On Thursday

Black Tomato Slices

I sliced the two black tomatoes and they were this gorgeous red color, inside!  Very juicy and the taste was not bad at all (considering I don't like the taste of raw tomatoes); a lot milder than the Berkeley Tie Dye tomatoes.  I imagine they would be good sprinkled with some salt and maybe dressed in a vinaigrette.  However, I just froze them to be added to curries or turned into tomato soup, later.  I also froze the cherry tomatoes.

It was another hot day and, I think the air quality might not have been too good because my asthma was bothering me.  I take a daily inhaler and I have a 'rescue' inhaler, too, if needed.  I also turned on one of the air purifiers and that helped.  I will keep it running during the night, too, I think.  Because of the asthma flare up, I took it relatively easy, today, too.

For brunch, I made pancakes and ate them with the last of the dhal:

Thursday Brunch: Pancakes and Dhal

In the evening, after I watched the evening news and it had cooled down quite a bit, I walked for about 15 minutes.  

For dinner, I had sauteed chicken (previously cooked and frozen), with vegetables (broccoli, carrots, corn) and a potato:

Thursday Dinner

For dessert, I had one of the nectarines we picked on Wednesday.

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- Asthma inhalers and air purifiers
- Electricity to run the fans and air purifiers
- Garden produce
- Conversations with my daughter

- Being able to take it easy when needed

Thursday's joyful activity was reading.

Plans for Friday include tending to the garden with M and watching the Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

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

 

On Wednesday

Nectarines from the Garden

On Wednesday, M and I picked the first, ripe nectarines from the garden!  They are of a good size (they are photographed on a dinner plate).  I cut one of them and shared it with M.  We both agreed that it was very sweet.

M brought me an assortment of tomatoes from his garden:

Tomatoes from M's Garden

The two large dark red tomatoes are an heirloom variety of black tomatoes.  The others are red cherry tomatoes and yellow cherry tomatoes.  I've never seen a black tomato prior to this.

I wasn't very productive on Wednesday.  I checked on the garden, made sure Chicken Little had fresh water and some food when she took a break from sitting on her eggs (she announces the fact that she's at the back steps for a snack with some clucking and a flapping of wings; she also scratched around in the planter where M and I planted some moringa seeds, earlier in the day!), watched some online videos and TV programs, called my half-sister and chatted with her for a bit, borrowed another ebook from the library, and walked for 15 minutes or so.  

Brunch was half a nectarine.  I had some saltine crackers with my evening cup of tea.  Dinner was leftover rice and curries.  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- M's help with the garden
- M sharing tomatoes from his garden
- Home grown nectarines
- A chat with my half-sister
- Being able to borrow ebooks from the library

Wednesday's joyful activities included picking and enjoying freshly picked nectarines from the garden!

Plans for Thursday includes doing some cooking and a bit of tidying.

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

Ten Years and Counting

 

Monday's Pickings

When I wrote my first blog post on July 20, 2014, stating that it would be a blog about "this and that", I really had no idea that I would still be writing about "this and that" ten years later!  Thank you to all of you who read and comment on my blog.

So, to continue with posting about "this and that", on Sunday evening, after I had posted my blog post about the warm weekend and how grateful I was for electricity to run the fans and appliances, around 9:00 p.m., the power went off!  My block was completely without power.  Fortunately, I keep a flashlight (or torch as I grew up calling them) near me and plenty of candles.  I lit several candles and there was sufficient light to see to clean the litter box and do the dishes, but, I couldn't do much else!  I didn't want to strain my eyes to try and read or sew by candlelight and while I crocheted a bit, I wasn't that interested in it.  Fortunately, it had started to cool off a bit, so, the lack of working fans didn't bother me too much.  Neighbor S called to say that her electric gate was not working and her daughters, who were coming home after having gone out earlier, couldn't find street parking.  Before she could even ask, I told her that they could park in my driveway and she thanked me.  I was glad I was able to help.  I Facetimed with my daughter because we couldn't video chat as usual.  Then, around 12:15 a.m., just as I was thinking that I might as well go to bed, the power came back on and, of course, I stayed up till past 3:00 a.m.!  LOL.

On Monday morning, I called in Dancer's medication refill to the pharmacy.  Then, I took the car in for a smog check to see if the exhaust emissions meet air quality standards; the smog check was required for renewing my car registration which is coming due.  There was no one else ahead of me, so, the mechanic was able to check my car right away.  My car passed the smog check, so now, I can go ahead and send in my renewal fees.  I relaxed during the afternoon and read.  

