Something Different . . .

 

Happy Leap Year Day!  This year we get an extra day, and today is it!  Yay!  We all have an extra day of time added to our lives.  All those wishes for extra minutes, or hours to get the things we need to get done or want to get done, have come true!  All day today we have extra time on our hands!  The gift of time it never gets old!

A Few Fun Facts About Leap Years

• A leap year happens every four years (Or does it? Stay tuned.)
• Leap Day is an extra day added to the shortest month.
• A normal year has 365 days, a leap year has 366.
• It takes the earth 365.25 days to travel around the sun.
• People born on Leap Day are called Leaplings.
• "Even" decades have three leap years. "Odd" decades have two leap years.
• In Ireland, every February 29th, women were allowed to ask a man for his hand in marriage. Men who refused were issued a fine.

Today is leap day 2024, which means we can all enjoy an extra 24 hours this year. Feb. 29 is a date that happens only once every four years, but what are leap years? Why do we need them? And how did they come about? 

 Leap years are years with 366 calendar days instead of the normal 365. They happen every fourth year in the Gregorian calendar which is the calendar used by the majority of the world. The extra day, known as a leap day, is Feb. 29, which does not exist in non-leap years. 

Every year that is divisible by four, such as 2020 and 2024, is a leap year except for some centenary years, or years that end in 00, such as 1900. 

The name "leap" comes from the fact that from March onward, each date of a leap year moves forward by an extra day from the previous year. For example, March 1, 2023 was a Wednesday but in 2024, it will fall on a Friday. (Normally, the same date only moves forward by a single day between consecutive years.)

 

Why We Need Leap Years

On the face of it, all of this "leaping" may seem like a silly idea. But leap years are very important, and without them our years would eventually look very different. 

Leap years exist because a single year in the Gregorian calendar is slightly shorter than a solar, or tropical, year,  that is, the amount of time it takes for Earth to completely orbit the sun once. A calendar year is exactly 365 days long, but a solar year is roughly 365.24 days long, or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 56 seconds. 

If we did not account for this difference, then for each year that passes the gap between the start of a calendar year and a solar year would widen by 5 hours, 48 minutes and 56 seconds. Over time, this would shift the timing of the seasons. For example, if we stopped using leap years, then in around 700 years the Northern Hemisphere's summer would begin in December instead of June, according to the National Air and Space Museum.

Adding leap days every fourth year largely removes this problem because an extra day is around the same length as the difference that accumulates during this time. 

 However, the system is not perfect: We gain around 44 extra minutes every four years, or a day every 129 years. To solve this problem, we skip the leap years every centenary year except for those that are divisible by 400, such as 1600 and 2000. But even then, there is still a tiny difference between calendar years and solar years, which is why the IBWM have experimented with leap seconds. But overall, leap years mean that the Gregorian calendar stays in sync with our journey around the sun.

Why is leap day on Feb. 29? 

In the eighth century B.C., the Roman calendar had just 10 months, beginning in March and ending in December. The cold winter season was ignored, with no months to signify it. But this calendar had only 304 days, so January and February were eventually added to the end of the religious year. 

As the last month, February had the fewest days. But Romans soon began associating these months with the start of the civil year, and by around 450 B.C., January was viewed as the first month of the new year. 

 When Pope Gregory XIII added the leap day to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, he chose February because it was the shortest month, making it one day longer on leap years.

And how you know more than you ever wanted to or needed to about Leap Year/Day! How will you be spending this gift of a whole day?  I am sure in a good way!

Today I will be taking Eileen to work and then while she is there I will try to get some work done of my own.  I'll pick her up after and then we have plans to go to my sister's to do some art together, which is always fun and I am sure Eileen will enjoy.  

Eileen wants to take me out for supper today, so that will also be fun. I am not sure where we will go.  We will have to play it by ear. At the moment is is raining/snowing out. This is expected to continue for most of the day. I think March is going to come in like a Lion, which is good news really as we can expect better weather as the month goes on. In like a Lion, out like a Lamb.  

Eileen and I have been really enjoying our time together. Tim also seems to be enjoying his time in Alberta. He has messaged her regularly, which is good.  I know she misses him.  I'll be taking her back home on Sunday and he returns home on Monday. 

