heads upon these stones as on a pillow for weariness; and the rest tossed and reeled and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them over the lake; they looked so gay, ever glancing, every changing. This wind blew directly over the lake to them. There was here and there, a little knot, and a few stragglers a few yards higher up; but they were so few as to not disturb the simplicity, unity and life of that busy highway.

~Dorothy Wordsworth, Thursday 15 April, 1802

We often hear about the poem by William Wordsworth, I wandered lonely as a cloud, but I had never read these words written in her Grasmere journal by his sister Dorothy. Clearly he was not the only one who had a brilliant way with words. I was to visit their cottage, Dove Cottage, that they rented in Grasmere in the Lake District one year when we were up there on holiday. It was quaint and quite interesting. Cumbria is filled with places associated with William Wordsworth. There is his birth home in Cockermouth, and the grammar school he went to in Hawkshead where you can still see his initials carved into the top of his school desk.

Had he been alone, Wordsworth would probably have wandered by the daffodils in a dreamy abstraction of thought and missed the moment, but luck would have it that his sister was with him, and no beauty . . . however fleeting . . . ever escaped the quick eyes of Dorothy, his sister who walked with him. It was Dorothy who made those daffodils dance for William . . . and it was William who made them dance for the world.

Dorothy was an unsung member of a group of poets that were known as the "Bards of the Lake,"  the practitioners of Romantic poetry whose principle members included Wordsworth, Simon Coleridge and Robert Southey in the early 19th century. Most of Dorothy's work, which consisted mainly of journals, letters and poems, was not published until after her death.

How lucky are we to be living in an age where the work of women is not only valued, but promoted and celebrated right alongside the work of their male counterparts. 

 

(source)

This is the Victoria Day weekend here in Nova Scotia. Monday is a bank holiday.  A lot of people spend this weekend gardening. It's almost like the beginning of summer, although summer is a good way off and to be honest the temperatures are not all that warm yet. Cindy did say yesterday that we are supposed to have a day next week that is predicted to be rather hot and uncomfortable. 

I noticed out the front window this morning that something has broken my bird feeder gouged two perches right out of it. I am not sure if I can fix it or not. I will have to go out and have a look and see. Hopefully I can. We have really been enjoying it these past days. We have had gold finches, blue capped blackbirds, red winged blackbirds, and even a wood pecker..  The cats have really been enjoying them as well. I think I need to get a nut feeder, but first  . . . I need to fix this feeder.

I wish I had a BBQ. I don't. Its all about the weight of the gas bottle, etc. Last weekend Eileen and I could smell the fumes of someone's BBQ and it smelled so good. It really set our tastebuds to tingling.

I do have a countertop grill, however, and it does a nice job. I should get some chicken and grill it.  I have an excellent marinade that I use which works very nicely.  I am going to the shops this morning with Eileen and Cindy so that might be a plan!

I really haven't much else to say this morning and I have run out of time. Eileen will be up soon and I need to get ready to go out.

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

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The bad news is time flies.

The good news is, you're the pilot.

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Lemon Raspberry French Toast. Two thick slices of French bread sandwiched together with a layer of lemony and honey cream cheese and fresh berries, soaked in a rich custard and baked in the oven until crispy edged and golden brown. Delicious.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend and that the sun is shining brilliantly where you are as it is here. Whatever you get up to I hope it brings you joy. 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!    

   

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 MAY 15th, 2026

Estate Lane,

Nova Scotia

10*C/50*F

Mostly cloudy 

Dear Neighbor,

Its hard to believe that it is Friday already. Wasn't it just Monday yesterday? How can it be that the week has flown by so quickly, and yet it has.  I remember being told when I was a much younger woman that time sped by more quickly the older you got. It seems that this was a true statement. I don't seem able to pack near as much into my days now as I did when I was younger, and yet I now have more free time on my hands. The mathematics of that do not make sense.

I never was any good at math.

 

(source)

They mowed our grass for the first time this year the other day.  What a lovely smell that is  . . .  the smell of newly cut grass. It is a smell that I have always loved.  I love the sound as well that accompanies it. That drone of the lawn mower combined with that sweet, musky green smell, almost floral but not quite . . . is a heady combination to me. It evokes the memories of almost 71 summers . . .  and everything that goes with that.

