Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 FRIDAY, April 25th, 2025
3 Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
5*C/ 42*F  Overcast

Dear Neighbor,

It was such a beautiful sunny day yesterday.  Dry and warmish, neighbors were sitting out on their decks. Cindy and I went to Will's viewing yesterday afternoon. It was nice to be able to pay our respects to the family. Lots of photographs were on view. Will looked lovely and at peace, with her bible and her rosary in her hands. She looked ten years younger. Cindy said Will would have loved that idea. But then again, who wouldn't.

The sun was just beautiful coming through the windows last evening.  I couldn't help but notice the special glow it gave to Cinnamon's fur as she lay sleeping in her basket in front of the window.  Such a brilliant color. It is hard to believe that they both fit into that basket comfortably once upon a time now, but they did. They will be three years old soon. 

That dark grey tabby was back to visit them yesterday. I had to go out and shoo him away with the broom again.  He hisses and spits and growls at them and attacks the window screen. I don't know who he belongs to. I did see a collar on him yesterday, so he does belong to someone.

It's a dangerous thing to let you cats just wander about. Especially with such busy roads close by, not to mention the coyotes. Someone posted on FB the other day with a photograph of a cat they rescued that had been shot with a paintball gun.  What is wrong with people?  Man's hearts are surely waxing cold in this modern-day world. There are still plenty of good people about for sure, but there are plenty of nasty ones as well. It makes me sad to think about it.

Just a sign of the times they say, and I suppose it is.  Makes me happier than ever for my little spot of repose here within my four safe walls. When I am out and about, I try not to be judgmental of others.

  "Be kind everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden." 

~Ian MacLaren 

It is hard though. I may not be outwardly unkind, but sometimes I cannot help those unkind thoughts from creeping in. I know it should not matter. Kept in the mind, those thoughts are not really hurting anyone. Who am I really harming by thinking those things. Well, the answer is a simple one. Me.

In thinking unkind thoughts, I am reinforcing a habit of negativity and that is not something I really want to do.  If no one else, I am wounding myself. I am not being my best self, and "I" know it, even if nobody else does.

Our thoughts always matter. I need to be better at letting go of my own righteousness and giving people the benefit of the doubt, even if I am the only person who knows I am doing so.

My stack of crochet squares grows taller. I need to start crocheting them together or this blanket will never be done. I wanted to pick up some cotton yarn the other day when Cindy and I were at Michaels.  They did have cotton yarn, but it was not the one I am used to. The kind that comes with the dishcloth pattern attached.  I was going to pick up knitting needles also, but did not know what size to get.  I love those knitted cotton dishcloths most of all.  I much prefer them over any dishcloths that you can buy these days. The normal ones seem to be so flimsy in comparison.

Mom had a lot of those hand-knitted dish cloths and hand towels as well. I had one of mom's hand towels, but sadly it got into the wash and discolored with all of my underwear not so long ago along with something that dyed everything an ungodly splotchy grape color.  Sigh . . . 

I noticed a few ants in the bathroom the other day.  Ant season is about to begin, and I hate it.  Because we have no basements beneath our units, our homes here sit directly on a concrete slab.  Our soil is very sandy here and ants are a problem anyways, but even more so when there is no cellar beneath the house. I dug out all of the ant traps/baits I have stored up and am planning on giving everything a good vacuum today and then putting them out.  Let's see if I cannot nip them right in the bud.

I remember when I had finished my vocational training and gotten my first job away from home. For a few months, until I got married, I worked at Atlantic Speedy Propane in Kentville. I boarded with an older woman in a big old Victorian house in Kentville. Mrs. Boats.  She had ants.  I can remember watching them crawl around the edge of my dinner plate. A shame really as her food was really good.

I was so shy back then.  Those couple of months I boarded in Kentville I did not do anything outside of go to work every day and home to the boarding house at night. I was in bed reading by 7 at night, all showered and in my pajamas. I would never have dreamed of taking myself to a movie or anything else. I was too afraid to do anything on my own. My big treat was to go to the Metropolitan lunch counter on pay day and buy myself lunch.  Mrs. Boats made me a packed lunch every day.  With homemade bread.

My home away from home.

Poor Sheila was knocking on my door first thing yesterday morning. Her heat pump again.  Apparently, her sister-in-law had been there the day before and had been fiddling with all of the buttons on it. I went over to have a look and sure enough she had put it onto air con.  I was able to put it back to what it should have been on for her. I think she fiddles with it herself a lot anyways. She is obsessed with it. Her electric bill was too high this last time she says, and she is blaming the heat pump, which is probably actually saving her money.  It was several hundred more than mine. 

