Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

 A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best. 

 

(source)

This weekend is the Canadian Thanksgiving and this year our cup runneth over with Thanksgiving. It is hard not to be grateful. First and foremost we are grateful that Eileen is okay.  Yes, she is in a fair bit of pain. It has only been a week today since she had her operation, but hopefully things will begin to improve slowly but surely. I think the worst is the stitches below as they dry and pull.

She is such a brave soul and takes it all with courage.  I have not heard her whine once, or complain. She will wince, but then immediately says, "I'm okay, I'm okay." When clearly she isn't.

I went to the drugstore yesterday afternoon while she was having a nap to get her some more you know what's and spoke to the chemist. Her pain killers are about gone now. She only has enough left for today. I got some Tylenol one's for her and the chemist recommended this water squirter thingie to fill with warm water and bath her lady bits with whenever she uses the loo.  And TUCS to wipe with, which we were already doing. She finds having a shower to be very soothing so we have been having lots of those.

I am tired, but it's a good tired. I am blessed to be here and to be able to help my daughter in this way. It is a special priviledge.

We were not able to get out to Cindy's for dinner. Eileen just couldn't face sitting in a normal chair. (She finds it more comfortable to sit slightly reclined in my easy boy.) Eileen was disappointed, but Cindy brought a lovely dinner to us. It was beautiful.  There was the roast chicken of course.  Stuffing (our mom's recipe) squash, turnips, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, gravy and homemade cranberry sauce.  It was all so delicious and then for dessert a lovely blueberry crumble pie.  Eileen enjoyed a slice with some vanilla ice cream on top. I still haven't had mine. I had some mint jelly in the refrigerator, which Eileen likes with her Thanksgiving dinner. A tradition she picked up from her husband's family.

It was such a kind and loving gesture on my sister's part, for which we were truly thankful.  We missed being with family, of course. That is always the best part for me, but there will be other Thanksgivings and the important thing is that Eileen is going to be okay in the long run and for that we are all really thankful.

 

(source)

I didn't get out to church yesterday. I didn't want to leave Eileen for that long, just in case, so I watched it online. (Eileen watched hers online as well.)  It was a beautiful service. I didn't get to partake of the sacrament of course, but I did get to listen to the talks.  We have two young Sister Missionaries in our area now.  The first missionaries we have had in this are for several years.  They each gave a talk and they were brilliant. I really got a lot out of them. 

I have been relistening also to the talks from our latest conference. They are also very good. I listen to one every day in bed at night. It is a blessing to fall asleep with their inspiration on my mind.

I've been thinking of getting a small tattoo on my inside wrist. I was never one for tattoos really, but this is something I have wanted for a while. A small sparrow. You know how I love sparrows. They are a sweet reminder to me of God's presence in my life, His eye is on the sparrow  . . .  and I have felt His eye on me, especially over these past few years. I think this is the one I have decided on. Now I just have to go and have it done. I think my sister has more work that she wants done as well, so maybe we can do this together sometime.

I found this and it was too good not to share  . . . 

We have felt your many prayers on our behalf and we are thankful for them.  They have made a difference and we do so appreciate them, more than you can every know. 

Enough . . .  we have enough and we are grateful for that. Many people think that the windows of heaven opening means that they are going to become richer, famous, etc. but really the windows of heaven opening means that you have enough. If you have enough, you are already blessed beyond the hopes of many, many people in the world.

And with that I will leave you with a thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

*Give thanks
for blessings already
on their way. 

In The English Kitchen today, Easy Pumpkin Streusel Bundt Cake.  This is a delicious pumpkin cake with a nice cinnamon flavour and a beautiful streusel filling. Not too sweet, just right, as a cake with coffee or tea or as a dessert with some ice cream or whipped cream.

I hope you have a beautiful day today. Whatever you get up to, I hope it blesses you in untold ways. Don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

All Things Nice . . .

 

 

(source)

Who made the pattern for a climbing rose,

Or set the rules by which a pine tree grows,

Who traced the first lines in a maple leaf,

To make it beautiful beyond belief.

