A Day Book . . .

 

 

(source)

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

Its been raining all night again. Yesterday it was coming down in buckets off and on and misting in-between. The long weekend was a bit of a washout for a lot of people.  Its fairly warm at the moment but is promising to be a cloudy day. Humidity is at 99%.  That is the one thing I don't like about summer. The humidity.  It really saps my energy.  I hate feeling like a wrung out dish rag.  But that's summer I suppose. Hot and humid.

Yesterday I had my front door open to the screen door and I pushed the cat tree in front of it.  The cats really enjoyed that.  They sat there for quite awhile sniffing the air and watching.  It was raining and so they enjoyed listening to the sound of the rain falling as well. I confess, so did I.  The sound of falling rain holds a certain comfort.

 

(source)

I AM THINKING ...

I saw some headline this morning about how Harry and Meghan's careers were imploding.  I did not read. I don't pay attention to such nonsense. It got me to thinking however about when did what you already have become enough?  I, myself, am very content as I am.  I have no desire to be rich or to make oodles of dosh. I just want enough to live on and to be able to save a bit for a rainy day.  I do not come from wealth although I have worked in an extremely wealthy environment.  My observation was that it was never enough.   He worked until near midnight every night, and as hard as he worked to earn it, she worked to spend it.  haha Tis true.  She had something like a six figure allowance each month and her credit cards would be maxed out and she would still be going to him for more dosh. 

I suppose when you are wealthy and famous, you do have a certain level of lifestyle to keep up and that doesn't come cheaply. But when is enough enough?  Is it ever enough?

I am grateful that I don't have a wealthy lifestyle to maintain.  I am grateful for the simple life I live.  A life where I feel that I have enough.  Even so, I do worry sometimes about being able to keep paying my bills, as simple as they are.  I suppose it is only natural.  

Perhaps it is all just a matter of degrees?

 

(source)

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

Yesterday I was thinking about all the many things I have been able to experience and to do in my life. As simple as my life has been, I have experienced a lot.  I've written books and illustrated some.  I've designed rubber stamps and greeting cards.  I've gotten to live in some really nice places. I've worked in shops and owned my own canteen/coffee shop.  I've cleaned houses, worked as a pastry chef and then a personal chef.  I've worked as a Medical Secretary in a hospital, cleaned an old people's home, worked in a care home kitchen, been a caregiver, etc.  I have worn many, many hats.  The thing which brought me the most joy however, was bringing up my children. Oh how I have loved and do love being a mother.  My children are my joy.

 

(source)

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ...

I am looking forward to going out on Thursday with my sister Cindy.  It is her birthday and we are going to go up country to the Michaels craft store and have a boo around and then back to the Running Man Grocery store to see what they have. Then I am treating her to lunch at Jonny's.  Who knows what else we will get up to.  It will be a great adventure.  Then on Saturday I am having everyone over to celebrate her Birthday properly with a slap-up meal and cake and ice cream, etc. That will be fun.

SOMETHING I BOUGHT ...

I bought this artbook, thinking it might be instructional, but whilst the photographs in it are beautiful, its not really all that instructional. My sister also has two of her books and she says the same thing. Not a lot of instruction in them. I know she gives art courses, but they are so expensive.  I don't know if she has any free tutorials anywhere.  I will have to check and see what is available.

I would like to have more time to do art.  I got my sister some Stubby pencils for her Birthday. I got a set for me also so we can practice using them together.  

Apparently you can use them on glass, they are also water color pencils and I don't know what else. They were something Cindy wanted and I asked her to let me get them for her for her Birthday. I thought we could experiment with them together.  I like doing things like that with her.

 

(source)

YESTERDAY ...
I went to my sister's for supper yesterday. Sunday was rather busy so our family dinner got put off to yesterday. For me its not really about the food. Its about getting together as a family.  Its about spending time with my father and my sister and enjoying some delicious but simple food together.  But mostly about togetherness. I think that family is the greatest gift and I am so grateful for mine.  I know it is not that way for everyone and so I see it for the blessing that it is. I am also looking forward to having Eileen here at the end of the month. I haven't really been able to spend much time alone with her since I moved back. I know she will enjoy the cats a lot, but hopefully we will be able to build some good memories together. She is a diabetic now.  Her Doctor put her on the medication last week.  I am hoping that I can share a few things with her to help her regulate her diet while she is here.  She is quite stubborn however and so we will just have to wait and see how that works out. She likes things to be "her" idea and I don't fault her for that.  We are all kind of like that.

SOMETHING TO WATCH ...

