Lois and Clark on Wednesday

Lois (9/29)

Clark (9/29)

Not Lewis and Clark who led an expedition, but Lois and Clark.  They are both coming along well, as you can see.  I am thinking of potting up Clark this Friday.

Today, M watered the garden in the morning and agreed to continue tending to the garden twice a week in October, too.  

In the afternoon, I went across to neighbor S's and helped her with planting the two succulent cuttings I gave her.  Actually, N did the digging and planting while S and I supervised!  LOL.  Afterwards, S walked back with me for a guided tour of the garden!  When we finished the tour and went back to the front, the neighbor's little black and white dog was back at its favorite spot in my front garden (no leash, of course), barking his head off at me!  It didn't seem to understand, "Go away!" or "Shoo!".  There was someone in the neighbor's front garden (a visitor, I believe) and I told him I didn't want the dog in my garden; he called to it in Spanish and it went back.  

Later in the afternoon, I scrubbed the stove top, including under the burners.  Then, I washed a sinkful of dishes!  

Dinner was fried rice to use up some of the odds and ends of leftovers - half a sausage, a few pieces of pork roast, the last small piece of chicken, etc., all cut up and added to leftover rice, along with the last egg in one of the egg cartons (there is another carton of 18 eggs in the fridge).  Of course, I spilled the fried rice on the stove top as I was stirring it!  Which meant I had to clean the stove top, again, after I finished the dinner dishes!  LOL.

Today, I am grateful for:

- M being willing to tend to the garden twice a week
- Being able to help S and N plant the succulent cuttings
- The gas company calling to remind me of tomorrow's appointment
- Leftovers turned into fried rice!
- A warmer day

Today's joyful activity was giving S a tour of the garden.  

Plans for tomorrow include clearing the laundry closet so the gas service technician can access the dryer relatively easily.

How was your Wednesday?  What are your plans for Thursday?

**************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's, to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

9/22 - 1 scarf (to be donated; another bag of donations started)

9/23 - 1 bath mat (tossed)

9/24 - 1 blouse (given to daughter)

9/25 - 1 blouse (daughter's; to be donated)

9/26 - 1 box (recycled)
          1 binder (daughter's; recycled)

9/27 - 3 tubes of lipstick (old and wrong shades; tossed)

9/28 - 1 pair of scissors with a broken handle (tossed)

9/29 - 1 cracked plastic lid to a food container (tossed)
           1 CD (tossed)

Still Cool on Tuesday

 

Tuesday's Harvest

It was still quite cool on Tuesday, but, warmer than Monday, with a high of 71F.  Mostly cloudy with a little bit of sunshine in the afternoon.  I was all bundled up when I went outside to bring in the trash cans, but, I saw one of the neighbors in a sleeveless summer dress.  I guess not everyone feels cold when it is in the upper 60s, low 70s!  

I picked a few more okra and moringa from the garden in the morning, along with two lemons and a couple of sprigs of curry leaves.  Later, I cooked the okra, moringa, and a packet of ground turkey I had in the freezer and used the curry leaves and some of the lemon for my cooking.  Such a blessing to be able to pick fresh produce from the garden to cook for the day's meals.  

I did a tiny bit of weeding in the front garden, today, (just pulling up some grass with my hands, no digging, etc.) and gathered broken pieces of one of the succulents from two of the flower beds and kept them in the circular bed in the front garden for M to dig a hole and plant them, tomorrow.  I think the bunnies or the neighbor's dogs broke them.  But, they should root nicely once planted.  I also planted one of the mango seeds that wasn't doing too well in the water (it was getting moldy) to see if that helps and dug up a clump of dayflowers to plant in the side yard.  They require a lot of water, but, once established, they will spread. I still have every intention of landscaping the side yard and have some ideas for it, but, haven't actually done anything!  

In the afternoon, I did some dusting, then, sewed a bit, and watched news on TV.  I also spoke with neighbor S and with friend R, and exchanged emails with a friend.  What I didn't do was make the card for my half-brother!

Today, I am grateful for:

- A slightly warmer day
- Garden produce
- Keeping in touch with neighbors and friends
- Being able to garden a little bit
- What I was able to accomplish

Today's joyful activity was dancing while my daughter played the piano.  She could barely play because she was laughing so hard at my dancing.  LOL.

