Tuesday, November 5, 2024

November Grocery Shopping - Part 1

I ordered and picked up some groceries today (Tuesday).  I mostly wanted to buy some chicken breasts (buy 1 get 1 free) to make the stew for Wednesday and to have on hand.

I bought:

Dreyer's/Edy's™ Grand Mocha Almond Avenue Ice Cream Tub, 48 oz$3.99
1 x $3.99 $6.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Foster Farms Half Breasts with Ribs Cage Free Fresh & Natural Chicken, 1 pk$20.52
10.59 lbs x $1.93 $3.49 each (approx.)
Item Coupon/Sale: -$16.44 (the pack of free chicken)
Fresh Large Bartlett Pear - Each, large/ 1 count$2.44
0.98 lbs x $2.48 each (approx.)
Green Leaf Lettuce, 1 ct$1.99
1 x $1.99 each
Kroger® Rich N Honey Hot Dog Buns, 8 ct / 16 oz$1.79
1 x $1.79 each
Kroger® Russet Potatoes Big Deal in 10 lb Bag, 10 lb$4.99
1 x $4.99 each
Lay's® Barbecue Potato Chips, 7.75 oz$1.99
1 x $1.99 $4.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Lay's® Classic Potato Chips, 8 oz$3.98
2 x $1.99 $4.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Thomas' Plain Bagels, 6 pc / 20 oz (substitution item for store brand at store brand price)$2.79
1 x $2.79 each

Order Summary
Original Item Total = $72.92
Item Coupons/Sales = -$28.44
Order Total = $44.48

My November grocery budget is: $100 + $9.41 carried over from October + $71.84 carried over from September = $181.25.

My daughter will be staying with me for the month of November.  I am pretty sure I will be able to stay within budget, but, I might round it off to $200, if I need to.  

Have you done any grocery shopping in November, yet?

On Monday

On Monday, daughter worked from home.  I got up with her and made her a cup of coffee and made myself a cup of tea.  Then, while she worked, I sat outside in the sunshine (it was warmer outside than inside the house) and read my morning prayers.  Later, I watered the back garden.  

For brunch, we had leftover waffles with bacon and syrup. 

In the afternoon, I read a few blogs and relaxed.  Then, it was time for tea and news.  Later, I took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning.

For dinner, I cooked a pot of rice, sauteed green beans, and peeled and sliced boiled beets to have with leftover chicken curry and tomato chutney.  There were the last of the Asian pears and strawberries for dessert.  I also had some yogurt with coconut treacle (daughter doesn't like yogurt).  

I haven't made a formal meal plan for this week, but, there are leftovers (rice, salmon, chicken curry, a bit of sauteed green beans and sliced beets), and I am planning to make a chicken stew for Wednesday's dinner as daughter is expecting one of her friends to come to dinner.  I have some bacon-wrapped hot dogs that I am planning to serve for dinner, one night (have to buy some hot dog buns) and there are frozen meatballs that can be had for dinner, another night.  

Brunches will include scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon (Tuesday), cereal and milk, egg salad sandwiches, French toast.

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- Time spent with my daughter
- A sunny day
- Water for the garden
- Emails from friends
- Working appliances

Monday's joyful activities included spending time with my daughter and reading blogs.

Plans for Tuesday include watching election results!

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

Monday, November 4, 2024

"Fall Back" on Sunday

New Houseplant

The clocks changed from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time on Sunday morning.  Sunset was at 5:00 p.m.  It was a windy, but, sunny, day, with the daytime high being in the low 70s.  Very pleasant and I opened the front door and a couple of windows to air out the house.

I made blueberry compote (using homegrown blueberries that I had frozen) and waffles for brunch; I had most of my waffle with chicken curry and the rest with the compote.

In the afternoon, I drove us to the library and we dropped off our ballots at the ballot drop off box and came home.  

Daughter had her usual Sunday evening game night with her friend who lives in Hawaii while I replied to blog comments and read a few blogs.  

We had leftover rice and salmon for dinner, with a side salad.  

Afterwards, I did the dishes, cleaned the litter box, chatted with friend R, and texted with one of my cousins.

It was a nice, relaxed day and I am grateful for:

- The sunny day
- Being able to vote
- A safe drive to the library and back
- keeping in touch with family and friends
- Having my daughter home

Sunday's joyful activity was spending time with my daughter.

Plans for Monday include watering the garden and taking the trash cans out, etc.

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


Sunday, November 3, 2024

Starting November

 

Flowers on the Tomato Plant

Some of the Berkeley Tie-Dye tomatoes I grew in the summer had spoiled on the vine and I had tossed them into the nearby planting bed where the moringa tree is growing.  Some of the seeds from those tomatoes grew into seedlings and while many of them wilted and died during the summer heatwave, one or two seedlings survived and now, there are flowers on them!  

