The Ever Evolving Stonery

The Stonery: March 2026

There was an area just to the side of the backdoor steps that was bare ground, with a wooden post supporting the patio roof.  It would get very muddy when it rained (which, admittedly, is not that often in southern California).  In the spring of 2024, I started placing some stones and small rocks I found around the garden at the base of the post, to add a little interest.  Almost immediately, my gardener friend M started to tuck in some plants around the stones as you'd find in a rockery and I started to call it a stonery (as the stones were too small to call it a rockery).

When I took the picture above of the stonery, earlier this month, I thought of how this area has evolved over the past couple of years and thought I'd do a blog post about it. 

Here's how this area looked in March 2024:

Sedum and a few Succulents

 In May 2024, the sedum had flower buds:

The Stonery - May, 2024

In June 2024, the sedum was flowering and we had added an edging of small rocks around the stonery to set it off:

The Stonery - June 2024

Apparently, I didn't take many pictures of the stonery during the summer, but, here's how it looked in September 2024:

The Stonery - September 2024

The sedum had almost finished flowering and the "scaredy cat" plant (Coleus caninus) cuttings I had planted were trying to take over the whole area!

Here's how the stonery looked in October 2024:

The Stonery - October 2024

In early November, I decided that I wanted a paving stone pathway leading from the back steps to the garage, because the ground got quite wet and muddy when it rained.

New Pathway and Stonery - November 2024

Then, I decided that I wanted a slightly different design, so, M changed the way the pavers were set:

Newer Pathway Design and Stonery

The stonery and pathway in January 2025:

The Stonery - January 2025

M moved up the stones right to the edge of the pathway and transplanted a hellebore plant from elsewhere in the garden and one of the nasturtium seeds he planted germinated and started to grow.

By February 2025, the hellebore and nasturtium plants were flowering:

The Stonery - February 2025

But, in March, the nasturtium plant became a casualty of a tussle between the garden cats and a raccoon:

Uprooted Nasturtium - March 2025

It had been snapped off at the root and eventually died.  I was very disappointed.  However, a second seed germinated and grew; not as well as the first plant, but, it produced flowers and set seeds which have since germinated.

Here's how the stonery looked at the end of March 2025:

The Stonery - March 2025

The cabbages that grew from a stem I had rooted in water and planted had grown better than I had expected!  They didn't form a head, but, I didn't mind that.  I picked and cooked one of them and allowed the other to bolt.

Here's the stonery in April 2025:

In April 2025 - Viewed from the back steps

April 2025 - Viewed from the front

The cabbage that was allowed to bolt was flowering.

Here's how the stonery looked in May 2025:

The Stonery - May 2025

The cabbage had finished flowering and seed pods were starting to form and the second nasturtium plant is starting to flower.

I didn't take a photo of the stonery in June 2025, but, I took a photo of the daylilies that were blooming:

Daylilies in the Stonery - June 2025

I didn't take any pictures of the stonery during the summer, either, but, here's how it looked after a shower of rain in November 2025:

November 2025

There are a couple of self-sown tomato plants growing in there and one or two nasturtium seedlings!

After that, I didn't take any photos af the stonery or post any monthly garden updates for one reason or another, until I took the first picture at the beginning of this post and the ones at the end of this post. The stones are still there, but, right now, this area is full of plants that are hiding the stones:

Plant Filled Stonery

I'm loving it.  I hope you've enjoyed seeing the evolution of the stonery.

By the way, I had written this post earlier in the day and was ready to publish it, but, then, I got signed off of Google and by the time I realized it and signed back on, I had lost most of the post and had to redo it!  Grr!  I hate when that happens!

M was here today (Wednesday) and he showed me that the amaryllis bulb he had planted in the stonery is starting to grow!  I hope I'll get an amaryllis flower!  In the meantime, the yellow iris he planted in the stonery is flowering:

Yellow Iris

I am grateful for M's help with the garden in general and the stonery in particular.

March Grocery Shopping - Part 2

I put in an order for groceries yesterday (Saturday) and the items were delivered today (Sunday).  This is the second delivery and I must say that everything went very smoothly, without any missing items or substitutions.  Once again, I received notifications (I had requested that I be notified), before the shopping began in case I wanted to make any changes to the order, when the shopping started, when the shopper checked out, and when the driver was on their way, giving an estimated time of arrival.  Since I wasn't waiting at the door, they left the bags on the doorstep and sent me a text with the picture of the bags.  But, I was able to get to the door before the driver left.

