Thursday, 3 November 2022

My Favorite Things . . .



A few of the things in my life which make my heart go pitter pat. Maybe they make your heart go pitter pat also!  




Look what my sister made me! Luna's got a new dress by way of the cutest wrap around you have ever seen. I just need to make a blouse to go under it. I have all the fabric to make a few other outfits, just have not had the time to do it. This is so adorable! Cindy is such a beautiful seamstress. I am in awe of her talents. Thank you so much Sis!




Anything with cherries printed on it. Especially vintage looking linens. 




I always loved Mary Englebreit. I got turned off of her a few years back, but I am loving her again. I just tune out the negative stuff.




Paper Dolls. I adored them when I was a child. I adore them now. I had a huge box full of them. Well it seemed huge to me. The girl next door, Avril, had outgrown hers and her mother gave them to me. I spend hours with my paper dolls when I was a child.



I always loved Victoria Magazine. I used to buy it all the time. Have not seen one in years, although I do believe it is still in production.  I don't think any magazine is the same anymore.  The few magazines I have looked at don't seem to be the same quality as they were years ago.  Twice as expensive and half as good.




Wool blankets and throws.  I love them.


 

Covered bridges . . . not many left now. 


 

Snowmen . . . 

 

Perfectly cooked Prime Rib  . . . 


 

Jingle Bells  . . . 


 

Stained glass . . . At one time I wanted to learn the art, but it was too expensive a hobby to get into.




Blessed to be surrounded by them . . . 




This . . . he barely fits into it now. He is such a big cat.



Tea Cup Candles  . . . 



Crown candles! 



Salt and pepper shakers  . . . 



Hats with veils. I cannot wear a hat. I look silly, but I love hats.




Rhinestone buttons . . .  I'm like a crow. If it sparkles, I am there.



If I was ever tempted, it would be something like this  . . . 



Blue and white  . . . 



Oh my . . .







I always wanted a bride doll . . . 


And those are my favorite things for this week.   Books, poetry, art, music . . . all favorites.


I was able to order myself two flannel nightgowns yesterday and I am pretty sure they will fit. Thanks so much for your recommendations. Not cheap, but they should last me a very long time!


I read yesterday that deaths from Covid in the UK are up by 21%.  Makes me more determined than ever to keep being careful and wear my mask when around people I am not normally around.


A thought to carry with you . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。 ★★ 。 * 。
° 。 ° ̨° ̨ * _P______。 *˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。 ˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*When Joy is a habit,
Love is a reflex.•。★★ 。* 。




In The English Kitchen today . . . Cheesy Baked Tortellini.  My sister gave me this recipe last week and I finally got around to making it, albeit in a much smaller amount. Oh boy, but it was some good! I loved it!

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with lots of your favorite things and people. Whatever you get up to, stay safe and don't forget! 

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════

And I do too!


Wednesday, 2 November 2022

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 



This past Sunday we had an activity on doing family history during the second hour meeting. There were a variety of workstations, from the very basics of teaching people how to get online, etc. to brainstorming as to ways of sharing family history with others.

There is an ap I use for Family History called Family Search.org.  It is the world's largest data base for family history and its completely free.  It is run by the church, but you don't have to be a member to use it and the church doesn't harass anyone who joins. Nobody comes knocking on your door.

There are a few things about the ap that I love (aside from the family tree). One is "Relatives near me." If you are in a public place with a load of people, you can turn that on, (using your phone) and it will immediately Suss out if there are any people within a hundred yards of you that are related to you. Its really cool.

The other thing I discovered just this Sunday. It's called Famous Relatives.  You can just put a search into Google, and it will come up, and if you have a Family Search account, you can log in and it will show you all the people you are related to that are famous, be they World Leaders, Inventors and Scientists, Entertainers and Artists, Church Leaders, Pioneers,  Trailblazers, etc.

I was fascinated by it.  Of course, I had to try it. I found out I am related to loads of people.  George Washington is my fifth cousin, (7 times removed).  Amelia Earhart, eighth cousin (twice removed).  Jane Austin, 7th cousin (seven times removed.)  And Princess Diana was my tenth cousin. (not removed.)

