Sunday, April 24, 2016

Saturday's Happenings

Once again, I couldn't sleep until after 3:00 a.m., last night.  I remember looking at the time and it was 3:15 a.m. and I must have dozed off, because I woke up again at 3:45 a.m.!  But I managed to fall asleep again and I slept until 8:00 a.m. when the alarm went off.  I had set the alarm because I wanted to wake up early enough to try to reestablish a somewhat regular sleep pattern.  Towards that end, I've also decided I'll try to avoid afternoon naps.

After I had my morning cup of tea, I decided to put some eggs to boil to make more egg salad, and then, I forgot I had the eggs on the stove!  Suddenly I got a burning smell and remembered the eggs!  All the water had boiled off and the eggs were burnt!  Oh, no!  I was hoping that only the shells were burnt and peeled them to see, but they were burnt on the inside, too.


Burnt Eggs
I put three more eggs to boil and this time, I remembered to turn off the stove in good time!  I really need to get myself a kitchen timer!

I also decided that I would bake myself a loaf of bread using some of the frozen bread dough I had bought as part of my pre-chemo stock up.  I kept the frozen dough to thaw and rise and baked it in the afternoon.

Freshly Baked Bread

How is it possible that I can bake a perfect loaf of bread and burn hard boiled eggs?

In between burning the eggs and baking the bread, I cleaned both bathrooms, did the dishes, tidied the kitchen counters, made the egg salad (from the 2nd lot of boiled eggs), and did a little paperwork/filing. 

Around 11:00 a.m., the friend I had asked to buy me some groceries called to say she and her husband were on their way from the grocery store.  She brought me the bananas, broccoli, and head of lettuce I had asked for, but she wouldn't accept any money from me.  This is another reason why I don't like to ask people to grocery shop for me, because they won't let me pay them back.  So I picked a bag of fresh lemons and several sprigs of curry leaves and gave her in return.

Later in the evening, one of my cousins and her mother visited me.  They had wanted to bring me a loaf of bread last night, when I had mentioned to them that I was out of bread, but I told them not to worry, it was too late and I knew they were both tired after work, etc.  So they had said they'll come this evening, instead.  I had made the egg salad and the bread because aunt had said she liked egg salad sandwiches.

I had asked cousin to bring me a certain brand of tea that I like, as she lives close to the Sri Lankan store that sells it.  Well, she and aunt brought me three bags of groceries!  Including a loaf of multi-grain bread, a loaf of cinnamon-raisin bread, a package of English muffins, two bunches of bananas, a bag of apples, several packets of fruit cups and applesauce cups, two six packs of apple juice bottles (I had mentioned to cousin, once, that I sometimes take a small bottle of apple juice when I go for my chemo sessions), and, of course, the two boxes of tea bags I had requested.  And they wouldn't accept any money, not even for the tea, which is a bit pricey.  I am overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness and generosity.

We had egg salad sandwiches and some of the leftover chicken and vegetables I had made earlier in the week for dinner and we spent a lovely evening chatting.  Aunt liked the bread I had baked, so, when they left, I gave them the rest of the loaf to take with them.  It was the least I could do!

After they left, I video chatted with daughter.   She had spent the better part of her day preparing her thesis presentation.  She has to give a 10-minute presentation and prepare herself for a 50-minute question and answer session.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Generous family and friends
- Having visitors and company

- Being able to give produce from the garden in return 
- Very few side effects other than the insomnia
- A lovely day

How was your Saturday?  Did you have a good start to your weekend?  

16 comments:

  1. I can't sleep right now and I had just finished talking about you on my blog post that will be published Sunday night, coincidentally, when I saw that you had published a new post yourself. I'm guessing your insomnia hasn't totally gone away either, eh?

    I confess that I have forgotten eggs on the stove before but I have never burned the INSIDE of hard boiled eggs! I didn't even know it was possible, lol. Sorry for laughing but that's funny! Did you check your phone? Most of them (even non smartphones) have a timer function or at least an alarm you can set. I use the timer on my vent hood if I'm going to be in the kitchen, otherwise I set an alarm on my phone (since it's always with me and I think yours is too now that you made that pouch for it) and it's saved me from burning foods many times!