Did you love to walk through the grass in your bare feet when you were a child? I loved it. The grass always felt so cool on my feet. It has been many years since I felt the cool green of grass against my feet.

Now, if I can help it,  I avoid walking on grass at all costs. There are too many tics.  That is why the Guinea Fowl are a welcome sight to see. They eat tics.

The last time our brother was home he got a tic on him just walking along the gravel verge of the road which runs past the end of my street. It either dropped from the leaves of the trees or was blown in the wind. He has had Lyme Disease already once, so was a bit freaked out by it, and I can't say that I blame him.

The tics have gotten much worse than they were when we were growing up. We used to regularly go wild blueberry picking out in the wilds around here. Never thought or worried about tics. Never had any on us. These days you need to check yourself after every time you go outside, just about. *shudder*

 

(source)

Our Eileen had a bit of a low day yesterday. She told me she was feeling low in the afternoon. That is to be expected. She didn't have any visits yesterday with her CSS workers and we did not go anywhere, so perhaps she had too much time to think. We talked a bit about it. It is a natural thing to feel a bit low or even afraid in the face of what she is experiencing at the moment.  When times like that happen, we need to lean even more on our faith.  Moving outside ourselves and doing something for someone else also can help.  

We put on some Tabernacle Choir music and talked about all the things that were going to happen once she is in her new apartment. It has two bedrooms. One quite large and one which sounds like a closet room. That is going to be her "Eileen Sparkles" room, where she is going to set up her Diamond Art station. It is fun to plan things like that.

We also talked about the upcoming weekend away she is going to have with the people's first. That is a week from Saturday. I seriously doubt she will have had her surgery by then. It is only one night and day away, but it will be like a mini holiday for her.  She has been waiting for it for a while now. They get a new t-shirt and they have a banquet supper. I think there is even a dance/get together. They have workshops and all sorts.  Special needs people from all over the province attend. It is something she always really enjoys.

Did you know that she once presented flowers to then "Prince" Charles and Camilla?  I had forgotten about that until we were watching something the other day and she reminded me. She really has led a fascinating life and experienced a lot of things most people never get to experience.

 

(source)

We were also talking about people and their various strengths, skills and weaknesses yesterday. We all have things that we are really good at and things we are really bad at. "Smart" isn't measured by our ability to do math or other intellectual subjects. You can be really good at math and still not be super smart at other things.  I always tell her that one of her gifts is her ability to encourage and lift others. She can do that simply by being in the same room and turning on her "smile." She has a smile that lights up wherever she is at, and she is the first person to tell you everything is going to be okay when the chips are down. 

Everywhere we go people know her and say hello and tell me how special she is.  She has a good heart and a kind nature.  That is "smart" enough for me.  She's also very capable, and always does her best and tried hard at everything she sets her mind to. I am very proud of her.

She has her last bible study this morning. They will not start up again until the autumn.  She says that she will be able to walk to it then as she will be just down the street. 

Oh I do so hope that this apartment thing works out for her. I know she will need a lot to set it up. At the moment she has her single bed, the television I bought for them, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, an electric skillet, a dresser I think. Cindy got a coffee table for her from the people across the way that sold their house, as well as a DVD player. She needs a sofa or a chair, a small table and a couple of chairs. I have a lamp she can have and I can spare some things dish wise, etc. I am going to give her a set of my pots and pans. It will all work out.

 

(source)

O the cuckoo she's a pretty bird,

She singeth as she flies,

She bringeth good tidings,

She telleth no lies.

She sucketh white flowers,

For to keep her voice clear,

And the more she singeth cuckoo,

The summer draweth near.

~Traditional, The Cuckoo

I can still remember the first time I recall hearing the cuckoo's call. It was in Germany in the Spring and we were there on Holiday. I remember hearing it echoing through the forest. "Cuckoo"  I marveled at how very much it sounded like the clock.  Or should I say how much the clock sounded like the cuckoo! Anyways, it was a wonder to hear and I have never forgotten it.

That sound and the sight of Mistletoe hanging from the trees. I remember walking up the side of the mountain one day on a path and seeing Edelweiss growing wild on the path we were walking. There were still small patches of snow under the trees, but the sun was hot and the air fresh. From the path we were on we could look down on the little German village we were staying in. We were in the Black Forest.  

I lived in Germany as a very young child. My sister was born there. I didn't have much in the way of recollection from those days, so it was really lovely to be able to go back as an adult and take it all in. The small quaint villages, the architecture, the stunning and ornate onion dome churches. So beautiful. 

