Dear Diary – Week 17, 2024

Tags

birthday, classic cars, college days, college stories, dear diary, driving, family, friends, grief, humour, photography, spider, squirrel, squirrels

Dear Diary – I needed caffeine Saturday morning (and a guardian angel), but since I had to drive for an hour and a half on a 6 lane highway, with only one one service center, I could not consume liquids. Instead I made tea and took it along for the ride.

We talked to Youngest Son Thursday evening and the residence still had not replied to his application to remain there for the summer. Without being able to take any courses, staying seemed like a waste of money. To us. Youngest Son was okay with not coming home.

But without approval, he was out of options. He had to be out by 11 a.m. Saturday morning.

We had limited options for getting there. Initially, I thought Hubby and I could travel together in two cars, in case we couldn’t stuff it all in one. I had already notified my group I might not be able to join them. But Hubby had an appointment on Saturday (which he didn’t put on the calendar) and it was too late to move it. And he didn’t want to cancel.

Plan A had been that I drive up and back on both Friday and Saturday. But I didn’t relish the idea of 6 hours in a car broken up by packing and hauling boxes to the car.

Plan B made more sense. I would leave early, and Hubby would join me as soon as he finished his appointment, which our amazing chiropractor kindly agreed to move earlier. The only downside to Plan B was that I would be alone, and I have never driven there…alone.

With my heart in my mouth, I set out early. Yes, I had the map on my phone. But, my phone wasn’t talking to me. I didn’t know how to make it speak. I didn’t know how to make the screen stop turning black. So essentially, I was driving by memory.

And my memory isn’t quite what it used to be.

I arrived by 9:30 and only had to call twice, 5 minutes apart, to rouse Youngest Son from his slumber to come and let me in! I was shocked at the state of his room. Everything he owned was neatly stacked or packed against the wall of his room. He had stayed up until the wee wee hours of the morning to complete the job! I could have slept in.

Like his friend, who lives in the window.

We finished packing and had just started to load the car when Eldest Son and his girlfriend arrived. They were our temporary “storage” until Hubby arrived.

We did all this in the snow. We were promised a warm and sunny weekend. Someone lied!!

I have trained my boys well. They have learned to pack a car like it a Tetris Master, shifting odd shaped items and using every available nook and cranny to maximize the space. Amazingly, all the original stuff fit, plus the office chair and assorted other stuff that trickled up through the year, with the exception of a tower fan and 1 bin of frying pans. Having watched me successfully pack 3 adults, a baby, craft crap, luggage, diapers, baby crap and a pack ‘n play crib in a Toyota Echo hatchback, Eldest Son was confident that if we had to make the extra fit, it could be done.

Lucky Hubby arrived minutes after everything was out. Youngest Son bid adieu to his room mates and the family headed to Johnny Fresco’s for Lord of the Ring Burgers. This cheeseburger also has an onion ring and a fried egg. I didn’t think I’d be able to taste the egg, but I did! And it was very, very good!

Plus…they had Pop Shoppe!

It was spitting tiny Styrofoam balls as we headed down the highway. It was a short trip…5 minutes in, Youngest Son realized he didn’t hand in his keys. He never did get a working key for his mailbox.

The rest of the trip was slow but unremarkable. Hubby went ahead to do some errands, and we headed home, where Youngest Son and I unloaded everything in the Hall, and after swapping laundry loads (yes, I threw laundry in before I left), we collapsed on the couch.

I stayed collapsed on the couch as much as possible for the next few days. I hurt my back. The couch was better than the place where it finally seized: reaching for something inside the fridge.

Youngest Son got an email Wednesday evening. His application to remain in residence for the summer was accepted!

Dear Diary – I’m actually thankful I had a doctor’s appointment last week. Her staff noticed my health card was about to expire! I checked. So was my driver’s license! Both are renewed, and since I was on a roll, I got new bank card. I’m fed up with it being “declined”, having to punch in my PIN twice because it was “wrong”, or being told I was exceeding my “spending cap”. A $2 cup of tea at Tim’s in a 48 hour period should not exceed my non-existent spending cap! I’ve been to the bank several times to complain about this wonky card and been fed ridiculous excuses. I must have been exuding confidence because it was replaced with no questions asked!

This week, Youngest Son and I also got our hair trimmed and our passport photos taken. Now we just have to make sure we do the paperwork and complete the job! Unlike last time…

Dear Diary – I have fabulous parents who have always supported my (reasonable) dreams. Or in this case, could be feeding my recent addiction to fabric. When they were on vacation, they picked me up some new fabulous fabric. Thank you!

Dear Diary – Auntie M found the perfect birthday card for me to give my friend. She’s never met my friend, but she’s heard enough “adventure” stories to know this was just like us!

Happy birthday friend!