I got my will signed yesterday.  So now I can die with ease, knowing that things have been sorted. All I have to do now is buy my headstone and arrange for my burial, etc. None of those things are cheap. Sigh . . .  but they are a must do so that I don't leave chaos for my family when I am gone. Mom had everything in place. It is hard enough to deal with the loss of a loved one without having chaos added to the mix!  

I have never had a will before. I never saw the need for one I guess.  But they are quite necessary things. Without one, everything I have, money and belongings would go to my husband, but with a will I am able to make sure that doesn't happen, which is as it should be.

 

Someone left an unkind comment yesterday. I never publish the nasty ones.  Usually I try to brush those things off.  I will never ever understand the need of others to be unkind and cruel. It is such a foreign concept to me.  I am not sure why, but I ended my day in bed in tears. Not because of what they said, but . . .  I suppose . . . because every once in a while I let the things which have happened over the last few years catch up with me and I need a good boo hoo. Thankfully those moments pass, and come fewer and further between. For the most part I end my days feeling grateful and blessed.  I have so much to be thankful for.

Well, I know this isn't my traditional favorite things post today, but  I could not resist sharing things about Leap Year/Day.  I hope you weren't too bored!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.˛.Everyone needs beauty as well as bread,

places to play in and pray in,° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

where nature may heal and give° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

strength to body and soul.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~John Muir° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Fried Cornbread. These are like a sturdy pancake.  Delicious served hot with butter and honey. Eileen really enjoyed them and so did I!

I hope you have a wonderful Leap Day!  Do something special!  Be happy and be blessed. 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 one of those days when you could almost believe that Spring was here, even though intellectually you know that it is not and the calendar tells you there is still a few weeks to go.  The sun was shining brilliantly and there was not a cloud in the sky. Even this morning we are wallowing in temperatures that are well above zero.

Yesterday the smell of Spring was in the air. With the washed blue of the sky and that brown good, wet earth beginning to show at the edges of the lawns, everyone had an extra spring in their step. (no pun intended.)  People were throwing the windows open to let in some fresh air and hanging their blankets on the lines to air them out. 

I found myself wishing I had a line to hang my blankets on.  I fear it would be quite impossible for me to have a clothesline however. My back garden is too small and there is no where to anchor one that would not be in the way of the men who come to mow.  Lord knows they don't need an excuse to do any poorer job than they do already.  And of course that big  maple tree right in the middle of it precludes the option of having an umbrella type of clothes line.

I may get myself a wooden air dryer however that I can just stick out there for some of my smaller articles. One that I can fold up and store in the garage when not in use.

 

(source)

We were all relieved yesterday that dad's keys had been found.  I slept the sleep of the dead last night, in peace.  A full eight hours, which is highly unusual for me. I went to bed at 8:30.  Dad, I hope, slept better as well.  He says that he did. I do hope he has learnt his lesson and will not be leaving his keys in his front door again.  It was very kind of the paper boy to put the keys where he did.  It restored my faith in mankind. For a time I was thinking about how despicable it was that someone would steal my father's keys like that, him being very elderly and all.  To find out that it was meant to be  something else entirely made me feel both relieved and ashamed at the same time!

I don't think any of us slept very well night before last.  Except perhaps for the paper boy. lol

 

(source)

They were having the opening ceremonies for the games  last night (in Alberta where Tim is). Eileen was going to watch them on her tablet. Apparently there was a link on Facebook.  I was too tired to stay up and watch. I will have to wait until she gets up to ask her how they went and if she was able to see Tim or not. His mother is out there with him.  I think Eileen is a bit jealous that she could not go, but in reality, I think she would have been a bit in the way. I remember what it was like visiting her when she was participating in the Internationals in Sun Valley Idaho that year (2009) and I know how hard it was to see her.  They were kept so busy there was not a lot of time for socialization.  I told her in the kindest way possible yesterday that this is Tim's time to shine and about him, not us.  We should be proud of him and wish him the best and let him glory in the experience. He will have lots of tales to tell when he gets home!  I hope that he does well and I know she does too, even if she would like to have been there with him.