Daughter brought the groceries in and put them away for me.

Some of the items I bought were regular priced, but, many of the items I bought were either on sale or had a digital coupon or were a multi-buy deal (the Cheetos, for example, were on sale for $1.99 each if you bought four, which is an even better deal than the four for $10 deal they sometimes have). 

Others (the breakfast sausages, cheese, and butter) were on special discount for those who have purchased the annual membership (through which I am able to get free delivery on orders over $35).  I have highlighted those membership discount prices in pink in the receipt, below. 

They are excellent stock up prices as far as I am concerned.  I have been buying the breakfast sausages when they'd go on sale for $2.50 a package (last bought in November 2025) and butter when it goes on sale for $2.99 (last butter purchase was on February 10), recently.  This week, the breakfast sausages are on sale for $1.49 a package with a store loyalty card but without the membership, which is a really good price and I would have definitely stocked up at that price.  However, with the paid membership, I received $0.50 off each package, which made it an even better deal.  Butter is on sale for $3.99 with a loyalty card, but without the membership and I might have held off buying it at that price since I still had some butter in the freezer; however, with the member discount, it was definitely a stock up price.

I was completely out of Worcestershire sauce and the brand I usually buy was priced at $5.99/10 fl. oz. bottle while the store brand was $2.19/10 fl. oz.  So, I thought I will try the store brand to see if I like it.  

Here's the receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$119.98

Item Coupons/Sales-$58.70

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.60

Sales Tax+$0.48

Order Total$62.36

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Item Details

30 Items

Cheetos® Crunchy Cheese Chips, 8.5 oz$3.98

2 x $1.99 $5.49 each

Cheetos® Flamin' Hot® Puffs Cheese Snacks, 8 oz$3.98

2 x $1.99 $5.49 each

Crest Regular Cavity Protection Toothpaste, 4.2 oz$4.95

5 x $0.99 $2.99 each

Farmer John Classic Pork Sausage Links, 8 oz$2.97

3 x $0.99 $2.79 each (approx.)

Farmer John Maple Pork Sausage Links, 8 oz$1.98

2 x $0.99 $2.79 each

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$1.86

2.69 lbs x $0.69 each (approx.)

Kroger® 80/20 Ground Beef Tray 1 LB, 1 lb$11.98

2 x $5.99 $8.49 each

Kroger® Complete Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix, 32 oz$3.49

1 x $3.49 each

Kroger® Fresh Uncooked Chicken Drumsticks, 4.5 lb$5.00

1 x $5.00 each

Kroger® Parmesan Shredded Cheese, 6 oz$1.79

1 x $1.79 $3.29 each

Kroger® Salted Butter Sticks, 4 sticks / 16 oz$3.77

3 x $1.25 $4.79 each (approx.)

Kroger® Unsalted Butter Sticks, 16 oz$2.98

2 x $1.49 $4.79 each

Kroger® White Sandwich Bread, 20 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Kroger® Worcestershire Sauce, 10 oz$2.19

1 x $2.19 each

Kroger® Yellow Onion 3 lb Bag, 3 lb$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Nestle La Lechera Sweetened Condensed Milk, 14 oz$5.38

2 x $2.69 $3.69 each

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Other Fees

$0.60

Bag Fee$0.60

6 x $0.10 each

Total spent = $62.36

However, $4.95 + $0.48 tax were for toothpaste, and I don't include toiletries, cleaning products, etc. in my grocery budget; only food (including snacks) and drinks.

So, the grocery portion of my bill came to $62.36 - $5.43 = $56.93

My March Grocery Budget: $250 + $73.64 carried over from February = $323.64

Spent to date: $69.63 + $57.54 + $56.93 = $184.10

Balance Remaining: $139.54

I am comfortable with having almost $140 left in the grocery budget in mid-March.  I will be able to take advantage of any deals and I will be able to stock up on a few other pantry items that will probably only go up in price in the coming months.  The last time I bought sugar, for example, was in October 2025 and I paid $7.99/10 lb., regular price.  I still have sugar in the pantry, but, with jam and chutney making season coming up, I checked the price of sugar, yesterday and the same 10 lb. bag of sugar has gone up $0.50 in price to $8.49.  Five cents a pound in five months is not too bad, but, still, it is an indication of the direction in which prices are headed.  I might stock up on sugar on the next shopping order.

