Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 

April 3rd, 2026

Estate Lane

Middleton, Nova Scotia

-1*C/31*F

Snow showers

Dear Neighbor,

They say we are in for a messy day today weatherwise.  Snow, ice, rain.  The whole gamut. Not surprising really, as it is Good Friday and I think Good Friday always has nasty weather of some sort.  As if to remind us of the significance of the day, even if we are not all believers.

I have been thinking about why they call it Good Friday, this day which is commemorated for having been the day our Lord was crucified.  There really wasn't a lot of good about it. Not to those who were living it in real time. They should have called it Hard Friday, or Sad Friday. 

Oh sure, we know now, with all of the knowledge we have now, that it was really a good thing that was happening, but then, Christ's family and followers did not have the knowledge that we have.  They only knew that this man they had been following and believing as their Savior and Messiah, was being put to death in a terrible and excruciating way. They had no idea that Sunday would come and that there were wonderfully good things ahead. Instead, they mourned at the foot of the cross as they watched their beloved suffer and die.   Hard. Sad. Anguished and broken-hearted.

I am not surprised that even the skies cried in sorrow and that they still do . . . 

 

When I moved over to the U.K. in the year 2000, I brought with me a large four liter can of Maple Syrup. That was back when  you could carry large amounts of liquid onto aircrafts.  I knew that I was probably going to really miss Maple Syrup and I thought it would help me to get through what I thought then was only going to be two years of my life in a foreign country. My beloved syrup would be right there with me.

I was reading this morning about how one producer of Maple Syrup southwest of Montreal has been selling a fraudulent product, tainted with cane sugar. Tests revealed cans labelled ‘pure’ maple syrup cut with at least 50% cane sugar.  You've probably seen the cans in your grocery stores.  From what I saw the syrup was in cans that are printed with maple trees. This may be the only brand that has been adulterated. I don't know for sure.  I always buy locally produced Maple Syrup.  Syrup which has been gathered and produced right here in Nova Scotia.

But, for all I know it is a common practice. It kind of reminds me of the horsemeat scandal that occurred in 2013 when I was living in the U.K. The 2013 horsemeat scandal revealed widespread food fraud in Europe, where products labeled as beef were found to contain undeclared horse meat, leading to significant regulatory and consumer trust issues. Through random DNA testing it was discovered that that 37% of beef products contained horse DNA while 87% contained pig DNA. And even worse,  frozen beef products such as burgers and lasagna actually contained 100% horse DNA.

Things have been put in place now to hopefully prevent that from happening, but it did happen and just goes to show how vulnerable we, as consumers, are to food industry practices. 

I have been thinking more and more in recent weeks that we should be eating things, as much as possible, that we make from scratch ourselves and not relying on already produced foods. Its probably a lot healthier as well.  I am not sure how practical it would be, but I like to think that I could do it.

 

(source)

I took Eileen to the hospital here in town bright and early yesterday morning so that she could have her blood tests done. Hopefully they will find that the iron infusions have done their job.  Afterwards I took her to the grocery store to get a bag of frozen corn as her contribution to the special Easter Meal that the CSS workers were putting on for the clients yesterday. It just so happened that one of the workers was right behind her at the cash register so she was able to give it to her then and not have to carry it with her all morning.  She wanted to go to Tim Horton's for the morning, something she had not done in a while.  So it worked out well. I was able to drop her off at Tim Hortons after that. She was looking forward to having one of their Breakfast biscuits and spending time with some of her friends.

Cindy and I went to Greenwood to Walmart.  I needed cat food. It seems I am always buying cat food, lol. I also wanted to pick up a few small things to put in Eileen's Easter basket. Some travel sized toiletries. I do have her a Lindt bunny, but I wanted to get a few other bits.

When we left Walmart we went to Giant Tiger.  I was able to get Eileen two new t-shirts and the cutest Hello Kitty pajamas. There is so much she needs, but it is a start. I really don't know how she is going to be able to decently clothe herself once she moves into her own place, which really makes me worry about what is going to happen to her once her father and I are gone.  Cindy, I know, will keep an eye on her, but once Cindy is gone, what then . . .  her only siblings who regularly contact her live so far away, in New Brunswick and P.E.I.  The two that live right here in Nova Scotia never contact her at all, not even when she contacts them. They totally ignore her. It is a concern to me. She has more contact with my sister's oldest daughter, who lives in Ontario, than she does with them. Its sad really, and I do worry about it.

