A Long Weekend

 

Irises

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

We've enjoyed a long weekend with Monday being a holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

On Saturday afternoon, one of daughter's friends came over for a cooking lesson!  Daughter is showing her how to make Sri Lankan food.  They made a dhal curry with red lentils and a mallung with kale (a mallung is shredded greens sauteed with grated coconut, onions, green chillies, turmeric, etc.)  They had fun and, afterwards, daughter kept a portion of what they cooked for us and gave the rest to her friend to take home to share with her father and sister.  They are planning to make chicken curry, next weekend!

On Sunday, daughter and I visited my cousin V and her family.   V was recovering from surgery on her right shoulder.  I prepared a chicken curry for her and also took some cashew curry and moringa curry I had cooked and frozen earlier.  One of V's sisters-in-law had made a big pan of chicken biryani for her, so, at V's urging, daughter and I enjoyed some of it for lunch.

After we came home, I phoned Aunt C baked another batch of no salt added blueberry muffins:

Blueberry Muffins

We enjoyed some of them with our evening tea.

Dinner was chicken fried rice:

Chicken Fried Rice

On Monday, friend R visited in the afternoon.  She brought us Christmas gifts and collected several of her packages that had been delivered to my address.  At 11:00 a.m. on Monday, R texted me to notify me that another package she had been expecting to be delivered on Tuesday was being delivered on Monday, instead, and that it would require a signature.  However, a short time later, I discovered a notice on my door from a different delivery service than the one R had said were delivering her package, stating that they had tried to deliver a package but no one was at home!  Apparently, they had tried to deliver it before R had told me to expect a delivery and if they had knocked on the door, I had not heard it.  It upset me a little and I felt as if I was at fault, even though I know that it wasn't. 

Anyway, R called them and they are going to redeliver it today, but, R didn't know at what time.  I woke up at 7:00 a.m., which is early for me (especially after going to bed after 3:00 a.m.) in order to be ready to accept the delivery.  They just delivered it (at 11:00 a.m.)

On Monday evening, after R left, I cooked the pork roast that I had bought on Friday.  Daughter cut the roast in half for me and further cut one of the halves into 8 pork chops and cubed the rest.  I roasted the one half, froze the chops in two packages of four chops each, and made a curry with the cubed pieces.  

Breakfast had been a scrambled egg on toast for me (daughter made herself a sandwich with fried eggs and the last bagel).  We had blueberry muffins with tea when R visited (and we gave R some of the muffins to take home).  Dinner was rice, pork curry, dhal, the last of the kale mallung, and tomato chutney:

Monday Dinner

On Monday afternoon, before R visited, daughter and I spent a little time in the garden, watering the plants, feeding the compost bin, and just checking things out.  Later, daughter took the trash cans to the curb for me.  Later, I texted with cousin N.

Also on Monday, I finished knitting the back of daughter's sweater:

Daughter's Sweater - Back

It's the same wool I used for my sweater, but, a different color, called "Aran".  I'll start the front, today.  She wants the same design, but, just a little longer than my sweater.  

Today, Tuesday, is another sunny and warm day.  I woke up early, as mentioned above, brought the emptied trash cans in, accepted R's package, and tidied the living room a little bit.  I will knit and do some quiet activities today as daughter is having a migraine and is resting (she took a day off from work).  

Today, I am grateful for:

- A lovely long weekend with plenty of social interactions
- Pleasant weather (sunny days, warm temperatures)
- Being able to accept the delivery of a package for R
- Weekly trash collection services
- Daughter is able to take time off from work when needed

Today's joyful activity will be knitting.  

More Irises

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for today?

January Grocery Shopping - Part 2

I ordered and picked up groceries on Friday.  Since my daughter put the groceries away for me right away, I couldn't take a picture of them, but, here's a copy of the receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$154.48

Item Coupons/Sales-$57.62

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.60

Sales Tax+$1.17

Order Total$98.63

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Item Details

54 Items

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Value Pack, 1 lb$13.93

4.66 lbs x $2.98 $4.99 each (approx.)

Broccoli Crown, 1 ct$2.79

1.12 lbs x $2.49 each (approx.)

CA Redem Val (on the sparkling water)$0.60

12 x $0.05 each (approx.)

CA Redem Val (on the sparkling water)$0.60

12 x $0.05 each (approx.)

Cucumber, 1 ct$0.99

1 x $0.99 each

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$0.69

1 lbs x $0.69 each

Fresh Green Beans, 1 lb$2.42

0.97 lbs x $2.49 each (approx.)

Fresh Seedless Red Grapes, 1 lb$2.29

1.15 lbs x $1.99 $3.99 each (approx.)