Plans for tomorrow include helping S plant the succulents cuttings I gave her, having M tend to the garden, making a card, and taking some cooked moringa and a piece of cake to friend R.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?

**************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

9/22 - 1 scarf (to be donated; another bag of donations started)

9/23 - 1 bath mat (tossed)

9/24 - 1 blouse (given to daughter)

9/25 - 1 blouse (daughter's; to be donated)

9/26 - 1 box (recycled)
          1 binder (daughter's; recycled)

9/27 - 3 tubes of lipstick (old and wrong shades; tossed)

9/28 - 1 pair of scissors with a broken handle (tossed)

Cloudy and Cool on Monday!

 

Watermelon Flower

It has been a cloudy, cool day, today, with a high of only 66F.  I know some of you are probably laughing, but, for me, that is downright chilly!  It was gloomy, too, and I was not at all motivated to do anything!  I took it easy and relaxed!

The one thing I did manage to do was schedule an appointment with the gas company to have a service technician over to do a safety check on the furnace, the stove, and the clothes dryer (all gas appliances), before I turn the heater on when it gets cold enough to do so.  It is what the service technician who came out to check on the heater, earlier this year (in January, when the pilot light went off and needed to be relit) had suggested I do.  I anticipated having to wait for at least a couple of weeks before they could send someone out, but, I was pleasantly surprised when they said they could send someone out this week!  The appointment has been scheduled for Thursday, September 30, in the afternoon, between 12 noon and 5:00 p.m.  Hopefully, all will be found to be well.  By the way, I am still using the old stove and it has been working well enough after it was checked in June, even if the automatic starter doesn't work on two burners on the left.  

I also called and checked on friend A and friend R, and returned neighbor T's phone call (she had called to thank me for the piece of cake I had taken over to her, yesterday).  

Later, I took the trash cans to the curb for trash pick up, tomorrow.  

Lunch had been instant noodle soup and dinner was leftover egg noodles and sausages from last night.  A slice of the peach cake might have been eaten, too, with tea (me) and coffee (daughter).  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The gas company technician will be here later this week
- My warm, wool cardigan that I knitted years ago
- The crocheted granny square blanket that I made
- Working appliances
- Keeping in touch with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was reading blogs.

According to the weather forecast, tomorrow will be another cool, partly cloudy day.  I don't have any plans for tomorrow, other than bringing in the trash cans, doing some housecleaning, and making a card to sent to my oldest half-brother for his birthday.

How was your Monday?  What are your plans for Tuesday?

**************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

9/22 - 1 scarf (to be donated; another bag of donations started)

9/23 - 1 bath mat (tossed)

9/24 - 1 blouse (given to daughter)

9/25 - 1 blouse (daughter's; to be donated)

9/26 - 1 box (recycled)
          1 binder (daughter's; recycled)

9/27 - 3 tubes of lipstick (old and wrong shades; tossed)

The Weekend

 

Autumn Leaf Garland

It's the last weekend in September!  Already?!  The days are flying past!

I took it easy this weekend.  The weather was pleasant.  Cool in the mornings and evenings, warm in the afternoons.  

On Saturday, I dealt with Baby Melon's splitting headache.  Later, my daughter tidied the family room for me, I tidied the kitchen and organized one of the cabinet shelves.  In the evening, I walked in my drive way for about 20 minutes.  That's when I saw this:

Bun Bun!

Bun Bun hiding under some plants!  I hadn't seen him in over a week and wondered if anything had happened to him.  But, no!  He is still around!  He came out from his hiding spot, a bit later, and enjoyed some of the grass.  Later in the evening, I looked out the front window and Snowbunny had joined him!  I am glad they are safe!  Maybe Pirate Bunny is around here, somewhere, too, although I didn't see him!  I had been wondering if I should take down the bunny fort, but, maybe I'll leave it up for a bit longer!

In the evening, I baked a cake.  I added some peaches from one of the packages I had in the freezer to it and it turned out well.  Now that the evenings are cooler, I am happy to start baking!

