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?

Thursday, April 16, 2026

On Thursday

Pink Roses

 

On Thursday, the primary care doctor's office called again to ask for some additional information and a copy of my insurance card.  They should have my card on file, but, anyway, I took a copy of it and emailed it to them.  Hopefully, they can now figure out what they need to do next.  

Later in the afternoon, I went to the library to return some magazines that were due and to borrow a few more.  They are all last year's magazines, and even the most current issue on display was one from October of last year!  Maybe they are no longer getting paper copies of these magazines.  I haven't checked the library's online magazines, yet.

I also picked another handful of fresh blueberries which I gave to my daughter to enjoy.  The first blueberries are the best!  I still have quite a few blueberries from last year in the freezer.  Later in the evening, daughter picked a few more blueberries and pulled up a few carrots.

Other than that, it has been a quiet day. We had leftover pizza for brunch and dinner will be leftover rice and curries, so no cooking required.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Technology which enabled me to email a copy of my insurance cards to the doctor's office
- Libraries
- A safe drive to the library and back
- Flowers in the garden
- Leftovers

Today's joyful activities included going to the library and walking in the garden with my daughter.

How was your Thursday?  


Wednesday, April 15, 2026

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?

Monday, April 13, 2026

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?