Kroger® Cage Free Large White Eggs, 18 ct$4.39

1 x $4.39 each

Kroger® Crunchy Butterfly Shrimp Frozen, 32 ounces$9.99

1 x $9.99 $14.99 each

Kroger® White Sandwich Bread, 20 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Kroger® Whole Vitamin D Milk 32 fl. oz. Bottle, 1 qt$2.49

1 x $2.49 each

Large Gala Apple - Each, 1 each$2.75

1.38 lbs x $1.99 each (approx.)

Mountain High Plain Yogurt Tub, 32 oz$4.49

1 x $4.49 $4.99 each

Pork Bone-In Boston Butt Shoulder Roast, 1 lb$29.45

9.85 lbs x $2.98 $5.99 each (approx.)

Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar Strawberry Lemonade Sparkling Water, 17 fl oz$12.00

12 x $1.00 $1.67 each

StarKist Reduced Sodium Chunk Light in Water Can, 5 oz$5.00

5 x $1.00 $1.59 each

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Other Fees

$0.60

Bag Fee$0.60

6 x $0.10 each

I spent a lot on groceries this time.

But, the majority of the chicken is for a chicken curry I am making to take to my cousin who had shoulder surgery earlier this week and I thought that the boneless, skinless chicken will be easier for her to manage with her non-dominant hand.  The package held 5 chicken breast halves and I cut up and curried four of them to take to my cousin's tomorrow; the other one was sliced and sauteed with onions, lemon juice, pepper, garlic powder, etc., to be added to salads or made into sandwiches for my daughter and me for our brunches, etc.

I forgot to specify a small pork roast when I ordered the groceries and the person picking out my groceries picked a huge pork roast!  However, it will provide us with many meals as I plan to cook and freeze some of it.

The shrimp was a treat and a bit of a splurge, even on sale.  It's been a while since I last bought it because I didn't want to pay the higher sale price, but, it'll be a nice treat to look forward to.  

January grocery shopping part 1 is here.

January grocery budget = $250

Spent to date = $65.05 + $98.63 = $163.68

Balance left in the budget = $250 - $163.68 = $86.32

Meal Plan Options:

We are not really following a meal plan at this time.  Sometimes, daughter and I eat the same things (we both had tuna salad sandwiches, on Friday, after I bought the lower sodium canned tuna and we both had rice and curries today when daughter cooked dhal and kale mallung) but, often, we eat different things and at different times, especially when she's working. 

However, I like to write down meal plan options and these are the options for next week:

Brunches: Scrambled eggs with toast (and sausages for daughter); omelet with salad or sauteed greens; salad with chicken; chicken sandwiches; tuna or egg salad sandwiches; French toast; blueberry muffins; fried rice

Dinners: Rice, chicken curry, dhal, kale mallung, and tomato chutney; rice with leftover salmon, broccoli, and chutney; pasta with chicken and spaghetti sauce; chicken and vegetable soup; roast pork with potatoes, green beans, and carrots and/or pork curry with rice, cucumber salad, sauteed cabbage; leftovers/planned overs or something else not on the plan!  

How are you coming along with your grocery shopping and grocery spending so far in January?  

A Finished Project: New Sweater

Back of Sweater: Stockinette Stitch

I finished knitting the sweater I started on December 29, 2025 and finished sewing it up, today.  It was my "de-stressing/relaxing" sweater.  The back was done in stockinette stitch (knit on one side, purl on the other), which was very quick and simple.

The Front: Cables

The front started out being in stockinette stitch, too, but, then, I decided that I didn't like it so plain.  I unpicked everything down to the ribbing, and chose to do cables.  I debated between a V-neck or a round neck and decided to go with a round neck.  

I rarely block my sweaters, which is why the sweater looks the way it does in the pictures above.  I'm not slim enough to fit into a sweater that small.  But, the cabling gives the sweater a lot of elasticity.  

My New Sweater

I used four and a half balls of 100 g (3.5 oz) wool for this sweater.  I have more balls of wool in this same color for another planned project.

Today, I am grateful for:

- My new sweater
- My yarn stash

- Being taught to knit when I was a child
- Time to knit
- What I was able to accomplish

Today's joyful activity was finishing and wearing my new sweater.

My next knitting project will be a sweater for my daughter.  I'll use the same brand of yarn, but, a different color - a cream wool called "Aran" on the label.  She wants hers to be a longer length.  I'll be casting on the stitches for that after I publish this post.

Are you working on a project currently?

On Thursday

 

Aloe Flowers

The aloe plants (they are a different variety than aloe vera) are flowering.  

Close Up

The flower stalks open up very gradually from the bottom of the stalk.  The individual flowers are still not fully open.

Another Close Up

The hummingbirds wait impatiently for them to open fully so they can enjoy the nectar.