Today, I took some of the cake over to neighbor T and to N (neighbor S's daughter).  I tried to call cousin P to offer her a piece, but, she didn't answer her phone.  I will try calling her again, tomorrow.  Friend R's share and M's share have been kept aside for them.  

I also made an autumn leaf garland for the living room mantel, today!  I picked yellow leaves that had fallen from the peach tree and the nectarine tree and strung them together to make the garland!  I suppose the leaves will last a couple of days before they dry up and when they do, they will be put in the compost bin!  Later, in October, I'll put out the Halloween decorations.  I've been toying with the idea of doing another Autumn Joy List (I've done seasonal ones and monthly ones, in previous years).  If I do, then, baking and decorating for the season will be on it!  

Tonight's dinner was spicy Italian sausages cooked with onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, and kale, served with egg noodles.   There's enough leftover for another meal, tomorrow.   

This was a good weekend to catch up with some of my cousins and friends.  I emailed one cousin in Sri Lanka, spoke online with another cousin who is also in Sri Lanka, chatted with a couple cousins who are here in the States, and with a couple of friends, as well.

Today, I am grateful for:

- A relaxed weekend
- Keeping in touch with family and friends
- Being able to bake and share with friends
- The garden harvests
- Hot water on tap and a working shower!

Today's joyful activity was making the autumn leaf garland!

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for the week ahead?

***************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

9/22 - 1 scarf (to be donated; another bag of donations started)

9/23 - 1 bath mat (tossed)

9/24 - 1 blouse (given to daughter)

9/25 - 1 blouse (daughter's; to be donated)

9/26 - 1 box (recycled)
          1 binder (daughter's; recycled)

Baby Melon Gets a Splitting Headache!

 I checked on Baby Melon this afternoon:

Baby Melon

That's when I noticed that all was not quite well with Baby Melon.  I moved it a little bit to see better and, apparently, it had a splitting headache! 

Oh, No!  

Poor Baby!  I guess the recent heat followed by the watering it received on Friday was too much for it!  Too much water and irregular watering were the main reason for watermelons to split, I read, followed by excess heat.  I cut it off the vine and brought it in.  Washed the dirt off:

That Doesn't Look Good, Does It?

Then, I cut it open to see:

Just Turning Pink!

It was a good color for being only about 5 inches in diameter.  Daughter and I sampled it a bit - it hadn't had enough time to become very sweet, but, it wasn't bad.  We kept it in the fridge to get cold and we had some of it, after dinner.  It tasted better, chilled.  I will be checking Wawa and Walter III every day, now!  Might also reduce watering them!

I saved some of the seeds to grow again, next year.  Thank you, Baby, for blessing us with your fruit!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to harvest my first watermelon!
- The damage caused by the fruit splitting hadn't spread too far in and most of the fruit was good
- Fresh watermelon for dessert
- Getting plenty of seeds for next year
- There is another baby watermelon growing on the same vine!

Today's joyful activity was harvesting my first watermelon!

Have you grown watermelon before?  Did you know when to harvest them?  Did you experience them splitting before you could harvest them?

Hello, Lois!

Lois - 9/23

 Say hello to Lois!*  On the first day of fall, she was still emerging:

Lois 9/22

The very next day, she was up and stretching her leaves!  She has grown from a seed I just planted, without removing the outer covering or germinating it first!  Welcome, Lois!  Glad to have you in my garden!

Yesterday, after I checked on Lois, I walked around the back garden and picked a few things to cook for dinner:

Thursday's Harvest

Four moringa pods, a handful of chard leaves from what I am calling my "cut and come again" chard plants, and six pods of red okra!   Those two longer pods were each over 7 inches long!

Long Okra

But they were still very tender and not woody, at all.  What I picked was more than enough for a meal for us and there are some leftovers for a second meal, as well.  I'm loving the fact that I can pick vegetables from my garden to cook for that day's meal!  

It was a cooler, hazy day, yesterday.  The sun, shining through the haze cast a pinkish glow in the afternoon, and the evening sun was just a ball of red in the sky!