Dear Diary – This week’s recipe was Salmon filets for Hubby. Even though my allergy test indicated I’m not allergic to fish, I still don’t like it. And I’m not sure it likes me.

I will say, it smelled amazing!

Dear Diary – There’s nothing quite like being treated like you’re invisible. Hubby did some shopping with me and I was trying to urning the cart. The motion sensor couldn’t sense me and the door wouldn’t open. I tried waving and dancing, but it wouldn’t budge. I was contemplating a little samba, aware that they were people watching me from inside their car, when Hubby came over to tell me I was “doing it wrong”. Is it possible to walk up to an automatic door the wrong way? Now I’m invisible and confused.

Dear Diary – It seems now that Youngest Son is home, all the punch buggies (aka VW Beetles) are coming out of hibernation. Good thing we don’t actually punch each other because I’d be black and blue. Youngest So’s nickname could be Eagle Eyes.

I should have known something was up when I came home from band practice years ago, and my brother and his friend were grinning like idiots! Which wasn’t much of a stretch. My brother asked me if I wanted to see his new poster. Then his friend unrolled it and my brother started smacking me furiously. It was a poster with over a dozen VW Beetles.

Well played.

Dear Diary – I think there’s a spider in my car, or maybe it was just the sunlight hit the silky strands. At first, I thought the webs were outside the car, shimmering along the bottom edge of the front window. But they didn’t disappear when I ran the wipers. So I stretched out my tiny T-Rex arms and made contact with my fingertips. Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to locate the spider.

Maybe I should ask Eagle Eyes to look for me.

Dear Diary – The weeks are passing quickly and I had every intention of visiting my friend and neighbour soon. But between appointments, family issues, holidays, and illnesses, it never quite happened. We touched base from time to time, and agreed it would happen soon. We both looked forward to sipping tea in her garden in the warmth of the sun.

Someone knocked on the door today. I usually don’t answer. I don’t want to buy whatever they are selling. But something niggled in the back of my mind and I peeked out the upstairs window. There was an unfamiliar car in the driveway and then I saw my friend’s husband. I raced down the stairs with a sinking feeling.

He was glad to see me. He didn’t know my last name or where I lived, except that it was nearby. He drove to the church where I used to work to see if they could help him. He wanted me to know my friend had passed away.

She was a lovely lady, thoughtful, generous, and always an encouragement. She rarely missed a blog post. We joked about our canes and talked about our backyard birds. We shared our love for creating art and telling stories. I’ll miss her very much.

Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now.
Unknown

Dear Diary – I understand.

Sometimes you just have to sit down in the middle of whatever you doing and just….be.

Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and the shadows will fall behind you.
Walt Whitman

What’s In My Cup: Four O’Clock EB Tea

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea review, tea time

It’s always 4 o’clock somewhere, therefore it’s always time for tea.

This morning I started my (late) morning by steeping a pot of loose leaf Four O’Clock English Breakfast Tea. I couldn’t find much information on the company, Four O’Clock, but it is a Canadian company based in Montreal and they offer an assortment of Organic Fairtrade black, white, green and herbal teas.

They recommend using 1 tsp of tea leaves to 1 cup of water…but who has time to measure when you’re making your morning pot. So I used what I thought was necessary, and quickly discovered I had underestimated the amount required for a decent cup. And while it had the malty bitterness of a traditional English Breakfast blend, I actually found it kind of wishy-washy. I will add, however, that my friend passed on this box of tea and I have no idea whose cupboard it came from or how long it had been stowed there. Stale tea will always taste wishy washy so while it was in a sealed package, I have no idea if that’s what happened.

But…it’s tea. And it’s Monday….

…nd it paired really well with French toast made with Chocolate Panettone.

Yes, that’s it! Said the Hatter with a sigh, it’s always tea time.
Lewis Carroll

Dear Diary – Week 16, 2024

Tags

cheese, dear diary, driving, family, food, health, humour, pets, sewing

Dear Diary – In 1955, The Platters sang “Sweet sixteen and never been kissed, my teenage queen, I can’t resist kissing you”. Here we are at Week 16 and in my part of the world, so far this year, Mother Nature has kissed us with sun, cloud, rain, freezing rain, ice, wind, flurries, hail, sleet, snow blizzards, and a spectacular full solar eclipse. The temperature yo-yo-ed so much our shorts are now hanging in the closet with our flannel shirts.

This week, we’ve mostly been blessed with April showers, and I’m beginning to see flowers. I have one mini daffodil smiling at me from the back garden. I’ll take rain over what we had in 2022: snow! Sure, we live in Canada. And, sure, it’s not that uncommon to see snow in April. Our A/C unit was installed in the snow in early May over 22 years ago. Still, the flurries prompted a flurry of photos and expletives on Facebook. As a nation, we may be divided on many issues, but we were united in this: We were done with winter!

