Our winter has been interrupted by summer-like days, with temperatures in the mid 80s (F)! Yesterday's day time high was 86F; today's is 87F! Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80s, too. My kind of weather! Especially welcome in mid-January!
On Thursday, we had the first warm day with a high of 85F. Aunt C and cousin N dropped off our Christmas/New Year gifts and I was able to give them their gifts. I put away part of the Christmas decorations in the big bin in the garage. I have too many Christmas decorations, but, I enjoy decorating the house with them, so I keep them all! I did declutter four small decorations and daughter contributed a set of 5 holiday magnets that had been a gift to her when she was a child. I cooked a chicken curry in the night and we had rice and curry for dinner.
On Friday, I put away the wreaths and the small Christmas trees, etc. in their bin. Then, I took down the Winter Village and packed it all away for another year. Gardener friend M took down the big Christmas tree and boxed it up for me and he put away the bin of tree decorations and the bin with the Winter Village. There is a third bin with a bunch of other things - mostly Christmas craft supplies that I want to sort through before putting it away, so that's still in the family room waiting for my attention.
M pruned the rose bushes and we reminisced about the time when I had almost 100 rose bushes and it would take him practically all month (he tends to the garden once a week) to prune them all! Now, there are only a handful of rose bushes and it just takes him less than one hour. Afterwards, I made us a cup of tea and we chatted for a bit while we had our tea and he sampled my daughter's Chinese chicken dish that she made the other day. He liked it well enough to ask her for the recipe.
I had a tortilla with some of my chicken curry for brunch, yesterday, Later, I picked two more radishes and daughter made us a salad with the last of the mixed salad greens, sliced radishes, carrots, cucumber, some fresh corn kernels, and a tangerine. I sauteed the radish greens to be eaten with rice and curry at another meal. For dinner, last night, I cooked some hamburger patties I had in the freezer and daughter made the oven baked potato wedges to go with it and freshly pickled jalapeno peppers (she sliced them thinly and added enough fresh lemon juice to cover them - she didn't de-seed them because she likes the heat; they tasted very good). Pictured is daughter's hamburger - I didn't put quite as many jalapeno slices on mine!
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| Friday Night Dinner |
Today, I slept in and then, made Sri Lankan style pancakes at my daughter's request - they are thin pancakes, similar to crepes, sprinkled with sugar and lemon juice and rolled up. Daughter enjoyed at least a couple of them with Nutella and banana slices, as well!
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| Saturday Brunch |
Then, taking advantage of the fact that it is a sunny, warm day and the living room mantel was bare, I did a bit of spring cleaning! I washed the front door, both inside and out, and the insides of the living room windows and window sills. Then, I washed and polished the mirror over the mantel and all the shelves on either side of the mantel and polished two brass decorative items that go on the wall on either side of the mirror. Afterwards, I vacuumed (the living room, dining area, and kitchen).
I still need to dust the rest of the room and put back the items I usually display on the mantel and shelves. But, first, I need to have a cup of tea!
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| Bare Shelves! |
The shelves won't remain empty for long, however, as I return things to their places. But, it does give me a glimpse of how things could look if I declutter some more!
I am very pleased with what I was able to accomplish, today. I had been wanting to do a little deep cleaning in the living room for a long time!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Summer-like weather!
- Getting started on the spring cleaning!
- Fresh lemons and oranges from the garden
- Having plenty of leftovers in the fridge for dinner
- What I was able to accomplish today
Today's joyful activity was making pancakes for brunch!
How is your weekend coming along?
It sure sounds like you have been productive and have had some nice meals too! I'm very surprised we haven't had winter interrupted in Florida. I can't ever remember actually having cool-cold weather all season like we have this year. We usually get a few cold snaps for a few days here and there and then it's back in the 80s in between. Perfect weather for me is sunny and in the 70s. Once it hits the 80s my AC goes on. I'm glad you are having your perfect weather :)
ReplyDeleteWell, apparently, we have one more day of summer and then, it will be winter, again, with a high in the 60s and possible chances of rain. I hope the weather will be warm enough for you for your son's wedding.
DeleteSounds like a busy fulfilling day! Sounds like you've got some energy bac.
