Saturday, April 25, 2026

On Friday

 

Amaryllis

On Friday, the fourth flower on the amaryllis stalk opened fully.

Another Pink Rose

And another pink rose bloomed.

More Kale


And I picked more kale!  This is the kale growing in daughter's raised beds.  I picked more blueberries, too, but, didn't take a picture.

A package arrived the other day, well before the estimated date of delivery, and I had stored it in the garage.  My daughter opened it up on Friday:

Box with Contents

And started to take out the contents:

The Contents of the Box

It was something she needed to put together.  Can you guess what it is?

Back View

It took her four hours to assemble it, with just a manual screwdriver.

Front View

Yes!  It is the new chicken coop!  The coop will go inside an enclosure that she has to put together, next.

M was here in the evening and he continued to clear out the area behind the shed as we will put the coop and enclosure there.  He had to dig up and transplant some of the gazania pants and the one bauhinia seedling that were growing there.  

I gave him some of the kale to take home and also, gave him some of the kale mallung I had cooked.  

On Friday, we had a visitor:

Mostly White Pigeon 

M saw this mostly white (with some dark grey patches) fly down from the garage roof and it stayed near the blueberry bushes for the rest of the evening.  It seemed very unafraid of people as it completely ignored us.  We offered it some blueberries, but, it didn't seem very interested in them.  But, it enjoyed the small piece of bread I gave it, had a drink of water, and settled down for a nap!  It seemed to have a greyish band on one foot and I've been checking online to see what that signifies.  I went out, later, to check on the pigeon and it wasn't near the blueberry bushes, so, I don't know if it moved to another spot for the night or what happened.  If it is still around in the morning, I shall try to contact a pigeon rescue organization to ask what I should do.  

I had a cold cuts sandwich for brunch and daughter had the last leftover pancake with chicken curry.  For dinner, we had rice, chicken curry, sauteed cabbage, and carrot/kale mallung.  

On Friday, I was grateful for:
- A relaxed day
- Making progress on the raising chickens project
- M's help with the garden
- Garden produce
- Flowers to brighten the garden

Friday's joyful activities included sitting outside in the garden, enjoying the sunshine while daughter put the coop together.

How was your Friday?  Any plans for the weekend?

Friday, April 24, 2026

On Thursday

 

Pink Rose

On Thursday, I had a phone call from an unknown caller, but the phone number seemed very vaguely familiar.  I felt I should know it, but, didn't recognize it.  Due to all the spam calls I get, I generally don't answer my home phone number, if I don't know who is calling and let the calls go to voicemail.  Then, I check my voicemail to see if they left a message.    

Well, this caller had left a message saying they were calling from a medical clinic (they gave the name of the clinic), about an oncology report they had received, and to please call them back!  What?  At first, I didn't recognize the name of the clinic, but, then, I realized that it was my previous clinic that I stopped going to back in 2019 when they stopped accepting my medical insurance provider!  Why would they be getting an oncology report?  What oncology report?  I got very flustered and my mind scattered in all directions trying to make sense of it!  My last mammogram said everything was normal.  And if there was something else, wouldn't my oncologist's office be the one calling me instead of my old clinic?  I don't think very clearly when I get flustered!  I could feel my blood pressure shooting up!

I called them back and spoke with a different patient assistant than "Donna", the one who had called me and left the message.  Never mind; she looked up the information, confirmed my name and date of birth, etc., and said that they were calling to inform me that I had a phone appointment scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon and wanted to confirm that I would be available for it!  What phone appointment? Apparently I had a phone appointment that afternoon to go over the oncology report my specialist had sent!  I was absolutely baffled, but, I said OK, I'll be available for the phone appointment!

Five minutes later, I had another phone call from them, a different patient assistant, calling to confirm the phone appointment, but, this time it was scheduled for 3:15 p.m.  I asked who I'd be speaking with and she gave me a name.  I asked why a cancer report would go to them since I haven't been to that clinic in years and she said she didn't know, she was looking at my chart and she could see that my last visit had been in 2019.  Anyway, I confirmed that the new time was 3:15 p.m. and not 3:00 p.m.