The birds are furiously chowing down at the feeder and it’s getting darker. We may be in for something gross! I hope it’s not snow…

Dear Diary- I suggested Hubby could support me by sharing some of my business posts on his Facebook page. After all, his circle of friends is slightly different from mine. So he did…and he called me 10 minutes after he did.

My new cat bag was sold!

That sale to his co-worker sparked interest and I made a further sale: a knot bag and 2 little bags for game pieces!

Dear Diary – I really thought Angus was on death row. I’ve noticed him moving around less and when I spotted blood and heard him whimpering one afternoon, I knew something was up. I had an appointment for Friday that got moved to Saturday. Saturday morning I was an emotional mess as we had what could be our finally cuddle.

Angus objected as usual.

That emotion continued to spill over in the Vet’s office but he understood. Angus may be a curmudgeon, but he’s my curmudgeon. He does have some sort of infection on his feet but not as bad as I feared. I have continued with the epsom salt baths in the evening and he seems to really enjoy it. He relaxes as soon as the first foot hits the warm water. Sometimes he pees. Sometimes he makes that face like he’s going to poo, and if I ask him if that’s what he’s doing, he chatters his teeth at me. I guess he wants his privacy.

I’ll try to take a photo for next week.

I suspect he’ll be a handful when I have to get him take his antibiotics and reasoning with him is like reasoning with a two year old having a full-on meltdown. But I will persist. I want my curmudgeon around a little longer…even if he won’t cuddle.

No touching!

Dear Diary – One Great pottery Throwdown contestant introduced us to her sheep, who she named “mint sauce”. What a wonderfully weird name! It’s right up there with a fish named “Sushi” and a cat named “Stupid”.

Dear Diary – I’m meeting with my family doctor to find out if my medication is impacting my bone health. I know that gentle weight bearing exercises would be beneficial.

I told my husband I lifted weights today.

He replied, “to dust under them?”.

Dear Diary – Youngest Son texted on Monday morning, frustrated (again!!) with his college and their inept website and lack of staff to answer questions…not just in t timey manner but ever.

He had hoped to register for a few classes over the summer to lighten his load in the Fall. Three adults have searched at various times to find the informaton for when and how to do this. He found something that said April 15. But it turns out registration was in February. He’s out of luck.

He’s already applied for residence for the summer, which is an expensive way to spend the summer without courses or a job. He doesn’t know if he’s been approved for residence and if not, we have to move him out by 11 a.m. Saturday. It doesn’t matter that we live almost 2 hours away or that his final exam is Friday evening.

I think he should cut his losses, apply to another college and transfer what he can!

And all just as he was starting to make friends and leave his room.

I was so looking forward to releasing the stresses of school life, having suffered endured 3 decades worth of stupidity and politics (don’t they go hand in hand?) but apparently I have yet to earn my rest.

Pray for us. We need patience. We need wisdom. And come Saturday morning, we may need lots of caffeine!

Dear Diary – I was driving behind a school board van today and I objected to his driving logic. He drove 10 km under the speed limit in the school zone, presumably for safety reasons, but then he barely slowed for the stop sign and turn streaked left without signalling!

Dear Diary – Spring is in the air or is it love? I’m noticing lots of frisky squirrels frolicking in the yard and trees. And I heard a cat yowling for a mate this morning.

My parents have a mourning dove that is also part of the dating scene. It’s been sitting on their car side mirror and flirting…with it’s reflection. Sadly, it’s not making time.

It’s also not making friends with my folks because it’s relieving itself profusely while it’s courting!

Dear Diary – It’s no wonder people struggle with English. We’ve started watching t.v. with the closed captioning on because sometimes one of us (not me!) has trouble hearing. But the closed captioning is also a source of amusement. This week we laughed over someone struggling to bake their apple and camel pie (i.e., apple and caramel), while another contestant was talking about where his fate rests and it transcribed it as “my fake breasts”.

Dear Diary – I’ve been terrible at keeping up with my New Year’s Resolution to try new recipes. I did, however, attempt pork chops again in the air fryer using Skinny Taste’s cooking instructions. I breaded them with own concoction of panko, herbs and spices , and they were pretty good.

Yesterday, I didn’t sleep well so I slept in and then spent the rest of the day feeling at least 5 hours behind. I never did get to the pile of dishes or the laundry. I did, however, go with my friend for her third attempt to get her medication. She has had 2 very expensive self-injector devices fail. Thank goodness the third time was the charm!

After her appointment she asked me if we could go somewhere so she could get a pizza. So we did, and I decided I was going to be home so late, I might as well buy a pizza too.

