All Things Nice . . .

 

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A row of onions sticking up their heads,

Parsley and dill in their own special beds,

Long rows of carrots . . . cabbages and chard,

Make such a heartsome showing in the yard.

A row of peppergrass and salsify

A clump or rhubarb shaping up for pie.

A hill of beans with crisp transparent stalks,

Borders of thyme and sage along the walks,

A row of chives . . . lettuce in leafy clumps,

A bed of cucumbers in rounded lumps,

Radishes . . . corn . . . a lovely row of peas,

Asparagus set out beneath the trees.

Tomato plants staked up in tidy rows,

So one can get in handy with the hose,

Long rows of Irish cobblers neat and trim,

For all the world like ladies cool and prim,

Who lift their frilly skirts with modest grace,

To show a lovely petticoat of lace.

For he who tills a garden comes to know,

That there is magic in a tiny row

Of sprouting beans and miracles galore,

In one small beet . . . and angels never wore

A fairer garment than a clump of dill

Flowering behind a small potato hill.

~Edna Jacques, Kitchen Garden

Fireside Poems, 1950

Our mother's Uncle Fred had the most beautiful and vast garden. Mom and dad would go to visit him every couple of weeks or so and while the adults visited in the house, we children would play out in the yard. I remember him having one of those big wooden chair swings and we would sit on that and swing back and forth. He also had a pretty big garden shed.  It was built kind of into the side of the hill and you could actually get on the roof from the yard.  If you hung upside down over the edge you could look into one of the windows on the side and look into the shed. I remember him having kind of a risqué calendar hanging on the wall. It would probably be quite tame by today's standards, but we had never seen such a thing.

He had rows upon rows of flowers and beautiful vegetables. He ran a hose up from the river/falls to irrigate it. It was quite the garden. He often gave mom vegetables to bring home for us to eat. 

He has been gone many years now. I remember going to his funeral with my mother when I was pregnant for my oldest son, who turned 50 this last May.  His son and daughter-in-law had the house for quite a number of years afterwards, but nobody kept up the gardens.  They are long since gone and when you drive by you would never know they had existed now. Kind of sad really, but I am sure that anyone of a certain age would remember his beautiful gardens. They were a sight to behold!

Cindy and I visited the Dollarama yesterday afternoon while Dad and Maryann were having their afternoon together.  I picked up these two metal garden picks.  They were the only two left.  It was as if they were waiting just for me. I could not resist them. I thought they were really cute.

They are now ensconced under the bleeding heart. You can see my Toadstool lights there as well.  They go all along the front of the wee garden.  They are solar lights and flash off and on at night, until they run out of steam. Temu, only a couple dollars.

Oh, and I thought I would show you my emails from Temu. I get literally hundreds from them.  This is only a small portion.  The list goes on and on. I don't know what I did to get such an honor, but they are almost continuous.

 

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One nice surprise yesterday afternoon was to run into my daughter and her husband outside of the Dollarama. They were there with one of their CSS workers who I also got to meet.  Eileen is going to be coming to stay a week with me in September (possibly) when Tim is away for a week. We are both really looking forward to that. It will be nice to have some girl time. 

On a side note, I thought these tea towels were exceptionally pretty, and I just had to share them with you. I think I have a thing for linens.  Bed linens, kitchen linens, etc.

My favorites being tea towels and pillowcases.

One channel on YouTube that I have been really enjoying lately is Linna in Japan.  I love to walk with her through her days. To see her shopping, and what she is cooking up. It is a very entertaining glimpse int her corner of the world.

She also has a kitchen channel which I just discovered. I have not watched anything on it yet, but I will.  Most of the food that she cooks seems very easy to make and looks delicious.  There have only been a few things where I have thought to myself, no  . . . 

Another channel that I really enjoy is Cherry Menlove.  Yes, that is her real name.  I have been following her in one way or another for a very many years now.  She is one who is constantly re-inventing herself I suppose.  Most variations are the same thing and showcase the same interests. Her love of home, cooking, family, country living. 