In the evening, when it had cooled off a bit, I took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning, put water to the back garden, and picked some Meyer lemons, red Serrano chilies, a handful of okra, and a sprig of moringa leaves.  Then, I cooked dinner - rice, dhal with moringa leaves, sauteed okra, and sliced, sauteed hot dogs with onions, chili powder, and ketchup.  Brunch had been a cheese sandwich.

I also cleaned and polished a brass candle holder, a small, round brass tray, and another metal candle holder with a glass globe.  I had used both candle holders on Sunday night and they were full of melted wax which needed to be scraped out.   

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- The car passing the smog check
- The produce I was able to pick from the garden
- Water for the garden
- Being able to help neighbor S with the parking for her daughters the night before
- Power being restored

Monday's joyful activity was picking the lemons and vegetables from the garden.

On Tuesday, I  drove to the pharmacy to pick up Dancer's medication refill.  This is the pharmacy located next to the doughnut shop.  I bought an apple fritter, this time, instead of a doughnut.  It was delicious!  

In the afternoon, I made the appointment for my blood test prior to my next doctor's appointment.  It's not until mid-August, but, I wanted to make sure I booked a spot, without procrastinating like the last time.  I also checked the grocery ads for the week, although I haven't decided if I'll buy groceries this week.

In the evening, I walked for a little bit, chatted with friend R, watched some online videos, cleaned the kitchen a bit, and relaxed.  Dinner was leftovers from Monday.

Tuesday's Dinner

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Dancer's medication was available without any problems
- A safe drive to the pharmacy and back
- Being able to make my blood test appointment
- Access to medical care
- Power to run the fans, etc.

Tuesday's joyful activities included enjoying an apple fritter for brunch and keeping in contact with friends through emails and phone calls.

Which brings us to Wednesday.  Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M.   

What are your plans for Wednesday?

July Week 3 Meal Plan Review and July Week 4 Plan

Thursday's Dinner

Last week's meal plan was based on what I had on hand.  I wanted to see how well I would do with trying to have 30 different plant based foods in the week's meals.  But, more than 30 plant based foods, I wanted to see if I could get in my 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

This was my July Week 3 Meal Plan:

Brunches: Hot dogs on buns with condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish), scrambled eggs or omelets (compliments of Chicken Little!), waffles with blueberry compote; salad

Dinners:  Rice with leftover beef curry, sauteed cabbage curry, and tomato curry (Monday and Tuesday); rice with sauteed okra, leftover beef curry, cabbage, and tomato curry; ground turkey curry patties; leftovers, Yellow rice, salted dried fish, pappadum

Snacks/desserts: Plums, pomegranate, grapes, apples, ice cream, bread pudding (maybe)

And here is how that turned out:

Monday:

Brunch: Hot dog and bun, with condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish - I don't think they count towards plant based points, although they are plant based!); plums = 1 point; 1 serving of fruit

Dinner: Rice, leftover beef curry (7 points), sauteed cabbage curry (1 point), and tomato curry (1 point)' = 9 points; 2 servings of vegetables

Desserts/Snacks: More plums, pomegranate seeds (1 point); 2 more servings of fruit

Daily Total: 11 points for plant based foods; 3 servings of fruits and 2 servings of vegetables (= 5/5 per day)

Tuesday:

Brunch: Same as Monday (hot dog and bun; plums) = 0 points; 1 serving of fruit

Dinner: Same as Tuesday = 0 points; 2 servings of vegetables

Snacks: More plums, pomegranate seeds, a KIND protein bar (list of ingredients include oats, tapioca syrup, soy protein isolate, semi-sweet chocolate, bananas, canola oil, cane sugar, peanut butter and peanuts, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa obviously in small quantities, but, maybe I can claim 0.25 points each for the bolded items? = 1.75 points; 2 servings of fruit

Daily Total: 1.75 points; 3 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables (= 5/5 per day)

Wednesday:

Brunch: Toast with peanut butter and peach jam = 0 points  (Does peanut butter count?)

Dinner: Leftover rice, the last of the beef curry, leftover cabbage, leftover tomato curry, and a pappadum; 0 points, 2 servings of vegetables

Snacks: Plums, the last piece of pecan candy that my daughter brought me from her visit to New Orleans (yes, it had pecan halves in it, but, I don't think I should count it! LOL).