I had a hot chocolate there one day after a walk. I was asked did I want some whipped cream on it.  When it came, the whipped cream towered above the mug at least by six inches. It was amazing. I had never seen anything like it. 

I so loved those trips to Europe that I was able to take when I lived in England. What a great blessing that was.

I no longer have the yearning for travel. I am quite content to stay where I am and watch travel shows from the comfort of my chair. ha ha

 

(source)

"On some very specially divine days, like today, I have actually longed for some one else to be here to enjoy the beauty with me. There has been rain in the night, and the whole garden seems to be singing -- not the untiring birds only, but the vigorous plants, the happy grass and trees, the lilac bushes -- oh those lilac bushes! They are all out today, and the garden is drenched with the scent. I have brought in armfuls, the picking is such a delight, and every pot and bowl and tub in the house is filled with purple glory . . . and I long more and more for a kindred spirit -- it seems so greedy to have so much loveliness to oneself -- but kindred spirits are so very, very rare; I might almost as well cry for the moon. It is true that my garden is full of friends, only they are -- dumb."

~Elizabeth von Arnim, Elizabeth and Her German Garden, 1898

I was enjoying that until the very last word. And then it kind of spoiled the pretty picture I was painting in my head. Oh well.  

It won't be long now before the lilacs are in bloom. Such a heady scent. My mother used to love to sit in her rocking chair and gaze out the window at the lilac bush that sat at the edge of her front deck. She so enjoyed the smell and the sight.  There are quite a few lilac bushes on that property. 

The apartment that we lived in when I was married the first time had a drive, the length of which was bordered by lilac bushes. So beautiful in the month of May. We were lucky enough to have a small porch right outside our apartment. On a fine day you could sit out there and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.  It was a relatively small apartment in a fine older Victorian house. Only two rooms, a kitchen/combined living area with big wooden French doors leading into the bedroom and then the bath. The ceilings were really high. The apartment house was situated at the top of a hill in a University town. There was a Co-op store at the bottom of the hill. I can remember going there and buying 10 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese for a dollar.

I saw a box holding 10 boxes of Kraft dinner at the shops last week on special offer for over $20. Talk about inflation. It doesn't taste the same as it used to either.  It has probably been new and improved.

 

(source)

I have about exhausted my topics of conversation now so I will close this off. Eileen has just gotten up and it will be a flurry of activity until I get her out the door to drive her to her Bible Study in a bit. She has a very full day today, as do I really. I will be taking my usual trip with Cindy to take Dad and his friend to the mall for their Friday afternoon adventure. I hope to get to Dollarama today. I want to pick up a few bits and bobs.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*If you pray for rain

be prepared to deal with

some mud.

~unknown

In The English Kitchen today, Easy Creamy Corn & Mac Casserole.  I made this the other day and we both really enjoyed it. Eileen said it reminded her very much of the Corn and Scalloped Potato Casserole that I make.  Both are very good.  This makes a great side dish but we enjoyed it as a main with some salad, bread and butter and some pickles on the side. Very tasty!  Simple to make and economical as well.

I hope that you have a great Friday. Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you joy on this beautiful Friday in May. 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)

Pretty mosaics.  I love mosaics. There was an exhibition at the A&V museum in London that was only mosaics. 

 

(source)

Rhubarb.  I love rhubarb. Gouchers farm shop now has the spring rhubarb in.

 

(source)

Holly hocks  . . . .

 

(source)

Interesting views  . . . 

 

(source)

Yellows and blues  . . . 

 

(source)

Fox kits  . . .  so cute . . . 

 

(source)

Blue  . . . 

 

(source)

Pink . . . 

 

(source)

Socks with frills  . . . 

 

(source)

Pansies  . . . 

 

(source)

Pretty tea balls  . . . 

 

(source)

Transferware  . . . 

 

(source)

Sunlight  . . . 

 

(source)

Drying herbs  . . . 

 

(source)

French pastries  . . . .

 

(source)

Blues and yellows . . . again  . . . 

 

(source)

Wildflower foot paths  . . . 

 

(source)

Painting botanicals  . . . 

 

(source)

Violin music  . . . 

 

(source)

Ducklings  . . . 