 A lot of people's bills went up this last time. I am not sure why.  It is quite scary to these older people who are on fixed incomes. There is not a lot in place to help the elderly in this country. Not like there is in some other countries. I know that in the U.K. I had free prescriptions, eye care and dental. There is nothing like that here.  There is Nova Scotia pharmacare, but you still pay a premium for that.  I paid almost $600 for that last year, and I also had to pay a portion of my prescriptions anyways. One of my prescriptions is over $100 and the pharmacare does not cover that one so I pay the full knock. 

Everything is getting very expensive these days. I am grateful that I do not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. I do not know how people who do are making their ends meet. It must be very difficult for them.

I just keep muddling away and relying on the Grace of God to get me through whatever I need to get through.

 

(source)

I managed to do some work in my journal yesterday. I have filled the one and am now working on the second one. I don't know if anyone will put any value on any of them in the long run, but I do enjoy doing them.  They mean something to me.

I started watching a new program on Netflix yesterday.  Sullivan's Landing. I had not noticed it before. it takes place here in Nova Scotia. The scenery in it is beautiful.  It is up more towards the Halifax area on the coast. 

I think all of the coastline of Nova Scotia is beautiful anyways.  I wish I was brave enough and had enough money to take myself on a trip around the province, but it would not be much fun on my own and now I have the cats to think about as well.  

That reminds me, I need to have another couple of housekeys cut. Cindy cannot find the one I had given her.

Speaking of keys, these are the crochet key holders my sister has been making.  Aren't they cute?  I love them. I think she is planning on selling them. I don't know which one I love most. The pug dog is really cute, but so are the other dogs and that fox is adorable. I think she is planning on selling them. I am not sure of how much she will charge. It takes hours and hours to do one. Totally adorable however.

I don't know how she has the patience for this type of close work. I did when I was younger, but my eyes and my patience would let me down now.

She does such beautiful work. Everything she sets her hand to is amazingly well done.

The birds are all busy nesting now. I had quite a few at the fat slab again yesterday and even some mourning doves along the front railing. The cats were very interested in them. Nice big birds compared to what they usually see. My sister thinks that some crows have a nest in her yard.  She feeds the crows peanuts every day. They actually call to her reminding her that they want their peanuts. They are such smart birds. 

I admire all of these creatures with their wit and will to live. It is amazing to me that they live through the harsh winters that we have with all of the cold and the adverse weather. It is a miracle to me. God made them in such a way as they do, however. Bodys perfectly built to endure the temperature fluctuations. I am grateful that I do not have to do it.

And with that I best sign off and leave you with a thought to carry with you. Thank you so much for visiting with me each day. I surely do appreciate you.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.There is no trouble

so great or grave that

cannot be diminished by

a nice cup of tea.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Bernard Paul Herdux ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The English Kitchen today, Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken. This was fabulously tasty. It is a small batch recipe that goes together in a flash. You can be enjoying it in less than half an hour. Its delicious.

I hope you have a beautiful Friday!  I am not sure what I will get up to today, but I will keep busy for sure. 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!    

   

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)

Brambly Hedge.  I used to make the dolls and sell them.

This is one of them. So much fun to make.

 

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Pretty fabrics  . . . 

 

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Chicks dressed up as bunnies  . . . 

 

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Bunnies!!

 

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This  . . .  such a pretty corner  . . . 

 

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Pretty milk jugs, creamers  . . . 

 

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Cake and cake domes  . . . 

 

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Bumble bees  . . .  so industrious.

 

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Pretty stones, rocks, crystals  . . . 

 

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Buttons . . . 

 

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Paper, nibs and bows . . . 

 

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A cottage by the river  . . . 

 

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Tacos  . . . 

 

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A thatched roof  . . . stone courtyard  . . . 

 

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Tulips  . . . 

 

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Fiddleheads  . . .  there is an optimum time to get them.

 

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Notebooks  . . . 

 

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Plants in baskets  . . . 

 

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Spring blooms  . . . 

 

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Spirals  . . . 

 

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A friend who "gets" you . . . 

 

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Lilacs  . . .  won't be long now  . . . 

 

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Sprouts  . . . 

 

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A good night's sleep  . . . 

 

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A front porch rocker  . . . 