Daughter had a full day of meetings on Thursday.  I slept in and then spent the rest of the day reading, watching online videos, and knitting.  It was another sunny and warm day (high of 79F) and I took another walk in the garden to look at things such as the aloe flowers and my stumpery:

The Stumpery

It hasn't changed since the last picture I took of it, but, I love looking at it.  LOL.  

Later in the evening, I called cousin V and chatted with her for a bit.

I made milkrice for brunch and I had mine with seeni sambol (onion relish) and daughter, who had already eaten a piece of curried chicken, had hers with sugar.  For dinner, I made pancakes and ate mine with baked chicken and a little bit of chicken curry gravy (I had added a little salt to the chicken curry).  We shared an apple for dessert and I had a cookie.  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- Another sunny and warm day
- Garden flowers
- Time to knit and relax
- Library books
- Phone calls and emails with family and friends

Thursday's joyful activities included knitting, spending time in the garden, and watching videos.

Plans for Friday include ordering and picking up groceries and tending to the garden with M.

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?

Roses and Butterflies on Wednesday

Rose Cuttings

 On Wednesday, M was here and he pruned the rose bushes.  He took some cuttings and set them in a pot with soil to see if they will root.  We spritzed the soil with some water, stood the pot in a bowl to catch any water that might seep out, stuck two chopsticks to act as supports, and covered the whole thing with a plastic bag:

The Covered Rose Cuttings

The chopsticks will hold the bag up and the bag will provide a nice humid environment.  We will now wait and see if anything happens over the next several days weeks. 

Wednesday was another sunny and warm day.  M enjoyed his share of the blueberry muffins and said he couldn't tell that the muffins were made without salt.  Later in the afternoon, during daughter's lunch break, we strolled around the garden for a little bit and admired the flowers and the plants.  She amused herself trying to take a picture of a painted lady butterfly:

Spot the Butterfly?

It's perched on one of the lantana flowers.

Do you see it now?

How about now?

I had a salmon sandwich for brunch and daughter had a bagel with salad and a fried egg.  For dinner, daughter had a burrito from the freezer and I had some spagetti with chicken.  We shared an apple for fruit and I had a cookie, too.  We both had cereal as a snack.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- The lovely weather we are having
- M's help with the garden
- Time to relax and enjoy knitting
- Electricity

- Phone calls from friends

Wednesday's joyful activity was enjoying the garden with daughter.

Plans for Thursday include ordering groceries and knitting.

How was your Wednesday?  What are your plans for Thursday?

Relaxed Days

 

Blueberry Muffins

We are having spring-like temperatures, this week, with daytime highs in the 70s and maybe even the low 80s towards the end of the week!  The evenings and nights are cool, though, 

I have been taking it easy, spending a little time in the garden, knitting my sweater, and doing little things around the house.  Meals have been simple - leftover French toast and scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, salad with baked chicken for dinner, crackers and peanut butter for snacks, cookies and fruit for dessert.  

But, on Tuesday, I baked a batch of blueberry muffins, using homegrown blueberries I had frozen.  I tweaked my muffin recipe and omitted the salt and the muffins still turned out quite well.  In fact, daughter preferred them to the muffins I generally bake.  

I am grateful for:

- The sunny, warm weather
- Daughter's help with tasks around the house
- Time to relax and knit
- Salad greens from the garden
- Working appliances

Joyful activities have included spending time in the garden, knitting, spending time with my daughter.

Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M, knitting, and maybe ordering groceries.

How is your week coming along?  What are your plans for Wednesday?

On Sunday

 

3-D Puzzle Vase

One of daughter's friends who visited her on Saturday gave her a 3-D jigsaw puzzle as a holiday gift.  Daughter asked me if I'd like to help her assemble the puzzle and together, we made this vase!  There is a plastic container, inside, which can be filled with water, making it possible to use the vase to display flowers.  

Sunday was another sunny day with an afternoon high of 72F.  In fact, it was warmer outside than inside and we opened the doors and windows to air out the house and bring the warmth in, as well.  I walked a bit in the garden and picked more lemons while daughter watered the raised beds.  Later, I watered the houseplants.

I did a load of laundry in the morning and put away a load of laundry that had been done, earlier.  Daughter did her laundry, afterwards, and vacuumed the living room.  My blood pressure was a little elevated, so, I took it easy for the most part, watching videos and knitting.

I made pancakes for brunch but we did our own thing for dinner.  I finished the last of the soup and had a scrambled egg and crackers with peanut butter for a snack.  Daughter had rice and salmon with tomato chutney.  

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- A sunny and warm day
- Lemons from the garden
- Working appliances
- Daughter's help with household tasks
- Time to relax, watch videos, and knit

Joyful activities included putting together the 3-D puzzle vase with daughter.

Plans for Monday include putting away my laundry and knitting.  

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?