Daily Total: 0 points, 2 servings vegetables, 1 serving fruit (=3/5 per day)

Thursday:

Brunch: Tuna salad sandwich, with shredded lettuce = 1 point; 0.5 servings of vegetables

Dinner: Yellow rice (cooked with spices such as whole cloves, cardamom pods, pepper corns, curry leaves, pieces of cinnamon and pandan leaves, turmeric powder = 1.75 points and coconut milk = 1 point), fried dry fish (a salted and dried fish), freshly cooked okra (1 point), leftover tomato curry, leftover cabbage = 3.75 points; 3 servings vegetable

Snacks: Pomegranates, mixed nuts and seeds (pistachio, almonds, sesame, sunflower)  = 1 point

Daily Total: 4.75 points; 3.5 servings vegetables, 1 serving fruit (=4.5/5 per day; I didn't count the mixed nuts)

Friday:

Brunch: tuna salad sandwich; tortilla chips; 

Dinner: Leftover yellow rice, leftover cabbage, leftover tomato curry, fried dry fish, pappadum  (0 points; 2 servings vegetables).

Snacks/ Desserts: Grapes, pistachio ice cream (1 point, 1 serving fruit)

Daily Total: 1 point, 2 servings vegetables, 1 serving fruit (= 3/5 per day)

Saturday:

Brunch: Salad - lettuce, 1 carrot, 1/2 apple, cashews = 3 points; 2 servings veg; 1 serving fruit

Dinner: Leftover Yellow Rice, fried breaded shrimp, cabbage, tomato chutney = 1 serving veg.

Snacks/Desserts: The last of this year's Plums, cereal = 1 fruit

Daily Total: 3 points, 3 serving vegetables, 2 servings fruit (= 5/5 per day)

Sunday:

Brunch: Hot dogs and buns

Dinner: Peanut butter and crackers (power went off before I could cook dinner)

Snacks/Desserts: Spicy dried mango = 1 point; 1 serving fruit

Daily Total: 1 point; 1/5 per day

Plus, 1 point for a cup of tea, which I drink daily.

23.5 points of plant based food for the week, which was just half a point more than what it was the previous week, which isn't bad, I guess.  Not ideal, but, it leaves room for improvement.

As for the 5 a day, on three of the days, I met that goal, on one other day, I almost met the goal with 4.5 servings, on two other days, I had 3/5 servings and one day, I only had 1 serving, which was very sad!

My conclusion is, I repeat a lot of the same plant based items during the week, which can't be counted after the first time.

Onwards and upwards, as they say!

Week 4 Meal Plan:

I probably should go grocery shopping this week, but, assuming I don't, this week's meal plan is also based on what I have on hand:

Brunches:  Toasted cheese sandwich (Monday), scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes; waffles/pancakes with blueberry compote; salad; uppuma (Indian style cream of wheat)

Dinners: Sauteed chicken with broccoli and microwave baked potato; Rice with dhal, sauteed okra, and hot dogs sauteed with onions and tomatoes (I have to finish that packet of hot dogs!); leftovers. 

Snacks/Desserts: Fruit/fruit salad, tuna salad or peanut butter on crackers, protein breakfast bars, apple juice, lemonade

I will keep track of my plant based food points for this week, too, but, the focus is on getting my 5/day.

What do you think?

A Warm Weekend

The Corn Patch

It has been a rather warm weekend with the daytime highs being in the upper 90s (around 95F/35C).  I've been using the fans to keep cool, but, I've been tempted to turn the A/C on in the bedroom during the afternoons.  I think I am feeling the heat a bit more because I am wearing my knee high compression socks all day.  

Saturday was the 61st anniversary of my father's death.  I spent a quiet day, remembering him, and wondering how my life would have turned out if he had lived longer.  

I also started on the process of taking the slipcovers off my family room sofas to wash them.  They are two IKEA 3-seater sofas and have white denim covers; there is one big cover for the entire sofa and individual covers for the six cushions that form the seats and the back.  They are machine washable, but, have to be air dried.  When I removed the cover of one of the cushions, I found that the inner lining had torn and the filling was coming out.  So, now, I need to sew a new inner cover.  That happened with one of the other cushions, too, earlier.  

Torn Cushion

I washed the individual cushion covers on Saturday.

Today, Sunday, I washed the bigger sofa cover and it is air drying as I type this.  I also checked on the chicken eggs and Chicken Little was sitting on them when I checked, so I didn't disturb her.  I gave the plants a quick drink of water to help them cope with the heat.  I saw that there might be three more okra ready to be picked, although I didn't pick them when I watered the garden.

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- Electricity to run the fans and other appliances
- Working appliances 
- Water for the garden
- Emails from friends
- Memories of my father

The weekend's joyful activities have included blogging and reading.

