A Daybook . . .

 

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

There is still plenty of snow on the ground.  But we did have a beautifully sunny day yesterday.  It is supposed to start snowing this afternoon however, and according to my weather app we can expect snow off and on the rest of this week. 

Yesterday afternoon there were three big sea gulls on the law across the street.  I always read that if the gulls come inland that means that the weather out to sea was poor. I am not sure how true that is.

At my sisters on Sunday I noticed the promise of small buds on the lilac bush next to where I park my car. It won't be long now until it is officially Spring. One week from today. Things will move quickly after that.

Funny to think that this Spring three much beloved characters on the street will not be sitting out on their porches. They will be missed.

WHAT I EAT IN RESTAURANTS ...

It used to be that whenever I ate out in a restaurant I would choose the fish and chips.  You could almost bet on it.  Our whole family has always been like that. I'm afraid that living in the UK has rather spoilt that for me. Once you have had the best as far as fish and chips goes, it takes a lot to live up to their reputation.  The fish and chips here leaves me wanting.  It never quite comes up to what I had in the UK.

Nowadays you will find me having the turkey dinner when I eat out. Its pretty difficult to get that wrong. Real turkey, real turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and cranberry sauce.  But, I do have to say one thing, they rarely get the stuffing right.  The rest is always good and reliable however. Its pretty hard to get that wrong.

Having said that, the best place to eat in the Valley is Jonny's Cookhouse in Berwick. Its an old ice cream stand that has been converted into one of the best eateries, even if you have to eat in your car or on one of the picnic benches provided. Pity its closed in the winter months.

My sister and I will be hightailing it to Jonny's as soon as it opens to indulge in their True Newf Poutine. Hot chips, melting cheese, gravy and Newfoundland stuffing. Its incredible.

I AM THANKFUL FOR ...

This is my parent's wedding photograph. Oh boy does my sister ever look like my mother. We didn't really notice it too much when we were younger because my sister is a lot darker than my mother ever was and they have completely different noses, but they have the same long face, mouth and eyes, etc. I am so thankful for my parents.  The older I get the more I realize that we had really good parents. It is hard sometimes when you are growing up to see this. You only see two people who won't let you do what you want when you want to do it. Two people who are seemingly hampering your growth and clipping your wings. My parents were very strict when I was growing up. They wanted to keep us safe. They had their weaknesses and faults like anyone.  As an adult I have come to appreciate them for all that they were.  Caring good people who did everything that they could for us. We never did without anything.  They both worked hard to give us all that we needed. Oh how I miss my mom. I think I always will.  Just the thought of her is enough to bring tears to my eyes.  I am so grateful for this time now I have to spend with my father.  It is everything to me.

 

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ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ...

Butter. I love butter. I have been known to cut a tiny sliver of it off just to eat.  We never had anything else when we were growing up.  We used to beg our mum to buy Parkay margarine so that we could hear it talk. She would not. There was only ever butter in our house and if it was on the table she did not limit how much we used. My father used to ask us did we want some bread on our butter because we would slather it on so thick.  On top of our mashed potatoes, bread, anything that you could enjoy butter on, we slathered it on in copious amounts.

Butter is still one of my most favorite things of all.  I love Danish butter most of all. Its the best I have ever eaten.

 

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I AM CREATING ...

I am in love with the color scheme of this blanket by Amanda of Eight by Six.  Well both blankets really.  I love them both.

I have to finish the blanket I am working on first however before I can move onto something else. Cinnamon has all of a sudden decided that she is interested in my needlework again, so has been making it  very difficult for  me to crochet. She could be fast asleep somewhere in the house and no matter how quietly I try to take out my yarn and needle, she immediately wakes up and has to come and participate. 

There are so many things I want to do, but not enough time left to do them. There never will be. All I can do is what I can and enjoy these pursuits for what they are.

I LOVE TO READ ...

I probably read more books like this these days than I do any others. Filled with inspiration and self help. From the New York Times–bestselling author of Wintering, an invitation to rediscover the feelings of awe and wonder available to us all 

 Many of us feel trapped in a grind of constant change: rolling news cycles, the chatter of social media, our families split along partisan lines. We feel fearful and tired, on edge in our bodies, not quite knowing what has us perpetually depleted. For Katherine May, this low hum of fatigue and anxiety made her wonder what she was missing. Could there be a different way to relate to the world, one that would allow her to feel more rested and at ease, even as seismic changes unfold on the planet? Might there be a way for all of us to move through life with curiosity and tenderness, sensitized to the subtle magic all around? 

In Enchantment, May invites the reader to come with her on a journey to reawaken our innate sense of wonder and awe. With humor, candor, and warmth, she shares stories of her own struggles with work, family, and the aftereffects of pandemic, particularly feelings of overwhelm as the world rushes to reopen. Craving a different way to live, May begins to explore the restorative properties of the natural world, moving through the elements of earth, water, fire, and air and identifying the quiet traces of magic that can be found only when we look for them. Through deliberate attention and ritual, she unearths the potency and nourishment that come from quiet reconnection with our immediate environment. Blending lyricism and storytelling, sensitivity and empathy, Enchantment invites each of us to open the door to human experience in all its sensual complexity, and to find the beauty waiting for us there.

I also really love this sort of thing. Childhood prose.  Seasonal prose.  It makes my heart feel warm and comfortable. These words speak of the things in life which are constant. Things which never really change.

 

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SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE ...

Spring. After the long cold winter we have the impending Spring to celebrate.  New growth. Warming temperatures. Birdsong.  The sound of peepers at night. Birds nesting. The return of the hummingbirds. Everything will be coming alive again after the long winter's sleep.  There is much to celebrate.

SOMETHING I REALLY LOVE ...

Old images combined with quotes. The two together pluck all of my heart strings. There is so much wisdom to be had in this life and there are so many people who beautifully share it. Aren't we just so lucky to be living in this day and age!

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

If you are a fan of "nice" television you might enjoy this series that I just started watching on Pure Flix. It is a six part mini-series based on Karen's Kingsbury's novel of the same name.  It follows bull rider Cody Gunner and the enormous cost he would be willing to pay for a few seasons, or just a thousand tomorrows, with the person he loves more than anything. I watched the first episode last night and it was very good.

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

•。★★ 。* 。

° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚

  ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛

 ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Some are kissing mothers and some are

scolding mothers, but it is love just the same,

and most mothers kiss and scold together.

~Pearl S Buck  •。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Fried Bread.  In the UK, this is often a breakfast option instead of toast. Slices of bread fried in pan drippings until crisp and golden brown. A delicious indulgence. My photos on this day were not that good as they were taken under artificial light.

I hope that you have a great day. The lady is coming this morning to do my toenails. It is a necessary evil. I hate having them done, but I can't do my own. And she is a nurse. But it sometimes hurts and I get uncomfortable sitting in the chair with my legs up like that to have them done. She is the same lady who used to do mom's toenails and she can talk! Never a dull moment. I enjoy that aspect of it for sure.  

Whatever you get up to today, don't forget! 

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And I do too!