On the Second Day of the New Year

Lemon Centerpiece

Today, I slept in, again, and then, did a load of laundry; more bedding from my daughter's bed - this time, the quilt she used when she was having her cold and cough. 

We had planned to go to the post office in the afternoon, but, daughter was not quite ready with the gifts she wanted to mail to her friend.  I wrote out a check to pay my gas bill, but, I didn't mail it, today, as I was going to drop it off at the collection box at the post office; will do so, tomorrow. 

I put water to the front garden, today.  Not a lot, but, just enough to keep the little osteospermum seedlings growing.  Some of the seeds are just starting to germinate and I want to encourage them to grow.  Then, I picked more lemons from the backyard to create a centerpiece for the dining table.

I also picked some flowers and greenery from the garden to create an "ikebana-inspired" flower arrangement for the living room:

Ikebana-inspired Flower Arrangement

I am sure the placement of the flowers are not quite correct, but, I enjoyed creating the arrangement and that is what counts, right?

In the evening, my daughter and I went over to neighbor S's to dinner.  We enjoyed the dinner, which included traditional Armenian New Year's food, such as kufta (sort of a stuffed meatball)  and blinchik (a type of meat filled crepe, that is fried), and a yogurt soup that is served with the kufta.  There were also some really delicious oven fries one of her daughters had made, which she knows I like - coated with mayonnaise and seasoned with paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper.  After dinner, we were treated to a variety of desserts including dried fruits, chocolates, homemade cookies and baklava made by S's mother, and a type of gingerbread cookies, which S had bought:

Lebkuchen Cookies

Afterwards, we exchanged gifts and S sent some food home with us, as well.

But, the best part of the visit is - S is a piano teacher (she taught my daughter to play) and she will be giving me piano lessons, starting this month!  I had taken piano lessons as a child and then, stopped.  Since then, I've played mostly by ear, using the few chords that I know.  I can read some notes, as long as they are not too many octaves above or below middle C, but, I'd like to be better.  I am not very good at teaching myself to play so, S is going to start me off with a very basic beginner book for adults and we'll take it from there.  I have to order the book and then, once it arrives, I will start my lessons!  For now, I will go once a week, although S thinks twice a week is better.  I am looking forward to learning to play the piano, again!

After we came home, daughter and I started on the other jigsaw puzzle.  I did a little bit, but, daughter is making good progress! 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Dinner with S and family
- A working washer and dryer
- Water for the garden
- Garden fruits and flowers
- Starting piano lessons

Today's joyful activity was having dinner with S and family.

Plans for tomorrow include going to the post office and, in the evening, going to cousin R's birthday party.

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