Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard 

 A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best. 

Getting to celebrate another Father's Day with my father. When I think that I never thought I would ever see him again and knowing that I have now gotten to spend five Father's Days getting to spend time with him I feel greatly blessed.  I had a nice card for him and had gotten him a Tim Horton's Gift card which I know he will use. He goes there every afternoon pretty much.  Cindy cooked us all a lovely meal of burgers and she had made her infamous pasta salad and a delicious red potato salad. My brother face-timed him from Ottawa. I think he had a good day all told. I love him so much. I am so grateful for these moments and these memories we are building.

Cinnamon continues to improve and get better. I have to take her for her follow up appointment this afternoon. I am not sure how I am going to get her into her cat carrier. It usually takes two of us. I think it is going to be really hard to do it all on my own, but we will see. I am praying and hoping I can do it. She has recovered very well however and seems pretty much back to normal. Nutmeg has stopped hissing and spitting at her.  She has her appetite and is behaving as always. Her incision looks good to me.  I am hoping for a good report!  Love her so much and am so grateful that things have gone so well.

Going to church on Sunday mornings and being able to partake of the sacrament, renewing my covenants through this holy ordinance.  Fellowshipping with the Saints.  Listening to the talks in the sacrament meeting and participating in the Sunday School lesson afterwards. All good.  This was the branch that I as baptized in on the 8th of July back in 1999, so 26 years ago now. My friend Jacquie's late husband baptized me. I have never regretted it. Not for an instant. From the moment I embraced the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I felt that I had found my spiritual home.

I am ever grateful for my sister.  She was my very first best friend in life, next to my mom and dad. She has always been on my side, even when I have been making stupid choices and decisions.  She might not always agree with my actions but has always supported my right to make my own choices.  She's been there to pat me on the back when I have done well, and to help pick me up when things have gone horribly wrong.  She has always loved me no matter what, through the good times and the bad.  She has been the greatest gift my parents ever gave to me, and I am so very grateful for that gift.  I love her so very much. She IS my best friend.

 I have had enough excitement and drama in my life to last two lifetimes, and I am at a point now where simplicity is all I crave or want.  I love my little home, and I love being able to putter about in it each day, spending time doing a bit of work, keeping my home clean and tidy, spending time with family, my cats, etc. Being able to help out my next-door neighbor whenever I can.  Talking with family and friends. Reading, writing, crafting, cooking. That is about as exciting as it gets and that is how I like it. Simple pleasures and joys.

The gift of prayer . . . I use it multiple times a day, every day.   He is always listening. I know this to be true. I have felt it. It helps to have someone to talk things out with.  My prayers have always been answered also. In one way or another.  Some get answered immediately, others take a long time to get answered.  I have some prayers that I know will probably never see any answers in this lifetime, but I keep praying anyways. I believe in miracles.

I have a long list of others that I pray for daily as well. It is something which I love to do.

I am so grateful that I have a forgiving heart.  I cannot imagine carrying all the hurts in my life around with me forever. What a burden. Forgiveness is a gift from above. It blesses both the giver and the receiver.  I am grateful for the many times I have been forgiven, and I am grateful for the many times I have had to forgive. Being able to forgive people.  That doesn't mean that you forget . . .  there are some things that others do to you will probably never be able to forget. Forgiving means, however, that you no longer allow those things to have any measure of impact or importance in your life. You just let them go.  Some things are a bit harder to forgive than others, but it is possible to forgive all things.  Forgiveness is a healing balm.

 

The gift of a new day each morning.  What will I do with this gift.  Each day is special, and I try to make them all count in some way. I try to celebrate each day as much as I can, even the not so good ones. 

Three things that embroider my days.  Faith, hope, love . . . I would not be without them.

I know my life may seem boring to some, but it is never boring to me. I do not ever get lonely. I am sometimes afraid, but I know where and who to turn to when that happens.  I am blessed beyond measure.

And with that I will leave you with a thought to carry . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. .“Think the best of each other, 
especially of those you say you love. 
Assume the good and doubt the bad.” 
~Jeffrey R Holland   .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

In the kitchen today, Chicken & Dumplings. This is a small batch recipe that is sized for the smaller family. It will feed two or three depending on appetites.  It is delicious. I know I say that all the time, but it's true.  This was fabulous served with some mashed potatoes on the side.