Close Up of the Tomato Flowers

I've no idea if they'll produce some tomatoes before the chilly winter nights kill the plants, but, we shall see what happens!  Maybe M and I can figure out a way to keep the plants protected from the cold!

The month of November started with fresh flowers (chrysanthemums from the garden) and milkrice, as usual.  I had ordered more thread for the temple and one of the monks stopped by in the morning to pick up the thread and he gifted me with a small houseplant, which was so kind of him.  After he left, I did a load of laundry and did a little last minute cleaning and tidying of the house, because I was getting ready for my daughter's visit.

Daughter was getting a ride down with her friend K (who had been her former supervisor).  They had set out early in the morning.  The original plan had been for K to drive directly to her hotel in Pasadena and I would drive to Pasadena to pick up my daughter.  But, as they reached the outskirts of Los Angeles, K had decided that she would be OK with making a small detour to drop daughter off at home, since it was on her way.  Daughter texted me to let me know about the change of plans.  I had about 20 minutes before they would arrive.  I had already tidied the house, but, I hadn't vacuumed the living room, so, I quickly swept the living room while I waited for them.

Daughter is still unable to walk without her crutches, so K helped her to bring in her backpack while I brought in her suitcase.  It was the first time I've met K.  She came in and asked if she could use the bathroom and have a glass of water.  As she returned from using the bathroom, she passed by the kitchen and she admired the kitchen (oh, I was so glad I had cleared the counters and washed and put away all the dishes!).  So, I gave her a quick tour of the house and the back garden, too (since she had admired the front garden as soon as she got down from the car) and, in addition to the water, I offered her some milkrice which she enjoyed.  We chatted for a bit before she left to go to her hotel and I thanked her for giving my daughter a ride home.  

Later in the evening, M brought me the pavers I had asked him to buy for me as I want to make a pathway from the garage to the back steps, since that area gets rather muddy when it rains.  I had made a small paved area, earlier, but, the plants in the stonery have covered that area!  He also potted up the two succulents he had brought me, earlier, and spot watered the garden.  And Lady Ella was right when she said that watering the garden was one way to encourage it to rain, because we had a little bit of a drizzle, today (Saturday) in the evening!

Later, I cooked a chicken curry and we enjoyed it with some salad and rice cooked with peas for dinner. For dessert, daughter and I had the last of the persimmons I had picked.  

I was rather tired by the end of the day and my hip was hurting.  But, on Friday, November 1st, I was grateful for:

- My daughter coming home
- Her friend K giving her a ride 
- Being able to provide more thread for the temple
- The gift of a houseplant from the monks at the temple
- M's help with the garden

Friday's joyful activity was welcoming my daughter home!

Today (Saturday), daughter and I both slept in, then, daughter spent an hour or so working on a presentation she has to give on Monday (she will be working from home next week), while I stripped my bed and did a load of laundry.  She had the leftover milkrice and seeni sambol for brunch and I had a bagel with cream cheese.  Later in the afternoon, we both filled out our ballots to be dropped off on Sunday (we had planned to drop them off later today, but, it was getting late and we decided to do it on Sunday).

After a cup of tea, I cooked the salmon fillet I had bought for dinner, with onions and tomatoes and spices.  There was leftover rice and more salad to go with it and strawberries for dessert.  

We were also blessed with a light shower of rain this evening!  It was more of a drizzle than a light shower, but, it's the first we've had since the end of May!

Later in the evening, daughter's friend A came over to visit her.  They are still chatting as I type this.  

On Saturday, I'm grateful for:
- Having my daughter home
- The first shower of rain for the season
- Working appliances
- Hot water on tap
- The sound of laughter from the living room as my daughter and her friend visit

Saturday's joyful activity was spending time with my daughter.  :)

Plans for Sunday include dropping off the ballots and relaxing!

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

Friday, November 1, 2024

October Decluttering: Part 4

My decluttering goal for October was 10 items a day for a total of 310 items.  Unfortunately, I fell behind almost right away, because I couldn't just pull out things, such as books, without wanting - no, needing - to at least look through them if not actually read them, again!   Then, I ran out of steam about halfway through and sadly couldn't meet my goal!  However, I made some progress and I am happy with that.

Past October decluttering posts:

Part 1 (Days 1-5)

Part 2 (Days 6 - 11)

Part 3 (Days 12 - 15)


Day 16: 1 book, 5 CDs, 2 items of clothing, 1 cookie tin, 1 spray on sunblock that a guest left behind after a pre-Covid weekend stay!

Day 16: 1 book, 5 CDs, 2 clothing items, 1 cookie tin, 1 sunblock

Day 17: Blue and White China - Currier and Ives tea cups and a broken bowl.

Day 17: 9 tea cups and 1 broken bowl

Day 18 - 1 stand fan

Day 18: 1 stand fan

Days 19 - 29:  Tossed and not photographed:

1 old litter box

1 old overhead garage door opener mechanism and sensors, etc.