My mother would have been thrilled to discover that Elvis Presley was our tenth cousin, once removed, and my dad was really pleased that Marie Antoinette was our seventh cousin.  And that was just the tip of the iceberg.  Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, President Hinkley, Lucille Ball, Walt Disney, Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill, Florence Nightingale, etc.  Loads of people. All cousins.


Kept me busy for quite a while looking them all up to see just how we were related. You should check it out. I would love to know who you are related to, maybe we have relatives in common! Maybe even WE are cousins! 


 

A year ago, my friend, Marie from Sweden, went strangely silent. I have never been able to find out what happened to her. We had always exchanged Christmas Cards, e-mails etc. I am left worrying what has happened to her.  I think perhaps she passed away and her husband has not let anyone know.  It is a great mystery.  Now Elizabeth has gone silent.  Elizabeth, if you are out there, shoot me a quick e-mail to let me know you are okay. I am concerned, and I am sure I am not the only one! We are all invested in each other and you are missed.


 

We had probably about a hundred children come trick-or-treating this year.  Oh, I do so love to see all the costumes and the parents also dress up in many cases. It's great fun.

I made sure my babies were safe and secure in the back bedroom. I would have been devastated had they gotten out, so I made sure that they couldn't. I saw on Facebook where someone was looking for their wee dog who got out through the door somehow when the trick-or-treaters were knocking. I sure hope that they found him.



 

I had recently ordered myself a new nightie online. I have two and they are getting kind of old, so I need a new one. Plus, I had been thinking if I got sick and had to go into hospital, I would like something decent to be able to wear. I thought I had taken great care to make sure it wasn't one of those fly-by-night Chinese companies, that are here today gone tomorrow, whose sizing is incredibly off and meant for people not of this planet.  A company where extra-large is actually extra-large. I checked all the photos of the nighties to make sure that Caucasian women were wearing them.  Made sure that they shipped from North America, etc. It came. Supposedly this was a company that specialized in nightwear.

Its Chinese and the sizing is all off. All the tags are in Chinese, there is nothing in the packaging whatsoever to denote where you can return it to if it doesn't fit, etc. I am so annoyed. It's okay, I can use it as a Christmas gift for someone, but that's not the point. I was really needing a nightgown for myself. I don't like pajamas.  There is nothing locally that I like. They are all like oversized t-shirts/sacks. I wanted something more feminine. In the UK I always bought my nighties at M&S.  I checked here and they just have the oversized t-shirts.  I know I am overweight/fat, but that doesn't mean I want to look completely like a sack of potatoes.


I had a beautiful white flannel nightie that my sister had sent to me twenty odd years ago. At the time it was one of the only Christmas gifts I had gotten that year. I loved that nightie. It was pretty and feminine, etc. I wore it out. I wish I could find another one like that one.


 

My next-door neighbor has had something gnaw through the wires in her car. At least that is what her nephew says. It won't start. She keeps it parked out on the drive all year round. Her garage is full of stuff. She and her late husband moved into this place from a much larger place and didn't really get rid of a lot.  She also didn't bother to get the CAA (automobile association) membership.  Her car will need towing somewhere and that will be expensive. I would not be a single older woman with a car and not have the CAA. It is worth it, even if only for peace of mind. I'll give her a call later and see if she needs anything at the store, etc.


 

Love this mug. It's so cute. I love birds on anything. I am a bird lover. But you already knew that. Silly me. I do not like birds in cages. I think all birds should be free to roam.  I had thrown a few peanuts out the other day and two crows were quite interested in them, and the cats were quite interested in the crows. The crows kept coming right up to the edge of the deck but wouldn't come any closer. One in particular was very interested. The cats were enraptured. In the end, he never did get brave enough to hop on deck, so the blue jays got them all. 




Cinnamon loves her soft little bed.  Last night this is the way she was sleeping in it.  Could you be any more relaxed?  I don't think so!  I couldn't resist taking her picture.



And then I had to take one of Nutmeg too, because I always try to play fair.  He was laying right next to me on the sofa. His usual spot.  

She comes to me a few times a day to get her fur brushed. She just loves it.  She is becoming much more talkative with me as well. Normally Nutmeg is the more vocal one, but Cinnamon also has a voice, and she is using it more.

I am so happy that I was able to have both of them.  They have been a real Godsend for me. 