I won't be here tomorrow morning. I have my stress test and need to be at the hospital for that by 9:30. The hospital is an hour away, so I will have to be at my sister's for 8:30.  I am stressing about it a bit, but hopefully all will be well.

Have a fabulous day today. I hope your day is full of small and wonderful things.  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! 

Saturday Nice . . .

 

 

(source)

You have to work at friendship

Like a gardener with his flowers,

Cherish the tiny buds of love,

Treasure the happy hours,

Plant loving seeds for future bloom

Pluck out the weeds and tares,

Water the soil with loving deeds,

A firm it down with prayers.

You have to work at friendship,

With a tenderness and zeal,

Drawing your friends into your heart,

With roots as strong as steel,

Shaping the growth with loving thought

As careful gardeners do,

If love and peace and happiness

Will ever bloom for you.

For Friendship is a tender plant

Of bud and root and vine,

Frail as the mist above the hills,

Fragrant as myrrh and pine,

Rooted in earth its branches reach

Beyond the farthest sea,

Yet clings in little tender words

Between my friend and me.

And like all worthwhile things it pays

Dividends in a hundred ways.

~Edna Jacques, Friendship

The Hills of Home, 1952

Friendship is a very special relationship indeed. I have had some really great friends in my lifetime. Of course, the greatest one of all is my dear sister. But you all know that as I say it often.  What a blessing it is to have someone so dear in my life.

I have also been blessed with other great friends. Some I have been blessed to spend real time with and others I have never met in real life, but our hearts have touched and formed a bond that is very precious indeed. Be they near to hand or far away, my friends all mean the world to me, and I like to think that we add something special to each other's lives. We love each other in a way that only friends love each other. That is a gift from God.

They say to have a friend, you need to be a friend. I really hope that those I call my friends also consider me to be a friend as well. I hope that they know I am a safe space for their heart.

 

(source)

When I got up this morning and opened my front door to let some cooler air into the house, I noticed a small rabbit feeding in the grass across the way. It was a sweet sight to see. 

I have been waking up earlier most mornings. I am out of bed by 5:30. One of the bonuses of being up so early is getting to greet the day not long after the sun has risen and to witness nature's beauty by way of sweet creatures like this. Sweet unrushed moments that bring joy.

Every morning is a renewed promise from God that your life has great purpose and meaning. Value. Yesterday might not have turned out the way that you wanted it to and you may be facing fears or challenges that place expectations on you that feel heavy. But, first thing in the morning, today hasn't happened yet and there is no way to determine the course that your next twenty-four hours will follow. You have no way of knowing how God will show up, but trust me when I say that He will.

The rabbit is just a glimpse of all the goodness that God has in store for us each day, even in the midst of anxiety.  We need only be open to seeing and acknowledging it.  That beautiful sunrise. For you.  That bunny in the grass. For you. Those beautiful blooms. For you.  

Our days are embroidered with small and simple pleasures, free for the asking, sweet . . . unrushed . . .  moments. Little pockets of joy.

I watched the best movie last night.  Peace By Chocolate. This is the true story of a Syrian family that started a new life and a very successful chocolate business here in Nova Scotia in 2016.

"After the bombing of his father's chocolate factory, a charming young Syrian refugee struggles to settle into his new small-town life, caught between following his dream and preserving his family's legacy."

The success of course did not come right away. There were struggles. But they were able to overcome them. The film was a brilliant glimpse into the things that refugees have to overcome to settle in to their new lives after often experiencing trauma and heartache in their homelands. I cannot imagine.

We must all learn to be a little bit kinder to the strangers we see in our midst. Just my opinion. We are all God's children.

In any case this was a really good film, and just to let you know, they do make very good chocolate.

 

(source)

Cindy and I enjoyed our time together yesterday as always. I don't like to speak for her, but for myself, these times are always really special. Neither one of us needed to buy too much but we did go to a few different places to get what we needed to get. I wanted some Churo Cat Treats. I have been going through them more than usual this week as I used some of them to give Cinnamon her medicine and in doing so had to give Nutmeg a treat as well so he didn't feel left out.  They are a lot cheaper at Giant Tiger. 

