Mid-Week/Mid-Month

 

Piñata Rose

Earlier this year, we dug up this rose plant that was not doing too well in the front garden, potted it up, and moved it to the back garden.  It's still in the pot, but, it seems to be doing better and has bloomed.  

Well, here we are, mid-week and mid-month, too!  Tax day, here in the US.  

This week has been a bit challenging for me and we are only on the third day!

Monday, April 13, was the Sri Lankan cultural New Year.  I had planned to make milkrice for brunch, but, that didn't happen.  My daughter woke up with a migraine headache and leg cramps; she took the day off from work and lay in a darkened room until late in the evening when she felt better.

Shortly after I woke up, there was a knock at the front door - the phone company technicians needed access to the utility pole at the back of my garden.  I hurried to unlock the gate for them and they did what they had to do and left.

Then, I received a phone call from my primary care doctor's office saying there was an issue with my insurance and could I call Medicare to update their records, etc.  Oh, dear!  That got me all stressed!  Seems to me that every time the doctor's office gets a new front office person, they don't know how to process my billing, since it has to go through a medical IPA group for processin

I had an afternoon appointment with the dermatologist and while I was getting dressed, we had an unexpected thunder storm!  It was pouring with rain while I drove to the appointment and most of the intersections were already flooded and several traffic lights were out of service.  I had left the house at 2:00 p.m. for a 2:40 p.m. appointment, which should have been plenty of time to get there, but, traffic was a nightmare and with a road closure just near the clinic, I missed my turn into the clinic.  By which time, I was already about 5 minutes late.  I pulled into a mini-mall parking lot and called the clinic to let them know I was running late.  I was told I had a 15 minute grace period.  But, by the time I drove around and found parking and got to the clinic, it was 3:00 p.m. and I was 20 minutes late; my grace period had ended!  But, they were kind enought to get me another slot that same afternoon, if I could wait half an hour and I was happy to do that, because there's a charge for missed appointments and cancellations without 48-hour prior notice.  Besides, I was already there and I'm used to long waits at doctors' offices.  I had my library book with me and I read while I waited.  It was a longer wait, however, as I was not seen until 4:00 p.m., but, I was thankful that I was seen.  The rain had stopped by then and the drive home was not too bad with just the regular evening commute traffic.  I got home at 5:00 p.m. and had my first meal of the day, which was leftovers and not milkrice!

I took the trash cans out to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning and spent as relaxed an evening as possible as I felt a bit stressed about things.  The day had not gone quite as I had expected it to.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- Rain for the garden
- A safe drive to the clinic and back
- The dermatologist fitted me in, even if I was late and had to wait until there was an opening available
- Daughter felt better in the evening
- Leftovers!

My joyful activity on Monday was reading while I waited at the clinic.

The First Blueberries are Ripening

On Tuesday, I emailed my doctor about the insurance issues.  Then, I made roast beef sandwiches and packed a lunch for my daughter and drove her to the airport as she had to leave for a work-related conference.  After I came back from the airport, I received a return email response from my doctor, telling me speak with her front office person, so I called her and left a voicemail.  She called me back and I think we confused each other even more!  I was half tempted to tell her to just go ahead and bill me and I'll pay the bill, myself, out of pocket, but, I didn't.  There's a reason why we pay for insurance, after all.  Anyway, I promised to call her back with more information.  In the past, I've had 3-way conversations with the medical provider's office, my HMO/IPA billing office, and my insurance.  I don't know why it has to be so complicated, but, apparently, it is.

Pineberry
(a type of white/light pink strawberry with red seeds)

I've picked a few pineberries from my plant, earlier, but, had forgotten to take a picture.  This time, I remembered!