 

(source)

She had checked her mail yesterday and there was naught in it but Tim's T4 slips for the Income Tax.  I don't suppose they get much post really. All of their family, pretty much lives very close to them. I used to write her when I lived in the U.K. but of course there is no need for that  now, and I suppose most people communicate via social messaging these days.  All of their friends also live locally.  It is exciting though when you get a letter in the post.  Maybe one day I will write her a letter and send it to her, even if I could just message her on line.  That would be a bit of a surprise for her. Perhaps pop it into a humorous card or some such.

I did not get any mail at all yesterday.   This week has only been fliers and junk mail.  Sheila next door mentioned that to me as I was checking my box yesterday, about how the post had only been fliers and junk mail.  I know she must get lonely, being a widow of only a few years.  She is used to having someone to share her time with her.  I do see cars there visiting her quite often, but that is not the same as having someone to live with.

Myself, I don't really get lonely.  Oh sure, sometimes I do feel a bit sad that I did not achieve the type of success in my love life that would have allowed me to have someone to end my days with, but I don't feel lonely.  I keep my life fairly busy and am occupied much of the time.  

 

(source)

All of our holidays are coming one on top of the other this year.  There was Valentines day and now very soon it will be Saint Patrick's Day and very soon after that it will be Easter, which is very early this year. The shops are filled with things for both holidays and it is difficult to know which one to indulge in. Eileen says that Tim's dad spoils them with lots of Easter goodies and they go there for Easter dinner.  That is a good thing, not the Easter candy (which neither one of them can afford to eat) but for the family celebrations. Tim's family has always been good to them in that way. They never get invited to her dad's and of course I have not been there through the years. Plus I cannot accommodate having both of them overnight in the same way.  I will probably have them over for a meal at some point during Easter. Maybe on the Monday. 

It is hard to feed Tim. He is very fussy about food.  There is not a lot that he eats.  I expect his mother is used to it, but I am not and I don't like having to cook separate meals for everyone. For me it is much easier just to take them out to a restaurant and then he can have what he wants and we can have what we want. Not quite the same as a homemade meal however. 

I think Dan is wanting me to cook Easter Dinner this year, and I will. It will be the usual ham.  I love Easter Ham even though I know I should not.  

Yesterday Eileen and I popped to the shops as I wanted to pick up some things to make something (Grape Nuts Cereal) and they had already roasted, hot hams for purchase, at $18 a piece and they were not that big. I found myself wondering, who (in this community) has the money to spend on that! And they were not very big either.  The mind boggles. They did smell awfully good though.

 

(source)

Normally today I would have been joining my father and Hazel for supper at the Big Scoop, and I would have gone and brought Eileen, but for the fact that I have an appointment at the lawyers at that time (they like to go early) to sign my will. Finally.  I finally called them a week or so ago wondering why I had not heard anything. Apparently they had sent me the proofs in November. I did not get them.  I am not sure why. Anyways, they sent them again and I had a look over the papers. My brother had a look over the papers. I sent them back with amendments and today I am going to sign them, and pay for it as well. (the hard part, lol)  At least I will be able to have peace of mind as far as that goes. Now all I have to do is to buy my headstone and pay for my funeral, etc. Then it will all be settled for the most part. 

My father doesn't want a funeral. We will probably just have a small memorial thing with just close family in attendance. I feel that we should mark a loved one's passing at least in some small way.  It just doesn't seem natural to do otherwise. I do know that a lot of people are not having funerals any longer.  For dad, there would not be a lot of people who could attend.  He doesn't have many friends now, at his age, its mostly just family and other than Cindy and myself, most of his family lives elsewhere. He has only one brother and one sister still alive and they are not well themselves.

On my, funerals. What a morbid topic.  But it is something that we all must think about.  With that however, I best leave you with a thought for the day. It will soon be time to cycle with my sister and I expect Eileen will soon be waking up! Plus I have a cat pawing at me looking for attention. I'm not sure what he wants but it is very distracting.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.˛.At the height of laughter,
the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope
of new possibilities.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
~Jean Houston° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

 In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Three Ingredient Lemon Meringue Pie Smash.  Seriously simple and incredibly delicious!

I hope you have a beautiful Wednesday.  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!    

   

A Day Book . . .

