I spent a restful day on Sunday. I spent the morning replying to blog comments and playing games on the computer.
Later, I portioned the chicken thighs and drumsticks I bought for myself and froze them. Now, I need to make room for the broccoli and green beans I want to freeze! I have a side by side fridge/freezer and while the freezer part is more than sufficient for my usual weekly shopping habits, it is not enough for monthly Covid stock ups! As I told one of my friends, I might have to eat up all the ice cream I bought (1 pint container!) to make room for the broccoli and the green beans! LOL! I do plan to cook one head of broccoli for this week's meals, but, I'd like to blanch and freeze the green beans.
I also worked on the quilt on Sunday. This is the scrap strip quilt that I am making - it was supposed to have been a Christmas gift to a friend, but, I couldn't finish it in time, so I am trying to get it finished as a birthday gift, instead. Yesterday, I decided that it needed to be at least one row longer, so I sewed a row of ten blocks and attached it. Sewing the blocks is what I enjoy the most in quilting. Added borders and finishing it is not as much fun!
I watched a documentary about 1968 on TV while I sewed. I remember reading about some of the events that took place, back then, but, I was in Sri Lanka, then, and we didn't have TV service; reading about events is different from watching actual TV footage of what was happening.
On Sunday, I was grateful for:
- Freezers
- Electricity to run the appliances
- Leftovers for meals
- My fabric stash
- Interesting documentaries to watch on TV
My joyful activity was sewing more blocks for the quilt top.
Today, Monday, I was woken up by a phone call from some realtor calling to express an interest in buying my house! Oh, but, I'm not interested in selling it!
Neighbor S called at noon and we agreed to do the piano lesson at 12:30 p.m. It went well, I think. I just wish I didn't get so nervous during lessons. I keep fumbling over the keys as a result. But, S is very patient with me. I need to practice more and learn how to count better! I seem to take the counts and note values on the page of music as a suggestion, lingering a bit longer on some notes and shortening others! I guess I play to my own rhythm! Maybe I'll be a good jazz pianist! LOL!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Online piano lessons and the technology that enables it
- A full freezer (and the electricity to run it)
- Being retired
- Warm, sunny, summer days
- My own home, which provides me with shelter, a safe and peaceful haven
My joyful activity today will be more sewing, although I haven't done any yet!
Monday's To Do List:
Later, I portioned the chicken thighs and drumsticks I bought for myself and froze them. Now, I need to make room for the broccoli and green beans I want to freeze! I have a side by side fridge/freezer and while the freezer part is more than sufficient for my usual weekly shopping habits, it is not enough for monthly Covid stock ups! As I told one of my friends, I might have to eat up all the ice cream I bought (1 pint container!) to make room for the broccoli and the green beans! LOL! I do plan to cook one head of broccoli for this week's meals, but, I'd like to blanch and freeze the green beans.
I also worked on the quilt on Sunday. This is the scrap strip quilt that I am making - it was supposed to have been a Christmas gift to a friend, but, I couldn't finish it in time, so I am trying to get it finished as a birthday gift, instead. Yesterday, I decided that it needed to be at least one row longer, so I sewed a row of ten blocks and attached it. Sewing the blocks is what I enjoy the most in quilting. Added borders and finishing it is not as much fun!
I watched a documentary about 1968 on TV while I sewed. I remember reading about some of the events that took place, back then, but, I was in Sri Lanka, then, and we didn't have TV service; reading about events is different from watching actual TV footage of what was happening.
On Sunday, I was grateful for:
- Freezers
- Electricity to run the appliances
- Leftovers for meals
- My fabric stash
- Interesting documentaries to watch on TV
My joyful activity was sewing more blocks for the quilt top.
Today, Monday, I was woken up by a phone call from some realtor calling to express an interest in buying my house! Oh, but, I'm not interested in selling it!
Neighbor S called at noon and we agreed to do the piano lesson at 12:30 p.m. It went well, I think. I just wish I didn't get so nervous during lessons. I keep fumbling over the keys as a result. But, S is very patient with me. I need to practice more and learn how to count better! I seem to take the counts and note values on the page of music as a suggestion, lingering a bit longer on some notes and shortening others! I guess I play to my own rhythm! Maybe I'll be a good jazz pianist! LOL!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Online piano lessons and the technology that enables it
- A full freezer (and the electricity to run it)
- Being retired
- Warm, sunny, summer days
- My own home, which provides me with shelter, a safe and peaceful haven
My joyful activity today will be more sewing, although I haven't done any yet!
Monday's To Do List:
- Piano lesson - DONE
- Put away the non-perishable groceries that have been kept out to air and disinfect since Friday
- Put away the non-perishable groceries that have been kept out to air and disinfect since Friday
- Dust living room and dining area
- Take trash cans to the curb for Tuesday trash pick up
- Add borders to the quilt
- Water the front garden
This week's cleaning area is the kitchen (and back porch, but, I really don't have a back porch). I would like to sort through one or two lower kitchen cabinets and maybe straighten out the spice drawers.
How was your Sunday? How is your Monday coming along?
- Add borders to the quilt
- Water the front garden
This week's cleaning area is the kitchen (and back porch, but, I really don't have a back porch). I would like to sort through one or two lower kitchen cabinets and maybe straighten out the spice drawers.
How was your Sunday? How is your Monday coming along?