Obviously I was too tired to make clear and rational decisions. I confused non-dairy cheese with lactose-free cheese, so my excitement was unwarranted. Non-dairy cheese is all kinds of wrong! It doesn’t melt well and what did melt was best described as “tasteless, gummy goo”. Non-dairy or vegan cheese is either plant, nut, veggie oil, coconut oil, or soy based. It’s supposed to be less fatty than moo cheese and contain more B12.

Hubby has decided my homemade pizza is significantly better than Pizza Pizza (I could have told him that). And I’m sorry, but for us, that cheese had better come from something that bleats or moos!

Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to diss a brie?
I cheddar the world and the feta cheese
Everybody’s looking for stilton.

Unknown

What’s In My Cup: Lavender Tulsi

Tags

#whatsinmycup, flowers, food, herbs, photography, tea, tea addict, tea cups, tea lover, tea photography, tea review, tea time, wellness

I hate Mondays!

Garfield

It was lovely to get a surprise text from Youngest Son early this morning, but unfortunately, it wasn’t good news. He had come up with a Plan C for the summer and began the process to make it happen.

It’s not going to happen!

His plan was to stay in residence and knock off a few courses, ones coming up and ones he messed up. But when he went to register for the Summer today (which was the date given in an email…but I’m concerned he misread), everything was full, closed and had no waiting list. Finding information and next steps is virtually impossible in this institution’s horrendous website. He was pretty discouraged.

So instead of tackling the weekend dishes and bathing Angus, my skinny pig, I spent the morning on the phone and on my knees, talking it through with Youngest Son, and my Heavenly father.

We made plans but there is still work to be done and some tough decisions need to be made. It might also involve a tragically early trip to move him out of residence…(and just when he was making friends)!

I reminded Youngest Son that God has a plan and sometimes He allows rough seas and defeats to grow us and refine us. Some day he’ll see how it all fit together in his journey.

I know he’s still stressed. I’m stressing with him in spirit.

Which is why, now that the day is half over, I settled down for a quick lunch and a calming cup of Lavender Tulsi tea by Stash Tea. It is caffeine free, with only 2 ingredients: lavender and tulsi leaves.

Lavender is an herbaceous shrub and part of the mint family. It’s rich purple flowers bloom in the summer. These aromatic petals are often used beauty products and knicker drawer sachets, but it can also be used in baking or distilled to produce essential oils. Lavender can help relieve stress, ease headaches improve mood, promote restful sleep, prevent infections, reduce inflammation, and ease bloating. Tea is probably the best way to ingest it. However, it should not be given to developing children because it can affect hormone levels.

Tulsi, or holy basil, is a sweet and aromatic herb thought to relieve anxiety, stress, acne, and respiratory issues such as the common cold. It may also reduce inflammation and pain, and boost the immune system. Normally, it’s used as an oil or tea because it has a bitter flavour.

The explosion of flowers was very strong when I opened the sachet, and I was concerned that this would be a very flowery tea. Instead, it reminded me strongly of plain old grassy chamomile, but with a very slight peppery zing. I’m not a fan of chamomile. However, I know that inhaling the aroma of lavender is said to relieve headaches and relieve stress, so I enjoyed the aroma and the ceremony in making tea.

When your day seems topsy turvy and as stormy as can be,
there’s nothing quite as tranquil as a hot cup of tea.

Unknown

Dear Diary -Week 15, 2024

Tags

dear diary, eclipse, family, humour, nature, nature photography, photography, sunsets

Dear Diary – It’s been a weird week. We’ve had rain, heavy winds, heavy snow, sunshine, clouds, total darkness, and thunder.

I ran away for the week to visit my folks. We had a lovely day of tea and Escape to the Country, a day to shop in town and finish with tea and chocolate, and day to clean and sort all my fabric scraps.

Hubby joined me Sunday afternoon so we could witness the “once in a lifetime” total eclipse near one the cities expected to have a total eclipse. We had even purchased fashionable glasses for the occasion. That evening, Hubby and I made a “chip run” just before the store closed. There are a few things I really miss because we live in the city and I got to savour one of them on our outing: the stars! The sky was perfectly clear and those glorious jewels of the sky were on full display.

There was definitely an air of anticipation on Monday and I found it hard to focus on anything. Aunt Mary joined us for lunch and we hovered near the t.v. watching the eclipse’s progress. Hubby made a pinhole viewing box, which we used to watch the progress in our area.

As the afternoon advanced, so did the clouds. Some of them were very unusual formations. This one reminded me of an angel’s wing.

The eclipse wasn’t a complete disappointment. As the clouds flooded in, so did the cold. It was very noticeable. I needed a sweater over my sweater. To add to the ambience, a flock of grackles perched in a nearby tree, their calls a cacophony. It was extraordinary to watch the sun become a sliver.

Sadly, by the key minutes, the clouds had thickened so much, they obliterating our view. However, the light still quickly faded as if someone was dimming the lights with a switch. We were plunged into into darkness, except for an eerie yellow glow along the horizon.