(source) 

 

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

It's very cold, but dry. The sun is supposed to shine today. I find that you can forgive just about anything so long as the sun shines. It was quite overcast yesterday. The skies were filled with a heaviness that never actually came to fruition. Thank goodness.  They were quite dismal though.  Today is a much better day.

 

(Source)

I AM THINKING ...

I hardly slept all night last night. The gremlins were at work.  When I called my father at 8:30 for the usual call, he informed me that he had had his housekeys and car keys stolen.  He has a very bad habit of leaving them in his front door lock (outside) when he comes home from being out if he is going out again. I have always thought that is a bad idea and have told him so. Cindy has also, but Dad, he never listens.  He just does what he does. Its a lazy habit really. He can't be bothered to take them out and pocket them when he is going to be going out again in an hour or so. He would only have to reach into his pocket and take them out to lock the door and that is too much work.  Well, yesterday someone stole them. When he went to leave to go to my sister's for supper, they were gone.  Someone had stolen them.  The only person who came through was the boy who delivers the base newspaper. So it was so obviously him, but you can't prove it can you.  In any case he had his door locked and a chair wedged under the door knob. I had visions of someone breaking in and robbing him, stealing his car etc.  I was so worried all night.  I called him at 6:30 this morning as he wanted me to. He had had a good night's sleep (of course) but I had not. He was okay at any rate.  I think the landlord is coming over this  morning to change his locks, but I am not sure about his car keys. Hopefully he can get a replacement, but it won't come cheap, that's for sure. Hopefully he will have learnt his lesson.

I AM ALSO THINKING ...

This meme is so much me.  Does this happen to anyone else? I am so easily distracted. I often forget what I am doing and start doing something completely different, the original chore having been secreted somewhere in the annals of my mind.  Thankfully, eventually, the original thought will come back to me. Most of the time anyways.  I hate it when I can see what I am thinking right there in my brain, but I cannot put a word to it. That happens frequently as well.

PERPLEXED ...

Yesterday we had a planned power outage at 6 a.m. until 6:15 a.m.  We had been warned. They also warned us of another one on Wednesday. I thought they said 10:00 to 10:15.   I thought it was p.m. Cindy thought it was a.m.  Now I don't know when it will be.  I will have to plan my day accordingly. I don't want to have a cake or anything in the oven in the morning if it is going to be interrupted for 15 minutes.  I wonder how I could find out for sure when it is going to be.  Anyone have any ideas?

 

(source)

CAN YOU IMAGINE . . .

Having a vault filled with doughnuts?  Sounds amazing! Buttermilk are my favorites.  I also love Chocolate Bavarian Creams.  Ohhh Seasonal Jelly Doughnuts.  This looks/sounds like  my kind of place!  Give me all the doughnuts. I will sample them to make sure that they are okay and safe to eat! 😂

 

(source)

LIFE . . .

Life is about to get very busy. I take Eileen home on Sunday and Anthony is hoping to be here with the family for March Break. They did not have much of a visit over Christmas. They were really only at mine for one day.  I usually book them into the motel. Its just more comfortable for them. He is supposed to message me after he talks to his sister (the one who doesn't have anything to do with me.) He is hoping to stay in Halifax with her for a few days first. Once I know for sure when he is coming, I can book the motel.  Something to look forward to!

 

(source)

SOMETHING I LOVE . . . 

I have this very same tea cup. I had bought it on Susan Branch's site many years ago. It has a cute lid you can stick on top with a bird sitting on it.  I managed to get it back here from the U.K. without it breaking. One of the few things that did not.  I love it. Two reasons really, one . . . I love Susan Branch anything and two . . . I love birds.

I had bought some green tea K cups for Eileen, but so far she has only had one. I need to make her another one for her breakfast this morning like I did yesterday. I will be taking her to work for 9:15 so I will be waking her up about 8:30. Maybe I will give her her tea in this cup.

 

(source)

IT'S TAKING SOME GETTING USED TO . . .

Talk.  Eileen talks non-stop when she is here. I am not used to it. I lead a very quiet life. I do talk a lot when I am with my sister. It is making me rethink that.  Maybe Cindy finds it irritating.  I know I find it very tiring myself, the constant chatter.  I think  we get very set in our ways and I am just so used to things being quiet here. I will probably only finally be getting use to it when it is time for her to go home, but then Anthony will be here. So I best get used to some noise! lol

 

(source)

I AM CRAVING . . . 

