Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 

 OCTOBER 30th, 2026

Estate Lane, Nova Scotia

12*C/53*F

rain showers

Dear Neighbour,

Its a bit milder this morning, but not expected to get much warmer than this today.  I expect that the rain is keeping the temperatures up a bit. That's this time of year though. You never really know what to expect from one day to the next.  One day it is like summer and the next one winter is knocking on the door.  It's August in the sunshine, and November in the shade, so long as the wind is not blowing or coming from the North, and if it is, well  . . .  then all bets are off. You are just plain freezing, sun or shadow. It matters not which.

Eileen is excited to be going to her Bible Study this morning at the local Baptist Church. She is a few weeks behind in it but that's okay. She is just happy to be going. The pastor is picking her up here and then after that she is going to a Birthday lunch at a local eatery for one of her friends. She is also really looking forward to that. There was also a Halloween party at the hub for all of the clients in the CSS program, but she is skipping that and coming home after the lunch. She will probably need a nap after all of the other activities.

I am going with my sister to take my dad and his friend Maryann to the Mall for their usual Friday Buddy Burger and visit with each other. I have missed going and am really looking forward to it. I feel that Eileen will be okay on her own, for the short time that I am gone anyways.

 

(source)

I am in desperate need for the "right" kind of cat food.  I have not reliably been able to find it locally, and Cinnamon is very very fussy.  I opened four little pots of it this morning before I landed on one that she was interested in eating.  With each one she took a sniff and then just sat there looking at me as if to say, "Really?" lol She is so funny.  I am sure the last one was not really her favorite either, but at least she ate most of it. The other three went into the bin.  Cheeky little madame.

I don't know why cats can be so fussy.  I seem to just find one thing that she likes and I will get it in, and then she changes her mind. Her brother Nutmeg would eat whatever you put in front of him. He's just hungry. 

 

I like misty autumn mornings,

and cold, snowy winter nights.

Rainstorms bring me inner peace,

thunder sets my soul alight.

I care not for summer,

days too long, the heavy heat.

Give me candlelight evenings,

early darkness, and a silent street.

~Natalia Crow

The trees across the way hold their black arms outstretched to the sky in silent worship now, most of the leaf having come down. They have finally surrendered their gowns of amber and gold, letting each treasured leaf drift softly back to the earth. What remains are dark, slender branches etched against the sky, reading upward with quiet determination.

At first glance they may seem barren, stripped of their beauty by the changing season. But there is something deeply inspiring in their nakedness. They stand unashamed, exactly as they are, with nothing to hide behind. Their strength is revealed in every twist and turn of their branches, every scar and imperfection visible for all to see.

The trees remind us that there are seasons in life for letting go. Seasons when we release what has served it's purpose, trusting that what appears to be an ending is simply making way for a new beginning.

And so they reach, those black branches toward the grey autumn skies. Not in despair, but in hope. Knowing that winter will come, and spring will follow. Knowing that beneath the stillness, life continues its quiet work.

Perhaps there is a lesson there or us all. Even when we feel stripped bare by life's changes, we can continue reaching toward the light, trusting that our own season of renewal will come.

 

(source)

I spent a part of yesterday restocking my larder cupboard with some of the spice mixes, etc. that I like to make from scratch.  I had picked up some of what I needed earlier in the week.  It smelled a bit like Aladdin's cave in here afterwards.

I made Pumpkin Pie Spice and Bell's Seasoning. Tis the season. I love Pumpkin Pie Spice, but it can be really expensive to buy. When I make my own I know how fresh it is.  Also Bell's seasoning. It's not something you can really find here in Canada, but I love it.  You can find my recipe for that here. Its a tiny bit spicier and more pungent than regular Poultry seasoning. I used to buy it all the time when I live in New Brunswick and we would make one of our trips over to Houlton Maine to go shopping. It is one of my autumn essentials and for the holidays as well, when we are enjoying things like stuffing and dressing, poultry, that sort of thing. It's not just for Christmas and Thanksgiving. It can perk up many things.

 

(source)

I also made my own Mixed Spice in anticipation of the Christmas baking coming up. That is a uniquely British ingredient that is commonly used in a lot of festive bakes. It's also used in making British Mincemeat. I like to make my own mincemeat if I can and I follow a British recipe. I like it much better than North American mincemeat. It's fruitier and well, I just think it's tastier. I use mincemeat all the year through to make muffins, etc. It is a very versatile ingredient. Not just for Christmas. Buying British mincemeat is quite expensive now, of course. I have bought it occasionally, but it is much easier and cheaper to make my own.