We wandered around the deck for nearly 3 minutes, a few birds still twittering, before the darkness quickly lifted. The grackles had moved on before it got dark. Hubby, concerned with getting caught in heavy traffic cleared out right away. We watched what little we could see as the moon moved away. I did see the “diamond” but on the bottom edge.

Hubby texted 30 minutes after he left. He was literally walking on highway because the highway was stopped. Nothing moved for at least 15 minutes. Eventually he found out why: a dump truck caught fire. I saw the scorched road and grass on my way home the next day.

We were treated to a dramatic sunset that evening.

I think Angus and Papa have developed a bromance, mostly because treats are involved. And by treats, I mean lots of carrot sticks! Angus has never been a big greeter in the morning. He prefers to sleep until noon, much like his brother, Youngest Son. But on the mornings Papa was up early, Angus made his presence known. I swear he can tell who is moving nearby simply by the way we breath.

One reason I know he isn’t feeling well is that he’s not moving his house around much. He amused us one evening by trying desperately to get his food dish inside his igloo. I thought I was helping! I flicked the edge of the igloo so it was inside. Later, we discovered Angus tunneled under an extra blanket. He slept on it overnight and was definitely grumpy in the morning. I guess he woke up on the wrong side.

Some studies suggest that individuals who sleep less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours on a regular basis are actually at greater risk for mental and physical decline, which can lead to early death. A 2002 study showed that you can age your brain by up to seven years! My brain doesn’t need help getting any older!

It was my time to hit the highway on Tuesday and I wasn’t excited when my eyes popped up. Much too early. I think, like with Beetlejuice, we said its name one time to many and it suddenly appeared. What exactly? A tiny bird, slightly bigger than a sparrow, with a blue jacket and a white bib, and a long, smoker’s voice screech. It shrieked “phoebe” in a tone that would rival Howard Wolowitz’s Mom and in the frequency of a overstimulated toddler. Right outside my window.

So I did what any sane person would do. I glared out the window, only to note that the sun was not even over the horizon yet and I moved to the couch. I wrapped my body in a lap blanket the thickness of rice paper and shoved my bare feet in the crack of the cushions by the arm. And tried to ignore the alarm clock screaming “phoebe” outside. I was just starting to drift off when Angus decided he was dying of thirst. He must have heard me breathing because he replaced the rattle of the water bottle with polite prompts to fill his dangerously empty stomach. I got up to satisfy that calling and it was the first time, in a very long time, that he actually came over to greet me. This time he woke up on the right side of the bed.

Angus looked very car sick by the time we got home, and later I confirmed that he isn’t well. I’ve been concerned about his front toes but I think there’s an issue with his back foot. I can’t get in to see the vet for a few days so I gave him an epsom salt bath. At first, he was kind of freaked out and tried to climb out of his tupperware tub or drink the water. The second time, he was pretty chill, but I’d also given him some pain killer. He kept looking up at me as if he didn’t understand what we were doing but he trusted me. I think it’s a precious thing to be trusted by children and small animals. I have to say, he smells pretty. I don’t know what news this appointment will bring and I’m not expecting it to be good.

Plus it means another car ride.

Dear Diary – I had a dental cleaning this week. I swear she was digging for gold. I hope she found some. I could use it to pay the bill.

Dear Diary – I should go away more often. Hubby missed me. He suggested we do something after work, even a “date” mid-week. We decided to go to the Mall for dinner and window shopping. I’ll go just about anywhere if I don’t have to cook!

I dressed up in my new top, fixed my hair and put on make-up. But by the time Hubby got home, I was feeling pretty and pretty tired. He looked tired too. I suggested we could go somewhere closer to home. We ended up picking up Wendy’s French Onion burgers and strawberry Frosties, and dressing down for dinner.

I have to say, the burger tasted better than the frozen cheeseburger pizza my Mom bought. It tasted like ketchup and pickles…probably because it had pickles on it. I’m not a fan!

There’s no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap.

Kevin James

Tealish Tea

Tags

#whatsinmycup, desserts, family, food, humour, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time

Last week, I ran away from home. My hometown is half an hour from one of the predicted prime spots for today’s full eclipse. I can watch the eclipse in the back yard and avoid crowds and long lines for port-a-potties.

It’s getting cloudy but so far, we have sunshine.

And what do Mom and I do when we get together? Drink tea, of course.

After a quick shop at GT Boutique, we ventured downtown (where I had to parallel park on Main Street) and went to Elena’s, a local shop and café for Tealish English Breakfast tea and a shared Raspberry Buttercream brownie.

Both were delish!