American Chocolate Chip muffins. From Delighted by Desserts. It is a German page, but it translates to English.  These look really yummy.

MY GIRLS . . . 

My girls are getting ready for Easter. They have an Easter Basket all ready, new matching dresses (one in pink and one in blue) and a snappy Easter arrangement to enjoy.  Oh, new hair fixings as well.  So much fun dressing these two up for the holidays!

 

(source)

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS . . .

Chocolate cupcakes.  Oh, the other day Cindy and I each bought a slice of chocolate cake from the store. It was soooo good. I was glad I had not bought a whole cake. Dangerous. That icing on these cupcakes looks positively decadent.

I AM READING . . . 

These Precious Days, by Ann Patchett

The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays. 

"The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike." —Publisher's Weekly 

 “Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. 

 At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. 

 A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. 

 From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

I am really enjoying this. It is like a collection of short stories. Sometimes you just don't have the energy or stamina to read a whole book. This satisfies the reading urge in shortish spurts.  Its very good!

 

FROM MY CALENDAR . . .

True that! Can you imagine a world where this was everyone's goal? What a different place it would be!

 

(source)

SOMETHING ELSE I LOVE . . .

Raisin Toast.  I go on binges. I won't have any for a very long time and then I will buy a loaf of Sun Maid Raisin Bread and I make some toast and I end up wondering why I don't do it more often!

SOMETHING CHEEKY . . . 

Yesterday Cindy and I each enjoyed a cheeky Big Mary sandwich for our lunch. Big Mary Monday's. They cost less.  It was so delicious!  I love Big Mary's chicken more than the other popular fast food outlet's. Not naming any names. Big Mary's is not greasy.

I always enjoy these times I spend with Cindy, with or without Big Mary's. lol

I AM WATCHING . . . 

I am rewatching episodes of Downton Abby.  I love that show. I heard, don't know if it is true or not, but I heard that they are making a new series of it.  I have not watched the latest film either.  I need to do that.

This is a show that never gets old, no matter how many times I watch it.

IN THE KITCHEN . . . 

Air Fryer Blooming Baked Potatoes.   These were blooming good!  I don't use my air fryer as much as I should! I need to use it  more!

TRACING THE GOODNESS  . . .

Facetimes with people I love. Scripture study. Lent. Church. My faith. My family. My home. My cats.  My health. Spending time with Chatty Eileen.  Time with Cindy. Dad was safe.  My life is filled to overflowing with blessings and goodness.  My cup truly does overflow  . . .  

 

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU . . . 

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

 *.˛.Run, dear, from anything that

might not strengthen your

precious budding wings.

~Hafez° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

And that is my daybook for this week. I hope that you all have beautiful days.  Blessings to you all and 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!    

   

Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

 A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.

Family times.  Dinner at Cindy's yesterday. Dad and Eileen sitting on the sofa enjoying each other's company. I have been enjoying Eileen's company.  We haven't done a whole lot.  We spent Saturday settling in and then we watched a movie Saturday night.  Crossroads with Britney Spears. I had not seen it before and it wasn't all that bad.  Church yesterday. Then we went to my sister's for supper.  In the evening we facetimed with my brother and that was fun also.  Its just nice spending to spend this time together.

Tim got to Calgary okay. This is him at the airport with a horse. Eileen thought this photograph was so funny. Tim sent it to her. I think its a good one of Tim. He is there representing Nova Scotia in the National Special Olympics Winter Games. He will be cross country skiing.  I hope he has a wonderful time. So far it looks like he is enjoying himself and that they have gotten a warm welcome from Calgary!

Nutmeg just doesn't know what all of the fuss in about. Just give me the treats he says! Just give me the treats!  I am so grateful for these two furry felines. They have added a beautiful dimension to my life that I otherwise would not have been able to experience.

Journaling my way through Advent. I am following the Advent prayer/study on the Hallow App.  Its very good. I am noting my observations and thoughts in my journal. I have been writing special thoughts, feelings, observations in this journal since 2019.  I have only used up half of it. I don't write in it every day. It contains only my best. Maybe one day it will be a treasure to someone. You never know.