As always, I am grateful for:

- The availability of groceries
- The grocery store membership my daughter paid for
- Being able to get the groceries delivered as a benefit of the membership
- Special discounts with a paid membership
- Being able to stock up

How are you doing with your grocery shopping this month?  Are you finding good deals?  Are you noticing any price increases?

On Saturday

 

Plum Flowers 
(and an Asian Lady Beetle, I believe)

Another warm and sunny day on Saturday, with a high of 85F.  We are having a mini heatwave!

It was Pi-day on Saturday and daughter and I briefly considered making a pie to celebrate, but, we didn't feel like making a pie.  Besides, M brought some cake on Friday to celebrate daughter's birthday, earlier in the month, so we had cake, instead! 

Daughter picked some of her kale and arugula  leaves and I picked three stalks of celery:

Celery Stalks

The celery was chopped up, along with two carrots, half an onion, a green Serano chili, a piece of tomato, and mixed with a 2.5 cups of grated zucchini I had frozen and added to one pound of lean ground beef and cooked.    All the vegetables not only added moisture to the ground beef, they also extended the ground beef.  Later in the day, for dinner, daughter cooked a pot of spaghetti pasta and we added some of the cooked ground beef mixture to our sauce of choice to have with the pasta, daughter having hers with pesto and I having mine with some pasta sauce from a jar.  

Brunch was scrambled eggs with turkey bacon and toast.  The package of turkey bacon was given to me some time ago during a grocery pick up mix-up, when I was given a bag of groceries that someone else had ordered.  

On Saturday, I ordered more groceries to be delivered on Sunday.

I also did a partial freezer inventory when I pulled out a few things (the turkey bacon, the grated zucchini, a package of grated coconut, and a packet of cooked moringa curry) from the freezer.  I will finish the freezer inventory when I put away some of the grocery items I ordered, when I get the delivery on Sunday.  I have a side by side fridge/freezer and while I try to keep the freezer organized, things sometimes get shoved in where there's room and soon, everything gets mixed up! 

I did a load of laundry on Saturday and hung everything up, inside the house, to dry.   

Daughter cut out the pieces for the dress she's making and I found some matching thread in the stash.  While she was busy cutting out her dress pieces, I sewed a bit on the quilt I'm making.  

All in all, Saturday was a good day and I was grateful for:

- The sunny, warm weather
- Kale, arugula, and celery from the garden
- Spring flowers
- More of the fruit trees coming out of dormancy
- The sewing supplies stash

Saturday's joyful activities included harvesting garden produce and sewing.

How was your Saturday?  Did you enjoy some pie to celebrate Pi-day?

On Friday the 13th

 

Orange Iris

On Friday the 13th, the orange iris bulb that M planted in my garden last year, flowered for the first time!  Actually, as if to make up for not blooming last year, it produced two flowers:

Two Orange Irises

This is the area of the garden we are calling the "bulbery" since M planted it with various flowering bulbs, for the most part.  There are some succuments growing among the bulbs, too, to provide some interest when the bulbs are done and the plants get cut back.

The Second Orange Iris

The temperature on Friday went up to 91F and it felt like summer!  But, the spring blooming flowers are a little confused, I think.

Daughter had the day off from work on Friday and she did quite a bit of household stuff, including doing her laundry and tidying up.  Then, she picked quite a few lmons and juiced 15 of the Meyer lemons.  I have a recycled 56 fl. oz. container of pure lemon juice in the fridge now and I made some fresh lemonade with it, sharing some with M when he came to tend to the garden in the evening.  Daugher also zested some of the lemons and I am dehydrating the zest to use in baked goods, later.  Much later, she printed out a free dress pattern and cut out the pieces; she wants to try her hand at sewing herself a dress.

I cut out some paper hexagons to use for my paper piecing, cleaned up the kitchen after daughter finished juicing the lemons, texted with one of my cousins who is caring for her mother who has dementia, and did a few other things.  

For brunch, we had bananas with peanut butter and I had half a ham sandwich, as well. For dinner, I cooked rice, breaded butterflied shrimp (bought frozen in January and cooked in the air fryer), and green peas, with sweet chili sauce:

Dinner: Rice, Breaded Shrimp, Green Peas

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- A lovely warm day
- Flowers in the garden
- Fresh lemonade
- M's help with the garden
- Daughter's help around the house

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

Plans for the weekend might include a shopping trip to look for a dress for daughter.

