Winter Roses and Other Happenings on Wednesday

Winter Rose

This rose is for those who, like my friend Bushlady, woke up to snow, this morning.   The rose bushes will be pruned, later this month, but, until then, they continue to bloom.

While I was out in the garden, I took a couple of other photos, too.

Chrysanthemum

Last October, I bought two chrysanthemum plants to keep on the altar during the prayer gathering.  Afterwards, I planted them in the garden.  The purple one died, but the yellow one survived and has a flower (there are a couple of buds forming, too).

Oranges

The photo of the oranges might be a candidate for the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt, prompt #17 Orange.  I couldn't resist picking one of the oranges and having it as a snack! 

There was a knock on my door, this morning.  It was someone contracted by the utility company to trim trees that might come in contact and interfere with the power lines!  He and his assistant needed access to the backyard to inspect the utility pole and my pine tree.

Trimming the pine tree that is growing in the backyard has been on my to do list for a long time.  (Don't you love the English language?  In what other language can "trim the tree" mean both decorating a tree with ornaments and cutting it back to prune it?   LOL.)  But, my gardener friend hasn't been able to do it. So, today's visit by the utility company contractors was a blessing!  Especially since they trimmed the pine tree at no cost to me!

They didn't trim as much off the tree as I would have liked, and I might still nag friend M to prune a bit more of the tree, but now I don't have to worry about the power lines being impacted!  I'm glad I was at home to let them have access to the backyard.

They removed all the branches they trimmed, but I broke off a couple of sprigs for this week's "winter arrangement", along with a stem of paperwhites. 

I spoke with the dentist's office, this morning.  Apparently, I still need to call the dental insurance people to request that my account be activated, as the dental office was told that my account has been terminated!  Sigh.  I'm getting a bit tired of all these phone calls, back and forth!  So, one item crossed off the to do list and another item added to it! 

In the afternoon, I went to the grocery store to buy more canned cat food.  I've discovered that Dancer only likes the soft "pate" versions; he doesn't like the "shreds" and "bits" ones, that have pieces!  He also only likes the taste of fish, not chicken, etc.  So, I returned three unopened cans of cat food that had pieces in it and bought several cans of the pate versions, four cans of "salmon pate" and four cans of "white fish and tuna".  I also bought a loaf of bread ($1.29) and some bananas (@$.59/lb = $.78) for me.  Total spent, including cat food, came to $5.08.

January grocery spending to date:
1/4: bananas = $.99
1/9: bread & bananas = $1.29 + $.78 = $2.07
Total = $3.06

After that, I went to the fabric store, as today was the last day of their sale on broadcloth and other items.  I wanted to buy two yards of white broadcloth (regular price $3.99/yard; on sale for $1.99/yard) for a set of pillowcases I want to make.  Their quilt batting was on sale, too, for 60% off, so I bought one queen size polyester quilt batting (regular price $29.99; on sale for $11.99) and one small cotton quilt batting (regular price $9.99; on sale for $3.99).  I bought them both for projects I have in mind.  I wanted to spend about $20, which is my budgeted amount for my personal allowance, as I don't have a budget for craft supplies, as such.  The cost of the items came to $19.96, but, my total came to $21.86, with sales taxes.  I figured it was okay to go over budget by less than $2.00.  Especially since I "saved" $30 by taking advantage of the sale!

Fabric Store Receipt

Later in the evening, I changed the sheets on daughter's bed and did a load of laundry. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Roses in winter
- Oranges fresh from the tree
- The pine tree being trimmed, free of charge
- Being able to exchange the cans of cat food without any problems
- Being able to buy fabric and quilt batting on sale


Wednesday's To Do List:
- Call the dentist's office - DONE
- Go to the fabric store - DONE
- Grocery store for more cans of food for Dancer - DONE
- Start putting away the holiday decorations
- Wash daughter's bedding/remake her bed - DONE

I accomplished most of the items on my list for today.  Taking down and putting the holiday decorations away will go on tomorrow's list.

Thursday's To Do List:
- Call cousin P to see if she wants to go visit Aunt T with me
- Visit Aunt T
- Take down and put away the holiday decorations

How was your day, today?  What have you planned for Thursday?