Dear Neighbor . . .

 

 

(source)

FEBRUARY 27th, 2026

Estate Lane

Middleton, Nova Scotia

-7*C/19*F

Mostly clear

rain/snow ahead

Dear Neighbor,

Its hard to believe that we are already at the end of February. Tomorrow is the last day. Two months have slipped off our 2026 calendar at the speed of light. I am always amazed at how quickly the months seem to fly by.  This year has seen quite a bit of snow in these last two months, with more to come, but I am not going to complain. After the drought and fire-season of last year, this moisture, be it snow or be it rain is more than welcome. The more moisture the better to fill our streams, lakes and rivers and to keep our ground water topped up. Fire season was ever so scary last year, not the least because the fires were so close to where I live. That one day when the skies were orange and red and ash was falling like snow is a day I never hope to repeat again so long as I live.

And spring is just around the corner now with it's March winds, April showers and May flowers.

Eileen wanted me to take her to the store yesterday so she could get some drinks and some grapes to snack on.  There was a new product on the shelves that I could not resist.  Bonne Maman Apple with Vanilla compote. I could not resist buying a jar even though it was a bit on the expensive side. I really love the Bonne Maman products, and especially the jars. There is something about that checkered lid that really appeals to me. I never throw any of them away and reuse them for all sorts. This is quite a large jar, holding almost 2 cups and I love the green gingham colored lid. I was sorely tempted to open it last night, but didn't. Perhaps today I will try it out and see what it tastes like. 

I had their Advent Calendar for Christmas and, true confession, I still have not opened most of the little pots of jam. There were some really unique flavors, but a lot have not appealed to me.  I guess I am just an old fashioned strawberry jam kind of a girl. I like what I like.

 

(source)

We managed to get out for supper with Dad and Cindy this week on Wednesday night.  Eileen had been really looking forward to the Spaghetti & Meatballs and I had been drooling over the photograph that Cindy had shared with us the previous week of her Haddock Burger and Frings. (Fries and Onion Rings.) So no surprise, that is what I chose to have. Dad really enjoys their Shepherd's pie, but they were all out of it this week so he had to content himself with pan fried haddock. He did not seem to mind overly much, especially since it came with a roll on the side.  The Haddock Burger was quite nice, but far too much, especially with the frings on the side. I could only eat about half of it and half the fries. I did manage to quaff down all of the onion rings however. I really like onion rings, and I know they are naughty and I really shouldn't be eating them, but  . . .  the heart wants what the heart wants and I really did enjoy them.

Eileen really enjoyed her spaghetti and meatballs.  She brought half of it home with her and had it for her lunch yesterday. She was very happy with that.

The cleaners were here yesterday afternoon and, true to form, Nutmeg stayed hidden for the duration. I am sure they must think I am making up this second cat and that he is a figment of my imagination. Not really, I do believe they got a glimpse of him once.  For some reason he stays tucked away the whole time they are here. He did not come out yesterday until about an hour after they had left.

Cinnamon, on the other hand, stays present and accounted for the whole time they are here. She sits and watches everything they do and relishes in rolling around on their freshly mopped floor. She even lets them pet her. She is a funny little creature. 

They both desperately need their claws clipped. I also need to make an appointment for them to have their shots.  They are late getting them once again, so I will probably have to get double shots as if they are beginning all over again this year.  I should have taken them in January but alas I was not up to it.

Eileen and I watched the film, "The Moon Spinners," while the cleaners were here yesterday afternoon. Its an old Haley Mills film, made in 1964.  I remember going to see it at the base theatre in Gimli, Manitoba way back then. I fell in love with Greece while watching that film and it became a place that I really wanted to visit one day.  Alas, that will never happen now. 

Its not a bad movie. A bit cheesy by today's standards I guess, but we both enjoyed watching it. I have ready the book as well, by Mary Stewart and I remember thinking it was very good. 

I had a huge little girl crush on the male lead of the film, Peter McEnery.  That handsome young man is an 86 year old man now, but still fairly attractive even at his advanced age. I looked him up to see if he was still alive, and thought he had quite a pleasant face.

It is funny how men seem to become more attractive as they age, whilst women not so much. I hardly think that's fair, but it is what it is.

 

(source)

I had been going to make us turkey burgers for our supper last night. I had some frozen ones, cranberry and stuffing flavor.  When I took them out of the freezer however, it was noted that they were more than a year out of date, so they went into the bin and we had scrambled eggs on toast in stead. 

I am turning into my mother in my old age. I can remember going to visit her and you would have to check the expiry dates on everything. There would still be salad dressing in the refrigerator from my previous visit several years prior, and she would get quite upset if I went out and bought new dressing to replace it.  I have eaten brown parmesan cheese because I did not want to hurt her feelings.

I can see now how easily things go out of date when you live by yourself.  Things come in such big packages and it is hard to use them up in time. I can remember when I first moved to the U.K. thinking how terrible it was how small everything was, but, now I live on my own, I would gladly pay a bit more for something smaller in size just so I didn't end up wasting half of it. I am sure I probably end up throwing half of most of what I buy away as it just doesn't get used up in time. I am sure that this is a common complaint of anyone who lives on their own.

 

(source)

I have not had many birds at my feeders since putting out the fresh seed.  One lone junco. That is all I have seen aside from the greedy jays who come to snap up the peanuts. I had hoped that we would see more, but alas, so far that just has not happened. Perhaps there are too many people feeding them on this street?  I know Wil's son (who moved into her place after she passed away) has quite a few feeders out and Jane across from him does as well.  So perhaps the birds are just content to go to them and are being well fed.

I will continue to hope.

My sister gets tons of birds at her feeders.  Chickadees, juncos, cardinals, etc. Plus squirrels and crows, jays.  Her garden is like a wild life preserve.

I don't really have a lot else to share with this letter. Life is not overly exciting, but I am happy for that. I think I could not handle too much excitement. Slow and steady, calm, normal. That is enough for me at the moment. There is that old saying about slow and steady winning the race. I am content with that.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*I'd rather regret the risks that

didn't work out than the chances

I didn't take at all.

~Simone Biles• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

New in The English Kitchen today, Oat Topped Banana Bread.This is a no‑fuss, one‑bowl banana bread that’s ideal for breakfast, snacking, or an afternoon treat with a cup of tea. I love the nuttiness of that toasted oat topping. This is lovely served thinly sliced and buttered. It's also quite low in sugar as compared to other banana breads.

I hope your Friday is a lovely one. Its supposed to be mostly sunny here today. But cold. I don't expect to go too far from the house today.  I think Anthony was wanting to facetime this morning. Whatever you get up to, 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!