 

(source)

I got a message from Eileen mid afternoon yesterday asking would I please come and pick her up at the venue for the Easter dinner.  I went to get her and she was waiting outside in the cold and was visibly upset. I got her in the car and she told me what had happened.  Apparently Tim had gone off on one because some money had gone missing from their joint bank account. Some bible app had taken a considerable sum from it. She didn't want me to talk to anyone about it, but I couldn't let it rest so when we got home I messaged one of the CSS workers because I felt I needed to know what was happening. Apparently the old bank account is tied to their phones, and Eileen had somehow subscribed to a Bible Coloring app and it had taken the money out. She did not know she had done this. I think it was $200 or something like that. (Which seems outrageous, but there you go.) Hopefully she has learned her lesson.  But it was deeply humiliating for her that he had this hissy fit about it in front of everyone. She has never known how to access their online account for that bank and has not had any idea about how much is in their main account or in their savings account. And I don't know if she is ever going to get any of it at all. (To my way of thinking she should get half of everything.) 

To be honest, I blame the CSS workers, who got them these phones to begin with and obviously haven't really taught them how to use them properly or the dangers of using them improperly. No cards should be attached to their phones as they are not intellectually responsible enough to know the right and wrong of this stuff and there are so many financial pitfalls attached. Anyone could hack into their phones and steal all of their money if they wanted to. Also, from the moment that she and Tim separated, all of their monies should have been divided.  They do both have new bank accounts, but the old accounts should have been closed and everything that was in them divided between them and put into their new accounts.  This has all been handled in a very slipshod manner in my opinion. Perhaps I am wrong, but it seems to be very clear cut and dry to me about how it should have worked.

Instead for the last two months, he has had access to all of their funds with money coming out to pay all of his rent, expenses and groceries etc. and she has been given $60 a week. It just seems all wrong to me, but perhaps I am being a bit biased.

 

(source)

Oh dear, I am being a bit of a negative Nelly here this morning and I don't mean to be. I hope you will forgive me. I am just sharing what is on my mind  . . . 

I made that lasagna again yesterday. Originally we were supposed to go to Glenna's for a dinner with the Missionaries, but she had to cancel as her daughter is visiting from out west, so I still had the ingredients to make the lasagna.  I didn't make a full batch because there are just two of us here, but I did use some of them to make a small batch again. The jarred sauces and dry noodles will keep for quite a while longer, but I did want to use up some of the cheeses and the cottage cheese.  I still have a tub of cream cheese to use. I will have to scout out some recipes that I can use it up in. I am sure I will be able to find something.

We are planning a quiet day here today. Eileen says she is going to have a pajama day. The weather is really not going to be nice enough to go anywhere or do anything so it sounds good to me. Cindy and I had thought we might take a drive up to Pelton's to see what they had available, but if the weather is bad that will probably be a no go. The other day they were baking all kinds of pies, even strawberry rhubarb which is my favorite.  

Oh, I use the term "favorite" loosely as there is no dessert pie that I do not love. In all truth my favorite dessert pie is the one which is sitting in front of me at any given moment!

(source)

What a magical world it seems in this photo where little fairies are taking care of everything. When I was a young child I believed very much in fairies and magical worlds. I think reading all of those Enid Blyton books must have helped to fuel the fantasy.  That and old cartoons. I suppose that some would consider me to still be somewhat of a fantasist, but that's okay I am very happy in my own little world.  I shut that front door and I try to keep the outside world at bay as much as possible. It is impossible to it completely, to shut out the outside world and I am not sure it would be entirely prudent, but I do try to keep most of it out if I can. I pay attention to the things that matter and eschew all the rest. If you can manage to do it, it's the best.

