A Day Book . . .

 

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OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...

It is completely light out. I am about a hour behind this morning. Cool and dry at the  moment, but rain and snow is expected around noon according to my weather thingie.  It is just above freezing at the moment.  This is he season of transition. Where the weather swings back and forth between Winter and Spring each day as it it cannot commit to either one. It plays havoc with my arthritis, this fluctuating between cold and mild, wet and dry.  My knees are not very happy at the moment but we will get through this.

 

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THINKING ABOUT ...

The time change and wondering, why, why, why  . . .  I know it is only an hour, but my sleep patterns are all up the chute at this moment in time. It really plays havoc with them.  Tired as heck and wanting to to go bed at 8:30 only to wake up at 2:30 and not be able to fall back asleep forever . . .  and then when I finally do, it is past time to wake up and I am late, late, late  . . . and playing catch up all the day through.  Why can't the powers that be just leave it alone . . . 

 

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ALSO THINKING ABOUT ...

I had a lovely time with my friend Jaquie yesterday. Its nice to spend this time together every now and then and have a good old catch up. The food was terrible however.  At least mine was. I did not want anything deep fried and so I ordered the special which was a Turkey and Apple Panini and a bowl of soup. (turkey)  The soup was good, not as good as my mothers, but homemade. The sandwich was the worst sandwich I have ever had. I could not eat it. The dressing or whatever was on it was rancid. You know how you can smell it when something like a salad dressing has gone rancid, that old oil smell. It is unmistakable.  I took one bite and caught a whiff.  I  had one more bite and the same  . . . I could not bring  myself to eat the rest, I was afraid of getting sick again. It was just nasty. This is the same place that served me lemon pie a number of weeks back that was also incredibly nasty.  Why can't restaurants get things right. How hard is it to serve your customers food that is, if not incredible, at least decent, prepared with ingredients that are within their sell by/taste by date.  Eating out is not cheap and I am not asking much, just that you use fresh ingredients and sell me fresh food.  So disappointing. At least I enjoyed Jacquie's company.

 

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LOVING THIS ...

Both wonderful and terrifying at the same time.  haha  I don't like bees or wasps to hover around me. I am so afraid of being stung, but the idea of being  mistaken for a flower?  Well that is just priceless.

ALSO LOVING ...

Love this photograph that I took of my father on Sunday evening at my sister's place. My iPhone takes such lovely photographs. I have stopped using my regular camera, even for my food photos. I haven't quite figured how to directly off load them to my computer yet, but in time I will figure it out. Old dog, new tricks.

 

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SO SWEET ...

I love this bunny print.  It is so cute. I have always loved bunnies and art where the animals are being humanized.  When I was a child I loved stories where the animals could talk and lived lives almost as humans did.  I also used to buy books for my children that were the same.

 

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A WISH ...

My only granddaughter recently turned 13.  I have not seen a photograph of her in a long time now. I would have so loved to see the young woman she is becoming. I am sure she is beautiful and witty and bright.  How could she not be. Maybe one day  . . . 

My youngest grandson will be four years old in a couple of weeks. I have never seen him in person. I know him only through photographs that have been kindly shared with me. I have had to listen to other people tell me how engaging and sweet he is whilst I can only dream about spending time with him. When I first moved back to Canada, I had high hopes that I would at least get to spend some time with one of my grandchildren when they were still toddlers. That hope is gone now  . . .  oh well, it is what it is.

 

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MAKES ME SMILE ...

Can you see it?  The cat in the middle of the raccoons. Obviously a manipulated photograph, but it did make me smile.

 

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HAPPINESS IS ...

Facetimes with Doug.  I had a facetime from him yesterday afternoon. This is my son that lives on the Island.    He had been hoping to come over with his oldest son Jon to visit me during March Break, but he is just getting over a bad cold and is feeling very tired. I would rather he stay home and get some rest. He is my son that had the heart attack a few years ago.  I worry about his health and would rather he be safe and at home than stressed out and trying to make a trip that isn't really necessary.  I am just as happy to spend time with him online.  Sure, in person is great, but I love him too much to want him to put himself at risk. It is enough that he wants to spend time with me at all. That makes me happy.

ENJOYING ...

I am enjoying watching reruns of Larkrise to Candleford on my BritBox. It was a show I loved when it originally aired quite a number of years back. So much so that I bought the DVD's of the series so that Eileen could enjoy them.  I knew that she would. I am watching them again and enjoying every minute of them. I can't wait until they finally get the latest series of Call the Midwife on BritBox. That is another favorite.

Oh and also enjoying the Andy Griffith channel on Pluto.  (Free streaming channel.)

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!

SOMETHING ELSE I LOVE ...

My Dot and Lil tea cup candle. I have not been able to bring myself to burn it yet. But I love it. I love tea cups. I love candles.  The two together are just beautiful to me.

FROM MY CALENDAR ...

A reminder to live your life out loud!  Not just merely exist.

 

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CRAVING ...

Danish butter cookies. They are a weakness of mine  . . . 

 

IN THE KITCHEN ...

A simple Taco Salad. So delicious. Simple to make as well. You can make the tortilla baskets to serve it in quite easily, or you can just serve the salad on it's own. Its your choice.

 

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TRACING THE GOODNESS  ...

My days are a happy mix of good and bad, exciting and mundane, blessings and sorrows.  It must need be that there is an opposition in all things in order to bring about a really good life.  I am grateful for the opposition in my live which help to increase my joy from all that is good.

A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...

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

 *.˛.The little things that make life sweet

Are worth their weight in gold;

They can't be bought at any price

And neither are they sold.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~anon° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

And that is my daybook for this week. A short one today as I am running behind. I hope that you all have beautiful days.  Blessings to you all and don't forget!

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And I do too!