A few minutes later, I got another phone call, from Donna, this time, the original person who had called first.  I told her that I had called back and was told about the phone appointment and was very confused and stressed about it because I was no longer a patient at that clinic since they stopped accepting my insurance and didn't know why they would be getting any of my oncology reports.  She was very apologetic and told me to disregard the phone appointment, it has been cancelled because I was no longer a patient there!  There was no explanation as to what had initiated the first phone call, but, I suspect someone mistyped a patient number and pulled up my file and made an administrative error.

Well, I'm glad that I have not been diagnosed with a new or recurrence of cancer, unbenownst to me!   My goodness!  Breathe, Bless, breathe!  

After that, I took myself off  for a walk in the garden to calm myself!  

The telephone company technicians had come by earlier in the morning and requested access to the telephone pole in the backyard and they had done what they needed to do and had left by that time.  I locked the gate and watered the back garden.   I started a grocery order, but, didn't finish it.  

We had the last of the bagels for brunch, and for dinner, I made fried rice with the leftover rice and we had that with the last of the smoked sausage stir-fry. 

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- The phone call from the former clinic turned out to be nothing, after all, just a mistake!
- Spending time in the garden
- Water for the garden
- Roses in the garden
- More fresh blueberries from the garden

Thursday's joyful activities included being in the garden and watching a pair of house finches building a nest.

I hope to have a less bewildering day on Friday!

Thursday, April 23, 2026

On Wednesday

 

Wednesday's Pickings

On Wednesday morning, daughter had a call from the library telling her that her books were overdue!  These were the books we returned to the library, several days before they were due. in person and handed over to the library staff at the front desk to be checked in!  Apparently, the library staff forgot to check them as returned on the computer.  Daughter called the library back and told them that she had returned the books and could they please do a shelf search.  She stayed on the line while they checked and the librarian came back to admit that the books were there on the shelves and her account was cleared.   Thank goodness for that!  

On Wednesday, I picked some blueberries while I waited for M to arrive. he continued to clear the area behind the shed.  We should have that area cleared by the end of this week, I think.

Remember the rose cuttings we took and tried to root, rather unsuccessfully?  The majority of them dried up and we pulled them all out and composted them.  But, one cutting stayed green and I left it in the pot and kept it outside on the back steps.  Guess what?  It has grown a new leaf!

Rose Cutting

It is a cutting from the pinata rose and I am hoping that this is a sign that it has rooted!  I am now more determined to experiment with more rose cuttings.  

On Wednesday, I did more clothes alterations, adjusting the waistbands of a pair of pyjamas and a pair of trousers.  Two more items completed and crossed off my "To Do" list!  

Later in the evening, I made another mallung - shredded greens cooked with onions, grated coconut, turmeric, and other spices - using carrot tops, some kale, and mizuna from the garden:

Mixed Greens Mallung

We will have some of it with rice and curries for our dinners, later this week.  I froze some of it for a later date.

I had leftover pancakes with chicken curry for my brunch on Wednesday.  Daughter had rice and chicken curry with green beans.  For dinner, I baked two more of the frozen pot pies.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Blueberries and mixed greens from the garden
- M's help with the garden
- Getting two clothes alteration projects completed
- Daughter's library books were found on the shelves
- One of the rose cuttings seems to have rooted

Wednesday's joyful activities included spending time in the garden.

I had planned to mop the kitchen on Wednesday, but, that didn't happen.  So, it's moved onto Thursday's To Do List.

Plans for Thursday include sweeping and mopping the kitchen, doing a load of laundry, and maybe some sewing.

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

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

This Week: Dental Appointments, Weaving, Mending, and Meal Plan Options

 

Neptune Rose

Monday was taken up with my dental appointment!  At least, that's how it seemed.  It was "just" a cleaning, but, I dread dental appointments.  The morning was taken up with preparing myself physically (showering, getting dressed, checking my blood pressure to make sure it was within normal ranges) and mentally (morning prayers, mindful breathing meditations, telling myself that I would be just fine, etc.)  