Who made the chalk-white peppers on a shore,

The tiny seedlings in an apple core,

And who -- in some mysterious lovely realm

Fashioned the framework of a stately elm?

Who set the stars to shine above the Deep,

And gave the sea its mystery to keep,

Or made a pattern intricate as lace

That grub uses for his hiding place?

Who taught a wood-thrush all he seems to know,

Or a small brook, the way all waters flow,

Who taught a busy squirrel his bag of tricks,

A mother hen the way to feed her chicks?

Who told my heart to worship on bent knees

when I behold the mystery of these?

~Edna Jacques, Who?

The Hills of Home, 1952

I can still remember the time I cut an apple in half crosswise and saw the star in the middle. I remember being astonished.  Had this always looked like that? How could I have missed that secret held within the heart of an apple for all of those years gone before that moment?

Our world is full of  things and mysteries too beautiful to be able to explain how they came into existence. And we can try, hard as we can to set them to science and happenstance, but deep in my heart I know and have always know.  When my children were born and lay in my arms for the first time I was overwhelmed with the beauty and intricacy of their coming into being  . . .  fresh from God and handed over into my care. Their tiny fingers, curling with instinct around my own. So helpless and so amazingly intricate at the same time.  Their fingers may have wrapped around my own, but truth be told, I was wrapped around their little finger from the moment I knew they were there, growing . . . 

and I still am. 

The leaves were dancing yesterday. We had quite a windy day and Eileen and I enjoyed watching them dance across the pavement from across the street onto our front porch and off again.  We watched the dancing on the rooftops across the way, dashing down the street and then back up again. Breathtaking  . . . 

I am reminded of that scene in the Disney film Fantasia with the dancing leaves. I used to love that film when I was a child. The music and all of the different scenarios, all set in nature. I think my favorite one was the dancing toadstools, but I loved it all. Movie night tonight in our house, perhaps  . . .  we will watch Fantasia and I can be a child again, if only for a moment or two  . . .

 

(source)

I have always been a voracious reader.  Ever since I learned how to read I have found myself immersed in magical other worlds. I could never imagine not being able to read. I have my favorite books and characters, books that I will read again and again, revisiting them like old long lost friends from time to time, and they never fail to delight me.  

What if you could spend a full day with one of your favorite characters in a favorite book of yours? Who would you most like to do that with?

 I am such an indecisive person. When we go out to supper, Eileen and I, I will change my mind at least three or four times on the way as to where I want to go, and then, when the menu is in front of me,  I am sure I change my mind at least half a dozen times about what I want to order.

It is the same with fictional characters.  How can I pick just one  . . .

Jo March, from Little Women. I'd love to go on a long walk with her and talk about the things she has written, and ask her what it was like trying to become a published female author in a male-dominated field. 

Then there is Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables  . . . I imagine us sitting together on a picnic blanket,  sharing something delicious as we look out over the grasses and white sands of Cavendish.  Talking about kindred spirit friends and raspberry cordial  . . . 

Don't get me started on Nancy Drew or Trixie Beldon. To be a teenage sleuth  . . . 

Oh, there are so many I would love to spend a day with. How about you?

 

(source)

Wrapped in warmth  . . . there is something about flannel that just makes me feel all cozy and warm, welcome, at home. And it can be a blanket, or an old shirt that I have loved for a long, long time . . .  fabric worn, yet somehow very comforting in it's old age. Memories are woven into it's threads . . . nights curled up on a sofa with it wrapped around me, watching my favorite movie in candlelight, or walks in the woods with that old shirt caressing my arms and keeping me warm out in the biting autumn air that I'm not quite used to yet, or arms tied around my waist on a day when I have miscalculated the waning warmth of the sun.   Old friends.  Flannel, it becomes an old and favorite friend. One we can never give up.

 

(source)

Frost, and sunshine after had reddened the hawthorn sprays, and already they could see through the upper branches -- red with haws -- for the grass was strewn with the leaves from the exposed tops of the bushes. On the orange maples there were bunches of rosy-winged keys. There was a gloss on the holly leaf, and catkins at the tips of the leafless birch. As the leaves fell from the horse-chestnut boughs the varnished sheaths of the buds for next year appeared, so there were green buds on the willows, black tips to the ash saplings, green buds on the sycamores  . . . 