And those are my favorites for this week. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*A single act of kindness
can travel further than you think
touching lives you may never even see.
~unknown  • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today I am sharing an old post I have re-written and edited to bring it up to day for Swedish Meatballs. These are so yummy. I could never get enough of them. A recipe I spent years honing. 

I am slowly redoing recipes from the past to bring them up to date and to erase vestiges of you know who. It's a tall task to be honest, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Eileen liked the apartment she went to look at yesterday. It is just across the street from the one that she had wanted to get so it is still in a good area. She just won't have the furniture, etc. that she was going to get from the other one. So we will be building from scratch.  We can do it. They have a few repairs they are doing on it. I suggested to her that perhaps it was best that, even though she was paying rent for it, she stays here until after her operation and recovery. That way we can have things really ready for her to move in, and she can be cared for better. We will see what she decides. It's her choice, but she does seem to think that is the best idea.

I hope you have a lovely Thursday.  Whatever you get up to, be happy, be 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)

 

How can it be that we are on Wednesday already and that this is almost the middle of the month and pretty close to being the middle of the year? (one more month) Somebody please tell time to slow down.  It's going far too quickly!

On a side note, ever notice how often ginger cats are used to illustrate something?  I think that's because they are loaded with personality. I am a bit biased however, so you cannot use that as a fact. It's just because I have two orange cats that are loaded with personality and charm. Cannot forget the charm. Eileen is enjoying them so much, and they are quite used to having her here now. 

It is hard to believe that Eileen has been living here since January.  The time has gone by so quickly. She is going to look at an apartment at noon today and I am happy for her. I don't think she should be moving anywhere, even if she takes the apartment, until after her operation, etc. and she has recovered. She agrees with me. It is best for her to be here so I can take care of her until then.  That would give us time to get everything organized for her to move in though, so no worries. I might be getting ahead of myself here though, as she may not even like the place. She says she wants to spend Christmas with me. That's a good sign I would say! She likes spending time with me.

 

(source)

Mom used to have a carved wooden box that sat on top of our television. Handmade, someone had carved into it a memorial of the Old Oregon Trail.  The box held photographs. I always loved that box and often brushed my fingers over the carvings, thinking about the brave pioneer people who had taken wagons or hand carts and walked that old trail into what they hoped was a bright new future, forging pathways to the West for all to follow. What a brave bunch of people they must have been.

I loved that box so much, and I am pretty sure I am not alone in that. It had disappeared one time when I came home to visit. Mom had sold it. I remember being really disappointed as I would have liked to have it and would have bought it from her had I known she was selling it.

We moved around a fair bit in our younger years and didn't live close to our extended family until I was 11 years old. Things like this old wooden box were our family and it was like a piece of our family had been sold off and had disappeared. I don't know if that makes sense to you or not. I am the only one of my siblings that remembers my maternal grandparents. They had both passed by the time we moved back East to live and my brother had only been a baby when he was last near them and my sister only a young toddler. None of us remember our Grandpapa, who passed in 1963, coincidentally on the same day as President Kennedy.  Our Grandmama died when I was in my 20's but we had only ever seen her a few times in our lives and there was a great language barrier in that she didn't speak English and we didn't speak French.  So things like carved wooden boxes became important memories to us, or to me anyways. The familiarities of childhood. Childhood constants.

I guess I am sentimental.

 

(source)

Now linnet, finch and willow-wren,

Their quilted nests must fill again,

And buds must tie their new green bows

On thin twigs where the sharp thorn grows,

And in it's cradle sleeps the rose.

Now young winds spiral down the shell

Of distance where the hills of Mourne

Beyond the reaches of the Lough

Have pursed their lips into a horn.

Now cuckoo's egg in strange nest lies,

Small leaves sprout wings, and little flies

Float by on rainbow petals. Skies

Grow tender as they hear the lark

Strip one by one the scales of dark.

~Freda Laughton (1907-1955)

Although it is quite chilly in here this morning, and the electric heat has come on, the sky is a brilliant blue with nary a cloud that I can see from my front window at any rate. Spring has firmly taken hold.  Each day when I look out the front window I can see that the trees that grow behind the houses across the way are filling out more and more in leaf. Maple trees they are and what was once just a rosy flush of leaf is unrolling into an almost plum color, interspersed with green. You can still spot glimpses of blue between the branches, but soon enough it will be impossible to see between, they will have all filled out in a blanket of leaf that covers all of my vision.