Do you blanch green beans and broccoli before freezing, Bless?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I receive letters from people who want to buy my house, but thankfully they don't call. Perhaps it's because I don't have a landline. :)
Ha ha I like your plan of making room for veggies by eating all the icecream in the freezer. After reading that I had a craving for ice cream, but decided it was too late to eat ice cream now. I'm trying to go to bed early, and I think chocolate keeps me awake.
My Monday is pretty relaxed - I started another redwork embroidery.
Nil, yes, I do blanch the broccoli and green beans. I also freeze sauteed green beans (bonchi thel dala) after I cook them; they reheat quite nicely.
DeleteIt's a good plan, isn't it? To eat the ice cream to make room for the veggies? :D
I really like your redwork embroidery. You sew well. :)
I have bottled water stack up on the kitchen floor. No pantry to stock things in. I feel we will be stocking this whole year hopefully not next year. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteYes, I, too, have bottled water in various places in the house - the dining area, the spare bedroom, etc. :) Stocking up is becoming a way of life, isn't it?
DeleteSupposedly 1968 is the year everything changed. I wonder if in 40 or 50 years they will say the same things about 2020
ReplyDeleteThat was the title of the documentary, Akasha, "1968" The Year that Changed America. I think they will have something similar to say about 2020, as well.
DeleteSounds like you had a nice couple of days. I had plans of eating down my freezer (before Covid) but now it is fully stocked a) as I am cutting down trips to the shops b) in case things get closed again.
ReplyDeleteI did have a couple of nice, relaxed days, Sharon. Yes, a full freezer is a good thing to have, these days. We are closing things, again, because new cases are on the rise.
DeleteI searched for a piano teacher yesterday but there's no one with any vacancies local to me. I looked to see if anyone offered online lessons instead of face-to-face and there were loads so I'm now trying to decide what to do - I wasn't convinced that everyone advertising was actually qualified to teach the instrument. Decisions, decisions!
ReplyDeleteI guess you will have to check their credentials and interview them online or see if any of your friends can recommend one. I was under the impression that you already knew to play the piano, so, maybe you are looking for someone who can teach at a more advanced level? In which case, you will probably need someone with more qualifications. Maybe narrow the search? Piano teachers with X level certification or, if there is any sort of Piano Teacher's Association of the UK, then, search for someone credentialed by them. Good luck!
DeleteYes I can already play but I am self taught and progress is slowing down. I think I'd benefit from some guidance and advice from a professional at least to help me move on to the next level.
DeleteYou might also look at tutorials online. I found all kind of piano tutorials during the break from actual lessons (helps if you know the name of the piece you want to learn!) :)
DeleteI like it that you think of yourself as a jazz pianist instead of a rhythmically challenged one. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, thank you, Live and Learn. I guess it is because I've learned to play by ear, more than by reading notes. A number of pieces in the book I'm using are based on folk songs and, I guess I'm playing the tune I "hear" internally than what the notes are telling me! :D
DeleteLove the idea of consuming the ice cream so you can fit in the vegetables. I need a new freezer but they cant be had for love of money here. Sounds as of you had a lovely few days.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like that idea of eating the ice cream to make room for the vegetables, Sharon. :D I actually looked into getting a freezer, yesterday, but, I don't know where I'd put one, if I did!
DeleteIt's not surprising that your freezer is less adequate for storage right now than it used to be. I have been thinking about our 3 years in Europe with a miniature fridge and microscopic freezer compartment (the whole thing under the counter!) It was fine for our needs since we didn't get into a lot of entertaining and there were 6 supermarkets within walking distance. But now, however would we have managed?
ReplyDeleteWe had a bit of a storm with high winds and the power went out and is still out after 5 hours. Thank goodness for the generator or our freezer would be struggling! We've had several lots of rain for which we are thankful.
Yes, I have been buying in larger quantities in order to have enough on hand between grocery pick ups, but, I am afraid I've reached the capacity of my freezer!
DeleteI'm glad you have the generator to help you out when your power goes off! I am hoping that neither my daughter nor I will have to cope with long power outages, this summer! Last year, they cut off the power to several areas as a fire prevention measure, because, in the previous year, it was determined that some big fires in our state originated due to poorly maintained utilities equipment!
Glad you've had some rain, too, to help to keep everything nice and green. :)
No rain in my neck of the woods and none in the forecast. This morning I moved the sprinkler around the property giving everything a good soaking. The grass is getting brown and crunchy underfoot. It is still feeling very hot but I dragged myself outdoors for about two hours the last three days to build another small flower bed in the front of the house. The sweat was just dripping off me. But a nice cool shower and sitting in front of the fan makes everything feel good again. So I agree that it is lovely to have a nice safe refuge inside our homes where there is more than enough to keep us happy and safe. As far as your piano playing, I think I'd rather have creative artistry than technically correct. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteJust be careful when you work outside in the heat; you don't want to get a sun/heat stroke or get dehydrated. Try to do it in the morning or evening, when it is cooler. As much as I enjoy the heat, I don't go out into the garden after 10:00 a.m. or before 6:00 p.m. in the summer!
DeleteAh, yes, creative artistry! I can be very creative! LOL!
Haha - makes sense to me. You need to sacrifice and eat the ice cream to make more freezer space.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :) I thought it was a brilliant idea! :D
Delete