My appointment was at 3:00 p.m. and I left the house at 2:00 p.m.   There was one road closure due to an accident, which delayed me a bit, but, I arrived at the dental clinic at 2:50 p,m, and was called in at 3:00 p.m.  So far, so good!  Of course my blood pressure had risen by the time I went in and they checked it, but the diastolic number was low enough that they decided it was fine to do the day's treatment.  Apparently, I still required a deep cleaning on one quadrant but, I was numbed for it and that went well enough.  

Afterwards, the dentist re-examined me and they took more digital photographs of my mouth.  I am to go back in two weeks to discuss the rest of my treatment plan.  I am still adament that I do not want implants.  

There was another accident on the way home, but, one lane was open and I was able to get through.  I was home just after 5:00 p.m.  I took one trash bin to the curb and checked the mail.  Daughter took the other two trash bins (recycling and yard waste) to the curb a little later.  She also vacuumed the house other than my bedroom and bathroom.  

I had had a cup of tea in the morning but hadn't eaten anything.  So, after I came home, I had one of the Boost nutritional drinks since my mouth was still a bit numb and I didn't feel like eating anything.  Daughter had eaten rice with some of the leftover smoked sausage stir fry I had made on Sunday night.

Afterwards, I rested and watched some videos.

Later in the evening, however, I cooked a chicken curry and some fresh rice and made a cucumber salad and we had that for dinner.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- The dental appointment went well
- Numbing medications!
- A safe drive to the dental clinic and back
- Daughter doing the vacuuming
- Daughter helping to take the trash cans to the curb

Monday's joyful activities included spending a little time in the garden and weaving:

Weaving Loom and Project

The botanical garden had announced that they were having a 2-hour weaving workshop, on a table top loom, with supplies provided, which would cost $30 for members, which seemed quite reasonable at first glance.  Daughter  and I considered attending it, as it seemed like a fun thing to do.  But, upon further reflection, $60 for the two of us to attend a workshop seemed like a lot of money.  What we both wanted was a loom.  We were able to find a kit online, with loom and supplies for under $30 and we ordered two kits so we would each have a loom.  Daughter decided to make the design shown on the kit while I decided to make a small rug.  I am not sure what I'll do with it - maybe make a wall hanging or use it as a mug rug or a little hot pad.  I finished weaving it on Monday and tidied some of the yarn ends.  I need to take it off the loom, tie the ends ot the warp threads and finish weaving in the yarn ends.  

On Tuesday, we were supposed to get some rain in the afternoon.  Upto 1 inch of rain was forecast for my area, and I was hoping we'd get at least some rain for the garden.  I didn't water the back garden on Monday, in anticipation of rain on Tuesday, but, it didn't rain.  Instead, I watered the back garden in the afternoon; the house plants got watered, too.  

Later in the afternoon, I mended one of my skirts.  It's a plaid wool skirt that my mother had sewn for me back in the 1980s, I believe.  They were in style then and I loved them; she sewed me at least two such skirts with one being a plaid in shades of blue and grey and I know she sewed one for herself, too, in a plaid of beige, brown, and blue.  I had decluttered the other plaid skirt she made for me, but, I had kept this one as it was my favorite.  When the waistband got too tight, I let it out and made it bigger; when I lost weight after my cancer treatment, I made the waistband tighter, again.  When it developed two small holes, earlier, I mended it.  Well, this time, it had developed a whole series of small holes near a side seam:

Moth Eaten?

I don't know if the fabric was just worn out, or if it got caught to something and I tugged it free and it tore, or if a moth got to it!  I should probably declutter the old skirt, but, I still love to wear it and so, I mended it:
Visible Mending 

I used a dark grey embroidery thread, but, it appears sort of beige in the photo.  Definitely visible mending and not the neatest of mending, either, but, it works.  

Later, I vacuumed my bedroom and swept my bathroom, although my daughter offered to do it for me.  