Pineberry Close-Up

Then, I made myself a roast beef sandwich for my brunch, went out to the garden to pick myself a few berries to have with my sandwich:

Berries from the Garden

Since I was feeling a bit stressed from the phone call with the doctor's office, I decided to spend a little time in the garden and do some tidying up.  Some of the osteospermum plants in the front garden were spilling over onto the sidewalk and I didn't want them to obstruct the sidewalk.  They needed to be kept off the sidewalk and I decided that a small trellis would be ideal for that:

New Trellis

A few twigs and a broken metal rod and some scraps of fabric to tie things together and I have myself a trellis!

Here it is in place:

Trellis 

Later in the afternoon, the box containing the chicken coop parts (assembly required) was delivered.  It was not scheduled to be delivered until next week, when daughter would have been home to bring it in, but, I have a hand truck and I managed to wheel it on the hand truck to the garden (had to move the car out, first, to get it in, and then, moved the car back).  I also took out a stack of three plastic garden chairs to set out in the garden.

Daughter called after she arrived at her hotel and we chatted for a bit.  She had to attend a dinner for the conference attendees, but, since she wears a face mask when she is out at these events, she brought her dinner back to the hotel room to eat.  We Facetimed so I could see her hotel room.  LOL.

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Daughter had a safe flight and ride from the airport to her hotel
- I had a safe drive to the airport and back
- Fresh berries from the garden
- Being able to put together a small trellis from bits and pieces I found in the garden and my scrap basket

- Being able to chat with my daughter when she's away

My joyful activities of the day included making the trellis.

On Wednesday, I called my medical insurance and spoke to an agent to find out what was going on.  He then transferred me to Medicare, but, apparently, to the wrong section as the person I spoke to said she couldn't access my information!  So, I called the number on the back of my Medicare card, which was, apparently, the right number to call and spoke with a very helpful person, who confirmed that they had all my information on their current records (doctor's office person had said that Medicare had said they didn't have all my information; maybe they, too, called the wrong Medicare number?) and that they had received the billing and processed it in just five days after my doctor's visit and there was only the matter of my deductible which my secondary insurance should process.  I asked her if she could send me a copy of the payment they made and she said she will do that and it should arrive in the mail within 15 days.

Then, I called my medical insurance people and spoke with another very helpful agent, who explained exactly what needs to happen - the doctor's office needs to bill the HMO/IPA directly for the amount that Medicare didn't cover and they will, in turn, process it, and notify the insurance company.  I thanked her and said I'll call the doctor's office to let them know and she offered to call them herself if I give her the number, which I did.  But, I also called and left a message for the doctor's office, just in case.  I hope that will take care of the matter, but, I might call them again tomorrow (or, they might call me).   But, I am glad I was able to get that matter attended to (hopefully, to the satisfaction of all involved).

The box containing the chicken run was delivered in the late afternoon, ahead of schedule, again!  This time, I managed to push it into the house, waiting for daughter to deal with it when she gets home (she'll be back home, tonight).  For now, it is on the living room floor.

M was here in the afternoon; he said he got delayed because a nearby intersection was closed due to police activity and he had to take a detour!  I had heard helicopters flying when I was out in the garden, earlier in the morning, but, this time there were no announcements to go indoors, so I just ignored them.  M brought me a pineapple plant he had removed from his pineapple plant and a variegated "Fortnight Lily" (Dietes iridioides), also known as African iris that he had rooted for me.  I will take pictures of them, later.  He also did some watering and pruning and I made sure to hand him his pruning saw!

I had some leftovers for brunch and I put a fresh pot of rice to cook for dinner.  I picked up daughter from the airport around 8:30 p.m. and came home.  We had rice with kale mallung and leftover beef curry, etc for dinner.  

On Wednesday, I am grateful for:

- Helpful insurance agents/assistants

- Getting some procedural answers, myself, which will help me in the future

- M's help with the garden

- M sharing more plants with me

- Daughter had a safe flight home

Today's joyful activities included spending more time in the garden and bringing daughter home from the airport.  She was gone for only one night, but, she said it felt good to be home, again!

Cabbage White Butterfly on the Lantana

How is your week coming along?