Evening Sun

I spent a rather relaxed day, yesterday, checking on the garden, cooking the vegetables I picked, putting away the laundry, doing the dishes, and practicing the piano a little more.  This time, I practiced a couple of the newer songs I had learned.  Considering I hadn't played them in months, I think I did OK.  There were some mistakes, of course, but, I didn't do too badly.  I think I sat at the piano for almost 30 minutes.  Depending on how I do next week (I have to be able to sit at the piano for one hour without experiencing any pain), I think I might be ready to resume lessons in another couple of weeks, maybe?  I'll have to talk to S about it.  

Today, I slept in practically all morning!  I must have been tired!

I took a walk around the back garden, later, checked on Lois, who is doing well (her leaves have spread out, horizontally, now) and picked serrano chilies! 

Serrano Chilies

I weighed them and had exactly half a pound!  I called N (neighbor S's daughter) to give her some.  She came over and took a look at the garden, too.  We were outside and both had our masks on.  Later, when M came by to tend to the garden, I gave him some chilies, too.  He brought us a mango from a farmers' market he had been to; he said the sign had said red mangoes, but, the label on them say Van Gogh!  A little research online showed that Van Gogh is a brand name used for Kent mangoes.  I am keeping the mango to ripen and afterwards, I will keep the seed to sprout.  I might call it Vincent!  LOL!  I gave M some moringa curry and coconut flat bread to take home with him, as well as the chilies.

M pulled up the two tomato plants, today, and we picked the last few tomatoes that were still on them.  We left the bell pepper plant to see if it will produce more and picked the one bell pepper that was on it.  The bell pepper plant produced only about 5 or 6 bell peppers; I'm not sure if I will plant another bell pepper plant, next year.  

I also received my water bill for the last two months (we are billed every two months and the bill includes water, electricity, solid waste collection, and sewer charges, all in one bill, but, it is broken down by category; the solid waste and sewer charges are a standard fee, but, the water and electricity depends on usage.)  I am allowed 16 hundred cubic feet (hcf) of water at the tier 1 (lowest payment rate) per billing cycle, the next 14 hcf are charged at the higher tier 2 level and anything over that is charged at the highest tier 3 level.  I used 28 hcf, so the first 16 hcf were charged at the tier 1 level and the remaining 12 hcf were charged at the tier 2 level. The water portion of the bill was $224.00!  That's the downside of growing fruits and vegetables in a semi arid area where it doesn't rain for months in the summer.  At least it wasn't as high as the previous bill!

Neighbor T's water bill had also been delivered to my address!  So, I took it over and slipped it under her front door, then, called her to tell her about it.  

Today, I made coconut flat bread for brunch.    Neighbor S brought over some pumpkin cookies, a jar of pumpkin butter, and three pieces of pizza that N had baked, with extra marinara sauce on the side.  My daughter and I enjoyed the homemade pizza with our tea.  For dinner, I cooked the second piece of salmon we had bought, earlier.  I had some yogurt for dessert.

I gave S two succulent plant cuttings to plant in her own garden.  They were taken from the cuttings I received from my former supervisor several years ago.  

Later in the evening, I spoke on the phone with cousin V and friend R.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The garden harvest
- Being able to pay the water bill!
- Receiving some goodies from S (and N)
- Receiving a mango from M
- Being able to chat with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was giving a tour of the garden to N. 

How was your day?  What are your plans for the weekend?

*Lois Lane - Clark Kent/Superman's girlfriend

***************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

9/22 - 1 scarf (to be donated; another bag of donations started)

9/23 - 1 bath mat (tossed)

9/24 - 1 blouse (given to daughter)

The Garden at Summer's End

Yesterday, when summer ended and autumn began, I took a stroll around the back garden and took some pictures.  The garden is still green and thriving at the end of summer!  May I share some of my garden delights with you?

Red Okra

The okra, which was slow to get started, is doing very well and loving the heat!  I will definitely plant them again, next year, too, but, perhaps in a different spot in the garden.  I think there is a little too much shade for the okra where it is planted, right now, from the bottle brush tree and the curry leaf tree.

New Watermelon Vine

The watermelon vine that was grown from the newer seeds that M gave me (the vine that has produced "Baby" which is not pictured) is growing well, taking over the rest of the bed and escaping under the wire mesh to go where the zucchinis grew in the adjoining bed!

Going Where the Zucchini Used to Be!