Before I moved back to Canada I thought Giant Tiger was a store selling cheap Chinese merchandise. I did not really know what it was for sure. You can actually get quite a few good things in there and it is not all Chinese. they do carry quite a few decently priced grocery items.

From there we went to Sobey's and then on to the Super Store. We only gathered bits and pieces.  We ended up picking up a cheeky Indian Takeaway from that New Indian restaurant that opened up the next town over. Oh my but it was some good and I had enough to freeze for another meal sometime when I am feeling like indulging.

I have to say it is an excellent restaurant, which is something we need around here. The food is fabulous, and the service is amazing. Very friendly and accommodating.  Polite. We need more of that.

Anyways, it was a nice way to spend some time together.  We also picked up some tasty chocolate donuts at Spurr's.  (The farm market.)  Friday is chocolate donut day. They make their own fresh, right on the premises.  So naughty, but so nice.  We split half a dozen so that we were each not being quite as naughty as we could have been, lol.

 

(source)

I am happy to say that Cinnamon is just about back to her old self.  I will be taking her Monday afternoon for a follow up check up to make sure, but she is behaving and acting as she always has. I grieve that my negligence in having ribbons in my nightstand caused this to happen, and for her to have to go through such an ordeal. I knew that cats can and will eat such things, but I just never thought it would happen to any of mine.  This was a huge lesson, and a very expensive one to learn.  All my ribbons are under lock and key now. 

I had the very bad habit of playing with her with ribbon, and pipe cleaners for that matter. She has always enjoyed chasing them and batting at them.  Nutmeg not so much. Encouraging her to do so was probably not a very smart thing for me to do.  Lesson learned.

Thank you all for your prayers and happy thoughts along the way of this challenge.  They have been very much appreciated.

Tomorrow is Father's Day.  I know we don't need a special day to celebrate our fathers, but it is nice to do so anyways. I never thought I would see my dad again in this lifetime.  Being able to spend these last almost five years with him has been one of the silver linings of the trauma I experienced. I would not give it up for anything.  I have gotten him a nice card and a gift card for Tim Hortons. He goes there every day in the afternoon for tea. 

I inherited many qualities and personality traits from my dad for which I am grateful.  He taught me to pray and to love books.  I have many fond memories of going to church with him when I was a child. The other two never got to do that.  Just me. I suppose that is one of the privileges of having been born first and having had him on my own for three years before the others started arriving!

Our father was a good provider for us. We may not have had the most expensive things or the best, and we certainly never had whatever we wanted, but we always had enough and never did without anything we needed.  He was strict, but that was only out of love and care for our well-being. 

One of my favorite memories of my father is of him laughing while watching a Jerry Lewis movie. He loved Jerry Lewis and used to bust a gut when watching him. I loved seeing my father happy like that.

I love my father unconditionally and always and forever. I hope that he has a good day tomorrow.

I've not got a lot else to share today.  I just remembered I am supposed to bring cookies to the chapel this morning to package for Father's Day for tomorrow. I still need to bake them. I best get started!

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *.˛.Being a good dad starts 

with being a good man.

~Paul Treacy  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

 

In The English Kitchen today.  Lemon Pie Energy Balls. Simple to make, delicious, using only a very few ingredients. These are a tasty snack option that is nutritious, tasty and loaded with goodness. A quick and healthy snack that does indeed taste like Lemon Pie!

I hope that you have a beautiful weekend. I have a busy one ahead of me with having to bake cookies now and other things. I will see you back here on Monday!  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!! 

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 FRIDAY, June 13, 2025
3 Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
11*C/52*F not yet 7 a.m.
Mostly sunny

Dear Neighbor,

I have my front door open to the screen door this morning. I have been doing that each morning to help to draw in some cooler air before the heat of the day hits. It gets so hot in here and all I have to cool it down at the moment are fans. I cooked three recipes yesterday (trying to get ahead as I have some appointments next week which will require me being away).  The sweat was just pouring down my forehead and into my eyes. Every once in a while, I would stop and go sit in front of a fan just to cool down. They can't fix that heat pump soon enough for me. Its been over two weeks now, going on three since they were here to look at it. How long does it take a part to come from Halifax? That's only two hours away. I may have to call and jog their memory.