The yellow petals of Glenna's forsythia have fallen onto the ground now. And the lilac across the way are in bud. It is a shame that the lady who used to live across from me had the lilac bush in her front garden chopped down last year. I suppose it had been blocking her view of the street.

Much has changed in the five years I have lived here. All of the men that lived across the way from me have passed on, along with the couple that lived to the right of me. I suppose that is the nature of a small community such as the one I live in, which is dedicated to Senior's living.  Gone too is our mother's friend Will, who used to walk her walker up and down the street in good weather. She lived just three doors down from me. Her son has been living there but rumor has it (and rumor is rife in such a small community) that he will be moving out soon to live with his girlfriend.

Change is inevitable, even on such a small street such as this.

 

(source)

Eileen received a small gift a few days ago. I won't say who from so as not to embarrass them. It is a lovely diamond art kit which has hummingbirds on it. She was super thrilled and surprised to receive it and is still basking in the glow of generosity.  She has written a thank you note to send. I just have to get some stamps so we can mail it. She is finishing off the set of coasters I bought for her a few weeks back and can't wait to get started on this new piece. 

I got her some little zip lock baggies to hold the diamond crystals in. Once she gets into her own place, I will get her a rolling card to hold her diamond art things. She really loves doing it. Right now she is sorting her crystals that had gotten all jumbled into a mass into separate colors and putting them into the small bags. I call her Glitter Eileen. Sparkles follow her wherever she goes.

And that is true even in the most real sense of the word. Her pleasant demeanor and sweet spirit both sparkle. To know her is to love her.

You would not know anything is wrong, except she is very tired. She has had naps every afternoon this week. We have not heard from the Specialists yet, but it's only been a week. The Doctor said if we had not heard within two weeks to give him a call. 

There is nothing worse than knowing you have something sinister going on and feeling helpless to do anything about it  . . . to simply have to wait. This Diamond Art is helping to keep her distracted and busy, which is a very good thing.

I have a small Maud Lewis Calendar hanging on the side of my desk. For those of you who are not familiar Maud Lewis was a Nova Scotia Artist known for her very primitive and charming folk art portrayals of rural life in Nova Scotia, cats, oxen, etc. There was a highly romanticized film made about her life in 2016, but the reality of it was quite different than that portrayed in the film. In reality her life was a life of poverty and abuse. She was a child born out of wedlock, with a physical disability, tied to an abusive and controlling marriage, with familial ties to the local poorhouse. Despite all that, her artwork brought joy to many and I love having her calendar here next to me.

This month's painting is called Schooner at Wharf and depicts what I presume is the Digby Inlet with the ends of a wharf, a boat, fishing shack, sea gulls, etc. It is quite wonderful how she managed to evoke the feeling and the heart of rural Nova Scotia in her simple paintings. She was quite brilliantly talented.

It makes me think of a small Bay of Fundy town not too far from where I live called Margaretsville. I am hoping that at some point this summer I can get an overnight stay at a cottage in Margaretsville for Eileen and I. If not this summer, then maybe in the early autumn. I think it would be nice for us to just go up there and stay, even if only for one day and night. We can sit outside and watch the sun set. I don't even know if there is such a thing, but it would be nice. I know we could just drive up there and watch the sun set, but this would feel like a little vacation for us both, and with the cats, overnight is about all I can manage, or afford, to be honest. Its just a thought.

 

(source)

I don't have a lot planned for today. Just the same old, same old.  Eileen will go look at the apartment at noon. I think she also plans to meet her dad at Tim Hortons after.  We will go out for supper with dad and Cindy later on. I have plans to vacuum through and put out my ant bait to nip them in the bud. It won't be long before they arrive. People have already seen June Bugs.  

There is a great peace and comfort to be found in the familiarity and sameness of ordinary days.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Things that break your heart

are the same things that open your eyes.

~unknown

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Cheesy California Veggie Casserole. Eileen gave this a hundred out of ten. I just kind of made it up using things I had in the house/freezer/refrigerator and was very pleased with the results. You can eat it as a side, or as a main. We enjoyed it with rice as a main and there was none left at the end. I had some and Eileen polished it off.

Once again, many thanks for your happy thoughts and prayers. I hope you have a great day today.  I hope your day is filled with light and with love.  Along the way of it, 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!