Daughter brought in the trash cans when she took a lunch break and I made us tortillas with an egg beaten and spread onto one side of it along with some lunu miris (a spicy onion and red chili mixture) for brunch.  I had one and a half of the last banana muffins I had made some time ago and daughter had some leftover pizza with our evening tea.  Dinner is probably going to be leftover rice, chicken curry, green beans, sauteed cabbage, and cucumber salad.

Which bring me to meal planning!  Something I have not done this month, at all!  I've been eating planned overs (beef curry, devilled beef, roast beef, sauteed salmon) that I cooked at the very end of March/beginning of April along with leftovers from the various Easter meals that friends treated us to, plus take out meals that daughter bought, and a few frozen pizzas and pot pies, etc.  But, I think I would like to plan a few meal options for this week:

Brunches: Tortillas with eggs and lunu miris; rice and stir fry;   bagel  sandwiches; fried rice; pancakes; French toast; leftovers

Dinners:  Rice with chicken curry, sauteed green beans, kale mallung, sauteed cabbage, and cucumber salad; Rice with pork curry, more kale mallung, and broccoli; Instant stringhoppers with fish curry (although daughter would prefer rice to stringhoppers); leftovers/planned overs.

Snacks/desserts:  Japanese snacks (both sweet and savory); Sri Lankan treats (both sweet and savory); crackers with cheese or peanut butter; fresh fruit; maybe a flan or a fruit pie.

As always, the meal plan options are subject to change, depending on my energy levels and what I feel like cooking.

On Tuesday, I am grateful for:

- Water for the garden, even if it didn't rain
- Daughter bringing in the trash cans
- Being able to mend my skirt
- Working appliances
- Leftovers and planned overs

Tuesday's joyful activities included spending time in the garden and sewing (even if it was mending).

Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M and doing a little housework (kitchen floor needs to be mopped).

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

Monday, April 20, 2026

On Sunday

 

Neptune Rose

On Sunday, I slept in.  

I had leftover pancakes with the last of the devilled beef for brunch.  Daughter made herself a bagel sandwich with a toasted bagel, cold cuts, a fried egg, and salad greens from the garden.  I had grapes for fruit and she had a banana.

In the afternoon, I spent some time in the garden, walking, taking photos, and enjoying the sunshine.


Monarch Butterfly

The butterflies were out enjoying the sunshine, too.

Pomegranate Tree in Bloom

I made a smoked sausage stir fry for dinner, with celery and carrots from the garden, fresh pineapple, and a handful of frozen green peas added to it and we had it with freshly cooked white rice.  We finished the avocado pudding and I snacked on a couple of dates, as well.  

I ran the dishwasher and wiped down the kitchen counters and stove top.  

On Sunday, I was grateful for:
- Another sunny and warm day
- Garden flowers
- Garden produce
- Time spent in the garden
- Working appliances

Sunday's joyful activities included spending time in the garden and doing a bit of weaving.

On Monday, I have a dental appointment in the afternoon.  I am not looking forward to it, at all, although it is only for a cleaning.  

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

Sunday, April 19, 2026

On Saturday

 

Carrot Harvest

On Saturday, daughter and I took a walk in the garden and she pulled up the rest of the carrots we grew.  It's not a lot, but, we are very pleased with them.  I will add the carrots to a stir fry I am planning to make and the leaves will be cut up finely and made into a mallung with grated coconut, turmeric, and other spices.  

More Amaryllis

The second stem of amaryllis has started to bloom.  I am hoping that the amaryllis bulb will form new bulbs and I'll have a clump of amaryllis growing in the garden.

When M was here on Friday, he started clearing the area behind the shed and removed over half of the plumbago hedge that was growing along the wall:

The Cleared Area

We have big plans for this area, so watch this space!

Word seems to have spread among the garden birds that the blueberries are ripening:


Birds Perched On Wire Near the Blueberry Bushes

This pair of birds (not a good photo at all, since I took it from inside the house) were inspecting the blueberry bushes  (not seen in the picture - the tree in the picture is one of the lemon trees).  I think they might be finches; the male bird (perched lower on the wire) had a red throat.