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

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *.˛.Nothing ever seems 

impossible in the spring
you know.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
~L. M. Montgomery° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In the kitchen today  . . .  Sweet Onion Vinaigrette Dressing. So yummy!

It's a beautiful sunny day out there today.  Everything always seems better on a sunny day don't you think?  I slept well last night but woke up about 4 a.m. with nightmares. I did manage to fall back asleep, but then started having bad dreams again an hour or so later.  Dreams . . .  you just can't control them can you? I wish!

Cindy and I had a great day yesterday.  It's always nice to spend the time together. I did not spend much money actually. My wants were very few, but I did get some of that pineapple in coconut water I have been craving!

Have a lovely day!  Be happy!  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)

 

 Yesterday was a drizzly day all day.  It didn't rain specifically, it just misted and drizzled.  Just enough so that if you went out in it, you got a bit misty and damp.  I had taken a casserole next door to Sheila and then went to check my post and ran into Glenna who was on her way back from the compost bins at the end of the street.  We stood there and chatted for a bit and got a bit damp, but it was worth it to be able to share a few lovely words with a friend.

Sheila, as always, was so pleased to get the little casserole I took over. She said she was just finishing the Easter dinner I had taken to her on Sunday. I would have, and probably should have, stayed to chat for a while longer, but I had plenty to get done before my Self-Reliance class.

 

(source)

I have really enjoyed that course. It has a workbook that goes along with it, Personal Finances for self-reliance.  We are a small group really, but I think we are all getting a lot from it.  There are only three more classes left.  I have learned quite a bit about the financial side of life taking the course. I know it is a bit hard to believe that I have never been in charge of my own finances until now.  First my parents and then my husband (s) were always in charge of things, paying the bills etc. I earned money, but it all went into the pot, and quite rightly so. And in all honesty, I was quite happy not to have to worry about that side of things.

Cindy says she remembers mom sitting her down and teaching her about budgeting, but I do not remember mom ever sitting me down and teaching me the principles about budgeting. Maybe I blocked it out as something I never expected to have to do. It's quite possible. Memory can be very selective when it comes to a lot of things.

 

(source)

There were quite a few birds visited the front garden yesterday which kept Cinnamon and Nutmeg quite busy.  Nothing so grand as a Nuthatch that I saw. Just blackbirds.  Some blue capped ones and then there were a couple of red winged ones. They were feeding on the last of the fat thingie that I had put out there in the Winter.  It has not sparked much interest up til now.  Funny that. In any case, I had a bag of black sunflower seed in the coat closet and so I put a few handfuls of that out for them.

I found myself longing to have more of a variety of birds in the garden. Birdwatching is something that both Cindy and I have always enjoyed.  I can remember once when a flock of snow buntings came to my yard when I was living in New Brunswick. I was down in the laundry room when they arrived. We had a split level home and so I was able to watch them very well from the window in the laundry room.  Completely fascinating.  I used to get a lot of birds when I lived in that home.  We were right on the edge of a wetland/marsh.  I had all kinds of wildlife visiting the years.  Moose, bear, porcupines, etc. I remember watching a porcupine from my kitchen window as it levered itself down from one of the trees right outside our deck early one morning.  It used its tail to help keep it steady as it backed down. It was really interesting to watch.

I regularly had grey jays visit. They were my favorites. No cardinals though.  Just finches and redpolls, chickadees, etc. I used to love sitting at the dining room table watching them all through the French doors that opened onto the deck.

 

(source)

Of all of the homes I have lived in, that was my favorite.  The area by my kitchen sink was very similar to this except our cabinets were hand milled from pine.  I had little shelves that ran up along side of the window that you could keep little nicnacs on, and a plate rail. All of the upper cabinets had glass windowed doors, and there was a built-in dish washer. It was such a pretty kitchen. The wallpaper was pink gingham, and I had this border paper around the top that looked like folded over eyelet embroidered napkins. So pretty. The floor was pink marble and the countertops a pink and grey granite.

Yes, it was a pink kitchen but not a slap you in the face pink.  A very pretty pale peachy pink.

I had a long pine slab over the French doors that I had hand painted to look antique with the words on it that said, "Never Enough Thyme". I loved that board and on the side wall in the dining room a beautiful hand hewn pine shelf with wooden knobs along the bottom to hold hanging things/decorations. My husband had made it from the scraps. He had taken carpentry before he had joined the military.  In fact we built our own house.