This was the scene last night. Cinnamon was in her favorite spot ensconced right in front of the channel changer thingie. I did not have the heart to move her. She was sleeping so comfortably and looked so at peace.  She continues to do well as far as I can tell. I have a follow up appointment made for her to go to at the Vets on Monday.  

I was there yesterday with Cindy and little Mac. They call him the Mac Attack.  They know him well in there now. He is very docile now and very used to them.  It's a very quick appointment. Just in and out. Poor thing. He has suffered so much with this condition of his. He seems to be doing well and keeping his weight up, all things considered.

We do so love these pets of ours. They are not just pets. They are our babies.

 

(source)

Today is Friday the 13th. Are you a superstitious person? Our mother was very superstitious, but I am not. Oh maybe to a degree, old habits die hard, but largely I just ignore these things.  Having the 13th of a month fall on a Friday is considered to be a bad thing. People fear all sorts of bad things will befall them. A huge movie franchise was formulated just on the date Friday the 13th.  

The number thirteen has always been considered unlucky in Western culture. So much so that 80% of high-rise buildings do not have a 13th floor, according to National Geographic. Hotels skip over Room 13. Some airports don’t have a Gate 13 or a row 13 in seating.  

I think it is all a bit hoaky myself. I was born on August 13th. Not a Friday, but nevertheless 13 has always been a lucky number for me!

I am really enjoying the sunsets these days.  This was the one last night.  Such a beautiful amber color flashing through the trees as the sun sinks lower into the sky.  It bathes everything in such a beautiful golden light. So pretty.

I am waking up much earlier in the morning, however. Most days around 5:30 a.m. That is the time the light coming into my bedroom wakes me up and I have so called room darkening curtains.  I do not mind getting up early really. It gives me more hours in the day to get things done, but I do find myself becoming very tired by end of day and falling asleep very easily on the sofa when I am trying to watch television.  I am totally toasted by 9 p.m.

 

(source)

One of the recipes I made yesterday was for Sausage Gravy on Biscuits. It was something I had never tried before. I was not a fan. It tasted just okay, and I had adapted one of the Pioneer Woman's recipes for it. It also looked like vomit for lack of a better word. That won't see the light of day. I hate it when I waste money and time like that. The sausage alone cost me over $8, and I was really not a fan of the dish. Perhaps it is an acquired taste. I had a few bites, and the rest shamefully went in the bin because, well, I thought it was just nasty. I had thought it would be a good Father's Day breakfast post, but um, no. I would not feed that to my dad, not ever.

Back to the drawing board.  Not every recipe turns out to be shareable.

 

(source)

I have not seen my friends the Guinea Hens for a few weeks now.  I don't know where they came from or where they have gone. They were quite a sight to see.  I have had lots of Jays, Blackbirds. Hummers and even some Gold Finches.  A pair of Mourning Doves as well. But no Guinea Hens.  Shame that as they eat ticks. 

These yard men came through yesterday and mowed our lawns again. It takes them literally seconds to do each lawn on that big mower of theirs. Then a guy comes around with a whipper snipper and cleans the garden beds and another guy has a big blower to blow the cut grass off of the drive and back onto the lawn. 

The lawns are looking quite dry actually. We have not had a lot of rain this season really.  My heart goes out to those West of us who are experiencing wildfires. It seems to be the same every year.  So devastating. There was one reported here in Nova Scotia, but apparently it is under control.  Wildfire season runs from March to October every year, during which time residents are told not to have any open fires burning between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. due to the heightened fire risk.  Huge fines are imposed on anyone who violates this. $25,000. "I pity the fool." as Mr. T would say!

In the meantime, many firefighters are being sent out West to help with the fires there.

We really are at the mercy of the elements. Fire, water, wind, earth . . .  we would do well to respect each of those.