Plans for Monday include taking the car in for a smog check and meal planning.

How is your weekend coming along?  What are your plans for Monday? 

Warm on Friday

Friday's Tomato Harvest

Friday's high was 95F (35C).  The house stayed relatively cool and comfortable with a fan on, but, by about 4:30 p.m., it became rather stuffy.  I waited till 5:30 p.m., however, to open the windows and doors.  By which time, it had cooled down to 91F, outside.  It's 11:15 p.m. as I type this and outside has cooled down to 75F.  Saturday's high is also supposed to be 95F.  It has been so warm that I've been hearing small "pop" "pop" noises as the empty canning jars seal themselves in the box!  

I checked on Chicken Little's nest, this morning, and she wasn't sitting on her eggs.  There was a new egg, however, and I went ahead and collected it.  She has five eggs in her nest to hatch, assuming they are fertilized eggs.  Later in the evening, when M was here, he said he saw her sitting on her eggs again, so, maybe she only sits on them in the evenings?  I asked him about his chicken coop building skills, if we get any chicks, and he said we can figure something out!  LOL.  

I took it easy, today, and spent a relaxed day.  Later in the evening, M arrived to tend to the garden. He picked the tomatoes and the rest of the plums for me. We are now anticipating the nectarines that are slowly ripening.  After that, there won't be any garden fruits until the Asian pears and the Fuyu persimmons ripen, later in the fall.

Later in the evening, a little after 8:00 p.m., when it was cooler, I walked for 15 minutes, up and down the driveway and in front of the house.  

Brunch was a tuna salad sandwich and dinner was Sri Lankan style yellow rice, which I cooked on Thursday, with leftover cabbage, tomato curry, fried dry fish (a salted and dried fish), and pappadum (lentil wafers).  I had the last of the grapes and some pistachio ice cream for dessert.

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- Another new egg from Chicken Little
- Tomatoes and plums from the garden
- M helping me with the garden
- Finding that I can fit into two items of clothing (a blouse I had sewn and a dress) in my closet which had been tight!
- Cool evenings

Today's joyful activity was spending time in the garden.

Plans for tomorrow include tidying the family room, just a bit.  

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for Saturday and the weekend? 

 

This is Eggciting!

Do You See Her?

On Wednesday, when M was here to tend to the garden, he picked up the one egg that was still outside the nest and placed it in the nest.  On Thursday morning, when I checked the nest, there were no new eggs and Chicken Little was walking around the garden, quite unconcerned with her eggs.

 

How About Now?

On Thursday evening, however, when I took the kitchen composting stuff out to the backyard, I looked towards the nest and something red caught my eyes!  It was her comb!  She is very well camouflaged but, she was looking directly at me!  I took the picture from afar as I didn't want to disturb her.

I have no idea if she has been sitting on her eggs in the evening or if this is something new!  I always thought she flew over the wall and went to the neighbors' to roost at night!  I've no idea if the eggs are fertilized or not (I don't hear any rooster crowing from next door, although, I do hear a rooster crowing from further up the block from time to time.  If the eggs are not fertilized, then, she could just be broody.  But, if the eggs are fertilized, we might have some chicks hatching at the end of the month or beginning of August!  (I read that they take about 20 to 21 days to hatch, if fertilized).  Wouldn't that be exciting?  Or, should I say, "eggciting"? 

Actually, if there are baby chicks, I will let the neighbors know (they were very helpful to me when I had some plumbing issues on Saturday). 

Now I feel guilty that I took away those other eggs!  The two I ate, earlier, and the two that are in the fridge!  Sorry, Chicken Little!  But, if nothing has happened by mid August, then, I suppose I will have to get rid of the eggs.    

It was a warm day on Thursday, with a high of 91F, but, Friday is supposed to be hot with a high of 95F.  In anticipation of Friday's heat, in addition to Thursday's kitchen cleaning (wiped down the counter tops, behind and under the toaster and microwave, etc., and swept and mopped the floor), I did Friday's bathroom cleaning, too, and washed all the bathmats, kitchen rug, etc.  Now I won't feel guilty if I spend the day reading or crafting on Friday.

I am grateful for:

- The eggs I have received from Chicken Little
- Knowing that Chicken Little is sitting on her eggs
- Sunny, warm days
- Water for the garden

Thursday's joyful activity was watering the front garden.

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?  What do you think will happen with Chicken Little's eggs?  Do you think they will hatch?  Or, is she being broody?