Monday, April 23, 2018

Earth Day Sunday

It was Earth Day on Sunday, but the day was being observed all weekend long!  Here, in Southern California, a freeway was closed to traffic so that people could run a race and several roads were closed to vehicle traffic so that people could cycle through the streets.  I am sure there were other activities, as well, and everyone had lovely warm weather (highs in the upper 80s) in which to enjoy the day!

I had a relaxed morning, watching cooking shows on TV, replying to blog comments, reading, and knitting.  Yes, I have started to knit a sweater with the darker yarn I bought earlier in March:

The yarn bought in March
As usual, I have started with the back; this time, I decided to cast on 61 stitches.  I did a knit 1 purl 1 rib and am knitting up the back in stockinette stitch:

Color changes

Yesterday, I called family and friends.  Today, it was their turn to call me!

Friend R called first.  Yesterday, we had discussed maybe going out to lunch, today.  But, she called in the morning to say she had a headache and so we agreed to go out to lunch on another day.  

Then, there was a text from a different friend R, about the monthly rosary prayer gathering, which she will be hosting next Sunday.  I asked if it will be potluck, but she said no, she will cook.  However, I will take a dessert if I am going.  But I won't know if I will be able to go or not - it all depends on how I feel by the end of the week.  I told her I will call and confirm if I am going, closer to the date.

Shortly after that, friend F called to ask if I will be going to the prayer gathering because she needs a ride.  I told her I am hoping to go, it all depends on how I feel, but I'd be happy to give her a ride, if I am going.  

Neighbor T called a little later in the morning and we chatted a bit.  During our conversation, she said she didn't expect anyone to visit her today (I think her daughter usually visits her on Sundays), and she sounded so sad and lonely, that I said I'll pay her a visit this evening, which I did, around 5:00 p.m.  She served me cookies and lemonade and we chatted for about half an hour and she thanked me for coming to visit her.  I hope I eased her loneliness a little.

I also had a call from Cousin V.  I had received the invitation to her son's wedding, in the mail, yesterday, and we discussed the wedding plans a bit.  She will borrow my big ceremonial oil lamp, just as she did when her daughter got married.  

In between phone calls and visiting T I cooked!  I made chicken stock and made a chicken and vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, onions, and a handful of lentils.  I had some of it for my dinner:

Chicken and Vegetable Soup

I cooked a mackerel curry, as well, and I made an egg salad.  I also boiled some beets, which I sliced and seasoned with a little salt and pepper.  Tomorrow morning, I will cook the broccoli.  I will keep a portion of what I cooked and take the rest to my aunt.  All cousin N will need to do is cook some rice  and there will be enough food for them for several meals.   

I also watered the front garden, cleaned my bathroom, and washed a bunch of pots and pans and dishes!  

Later in the evening, I video chatted with daughter.  She, too, had been busy cooking!  She made an apple tart to take to a potluck at her office and she made a roast chicken.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A warm, sunny day
- Being able to visit neighbor T and keep her company for a bit
- Phone calls from family and friends
- Being able to cook a few dishes to take to my aunt
- Video chatting with my daughter

How was your Sunday?  Did you do anything to observe Earth Day?  

18 comments:

  1. You've had a very busy Sunday. The chicken and veg soup looks very tasty. Do you always cook from fresh for each meal or do you ever bulk cook to have meals in the freezer?

    I didn't do anything to observe Earth Day and am not aware of any events in this area (south west of England).

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    1. I often cook for the week, Eileen, and occasionally, freeze some of it for later. That seems to work best for me. How about you?

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    2. I do a lot of bulk cooking to freeze in portions for the freezer. This works out cheapest for me (I live alone) and means I always have something I fancy to eat on hand rather than resorting to too many takeaways!

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    3. Sounds like you've found a good solution to reducing the amount of cooking you have to do, still have variety, and save on buying food from outside!:)

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  2. You certainly have an active social group with you phone calls, visiting, and food exchanges. It sounds really nice, and BTW the soup looks delicious.

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    1. Thank you, Live and Learn. Yes, I do have a nice social group. I will miss that if daughter decides to settle down in the Bay Area and I decide to move up to join her. The soup tasted good. I had forgotten to buy celery, but in the end, it wasn't even missed.

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  3. Goodness me! You are a very popular lady, Bless. It's a really blessing in like to have friends, isn't it? Sunday was very quiet...I was still recovering from Saturday - a stressful drive (in both directions) and several hours with my adorable, but exhausting, little grandsons! I had to look up Earth Day as I hadn't even heard of it. It seems that I am a bit out of touch as there were some activities in the UK too.

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    1. There are days when I don't get a single phone call, Eloise, and then, there are days when I get many! Yesterday was one of them. :) I'm sure you had a lovely time with your grandsons, although, I'm sure it was tiring. I am glad you were able to rest, yesterday. Hope you get to rest today, too. Hope you have a good start to your week.

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  4. It sounds like you had a good Earth Day, Bless! I'm glad you got to relax in between all your socializing and didn't have to drive anywhere. Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you, Nathalie. Not driving anywhere was my Earth Day contribution! :D I have to drive, today, though. Hope you, too, have a good week. Take care.

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  5. We attended our usual early morning worship service and I enjoyed so much talking with a lovely young woman whose mother-in-law is from England.

    Your chicken and veg soup looks very yummy.

    Today hubby and I went out to Walmart as he needed to pick up an internet order. Did a little shopping while we were there which included two pairs of shorts. Got home and realized we didn't have them. Hubby called and fortunately they were handed into customer service so back he has gone to collect them.

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    1. Sandy, sounds like you had a good Sunday. Glad your purchases were at customer service and your husband is able to go back to pick them up! A bit inconvenient, probably, but, at least, no one else walked off with them! Hope you have a good rest of the day.

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  6. Glad you had a nice Earth Day and a good Sunday in general. I love to start the week with foods prepped!

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    1. Thanks, Anne. Yes, glad to have the meals prepared for the week. I just have to cook some vegetables and maybe some rice or pasta later in the week.

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  7. I didn’t realize you may be selling your home and relocating. That sounds exciting!

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    1. Just some possibilities we've considered, Carolyn. But it is very doubtful if I will move up there; the prices of houses there are unreal!

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  8. That was lovely that you found time to pop round to your neighbour for a visit. Sometimes a long visit isn't needed, just to have a friendly face right there for a while. I'm sure she perked up all round and settled down nicely for the evening.
    Well, this is Earth Day, Monday, and we can see plenty of earth now that the snow is going away. I went for a walk with a friend and saw the river ice is opening, and on the way back I was amazed to see a butterfly. If that wasn't good enough, then didn't I see 2 robins later on in the back yard! I really feel that Spring is here. The sap, which we expected to run like mad, has started to ease off altogether, so it is good that it kept running during the colder spell. Collecting has officially stopped, as some of the sap was even starting to look cloudy. Soon the buds will be out and it would have that off flavour that wouldn't make good syrup.

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady. She was very appreciative of my visit.

      Yay, spring has arrived! I'm sure you are ready to see some buds and leaves and warmer weather, even if it means an end to the sap collecting. Hope you have a lovely week ahead of you.

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