Thursday, 18 June 2026

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!


 

A little crochet frog . . . with flowers.


 

Three little kittens  . . . 


 

Fairy gardens  . . . 

 

This   . . . 

 

Pretty seat cushions  . . . 


 

A trio of pretty pillows  . . . 


 


Saucer hooks  . . . 


 

A pretty way to store towels  . . . 


 

Pretty window treatments  . . . 


 

Tea kettle plant hangers  . . . 


 

Mother Goose  . . . 


 

Curiosity  . . . 


 

Love for one another  . . . 


 

Paper dolls  . . . 

 

Vintage looking stoves  . . . 


 

Pretty cannisters  . . . 


 

Strawberries  . . . 


 

Lamb in a kerchief.  I had a kerchief like that once upon a time. Mine was black.


 

Guinea pig in a kerchief  . . .  even cuter.


But now for something real  . . . 




A rainbow cloud. Seen in the southern skies late yesterday morning. A rare phenomenon.  Eileen said it was like a sign for her from God that all would be well. And it did go well. The ultrasound. She got through it without any problem.  And she now has an appointment with Gyno . . . for the 14th July. Right here in town.  Things are looking up.


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


☾ ° ° * 。  
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*Nothing is impossible.
Why, the word itself says,
"I'm possible!" 
~Audrey Hepburn

Skillet Pork Chops & Rice 


In The English Kitchen today   . . .  Skillet Pork Chops & Rice. An all in one that is simple to make and oh-so-tasty! Quick, easy and delicious!


I hope you have a lovely day today. We are supposed to have some rainy days ahead. Its sunny and warm here today.  So far no humidity, which I will take as a win! Humidity and I do not agree.  Anyways, have a great day, be richly blessed, and don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!    

   


Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

 

There is another sunny and warm day on the forecast for today. Yesterday was lovely as well.  I did not want to go far, wanting to keep a close watch on Eileen. The bleeding is slowing down some, but it still quite heavy. She also had a lot of cramping. She spent a lot of time laying down resting. Today that is not going to be an option as she has her ultrasound and that is an appointment she cannot miss. You wait ages for such things to happen and we cannot afford any delays. I have not yet heard from the gynecology department of the hospital.  When her worker comes to pick her up for her appointment I am going to suggest she call her family doctor and chivvy it up.

It breaks my heart that this is dragging on and on and on. 



Bailey has settled in comfortably to my sister's home. He and the cats are getting along very well. There appears to be no problem. Dad's cat growled at him, but that's about it.  As you can see dad is enjoying playing with him.


 


He is even snuggling up to Dan. Cindy has taken lots of pictures which I shared with my neighbor across the way so she can show them to Sheila so that Sheila will know that Bailey is a.o.k.  Sheila has enough to worry about without having to worry about Bailey.

Cindy and Dan have been thinking about getting a small dog for a while now, but not committing themselves. So this is a bit of an opportunity for them to test the waters a bit.


 


As many of you know, I have a Facebook page which is attached to my food blog. This page generates a very large part of my income. For the most part people are really nice on the page and its a pretty warm community. Occasionally an idiot gets in, and I have to diffuse things without becoming seemingly obnoxious myself. It is a very fine line. I know I should just ignore, but it can be hard. When I post an obvious North American recipe, I will get the odd Briton calling me out on it, which I expect.  But you would not believe the flack I get when I post a British recipe. Everyone is an expert.  No, not the regulars, who are always very appreciative of whatever I post, but usually a recipe like this one for Cornish Splits will go almost viral for a couple of days and all of the Trolls will crawl out of the woodwork. I cannot respond to every comment in that case as there will be hundreds of them. They can often be downright nasty, intimating that I don't really know what I am talking about. That they aren't Cornish Splits, but Devon Splits, or that they are really Cream Buns, or that they are Gregg's Cream Cookies.  I just ignore them for the most part, but it can do my head in a bit.  

Other times I will get a comment like this (on another post): "I thought this was an English Kitchen...the spelling is American, so which are you?"

I thought the focus was on the recipes? Not whether I spell things as savor or savour.  I know I should just delete, but it rankles. I put so much work into both my blog and my page (literally 7 to 8 hours some days) and things like that can really bother me. 

Then there are things like this comment, left on my potato nachos post: "Stick to tortilla chips, this looks like a greasy mess." (and that is not even as nasty as they can really get.)

I feel like saying to them. "If you are such an expert why don't you start your own blog or Facebook page so that you can share your expertise with the world."

But I don't. I just bite my tongue. For the most part.  I shouldn't complain really. Most of the time people are really very nice.


