Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 FRIDAY, September 5th, 2025

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

15*C/59*F

Overcast, it says rainy days ahead

(Here's hoping)

Air advisory still in effect

Wildfire still burning out of control

Dear Neighbor,

We are in for a very warm weekend, but the temperatures are set to drop on Monday.  That is to be expected. I am still seeing two hummingbirds at the feeder, both females. No males. According to what I have read online, the males have already started their migration. Next will be the females, and finally the young. It is just fascinating how this happens year after year and all by instinct. They say to keep the feeders up until at least mid-October in case there are any stragglers.

Dad will probably be able to come home today. Everything is checking out fine and he was able to go up and down a set of steps they have at the hospital yesterday so that is great news! He can't wait to get back to his cat and home and we are looking forward to him being back where he belongs. Fingers cross all goes according to plan this morning!  And that with each day that passes he goes from strength to strength, with things soon getting back to normal. Your prayers and happy thoughts have been very much appreciated.

Nutmeg with his bottlebrush tail. He is such a little character. As Cindy has dropped me off here at the house each time after our visits to dad, he has come to the screen window in the door to look out and say goodbye to her.  She rolls down the window and shouts out goodnight, Nutmeg and he meows back, very aware that she is talking to him. It has become a bit of a routine these past days.

I think he is quite smart, but then again  . . .  I am biased.

 

Cinnamon really couldn't care less.

She has become very fussy about what she eats as of late. I have turned myself inside out trying to find something she likes. It all gets at best, a cursory lick, and then she turns up her nose at it all. Things she has always liked and eaten in the past.  She has always been a little bit on the fussy side anyways, but it has gotten way worse.

I just keep telling myself, she will eat if she is hungry and I make sure their dry food is topped up. She does eat that, but again, after Nutmeg's illness I have had to change the dry food. They don't like the expensive Vet stuff anymore, neither of them, which means I am saving a lot of money by buying the cheaper stuff, but a bit of a nuisance having to change over all the same.

Cats. They really do have slaves.

 

(source)

Big news! It just started to rain. It's not a heavy downpour, but it is rain all the same and very welcome. Who knows how long it will last. My fingers are crossed.

All the children have gone back to school now. My Facebook feed the last few days has been full of "first day back to school" photos of all of my friends' children and grandchildren.  Kayla did post photos of Josh and Jake, but I haven't seen any photos of my other grands.

I have been so busy these past two weeks with everything I haven't really had much time to call my two older sons and have a conversation. Now that dad is going home (good, good) then I will have more time. 

And it is still raining. I am encouraged by that.

 

(source)

The Guinea Hens just went through. I wonder where they are coming from? They seem to go through here most mornings. They are quite large birds.  Sometimes they venture across the main road to the other side next to where I lived as a child. Somehow, they manage not to get hit by any cars, which is amazing to me as that is a very busy roadway.

I think my vigilance with the gnat bait is paying off, but I have my fingers crossed when I say that. I don't see as many flying around this morning. In fact, all I have seen are one that are deceased. Dare I hope? Time will tell. I have been doing all the suggestions.  Having four bait stations placed throughout my wee house, pouring boiling water down my drains every hour or so, keeping my drains stoppered in between times, etc.

I even found them in my freezer, laying dead across the bottom shelf. That is how bad this infestation has been. I really hope that I have cracked it as I have not wanted to have people over for a meal or anything because of them. What a nuisance they have been.

 

(source)

I have a quiet day planned today. I say quiet, but I will be quite busy catching up on all of the things which have gone by the wayside since Dad has been in hospital. I want to dust and vacuum and wash the floors, change my bed, etc. I won't be doing any cooking today, I don't think.

Yesterday afternoon, after our visit with dad, Cindy and I took a quick trip up to Greenwood. I had to pick up some cat litter etc. We popped into Sobey's, and they had their instore baked individual chicken pot pies on special, so I picked one up and I am planning on having that for my tea today. 

We have been told that they are very good.

So a general tidy up is in store for this place today. I know I have not spent all of my time at the hospital but in between visits I had work to do and then at the end of the day I have been too tired to do much of anything. I am reminded that I am no longer a spring chicken. 

 

(source)

I was late getting up this morning. It was past 6:30. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. After I had gotten into bed, I experienced some vertigo which was a bit unsettling, I think it was after midnight before I finally slept, so I was a bit later.

I get that every so often and when I do, it always spooks me. It will come on all of a sudden. There is no rhyme or reason to it. 

I make it a point not to clean my ears out with Q-tips or anything as I have heard in the past that that can cause vertigo by upsetting your ear crystals. Not sure how true that is, but I avoid the ear cleaning now just in case. 

I have always had problems with my inner ear. I get motion sickness very easily. I can't really tolerate sitting in the back seats of vehicles. I cannot go on swings, or on rides at fairs, etc. I cannot read in the car or look at my phone.  All of these things make me very ill.

I wish it were not so.

 

(source)

Tis the season  . . . 

For so long now I have kept all of my furniture very covered up, with blankets, etc. I am thinking of taking some of them off and just seeing how I get on.  I have been super focused on the cats not being able to scratch the furniture, so much so that I keep it all covered.  What's the point in having furniture if you only keep it covered. I will probably still keep the seats on the sofa covered for when dad comes over, but today I may take off the back and arm coverings. I am debating it in my mind in any case.

Eileen is coming to stay with me for a week and a half or so at the end of the month. Tim is going to visit his brother with his parents and so Eileen is coming here for a staycation.  It will be fun. Maybe we will go up to Port George one day and watch the seals from the car. Or up to Margaretville for a picnic. I would like to do something together that is a little bit special.

I don't really have a lot else to write about this morning. My life has been rather dull as of late. Not a lot going on. Except that it is still raining, and that is a good thing.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*She praised the timeworn byways, 

 The limbs of crooked trees, 

 A distant caw, October’s breath.

~Ava Morag, The Land Maid

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

In The English Kitchen today, Cornflake Cookies.  These are similar to a chocolate chip cookie, but they are rolled in crushed cornflakes prior to baking, which gives them a nice crunch!

I hope your Friday is AMAZING!  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!