Tealish Fine Tea is a Canadian online tea company, owned and operated by women, which began in 2005. They believe in 100% natural, vegan, and ethically sourced ingredients 100%. They also use plastic free tea bags and earth-friendly, recyclable packaging. A portion of every sale goes to support Veritree, a company that plants trees. The cost for 50g of loose leaf tea is in the medium range of David’s Tea, so a little more expensive but possibly worth it for a special occasion.

Like an eclipse. Or a holiday with Mom.

I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground

Dear Diary – Week 14, 2024

Tags

dear diary, driving, Easter, faith, family, humour

Dear Diary – Eldest Son made it home for Easter, but his girlfriend and her sister did not. She lost or had her passport stolen two days before flying home from the Dominican Republic. The irony is that we know someone who lives there and lives 5 minutes from the airport, but she is in Canada.

Thursday night, Hubby set out to pick up Youngest Son when his 10 p.m. class ended. I suggested he pick up a snack on the way home, like a doughnut. But guys being guys, they went for burgers and onion rings, while I was stuck at home with a banana. I went to rehearsal and played Minecraft at home, waiting for them. I knew I wouldn’t sleep until they were home, or if I did, I would catch just enough Zzzs to feel like the walking dead. I got my hug after midnight.

Morning came far too early. I left out the box of sad, homemade cinnamon ellipses for Youngest Son. It was a new recipe and I won’t be trying it again. They were dry and biscuit-y, very disappointing. Youngest Son liked them though, and ate them all. He’s a growing boy!

After the Good Friday service, I helped finish transforming our platform décor for Easter. It’s amazing what pool noodles, hockey tape, spray paint, coffee sticks, and craft foam can create.

Eldest Son and his girlfriend’s Mom arrived in Canada Friday evening and he called us before bedtime. He was lonely and would be down in the morning.

After he cleaned up after his cat.

The lady who was looking after Webster couldn’t find the litter box so it didn’t get cleaned all week. Webster objected by peeing in the bathtub and all over Eldest Son’s new bath mat.

He arrived in time for ribs and mashed sweet potatoes, with a lot of fragrant laundry.

Sunday morning was early too as I was serving on the worship team and Hubby was manning the cameras and streaming. But it was a beautiful service.

Before I left the house, I popped a small frozen turkey in the oven. The directions said it would take approximately 6-7 hours, and I knew the boys were leaving after an early dinner because the traffic would be heavy. The turkey smelled done when we arrived home at noon so I checked it with a thermometer. It said it was over. But when we carved it later that afternoon, the turkey was quite rare at the bone.

I had envisioned a lovely “sit down” family dinner at the dining table, but the table is still an office for Hubby (who worked at home on Thursday so he could pick up Youngest Son). By the time we had food ready, it was almost time for the boys to leave. We ended up with more of a “grab what you can that’s edible and run” meal, which honestly, is more “us” than the idyllic traditional family gathering.

I did 9 loads of laundry this weekend, between Hubby and I, both boys, Angus and Webster. I deserved my quiet evening with Minecraft and tea.

I spent Monday and Tuesday preparing for my vacation. Not to the sunny DR, but to my chilly hometown. I was looking forward to leaving the idiot city drivers behind. This week I had a white pick up truck in a hurry dash out in front of me, even though there was no one behind me. But then proceeded to slow down to a crawl and speed up a few times. I assumed he was looking for a driveway and I tried to be patient. Cars started piling up behind me. And then he stopped. In the middle of the lane. And sat!

I could see the driver…drinking.

Now I get thirsty in the car sometimes too, but I have never stopped in the middle of a lane of traffic to chug a coke. Cars flew past me and I finally pulled out to pass as well. The young male driver was indeed chugging something in a blue can. I hope it was Pepsi and not Budweiser.

I looked in the rearview mirror. Refreshed, he was turning into the next driveway.

I never suggested you were a bad driver. I’m sure that mailbox totally swerved right front of you.

Unknown

Angus and I set out in the rain, heavy rain that was already pooling in the gutters along the side roads. There seemed to be an inordinately large number of transports, some with double trailers, on the highway. So the spray combined with the rain made it an interesting trip to say the least. Surprisingly, I met very few drivers recreating chase scenes like from the TV show, Miami Vice (but on wheels). There was certainly enough water on the roads for boats. Most drivers were content to drive under the speed limit and leave space.

I did have to laugh at one silver car. They were signaling left and I wondered why they weren’t going. The lane was clear. It was because they were waiting to pull off the highway…to the right.

I remembered to pack my orange toothbrush. It’s new. Hubby got it for me because I kept grabbing his. He usually gets ready for bed before me ( because I’m tossing in laundry, putting away snacks, or tucking Angus in bed) so he puts the toothpaste on. My toothbrush was blue, but in my defence, his toothbrush has always been blue. Is it any wonder I rush in late and grab the yellow one?