Another channel I really like to watch is Tracy's Nordic Light.  I have been a friend of Tracy's for many, many years now. We met in person when I was living at Oak Cottage. She and her husband TJ were over to London visiting and they came down to spend a day with us at the cottage. It was so fun to meet her in person.  If you like reading and books, as well as glimpses of Nordic life, then you will love Tracy's channel.  Sincere. Not looking for applause or attention. Simply sharing things that she loves. Tea and books, and that beautiful light that is Tracy.

When I went out to refill the birdbath with water yesterday afternoon I had to pause and wait while a small wasp/hornet had a drink. I had no idea how many creatures it is bringing comfort to during this hot spell of dryness. I have seen bluejays come to sup as well as the chipmunk. A pair of mourning doves. And probably others that I have not noticed.

Putting water out for the natural world to enjoy. It's a very good thing as Martha would say.

 

 

“Without intending to sound too dramatic … Elder Holland’s SIX WORDS changed my life— ‘Ask for angels to help you.’ That counsel changed my prayers… It changed my understanding of the very real help from heaven…”??? 

How do we pray and ask God for angels to help us? 

“Now, I’m not talking about praying to fantasy angels with wings … I’m talking about praying to our Heavenly Father… for those on the other side to be ‘dispatched’ … “So, could you use a little more help in your life?… Ask for angels… to help you with whatever you need. Or ask for them to be dispatched to help those you love!” 

~ Wendy Watson Nelson

I was feeling somewhat discouraged when I got into bed last night. For months and months now, I have dealt with pain in my right shoulder that leaves me with very limited movement in that arm.  My left knee gives me grief and pain every minute of every day and every night. Searing pain that also limits my movement.  Then late in the day yesterday my left shoulder started with the same thing that I experience in my right shoulder.  Debilitating pain, which has suddenly left me with very limited movement now in my left arm. I cannot recall doing anything to cause it. It just came on suddenly.  I got into bed, and I was crying I admit. Slowly my body seems to be becoming one big ball of inflammation and pain. I just try to live with it as best as I can.  I so wish that I could just walk up and down my street, that I could walk to my bedroom from the living room without wincing every step of the way.  I hate this.

Also, I had been going through the posts on the Media Vine Group chat on FB and the impact that AI is having on everyone is really discouraging. I know that last month I barely made enough to survive. The thought of it getting any worse really scares me. I do not know what I will do if that happens.

I work really, really hard. Every single day, just to stay afloat. Sometimes life feels very unfair.

It all kind of got on top of me and I felt really alone and afraid. And I cried. I hate to admit it. I felt very weak and discouraged. Moments like that I just feel like I want to give up, curl up into a ball and just disappear. That really isn't an option. I miss my mom. She loved me like nobody else ever has or will, and sometimes I would just like to be able to curl up in her lap and feel her arms around me telling me that everything is going to be okay.

Each day I pray for help, for answers, for relief.  I do not know if there is such a thing, but I wonder if maybe taking a course on how to make videos might help? At least with that area of things.  I wish that I had more time to do art and sewing and writing. All avenues of ways I could lose myself for a time and just be creative.

In the meantime, I just keep slogging on. What else can I do.  I pray. I hope.  I keep moving forward. 

And the nice thing is . . .  that I still have the will and the determination to do so. And Angels round about me to help to bear me up when I need them.

 

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It is hard to believe that I will be 70 years old on Wednesday.  Where have the years gone.  Life is a funny old thing. Things never go the way you expect them to go. But there is it. We are who we are, and we are where we are.  I do have much to be grateful for, and I do give thanks every minute of the day for all of my blessings. I would not want anyone to think otherwise. Life is what it is, and it is far more beautiful than it is anything else. I know that. I am grateful for that. For every sunrise and every sunset and everything in between.

I best leave you with a thought for the day now.  I need to crack on. I am not sure, but I think I am going out to supper tonight, dad's treat.  An early treat for my birthday.  Another great blessing. Birthday treats.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *A little nonsense now and then

is relished by the wisest men.

~Roald Dahl  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

In The English Kitchen today.  One-Bowl Chocolate Cake for Two. A small-batch chocolate cake that is six inches of deliciousness. 

I hope you have a beautiful weekend. May it be filled with light and with love.  Don't forget!

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And I do too!