The Week in Review

A Sign at the Shopping Mall

Last week went by in a flash, it seems!  Since I didn't do daily posts, I thought I'll do a quick recap of the week, if only to remind myself of what I did!

After all the excitement of Easter Sunday, Monday was a quiet day.  Daughter had work and I did a few things around the house, putting away a load of laundry I had done on Sunday, cleaning the kitchen, watering the houseplants (daughter watered the garden in the evening), and taking the trash bin to the curb for pick up on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, I brought in the emptied trash bin, went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication refill that was ready, and redeemed my Extra Care Bucks coupon for a box of cereal.  Then, I did some paperwork and paid a bill.  In the evening, after daughter finished her work for the day, we went to the library to return her books and to inquire about the free seeds that I had read about in the library's newsletter.  Apparently, a local farm had donated seeds to the library and each of the City's 70+ libraries were given 200 packets of seeds to be given to the patrons, free of charge.  However, when we asked about the free seeds, the librarian said they had all been distributed.  She did mention that one of the regional libraries had started a seed catalog and we might want to visit them.

On Wednesday, I picked curly kale leaves from the garden:

Curly Kale from the Garden

Later in the afternoon, M was here to tend to the garden.  He bought me a bag of fertilizer for plants such as blueberries, azaleas, and camellias which like acidic soils.  It cost $50 on sale, he said.  Of course, I reimbursed him for the fertilizer.  He brought me yet another rescue rose plant!  It looks  rather spindly, right now, but, it is a pink English rose, he said.  His client had two rose bushes she wanted removed and he took one and gave me the other!

New Rescured Rose Bush

On Thursday, I did more paperwork, put away a load of laundry, picked some curly kale from the garden, and used the last of the zucchini (from the Summer of Zucchini) I had in the freezer to make two loaves of zucchini bread:

Zucchini Bread

On Friday, I went to the post office because I had a couple of pieces of mail I wanted to be date stamped before I mailed them.  I also bought a book of stamps while I was there.  Daughter had a day off from work and came with me to the post office.  Afterwards, we went to Daiso, a Japanese store, where most everything used to be the equivalent of 100 yen.  That is no longer the case and the lowest priced item there is now US$2.25.  But, daughter loves going there for their craft supplies and other cute things and I love to try their snacks.  They had a 40% off sale on some of their snack items and we bought several items, including:

Chocolate and Coffee Biscuits
(I love these)

and

Cookies with a Sweetpotato Filling
(delicious!)

and

Squid Flavored Crispy Batter-Covered Peanuts
(also delicious)

I bought three large plastic planters for the garden, but, daughter paid for everything.

On the way home, we stopped at one of our favorite local Chinese fast food restaurants and daughter treated us to lunch, which we brought home to eat: chow mein, broccoli beef, green beans with chicken, jalapeno chicken, and barbecue pork.  There was enough for lunch and dinner and leftovers for at least another couple of meals, each.  

M was here to tend to the garden in the evening and I put in an order for groceries and daughter ordered items, including a coop, she is going to need for the backyard chickens she is wanting to get!  Chicken Little has been gone for several months now and the neighbors now have a rooster (it sounds like a rooster; I haven't seen it as, so far, it has stayed on their side of the wall).

On Saturday, the groceries I ordered were delivered.  Later in the afternoon, the table top weaving looms and kits daughter and I ordered were delivered and we spent some time learning how to weave!  

Much later in the night, M texted me - he thinks he left his pruning saw on top of the lemon tree; would I please retrieve it and keep it in a sheltered place where it won't get wet during the rain that was in the forecast?  Well, I went outside and searched for the tool, but, couldn't find it.  I texted him back and he said not to worry about it.  

It did rain in the early morning hours, which was lovely for the garden.

