Wednesday This and That . . .

 

 

How can it be possible that we are already in December?  Say it ain't so, but its true. Every year I say I am going to be better prepared when December rolls around and every year I am not.  NEXT year I will do better! 

I had a wonderful weekend with our Doug and his family, well Kayla and Josh anyways. It was so much fun and my heart was very full.  I cried when they left, but that is to be expected with me.

The three gingers got along very well.  Josh is a delightful, engaging young man, and so smart.  He is a walking encyclopedia of Science facts. He loves Science.  I told him maybe when he grows up he will be a Research Scientist or even a Science teacher.  My father was most impressed as were we all.  Love the uniqueness of each of my grandchildren.

This is the three generational photo. Josh doesn't really like having his photo taken. I totally understand his feelings. I hate don't like having my photo taken either. I am not very photogenic, but Josh is so cute, and is wonderful in photos.  This is like the same photo we took last year at my sister's of Doug, Jon and Dad except this year Josh is sandwiched between the two. 

On Saturday night we had Cindy, Dan and dad over and we all enjoyed pizza from my cousin's pizza place in town. I cannot believe I did not get a photo of the occasion! We were celebrating Doug's birthday.  I had a Black Forest Cake for dessert as that is his favorite and a small lemon cake for my dad because he doesn't like chocolate cakes.

 

(this is why I hate having my photo taken, blah!)

On Sunday I didn't go to church this week.  Josh and I did a craft together and then he helped me to get the pot roast ready to into the oven. Then we played a card game together.  It was some game about kittens.  But I have already forgotten the name of it (old brain fog.) In any case it was fun!  

All these years I have only dreamt of doing things with my grandchildren.  I was surrounded by people who were able to enjoy their grandchildren on a regular basis and I could only dream about it. Now I get to experience the dream in reality, if only for short spurts. It was like a dream come true for me.  I wish I had been able to spend time with them when they were really small, but I'll take this and consider it a blessing!  

Eileen, Tim and dad came over to enjoy the roast dinner.  It gave Cindy a night off. My table got a bit of a work out! I now know that I can sit 7 around it comfortably, maybe even 8 at a stretch!  We had pot roast with roasted carrots, swede and parsnips. Gravy. Green beans and then leftover cake for dessert. Eileen really enjoyed seeing her brother and his family.

When they were children they used to fight a lot when put into situations where they couldn't escape each other.  Like in the car.  Eileen always had this invisible line around here that was "her space" and she did not like anyone encroaching on it. Doug liked to encroach on it. He would sit there next to her in the car and his finger would be darting in and out of her space as he tried to look innocent and like nothing was going on. Of course this would drive her crazy. I can remember one trip where we ended up having to put a couple of suitcases between them on the seat so that she couldn't see him at all. Good times!

I did get a nice photo of them all together so that was good. I wish I had taken one on Saturday evening, when Josh wasn't trying to hide under a blanket. Tim wore his Christmas hat the whole time.  And I now know you can fit four people on the sofa comfortably.

They were up bright and early on Monday to drive into Halifax to go to the IWK for Josh's testing. What it is is that certain meds that he has been on most of his life may have depleted his growth hormone, so they were testing to see if he had any growth hormone left or if they need to give him some. He will be 13 in January and is about the size of an 8 year old.  Maybe he is just going to be a tiny person. Kayla's parents, neither one, are very big people.  I think some of us are just small! 

They went to his dads for supper on Monday night and then after a short time yesterday morning were on the road back to PEI again. Kayla gave me regular updates on the journey which as good. I was relieved when they were home safe and sound and of course many tears were shed at the door when they left.  I am so grateful for this son of mine. He is a good, good man, father, husband and son. I am so grateful for all the effort he has made through the years to be a part of my life.

