FRIDAY, July 25th, 2025
Estate Lane, Nova Scotia
20*C/68*F humid
mostly sunny
Dear Neighbor,
Once again, we find ourselves at the end of a week and this being the last Friday in July. How does that happen? I know that I say this often, but time seems to be really speeding by. I wish that it would slow down a bit.
The aerial battles have begun once more with the hummingbird feeder. I do so love to watch them darting and chasing each other about. I expect that needle sharp looking beak could give you a right poke if it wanted to. I have even seen them chasing wasps away with their beaks. They are much braver than I am! I hate wasps and hornets. I always had a can of the spray at the ready when I lived in the U.K. and this time of year they were frequent visitors. Because there were no screens on the windows and doors, they often ended up inside. We kept both open to let in the fresh air. Another reason why I wouldn't have a cat over there. I did not want a cat that wandered.
I found myself listening to Michael Bublé the other morning, after a very long time of not doing so, and I was actually enjoying it. I used to listen to him all the time. His music brought such joy into my life. I was thinking about it and realized that when mom passed away a lot of light passed from my life. That was the beginning of some very hard years as one loss after another and one hard thing after another began to take away from my joy.
People will say to me, "Oh you are such a strong woman." And really, I am not. I am not a strong woman. I have a strong God and He counts all my tears, collecting them in His bottle. Trust me when I tell you there have been plenty of tears over these years. I will go for days without crying and then, for some reason the crying starts again. That deep ache that I manage to keep in check most of the time will bubble up to the surface. It can be triggered by an old favorite song, or something I see on the television, or read . . . sometimes it can be triggered by nothing at all. It is simply just there, and the tears will come, unbidden.
I often cry when I am in prayer. I don't know why. Perhaps that is when my feelings are the most tender.
Cindy sent me this photo from mom's grave last night. It seems they have put some solar lights into the little garden plot they made in front of mom's headstone. Mom would have liked them, I am sure. I do not get up there very often. I am not one to go there by myself. I should get myself a folding lawn chair and just take myself up there every now and then and just sit in the quiet. It is a very peaceful place.
One day in summer
when everything
has already been more than enough
the wild beds start
exploding open along the berm
of the sea; day after day
the honey keeps on coming
in the red cups and the bees
like amber drops roll
in the petals: there is no end.
believe me! to the inventions of summer,
to the happiness your body
is willing to bear.
~Mary Oliver, The Roses
Oh what a beautiful picture she paints with her words. That is a special talent. To be able to paint pictures in the minds of others with the stroke of your pen. I often sit and read poetry. It is like magic how these poets manage to weave these threads of emotion and feeling through my heart and soul. How did they know that is how I felt. They put words to feelings that I had not hitherto known how to express. But when I read their words, the feelings come bubbling up and I think, yes . . . that is how it is and feels.
(source)
How I miss the days when I could walk pain free. I used to love going for long walks. England was the best place for those long walks, with dedicated pathways that amble across the length and breadth of the country. It is impossible to really get lost as soon or later, you will end up in a village of some sorts. One of my favorite walks was to go down through the orchards that surrounded the cottage, past the golf course and on into the village of Matfield. It as a very pleasant walk. Filled with sight and with sound. On really warm summer days the skies above would be filled with hot air balloons, the silence of their journey punctuated by the sound of the sudden rush of hot air from the lanterns which help to keep them afloat. Sometimes they floated so low you felt as if you could just reach out and touch them.
There used to be hot air balloons here in the Valley, but apparently there has not been any for a while. Whoever did them must have gone out of business. Covid put an end to a lot of smaller businesses. Glenna was telling me that there was a waiting list for the balloon rides, and it was hard to get a one booked.
I am not one for parachuting or paragliding, but I have always wanted to go up in a Hot Air Balloon. To float slowly through the skies above the patchwork quilt of the earth below. It must be a pretty wonderful feeling.
(source)
Oh, I do take goodies next door to Sheila, but I know her, and I know she welcomes them and is not offended. She welcomes my offerings. I am not sure about the rest of my neighbors, however.
Yes, I am watching the Gilmore Girls again. It is a series I like to revisit every now and then. I am not sure what the allure of it is, but I like it.
Whenever I crawl into my easy boy chair to rest, usually late in the afternoon, this little man likes to jump up and join me. That is why I cover myself with a lap quilt. It is not because I am cold, but because I know he is going to arrive on my lap and it is more comfortable for both of us if I have a blanket covering my legs. He just lay there and purrs, begging me for tickles behind the ears. And, our conversation always goes like this . . .
Me, "Have you been sticking your nose into the freckle jar again?"
Him, "purr, purr, purr. A choo! "
(source)
I did a little bit of preserving yesterday morning. I had bought some dark sweet cherries at the shops earlier in the week. They had a good special on them. Only $2.99 a pound. You never see cherries that cheap. I made cherry compote with them. I got three half pint jars. I gave one jar to my sister for them to enjoy. Dad loves cherries. I have one to keep for the winter and I did enjoy some of the third one with a cheeky bowl of ice cream for my lunch yesterday.
I know, not the healthiest lunch, but they sure were tasty. I only had a spoonful of each the ice cream and the cherries. It was "some good" as they say!
I have to ask. Is this the accepted way to hold your fork and cut your meat when you are eating dinner? I watch a lot of videos on YouTube and this particular lady always cuts into her meat this way. I find it most unusual. I do not hold my fork that way.
And then I noticed this on another video.
Now that girl is shredding chicken and I suppose it is acceptable to hold it that way then. Normally I would hold my fork as you see on the left above and if I was shredding my meat I would hold both that way. I am curious as to what other's think. Am I just being really picky? Perhaps I am.
Life can be magical if you choose it to be.
I am going with Cindy to take dad to his Doctor's appointment this afternoon. Its an opportunity to get out of the house and have a change of scenery, as well as to get to spend some time with our Dad. Normally we would be taking Maryann and him to the mall. Perhaps we will do that tomorrow. I had been going to go to the Temple tomorrow but have decided not to go. I do not relish the long trip, in the heat of summer in the back seat of a car I have no control over. I tend to get carsick in back seats of cars as well.
A thought to carry with you . . .
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*I restore myself
when I am alone.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚
~Marilyn Munroe° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛
In the English Kitchen today, a simple air fryer meal. Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes & Sausage. Such simple thing and yet very tasty! Plus, you don't heat up the kitchen!
I hope you have a beautiful day filled with lots of goodness and peaceable things. Don't forget!
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And I do too!