Thin threads of gossamer gleamed, the light ran along their oops as they were lifted by the breeze, and the sky was blue over the buff oaks. Jays screeched in the oaks, looking for acorns, and there came the muffled tinkle of a sheep-bell.

~Richard Jefferies, from Bevis, 1882

Don't you wish you could write like that. I do  . . . I wish I could untangle all the words that rush to my mind and memory when I see things like this. Always an adventurer as a child, I was climbing trees out in the woods, all on my lonesome . . .  and noticing  . . . rosy-winged keys, and fallen acorns, toadstools and fairy circles. I was surrounded by a world of beauty and didn't know how to put it into words. When I read words like these I am back there in the woods of my childhood and seeing these things all over again. I can smell the leaves, damp and rotting on the ground,  hear the cry of the wild geese flying over head, and feel the impending arrival of something deeper and colder . . . 

 

(source)

One of my favorite things has always been the button box. Even as a child. Our mother did not have a box as such. She had small round metal tins  . . .  probably something our father had gotten from work. There was masking tape on each tin, labeling what was inside in her very proper handwriting. I used to love to dip my fingers into the buttons. It was as if they were a pirate's gold.  I would imagine where each one had come from. In those days when before a garment was discarded to be used for a rag, the buttons would have been carefully clipped off and placed in the tin. Most were very plain to the eye, but every so often you would come across one that glittered. Like magic.

Eileen is doing very well. I helped her in the shower again last night. Her whole bottom is bruised. It must be very painful.  My heart breaks to think of her hurting. She is so brave. She never complains. She has been brave through all of this. Tears come to my eyes when I think about it. I am so grateful that this is now looking like it is behind us . . .  now all we have to do is to heal. I am so thankful that I am here for this and not several thousand miles away, and I give praise to the God who knows the beginnings of our stories from the ends  . . .  and for Him putting me here for just such a moment.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*In Autumn if the leaves still hold,

The Winter will be wet and cold.

~an old wives' tale.

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Caramelized Apple Cornbread.  Oh my goodness. This was so delicious served warm with a drizzle of honey over top. Another small-batch recipe.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. To all my Canadian friends and readers, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have plenty to be thankful for. I know I have.  Whatever you 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!    

   

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 OCTOBER 9th, 2026

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

7*C/44*F

partially sunny, rain expected

Dear Neighbour,

It's very quiet in here this morning. Eileen got up to use the bathroom not too long ago, I helped to get her back in bed, to pull her blankets up, etc. She is doing very well, although she finds the stitches down below were really bothering her yesterday. It wasn't until later in the day we realized that if she sat reclined in the recliner it felt better, so today she is going to be sitting there.  She has been getting up and walking for between 5 and ten minutes every hour or so, which is good.  It helps to keep the blood circulating, avoiding clots. All told, however, she is doing very well. Prayers are being answered, left, right and center, and we are grateful.

 

(source)

My phone appointment with my Doctor went really well. Nothing showed up on my Ultrasound. No kidney stones. Everything looks good. I got my prescriptions renewed and am picking up a requisition for blood tests, etc. and he has put me on the waiting list for a colonoscopy. (happy happy joy joy) Just what I wanted. But we endure what we have to I guess. It won't be happening any time soon. Dan has been waiting over four months for his.

I treated Eileen and I to a movie last night. It was something we had not seen in a very long time and we were just feeling like watching something funny. It was just as funny as it was the first time we saw it. I did have to rent it from Amazon as I couldn't find it streaming anywhere, but we didn't mind. It was still cheaper than going out for a movie.

Cindy stopped by with a sweet arrangement of flowers for Eileen yesterday and a quick visit after her Thai Chi class. Eileen was just thrilled. That was such a thoughtful thing for Cindy to do. I don't think Eileen has really been given flowers before. It meant a lot to her.

But that is Cindy, thoughtful to a "T." I wish I was more like her. She has always been the one who picks up the bird with a broken wing and tries to fix it.