What are your plans for the weekend?

While We Wait...

 

New Leaves on the Nectarine Tree

Apparently,  an alert has been issued by a federal government agency that the state of California is likely to be subject to a drone attack.  Well, isn't that just lovely?!  As if waiting for "The Big One" (a major earthquake on the San Andreas earthquake fault line which is overdue according to past geologic activities) and the resulting damage was not enough!  Why California, I wonder?

So, while we wait for this drone attack...

I spent part of Wednesday tending to the garden with M who watered and weeded and checked on the fruit trees.  

And I spent part of Wednesday getting all my tax documents together, downloading certain documents from one website and uploading them to another website and printing out copies with my daughter's assistance as I was getting overwhelmed and stressed and the printer kept having issues.  Life was so much easier when all the pertinent documents were mailed to me!  

On Thursday, I took the folder of tax documents over to the tax accountant's office and handed them over to the receptionist, who said she will scan the documents and hand them to the accountant.  I have an appointment with the tax accountant scheduled for next week, assuming all will be well. 

I also finished mending the triangles quilt.  It has been washed and dried and will go back on daughter's bed as it's one of her favorite quilts.  

And I pulled out one of my "Works In Progress" quilts, to work on it, again.  It is made of hexagons using English paper piecing.  It has been a while since I last worked on it, but, I'd like to finish it this year, again, assuming all goes well.

Friday's plans include sewing, some cooking, and tending to the garden, again, with M. 

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

March Grocery Shopping - Part 1 and Weekly Meal Plan Options (March Week 2)

Fried Breadfruit Chips

It's the 10th of March; we are one third into the month and I've already shopped twice for groceries!

The first grocery shopping trip was to the Sri Lankan store, on March 6, after my follow-up visit with the oral surgeon.  A trip to the Sri Lankan store is always something I look forward to and enjoy.  It is definitely a treat and while I budget carefully, price check, and look for deals during my regular grocery shopping, I leave my frugal shopping habits firmly outside the store when I step inside the Sri Lankan store!  This is the one place where I will buy what I want without considering the price of the items.  For the most part, they are specialty items I am not able to buy in any regular grocery store.

Melon Candy

Items I bought at the Sri Lankan store include a packet of my favorite tea, macha latte flavored chocolates for daughter, biscuits/cookies, fried breadfruit chips, premade jars of seeni sambol (a spicy onion relish), passion fruit nectar, melon candy (preserved ash gourd also known as winter melon), chili sauce, and frozen grated coconut.

Sri Lankan Store Receipt

My total at the Sri Lankan Store came to $69.63.

The $73.64 carried over from the February grocery budget will more than cover that amount.

Then, on Monday (March 9), I ordered some regular groceries from the supermarket.  Originally, it was to be for pick up, but, my daughter has been looking into the store's delivery program and wanted to try it.  Regular delivery is $69 per year for next day delivery, which averages out to $5.75 per month (one gets a 30 day free trial, but, I'm averaging it out over the year).  There is an option for same day delivery, too, but, the fee for that service is higher and I've rarely needed a particular grocery item that very same day.  My current sciatica flare up has shown that, if I am unable to drive to the store to pick up groceries for whatever reason, then, that is yet another household task that daughter will have to do, either after work or on the weekend and she is willing to pay for the delivery service, saying the cost is worth her time and having to drive.  Basically, $5.75 is the cost of a gallon of gas in my area, currently (we passed several gas stations charging more than that for a gallon of gas, yesterday)! 

So, the long and short of it is, daughter signed us up for the grocery store's delivery program for next day delivery and as she is paying for this service, this is a gift from her to me!

This morning, I received a text notification allowing me to add or make any changes to the order before the items will be picked (I didn't need to make any changes, but, I was glad to have that opportunity to do so, if needed).  I was also notified when the person picking my groceries needed to make a substitution and I approved the two substitutions that were made.  There was one substitution that I didn't authorize, when the shopper picked an English cucumber (which cost more) instead of the regular cucumber I had ordered, but, I am not going to quibble about that.  

I picked the 2:00-4:00 p.m. time slot for the delivery and I received notifications when the shopper checked out the groceries and when he was on his way, with an estimated time of arrival.  My groceries were delivered to my doorstep just before the estimated time of 2:15 p.m.  I was pleased with this first delivery.  

