All Things Nice

 

(source)

I'm hungry for homemade pickles,

For cookies kept in a crock,

For pumpkin pie with a tender crust,

Fowl from a home raised flock.

I'm hungry for pickled pigs' feet

For pork in a sugar brine,

Spare ribs . . . headcheese and liver loaf,

Sauerkraut shredded fine.

I'm hungry for apple strudel,

Date pudding with caramel sauce,

For buckwheat pancakes with syrup on,

And buns with a shiny gloss.

I'm hungry for milk fed turkey

Cooked to a golden turn,

For sweet June butter and buttermilk

Made in a wooden churn.

I'm hungry for country cooking

Flavored with warmth and grace --

A mother puttering around the rooms

With love in her quiet face.

I'm hungry for homes and people

In a house that is more than walls,

For a yard and a fence and a maple tree

Where warm still sunlight falls.

~Edna Jacques, I'm Hungry

 Hills of Home, 1952

This yearning  . . . a deep hunger . . .  for the past is something we all experience from time to time. I think we all tend to romanticize it all a bit and gaze on it with rose-colored glasses. It was not all perfect for sure. We think of only the good things, the better days and thankfully skip over the ones which were not so good. Memory is a beautiful thing in that it helps us to be able to filter out things which don't support us and to dwell on things which served us well.  Happy things, people, places, experiences. I am all for that. I don't like to think about the losses or the things which made me sad, which broke my heart.  But then again, these things  . . .  they are what has helped to build me. Things which have forced me to grow and evolve.  Things which have helped to, hopefully, create a better me and that is not a bad thing at all. Lessons taught in ways that served us well in the long run, and yes  . . .  peppered with memories of our mother's meals cooked with love and sacrifice. 

What I wouldn't give to be able to sit down to one of my dear mother's turkey dinners this weekend. Not the least because of how delicious they were, but mostly for the fact that my mother would be here with us, and I miss her terribly. Oh, how blessed I was to have someone in my life that I miss as much as I miss her. Grief, I have often heard it said, is the price we pay for love.

 

(source)

There is a gift shop in town that is going out of business. I know I mentioned this yesterday or the day before.  Cindy and I popped in yesterday afternoon, while dad was having his tea at Tim Hortons, just to have a gander and wander about.  They have lovely things, but very expensive. I did pick up a couple of little wicker baskets, and some soap and a red toadstool whirlygig thingie for the garden. The ground is too hard for me to push it in, so I will just have to wait now until next year when, hopefully, the ground will be a lot softer.

 

(anne wood)

The baskets, I have in mind to make a basket full of kitties. Except I won't make them ghosties.  This was in my email yesterday and when I saw the wicker baskets, I thought they would be perfect. Sweet little fabric whimsies to feed my creative soul.

(source)

One thing which is really nice about living by yourself is that there are not a lot of distractions.  I am able to sit and think about things whenever I want and there is nothing to pull me away from my thoughts.  Last night I had listened to a talk online from the last conference by Kevin G Brown. (Brilliant talk by the way.)  Anyways afterwards I was sitting and thinking about it and the following question came into my mind.

If you could see yourself the way that God sees you, what would that change for you? Would it change the way that you do things or how you live your life? 

We are often our own worst critics, but God . . .  He sees us differently.  He sees us as His children, and He loves us with an infinite love that only a parent can have for their children.  With a love more perfect than even the love we have for our own families. He sees our mistakes, but He also sees how very wonderful and unique we are.  He sees our talents, and He sees our beautiful hearts.  He knows our intentions.

I thought to myself, I need to judge myself and see myself in the way that I believe God sees and judges me.  To show and give myself the same grace and mercy that I give to others. All too often we care far too much about how the world views us when really, we should be looking at ourselves through the eyes of a benevolent, loving Father who wants only the best for each of us and sees us for the unique treasures that we are. 

Oh, I don't mean that we should walk around like we are God's gifts to mankind. A little bit of humility goes a long way, but we do need to be a bit kinder to ourselves. "I" need to be a bit kinder to myself.