Tomorrow it will be two years to the date that Todd got sent to Prison, and on the 6th, it will be two years since I landed back in Nova Scotia.  I have come to far since then. I know I have a way to go yet, but the tears come fewer and farther between.  I look around me and I see only the bounty and tender mercies of God.  Oh, how He must love me to have taken care of me the way that He has. Like Daniel, He rescued me from the Lion's Den.


My family has been such a wonderful support to me from the get-go.  How would I have ever gotten through without Cindy. I love her so much.  It has been such a wonderful thing living close to my best friend again. We support each other.


 And of course, all of you as well. I am so appreciative of all of it.  I am truly a very blessed person, and I am grateful that I know it! I have been borne aloft on the wings of many angels.


I best leave you with a thought for the day now . . .


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

 *Speak only when
you feel your words are
better than the silence.
~Unknown•。★★ 。* 。



Maple Pecan Pie for one.  For those of us who don't have a whole houseful of people to feed. Delicious.


I hope you have a wonderful day. I am going out for supper today with my father and his friends. Looking forward to that. Be happy and be safe and don't forget!


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════   
  


And I do too!       



Tuesday, 1 November 2022

The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

 

 


FOR TODAY, November 1st, 2022

Outside my window ...
It's still quite dark and its cool. But things are quiet and it's not raining, which makes a change for garbage day!  Revised - just opened my curtains and it is raining. Weird. Every garbage day.

I am thinking ...
Rabbit Rabbit! It's the first of November! This year is flying by at the speed of light. Had a lovely Halloween yesterday.  Cindy and Dad came over for supper (pork chops with mushroom soup gravy, rice and green beans, leftover apple crisp for dessert) and then Dan came over after work with his pumpkins and helped to dole out the treats. We finished off by watching episodes of the old Adam's Family show on tv!  I love my family. I feel so blessed!

I am thankful for ...
My family and special times spent together.

In the kitchen ...


Sweet & Easy Curried Chicken. 4 ingredients. 5 minutes prep. 30 minutes in the oven. Delicious!


On my "To Cook" list ...



This actually looks very good.  No source.

Good to know ... 



I know my friend Jackie uses it to brush her teeth and she says it is really healthy for the gums.


I am wanting to create ...




No source, but aren't they beautiful!



Again, no source, but so cute!



Garden Therapy.  I have been looking for this recipe to make the cinnamon dough ornaments.




Again, no source, but aren't they sweet!




Crows in the Attic on Etsy.  Cute! 

I am reading ...



Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee
"There could only be a few winners, and a lot of losers. And yet we played on, because we had hope that we might be the lucky ones." 

 In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger at the seashore near her home in Korea. He promises her the world, but when she discovers she is pregnant--and that her lover is married--she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son's powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through the generations. 

 Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan's finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee's complex and passionate characters--strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis--survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.

I am really enjoying this book.  More than I have done any book in a while.

Looking forward to ... 
Jenny is coming to do my toenails this morning. She is a real talker. She used to do mom's toenails as well.

Dreaming about...

 

Book with pretty covers  . . . 

 

Old tin kettles  . . . 

 

A cozy fire  . . . 



Little knitted bears . . . 

 


Roasted potatoes  . . . 

Makes me smile ...

Jon, Kayla and Jake, Halloween 2022



Luke and Anne, Halloween 2022

 


Dan with his beautifully carved pumpkins, Halloween 2022


Corners of my kingdom ... 




A lot of the dads and mums were dressed up last night as well. 




This dad had the  most amazing dinosaur costume! 


  

That's a wrap!
(how to people get their pets to do these things?)



A thought to carry with you ... 

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

 *If you must look back,
do so forgivingly.
If you must look forward,
do so prayerfully.
However, the wisest thing
for you to do is to be present
in the present, gratefully.
~Maya Angelou•。★★ 。* 。


And that's my daybook for this week! 


   ⋱ ⋮ ⋰
 ⋯ ◯ ⋯ Take time to enjoy the small *´¯`.¸¸.☆

   ⋰ ⋮ ⋱ blessings in life.*´¯`.¸¸.☆   
 
  



✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿✿¸.•*¨`*•..✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.• ╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥
░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░  
 
 
  

Have a beautiful day and don't forget!  


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════   
  


And I do too!