I also restocked my Italian and Taco seasoning jars.  I had a busy morning and my coffee grinder was working in overtime with the Bell's.

 

(source)

LATE OCTOBER

Carefully

the leaves of the autumn

sprinkle down the tinny

sound of little dyings

and skies sated

of ruddy sunsets

of roseate dawns

roil ceaselessly in

cobweb greys and turn 

to black

for comfort.

Only lovers

see the fall

a signal end to endings

a gruffish gesture alerting

those who will not be alarmed

that we begin to stop

in order to begin

again.

~Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

I've been thinking a lot about being alone and lonely these days. I never really thought that I was lonely. I have always enjoyed my own company, but I have come to realize that I am a bit. Lonely. There is a part of me that longs to have someone special in my  life to share the common little things that I enjoy out of each of my days. Someone to share my thoughts and ponderings with. To laugh with. But, in reality, I am far too afraid of what's out there to really pursue it in any way.  Plus, technically I'm not allowed to date, etc. because I am still married, although I have noted as of late that they have taken you know who off my church records, and out of my household. I was happy to see that. So maybe, they would be okay with me having a friend.  

I have not been inspired by what I have seen out there however. I find it quite frightening to be honest. I don't know that I will ever again be able to trust anyone with the gleanings of my heart, but at the same time . . . there is a part of me that wants to know I am someone's treasure. Oh, I know its a bit silly. I am very much a romanticist, and such things don't really exist. Not in real life anyways. I also think I am very vulnerable so . . . 

 

(source)

Eileen and I are very much looking forward to the Trick-or-Treaters tomorrow night. It is supposed to be a clear dry night.  I have gotten in two boxes of tiny bars, and two boxes of mini rice krispie treats, plus I have a box of small bags of potato chips.  Eileen and her worker got us a pumpkin yesterday. It was not the nicest one, but we left it so late that we had to take what we could get, and to be sure, I have never seen an ugly Jack-o-Lantern. They are all very charming.  I will drop it off with Dan today for him to carve. I am sure he will do a most excellent job. He likes to carve pumpkins.

I managed to get appointments made this week for my flu and covid shots. Cindy and I are going on the same day, in early December. Plus I have an appointment in early December to have my winter tires put on and my car winterized. I still need to make an appointment for my blood tests. I didn't want to make one while Eileen was still here, but now she is going to be moving back to her place on Wednesday next I can see to taking care of these things for myself. I need to stop off at my Doctor's office to pick up the blood test requisition form.

I am quite proud of myself. I have managed to lose 26 pounds in the past couple of months. I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought why not. I feel good about it. I hope I can continue. Not for vanity's sake, but for health's sake. I am keeping my finger's crossed. I have done this far too many times in the past and failed. But I keep trying. I guess that's what counts.

For me what seems to be working is to stay away from treats, and salty snacks, and to only eat half of what I really want. So, leave half of what's on my plate. Whether it goes into the compost or my stomach, its not a waste. And it's better in the compost. I have had a few hungry nights, but its worth it in the long run.

 

(source)

Life marches on . . . one day follows another. It is hard to believe that I have now been almost 6 years back in Canada. Occasionally I will think of those few weeks in the run up to my leaving the U.K. and all the emotions and feelings involved and a tear will come to my eye.  But I brush them off and try not to dwell on them. 

What has followed since then has been so much better than what I had, and I am much happier now.  Change is not always bad, even the hard, hard changes. It is often for the best . . . if we allow it to be.  

One thing which made me really happy yesterday was Eileen saying to me that she was happier than she had ever been.  And she really meant it.  And I could see it.  It makes me happy to know that my girl is at peace with everything and finding joy in her life. My prayers are being answered. 

Why do we ever doubt that they will be?  I don't know  . . . 

And with that I will leave you with a thought for today  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。

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

 *.˛.Why is it that weeks and months

and years go by so quickly, all in a blur,

but moments last forever?° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Jennifer Donnelly° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

In The English Kitchen today . . .  City Chicken . . .  an old favourite recipe that I got from my sister many moons ago. Not chicken really, but a delicious pork dish.  Tender and juicy and very simple to make.

I hope you have a lovely Friday filled with things you love and that bring you joy. Along the way of your day, don't forget! 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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

And I do too!