ReplyDeleteYes, today, I got some of my energy back! I am very pleased with what I was able to accomplish, today. :)
DeleteYou know, I've seen a picture of your fireplace before (or one just like it somewhere), and I love it just as much this time around. I remember thinking about how much I liked it before. I've told Rob that some time he might have to build me shelves around mine sometime! My mantle is a piece of a log someone cut long ago, but I like yours better. Maybe someday:)
ReplyDeleteYou might have seen my fireplace before, Becky, because I've posted a couple of pictures of it, earlier. The shelves on either side were already in place when I bought the house - I think the previous owners either built them or had them built. They might have been free standing shelves at one time, but, over the years, they have been painted in place and it would take a crow bar to get them out! I do appreciate the extra shelving they provide. :)
DeleteThose pancakes look delicious! I can not tolerate hot peppers at all! I try to clean a little every day but have some areas that were neglected last year, a room we use as a junk room. I am determined to tackle it this year. I just need the motivation to begin the project. It seems strange to me to talk about 85 degree weather and anything Christmas. They don't go together in my mind.💖
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. My hot pepper tolerance levels have decreased over the years. I need to clean out my garage because that has turned into a junk room! Often, getting started is the most difficult part of a project, isn't it? I grew up in a tropical country where it was in the 80s all year round, so, I am used to it being hot during Christmas. :)
DeleteYour day was a good one with lots of things done. You really cleaned your living room well and looking at the picture, it does look all bright and "spring-cleaned" :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure sitting down with your cup of tea and admiring your hard work felt good.
I never think about cleaning - really washing - my front door inside and out.
I do clean it off now and then, randomly wiping an area here and there but I should make it a task to do the whole thing as you've done.
That burger looks really good. I love oven fries and roasted potatoes.
Yes, it was a productive day, wasn't it? Now, it is a matter of maintaining things until I decide it is time to wash the drapes (I was too tired to do them, yesterday). I will often wash the inside of the front door with a damp microfiber cloth, but, it has been at least a year since I washed the outside. Oh, but, it was dusty! There are panels cut into the door and every horizontal cut was a ledge for dust to collect! Today's goal is to clean the family room!
DeleteWe have sunshine today but no warmth at all. It's registering as 7°C so too chilly to stand still for long!
ReplyDelete100 rose bushes must have been a magnificent sight. What happened to them? Do you have any photos of them all in bloom please?
I'm glad you have sunshine, even if it is so chilly!
DeleteThe drought happened - four years of drought and water restrictions; plus neglect due to a lack of time and ill health and an attack of wood borers. I probably have one or two photos of the roses in my scrapbook album. But, there were about 5 or 6 circles of roses in the back garden and they were planted all along the back and side walls. I used to make rose petal jelly with the pink roses. :)
We are definitely in winter here, but variety is the spice of life, right? Wouldn't want the same weather all year round, she says being very envious of your warm days. :)
ReplyDeleteVariety is definitely the spice of life! We are supposed to have winter return by the end of next week! There is even some rain in the forecast, so it should be good. :)
DeleteOh to have a bit of that warmth! It's not freezing here but it is cold (which Can tolerate) and so damp which is very depressing. Everything looks so dull. Pancakes with sugar and lemon....wonderful. I love them and now, seeing yours, feel a craving coming on!
ReplyDeleteI'd take a bit of your rain in exchange for a bit of the warmth, Eloise! I hope your weather improves and spring will come soon. In the meantime, have some pancakes with sugar and lemon. :)
DeleteYou've been busy. It didn't take me long to pack away our Christmas decorations but I've yet to move the boxes and put them away in the cupboard :)
ReplyDeleteWell done for starting your spring cleaning nice and early. I'm hoping to wait until Lily is back at school, whenever that might be. X
It seems like it takes more time to put things away, doesn't it? But, I'm sure you'll get those boxes put away pretty soon. No rush with spring cleaning - it's just that I find I have to take advantage of the days when I feel energetic and motivated! :)
DeleteWell done on all that progress! And, funny thing, I too had pancakes yesterday for brunch, rolled up with sugar and lemon juice!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. Ha, ha, great minds thinking alike on the pancakes? :)
DeleteDid you ever eat something super hot (spicy) and have pain up your nose and in the centre of your forehead? DH has some new horseradish cream and I can't eat it, even though in the past I have eaten grated raw horseradish with no problem. Also, have you noticed how really spicy food makes your nose run?
ReplyDeleteYes, I have noticed how really spicy food can make your nose run! Clears the sinuses, I always say! Can say I've experienced pain up my nose and in the center of my forehead due to spicy food, but, I don't care for horseradish, so I tend to avoid it!
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