Meanwhile, the old watermelon vines (grown from old seeds that I had) are starting to shut down:

Old Watermelon Vines

But, they've produced Wawa Melon and Walter Melon III (still clutching his feather, although it is pointing downwards, now, and no longer at its previous jaunty angle), which are continuing to do well!  I think they might require another two or three weeks to be ready for harvesting.

Wawa Melon

Walter Melon III (aka Dandy Macaroni)

Elsewhere in the garden, the potato plants (grown from regular supermarket potatoes that sprouted) have flowers!

Potato Flowers

They are so pretty that I am almost tempted to grow a bed of potatoes just for the flowers!

Nearby, the nectarine tree (newly planted earlier this year, which produced two delicious nectarines) is starting to shut down, its leaves beginning to turn yellow.  

Nectarine Tree

Also starting to shut down are the tomato plants and the recent almost 100F temperatures didn't help!  In fact, most probably both the Roma tomato plant and the Early Girl plant will be pulled up this Friday (and the last of the tomatoes picked).  Both plants produced well over the summer and I picked over 15 lbs. of tomatoes, total, from them. 

Early Girl Tomato Plant

But the serrano chili pepper plant is thriving in the heat!  

Serrano Chilies

The moringa plant's leaves are turning yellow, too, especially after the recent heatwave, but, there are plenty of moringa pods and flowers (sorry, the picture is very blurry; I'll try to take a better picture, next time):

Moringa Flowers and Pods

One last picture before I leave the garden tour, a peek into one of the flower pots:

Is That You, Lois?

I am grateful for a garden that has blessed me and my daughter with an abundance of fresh flowers and produce, through the year, and continues to provide joy, a pleasant hobby, space in which to spend time during this period of keeping social distances and staying home for the most part, and, yes, even an opportunity to meditate as I observe the cycle of life, the natural order of growth, decay, death, and renewal.

Thank you for coming along with me on the tour of the garden at summer's end.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Hello Autumn!

Unidentified Fungus Growing in a Planter

Or, is it Fall?  No matter what word you use to describe this season, the first day of the season was a degree hotter than the last day of Summer!  Yes, today's high was 99F!  According to the forecast, we can expect it to be at least 10 degrees cooler, tomorrow, though!  I didn't do anything special to celebrate the beginning of Autumn, though.  

Today, M stopped by to water the garden and I wrote a blog post introducing Clark, the mango sprout!  Later, I did two loads of laundry and cleaned the litter box.  I also practiced playing the piano for 15 minutes (just going through some of the early pieces, trying to see if I still remember the notes and feel up to sitting at the piano for any length of time to figure out when I might be able to resume lessons).  Had a quick chat with friend R, too.  

Double Colored Rose

Today, I am grateful for:

- Sunny autumn days
- M watering the garden
- A mango seed sprouting!
- Being able to play the piano for a short while
- Water for the garden, for doing laundry, etc.

Today's joyful activity was seeing the mango seeds sprouting!

Plans for tomorrow include calling the clinic again because I have not received the copy of the lab work order they were going to email me, cleaning the kitchen, putting away the laundry, and some cooking.  

How was your first day of Autumn?  Did you do anything special to celebrate the day?  What are your plans for tomorrow?

***************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

9/22 - 1 scarf (to be donated; another bag of donations started)

Meet Clark!

Clark the Mango Seedling

The mango seed that I had kept in a jar of water to root has sprouted!  We have a mango seedling!  It is about a week old and already has two sets of leaves!  It measures about three inches in height from the very base of its stem and each leaf is about one inch long.  I'm thrilled!  I have decided to name it Clark.

Why Clark?

Well, the seed is from a variety of mangos named Kent.  So, the name Clark seemed a good choice!  Clark Kent!*

 

Clark Kent Mango

The seeds I planted in the pots haven't done anything, so, Clark will be kept in the jar of water for now and potted up later.  He might spend his first winter as an indoor plant and be taken outside next spring.  Keeping my fingers crossed that he will continue to grow and thrive!

*Clark Kent is the legal name of Superman!

On the Last Day of Summer

Gaura Flowers

On its official last day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer decided to make itself felt before leaving!  We went up to 98F, today!  I, of course, loved it! 