 

Exciting news!!  Anthony, Anne and their  boys Gabe and Luke are coming to spend Christmas with me.  (All being well Covid-wise of course!)  I am pretty excited about that. I have not seen Anthony and his family since the year Eileen got married. So this is really special. My heart is full.  I don't have a Christmas tree as I can't really afford to have a tree and decorate it as well, besides the cats would knock it over I am sure.  I have my little lit up Birch tree and my window snowflake and my mom's nativity set., a lit up garland under the television. I suppose I should get a wreath or some such for the front door so it looks a bit more Christmassy in here.  I will need to buy another blow up bed and a couple more pillows. I am so looking forward to this Christmas!  

   

This is a photograph of me taken at the end of the year I was in Grade one at the school Awards ceremony. I am the one with the saddle shoes, second from the left.  The girl right next to our teacher is a girl named Eileen. (Yes I named my oldest daughter after her.) Eileen and I were friends all the way through elementary school. We started school together as did my friend Susan who is at the other end. We are also friends to this day.  It is very unusual in the world of Airforce that children who go to school together in elementary school will still be friends but here here we are 60 years later still friends!  Its amazing! 

Eileen actually came to spend a few days with me when I was living in Brenchley and working at the Manor. She was over in the UK visiting her sister.  She introduced me to French Toast when we were children. Her mom made it and I fell in love with it.  She also had the nicest Birthday parties.

On Friday I got a lovely package from her. In it were these books from our childhood and a jar of her homemade strawberry jam and this boutique Maple Mustard made by a friend of hers. (I can't wait to try it out!)  This was such a kind gesture and Josh and I enjoyed looking at the books when he was here.  I will enjoy reading them at some point also. What a glimpse into the past, and what a kind, kind, kind gesture on Eileen's part.  Thank you so much Eileen! 

 

I got another package last week from my friend Diana, another very thoughtful lady. In side was a Jamie Oliver Christmas Cookbook (sorry didn't get a photo!) and this lovely Advent Calendar!  A different herbal tea for every one of the 24 days in the run up to Christmas. I will be enjoying this lovely gift all the month through!  Diana has been so good to me all the way through my recent troubles.  She is a sweet, sweet lady. Thank you Diana!

I have been so blessed by all the good people God has put into my life.

Oh and there was a knock on my door yesterday. When I opened it my next door neighbor Sheila was there and she said she had been going through some things and found this old cookbook and she thought I might enjoy it!

Its very old as you can see, dating back to 1908. I will enjoy perusing it and seeing what's in it. I might even cook a few things from it! I love vintage cookbooks! They are like a small glimpse into the past.

And speaking of cookbooks!

 

I can now officially announce that I have a new Baking Book being published the 28th of December! It is available for pre-order in American here. You can also find it on Amazon in Canada and the UK. This is the special project I have been working on since the Spring and I am so happy to now be able to tell you about it!  And to show it to you!  Its way smaller than my first book and much more affordable I am happy to say!  I am very pleased with how it has turned out. I had hoped to have time at the weekend to bake some cookies from it with Josh and have a photograph taken of him the cookies and the book, but time just didn't allow for that.   But there you go.  I am really happy about this book. 

Writing books is a funny thing. You have an idea in your head, a dream per se, and then you start to write it and before you know it, somehow, magically there it is in your hands, a reality. A pinch me I must be dreaming moment.

I hope that it does well and that I get lots of positive reviews on it. Then maybe I will be asked to do more books for this publisher. Hope springs eternal! 

So this is my beginning of December.  A year ago I would not have thought that I would be sitting here in such a huge pile of joy, but life has a beautiful way of surprising you.  You may lose a great deal in life, but it is always replaced and often with even better than what you thought you had before. I am truly blessed.

A thought to carry with you  . . .  

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

*Kindness is a language

the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

~Mark Twain  •。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Shredded Beef Enchiladas.  So delicious and a great way to use up leftovers. This is a small batch recipe.

I hope you have a beautiful Wednesday!  Whatever you get up to, don't forget! 

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And I do too!