If this is Tuesday, it must be England #193

  

Happy 90th Birthday coming up on October 9th to His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, the oldest surviving grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary and first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

His Royal Highness has been Duke of Kent since he was seven years old after the death of his father in a wartime flying accident.  A career Army officer, the Duke is now retired but still retains connections to his regiments.  The Duke was most recently seen at the funeral of his wife, Katharine, The Duchess of Kent.

The Duke of Kent with his son, the Earl of St. Andrews, and his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor

His Royal Highness is the oldest living member of the British Royal Family.  This photo below was posted in September, a month before his 90th birthday.

Life Last Week (29 September-5 October 2025)

 

Getting this post up a little late, it's been a week!

The weather for the week ahead:::

Woo Hoo, four days this week when the temperature doesn't move out of the 50s!

On my reading pile:::

 The Venetian Daughter by Ella Carey on my Kindle and I'm heading to the library today, so I'll pick up something new.

On my TV:::

The Great Canadian Baking show episodes on Roku came to an end.  I need to find out if the show is still running and where I can watch it.  This week it was The Hardacres on BritBox and the Great British Baking Show on Netflix.  Vic was on a business trip so no Hallmark; it was an Indian Summers and then a Hart of Dixie marathon.

Blood of my Blood, the prequel to Outlander took a break last week to keep us in suspense for the finale this Friday.

Checked off the list:::

• Mammogram with all clear results
• More London booking going on:
•  British Museum tickets and afternoon tea at the Great Court Restaurant ✓
• Windsor Castle and rail tickets ✓
• #donebydecember - December Daily 2021 album is complete!

Crafts roundup:::

Keeping current on my memory planning.  Still working on the American Girls Club album I started during the virtual crop.

 

And in other news:::

Week Six focuses on kids' rooms for deep-cleaning, decluttering, and organizing so that there's room to spare for holiday gifts. We'll assess each child's possessions, record clothing sizes, and prepare a Gift Ideas Planner for Santa ... or Grandma.

Our holiday prep assignments include assembling freezer meals, working on hand-crafted gifts, and continuing to buy gifts and holiday supplies.

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

This last week has been all about Malone.  He's had some sort of stomach upset and wants to go out at 4:00am or 5:00am to eat grass.  It's not so bad because between the light at the backdoor and the lights on the deck, I can see him but when he starts to howl, it's all I can do to get him back in the house and quiet!  Rascal!

I took this when it was still light out but you can see the lights on the posts.

There was a pumpkin event at a local nursery this weekend - the pumpkins are made by a glassblowing studio in the area and were just gorgeous.  I didn't realize that this was an annual event - they produce an annual pumpkin which is a great collector's item.  I resisted the urge to buy anything; I'm using the government shutdown as my avenue to have a no-spend.

I loved this little one - I suppose $70 was a fair price for the artistry that went into it, but I resisted.

2024 and 2025's collector's pumpkins

I stopped by the gourmet market to pick up some crumpets.  They have a large bulk section and how did I miss that there is an olive oil and balsamic vinegar fill your own bottle section?

Lots of interesting events at the gourmet kitchen

Next stop, World Market to check out how the holiday displays are coming along.  The British chocolate and shortbread section is filling out nicely.  I love these movie night cups.  I bought the popcorn containers at the dollar store one year and filled them with a Coke, popcorn, movie candy, and a certificate for a movie from Amazon.com.

They also had an endcap full of a variety of Dubai chocolate.  Ok, maybe a small bar made its way into my cart!

And if you've been watching House of Guinness on Netflix, here's your movie snack.

It's Day Six of the government shutdown - tough times ahead for many if this is not resolved soon.

RIP Dame Patricia Routledge

Dame Patricia Routledge has died at the age of 96. Born February 17, 1929, she had an acting career spanning stage and both large and small screens. She will be most widely remembered for her television work. Her starring role as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances (1990) netted Dame Patricia the title of Britain's all-time favorite actress in 1996 and led to her achieving global recognition due to the show's incredible popularity. After five years in that role, she left for something new with the show Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996) and later went on to helm multiple theatrical tours. When interviewers would ask her when she planned to stop performing, she would ask them to spell 'retirement' because: "It's not in my vocabulary." Dame Patricia Routledge (1929 -2025)

Around the 'Net

 Not intended for political purposes, I am merely posting the link for the government shutdown clock if anyone is interested.

Government Shutdown Clock

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 622

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Here are this week's questions, which you should answer on your own blog and then pop over to Joyce's blog (click on the graphic for the link) Wednesday to add your link to the party.