 


Last night about 8:30 there was this big burly gent banging on my front door. I shouldn't have even answered it, but I did because I didn't think I could pretend that I wasn't home or anything as you can see clearly that I am because of the curtain in the window and it's light out so I don't have my curtains drawn. He kept insisting that he had dropped a big tricycle off to me for my handicapped daughter a few years before. I kept telling him no. He had the wrong person and place. He finally left, but it frightened both Eileen and I. I think I am going to look into getting some of those automatic blinds that you can bring down when you want privacy but that still let the light in. It is uncomfortable feeling afraid in your own home.  A few weeks ago it was a Xplore guy coming up the driveway and waving to us as we sat on the sofa watching television. I don't like strangers being able to look into my house and see me watching television or anything else. It makes me feel very unsafe and I shouldn't have opened my door to this guy last night. It was only afterwards that I thought about how dangerous it was for me to have opened my door to a stranger. He really was being quite obnoxious.

Maybe I am just getting paranoid in my old age.


 

A comfy spot with a beautiful view.


They are finally starting to tackle some of the potholes in town. Yesterday I went with my sister for a quick trip up to Pelton's to get a few bits and they had a long stretch of the main street blocked off and were working on the one side. It will be quite a job as once they finish that side they will have to flip around and tackle the other side.

They need to tackle some of the parking lots in town. The drive through at the Tim Hortons has an area just at the end as you are going back into the main parking lot to leave that is large enough to be a kiddies pool.  And, don't get me started on the parking lot behind the drug store. That has a lot of big nasty holes as well. 

There are two seasons here  . . .  Winter and Pot Hole season. There used to be Pot Hole alerts given on the local radio station so that people could be aware of them.

Everyone used to have their radio on back in the day. The local radio station was tuned into my mom's big green plastic radio every morning.  We ate our breakfast to it every morning.  That's how we learned where the fire trucks were going when they zoomed by.  An announcement would be made on the radio such as "The fire alert is a barn fire at so and so's place on the messenger road." or "There is a chimney fire at so and so's place in Brickton."

Somehow it brought a sense of community into our home. We laughed with Art Linkletter and the funny things that kids said. And we listened to another guy who would tell us the " real story behind the story." I wish I could remember his name. There would be announcements of community fund raising suppers and church suppers, etc. Bingo nights. The local radio station really was the hub of the community. Its just not the same anymore.

 

Eileen and I watched the second film in the Twilight series yesterday, New Moon. It was pretty good. I am sure I have seen them years ago, but I just don't remember. I know I read all of the books. I've also been putting Little House on for her to watch/listen to while she does her diamond art. She is going great guns with that. Yesterday she finished the hook hangers that one of you generously gifted her with and she has started one that I bought for her. 





It's very pretty and is one that you can hang in your window like a sun catcher. I love the colors in it.  

These things are so important to her and have a great function in her day to day life. They help to keep her brain occupied and help to keep her from over-thinking about what is going on in her life. And at the same time they are giving her something to do, to keep busy, to keep from being bored. She is really good at it. Everyone needs a hobby that they are good at and that they enjoy.

We are planning on going out for our supper with Dad, Cindy and Hazel later today. Eileen really enjoys those outings and I will continue to pick her up and bring her even after she moves into her apartment. Sunday dinners also.  We have Saturday movie nights planned. She can come over and do her laundry and we will watch a film, have a snack, she can spent the night and then watch church on YouTube in the morning. We can go to Cindy's or whatever for supper and then I can drop her off home. 

It is good to have something to look forward to.

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

☾ ° ° * 。  
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*Stories have to be told
or they die,
and when they die, we
can't remember who we are
or why we are here.
~Sue Monk Kidd

Gingerbread Almond Butter



In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Creamy Gingerbread Almond Butter.  From Cindy's kitchen. This makes for a really delicious snack. We like to dip fresh apple slices into it.  Yummy!

I hope you have a beautiful Wednesday. Thank you all so much for your faithfulness in visiting, your prayers, your many kindnesses. I hope to catch up with comments today. I do read them all and am sorry it takes me so long to respond at times. They really spark joy in my life. Thank you!  Don't forget! 


═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!    

   

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

A Day Book . . .

 



FOR TODAY, June 16th, 2026




OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

Remembering the fires that were not far from us last year. This was the skies and sun on Father's Day last year.  Ash was falling and everything was pretty frightening. This year things appear so much better. I think we have had a lot more rain. Today is mostly cloudy, but we have had rain during the night. We can expect partly sunny skies and a high of 23*C/74*F.