1 old car security device

1 old mop head

Several leftover roofing "shingles" (not wooden shingles)

1 foil covered cardboard box that Mama Cat used to sleep in

3 bowls

Several leftover pieces of floor board trim

Multiple bags of paperwork, some shredded, the rest recycled

Several pieces of brown paper, bubble wrap, etc. that I had been keeping

Day 30: 1 dead persimmon tree (the patio umbrella couldn't save it - it got too scorched and dried up)

The Persimmon Tree Earlier this Summer

Day 31: Do the 4 vials of blood samples I gave at the clinic count?  No, I didn't think so!
- 2 jars
- another bag of paper for recycling

So, I was consistent and decluttered 10 items a day for the first 17 days of the month and then, averaged about 1 item a day for the rest of the month.  According to my calculations, I decluttered over 180 items.  Not as many items as I had initially set out to declutter, but, I am content with what I did declutter.  I focused more on visual clutter this month and I feel that I have made a dent.

I am sure I will find more to declutter, but, I will take it easy during November.   The November decluttering goal will be an item a day for a total of 30 items.  That will be more manageable, I think!

How did you do with your October decluttering?  Are you planning to declutter in November, too? 

Thursday, October 31, 2024

October Grocery Shopping Part 2

On the last day of October, I ordered and picked up groceries.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture, but, here's what I bought.  

1 Cucumber, $0.49 with $0.40 off coupon = $0.49

Green beans, 0.82 lbs. @ $2.48/lb. = $2.04

Frozen green peas, 12 oz. bag = $1.25

Salmon fillet, 1.17 lbs. @ $8.70/lb. with sale and coupon = $10.19 

3 cans tuna, store brand, $1.12 @ with $0.50 off coupon with the purchase of 3 cans = $3.37

6 Bananas, 2.11 lbs. @ $0.69/lb. = $1.49

3 Plums, 0.66 lbs. @ $2.98/lb. = $1.97

Strawberries, 1 lb. = $3.99

1 Caesar salad dressing, 16 fl. oz. = $2.50

1/2 gal. Half & Half = $5.49

1/2 gal. milk = $2.79

Yogurt, 32 oz. container, with $0.60 off coupon = $4.19

1 Saltine crackers, 16 oz., store brand = $2.19

Plain bagels, store brand, 6 count/18 oz. bag = $2.79

Multigrain bread, 24 oz. loaf = $2.29

Cranberry cocktail juice, 52 fl. oz; free with coupon = $0
Plus deposit = $0.10


The original item total = $66.05
Coupons/Sales = -$18.95



Order Total$47.10


My October grocery budget = $100

Spent to date = $43.49 (October grocery shopping Part 1) + $47.10 (October grocery shopping Part 2) = $90.59

Balance remaining = $100 - $90.59 = $9.41

Since we are at the end of the month, I will carry that $9.41 into November, along with the $71.84 carried over from September.  

My November grocery budget will be $100 as usual.  However, with Thanksgiving and my daughter's planned visits, the carried over money will be useful.  

How did you do with your October grocery spending?  Were you able to stay within budget?

On Wednesday: Goodbye Persimmon Tree

Shade for the Persimmon Tree

We tried.  We really tried to save the persimmon tree.  M put up the patio umbrella over it to give it some shade and we hung some tulle around it, too, to keep the fruit from getting scorched.  But, the summer heat was brutal and, although it formed more fruit this year than in previous years, it withered and dried up.
 

Too Hot and Dry

The last of the persimmons were picked several days ago and the leaves had all turned brown.  In the past week, all the leaves dropped.  On Wednesday, we tried to prune it, cutting away the obviously dead twigs, hoping to find some green wood somewhere on the tree, but, it was completely dead.  Even the roots, when M dug up the tree, were dead.

I might get a replacement Fuyu persimmon tree, next year.  But, we won't plant it in the same spot.  

Since I had watered the back garden on Tuesday, M didn't need to water and he concentrated on pruning and trimming back some plants.  He also brought me two more succulents for the garden; apparently, one of his other clients had wanted him to thin them out.  

I did some laundry on Wednesday, washing quilts, pillows, and bedsheets.  Then we remade daughter's bed with fresh sheets.  I say "we" because I had some help making the bed:

"I'm helping Mummy smooth out the sheet"

You can count on Dancer to lend a helping paw when needed!

Checking if the comforter is snuggly enough

Thank you for all your help, Dancer Kitty.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:
- Time spent in the garden
- M's help with the garden
- This year's persimmons (who knew they'd be the little tree's last hurrah?)
- Working appliances
- Dancer's help with making beds!

Today's joyful activity was spending time in the garden.  It was warmer outside than inside the house, on Wednesday morning, so I sat in the garden and said my prayers in the sunshine.  

Plans for Thursday include a blood test.  I thought it was appropriate to schedule a blood test on Halloween!  

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it!