I picked another handful of the early ripening blueberries and made some blueberry pancakes for brunch:

Blueberry Pancakes with Bacon and Syrup

Sorry, birdies; you've got to share the blueberries with me!

For dinner, I baked two frozen pot pies - a beef pot pie for myself and a chicken pot pie for my daughter as she prefers it to the beef.

For dessert, I made avocado pudding with three ripe avocados:

Avocado Pudding


I now have three avocado pits in jars of water, waiting to see if they will sprout.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- Time spent in the garden with my daughter
- Garden flowers
- Garden produce
- Working appliances
- Daughter doing my laundry for me

Saturday's joyful activities included doing some weaving on the new loom.

Plans for Sunday include some cooking and cleaning and putting away my laundry.

How is your weekend coming along?

Friday, April 17, 2026

April Grocery Shopping Part 3

April Week 3 Groceries

I put in an order for groceries last night and had my groceries delivered today (Friday).

As usual, I tried to shop the sales, using digital and personalized coupons  Once again, I specified either no substitutions or which substitutions I wanted.  That part was a bit tricky as I wanted to keep this week's grocery bill to under $43, but, at the same time, make sure that I had at least $35 worth of groceries to qualify for the waiver of the delivery fee of $6.95.

This week's main stock up items were the jars of peanut butter on sale with a digital coupon for $1.99 @.  They have a "best by" date of February 2027 (one jar was March 2027).  Daughter and I can go through a jar of peanut butter in about 6 weeks if not less and it is a good source of shelf stable and ready to eat protein in case of an emergency.  The bottle of ketchup was another pantry stock up item; I have one other bottle that was purchased in February, but, I am going by the "2 are 1 and 1 is none" rule for pantry stock up items!  Besides, the price with the coupon was too good to pass up; it has a best by date of October 2026 and I know we will use it up well before then.

One of the items I wanted, 1 pound of fresh green beans @ $2.99/lb., was available, but, in such poor quality that the shopper was kind enough to send me a picture of the green beans to ask if I still wanted them, and I declined.  I really appreciated her doing that.  I received everything else.  

Here's the receipt:


Order Summary

Original Item Total$64.02
Item Coupons/Sales-$24.34
Fulfillment Fee+$0.00
Other Fees+$0.40
Tip Amount+$0.00
Sales Tax$0.00
Order Total$40.08

Item Details

14 Items

Broccoli Bunch, 1 ct$1.52
0.61 lbs x $2.49 each (approx.)
Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$1.51
2.19 lbs x $0.68 each (approx.)
Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 32 oz$1.99
1 x $1.99 $6.29 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Kroger® Fresh Jumbo Hass Avocados Bag, 5 ct$5.00
1 x $5.00 $9.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$4.99
Kroger® Fresh Uncooked Chicken Drumsticks, 4.5 lb$5.00
1 x $5.00 each
Kroger® Half and Half Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$5.79
1 x $5.79 each
Kroger® Whole Vitamin D Milk 32 fl. oz. Bottle, 1 qt$2.49
1 x $2.49 each
Kroger® Yellow Onion 3 lb Bag, 3 lb$2.44
1 x $2.44 $2.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.55
Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey Breast & Smoked Uncured Ham Thin Sliced Lunchmeat, 9 oz$3.99
1 x $3.99 $6.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.00
Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter, net wt 16.3 oz$9.95
5 x $1.99 $4.29 each (approx.)
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Other Fees

$0.40

Bag Fee$0.40
4 x $0.10 each

My total came to $40.08.

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

Total spent to date = $59.53+ $57.18 + $40.08 = $156.79

Balance remaining = $246.30 - $156.79 = $89.51


I am pleased with this week's grocery shopping and what I bought and spent.

As always, I am grateful for:

- The availability of groceries
- Being able to order online and have it delivered
- Sales and coupons and other deals
- Being able to stock up when items are available at reduced prices
- Coming slightly under budget this week!

Have you found any good deals on groceries, recently?  How do my prices compare with yours?  Higher?  Lower?  About the same?