 

1.  What's your favorite fall scent?  Would we find this in or around your home right now?

Pumpkin.  I don't have a pumpkin candle going at the moment, but I received a coupon for Bath & Body Works, so I think I'll head over there and check out their offerings.  Any of these look yummy:

2. October is Country Music Month...are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

It's ok but I don't listen enough or follow enough on social media to know who's who or the names of their songs.  I have never been to Nashville.  I'm definitely a city mouse, a Detroit Motown city mouse! 

3. How about 'country cooking'? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-'barbecue'-gumbo-banana pudding 

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven't tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered?

My favorite would be fried chicken.  I'm still using my seventh-grade home economics recipe, and I alternate that with Sophia's godmother's recipe.  I also enjoy biscuits and gravy, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and barbecue.  On the just ok list would be chicken and dumplings, cornbread, and banana pudding.  A firm no thank you would go to shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, collard or turnip greens, and gumbo.

4. What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

A cup of tea.  It's the recipe to lift any mood.  If I went to see my mum and she could see I had something not-so-positive on my mind, the first thing she'd say would be, "Let me put the kettle on".

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

How about a picture?

September, where did you go?

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Dubai Style chocolate, love it or hate it?  Can you even find it in a store near you?  I found a bar at Hallmark ($24.99 for a bar of chocolate!!) and came across a bar at Home Goods (same size but $9.99). Costco has some Dubai Style truffles which were delicious, and I hear that Lindt will be bringing out a bar soon.

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #192

 

Vic and I both have our top three for our upcoming trip to London.  Vic's list is the Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben), Buckingham Palace, and as many afternoon teas as we can fit in!  Mine is the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and SHOPPING!

I am looking forward to exploring as many of the department store Christmas shops as we can.  I'm sure it will be lots of oohing and aahing and lots of photo snapping and one or two (or three or four) ornaments will no doubt make their way back across the pond.

These are on my list.

Fortnum and Mason

Harrods

Liberty

John Lewis

Buckingham Palace's Pop-up Christmas Shop

Selfridges has announced a festive collaboration with Disney.

I've linked all the Christmas shops in case you'd like to have a look or do a little online shopping!

Life Last Week (22-28 September 2025)

Only two days left in September...the month just flew by.

The weather for the week ahead:::

Lots of lovely rain in the forecast this week.  It means muddy paws but that's ok, I'll take that for the sound of the rain.  Luckily, I only have one appointment outside the house this week.

On my reading pile:::

 Finished The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer from my bookshelves, so it's just The Venetian Daughter by Ella Carey on my Kindle. 

On my TV:::

No change in the usual weekly viewing - Still loving The Hardacres (yay, renewed for a second season!) on BritBox, the Great British Baking Show on Netflix, and the Great Canadian Baking Show on Roku.

More Fall into Love offerings on Hallmark+ - each one we watch makes me long for New England.

And we switched from Hallmark to a few that Vic picked out, both great viewing!

We also watched Episode 9 of Blood of my Blood, the prequel to Outlander.  It's the finale this Friday but I was glad to see there will be a second season.

Checked off the list:::

• Lots of London booking going on:
•  Hotel ✓
• Pantomime ✓
• Train Tickets to visit my cousin ✓
• Historic Royal Palaces Membership ✓
• Transportation from Heathrow to our hotel ✓
• Tour of Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey ✓ (most touring we can do on our own, but I really wanted a guide for this one)
• Tuned in every morning last week for the daily 24-hour sale of past December Daily items and didn't buy a thing!
• Participated off and on in the virtual crop on Saturday.
• Did go slightly mad buying holiday acrylic pieces when they were released on Thursday at Color Cast Designs.  I couldn't resist.

Crafts roundup:::

Keeping current on my memory planning.  December Daily 2021 layouts are complete, still need a few embellishments but pivoted to work on our American Girls Club album during the virtual crop.

 

And in other news:::

Week Five sees us into the master bathroom and linen closets for Master Bathroom Week.  We'll clean and organize personal care and linen storage areas and continue working on seasonal clothing plans.

Holiday prep continues to move forward on to-make and to-buy gifts and includes a wardrobe check for kids. 

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Vic and I had a lovely Sunday brunch after church.  The weather was glorious, and we were seated on the deck overlooking the marina.

Vic selected the Corned Beef Hash while I had Biscuits and Gravy - both delicious!

What a view and there were sea lions at the end of the pier above, just relaxing in the sun.

The best latte!