Today, I called my supervisor in the morning and requested another day off work. Although I accept the fact that it was time for my brother to go, I still felt sad and needed another day to recover emotionally. I am allowed to take three days of bereavement leave, with documentation of the death (death announcement, service leaflet, prayer card, etc.), but I am planning to go to the office tomorrow, at least for the morning, because I have my dental appointment (and extraction) scheduled for the afternoon.
It was another fairly warm day. I did another load of laundry and changed the dust sheets on the family room sofas. I combed Dancer, although he's getting tired of me combing him. Later in the evening, after it had cooled off a bit, I brought the trash cans in and checked today's mail. The weekly grocery ads were in today's mail, but I didn't see anything I wanted to buy.
Some bloggers are doing what they call Shelftember, this month, where they are trying to plan the month's meals based on what they have in the freezer and pantry. Since I went over my August grocery budget by almost $71, I thought I would participate in Shelftember, to make up for August's over-spending. I will buy fresh produce, milk, and bread, but will try to plan most meals based on what I have on hand. I am hoping to spend no more than $40 for groceries, this month.
I haven't done a freezer and pantry inventory yet, but, I have all that frozen fish I bought plus some sausage meat, roast chicken, at least one package of mini sausages, and turkey pot pies in the freezer, canned fish, soup, rice, lentils, etc. in the pantry, more than a dozen eggs in the fridge, as well as some fresh vegetables. I will need to buy more fruits and vegetables this weekend, and maybe a loaf of bread, but that should be all.
Today's phone calls included one from the aunt who is hosting this month's prayer gathering (she was calling because she couldn't remember if she had notified me, earlier; she's in her late 80s and entitled to forget these things, but she also knows that I tend to be a bit fussy about attending events I haven't been invited to!), Aunt C who was calling to check on me (I gave her the news about my brother's death), and my cousin who had moved to Florida, earlier this year, who was calling to sympathize with me over my brother's death. Daughter called me, too, to let me know she was home after work and we video chatted, later.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Paid leave for bereavement purposes
- A very sweet and understanding supervisor
- Time to grieve
- A working washing machine
- Phone calls from family
Today's decluttering: 6 bottles of expired, half-used condiments, salad dressings, barbecue sauce, etc., from the fridge.
Thursday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Dental appointment/extraction
- Pharmacy for antibiotics if prescribed
- Clean out fridge and freezer
- Take a freezer inventory
- Water the houseplants
- Water the back garden
- Laundry - daughter's bed sheets
How was your day? Have you heard of Shelftember? Anyone else doing grocery challenges this month?
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I haven't heard of Shelftember but I did something just like that back in May/June. The primary reason was to use up foodstuffs that I had had for quite a while. As a bonus, I saved money too, of course. Mt. cupboard of tins and jars is now much more sparse though I am still having to work hard to resist going shopping to fill it up. I have proved to myself though that we exist perfectly well and are adequately fed without having overstocked cupboards! Eloise thisissixty.blog
ReplyDeleteYes, a periodic "eat from the pantry" is a good idea! I live in earthquake country, so, we are encouraged to have a minimum of 3 days (but preferably longer!) of supplies for each person and any pets in case of an earthquake. If electricity goes off, roads are damaged and impassable, etc., we won't be able to have access to grocery stores and new supplies won't be available for several days if not weeks and months. So, I do tend to stock up quite a bit, but, regularly eating what has been stocked up is also important so that nothing expires or spoils.
DeleteUnfortunately, there's no way around grieving and all you can do is take it one day at a time. My heart goes out to you during this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can finish your mountain quilt to distract yourself. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Thank you, Live and Learn. I am holding off on the quilts until I can be sure I can spread it out on a flea-free (try saying that 3 times and fast!) surface! Maybe this weekend!
Delete"three days of bereavement leave" is a nice benefit - when I was working we only got one day. You may find the sadness feeling comes over you at the most unexpected time. I also think as we age we think about our own passing.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the beautiful weather here on Wednesday with a nice breeze, a/c off and windows open. Wonderful for drying the laundry outside. Some of the trees are starting to lose a few leaves. We really could use some rain.
I am always trying to be mindful of the food that we already have in the freezer and pantry but can't seem to get away from going to the grocery store at least weekly. I believe I could do it if I was just feeding myself. It also helps if you don't mind eating the same thing over a few days in a row. Good luck my dear.
I took only one day of bereavement leave this time. Earlier, when two other brothers died, I didn't take any, but I was more resilient back then, I think.
DeleteSounds like you are starting to experience some nice, fall weather! It's a lot cooler here, too, today.
