Saturday, September 8, 2018

Clean on Friday

According to the rhyme, it's "Clean on Friday".  Since I dusted and vacuumed on Thursday, I decided to mop the floors, today.  I started with the kitchen, then, after I rinsed off the mop head and wrung it out, I decided to damp mop the hardwood floors - living room, dining area, hallway, my bedroom, daughter's room, family room, and the laundry closet, too, which is vinyl flooring, not hardwood - using just water, because the floor cleaner might dull the finish on the wood floors.  Usually, I just vacuum these floors, but, there is a very find dust that comes in when the windows are open and, I feel that the occasional going over with a damp mop is helpful.  It hasn't been done in a long time, as I just haven't had the energy to do so.  But, I told myself that before I do any playing with fabric, etc., today, I had to do at least one big cleaning project!  I still need to clean my bathroom (the other bathroom is OK, as it hasn't been used since daughter left and I cleaned it then).  Will do it tomorrow, as I ran out of energy, today!

I also, finally, called the dentist's office and made an appointment for next week, to go in and have a check up/get my teeth cleaned.  We can discuss what else needs to be done (I need two crowns) before my retirement goes into effect and my insurance changes in October and before I start taking prescription strength calcium treatments to help with my bone density.

There were two more emails from HR at work, regarding my pending retirement - some forms they couldn't locate (because I never filed them since I was not required to do so!); I did offer to come in and file them if they need me to, but they said it should be fine.

Then, I pulled out my "Mountain Climbing" quilt top (remember that?) to see what else needed to be done to it.  Apparently, I have done more than I thought I had!  I thought I had to finish the piecing at the top and bottom, but I have already finished them!  All that needs to be done is put in the final border and the reason that has not been done is, I ran short of the fabric!  I want to put a dark pink border to set it off and all I have is the medium pink fabric.  Well, I kept the medium pink fabric to see how it looks and I wasn't very satisfied.  My daughter, however, prefers the medium pink to the dark pink.  What do you think?

Medium Pink and Dark Pink, Side by Side

I believe I have just enough of the medium pink to do a border right round:

Medium Pink Border

But only a small strip of the dark pink, but it sets off the quilt better, I think:


Dark Pink Border
I don't want to reveal too much of the quilt at this point; not until I've got the border completed.  The three shades of pink fabric had been bought on a 75% off sale, for $1/yard (broadcloth; regular price $3.99), as an "I could always use this for a nightdress or quilt" fabric.  Since I was more likely to use the medium pink for a nightdress, I bought 3 yards of that and 1 yard or so of the other two colors.  I don't know if I should wait until there is another similar sale (usually after Thanksgiving or Christmas) and wait to finish the quilt, or pay the regular price and buy two yards of the darker pink and finish the quilt sooner!

I checked the fabric store's website and they are apparently having an end-of summer door buster sale on quilt cotton solids (reg. price $5.99, on sale for $1.99), which is supposed to end on Saturday.  Quilt cotton is better than regular broadcloth, I believe.  Considering the entire quilt top was pieced using what I had in my stash and I will use fabric in the stash for the backing, I haven't bought anything specifically for this quilt, yet (although I do plan to buy the batting for it), I think buying a couple of yards of fabric for the border at $1.99 per yard might be OK, don't you?

In the afternoon, I paid my gas bill and went to the post office to mail it (I wanted to make sure it was date stamped, today).  After that, I went to the dollar store to buy plants.  I bought another oregano plant and five blue salvia plants.  I decided not to get any tomatoes or chili plants, after all, as it would be hard to keep them protected from the garden cats.  M planted them for me, in the front garden.  I forgot to take pictures, but maybe I'll take some, tomorrow.  I hope they will grow.  It was 93F, today, and tomorrow is supposed to be 102F.  Not the best temperatures for newly transplanted plants! 

Later in the evening, I attended the meditation session at the temple.  I took the cookies I had bought, earlier, to serve during the break; someone else brought juice, and there was bottled water, too, for whoever wanted any.  The meditation session was very relaxing and I almost fell asleep!  Afterwards, there was a good discussion, as well. 

After I came home, I decided to make coconut flat bread (or "pol roti") for dinner:

Pol Roti or Coconut Flat Bread

I keep a package of frozen, grated coconut on hand to make these whenever I feel like it.  I broke off a small piece of the frozen grated coconut (maybe 1/4 to 1/3 cup) and thawed it in the microwave.  Then, I added some flour (I didn't measure, maybe 1/2 to 2/3 cups) and salt and enough water to make a dough.  It needs to be soft, but not sticky.  I had to add another table spoon or so of flour to get the right consistency.  I divided the dough into three balls, which I patted out flat between my palms.  Then, I cooked them on a lightly oiled frying pan, over medium heat, for about five minutes on each side.  I ate 1 1/2 of the flat bread with fish curry for dinner.  I'll have the other 1 1/2 tomorrow, for breakfast.

Later, after dinner, I video chatted with daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter is feeling much better
- Getting the floors mopped
- The fabric store is having a sale
- M planted the new plants for me
- A meditative evening and good discussion, afterwards.


Friday's To Do List:
- Call the dentist! - DONE!  Appointment set for next week!
- Post office to mail bill payment - DONE
- Dollar store for plants - DONE
- Mop floors - DONE
- Visit neighbor T
- Meditation session - DONE

The only item still left undone is visiting neighbor T; I hope to do that over the weekend.