Raindrops on Roses

On Sunday, I went back out into the garden to look for the missing garden tool that I couldn't locate the night before.  Once again, I looked on the lemon tree, in the lemon tree, and under the lemon tree that M said he placed the tool and didn't find it.  I looked on the other lemon trees, on the ground in the other parts of the backyard, and the area he had weeded, with no luck.  I looked in the garage, in the shed, around the patio and back steps, and on top of the trash bins, because he sometimes leaves his tools on top of them, and there wasn't anything there.  I checked the front garden, too, in case he took it out to the front and left it there.  Finally, I looked inside the yardwaste bin:

Inside the Yardwaste Bin

Do you see it?  A silvery metal pipe-like thing?  He had raked up the weeds and the curry leaf tree branches he had cut down and along with them, tossed the cutting saw into the bin!  

The Pruning Saw 

It's a good thing I looked in the bin, before I took it out to the curb on Monday evening to be collected on Tuesday morning!  Otherwise, the pruning saw would have gone with the yardwaste!  M said he is going to get me a detective badge!  LOL.  

On Sunday, I picked some of the celery that is growing in the back garden:

Celery Stalks

I washed them in salted water and lay them out to dry:

20 Stalks of Celery

Later, I chopped up the stalks and the leaves separately and froze them.  They will be added to stir frys, soups, stews, etc.  I have more celery plants in the garden and their stalks will be harvested and frozen, later.  

I also cooked the kale I had picked earlier in the week and made a mallung with it, sauteeing it with onions, garlic, grated coconut, green chilies, turmeric, etc.  I kept some of the mallung for meals this week and froze two packages of it for later.

And that was my week, last week.  It wasn't a particular busy week, but, there was something happening every day.  Mostly ordinary, everyday sort of things but they are the things that make up my days and each of those things make that day a little special.  Harvesting produce from the garden, running errands, spending an hour shopping in a favorite store, finding a misplaced tool, baking zucchini bread and rehoming another rescued rose bush. 

I am grateful for:

- Ordinary days and everyday happenings
- Garden produce
- Being with my daughter
- Finding M's pruning saw

- April rain showers

- Rescued rose bushes

How was your week?

April Groceries - Part 2

Curly Kale Growing in the Garden

I ordered groceries on Friday evening and they were delivered on Saturday.  I was very careful to specify if I wanted any substitutions and if so, which substitutions I wanted.  This time, I received everything I ordered without needing to have anything substituted.

I bought a cucumber, some fruit, some convenience items, treats (ice cream bars), and some pantry items.  The majority of the items I purchased were on sale with store discounts, digital coupons, etc.  I paid regular price for other items, such as the canned mackerel.

I was all out of canned mackerel (used the last can I had in the pantry, back in early December to make fish cutlets).  I had been waiting for a sale on canned mackerel to stock up, but, they haven't gone on sale and with the way things are right now, I very much doubt if they will go on sale any time soon!  So, I decided to buy two cans to have on hand.  In addition to fish cutlets, I like to make a curry with canned mackerel and we haven't had that in a while, either.

I didn't need to buy a lot of vegetables this time because, earlier in the week, I picked a bunch of curly kale from my garden:

Kale from the Garden

Here's the grocery receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$85.52

Item Coupons/Sales-$28.94

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.60

Sales Tax$0.00

Order Total$57.18

---

Item Details

25 Items

Cucumber, 1 ct$0.89

1 x $0.89 $1.29 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.40

Cuties® Seedless California Mandarin Clementine Oranges in 3lb Bag, 3 lb$3.99

1 x $3.99 $5.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$1.66

2.4 lbs x $0.69 each (approx.)

Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Ice Cream Bars, 3 Count, 3 ct$6.99

2 x $3.49 $6.99 each (approx.)