I, too, usually go to the grocery store once a week (or occasionally, once every 10 days). Bread, milk, and fresh produce will last and remain fresh only so long. I am still eating leftovers from the weekend when daughter was here! I still have some vegetables and fruit, but I'll need to get a few things for next week, for lunches, at least.
I am so sorry your brother passed away. He was handsome. Good memories I see in your past post! Death is so mysterious to me...I often reflect on it and how we are made for eternal life and this life on earth is so short!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you always pray for your daughter's safety. Where we lived in Delaware there was constant crime. It helps to ask for heaven's protection! Andrea
Thank you, Andrea. Birth and death are both part of the life cycle, aren't they?
DeleteYes, I do pray for my daughter's safety. She laughs at me, but it makes me feel that I tried!
I hope you are keeping well and enjoying your return to blogging.
Continuing to send prayers for comfort for you on your loss. Your employer is so wonderful, Bless. Do you have to catch up on projects when you return from time off, or do you have a coworker who fills in to complete them while you are out? Can understand why you love working there ... seems like such a caring environment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carolyn. Yes, I do have to catch up on projects or my supervisor tries to fill in for me. It's just my supervisor and I in our unit, now. There used to be about 5 of us, at one time, but we've been through much restructuring - in fact, there was another memo announcing more personnel changes, today!
DeleteI'm very sorry to read about your brother Bless. The stories you remember about him are lovely. I recall you saying the children were quite often left to their own devices before your mother married your father and got up to all sorts of mischief, but in the photo of him as a young boy he looks the picture of innocence :)
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Shelftember but I have heard of Stoptober - I think it started as giving up smoking but has turned into giving up whatever you feel like. I'm not sure we could survive on what we have in our cupboards and freezer for a month without everybody being miserable, but if there was some catastrophe and I really had to I could probably pull a fair few meals together to keep us alive! I shall read with interest how you get on but I won't be rising to the challenge lol. xx
Thank you, Suzanne. This was the brother who'd take the whole bar of chocolate, to tease me, when I offered a piece! Father would give me the bar of chocolate; mother would direct me to offer everyone a piece so I learned how to share; all the others would break off a piece and thank me; brother R would take the whole bar of chocolate and I wouldn't know what to do! Then, the others would chide him and he'd laugh and hand the chocolate back to me. It became a bit of a ritual, although I was never sure if I'd get my chocolate back! LOL.
DeleteI, too, have heard of Stoptober (mostly from some British blogs I've read!) I think the reasoning behind Shelftember is to plan the meals based on what's on hand and buy only what is needed to round off the meal, as opposed to pick a recipe and shop for the ingredients. More of a "I have pork chops in the freezer and bread crumbs in the pantry, so I will make breaded pork chops for dinner" instead of "this recipe for pork chops sounds good, I will buy some to make for dinner". Ideally, the pork chops in the freezer were bought when they were on sale.
Please accept my sympathy on the death of your brother. Although it is a blessing that he is no longer suffering, it is hard for you and your family to lose him. Thank you for sharing the photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting in an airport waiting for my flight across the pond, and DH is with me. The weather on the way here has varied from drizzle to outright storm to sun and here we have yet another storm passing over. At least we are not due to leave for another 2 hours so I expect it will all clear up by then! Meantime I listen to the rumbles, but I keep thinking how fortunate we are that we are nowhere near the hurricane paths where people are homeless and others fearful of what awaits them. Many prayers are needed.
Thank you, Bushlady.
DeleteI hope you and DH have a safe flight and a wonderful trip. Hope you have a safe return journey, as well.
I had not heard of shelftember.. But , that is a great idea. I just found out I am diabetic and I am having to change things in my pantry for myself and change recipes for sure..[ Really hate that.ha] So, I will not be able to do it for awhile.. Once I get my pantry more geared for diabetic cooking, that will help.
ReplyDeletePoor Dancer, know hes ready , to get back to normal.. But, if he knew... he would be thanking you..smile.
I am so sorry about your brother, this is so sad.. We never know , when we have to go through a loss .. very hard. I am proud your work place let you be off.
Have a blessed evening.
Judy, I am sorry to hear about the diabetes diagnosis. But I am sure you will be able to make the necessary changes.
DeleteThank you, Judy. It's hard to lose a family member, but, he's not in pain, anymore.
Dancer isn't happy about being combed but it needs to be done.
It is wonderful that you get time off work for grief. I hope you will remember you brother with smiles rather than tears.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Shelftember. Hope you will share your meals with us!
Thank you, Anne. I am trying to focus on the good memories I have of him.
DeleteRight now, I am still eating leftovers from the weekend, but I will post my meals.