All Things Nice . . .

 

(source)

Sunlight is such a lovely word

And means to much to beast and bird

And creeping things upon the earth,

It is old wood upon a hearth,

A sun porch where red roses twine

As lovely as a valentine.

An orchard where old twisted boughs

Bask in the sun . . . and open mows

Are filled with fragrance to the brim

And purple shadows cool and dim,

Where swallows hurry in and out,

And new-born kittens prowl about.

Sunlike is oil in shaly beds,

Deep in the earth . . . and watersheds

Holding their moisture in the store

Of nature's spongy reservoir

Where moss and tangled vines are thick

Along the hidden swampy creek.

Sunlight is color . . . reds and blues

An arching rainbow's seven hues,

The sky above a maple tree

The emerald darkness of the sea . . . 

A patch of sunlit window sill,

As golden as a daffodil.

~Edna Jacques, Sunlight

Fireside poems, 1950

We are in for a beautiful sunny day today and yesterday was also beautifully sunny. The difference was the temperature. It was positively frigid yesterday, in the double digits below zero with a biting wind. Already this morning the temperature has risen to -3*F/26.6*C.   Yesterday it was -13*F/8.6*C but that blustery wind made it seem so much worse.  I spent much of the morning running errands, and going to and fro. It was almost unbearable to step out of the car. I needed to put some gas in the car, but neither Cindy nor I were willing to stand out in that cold biting wind.  I am picking up Cindy this afternoon for another paint day with Eileen so we will put gas in then as the temperatures are due to rise well above zero.

We are in that transitional season, where nature can't quite decide if it is still Winter or if Spring is ready to arrive.  Soring has her hat on but she's dragging her heels!

Sorry for my absence yesterday. Usually I would try to leave a heads-up and I am sorry if any of you worried. I had to take Eileen very early for her Bible Study and needed to make sure she was well fed before then, not to mention warmly dressed. I left right from dropping her off to pick up my sister. My dad's prescriptions needed picking up. He gets them filled at the Super Store and their pharmacy is not open on the weekend.  Plus we did his groceries.  Went back to his.  Put his groceries away, fed the cat, made his bed, made him some lunch. sorted his garbage, scooped the litter box, etc. It was gone 1 before I got home and I still had my work to do for the day, plus picking up Eileen and feeding her.  My day just got away from me and I didn't have time. So sorry about that!  I will make up for it today! 😊

 

Tim on the far right in blue.

Tim did great at the Special Olympic Winter games this week!  He got two silver medals and a bronze.  As you can see, he is very happy with his achievement.  Chloe from Nova Scotia and on his team got two golds so far as I know.  We are very proud of our athletes!

He has stayed well in touch with Eileen and is enjoying his time in Calgary very much.  He will be returning home to Nova Scotia in the week hours of Monday morning and will have loads to share with us all I am sure!  This has been a wonderful time for him.  I know Eileen is missing him and will be very happy to have him back home. Not that she isn't enjoying her stay with me, she is very much, but there is no place like home.

We have had a great week together.  This was one of the paintings we did at my sister's on Thursday's paint day. From left to right, Eileen's, mine, Cindy's.  Similar but also unique.   

I had gotten Cindy and I matching art books for Christmas. They were titled, 50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful Ordinary Life.  The idea was for us to be able to do the exercises in this book together.  We did the first one on Thursday, Cindy and I in our books and Eileen on some paper.  I think we all did excellent. Eileen top left, Cindy bottom left, myself bottom right.

I think they all turned out beautifully.  Eileen did not think she had any talent for drawing and it was nice to show her that sure, some talent is involved, but it is mostly skill and working at that skill to improve.  I think she did wonderful for her very first time doing something like this! Everything looks like it is supposed to look.  You can tell what every article is.  

Eileen had a wonderful time with this. My sister gave her a small art journal and a water brush.  She was making her up a small water color palate as well. I gave her some brush markers.  Today I am picking Cindy up after lunch. We will go fill the car and then come back here for another paint afternoon.  It will be so much fun!  Spending special moments like this are a real blessing to me and to each of us really.  Family times are always the best of times.

 

After our paint day, Eileen wanted to treat me to a supper out.  We went to Angie's mid afternoon for a late lunch, early supper. Lupper as Eileen called it.  The food was great!

Eileen had their dinner special which was Chicken Parmesan on pasta with garlic bread.

I had the lunch special which was a Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Honey Mustard mayo, Chips and Coleslaw. Both of us enjoyed  our meals very much. I could not finish mine.  That was a whole lot of chips!  I ate the burger and about a third of the chips.

We both decided that mid afternoon was the best time to eat in a restaurant. They are not so busy and noisy, and the food and service are excellent. I think there was only one other table being used in the restaurant, so it was great.  Our food was hot and freshly prepared, delivered in a timely manner and delicious. We had no complaints whatsoever!  Best part of all, enjoying it together of course!

      

 Dad gave me his windup gonging clock.  It is quite pretty. He is trying to get rid of things a bit at a time. It doesn't work. I will need to find a clock repair person.  I wound it up, but nothing. It did gong a few times when I was putting the hands in the right place, so I know the gonger works.

Nutmeg was helping me here this morning. He is a great snoopervisor, however much he wants to get in the way. Usually he lays there with his head on my arm as I am typing, looking up at  me with his love eyes.  I cannot resist petting him. His purr is a lovely morning song.

Both he and Cinnamon are now in the spare bedroom at the moment, looking out the back door window and waiting for Eileen to wake up.  They spent a bit of time just staring at the open door watching Eileen sleep, but then decided to interject themselves into her space.

It is clear who rules this roost.  😂  And it isn't me.

My desk calendar page this morning. It is hard to believe we are in March already.  This year is slipping by. My brother David will be 64 tomorrow. One year closer to his old age security.  Another year and we will all be officially old.  lol  

Cindy and I have our work cut out for us over the next few months. My dad went and told his Landlord he was moving out and verbally gave him his three month's notice, even though we told him not to.  Now the pressure will be on to empty his place. Cindy needs to get the room ready for him at her place first and we both feel that it is only when we get him out of there that we can make any headway.  WE had told him to wait until we at least had his space ready at my sister's home, but I think the landlord has been putting undue influence on him.  He knows that if he gets someone new in that he can put up the rent for the next person and he sees money slipping away.  Dollar signs.  They seem to be what is most important in today's world.

This is a mammoth task and neither one of us is getting any younger!  I also have to work every day.  I cannot let that slide.

Life is a happy mix of this and that and everything in between.  I have nothing to complain about and am richly blessed I believe.  I am looking forward to another paint day this afternoon.  I will be taking Eileen home tomorrow after church so she can be ready for Tim's arrival home on Monday morning.  I have really enjoyed having her here this week.  Its been great!  I think she has enjoyed herself also.  

And now I will close with a thought to carry with you. 

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

 *.˛.There are people who take 

the heart out of you

and there are people who

put it back.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Elizabeth David° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° *  

Consider yourselves the latter!  Love you all to bits!

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies.  These are fabulous. The small batch recipe makes one dozen delicious cookies.

I hope that you have a beautiful weekend!  I will be back on Monday morning. In the meantime stay warm and safe and be blessed!  Don't forget!

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And I do too!