Sunday, November 22, 2020

Playing with Flowers on the Weekend

 

Ikebana it Ain't!  


Same Flowers; Different Vase

Saturday, I woke up feeling a lot better than I did on Friday.  Friday, my sinuses were acting up a bit and I was worried I might be coming down with something (more in the lines of a sinus infection or head cold), but, I think it was a combination of the weather (warm, but, overcast and it always seems to affect my sinuses), a possible reaction to the disinfectant the dental clinic uses (I noticed it had a very strong smell and I remember having a similar reaction after my last visit, as well) and, yes, I admit it, feeling a bit dispirited and down because my daughter will not be visiting over Thanksgiving.  I think I was more disappointed than I thought I would be.

But, that was Friday.  Saturday was a new day.  The sun was shining, the skies were clear, my sinuses were happy, I was alive and relatively well, so was my daughter, and even if she can't come home this Thanksgiving, we can still video chat and look forward to her next visit whenever that takes place!  I'm sure there is a reason why things don't always work out the way we would like them to.   Maybe the Universe is testing us to see how graceful we are under less than ideal circumstances.  It is easy to be gracious when things go our way; not quite as easy when they don't.  I always hope I am graceful at all times, but, all too often, I look back and think, "I could have handled that, better!"  On Friday, I felt disappointed, but, on Saturday, I decided to look for the blessings.  My mother used to always say that we made our own happiness.

Neighbor T called me on Saturday morning.  I was surprised to hear from her because she usually calls me on Sunday mornings, but, I have a feeling she got her days mixed up.  I didn't say anything about it, to her, of course.  But, she has told me that she gets confused which day of the week it is and, honestly, don't we all?  Especially these days!  Anyway, we chatted for a bit.  She, too, was feeling a bit down with the holidays approaching as she will be on her own.  We discussed the merits of turkey pot pie and turkey tetrazzini (something I was not familiar with and had to look up what it was!) for Thanksgiving dinner (these are frozen meals that we were discussing, as T doesn't cook for herself, these days).  I like frozen pot pies and now, I am thinking I might try making tetrazzini, although, I will probably make it with chicken instead of turkey.  I am also thinking I might serve a portion of whatever I plan to make for Thanksgiving (probably roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and corn bread) and take it over to T to enjoy.  

Later in the morning, I tidied the living room a little bit.  The boxes of cat litter and cat food were still sitting out, in the living room and I moved them to the spare room, which is now officially the store room!  All the extra stock up items are stored there!  With reports of stores running low on items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer/disinfectants, and paper towels, again, as the Covid case numbers continue to increase and additional lockdowns are anticipated, I am very glad I stocked on these items during the summer!  

In the afternoon, I walked in the garden and picked some pomegranates.  Neighbor E was out in his front yard with his wife and son, working on a project, and we exchanged greetings.  I walked across the street and left a couple of pomegranates on the top of the gate post for them; then, quickly walked away because none of us was wearing a mask!  

In the evening, I washed the sofa dust sheets and covered the sofas, again.  I've discovered that one sheet isn't quite enough to keep Dancer's fur off the sofas, so, I've started putting two sheets!  Admittedly, they are old sheets that are worn rather thin.  I also watched news and knitted.

I cooked spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner.  I added onions and grated carrots to the meat sauce to extend it and froze half of it for another day.  Freshly picked pomegranate for dessert.

Later, I spoke on the phone with friend R, video chatted with my daughter, exchanged emails with a friend, cleaned the litter box, played several games of Sudoku online and, eventually, went to sleep at 5:00 a.m.!  

On Saturday, I was grateful for:
- Feeling better
- My mother's sayings
- Chatting with neighbors and friends
- Being able to share pomegranates with neighbors
- Video chatting with my daughter

My joyful activities of the day included knitting and video chatting with my daughter.

This morning, I woke up at 9:30 a.m.  I spent a relaxed day, watching TV (mostly cooking shows and some news), chatting on the phone with my sister and friend R, and playing on the computer.  I picked some flowers from the garden and tried a couple of flower arrangements.  The first arrangement didn't quite work out (I think the stem of the rose was too long and I didn't want to cut it shorter; plus, I didn't trim the lemon leaves sufficiently to get it to look like an Ikebana arrangement), so, I just redid the arrangement in a vase!  

In the afternoon, neighbor S called me; she is taking next week off from teaching piano for Thanksgiving, so, no piano lesson, tomorrow.  However, she printed off the sheet music for Silent Night, so I could try my hand at it.  She also gave me some Armenian kufta, along with the broth in which to warm them up, and a piece of Danish which had an almond filling and which I loved!

Kufta and Broth (in the jar at the back)

Danish with Almond Filling










I froze the kufta to share with my daughter whenever she comes home because she loves them and enjoyed the Danish with a cup of tea!  I gave S a pomegranate I picked from the tree right then and there.  

Afterwards, I watered the back garden with the garden hose.  My friend the mockingbird was perched on a branch of the calamondin tree, again, and, although I held up the hose to "rain" on him/her, he/she didn't choose to have a shower.  It was both later in the evening and colder than on the previous occasion, so, I suppose the time and weather weren't conducive for a shower!  

Later, I did a load of laundry and sat down to write this blog post.  Dinner, tonight, will be leftover spaghetti and meat sauce.  

Today, I am grateful for:
- Flowers from the garden
- Neighbor S bringing me more delicious food and treats
- Being able to share pomegranates with her
- Time spent in the garden
- A working washing machine and dryer

Today's joyful activity was playing with flowers!  

Tomorrow's To Do List includes some housework and piano practice.  There might be a visit to pick up something from friend R, too, as she has ordered more Sri Lankan treats! 

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for tomorrow?

