Dear Neighbor . . .

 

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FRIDAY, May 30th, 2025
Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
14*C/57*F
skies mostly cloudy

Dear Neighbor,

My dear brother left yesterday and so now I am rolling around my wee house like a marble in a box. It has been quiet in here since, but we will adjust and soon be back into our regular routine soon. We did have a lovely week together as a family and made some lovely memories for sure!

The weather was really nice for most of the time David was here. I think it only rained one day.  It was sunny and warm the rest of the time. We had a few escapades with ticks, but other than that everything went relatively smooth.  David was able to get dad's new computer up and running and he managed to get my x-box working again so now I can watch DVD's. He did try to tutor me a bit on editing movies for YouTube, but to be honest it all went over my head, so that's where we stand with that. I am still unsure how to move forward with it, if at all.

On his last night here, Cindy, Dan, David and I went out for an Indian meal at the new Indian restaurant that opened near us just recently and had a banging meal! It was fabulous. I discovered a new bread. Parotta.  I am in love with it! It was the lightest flakiest bread I have ever eaten. I have gathered a few recipes for it and will give it a go here at home.  Watch this space.  We had some beautiful samosas with a lush chutney to begin with and then several curry and rice dishes.  All were incredibly tasty. I can't wait to go back again sometime.  The best part was enjoying it all together. 

Dad did not go. He does not like Indian food. He went to the Big Scoop and had a hamburger steak dinner with Hazel. Old habits die hard, I guess!

My brother is really into Japanese anime and television.  He did live there for over four years so that is only natural.  He got me watching this Japanese Drama on Netflix called The Hot Spot and it's really good. I am up to episode six now and am enjoying every minute of it. It's quite entertaining. Kind of like the Japanese Friends in a way.

He left go to back to Ottawa yesterday and we were sorry to see him go, but it was lovely to get to spend this time together as a family.  Here's hoping we get to do it again sometime soon. 

 

 

The Guinea fowl have been daily visitors. They come trundling along pretty much every morning.  I don't know where they are coming from but they are very comical to watch.  They came specifically to bid David farewell yesterday, I am sure.  As we were putting his things into Cindy's car they were there and we were able to get some closer photographs of them.  

David is now home safe and sound and dreaming of going up in his Glider more sooner than later!  I think it needs a paint job first. He did keep up with the daily going's on of the flying club he belongs to while he was here and apparently there were quite a few great gliding days that he missed! One supposedly with the best conditions for flying they had had in over 50 years!  Oops!

Cindy took this picture at the golf course, I think. At first, I thought it was a lady slipper, but when I blew it up a bit, I can see clearly that it is a moth of some type. Very interesting!  Does anyone know what kind it is?  Look at those pretty wings. Isn't it fabulous how in nature things like this are beautifully crafted to blend into their surroundings!

Someone brought this to my attention.  I thought it was very interesting.

Someone is selling a used copy of the book I wrote on Amazon for almost $3000. Can you imagine?    I should be flattered I suppose that they feel it is worth that much!  I really need to check into finding another publisher to republish it. I get asked about it every day by people wanting to buy a copy. I sincerely doubt however that anyone would pay this price for one! ha ha!  And if they would, I have a copy if they want to buy one! 

Again, ha, ha. Not for sale.

 

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The days have been lovely and warm, often too warm. My heat pump is still not working, so I am not able to avail myself of the cooling feature. The guy did come one day along with an electrician, but they need to order a new part. Its leaking some kind of gas.  It could take one week or two weeks or longer before the part comes and they are able to fix it.  I hope it doesn't take too long as the hot, sticky, unbearable weather is just around the corner. I have had three fans going most days already just to keep the air moving.

I got some rhubarb washed, trimmed, chopped and frozen so that I can enjoy some rhubarb treats.  I do so love rhubarb.  It is a favorite treat. I wish you did not have to add so much sugar to it to make it edible, but as a rare treat, it is heavenly bliss to me.

I especially love it stewed and spooned over ice cream.   I know, so naughty.

 

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I have an appointment now for a Stress Test at the hospital in Kentville on the 15th of June in the morning. I am dreading it. I have never had a stress test as far as I can remember.  Cindy had hers a week or two back.  I am quite afraid of this to be honest.  I am stressing about it already. 

At least I will already be in the hospital so it shouldn't cost me another ambulance ride if anything occurs.

 

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Everything is pretty much back to normal now and things are settled down back into our routines today.  We are going to take Dad and pick up his friend Maryann this afternoon and Cindy and I will do a bit of shopping while they visit with each other at the mall.  I need a few bits.  I wasn't able to really get to the shops over the past week as I gave my car to my brother to use.  

Eileen and Tim are going on a weekend away with some of their friends today.  I think they will be in Truro. It is a thing to do with this group they belong to and there will be a banquet and a dance, meetings etc. She was really looking forward to going. I brought her over some clothes that I no longer wanted yesterday afternoon. All clean and pressed and she is going to take some of them with her. She was very excited about that.

 

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I am determined to get more play into my life.  My earnings have been way down this year so far, and I am stressing a bit about the taxes I am expected to pay.  You pay installments on the projected earnings for the year, and they are based on what you earned last year.  With my earnings being down by 2/3 I just cannot do that. I don't have the money to pay them.  I have decided to pay 30% only of whatever I earn and that will have to suffice.  And that will leave me living close to the knuckle, but by the time next tax season rolls around hopefully they won't expect as much and all being well my pension might even increase a year from July. In the meantime, I will have to just make what I have stretch as best as possible. That means trimming my sails a bit and practicing some faith in God. He has never dropped me yet and so long as I keep trying, He will make sure I am okay. I know this to be true.  This new AI stuff is a real kick in the pants to anyone who is legitimately trying hard to make a go of it online.

You can work your socks off and get nowhere. People like being lied to it seems. Fake photos, etc.

 

My oldest baby turned 50 yesterday. It is hard to believe that I have a son that old, but there it is. I was able to facetime with him for a bit in the afternoon.  It was really great.  I was only 19 when I had him. Not much more than a child myself, but oh how happy I was!  It was love at first sight and I have been loving him to pieces ever since!

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

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

 *.˛.Children have neither past nor future.

They enjoy the present, which

very few of us do.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Jean D La Bruyere° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ 

In The Kitchen today, One Bowl Honey Glazed Buttermilk Bran Muffins. These are a fabulous bran muffin. It does make a dozen nice sized ones, but they freeze well and are delicious!  The honey butter glaze is entirely optional but does add a special little something to them!

I hope you have had a great week. I have missed you and its great to be back and writing to you. I hope your day today goes well and that you are happy, healthy and fit.  Whatever you get up to today, 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!!