 

(source)

 I have had a few crazy days numbers-wise on the food blog these past couple of weeks.  I had over 110,000 one day and already today its up over 55,000. I don't know what's up with that. I do know that it doesn't translate into dollars. There are certain views that don't count, and these seem to be those.  The majority seem to be coming from Viet Nam. And Russia. They do not count those. I am not sure why.  I think they see them as Spam.  I am not sure what they are looking at. I wish I could make it stop. I am afraid I will be penalized in some way because of it. 

 

(source)

I admit that occasionally I feel very homesick for England. I suppose when you have lived somewhere for as long as I lived there that is only natural.  I did live there for almost a third of my life. I miss the culture and the people, the weather, the freshness of the produce and the variety which was available. But I do love living nearer to my sister and father. Being able to spend time with them is priceless. I don't get to spend as much time with Eileen as I thought I would. She is sick much of the time.  I worry about that. I don't think it is normal to be sick as often as she is. She is also very busy with her activities with the Special Olympics and other groups that she belongs to, and she never wants to do anything unless Tim is also included. There are times when we could have lunch together or whatever, but she won't do it because Tim is not able to. I do not interfere. It is always her choice.  Hopefully we will be able to do something near the end of next week, once all of my appointments are done. We shall see.

Today, Cindy and I were going to take out Dad and Maryann, but Maryann is in Quebec with her daughter until the end of the month.  Cindy and I are going to go out and run a few errands anyways, but now we can do it on our own time schedule and nobody else's.  Much more convenient.

And I fear I am getting a bit boring now so I will close this off. Some days I have loads to share and others, not so much.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *.˛.Friends are the

Bacon Bits in the 

salad bowls of life.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ 

From my desk calendar this morning. I love all my Bacon Bits.

My sister had made nachos for her and Dan for their supper the other night and they looked so good I had to make some for myself. Air Fryer Nachos, for two. A great way to keep your cool on a hot day and still have something delicious to eat. And they cook in 4 minutes tops!

I am not sure how I am doing picking out catchy titles for the blog posts . . . "Keep Your Cool With Delicious & Easy Air Fryer Nachos!" That one scored high on the title checker at 73.  Apparently, you should aim for 70 or higher.  It's not easy to develop one I have to say!

I hope that you have a beautiful day!  Stay safe and be happy. 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)

Pretty mugs.  I think these are Greengate  . . . 

 

(source)

A good read. Is it time to dip back into the classics?

 

(source)

Button love  . . . 

 

(source)

Strawberry season . . .  its beginning  . . . 

 

(source)

Patchwork Quilts  . . . 

 

(source)

Painted chairs and pretty chair covers  . . . 

 

(source)

Colored pencils  . . .  

 

(source)

This  . . . 

 

(source)

Not quite twinkle lights . . . 

 

(source)

Blue and white bowls  . . . 

 

(source)

Flowers and Ruffles  . . . 

 

(source)

Climbing roses  . . . 

 

(source)

Cat pickets  . . . 

 

(source)

Adirondack Chairs  . . . 

 

(source)

AGA ranges  . . . 

(source)

Country roads and blue skies  . . . 

 

(source)

Wildflowers  . . . 

 

(source)

Stepping stones  . . . 

 

(source)

Wishing Wells  . . . 

 

(source)

Fresh air  . . .

 

(source)

A ruffled sleeve . . . 

 

(source)

Butter . . . 

 

(source)

A wagon full of blooms  . . . 

 

(source)

Fresh fruit  . . . 

 

(source)

Its what makes the world go around  . . . 

And those are my favorite things for today! I hope that some of them were yours also!

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *.˛.° ˛°There are two ways of spreading light:
To be the candle or the mirror
that reflects it..° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
~Edith Wharton.  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The Kitchen today  . . .  delicious Alfredo Meatballs. Quick and easy to make. Economical.  Tasty chicken meatballs flavored with plenty of garlic and Parmesan bathed in a lush and rich creamy Alfredo Sauce. Serve on pasta for a wonderful weeknight supper that won't break the bank!

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday. Cindy and I are taking Mac for his monthly Vet appointment this morning.  He gets some kind of miracle shot that keeps him relatively pain free for about a month. It's pretty amazing what they can do today. They just love Mac at the Vets. He is not hard to love though. He is a pretty sweet cat. In any case have a wonderful day. Don't forget!

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And I do too!