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?