I AM THINKING ...

We had a very quiet day yesterday. I was tired from barely sleeping on Sunday night. Eileen was exhausted from all of the drama and her condition. She spent a lot of time resting, which is what I wanted. I did have to go out and pick up prescriptions, and necessities. But I had two naps during the day which is very unlike me. My heart broke for Eileen on Sunday. She was crying and kept saying over and over,  "I just want this to be over with."  I want it to be over with for her as well. The dept. of gynecology is supposed to contact me within a couple of days. I am hoping that it actually happens this time.


I AM ALSO THINKING ...

About the terrible state of our health care system. Eileen was lucky she was taken in by ambulance on Sunday night as otherwise she would have been left bleeding horrifically on a chair for hours and hours before being seen. As it was it was at least three hours, but laying on a stretcher, which was much better than having to sit. Once she got a bed, things progressed quickly. We were home by 10:30 which was much better than it would have been had we gone in by car. I was appalled by the number of people in the waiting room, some with horrific looking injuries.  Zilla (next door neighbor) was telling me yesterday that the premier was bragging about them bringing in 200 more Doctors, whilst in the same conversation saying that 75 had retired. About the only good thing you can say about the system is that it's free and available to all, regardless of income. That, itself, is a great blessing.




I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...

Hope. Where would we be without it.  Without hope life would probably seem pretty dire.



I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ...

A sister who is so caring. This is Sheila's dog Baily. Not too long after my sister and Dan took him over to theirs. He is relaxing next to my sister on the sofa. He has settled in nicely. No problems with either him or the cats. He hasn't eaten or drunk anything yet, but that will come. This poor little guy has been through a lot these past couple of days. It did not seem fair for him to have to stay alone at Sheila's for what will be quite a long recovery time. He will soon settle into Cindy's hopefully and all will be well. I know it must be a great relief to Sheila knowing her Baily is being well cared for.


Pot Luck Salad

IN THE KITCHEN ...

Pot Luck Salad. A low fat, layered salad.  This is much lower in fat than the original which had a lot more bacon and a thick heavy dressing on top.  Using a lower fat, but strong cheese, and a lighter dressing, plus just enough bacon to give you the salty smoky flavor without it being over the top. Also this one doesn't have to be made the night before. 




ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...

From Cookin Canuck. This looks like a fabulous side dish. Loaded with fiber and flavor.


THIS I BELIEVE ...

 

Happiness comes from within  . . . 


SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...


Belief in a higher power. It is what gets me through life.


SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...



Having a grateful heart. An attitude of gratitude.  Something else which has stood me well through the years.


I AM WANTING TO CREATE ...


 

Strawberries and cream  . . . 

 


A raspberry  . . . 


 

A sheep  . . . 


 

A chicken  . . . 


 

Very festive  . . . 


SOMETHING I ENJOY ...


Cattitude  . . . 


SOMETHING ELSE THAT I ENJOY ...



Afternoon tea  . . . 


I AM READING ...


LAND, by Maggie O'Farrell


On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomás and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. The year is 1865, and in a country not long since ravaged and emptied by The Great Hunger, the task is not an easy one. Tomás, however, is determined that his maps will be a record of the disaster. 

 The British soldiers in charge are due to arrive any day, expecting the work to be completed, but Tomás is unexpectedly sent off course by an unsettling encounter in a copse. His life, and those of his family, will never be the same again. Liam is terrified by the sudden change in his taciturn father. What was it that caused such cracks to open in Tomás and how is Liam, aged only ten, going to finish the mapping, and get them both home? 

 Land is a novel about separation and reunion, tragedy and recovery, colonisation and rebellion. It is a story of buried treasure, overlapping lives, ancient woodland, persistent ghosts, a particularly loyal dog, and how, when it comes to both land and history, nothing ever goes away. 

 As spellbinding and various as the landscape that inspired it, Land is, above all, a story of survival, for our times, and for all time.

I have only just started this book.

I am also reading and studying The Old Testament.


THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...


 

Attic bedrooms  . . . 


 

Kitchen nooks  . . . 


 
 


Cozy corners . . . 


 


Red and white  . . . 


 

A vintage porch  . . . 


MAKES ME SMILE ...




How could it not?


SOMETHING TO WATCH ...


We are rewatching the Twilight movies on Netflix and enjoying them very much.


A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...


☾ ° ° * 。  
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*The world is full of magic things
patiently waiting for our
senses to grow sharper.
W. B. Yeats
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

And that is my daybook for this week!  Thanks always for being here!


  ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆
  ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆ 



✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•. ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥╬
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Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!