 

(source)

There were a great many holidays at Plumfield, and one of the most delightful was the yearly apple-picking. For then the Marches, Laurences, Brookes and Bhaers turned out in full force and made a day of it. Five years after Jo's wedding, one  of these fruitful festivals occurred, a mellow October day, when the air was full of an exhilarating freshness which made the spirits rise and the blood dance healthily in the veins. The old orchard wore its holiday attire. Goldenrod and asters fringed the mossy walls. Grasshoppers skipped briskly in the sere grass, and crickets chirped like fairy pipers at a feast.  Squirrels were busy with their small harvesting. Birds twittered their adieux from the alders in the lane, and every tree stood ready to send down its shower of red or yellow apples at the first shake. Everybody was there. Everybody laughed and sang, climbed up and tumbled down. Everybody declared that there never had been such a perfect day or such a jolly set to enjoy it, and everyone gave themselves up to the simple pleasures of the hour as freely as if there were no such things a care or sorrow in the world.

~Louisa May Alcott, from Good Wives, 1869

That is one of Alcott's books I have never read. To be honest I have only ever read Little Women. Perhaps I need to read some of her other books?  Have you read any of them?  All the byways and lanes are filled with wild asters at the moment. Purple and so pretty.  I love wildflowers. Every season has their own, and each one delights in it's very own way.

Quite a few leaves came down yesterday as it was quite a windy day, but there are still plenty to enjoy. I need to really get those pots at the front of my house emptied and put away for the season. The flowers in them are mostly spent now. Perhaps today I will go out and take down all the other things which need putting away for the season.  The decorations, like flower stakes, etc.  I still haven't gotten my windows washed, but I really must get it done soon. It depends on when the rain is coming. right now the sky is turned out to be a brilliant blue. That October blue that the golds and oranges, ochres, and reds look so beautiful against.

 

(source)

It is time to start thinking about Halloween again. To get in the treats to hand out. Nobody on the street has put out any decorations yet, but this weekend is Thanksgiving so I expect that they will start showing up once that is done.

We are going to try to go to my sister's on Sunday for Thanksgiving dinner. We are having roast chicken. I had picked up a large one at Peltons a few weeks back. Whole turkeys are so expensive these days and I am really the only one who enjoys turkey. Well, Eileen does too, but that's a lot of money to spend on something only we will enjoy.  For me, it's more about the sides. The stuffing, the sweet potatoes, etc. My sister makes the most delicious stuffing and sweet potatoes. 

It is just nice to be able to get together with a family to celebrate the holiday. They don't do Thanksgiving in the U.K. so I missed them a lot when I was living there. Oh, I used to do an American one for the Missionaries every November, but the Canadian one was largely forgotten.

Days of thanksgiving in Canada originated in the colonial period, arising from the same European traditions as those in America, in gratitude for safe journeys, peace, and bountiful harvests. The earliest celebration took place in 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Nunavut to give thanks for the safety of its fleet. In 1879 Parliament established a national Thanksgiving Day on November 6; the date has varied over the years. Since 1957 Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October.

I have many happy memories of making Thanksgiving Dinners for my family throughout the years. It was always a really big deal. We would pick up our Turkey's in the states in September. (Cross border shopping.) We usually picked up three or four to have in the freezer. They were always a lot cheaper down there and I always thought they tasted better. I never had a dry American turkey.  There would be dressing/stuffing (lots of that), mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, mashed squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and peas, gravy, homemade rolls and usually two pies for dessert. Always a pumpkin one and then another one, usually apple.  My favourite part has always been the leftovers. The turkey sandwiches with cranberry and stuffing. The pot pie. The soup.  Enchiladas. You can get a lot of mileage out of one big bird.

 

(source)

We had a nice little facetime with Anthony and his family yesterday. It was nice to see Anthony, Anne and the boys.  I expect Anthony will be cooking a big turkey this weekend. He is just like me. He makes a big production of the holiday meal. I remember him and Anne coming over for my last family meal prior to my marriage breaking up in 1998. Amanda was home from University for the weekend. Doug was in his last year of Highschool.  Mom was still alive. Eileen and Bruce were just Eileen and Bruce.  It was a great weekend. My house was full to overflowing.  Amanda stayed at mom's so she could have some privacy for studying. Lots of noise and good food. Anne made her apple/cranberry pie.  It was a great time. It is too bad we all live so far apart now.  Also the fracture in the family makes it difficult as well, but at least we have our happy memories of the past.