Tonight Eldest Son’s girlfriend is spending her last night, poolside by the beach. I spent last p night staring at a blank t.v. because the satellite was out, listening to thunder rumbling as it snowed heavily and sideways. The birds at the feeder were confused. A lone mourning dove stood so long in the thick falling snow, he collected snow on his back. What happened to Spring? Two days ago I was outside in a t-shirt and bare feet.

I think the rest of the week will be spent drinking hot tea, watching Escape to the County re-runs, and negotiating a hostage situation…some bunny stole all the candy and is holding it hostage. I’m not sure there will be any survivors. Wish me luck!

At my age I can hide my own Easter eggs. Wait an hour, then I have no idea where I hid them.

Anonymous

Happy Easter

Tags

#whatsinmycup, Easter, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time

When the world is at odds and the mind is at sea,
Then cease the useless tedium and brew a cup of tea.
There is magic in its fragrance and solace in its taste;
And the laden moments vanish somehow into space.
The world becomes a lovely thing!
There’s beauty as you see:
All because you briefly stopped to brew a cup of tea.

Anonymous

Dear Diary – Week 13, 2024

Tags

dear diary, family, humour, pets, sewing, singing

Dear Diary – In some part of the world, the number 13 is considered lucky, like Brazil. In Southeast Asia, it’s viewed as “luck or good fortune”, and in parts of Italy, it’s associated with the goddess of fertility and abundance. I view it as just another number.

The first day of Spring was celebrated this week, which could be considered good fortune. I don’t know too many people who enjoy all that Canadian Winter has to offer. Hubby and I enjoyed it with strong winds and heavy snow swirling around us. Hubby even consented to working from home, anticipating sketchy roads.

Which made his assent to picking up McDonald’s for dinner so confusing.

We braved the roads and they were far worse than anticipated. So were the drivers!! But we made it home, as documented by this photo, since I snapped it at home and not at a mechanics.

Welcome Spring!

That’ll teach me to mock the people who “flew south” to avoid bad weather…

Dear Diary – Why do we wait until funerals to catch up with old friends?

This weekend, I attended the visitation of a dear friend’s Mom. Oddly enough, it was the 5 year anniversary of this dear friend’s funeral. It was there I reconnected with someone from what feels like a former life. We’re going to try to meet for coffee in April.

We’re both scatter-brained, so it might be May.

Hopefully by then, the snow will be gone for good this time.

Dear Diary – Hubby got a new mouth guard and look, the dentist passed on the mold for it.

I’m so thrilled!

Dear Diary – I was on the worship team on Sunday and I blew it. The guitarist started the intro but at a different rhythm and it threw me off. So much so, I looked over at my iPad because I thought “did I hit the wrong song?”. My panic was captured on video and immortalized on Youtube. I started late…or was it early. By the chorus, I thought we were back on track and that we stayed that way for the rest of the song. The raised eyebrows of the guitar player as she turned and looked wide-eyed at the electric guitar player suggests, not.

I got through the first 2 songs. Relieved, I hit the button for the third song, which I was not leading, and turned the page. I was the only instrument for the intro…

Nausea washed over me as the countdown began and I had flipped to the last song.

Fortunately I remembered the first 3 chords so I started playing and tried to calmly flip back. I had time. Only I flipped back to song #2 again. I tried again, and again. And yet again. What was going on? One paperclip, attached to aid in page turning had shifted and was firmly clenching an extra page, like a person with diarrhea stuck in a long line for the bathroom.

It was as if my reoccurring nightmare was coming. Being on the platform during a service without music. At least in real life, I knew what song we were supposed to be doing. I just couldn’t get to it!

We were on page 2 by the time I managed to sort it out. Sweat was collecting in pools in my black Mary Jane’s. I think I saw people in the front row breathe a sigh of relief after watching my obvious distress and flurry of activity on the right side of my binder.

A new guy came up after the service to tell the other vocalist how awesome she is (and she is) and to ask how long she’s been leading. When he realized I was there within earshot, he grinned at me like he was smelling something rotten. Yeah, dude, I got it!

Do something awesome, nobody sees it. Do something embarrassing, everyone sees it.

Unknown

Dear Diary – When Dad started texting me about fabric, I knew exactly where he was: Hobby Lobby! I’ve never been but I’ve heard it’s a crafter’s paradise. Maybe this summer Mom and I can go “Thelma & Louise” (minus the sex and cliff diving) and go shopping!!

It isn’t the fall that kills you. It’s the sudden stop at the end.

Douglas Adams

Dear Diary – I went to Fabricland and exercised great control. I bought zippers and D-rings and webbing as planned. I had a list! I also bought fabric for a yoga bag and a scrub cap, but at 50% off. Unfortunately the strapping is the wrong size. I now have enough webbing to do 1 strap…on 2 different bags.