Item Coupon/Sale: -$6.99

Kroger® Premium Coconut Milk, 13.5 fl oz$5.37

3 x $1.79 $1.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.20

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.20

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.20

Kroger® Stone Ground Mustard, 12 oz$2.49

1 x $2.49 each

Kroger® Unbleached Enriched All Purpose Flour, 5 lb$3.29

1 x $3.29 each

Kroger® Wild Caught Mackerel, 15 oz$7.98

2 x $3.99 each

Marie Callender's Beef Pot Pie Frozen Meal, 10 oz$3.98

2 x $1.99 $3.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie Frozen Meal, 10 oz$5.97

3 x $1.99 $3.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Red Baron Deep Dish XL Meat Lovers Frozen Pizza, 11.12 oz$8.97

3 x $2.99 $4.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water Can, 5 oz$5.00

5 x $1.00 $1.59 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.59

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.59

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.59

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.59

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.59

---

Other Fees

$0.60

Bag Fee$0.60

6 x $0.10 each

My total came to $57.18

My April grocery budget is $250 - $3.70 March overspend = $246.30

Total spent to date = $59.53+ $57.18 = $116.71

Balance remaining = $246.30 - $116.71 = $129.59

 I am assuming that I will need to do three more grocery orders this month and as long as I keep each otder to an average of $43, I should come within budget this month.  

I am grateful for:

- The availability of groceries
- Sales, coupons, and special offers
- Being able to order groceries online
- Being able to have the groceries delivered
- Homegrown produce

Have you gone grocery shopping this week?  Are you finding good deals?  What are some of the pantry staples you'll buy at regular price?

Ten on the 10th

Blog friend Joy has started posting a monthly "Ten on the 10th" photo post and I have decided to join in.  You take ten photos on the 10th of each month and post them.  This is my first time participating and I chose to focus on my garden.

The amaryllis bulb that M gifted me sent up two flower stalks and one is blooming:

Amaryllis

Sharing the same planting bed with the amaryllis are the nasturtiums:

Nasturtiums

Nearby, the rescued kalanchoe plant is thriving:

Double Flowered Pink Kalanchoe

These are California's state flower:

California Poppies

The "Scaredy Cat" (Coleus caninus) plant has almost finished flowering:

Scaredy Cat Plant (Coleus caninus)

Aloe (not Aloe vera) flowers, which are a favorite of the hummingbirds:

Aloe Flowers

And hibiscus:

Hibiscus

Roses:

Pink Roses

More roses:

White Roses

And for my 10th photo - the arugula (rocket) plants bolted, but, the flowers are so pretty and the butterflies and bees seem to love them:

Arugula (Rocket) Flowers

There are more flowers in the garden and I took pictures of them, too, but, I've reached my limit of ten!  Hope you enjoyed seeing my Ten on the 10th.

Thank you, Joy, for starting this monthly photo theme.  

On Easter Sunday

 

Fish Cutlets

On Easter Sunday morning, I fried the fish cutlets my daughter and I had made the day before and kept in the fridge.

Fish Cutlets Waiting to be Fried

After being fried, the fish cutlets were packed into a container to be taken to our friends' home.  These friends are my late friend A's widower and their two daughters who are now my daughter's friends, as well.  

My daughter had woken up with a migraine headache and I told her we could stay home if she preferred to, but, she took her migraine medications and felt well enough to go.  

On our way there, I stopped to put gas to the car.  Gas at the cheapest gas station in my area was $5.999 per gallon, which in my opinion is as good as $6.00!  Other stations, however, were charging $6.099 and higher per gallon.  Since I budget $50 per month for gas, I put $50 worth of gas to the car and that will have to do!  There was a flower vendor at the gas station, who came up to me to offer bouquets of mixed flowers;  I wasn't planning to buy flowers, so I declined to buy a bouquet for $10.  But, when he then dropped his price to $5, I felt sorry for him, and decided to buy some flowers to take to our friends' house, in addition to the cutlets.