I have run out of things to write about now. Eileen will soon be getting up. I think she wants fruit and yogurt for her brekkie this morning. I need to get out and get some milk. Mine had gone sour yesterday so I had to dump it. Other than that, not sure what is on the agenda although I am sure I will come up with something!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Sometimes it's the words we 

choose not to say that speak most

loudly about our character.

~Lysa TerKeurst

I made these really delicious stuffed peppers for our supper last night. Italian Peperoni Ripieni. There is this channel I watch on YouTube, Pasta Grammar.  Its really cute. A young American and his Italian wife. The food is always really tasty looking. I watched a video the other day and she was stuffing vegetables.  Three kinds. I decided to try the stuffed peppers and we were amazed. So delicious. So much so that I am still thinking of them this morning. Seriously tasty.

Well, I hope that you have a lovely day. If you are a Canadian, Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!  In any case be blessed everyone!  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 Favourite 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)

Pie. Any kind of pie. Fruit. Meat.  Meringue. Pie.

 

(source)

This  . . . 

 

(source)

They're just so funny  . . . 

 

(source)

I adore these . . . 

 

(source)

Candlelight  . . . 

 

(source)

Dancing leaves  . . . 

 

(source)

Fresh fruit  . . . 

 

(source)

Mums  . . . 

 

(source)

A hot soak  . . . 

 

(source)

This  . . . 

 

(source)

Autumn cupcakes  . . . 

 

(source)

Just a puppy and his bear  . . . 

 

(source)

Oh my goodness  . . .  heaven help me . . . 

And those are my favorite things for this week. Someone is stirring and I promised to make her some porridge for her breakfast with raisins and a sprinkle of brown sugar on top.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Make the most of yourself
for that's all there is of you.

~Ralph Waldo Emmerson

In The English Kitchen today  . . . 3-Ingredient Apple Spice Cake. Three simple ingredients, one very delicious cake. Simple.

I hope that you have a really lovely day today. It's a bit chilly in here this morning. I want to try to get my windows washed today, if it warms up some.  In any case, I hope your day goes well!  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)

 Eileen got back here yesterday afternoon about 6 p.m. safe and sound. I had some supper waiting for her, once we got her unpacked and settled. I have to say I was very grateful for the care that her father and sister gave to her.  It was so good to have her home here and to know that our prayers had been answered. Cancer free. That's what she was told. She is in a bit of pain, probably more than she lets on, but I think she's going to be okay. She's doing very well and I am very proud of her. We also thank everyone so much for their thoughts and prayers. They have really helped immeasurably, and we have appreciated them.  Praying now for continued healing and her life getting back to normal. She is sleeping at the moment. 

 

(source)

My cleaners came yesterday. It was perfect timing.  Actually only one was here as the other had to go to the emergency as her eye was swollen up or something. The one that was here did a usual fabulous job. She also helped me to sort out Eileen's room properly and get clean sheets on the bed, etc. so it was fresh and ready for her return. I was so pleased with what she did. This one is a great organizer. I am going to get her to come back another time, outside of their regular hours to help me with a few bits I think. She does a really great job. 

I was supposed to have a podiatry appointment today, but I called on Monday to cancel it. They were out of office so I left a message. They did not get back to me so I have no idea if they got the message or not. I hope that they don't ding me with a cancelation fee.  I did call to cancel the appointment in time. So hopefully that was okay. 

I have so many appointments that I need to make. I was waiting for this business with Eileen to get done. I want to make an appointment to have my winter tires put on and my car winterized. I also need them to look at my backing camera which has stopped working properly. 