I had a phone call from neighbor T's daughter K, this morning.  Yesterday, T was having one of those mornings where everything was going wrong and finding her phone (landline) was not working when she was trying to call her daughter was just too much!  (Our area was having an internet and phone service outage yesterday morning.)  My daughter heard her shouting and calling my name and we rushed out to see what was wrong.  T wanted us to call K.  Fortunately, although our internet was out, our phone was working (I had switched over to a fiber optics cable for my landline, several years ago).  I called K and T was able to speak with her.  Later in the evening, T called to thank me and my daughter for coming to her aid, saying we had been a blessing.  I told her I was glad we could have helped her.  This morning, K called to thank me.  She said her mother did have a cell phone, but, was not accustomed to using it.  I also told K that I had replaced my old landline with a fiber optics cable and it seems to work during phone service outages and suggested having her mother's landline replaced.  K said she will look into it.  In the meantime, she is calling her mother on the cell phone to familiarize her with using it.  

Afterwards, I brought in the trash cans and watered the front garden.

There was another short internet outage in the afternoon, but, service was restored in a little while. 

Today's project was to restore one of the sofa cushions.  The family room sofas have three cushions as seats and three cushions along the back on which to lean.  The cushions have an inner cover made from a woven material that isn't cloth (don't really know what it is called, but it almost looks like a type of paper) and have white denim slip covers.  I took the slip covers off and washed them over the weekend.  That's when I noticed this:

Torn Inner Cover

The inner cover of one of the cushions had torn and the filling was falling out!  I tried to sew the cover back together, but, it was rather worn and continued to tear!  What was needed was a new inner cover!  I didn't want to use my new white fabric (reserved for projects like patchwork and pillowcases), so used some bigger pieces of scrap fabric that I had, even though it is patterned, and sewed a new inner cover:

New Inner Cover

The cushion is one of the end cushions with a piece that juts over the arm of the sofa.  I had to cut strips from another fabric for the sides and the bottom of the cover because I didn't have enough of the flowers fabric!  I won't win any prizes for my sewing or upholstery skills, but, I have a serviceable inner cover!

One of the Side Strips

Then, I put the slip cover back on.  You can see the flowered inner cover through the slip cover, but, it doesn't matter to me.  I usually cover the entire sofa with an old sheet, anyway, to keep the cat fur off!

Finished Cushion with Slip Cover Over the New Inner Cover

That project kept me busy for most of the evening!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Phone and internet services
- Being able to help a neighbor 
- Water for the garden
- Basic sewing skills
- My fabric stash!

Today's joyful activity was sewing an inner cover with fabric I had on hand!

Plans for tomorrow include some housework and having M tend to the garden.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?

***************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

9/20 - 1 broken picture frame (tossed)

9/21 - 3 hair bands (tossed)

Melt and Pour Soap Fun

 

Melt and Pour Soapmaking Kit

My daughter received a melt and pour soapmaking kit, several years ago, which sat and waited until she felt like making it.  Sunday was the day when we decided to try it.

There were two blocks of glycerin soap included in the kit, which had to be cut up into small pieces for melting in the microwave:

Glycerin Soap

There were two pieces of loofa, which had to be dampened with water, then the excess water squeezed out, and wrapped in two thicknesses of plastic wrap all around and the bottom before being inserted into straight sided glasses:

Plastic Wrapped Loofa

Inserted in Glasses

We used my Christmas themed glasses as they were straight sided.  

Then, it was time to melt the soap and that's when the fun started!  My microwave is old and has a lower wattage than newer microwaves.  The directions said to heat the soap on high for 15 seconds and, if not melted yet, continue to heat in 5 second increments.  Well, 30 seconds didn't do anything and another 30 seconds barely softened it.  It took several additional 15 second sessions to melt the soap to a pourable consistency.  Maybe the soap dried out during the time it sat waiting to be used.  Maybe we should have added a tiny bit of water when we were melting it, although the instructions didn't say so.

We were supposed to leave the melted soap to cool until a film formed on the top, but, the soap began to solidify almost as soon as it was taken out of the microwave!