 

(source)

I have put the heat on in here this morning as it is rather chilly. I can see outside that there has been a frost overnight. Not a really heavy one, but the rooftops and cars are covered. It will melt quickly once the sun starts to show its warmth. Anyways, I thought I would put the heat on just to take a bit of the chill out of the air in here.  I have added an extra blanket to my bed and I am thinking it may be time to take out my duvet and put it to work.

With the rain that we had earlier this week the fires are now under control, which is a good thing, and we are supposed to have a full week of rain next week, so that will further help things out. The duckpond at the motel across the road now has water in it. It had pretty much dried up.

 

(source)

Have you seen the Jane Goodall video on Netflix? I found it quite fascinating and what an interesting concept to do a video that would only be shown after your death and not before. What would you say if you knew there was no possibility of any repercussions?  To be able to speak your truth without worrying what people might think or how it would affect your relationships. What words of wisdom would you like to share, to leave . . .  as your legacy to the earth.  Of course, I am not Jane Goodall, and nobody really cares what I think or what I might say, except for maybe my family. 

It made me think though. What would I say to them, and if I could say it in death, why can't I just say it now.

"I have loved you with an unconditional love. No matter what. No matter how. No matter when. I will always love you. I forgive you for your imperfections, failings and your weaknesses. We all have them. I hold nothing against you, not now, not ever.  Go. Be happy. Be kind. To yourself and to others. Love and be loved."

 

(source)

I am having Cindy, Dan and Dad over for supper tonight. I have bought a large ham that I am going to cook, plus I am making mashed potatoes (dad's favorite) and a few sides. I have some nice fluffy rolls, and I have an apple pie for dessert. It is a large one that we can have again tomorrow for Thanksgiving. 

I know. Two big dinners in a row.  

I wanted to do something for my family. To give Cindy a night off from cooking or thinking about cooking. 

I am looking forward to it. I hope that they are as well. I don't do this near often enough.  In years past we were always having people over for supper and occasions. Holidays. My house was always full at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Easter, etc.  Things change. Times change. It's called progress. Families live so far away from each other these days that it's not always an easy thing to get together for special occasions.

 

(source)

The autumn drifted away though all its seasons. The golden corn-harvest, the walks through the stubble-fields, and rambles into hazel-copses in search of nuts; the stripping of the apple-orchards of their ruddy fruit, amid the joyous cries and shouts of watching children; and the gorgeous tulip-like colouring of the later time had now come on with the shortening days. There was comparative silence in the land, excepting for the distant shots, and the whirr of partridges as they rose up from the field.
~Elizabeth Gaskell, from Wives and Daughters

I have read a bit of Elizabeth Gaskell through the years. Her writings speak of another, more elegant era. It was not a time of casualness, not even if you were poor or from a lower class. There was a special way and manner in which things were just done. When I read writings such as this, these kinds of words, they make me wish that I could part the words from my mind and place them onto paper in the same and eloquent way. That they might read like poetry for the soul. Occasionally I will come across words that I have written and they surprise me.  I am always writing down snippets of thoughts, etc. without any rhyme or reason.

I found this the other day, hand-written in pencil on a scrap of paper  . . . 

It matters not from whence it flows

It matters only where it goes

An acorn grows into a tree

A river flows into the sea

It is the same with you and me

There's great potential the eye can't see

Beneath the cold dark ground it grows

The tiny seed into a rose

A myth becomes reality

Through fruit that only few can see

Mysteries of God

Lay at their midst

A living, thriving catalyst

Through faith and tiny bits of rain

Come untold blossoms once again

Where only dirt and worms once were

A tender beauty, sweet and pure

The same is true of you and me

We may not grow into big trees

But seeds of faith when watered true

Can make a better me and you

A heaven-sent soliloquy.

I wrote it when I was living in the U.K. Probably up in the craft room. Written on the other side are the words, "Mount Kilmanjaro." In ink, in Todd's handwriting. He was always leaving notes like that on my stacks of books or papers. He thought he was being funny. I thought he was being an A$$. He was being an A$$.

Anyways, I had written the words I shared above on that scrap of paper. Its not great, nor perfect, but there is a certain something held within the prose I think. 