 

(source)

I have had to put a bit of heat on in here this morning.  It was a bit chilly.  Really these places stay fairly cool in the summer and warm when the weather starts to get colder. I am lucky really to have a center unit as I am protected on both sides. So I really only get wind from the front or back. It's really quite comfortable.  But we are having some very chilly mornings now so I guess a bit of heat won't hurt. It's not far above freezing out there this morning.

 

(source)

Myriads and myriads plumed their glittering wings,

As fine as any bird that soars and sings,

As bright as fireflies or the dragon-flies

Or birds of paradise.

Myriads and myriads waved their sheeny fans,

Soft as the dove's breast, or the pelican's;

And some were gold, and some were green, and some

Pink-lipped, like apple bloom.

A low wind tossed the plumage all one way,

Rippled the gold feathers, and green and gray -

A low wind that in moving sang one song

All day and all night long.

Some trees hung lanterns out, and some had stars

Silver as Hesper, and rose-red as Mars;

A low wind flung the lanterns low and high -

A low wind like a sigh.

~Katherine Tynan (1859 - 1931), Leaves

We had some strong winds yesterday, in fact Cindy's power was out for a couple hours. Quite a bit of leaf came down, but there is still plenty up there to enjoy. All the power lines here are above ground and many of them have trees hanging over and below them. The Power company does try to keep them trimmed, but it would be so much better if they just put them underground like so many other places have. There probably wouldn't be so many power outages.

My power did flick when the power came back on in the places that had lost theirs. Enough that I needed to reboot everything. I also had to sign myself back into all the streaming channels on the television, which was a bit annoying, but, nevertheless, we got it done. It won't be long now before we are setting the clocks back an hour. I saw online that several provinces have opted not to change the clocks. I wish all of the provinces would get on board as when only a few of them do, it makes things even more confusing.

 

(source)

We had our church's bi-annual conference last weekend and it was very good. The talks seem to be a bit shorter now, but they have more people speaking. Once they have them all published on the church website I am going to go back and listen to them all again. Several struck me as I was listening to them with some profound things. One in particular by Elder Bednar, so I am keen to go over that one again.

Usually I listen to all of the talks over and over again until the next conference rolls around. There is so much to take in and take on board. So uplifting and inspiring.

There is a really lovely video on YouTube about the Salt Lake Temple that I watched yesterday while I was waiting for Eileen to get home.  I really enjoyed it. The Temple has been closed for a number of years while they did some major repairs on it and they are getting ready to re-open and re-dedicate it next Spring. There will be an open house as well, prior to the dedication, where people can walk through it. Its an amazing building. I remember walking around it when I was in SLC back in 2009. I had forgotten my temple recommend at home in the U.K. so I couldn't go in however.  

They have a couple of really nice visitor centers there that you can go in and Temple Square is looking really lovely as well, with some really beautiful statues, etc. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to visit it when I did. 

 

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I don't know that I can ever adequately explain just how very much of a difference my faith has made in my life. I really and truly don't know where I would be without it. My life has truly been transformed by it. I can honestly say that I am not really the same person that I was before I embraced it. Life is much sweeter now, despite all the hardships. I have an anchor and a ballast now that helps me to navigate all of the troubles that life sets on our doorsteps. It does for everyone. Lets face it, life is hard. I love that I can go to my Heavenly Father in prayer and pour my heart out to Him and I can tell you with all honesty He always answers my prayers, sometimes in the most unexpected ways, sometimes I don't get the answers I wanted, but always I get answers in the way that is best for me, for my life. And yes, some prayers I am still waiting for answers, but I know they will come. 

Well, I guess I best bring this to an end now. The morning is getting on and I expect Eileen will have a few visitors today so I need to get my skates on. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*God holds me

Every day, every thought

every step.

 

In The English Kitchen today, Spameroni & Cheese.  This is incredibly delicious, budget friendly and very quick and easy to make. You can't ask for much more than that!

I do hope you have a beautiful day. I have a phone call appointment later today for the results of my ultrasound last week, the nurse said non-urgent, so I am trying not to hyper-focus on that, hypochondriac that I am, lol.  In any case, it's beautiful sunny and Eileen is home and healing. God is good.  Whatever you get up to today, stay safe, be happy and don't forget! 

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!