Dear Diary – I’ve heard of a cat in the hat, but not a cat in the sink!

Youngest Son has a new pet too.

Youngest Son’s bedroom screen has a hole in it, and someone has made a nest.

I’m guessing someone may have babies soon. No sleep for Youngest Son.

Dear Diary – Instead of trying a new recipe this week, I worked on technique by cooking beef filets in a cast iron frying pan. They were almost perfect!

Dear Diary – I joined my friend at her appointment for her next injection and training so she can do it on her own (she’s adamant she can’t). It turned out, it was also the nurse’s first time to do it too, so we all watched the video together. It’s way more complicated than mine. She has to load a device with a cartridge and then tape it to her body. The device does the rest.

Once it was all set up and the green light was flashing, it was go time. It poked her, which she said didn’t hurt, and then the device freaked out. So did we! It started beeping rapidly and flashing a red light, which meant the device had failed to deploy. The poor nurse turned white and dashed from the room to get her colleague. The device will have to be sent back to the manufacturer and my friend will have to wait for another to arrive.

My friend is trained now, but she definitely refuses to do it herself now!

Dear Diary – I’m not sure if I’m going to get Eldest Son and his girlfriend for a meal on Easter Sunday. I got a text last night for prayer because his girlfriend’s passport is missing. He’s spending the week in a tropical paradise with his girlfriend, her sister and her Mom. They can’t all afford to miss work and I don’t know if plane tickets can be deferred. What a mess!

But as a mutual friend said, “it’s not a bad place to be stuck for a few days”.

Dear Diary – I tried to renew prescriptions today but the auto-renew phone system didn’t like me. I put in my renewal number and hit # as directed. It told me my birth year didn’t match their records. It never asked for my birthdate.

It told me to try my birth year again. I did. It complained again (and it was rather snarky about it). I had to wait to talk to a real person.

Both should be ready today.

Dear Diary – Hubby decided he’d work from home today, rather than going in late and working late. He is planning to pick up Youngest Son after his class tonight, which ends at 10. I’m excited that Youngest Son wants to come home.

Initially Hubby had decided he’d go to work as usual and just find a parking lot to sleep in. I texted him, asked him if he really preferred a parking lot over being home with me?

It took him over an hour to respond.

Hubby is slightly better company than Angus these days. Angus rarely leaves his house and he’s booping it around less. I don’t know if he’s not feeling well, or after 3 weeks of daily antibiotics, he’s terrified I’m going to pick him up.

The other day I cut open one end of an empty cracker box, and cut a window in the other end. Angus won’t go in it, but I caught him napping outside it, with his nose in the window. Again, like a small child, if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.

Dear Diary – Mom accidentally bought decaf tea. The world might be ending.

It gets worse.

Youngest Son, who we’ve been harassing bugging asking for weeks to apply for Summer jobs, and who has been considering whether to work for a year or finish his college program next Fall, texted that he’d like to do summer school!

He’s getting along well with his roommates which is a blessing after so many years alone in his Batcave room, thanks to Covid shutdowns. Also, he wouldn’t have the stress of moving out. (Or getting a job!) He sounded good, like he’s thought about it and feeling positive. Yes, it negates getting a job but if he’s happy and doing something useful, it’s grand.

Dear Diary – I’m only fluent in 2 out of 3 languages: English and sarcasm. I need to work on keeping my mouth shut.

There’s even a warning in the Bible: Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble. (Prov. 21:23 NLT)

You’d think I’d learn, but here I am again. Hello Old friends, Rock and Hard place. 

Aynsley

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, tea, tea addict, tea cups, tea history, tea lover, tea party, tea photography

John Aynsley founded his company in 1775 but it wasn’t formally registered as a pottery until 1810. The company began with clay pieces before introducing a line of silver luster ware. In the 1840’s, John Aynsley’s grandson became well-known for bone china pieces after he altered the manufacturing process, which resulted in a beautiful translucent, bright white china. This new porcelain was ideal for applying intricate designs and gilding.

The Portland Works was built in 1861 for producing fine bone china. And a commission from Queen Victoria for tableware authorized Aynsley to include the royal family’s seal in its maker’s mark. He also produced patterns to celebrate other royal occasions, including “Windsor”, chosen by Princess Elizabeth to mark her 1947 marriage. Aynsley also produced commemorative items for Prince William’s marriage in 2011 and the Queen’s Diamond Julilee in 2012.

In 1970, Aynsley was bought out by Waterford Glass. It was sold again in 1977 to Belleek Pottery in Northern Ireland. In 2014, Portland Works was decommissioned and production outsourced to China.

This beautiful burgundy and white footed tea cup, with a pink center rose and intricate gilding, was produced in the 1930’s.

A cup of tea is an excuse to share great thoughts with great minds.

Christina Re

Resources: Worthpoint