Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

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God gave a loaf to every bird

But just a crumb -- to me

I dare not eat it -- tho I starve

My poignant luxury.

To own it -- touch it

Prove the feat -- that made the pellet mine

Too happy -- for my sparrow's chance

For ampler coveting.

It might be famine -- all around

I could not mind an ear

Such plenty smiles upon my board

My garner shows so fair.

I wonder how the rich -- may feel

An Indiaman -- an Earl?

I deem that I -- with but a crumb

Am Sovereign of them all.

~Emily Dickenson, God Gave a Loaf

I have this book of Emily Dickenson poems, the Illustrated Emily Dickenson. I love it. There are only 25 poems in it, each one being beautifully illustrated.  Many I had never heard, such as this one.  I do so love poetry and the way it makes you think and feel.  Upon reading these words this morning I am reminded of how very blessed and content I am, with my crumbs.  I do not think I could be any happier if I were a rich man, and in fact, I think I am probably much happier than most. I have worked for the very wealthy and it was a huge eye opener to me.  It is a basic truth; money and possessions do not bring us happiness or peace of mind.  Oh, it might do for some, but by and large I think the more you have the more you worry about losing it.  I am more than content with the crumbs on my table.

 

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My friend Jacqueline is home from the hospital. I think she got home last Wednesday or Thursday. Can you believe it, but after having had multiple strokes and a surgery they released her and put her in a cab which took her to the bus station, and she took the bus back to Kentville where her Ministering sister picked her up.  Her Ministering Sister and Brother (from church) had said they would pick her up in Halifax but she did not let them know she was leaving the hospital in such a way and told them to pick her up in Kentville.  I was aghast when I learned of this.  First of all, she is a very stubborn lady, there is no doubt of that, but I was appalled that the hospital let her go in such a way as this. 

How can you let an 80 something year old woman who has just had multiple strokes and an operation leave the hospital like that, all on her own?? There is something very wrong with this picture. Where is the quality of care.  I could be missing something but, on the surface, this seems grossly lacking in care and due diligence. 

Back in the 1980's our mother had been hospitalized for having tried to commit suicide. (long story) She was in her 50's. She was not allowed to leave the hospital by herself. My Uncle Harold had to bring her home and my husband and I had to be there, in the home, for her to come home to. We drove all night from London, Ontario to Nova Scotia with our four children at the time, to be there so she could come out. 

But now, today . . . it is okay to put an octogenarian into a cab after something like Jacquie went through???  This is just wrong.   Apparently for $600 she could have gone by ambulance to her door.

Money has become more important than people.  It's just wrong.

This was the scene next to me on the sofa last night. Have you ever seen such contentment?  He makes me laugh.  He is such a floppy, cool and comfortable cat.

 

You never know where you are going to find him.

He makes me laugh, always. Nutmeg is such a bumbler.

 

His sister Cinnamon makes me smile also.  She just appears to be a tiny bit smarter in her approach to things.

 

I would not be without either one. They bring an immeasurable amount of joy into my life in a multitude of ways, but then again, you already know that as I say it quite often!

 

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I can almost hear the sound of these garments flapping in the wind.  Such a lovely sound. I used to have to hang the laundry out for mom after she left for work when I was a girl. It is the kind of mindless chore that I enjoy doing. Kind of like doing the dishes or peeling vegetables.  I don't mind either chore. I do use my dishwasher most days however as I like the squeaky clean the dishes get when doing so. They somehow never seem quite clean enough to me otherwise.  Also, my sink is very tiny.  I suppose it is no tinier than most people's sinks, but it seems really tiny to me.

 

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I was watching Gary Eats on YouTube yesterday while I was crocheting.  He is this guy in the U.K. who reviews restaurants.  He goes all over the country with the cameraman who is his son.  I like him because he shows a bit of class and decorum.  Yesterday he was reviewing a cafe at a Marks & Spencer's in London.  

I found myself feeling very nostalgic for the cafe culture in Europe. Where I live is such a small place, there is no real cafe culture, unless you count Tim Hortons and it's just not the same. It really isn't.

Over in the U.K. most grocery stores have a cafe, as do a lot of the retailers.  We often went to the cafe when out shopping for a drink and a cake or some toast.

The cafe at Dunelm (a housewares shop) had the best teacakes.  They were large and square and loaded with raisins. They were a real treat.  Gregg's had the nicest toast, big thick slices.  They had toast machines over there where you put the bread in and it slides through and comes out perfectly toasted at the other end. Very proficient. Even the newspaper agents had their cafe's. The British love their tea and cakes.  I used to love to go to the cafe at Marks and Sparks. It was so clean and bright, and they had the best cakes.

I always used to say if I ever won the lottery I would always shop at Marks and Spencer's and no place else. Everything they had was of the utmost quality. I am wearing pajamas to this day that I bought there umpteen years ago. If you bought something there, it lasted forever.

 

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Jonny's is open again for the season now. That is an ice-cream/burger place up country in Berwick. They do the nicest burgers, fries, fish, poutines, etc. in the valley. We are going to stop by there tomorrow, Cindy and I.  We are going to Cambridge first to the Convenience store and then will back track to Jonny's for lunch.  Our first of the season. Probably for a poutine, but you never know. Everything there is good. Also, a real indulgence to be sure.

The weather looks to be fine also. Some snow expected but not until the evening.  I am having my snow tires changed to summer tires next week on the 2nd. Hopefully all will be well with them.

The older I get the more I have come to recognize the value to be found in keeping things simple. I think we tend to overcomplicate our lives, especially with things.  How much stuff do we really need. I have come to recognize that when I end up putting something away in a closet, then it is probably something I don't really need.  I am thinking of getting rid of some things that I have that I don't use often enough to warrant them taking up space in my home. Things like my Instant Pot. I think I have only used it once or twice and yet it takes up so much space. When it comes to baking pans, I really only need a few. I need to go through the ones I have collected and get rid of the excess. Keep only the ones I use frequently. It is the same with most things. A paring down is required.  Having watched people around me pass away and their family's having to empty their places, I have come to recognize what kind of a burden these things are to those who are left behind.  

I had bought board games for when the grands come over but really when they do come they are mostly glued to their phones and tablets. They are not really into board games, and I have nobody here to play them with. There are so many things I could just get rid of and that is the plan.

It is hard to believe I moved in here with very little. I have managed to fill this place with stuff. It's come in little by little but has soon added up.  It is now time to pare it down a bit, and with spring clean-up being in a few weeks' time, there is no time like the present.

 

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Our cousin Sheri has purchased a DNA kit. I think she said she is expecting it by Friday. She wants me to help her do it.  We have always wanted her to do one so we can compare the DNA we get from mom's side with the DNA we get from dad's side.  I am excited about that.  Have you had your DNA done?  Why or why not? I was really interested in learning mine. We have all had ours done and it was fascinating to see the differences in each of ours. Our father had the purest DNA I have ever seen.  I think he was something like 91% French and 9 % Indigenous. Nothing else.  I was quite a mixed bag as were Cindy and David as well. 

I have always been really interested in geneology.

I am running out of time now. I haven't had a lot to say this morning for some reason. Some weeks I have more to go on about, but not today, so I will leave you with a thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.The struggles along the way
are only meant to shape you
for your purpose.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
~Chadwick Boseman° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

In The English Kitchen today, Chicken Parmesan Mac & Cheese. Deliciously indulgent. Very simple to make.  A small batch to feed only two to three people. 

I hope you have a fabulous day.  Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!