I had my own desk space in the kitchen as well, with little cubby holes along the back, and a little book shelf to hold the few cookbooks that I owned. 

The carpenter we had hired to do the kitchen really did a beautiful job with all of the cabinetry.

 

(source)

 In my bedroom I had made light blue plaid curtains at the outer sides of the windows, and I had tole painted tiny birdhouses with sunflowers growing up out of the tops to use as curtain tie backs.  There were lace net curtains covering the windows themselves. Lots of light, but privacy at the same time.

So much care went into the building of that house. It had six bedrooms, an eat in kitchen, a family room, a full bathroom upstairs with a spa tub and then a walk in shower, etc. down in the laundry room. We had a formal sitting room upstairs that always stayed as neat as a pin because nobody used it, and I had cross over sheer curtains with ruffles along the edges over the window.  At night I had a balloon blind that I could pull down again to afford privacy.

It was such a lovely home. I hated leaving it when we had to move.  Up until now, that was the last place I had lived that I was really happy.  My ex was away for most of the time we lived there. I had my five children, and all was well on that score. I had my church, and the kids all went with me. I had my best friend living across the street as well.  We did craft sales together; we did the school lunch program together. It was just a happy bliss-filled life, in an environment that I loved.

The mosquitos were horrendous, however. That's what you get living at the edge of a marsh. I remember my friend Kathy taking me grocery shopping one Saturday and when we got back we were dancing practically trying to get the groceries out of the car and into the house.  She had to stop the car halfway back to hers afterwards to let all the mosquitos out, lol.  They were really bad.

But we had plenty of fireflies to play with as well.

 

(source)

Such are the seasons of our lives. As a military wife, I never had much stability really. We moved a lot. I often felt like a turtle carrying its house on its back. Things were always changing. As the children got older it became much more of a wrench to move.  The last few moves we left children behind, which was hard.  When we moved from New Brunswick to Ontario, Anthony got left behind as he was at Uni and living out on his own.  And then when we moved from Ontario back to Nova Scotia, Amanda decided not to go with us, opting instead to live back with her best friend in New Brunswick. It was her last year in High School and really, she wanted to graduate with her friends and who could really blame her. I did miss her though.

Times and seasons  . . . 

(source)

As I was working here yesterday, I had plenty of time to think about the horror I escaped when I moved back to Canada.  I am glad that I was in the dark as to much of what and who he was at that time, but at the same time I do ask myself how could I not have seen the depravity of the person that he really was. He kept it all very well hidden from me for sure.  A whole secret life.  How skilled he was at compartmentalizing it all and pretending to be a much better person than the reality of who and what he was. 

I was a sitting duck from the very beginning. Very naive. He manufactured himself into being the man I was looking for in a new partner. I was very easily manipulated into being a part of his life and a cover for the underbelly of what was really a very sick individual.  It is easy to look back and see all the red flags and the way he groomed me for that role now, but I did not see it then. My friend Jacqueline says I was far too trusting and innocent to have ever seen what was happening as he masterminded everything into place. I always thought that there was nobody who was beyond redemption, but I think perhaps that is not quite true. To be redeemed you have to really want to be redeemed and I do not think he seeks redemption . . . in fact I don't think he feels any guilt. Like everything in life, he compartmentalizes all of it.

I think talking to his stepdaughter the other day and learning the real history of who he was, was quite helpful for me in a lot of ways. I don't feel the same sense of loss as I did, instead I feel lucky to have gotten away, and even more grateful for my faith which protected me.

It's hard to put into words. I will try not to speak of it again.

Cindy and I are off on a jaunt today. We have not had a real one of those in a while. We are off up to Michaels, I think. I want to get some cotton yarn to make dishcloths.  Then I think we will hit the farmers market in Wolfville before we work our way back down the valley towards home. I don't know where all we will go but I do want to get some frozen mini pizzas at the Costco place. Perhaps lunch at Jonny's. We will see. It will just be nice to spend the time together. Sister time.  The best of times.

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

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

 *There is one thing which 
gives radiance to everything.
It is the idea of something
around the corner.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
~G.K. Chesterton° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The English Kitchen today, Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole, for two.  I was able to use up the last of the roast chicken I cooked the other day in a delicious casserole. That chicken really went a long way. It fed the four of us on Sunday, then my dinner on Monday and dinner for two yesterday. It's all gone now except for the bones! It truly paid for itself.

I hope that you have a lovely Wednesday.  Stay safe and be blessed.  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!