Sunday, September 19, 2021

Visiting Family on Saturday

Okra Flower with Baby Okra (below) and Bud (above)

I am always thrilled when I see another flower on the okra plants! They only bloom for one day, but, they are so pretty when they do bloom!  This particular flower has a baby okra forming below it and there is a flower bud, above it!  

Nearby, the sweet potato vine had another flower blooming:


Sweet Potato Flower

Today, in the morning, I did some cooking!  I sliced the rest of the pork roast that I had cooked, earlier, and stir-fried it with onions and tomatoes.  Then, I took a portion of it and added carrots and broccoli to it.   Then, I cooked dhal (lentils) and a moringa curry with three moringa pods I picked this morning.  I kept a little of each item for us for later in the week and packed the rest into containers to take to my cousin's, along with a jar of zucchini chutney.  Then, around 1:30 p.m., daughter and I went to cousin V's house.  Her sister R was there, too, which was really nice because I haven't seen R since early 2020, before Covid!  

It was slightly awkward because my daughter and I both wore masks and my cousins and V's husband N didn't.  V said we didn't need to wear masks since we were all fully vaccinated, but, we kept our masks on.  After spending a few minutes chatting, we went to the cemetery, all of us in one car (daughter and I still wore our masks for what it was worth).  The cemetery was quite big and well maintained; a Catholic cemetery and at least three other family friends are buried there.  

Afterwards, we went back to V's house.  My daughter and I had planned to leave right after the visit to the cemetery, but, V insisted that we stayed and had a late lunch.  She pulled out some curries she had in the fridge and her husband went to pick up some food from the Thai restaurant that I had declined to eat in, earlier!  It felt rather churlish to refuse to stay and have lunch after all that, so, we stayed and had lunch!  Of course, the masks had to come off to eat and they stayed off for the remainder of our visit!  

Earlier, when V and R were clearing out their mother's house, V had asked me if there was anything I wanted and I had said no.  She offered me some of her mother's crystal items, but, I declined.  Well, today, she gave me an ornament of a white swan with roses, saying it was from her mother!  I felt it would have been very rude of me to have declined it, so I accepted it.  R also gave my daughter a bag of clothes, saying she could give away any that she didn't like.  They all fitted her well and she likes them all!  V also wanted to give my daughter a pair of boots, but, my daughter's shoe size is bigger, so she wouldn't have been able to wear them.  My family is too generous!  V also gave me some plant cuttings - coleus and succulents - and I accepted them very happily!  They will be nice additions to my garden and they won't clutter up the house!  LOL.

We came home around 4:45 p.m.  I had a cup of tea and rested a bit.  Then, I cooked one of the packets of shrimp for dinner, while daughter put the rice to boil.  We had green beans with the rice and shrimp curry.  Then, I washed all the dishes and cleaned the litter box.

Today was a day for family and friends.  Earlier in the morning, my half-sister had called and later, cousin P called.  P called again, in the evening, too, and so did aunt C.  I also had a chat with friend R!   

Today, I am grateful for:

- A lovely afternoon spent in the company of two of my cousins
- Being able to visit my uncle and aunt's gravesite
- Being treated to lunch
- V sharing plant cuttings with me
- R giving more clothes to my daughter
- Phone chats with my half-sister, cousin P, aunt C, and friend R

Today's joyful activity was spending time with family.

Plans for tomorrow include getting all the donations ready to be collected on Monday!  

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


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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)

12 comments:

  1. I'm sure it was great to see family whom you haven't seen for a long time. Talking on the phone is good, but it's not the same.

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    1. It was very nice to see my cousins, June. I texted V to thank her for a lovely afternoon and said I hoped it didn't tire her too much (she's after knee replacement surgery); she said my visit was a "pick me up" for her and asked me to drop in any time, which I thought was a very kind thing for her to say. :)

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  2. I am happy for you that you were able to have a very nice family day. I'm sure you enjoyed spending time with your relatives after so long.
    Yes, your relatives are very generous! That is wonderful. :)

    haha - When you said you accepted the plants gratefully - and they wouldn't clutter up your house I laughed.
    I have found myself thinking thoughts like this. When I see something that I might like I find myself really thinking about bringing it in to my home. Do I really want this item? Or will I just find myself decluttering it a few years down the road?

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    1. Thank you, Debra. It was very pleasant to spend the afternoon in the company of my cousins.

      I am now trying to minimize the number of unconsumable items coming into the house! I have stopped buying decorative items, but, they still sneak in in the guise of gifts! Or, craft items!

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  3. The okra flower really is very pretty.

    It's a shame about the difference of opinion over the need for mask wearing. I'm with you and would keep mine on but it is difficult when others choose not to.

    I love coleus and would have them in the garden but they are grown as annuals over here (I think) and I won't have room for them. I'm opting for Japanese Blood Grass instead!

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    Replies
    1. The okra flower is pretty, isn't it?

      Socializing, these days, is made more difficult when opinions about mask wearing differ! Yes, we are all vaccinated, yet, there have been break through cases and my cousins go out and one of them teaches special needs students who are not yet vaccinated (too young).

      I like coleus, too, and I am hoping that these will grow well. I looked up Japanese blood grass and they are very attractive and will look good in your garden, I think. :)

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  4. Those veggie flowers are worth growing even without the food associated! As for the mask situation, this crazy pandemic makes things so awkward but you have to do what you feel comfortable with. Back in August when an old friend visited from out east, I felt bad because she obviously expected a hug when she arrived, and I didn't step forward. We didn't wear masks, though.
    DS and family came today with DGD's friend, and the girls had a lot of fun at the beach.

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    1. They are very pretty, aren't they? Yes, the pandemic does create some awkward social situations, but, one does what one thinks is right. I know some people think my daughter and I are being too cautious, but, I feel that, even with being vaccinated, I have a high chance of getting very sick if I were to get Covid, and I'd rather err on the side of caution! Better safe than sorry, is my motto! My daughter's too!

      How nice that DS and family were able to visit and the girls were able to enjoy time spent at the beach. I'm glad you are able to see them and spend time with them, Bushlady. Will you be able to spend Thanksgiving together, this year?

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    2. Thanksgiving may be at their house this year!

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  5. So glad you spent time with family, that has a way of filling us up from the inside, doesn't it. And who knew vegetables could produce such pretty flowers.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Susanne; it was very nice to spend time with the cousins. Aren't those flowers very pretty? :)

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