I really have run out of things to share in my missive to you today so I will end this now. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The pull you feel toward

a simpler life isn't nostalgia,

it's instinct. ~Unknown

I revamped an older post in The English Kitchen today as I felt it was relevant to this weekend. Gingersnap Glazed Ham.  This is quite simply delicious and would make a great Easter Dinner option!

I hope that whatever you get up to today, you stay safe and warm and at peace. 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!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

 

(source) 

“Let the rain kiss you. 

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. 

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.”

~Langston Hughes, April Rain Song

Hello April, how can it be that we are here already. April is a vibrant month of renewal, marking the true arrival of spring with blooming flowers, warmer days, and increased sunshine. It is loved for its bright green landscapes, nature emerging from hibernation, and the "opening" of buds and trees. It offers a sense of hope, new beginnings, and opportunities to connect with nature. There may not be a lot blooming here in Nova Scotia at the moment, but with the warming temperatures and increasing daylight leaf bud will begin to burst and within weeks the forsythia bushes will be blooming. Already there are shoots appearing in gardens and joy of all joys the robins have returned!

Here is what to love about April: 

Vibrant Nature & Blooms: April is defined by the arrival of cherry blossoms, daffodils, tulips, and, according to the Farmers' Almanac, the birth flowers, daisy and sweet pea, symbolizing innocence, love, and gratitude. 

The "Opening" Month: Derived from the Latin word aperire ("to open") and associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the month represents the opening of flowers and trees, signifying new life. 

Spring Showers & Wildlife: Gentle rains (as described by Langston Hughes) bring blooming landscapes and encourage gardening. It is also a prime time for nesting birds and emerging young wildlife. 

A Fresh Start: As the world shakes off winter, April is seen as a time for personal renewal, spring cleaning, and enjoying longer, warmer days

 

 

(source)

 I managed yesterday to get all of my stuff gathered together in some semblance of order to do my Income Taxes yesterday. I don't do them myself. They are far too complicated, but I do need to have everything ready to give to the guy that does my taxes.  My income was down by a third last year from the year before. I have already paid 30% off the top of each monthly pay check into my CRA account so hopefully I will have done enough and not have to pay much in addition, if anything. I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed. 

This is such a stressful time for me. Tax season.  

I work so hard all year round. I don't have a lot of time to spend doing the things I would like to do like sewing, painting, etc. I wish I had more time to play, but in all truth by the time I get to mid afternoon and have finished all of my work for the day, I am too tired to play. My brain is toast. I miss the days when I could closet myself in my craft room, put some music on to listen to, and just create.

 

(source)

Once I get everything ready and handed over to Mr. Accountant, then I will have to get really busy working on my talk for the 26th of April. It is supposed to be about "Love for the One." Quite a broad topic which is making it a bit difficult to pin down. There is so much to explore that I am having a hard time breaking it down into just a 15 minute time slot. 

In the end I know I will manage to pull it together, but I find that my brain goes a million miles a minute when I am trying to organize my thoughts. And I find that I am having much more difficulty with that lately. My words don't seem to want to come in the way that I want them to. You have probably noticed that on here. I have had some problems coming up with things to write about and ways to write them. It used to come so easily to me. And I get so easily distracted.

 

(source)

They are hoping that Eileen will be able to move into an apartment by the 1st of June. At least that is what Eileen told me. I will miss her living with me, for sure. We get along so well, but this is an exciting time for her also. A fresh page.  

I hope she will be okay. She will need to get so many things if she is going to be able to build a life for herself in this apartment. I know that she will be purchasing much of the furniture from the girl who has been living there.  I think the CSS has funds for that, and there are a few things she can bring from the apartment that she and Tim had.  But there is so much more that she will need to purchase somehow and on a very limited income.  I hope that I will be in the position to be able to help her. I have a few things that I will be able to give to her, like a dish drainer, etc.

I have seen how much she is going to have to live on and I can tell you that it is not very much at all. They have budgeted her $80 a week for groceries. We all know how far that goes these days. I am going to try to help her get a store cupboard of things in place to start out with. You know, things like flour and rice, etc. It is going to be so hard, but we will somehow muddle through.  It is my prayer each night that I live long enough to see her settled and happy.