Easter lunch with late friend A's family was lovely.  We were joined by the fiance of one of the girls (whose engagement party we attended at the end of March) and of course, these two:

Sasha (who is curled up on a blanket I crocheted for A)

and 

Winni (curled up next to daughter)

who has grown quite a bit since we last saw him at Christmas:

Winni at Christmas

And here he is, waiting for a belly rub in return for posing for pictures:

Winnie (waiting for a belly rub)

We had samosas (purchased from an Indian restaurant) and the fish cutlets, along with some cheese and crackers for appetizers, chicken biryani, baked ribs, pasta alfredo, cheesy baked potatoes, raita, and salad for lunch, and there was ice cream for dessert.  

We came home around 5:00 p.m. (with a container of leftovers!)  I was just making us a cup of tea when my friend S (not neighbor S) called to ask if we were home and, when I said yes, said she and her husband were on their way!  I set out a plate of cookies for them and was ready to make tea for them, too, but, they were on their way to visit two other friends, so they didn't stay to tea.  Instead, they handed over a bag with our Easter dinner:

Easter Dinner (Compliments of Friend S)

Yellow rice, brinjal moju (eggplant pickle), fish cutlets (!), mutton (goat) curry, mixed vegetable pickle, cashew curry, and fried pappadum. 

I gave friend S a gift that I had bought for her daughter as a New Year's gift that I had not been able to give to her, earlier, and included a gift my daughter had made, as well.  My daughter said that S's daughter had texted her, later, and thanked her for the gifts.

Daughter and I enjoyed friend S's gift of food for our dinner.  There are some leftovers for Monday's lunch, as well.

Later in the evening, I did a load of laundry (which I haven't put away, still).  

It was a lovely Easter Sunday and I was grateful for:

- Gas being available, even at a price.
- Being invited to Easter lunch with late friend A's family and spending time with them
- A safe drive there and back
- Friend S and husband visiting us and bringing us dinner
- Daughter's migraine responded to medications and she felt well enough to enjoy Easter Sunday

My joyful activities included spending time with long-time friends.  I am blessed to have friends who include my daughter and me in their celebrations.

I hope you had a lovely Sunday with family, friends, and loved ones.

On Saturday

 

Saturday Lunch Compliments of Neighbor S and Her Mother

On Saturday, daughter woke up early,  did her laundry, and started making the fish cutlets we've been asked to bring to Easter lunch at our friends' house on Sunday.  She boiled the potatoes and made the mixture using canned tuna since we didn't have any canned mackerel.  I got to taste test the mixture and suggested adding a bit more salt, curry powder, and some ketchup to the mixture to get the taste just right.  Then, I helped her to scoop up the mixture and roll them into little balls, dip them in beaten eggs and coat them with bread crumbs.  We made 82 cutlets.  We set aside the majority of the cutlets to be fried in the morning before we take them to our friends, but, decided to fry 10 cutlets for our brunch and to do a taste test.

But, just before I started to fry the cutlets, neighbor S called me.  Her mother had fried tilapia fillets and would we like to have some and also some Easter eggs they had made?  I accepted the offer, gratefully, and quickly fried 12 cutlets to give to her in return.  She brought us a whole feast!  Plates with tilapia (hidden under all the herbs), rice, half a tomato, a boiled egg each, some sort of grated pickled root vegetable, tzatziki, a piece of Armenian cheese on one of the plates, bread, two puff pastries filled with lentils (the lentil filling was delicious), and dessert (chocolates and baklava)!  

We had cutlets and the puff pastries for brunch.  Then, daughter took a nap and I watched some online videos and the evening news.  

We had the tilapia and rice, etc., that neighbor S brought us for dinner.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- Making the fish cutlets with my daughter
- Neighbor S bringing us a delicious meal
- Being able to give neighbor S some of the cutlets we made
- Pleasant weather (a high of 85F)
- Electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, etc.

Saturday's joyful activities included exchanging food gifts with my neighbor.

Plans for Sunday include frying the cutlets and going to our friends' house for Easter.

I wish all my blog readers, who celebrate Easter, a very happy Easter.