My mother used to have some groceries, mostly pantry items, delivered to the house on a monthly basis when we lived in Sri Lanka and other items like baked goods and milk were delivered on a daily basis. So, in a sense, I am going back to what my mother used to do!  Even so, having groceries delivered feels a bit like an indulgence!

I ordered milk and half and half, bananas, chicken, ground beef (on sale for $6.99/lb. for 90% lean; cheaper than the 80% lean which was regular priced), cold cuts/luncheon meat, canned lower sodium tuna,the free bagels with my Best Customer coupon, bananas, a cucumber, more sparkling water, vanilla extract, and a container of salt.

---

Order Summary

Original Item Total$74.55

Item Coupons/Sales-$19.14

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$1.00

Tip Amount+$0.00

Sales Tax+$1.13

Order Total$57.54

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Item Details

18 Items

CA Redem Val$0.60

1 x $0.60 each

English Cucumber, 1 ct$1.59

1 x $1.59 $1.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.40

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$1.24

1.79 lbs x $0.69 each (approx.)

Kroger® 90/10 Ground Beef Tray 1 LB, 1 lb$6.99

1 x $6.99 $9.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.00

Kroger® Everything Bagels, 6 ct / 18 oz$0.00

1 x $0.00 $2.79 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.79

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® Iodized Salt, 26 oz$1.25

1 x $1.25 each

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: -$2.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Smoked Uncured Ham Thin Sliced Lunchmeat, 9 oz$3.99

1 x $3.99 $6.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Private Selection® Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 fl oz$5.99

1 x $5.99 $6.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Ralphs® Vitamin D Whole Milk Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Sparkling Ice® Summer LTO Lemonade Variety Pack (Pack of 12), 12 ct / 17 fl oz$10.99

1 x $10.99 $13.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

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

$1.00

Bag Fee$1.00

10 x $0.10 each

Total =  $57.54

March Grocery Budget:  $250 + $73.64 carried over from the February grocery budget = $323.64

Spent to date: $69.63 + $57.54 = $127.17

Balance left: $323.64 - $127.17 = $196.47

*******************

Cold Cuts Sandwich

Weekly Meal Plan Options: March 9 - March 15

Well, the March Week 1 meal plan options went a bit awry as I bought take out food at least three times, to celebrate daughter's birthday (Japanese food for dinner on Monday), convenience and indulgence (pizza and bread sticks on Thursday on the way back from the doctor's), and for a treat (Sri Lankan food on Friday)!   It was a week of feasting and we enjoyed every bite of it!  

This week is going to be a little less extravagant and a little more sensible with our eating.  We are going to focus on finishing up leftovers and eating what's on hand.   

Having said that, on Monday, we had leftovers for our brunch and dinner.

Today (Tuesday), I made us cold cuts sandwiches; daughter had hers on a toasted bagel while I had mine with store bought sandwich bread.  I didn't take a picture of daughter's sandwich, but, she put garden greens (arugula, mizuna, etc.) on hers while I used the last of the romaine lettuce I had in the fridge.

So, here's the tentative meal plan for this week:

Brunches:  Cold cuts sandwiches (on bagels or bread), leftover fish rolls from the Sri Lankan restaurant; toast/bread with peanut butter and bananas; French toast to use up stale bread; tuna salad sandwiches or egg salad sandwiches

Dinners:  Leftover zuppa toscana (Monday, me); leftover pittu with beef curry, coconut milk and coconut sambol (Monday, daughter), leftover fish rolls, leftover chicken curry with parathas, leftover chicken and kale stir fry with rice and cucumber salad, pasta with meat sauce (to be cooked), beef pot pies (from the freezer)

Snacks/Desserts: Fruit (bananas, grapes, mandarins, apples); yogurt; ice cream; cereal with milk; cookies/biscuits; melon candy; chocolates; chips; granola bars; etc.

That is the plan.  How it all works out is yet to be seen, of course. 

I am grateful for:

- Being able to order groceries online
- Being able to have the groceries delivered, thanks to my daughter's gift to me
- Having access to a Sri Lankan store and restaurant
- Being able to celebrate daughter's birthday with special meals all week
- Having a varied diet

Joyful activities have included indulging in some delicious meals and favorite snacks.

Do you get your groceries delivered?  If so, do you pay for it?  Do you consider paying for the delivery service worth it?  

Are you making any meal plans or meal plan options this week?