    Your relatives are very caring, that is so nice of them to have provided you with the groceries and no doubt it brought them joy to do you this favor and offer them to you so I don't think you should feel bad. After all, if the roles were reversed, I have no doubt that you would be doing the same for them!

    Your bread looks delicious, by the way! I could eat a slice of it right now.

    Good luck to your daughter with her thesis. Is she presenting it this week?

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    1. I checked my phone and it does appear to have a timer function. I will ask my daughter to show me how to set it, when she comes home next. It'll be easier than looking for the booklet that came with the phone!

      Yes, daughter is presenting her thesis this week, on Thursday afternoon. :)

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  2. Sending hugs. I am sure that you are getting generous help because you have been generous in the past. I hope the insomnia goes soon, sleep is an absolute necessity! x

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    1. Thank you for the hugs. :)

      I managed to get 7 hours of sleep, last night, by sleeping in a bit this morning. But I have to be up early, tomorrow, to be at the clinic at 8:30 a.m. for my injection.

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  3. btw - I think writing is like icing a cake or knitting a shawl. The first attempts can be hit and miss, even with innate talent. However, after practice, the skill shows through and it is accomplished a lot quicker. Go for it! You don't have to share unless you wish, but my experience is that writing has literally saved my mind. See how you feel. I think, looking at your pictures and reading your blog, that you have a natural sense of beauty which is bound to come through. (and thank you for the nice words about my writing - I feel hugged!) x

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement. Maybe I'll indulge in a bit of writing sooner than later!

      I'm glad you felt hugged. I really do like your writing. :)

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  4. Sorry to hear your sleep pattern is all over the place. It must be so frustrating. Maybe giving up the afternoon naps will help as you say, although I'd probably be more inclined to just go with the flow if it's not causing you too many problems.

    The bread looks delicious although I have to say I've never come across anybody who has burned a boiled egg before :)

    You seem to have such a thoughtful and generous support network. I'm a great believer in you reap what you sow. You must be a lovely person. xx

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    1. Well, it's one way of making sure the eggs were cooked! :D

      I don't mind the insomnia too much. Some of the other possible side effects are so much worse. I'll go with the flow, as you say.

      As for my support network, I can truly say that I am blessed.

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  5. The insomnia gets better, I promise. For me it took about four months or so after the completion of chemotherapy before I started getting more productive sleep. I wish I had smell-o-vision for the bread; not so much for the eggs!

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    1. Thank you, Ann, good to know it's temporary. I'll take the insomnia over some of the other possible side effects such as neuropathy!

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  6. Bless, I am so happy that your friends and relatives came and brought you the groceries.. How very nice.. Shows that you are a caring /loving person,yourself.

    The bread looks so good.. BTY.... I have burned hard boiled eggs ,several times..ha..Get busy and it will do it every time.
    Hope you have a good week.. sending prayers for daughters thesis presentation..

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    1. Thank you, Judy. Glad I'm not the only one who burns eggs! LOL. But I was able to rescue them, as you'll find out when you read today's post. :D

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  7. That bread looks yummy! I'm glad you had a lovely day and so generous people in your life.

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    1. Thank you, Jess. The bread turned out really well, I'm glad to say. Makes up for the eggs! :D

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  8. Asking for, and accepting, help occasionally will help people maintain room in their lives to assist you when you need it. Otherwise, you can drift out of their awareness. Offer to pay but if someone wants to give you a gift, smile and say thank you. Do something nice for them later when you're able. But don't avoid asking them again if you need help. People mostly want to feel appreciated. Advice over. 🙃

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    1. Thank you, Marylynn. Usually, I've been the person offering to help, so, it's a bit of a role reversal for me to ask for help. I'm still learning how to do that! But you are right, people mostly want to feel appreciated.

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