Saturday's To Do List:
- Go to the fabric store
- Visit T
- Clean my bathroom
- Organize my closet
- Water the houseplants
- Water the back garden

How was your Friday?  What shade of pink would you choose for the quilt border?  What are your plans for the weekend?

19 comments:

  1. I agree with your instincts. I like the the darker pink for the border, and you should buy the fabric and finish the quilt. You have definitely climbed the mountain. Yay!

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    1. Thank you, Live and Learn. I think it is appropriate that I should be working on this quilt right now, while I wait for the biopsy results on Wednesday! I'm still climbing that mountain, I feel, and probably will continue to do so for the rest of my life! But I plan to finish this quilt, now.

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  2. Holy Moley! I can't keep up with you. You were a house on fire today. Wet mopping all those floors was no small feat. Good job on calling the dentist's office. I think that was difficult for you. No more procrastinating. You did it. A pat on each shoulder, if you please.
    I agree that the dark pink sets off the quilt nicely (I said I wasn't going to help you any more), and might there be enough of the medium to back the quilt? Otherwise, you did buy it thinking it would make a lovely nightie. I hope tonight's post includes a trip to the fabric store to take advantage of the $1.99 quilt cotton sale. Apparently, you are in need of dark pink and a dark blue fabric. The end of the month goals report might include TWO quilts. Haha.
    A trip to the Post Office and to the Dollar store and then out again to the Temple for meditation....small wonder you almost fell asleep. I hope your new plants survive the California heat. The salvia should do well once established. Did you plant them among the daisies and lavender? That would be lovely.

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    1. Well, you didn't slack off any, either, yesterday, Susan. I read about all what you accomplished and it was a lot!

      Yes, I kept procrastinating on the call to the dentist. I don't know why - well, I do know why - I don't like going to the dentist! But, it needs to be done!

      Thank you for the help with the quilt, even after saying you won't help anymore! :D Yes, there might be enough of the medium pink for the back - might need to augment it a bit with another piece, but that would be fine, too. I have more of the very light pink, as well. Yes, apparently, I need dark pink and dark blue fabric! LOL!

      The meditating is very relaxing! I tried the technique last night, to help me fall asleep. It was 4:00 a.m. and I was wide awake!

      I did plant the salvia among the daisies (which are almost dead, by now), in a clump, under the pomegranate tree. It will provide a nice pop of color, once established. I planted the herbs (oregano and rosemary) among the lavender, which haven't done well, at all! Most of the lavender plants died, although one or two show a bit of green and have been kept in the hopes they pick up once it cools off.

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  3. It's reassuring when people ask for paperwork because it means something is happening. The old adage that 'no news is good news' is a bit risky, I think! I love the sound of the coconut flatbreads but I've never seen frozen coconut here, nor even bags of freshly grated coconut. We can get bags of dried, grated coconut (dessicated) but it is usually sweetened. I've just googled it though and discovered that it can be bought unsweetened. Do you think the dried stuff would work?

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    1. Yes, I, too, think that the fact that they are asking for things means they are processing the application!

      The desiccated coconut will work, just fine, Eloise. That's what I used to use, when I first came to this country, and frozen grated coconut wasn't readily available. I used to use the sweetened desiccated coconut and that worked out well, too; the bread didn't taste overly sweet. One might need to add a little more water, but I go by the feel of the dough - should be soft, but not sticky. Hope you try making them - if you need exact measurements, let me know; I do have a recipe in one of my cookbooks, giving quantities (or, you might be able to find a recipe online).

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    2. I've just been to buy some dessicated coconut. I shall be giving it a go very soon.

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    3. That was fast! By the way, you can roll out the door with a rolling pin, instead of patting them by hand - you get a more even top, that way. I didn't bother, with just three to make (the less utensils I use, the less I have to wash!) Hope you enjoy them.

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  4. I prefer the dark pink for the border. As you said, it finishes off the quilt properly.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Thank you, Eileen. My daughter prefers the lighter pink, but she said that the darker pink was more in keeping with my style of quilts! LOL. I think it gives it a more definite finish.

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  5. I like both the pinks Bless, but like you, I do think the deeper shade sets off the rest of the quilt. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules. I am going to go with the deeper pink. :) Hope Lily's first week at school went well and you are enjoying the weekend.

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  6. I also think dark pink it better for the border.
    I didn't make pol roti for a while. Pol roti with fish curry sounds so good. 😊

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    1. Thanks, Nil. I bought some dark pink fabric today, for the border. :)

      It's been awhile since I last made roti, myself. Sometimes, I don't want to bother because it is just for myself, but they don't take a long time to make.

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  7. See why I opted out on the ideas for the other quilt - I felt that I agreed with your daughter on the medium pink for this one! But I see from above that she knows your style, and I guess the deeper pink will indeed make a beautiful border.

    I'm soon going to be boarding an overnight flight and getting ready to shut down the laptop. It has been great catching up with e-mails and blogs while waiting!

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    1. Hope you have a safe flight, Bushlady. Hope you enjoy your trip.

      I might compromise and put a medium pink border AND a dark pink one! Will play around a bit more, tomorrow (I bought the dark pink fabric, today).

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  8. Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way for your biopsy results!

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