Then, when daughter poured the already solidifying soap, we found that it didn't quite reach the top off the loofa!  Anyway, it was left in the glasses until the soap solidified and then, removed from the glasses:

Out of the Glasses

Then sliced into rounds:

Slicing the Blue Tinted Soap

Looks Pretty, Doesn't It?

Slicing the Pink Tinted Soap

Slices of Pink Soap

The soap is scented, but, I can't tell what the fragrance is; lavender, maybe?  The kit is supposed to make up to 16 individual pieces, but, daughter managed to make 10.  

Ten Pretty Slices of Soap Filled Loofa

There were still some loofa leftover and a little soap that had solidified on the insides of the jars we used in which to melt them.  That's when I decided to experiment a little!  I mixed the leftover soap residue with some water and poured the much diluted soap solution into the leftover loofa pieces and made quite a mess, actually, because the solution didn't seep into the loofa, nicely, and went all over the place, instead!  All this was done with accompanying cries of, "Oh, no, Ammi!  What are you doing?  Where are you pouring it?  You are making a mess!" etc., and much laughter from both of us!  However, it hardened into a soft set which was good enough for me!  I set those pieces out to dry overnight, and I will use them.  The prettier pieces that my daughter made have been set aside for gifting.  

It was a fun project to do together.  We laughed, we agreed the kit made some pretty pieces of soap, there is one less craft kit gathering dust on the shelf, and we might have created some holiday gifts for giving.  What is more, we created some memories and those are more precious than anything else, aren't they?  It was a blessing to do a fun craft project with my daughter and a joyful activity, too.  I am grateful that we were able to do this craft project together.  

Sunday Fun

 

Cranberry-Almond Mini Tarts

An early morning (7:30 a.m.) phone call from cousin P woke me up, this morning.  Not an emergency; she just wanted to know if today was when the donations pick up was scheduled.  No, it is scheduled for Monday morning.  Later in the morning, she called again to apologize for waking me up so early!

I made blueberry pancakes for brunch and chatted with neighbor T (our regular Sunday phone call).  In the afternoon, I did some laundry (the sofa slip covers).  Later, daughter and I did a craft project together, using a melt and pour soapmaking kit she had received as a gift several years ago.  That was fun and we enjoyed quite a few laughs in the process.  I took some pictures, but, they are for another post.

Then, I got the donations ready for pick up in the morning, boxing up 50 manga/anime books and 25 DVD my daughter decluttered along with some other items of hers, which were not included in my monthly decluttering totals.  I decluttered several additional items to be donated.  They included:

Clock Radio 

This was a gift I received back in 1982, at one of my jobs, from my coworkers.  I've used it every day, since then, as my bedside alarm clock.  But, I have another, battery operated alarm clock and I don't need two clocks.  

Painted Wooden Letter Holder

Sideview Showing Clothespin Holder

This was a little gift from my half sister, one year.  It's cute and I used it to hold a cat-themed card she had given me.  But, I decided it was time to let it go.

It was also time to let go of the little piano player doll that I had bought for my daughter one Christmas when she first started playing the piano - she didn't much care for it and I had it displayed on my shelf:

Piano Player Doll

I had displayed it in the original box, which had kept the doll dust free.  I used to put my daughter's hair in ringlet curls like that!  

And it was time to let go of these two dolls, too, which still had their original boxes:

Seated Native American Doll

Standing Native American Doll

All in all, there were seven bags and three boxes ready to be donated this time around:

Donations

Dinner was rice, shrimp curry, moringa curry, dhal, and broccoli.  For dessert, daughter and I baked mini cranberry-almond puff pastry tarts!  We used frozen puff pastry and some homemade cranberry sauce I had in the freezer.  The cranberry sauce ran all over the baking tray, as you can see from the picture on top, but, the little tarts are delicious!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Enjoying doing a crafts project with my daughter
- Baking with my daughter
- Getting the donations ready for pick up
- Phone calls and texts with cousins, neighbors, and friends
- What I was able to accomplish

Today's joyful activities included doing crafts projects and baking with my daughter.

Plans for Monday include, donations being picked up, putting the washed slip covers back on the sofa, and my regular Monday cleaning routines.

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?

***************************

September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)

        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)

        - 3 magazines (recycled)

        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)

        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)