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Let us hold unswervingly to the hope
that we profess, for He who promised
is faithful
~Hebrews 10:23• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 

In The English Kitchen today, quick, easy, delicious, Maple Pecan Scones.  A small batch. The recipe makes only four beautiful, buttery and delicious scones.

I hope that you have a beautiful weekend and a lovely Thanksgiving (All my Canadian readers and friends.)  Be happy. Find Joy. 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!    

   

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

FRIDAY, Oct. 10th, 2025

 Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

4*C/41*F

A clear and sunny day in

the forecast

Dear Neighbor,

I was up quite early this morning. The last few days I have been oversleeping and not getting up until well close to 7 a.m., but this morning I was awake at 5:30 and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up.  I don't mind. I have always been somewhat of an early riser. Mom was always up early in the morning as well. I guess this acorn has not fallen far from the tree.

It was finally chilly enough last night that I turned off all of the fans in my bedroom. I sleep hot and so most of the warmer months I have a couple of fans going in my bedroom, a tall pole type and a large table top one. I also have the ceiling fan going. Last night I felt rather cold in bed however, so I got up and turned them all off. 

It's time to break out the winter bedding methinks.

 

(source)

I am a person who likes a cool bedroom to sleep in. I find that if it is too warm in the bedroom I don't sleep well. I never have the heat on in there. On especially chilly nights I will throw a magic bag in under the covers about fifteen minutes before I go to bed, but that is about it.

In the U.K. we never had heat on at night. We would turn it on first thing in the morning for a couple of hours and then in the evening for a couple of hours, but the rest of the time we relied on wearing warmer clothes, like sweaters and such. At first, I found it hard to get used to, this  not having any heat . . .  and I missed the forced air heating of back home. 

Mind it didn't really get all that cold in the U.K. compared to what I was used to.  I have not turned any heat on here yet, but it won't be long before I have to.

 

 

(source)

I went out shopping with Cindy yesterday. We only went into Greenwood and then back.  I needed to get catfood for the cats and some litter and a few bits for Saturday as I am having everyone over for supper on Saturday night. I am baking a ham.  Cindy is cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving. I think on Sunday.  The trees were gorgeous on the way to the mall, but you can tell that they won't be for much longer. The leaves are falling much quicker now and it won't be long before the branches are bare. We have passed the optimum color time.

We did have a substantial rain on Thursday past and all of the wildfires are considered to be brought under control  now.  Next week they are calling for rain all the week, so hopefully after that they will all be out. What a summer it has been.

 

(source)

There is a shop I like here in town which is closing at the end of the month. It is called Cinnamon Creek and it is filled with lovely little bits and bobs, gift items that you cannot find anywhere else. I was sad to learn it was closing. It's one of those lovely little shop which carries smelly candles and nicnacs, kitchen linens, trinkets, jewelry, puzzles, games, etc. I have always loved going in there and browsing. Once it is gone there won't really be anywhere in town to shop for gifts, except for the pharmacy.  All we will have is a dollar store, Home Hardware, two grocery stores, and yes . . .  the pharmacy.

It does make me sad. Once upon a time this was a thriving town filled with shops. There was a jewelry store, a music store, a department store, florist, shoe store, hardware store, etc. People would come down from the mountain and other outlying areas on Friday nights to go shopping.

We had a cinema that was busy. The town was alive and was thriving.  

We had a busy hospital, a dairy, and a lot of spirit.  This year they didn't even hold the Heart of the Valley Days. If they did, I must have missed it. It is sad to see a town that was very vibrant, slowly dying.

And yet . . .  they are building a luxury apartment complex at the other end of town. Luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments with underground parking and a gym.  It actually beggars' belief. What we really need in this town is affordable housing. We have a growing homeless population, which makes me sad. There never used to be truly homeless people, not in this small town.  I always called it a "Leave It To Beaver" town, a "Mayberry."  Not any longer.

 

(source)

Cinnamon seems to have gone off wet food altogether these days. I can't seem to find one that she likes. I keep trying different kinds and all she does is give it a cursory lick and then leaves it. Nutmeg gobbles his up and then finishes hers. I told Cindy yesterday that all I am going to do is give her a small spoonful of his and see what happens. That way when she walks away and he takes over he is only getting what he was going to get anyways. I don't want him to get way overweight.  He is quite a greedy cat anyways, always looking for something to eat. There is not much that he doesn't like.