 

(source)

She really needs clothing as well. Since she has moved in with me I have given her several pairs of pajamas, underwear, some tops, socks, two pairs of trousers, etc.  She had next to nothing. As it is she has only one bra.  I really need to go and try to buy her some more bras. It is hard to know the right size. 

There is a laundromat across from where she lives, but I think I will make an effort to get her laundry from her several times a week and do it for her. So that I know she is changing her clothes as often as she needs to do. I have noticed that a lot of the developmentally challenged adults don't change their clothes very often and they can smell. I know this is probably because they don't have enough clothing to change into. I have seen it with Eileen. She had basically one pair of pajamas when she came to me and two pairs of socks. 

She did manage to buy a zipped sweatshirt hoodie to wear as a jacket the other week at the Salvation Army for $2.

I try not to worry about it, but I can't help it. I guess we will have to wait until she is into the new place and then see what she really needs from there. There is no good to come from me worrying about it all now. I need to put more faith in the man upstairs.

 

(source)

I have had some really strange dreams this week. I dreamt someone stole my car one night. That was upsetting.  Then last night I dreamt my cousin (who hasn't really spoken much to me since I moved back) was visiting me and the phone rang and it was Todd wanting to speak to me from Prison. That was a bit upsetting as well.  Dreams are such strange things. I am not a person who can interpret dreams and I am not sure they have much meaning anyways. But I definitely don't want to be getting phone calls from him.

I think these are anxiety dreams.

I always have such vivid dreams. They are like little movies and they often run on all night. The same dream, carrying on no matter how many times I get up to go to the loo. 

 

(source)

It will be a busy weekend this week.  Not only is it Easter, but it is also my church's Spring General Conference, which means four hours of talks on each Saturday and Sunday. I can't wait to hear them. I always get so much out of the talks, being well fed spiritually. I love the music which gets shared. I love everything about conference.

I have a medium sized Lindt bunny in my closet with Eileen's name on it. I already gave her a stuffed bunny earlier this month. And I promised to provide Easter Dinner for everyone on Sunday, which I am looking forward to. (Mary Browns Easter Chicken. Why not!)

Eileen will miss going to Tim's moms for a Turkey dinner I know, but even if I were to cook a regular dinner it would be ham. It's always ham for Easter in my house and always has been. My whole life.

What are your Easter food traditions if you have any?

 

(source)

I was just settling in to sleep the other night when all of a sudden Nutmeg was on my bed and burrowing under the covers nipping at my legs. I always close the bathroom door at night and keep the door between my room and the bathroom open. Only because I often need to get up and go and don't want to wake myself up too much with having to open and shut doors, etc. Somehow the bathroom door hadn't quite latched and the cats had pushed it open and gotten in and then into my bedroom. 

They don't bother anyone else who sleeps here. They leave them well enough alone, but me?  If they have access to me, they are all over me. I say they, but what I really mean is Nutmeg.  He will pester me and pester me.  I wish he would just settle and sleep at the end of my bed or whatever, but no . . . he has to try to get into it and then once in he has to bite my legs, my toes, etc. 

Hence the locking them out of the bedroom at night.  There are four cats in my sister's house and none of them bug her at night. I must have done something wrong. 

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

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Modesty is an attitude

as well as an outfit.

~Unknown• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Chicken Crumble Pot Pie.  A rich filling of juicy pieces of chicken, and vegetables in a lush gravy, topped with a buttery, crisp, cheesy crumble. Delicious!

I won't be writing tomorrow as Eileen has some blood tests at the hospital really early and I have to get her there for that. Then afterwards I need to take her to the grocery store as she is suppose to buy a bag of frozen corn for this special CSS Easter Dinner they are having tomorrow. Then I need to take her to drop it off and then bring her back to Tim Horton's where she is wanting to hang out until the dinner. They will bring her home afterwards.  And I am not sure yet if Glenna is still having the Missionaries over for supper. She wasn't sure on Sunday, so I need to check with her today as I was supposed to bring a lasagna or some such over.

In any case, enjoy your day today and I will be back on Friday.  Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!