I've been watching this on Apple TV.  Its quite good. Its one of those series that they only release one episode at a time, so you end up waiting and waiting to see the next episode.  We are so spoiled today.  We can binge watch programs for the most part.  I admit I hate waiting to see next episodes, lol.  I am so impatient. It is the same with Outlander. 

I do not watch regular television.  Mostly because there is not a lot to watch on there.  The good stuff comes on after I go to bed. I cannot stay awake for it.  So I stream.  Its what works best for me.

 

SOMETHING ELSE I HAVE BEEN WATCHING ...

My Love, six stories of true love. It is a bit of a documentary detailing six different love stories around the world. I have only just watched the first episode which is about an elderly couple in Vermont.  It is fascinating to see the glue that holds these couples together. It also feels a bit sad to me, because I have not had that experience in my life. I am happy for those who have however.

I AM WORKING ON ...

Another blanket. I am doing this one a bit differently, blocking in three rows of each color as I crochet it.  The colors are a bit more masculine I think.  I am excited to see how it works out. It is good to keep your hands busy I think.  That's my theory anyways!

I AM READING ...

HOME SAFE, by Elizabeth Berg

EXCERPT: Helen's husband, Dan, died suddenly eleven months and three days ago, dropping his coffee cup and sliding almost noiselessly out of his kitchen chair and onto the floor. Helen, who'd been standing at the sink, still feels guilty about yelling at him for breaking his cup before she turned to see him sprawled on his back, his eyes wide open and startled looking. She believes the last thing Dan felt was surprise, and to her way of thinking, it wasn't a bad way to go. The bad part is he left her here without him, ignorant of, . . . oh, everything. 

 ABOUT HOME SAFE: In this novel, beloved bestselling author Elizabeth Berg weaves a beautifully written and richly resonant story of a mother and daughter in emotional transit. Helen Ames–recently widowed, coping with loss and grief, unable to do the work that has always sustained her–is beginning to depend far too much on her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Tessa, and is meddling in her life, offering unsolicited and unwelcome advice. Helen’s problems are compounded by her shocking discovery that her mild-mannered and loyal husband was apparently leading a double life. The Ameses had painstakingly saved for a happy retirement, but that money disappeared in several large withdrawals made by Helen’s husband before he died. In order to support herself and garner a measure of much needed independence, Helen takes an unusual job that ends up offering far more than she had anticipated. And then a phone call from a stranger sets Helen on a surprising path of discovery that causes both mother and daughter to reassess what they thought they knew about each other, themselves, and what really makes a home and a family.

I have never read an Elizabeth Berg book that I didn't  like.  She is one of my favorite authors.

SO MUCH FOR THAT ...

I have had a sheet of tinfoil on the top of my electric fire in an effort to dissuade Cinnamon from getting up there and scratching the screen of my television.  It worked for a little while, but . . .  as you can see  . . .  not for long  .  . . 

How can that possibly be comfortable???

IN THE MEANTIME  ...

This could be why she has moved to the fire.  Nutmeg has taken over her favorite perch. He's a big cat.  Big and bumbling. I was playing with them yesterday. They were hunting the slinky snake on a fishing pole that I have.  They were taking turns attacking it, hunting in tandem as it were.  Interesting how one sat back and let the other have a go and then the roles would reverse.

 

(source)

TRACING THE GOODNESS ...

Every day may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day.  At the end of each day I try to trace the goodness that each day held for me. There is always always something, and more often than not, loads of things to be grateful for. I may not lead an exciting life, but it is a joy filled life, nonetheless  . . . 

SOMETHING TO COOK ...

This popcorn chicken by Damn Delicious looks mighty tasty!  I used to like the popcorn chicken from KFC, but I am not really all that fond of any of the chicken from KFC anymore  . . . 

 

(source)

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ... 

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

 *.˛.Happiness grows

at our own firesides

and is not to be picked

in stranger's gardens.

~Douglas Jerrold•。★★ 。* 。

IN THE KITCHEN TODAY ...

Old Fashioned Buttons and Bows.  These are a cinnamon and nutmeg flavored biscuit dough cut out with a doughnut cutter. The round bits are twisted into figure 8's prior to baking along with the holes and then when done they are dipped in butter and sugar while still warm. Delicious served with a hot beverage!

I hope that you have a wonderful day. I am not sure what I will get up to. A bit of this and a bit of that I am thinking and then I have the second part of my Temple Recommend interview tonight. They do it by zoom now, which suits me just fine. I don't want to have to be driving all over the place!  Whatever you get up to today, stay safe and don't forget!

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 

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


And I do too!