I took this little video of him yesterday on his favorite blanket. He just loves this blanket. (Sorry for the sound, the television was running in the background.) He loves to tread on this blanket and sucks on it at the same time. He doesn't do it to anything else. Just this blanket.

He spent the whole time that the cleaners were here the other day hiding under my bed. It's a good thing that I had the bathroom door shut when they first came in or he would have been hiding behind the washer!  He is a little scaredy cat.

I was really pleased with the cleaners and the job that they did. I hate that I am at the point where I have had to hire cleaners to come in. Only every second week for now. I just can't get down on my hands and knees to do things like clean the baseboards, etc. any longer.  Also, by the time I finish all of my "work" for the day I am mentally and physically exhausted. I don't even have the energy to play at the things I would like to play at.  Fitting cleaning in was making me even more tired. We will see how it goes. 

I know that sounds like I am really lazy, but I promise you that I am not. The heart is willing, but my knees let me down. I have never been happy with a half done anything. At least with the cleaners, things will get fully done. 

They come as a pair. I suppose for legal purposes. Pretty much everyone on my street has cleaners. I see them coming to one house or another several times a week. 

 

(source)

I was tempted to get a couple of pumpkins yesterday when we were out.  My next-door neighbor has a lovely big one on their porch.  I noticed she has all kinds of autumn decorations up.  Even an autumn wreath. It looks very nice. 

I wonder when Dan is going to put up the Halloween Decorations at their place.  He usually has all the yard decked out.

Some people go way over the top decorating for Halloween. I have never been one much for that. I have read that in some places in the states, whole neighborhoods will decorate with a theme for Halloween.

I used to love going shopping down in the states at this time of year.  Well, I actually loved going shopping down there any time.

You would see garbage bins at the malls full of old shoes that Canadians had discarded. They would go down there in their oldest shoes, etc. buy new and then just throw the old away.  When I think about it now, it doesn't sound like a very nice thing to do. I never did it.  I have only ever had two pairs of shoes. My everyday shoes and my go-to-church shoes.

Just like I don't have seasonal clothing. I tend to wear the same thing all year round, only adding a sweater or some such in the colder months. I have never been a slave to fashion. I couldn't afford to be!

 

(source)

I have a few things in the pipeline for today.  I am having everyone over for supper tomorrow as I said and I want to get a few things done ahead for that.  Plus, I have my everyday work. I keep thinking I want to play some as well, but we will see how it goes. Hope springs eternal as they say!

 

(source)

Apparently there has been a resurgence of interest in the Brambly Hedge books, etc. I have always loved Brambly Hedge and used to make Brambly Hedge Dolls to sell.  

There was this one that I made and sold  . . . 

And this one  . . . 

I always had so much fun making them. I am not sure I have the patience required any longer. I also used to sell a lot of Raggedy's. I enjoyed making them also. I had about half a dozen in various stages of finish that I left behind in the U.K. when I came back to Canada.  I often wonder what happened to all of that stuff.  Thrown away probably.  I should really get back into making dolls. I always loved it so much.

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day.  I have been sitting at the computer working in one way or another for almost 3 hours now and I need to be getting on with other things. Time to wind this down . . . . I am sorry if I have been quite boring as of late.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Maybe the desire 

to make something beautiful

is the piece of God that

 is inside each of us.

~Mary Oliver • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★  

 Today in The English Kitchen  . . .  The Best Deviled Chicken.  This is really delicious chicken.  Oven roasted with a spicy sticky glaze. Finger-licking-tasty. 

I had a bunch of recipes posted on another site and have slowly been bringing them onto my main site. I hope you will forgive me for this, but I just wanted them to all be in the same place.

I hope you have a beautiful day. 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!    

   

My Favorite Things . . .

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . these are some of the things in life that I enjoy, and which make me happy, inspire me, or put a smile on my face. Maybe some of them are yours too.  Let's share! 

 

(source)

I am not sure what this shaped window is called, but I love them. 

 

(source)

Lights in windows  . . . 