My calendar this morning. I am so grateful for my friends. I have been fortunate in my life to have made good friends. I am still friends with several girls that I started school with back when I was five years old. I named my daughter Eileen after one of them. I have one special friend however who has been my best friend now for 65 and counting years.  We all know who that is, lol.  Love you my dear, sweet sister.

Coming soon to a living room near me. Is this not one of the cutest cat beds you have ever seen?  It is a cat sofa. I think it will go well in the living room. Then I will move the tall cat scratching post thingie to the spare bedroom where it won't be quite so overwhelming.  We will see how it goes anyways.   Yes, I do spoil my cats I suppose.  But they are such a wonderful part of my life and such great company. Who else do I have to spoil? Bringing joy to them brings joy to me.

 

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This picture reminded me of when my children were small and I used to read bedtime stories to them every night. Those are such special memories to me.  All my little chicks gathered around me. They each had their favorite stories and books they liked to be read. Anthony liked Dr. Seuss.  His favorite story was the Pants with Nobody in them. The girls like the Little Grey Rabbit books by Alison Utley.  Doug had a story he loved about a teddy bear that used to sneak out to the woods each night and eat cinnamon buns with his teddy bear friends. Bruce liked the Little Monster Books, his favorite one being, Just Me and My Dad. 

I just loved reading to them. Spending this special quiet time with them at the end of each day.  

 

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There was a planned power outage this morning at 6 a.m. for fifteen  minutes.  There will be another one Wednesday evening at 10 for a further fifteen minutes. I can't remember what they are for, but I am grateful that we were sent a text to let us know so we could be prepared. At least they are planning them for times when people are not likely to be too inconvenienced and for not too long each time. I was still in bed when it went off this morning. It woke me up because my white noise machine went off.  I came out here and fed the cats, lit a few candles and before I knew it, it was back on again.

 

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We had only a little tiny bit of snow throughout the day on Saturday. Nothing that accumulated. It was very cold yesterday and is very cold this morning. But it is supposed to warm up quite a bit as this week goes on. Most of the snow that we still have will melt away. What remains to be seen is if March will come in like a Lamb or a Lion. It is expected to be much colder and blustery on Friday which is the first of March, so maybe a Lion?  We shall see.

When we were children at school every March we would have special calendar pictures to color for March. I can remember them often being Lambs and Lions.  We would color them and they would be hung on the wall. A spot for our stars and stickers to be kept.  I can remember that at the end of the month there was always a prize for the one with the most gold stars or stickers. I think I got a prize once or twice.  I think it is a good thing to motivate children to work harder, but there will always be children who, no matter how hard they work, will never get a prize.  So I am not sure how I feel about that. Happy for the winners but sad for those who never win.  I think anyone who tries their hardest should be rewarded and one person's hardest is not the same as the next person's hardest. We are all different and unique.

Maybe we should just celebrate us all.

 

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Grateful for my skills and abilities. They enhance my life in beautiful ways. I like that I can do things with my hands and keep my brain sharp.  My life is never boring because of these things.  I can always find something to do, to read, to accomplish.  I would never want to be the type of person that just lolls about doing nothing with my time.  That to me would be extremely boring.  No criticism meant to those who are able to do just that.  We are all different and its a good thing too. Life would be so mundane were we all the same.

I am so grateful to have enough.  Any more than enough it an extra blessing and I am grateful for that also. There are so many people in this world who have to live without even the most basic of necessities. I hope and pray that I never take what I have for granted.  I hope that I always see my life and all that is in it with the eyes of gratitude.

And with that I best leave you with a thought for today. I need to get Eileen up so that she can get ready to go to work. Then I need to drop her off, come back and Cindy and I will get our biking/cycling in!  My day is about to start in earnest.

I am grateful for that. For busy days that let me know I am alive.  And for a constitution that is able to keep up with them and enjoy them.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

*If nature has made you a giver,

your hands are born open,

and so is your heart.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Frances Hodgson Burnett° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Irish Colcannon Soup. Seriously delicious and such a simple make.  Just perfect for a cold day. It warms the tummy and the soul.

I wish for each of you a perfect day. Filled with enough. Enough love. Enough joy. Enough to bless you. Just enough of everything.  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!