Getting Things Done on Friday

Dancer Likes the New Rug

I spent a quiet morning, today.  I slept in, then, had a cup of tea, replied to blog comments, read a few other blogs, etc.

Then, I cleaned the fridge.  I washed all the shelves, including those on the door and went through stuff and threw out several items that I had been keeping, like old packets of condiments you get with fast food (kept the soy sauce packets, though!), the opened bottles of wine leftover from last year's rosary prayer gathering (I don't drink wine and, generally, don't cook with it, either; I figured it had probably turned to vinegar by now!), and a couple of bottles of really old salad dressings.  I was going to clean the freezer section, as well, or, at least, organize it, but, it was 2:30 p.m., already, and I needed to go grocery shopping!

I went to the pharmacy, first, as my inhaler refill was ready to be picked up and I bought another bottle of calcium pills, as well, as I was running out of my calcium supplements.

Then, I went to the dollar store, next door, to buy a few of the groceries on my list:  bananas ($.49/lb), 2 containers strawberries (@$1.49/lb),  2 containers of raspberries (@$.99/6 oz), onions ($.99/2 lbs), asparagus ($.99/lb; decided to have asparagus instead of green beans), bell peppers (4/$1.00), frozen hot wings ($3.99), 2 bags of potato chips ($2.49/7 oz bag), a can of coconut milk, 2 bottles of soda, etc.  I spent $22 and some change at the dollar store.

After that, I went to the regular supermarket and bought 2 whole chickens ($1.79/lb),  6 lbs. beef ($3.99/lb), 3 smoked sausages ($2.49@), a bottle of sparkling apple cider ($3.49), 2 bottles of orange juice ($2.99@), milk ($1.99), half and half ($1.79), and two candy bars $.50@); I spent $65 and some change at the grocery store. 

By then, it was 5:30 p.m. and I was getting tired.  I came home and was putting away the groceries when M arrived to tend to the garden.   I had him clear the walkway to the front door (he moved some planters, tidied up, and swept the area). 

Then, we had some tea and he helped me with the house cleaning!  He dusted the ceiling fan and light fixtures, vacuumed, put a new battery in the wall clock, and taped down the new kitchen rugs I bought to cover the vinyl tiles that have started to peel off.  While he did that, I tidied the family room and dusted.

I took a short break after he left, a little after 7:00 p.m.  Spoke on the phone with my daughter and had something to eat.

Cousin P called and I chatted with her for a bit and then, I called cousin V and one other person to find out if they were coming to the prayer gathering, tomorrow, since I hadn't heard if they were coming or not.  I wanted to find out before I started cooking!  Well, cousin V and family are not coming and neither is the other person, her husband, and aunt.  So, instead of 15 people, there will be only 6 people to dinner, including myself!  Good to know!  I'll still go ahead and roast both chickens as that's easy, but, I won't cook all the beef and all the smoked sausage.

Then, I sauteed the garbanzo beans I had boiled, yesterday, with onions, mustard seeds, curry leaves, dried chilies, etc.  That dish is done and only needs to be warmed up, tomorrow.

After that, I cut up 4 lbs. of the beef, added the curry powder and other spices, and kept to marinate.  I was feeling tired by then, so decided to cook the beef curry, tomorrow.  I will freeze the rest of the beef to cook another day.

I also left cleaning my bathroom to do tomorrow. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Problem free medication refills at the pharmacy
- M helping me with the housework
- Finally knowing how many people to expect (and cook for!)
- A clean house
- Chatting with my daughter

Friday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop - DONE
- Cook the beef curry - Kept to marinate, overnight
- Saute the garbanzo beans - DONE
- Tidy the family room - DONE
- Clean my bathroom
- Vacuum (or ask M to vacuum for me!) - DONE
- Clean/organize fridge/freezer - DID the fridge

Saturday's To Do List:
- Clean my bathroom
- Organize the freezer (mostly so that the bag of ice will be easily accessed!)
- Pick up friend R
- Do the rest of the cooking
- Set up the altar

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for Saturday?