 

(source)

Old pick up trucks.  Reminds me of Clint Eastwood and the Bridges of Madison County  . . . 

 

(source)

The simplicity of this mug  . . . 

 

(source)

Butternut squash  . . . 

 

(source)

Hearts in nature  . . . 

 

(source)

Rain  . . .  we finally got an appreciable amount . . . 

 

(source)

Real wicker baskets  . . . 

 

(source)

A book that I can't put down  . . . 

 

(source)

Hydrangea, in any form  . . . 

 

(source)

Spaniels  . . .  those eyes  . . . 

 

(source)

Wooden chests  . . . 

 

(source)

Lacy white dresses  . . . 

 

(source)

Straw hats  . . . . 

 

(source)

Little Witches  . . . 

 

(source)

Rocking Chairs  . . . 

 

(source)

Warm Apple Pie a la mode  . . . 

 

(source)

Quilts  . . . 

 

(source)

Falling leaves  . . . 

 

(source) 

Embroidered linens  . . . 

And those are my favorite things for this week. I hope that some of them were yours also.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*In every change, in every falling leaf

there is some pain, some beauty

and that's the way new leaves grow.

~Amit Ray  • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 

In the Kitchen today  . . .  Cheesy Burrito Melts. A delicious vegetarian hot sandwich.  It is lovely with crisp veggie sticks for a tasty and nutritiously simple lunch.

I hope that you have a lovely day today. We were really blessed to get some heavy rain yesterday. I am not sure how many mml. fell but it was nice to see. Whatever you get up to today, be happy, 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)

 

It will just be a quick post this morning as I am off out early to get my father's breakfast for him. My sister has gone to the city for a CT scan of her heart and so will be gone most of the day. We don't want dad being tempted to go out anywhere. He can't be trusted not to try to drive himself somewhere, and he really isn't capable anymore. He collapsed coming out of Tim Hortons the other day and my sister had to get someone to help her get him back up.  His car was parked just outside the door, and she was with him, helping him. So, we really don't want him going anywhere by himself.  She was meant to take his car keys so that he couldn't leave but she texted me to say that she had forgotten. 

He is very stubborn, and I think in a bit of denial as to what he can reasonably do himself without help. Anyways, I am popping over to get his breakfast for him and then later on to get his lunch in an effort to keep him from traipsing off to Tim Hortons later.

The cleaners did an excellent job yesterday. My shower is sparkling as is everything else. I wish that I could do these things myself but realistically speaking I can't get down on my knees to do anything any longer, so I have to do what I have to do. Eileen said I could pay her to clean for me, but I told her that it never works for you to pay family to do things because if they do a bad job and you have to tell them that they did a bad job they could get their feelings hurt. I might ask her though if she would vacuum and dust for me once a week if I pay her. She doesn't have a job, and I know she wants to work. I will think about it. I want to help her, but I also want to do the right thing.

 

(source)

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered -- 'snow'

Leaves were green and stirring

Berries, luster-glossed

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned -- 'frost'

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly --

Summer sun was on their wings

Winter in their cry.

~Rachel Field, Something Told the Wild Geese

I heard some wild geese fly over when I first sat down this morning.  The temperature is 18*C/64.4*Fso it is not really cold, but it is going to get cooler over the next few days. Heavy rain is expected later today, which will be a real blessing.  The fires in Kings Co are still burning out of control although the Long Lake one is being held and not considered out of control any longer. We do need the rain badly.

I love the sound of the wild geese. It is one of the sounds of autumn. I love hearing it and yet, at the same time it has a sort of sad sound to it, almost like the call of the whippoorwill. I always find their call to sound hauntingly lonely as it echoes through the air.

I have not seen the chipmunk in days now so whilst the air might tease us into thinking summer really hasn't gone, nature tells us to be getting ready for Winter is at our doorstep.

We have already had a few frosts.

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*A party without cake

is just a meeting.

~anon  • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★

In The English Kitchen today, Rosé Sausage Ragu With Pasta . . .  a simple pasta sauce, deliciously served with spaghetti. Rich and tasty, quick and easy.  Eileen loved this.  So did I.

I hope you have a beautiful day!  Whatever you get up to, I hope it brings you lots of joy.  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!