21 comments:

  1. Angela, I am so sorry, but, I accidentally deleted your comment! There were about 25 spam comments (all from the same person) and I was clicking on them to delete them and I guess I deleted your comment, as well.

    But, I read it and I know you said you didn't sleep well and that you had not heard of tetrazzini. I hadn't heard of it, either, but, it is a sort of noodle casserole made with egg noodles or pasta, a white sauce or canned cream of mushroom soup, with turkey or chicken, etc., and baked. I hope you have a quiet day, today, and maybe enjoy a nap to catch up on your sleep! Again, sorry to have deleted your comment!

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  2. I know you are very disappointed about not seeing your daughter, but you have done very well with putting yourself in a different frame of mind.

    I have heard of tetrazzini, but haven't made it in forever. I think it will go onto the menu soon.

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    1. Thank you, Live and Learn. I try. :)

      Tetrazzini sounds a bit like a tuna casserole, but, made with poultry. I want to try making it, one day.

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  3. Hmmm, I'm not sure about the tetrazzini recipe. On first read it doesn't appeal but it does look like a useful and simple recipe to create a meal from ingredients that I always have in stock so I may tweak it a bit and try it out.

    I like your flower arrangement. The rose is such a beautiful colour.

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    1. I found several variations of the tetrazzini recipe online; it is definitely something that can be tweaked to ones tastes. I wouldn't be surprised if my version will include some chili powder in it! LOL.

      Thank you; I had fun creating the flower arrangements. :)

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    2. Great minds think alike - I'd add chilli powder as well!

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  4. Sounds like you enjoyed your beautiful Saturday. We had rain on and off for the weekend. Today the sun is shining...that makes me happy. Loved your flowers. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. I did, Susie. We could probably do with some rain, ourselves, but, so far, no sign of any rain. I hope you have a lovely week ahead of you and a very happy Thanksgiving, too.

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  5. You sure do keep yourself busy Bless! It's nice that you are thinking about making something to share with neighbor T for Thanksgiving. Tetrazzini is good, I'm sure you will like it. Your flowers are gorgeous, you have a green thumb for sure. Have a great Thanksgiving week!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Don't let my posts fool you; I still spend long minutes in idleness and I am the queen of procrastination! :D I am going to try that tetrazzini; maybe I'll share some with neighbor T, too! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving week, yourself. Be safe!

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  6. How exotic to have pomegranates to pick and eat fresh! On that subject, the flowers from your garden are lovely, and I like both arrangements. I'm no expert on ikebana but I can see that you observed some of the main priciples. Sad about Thanksgiving - there is going to be a lot of this scenario, this year - but good that your ailment was short-lived.

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    1. Thank you, Lady Ella. One of the benefits of living in a climate with mild winters is being able to grow fruits like pomegranates. I love the look of ikebana, but, there are a lot of things to keep in mind when making an arrangement! Lengths of the stems in relationship to the container and each other, the angle of placement, etc., all matter. As for Thanksgiving, yes, a lot of families will not be able to get together, this year. But, hopefully, there will be more gatherings in the future. :)

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  7. Sorry you are getting spam. I hope this doesn't continue.
    I'm glad you are feeling better. I do agree with you that we are often under a kind of test to see how we will handle things. I think that the world as a whole has something that we have to learn from this pandemic.
    I see why you abandoned the "Ikebana" arrangement. I had the same thought about the rose but I can understand your reluctance to cut it right down.
    I looked up Kufta and decided that was something I could really get to like! I hope it won't be too long before you can take them out of the freezer for your daughter to enjoy!
    This morning we woke to about 4 inches of snow and a dead mouse in the trap in the basement. He should have stayed outside!

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady. Being able to handle things in a positive manner is something I strive for. Don't always succeed, but, I try.

      Yes, the rose should have been cut way down and nestled at the base of that arrangement. But, I wasn't that committed to that particular arrangement, so, the second arrangement worked out well for me. :)

      I hope you might be able to try some kufta, one day.

      That's quite a bit of snow! Glad you caught the mouse, although, I feel a bit sorry for it!

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  8. Pretty flowers. It sounds like you are diligently making your own happiness around there. Good for you, I know it is more difficult on some days than others.

    I had heard but never eaten tetrazzini until a friend brought some to our house when my father-in-law passed. I got her easy recipe and usually only make it once a year too.

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    1. Thank you, Susanne. I'm trying. :) I will try making tetrazzini one of these days; I've never made it, but, it sounds fairly easy and something nice for a cold fall or winter dinner. :)

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  9. I think you are doing a good job of staying positive and doing the best you can do...and finding a bit of happiness here and there. I have never heard of tetrazzini - but then, what do I know?! Happy Thanksgiving. xo Diana

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    1. Thank you, Diana. I'm trying. I'm glad to know that I am not the only one who had never heard of tetrazzini! Wouldn't it be fun if we all decide to make it one day? Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Diana. :)

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  10. Late again I am I am - Wait...is that Dr. Suess? No it's just Debra. lol

    I enjoyed reading the things you went over in this post. Your mother saying how we make our own happiness is so often true.
    Obviously there are situations that putting on a good face won't fix but sometimes doing so and soldiering on does put things in better perspective.
    As does your daily gratefulness.

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    1. Ha, ha, too funny about it being just Debra and not Dr. Seuss!

      Glad you enjoyed reading the post. :) My mother had no sympathy when it came to feeling sorry for yourself! I've a tendency to wallow and she'd tell me to snap out of it! It was always my father that I'd go to, as a little child, when I wanted sympathy and being fussed over! :D Mother was too practical for that! But, her sayings have stayed with me. (Father died when I was 7, so, if he had any sayings and words of wisdom, I don't remember them.)

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