Yesterday, after the furnace technician left, I was so tired and worn out from the stress of it all, that I took a nap on the sofa for about two hours! My daughter, too, took a nap after she got off work!
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| Dinner: Pork "Country Style Boneless Ribs", Baked Potato Wedges, Salad |
I haven't made a weekly meal plan in months, but, on Monday, I cooked a chicken curry for dinner, with rice and kale mallung (shredded kale, cooked with grated coconut, turmeric, and other spices), fresh fruits for dessert. Yesterday (Tuesday), I baked country style boneless pork ribs (a cut of pork which apparently comes from the shoulder and has nothing to do with ribs!), seasoned potato wedges, and we had it with a salad. Since the oven was on, I asked my daughter to mix up a batch of cornbread, too! I had been trying to be good and eliminate baked desserts, but, I felt the need for something sweet, yesterday! Besides, there was some old half and half - not fresh enough to be added to coffee, but, perfectly fine for baking, that had to be used up and not allowed to go to waste! That's always a good excuse to bake, isn't it? LOL. Earlier, yesterday morning, I cooked a pot of pinto beans that I had kept to soak overnight. We ate some of that for breakfast, both yesterday and today (after boiling, I saute with with onions, green chilies, curry leaves, mustard seeds, etc.)
After dinner, I did the dishes, put away the leftovers (there are more country style ribs and potato wedges for tonight's dinner), and relaxed. Of course, that leaves the rest of this week's dinners to plan! I think I'll put out some ground beef to thaw and make some spaghetti sauce!
I turned on the heater (it worked without any fire shooting out!) in the evening, but, turned it off before going to bed.
This morning, I turned the heater on, again, when I woke up and turned it off once the house warmed up. Once again, it worked as it is supposed to work!
M came over, this morning, and tended to the garden, watering it and treating the fruit trees with some dormant spray (applications of copper and something else). He brought me a new succulent cutting, a type of jade plant, which he potted up for me. He also brought me a bottle of rooting hormone powder and we applied some to the passionfruit vine cuttings neighbor N brought me and potted them up. It will take about a month for them to root, according to what I've read.
M also confirmed that the tree trimmers will be here at 7:00 a.m., tomorrow! I called neighbor T to let her know so she will be aware of the early morning noise!
I called neighbor S to offer her some cornbread, but, she declined. M, however, enjoyed a piece of cornbread when I offered him some.
I have decided to take it easy, today, too, and try to have an early night!
Today, I am grateful for:
- The furnace seems to be working well, at last!
- M tending to the garden and bringing me another new plant cutting!
- The sunny, warm day
- Chatting with family and friends
- Having my daughter home with me
- The sunny, warm day
- Chatting with family and friends
- Having my daughter home with me
Today's joyful activity was spending time out in the garden.
Plans for tomorrow include having the eucalyptus tree trimmed and the furnace checked by the gas company!
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for Thursday?
Let's hope that the furnace knows to behave in a consistent way here on end! Oh cornbread, I like very much warm with butter. I don't make a sweet one, & usually enjoy with my veggie chili, a perfect colder weather & comfort dinner. Hopefully tree trimmers are efficient & quick so peace of the yard returns quickly. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed that the furnace will continue to behave itself! Unsweetened cornbread is probably much better for you! But, I've a sweet tooth (several of them, actually!) so, I usually make the sweet version! :D The last time the tree trimmers were here, they were done in about one hour! This time, I want some of the crown height reduced, too, so we shall see how long they take. :)
DeleteI'm glad that your furnace is working. It has to be worrying and stressful.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I missed it somewhere - but is your daughter back for good? She's been with you - thankfully - for quite a while now. It must be lovely to have her so close!
Thank you, Sharon; I'm hoping the gas company technician will be satisfied with it.
DeleteMy daughter is still with me because her office isn't yet open for in-person work! They are planning to open in January, so, my daughter will probably go back after Christmas. It is wonderful to have her home and I know I am going to miss her when she goes back!
Glad the furnace is working as it should.
ReplyDeleteNice of you to share cornbread, though you seem to be all about sharing, all the time!
It's a relief to have the furnace working as it should!
DeleteThank you, Anne; I do like to share the calories around! :D
Here again the faithful reader of your blog,also born on November 11,wich comes like every year to wish you à happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteKeep enjoying the happiness of having your daughter with you.
Friendships to both of you.
Vegevi
Happy birthday, Vegevi! My twin! :D I thought of you and wondered how you are doing! Hope all is well with you and you are having a lovely birthday! All the best to you!
DeleteGood to know the furnace seems to be working as it should now and you'll have peace of mind when it has been further checked. Your meal does look yummy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen! Yes, it was checked again, today, and passed inspection! :)
DeleteSo pleased to read your furnace is fixed. If it wasn't for this diet , I'd happily share cornbread with you!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. I shouldn't be eating cornbread, myself, but, I felt the need for it! :D
DeleteI'm not surprised you were exhausted, the furnace not working correctly must have been such a worry for you. I hope you feel much better for your rest. X
ReplyDeleteI do feel better after the rest, Jules. Today, the gas company tech checked everything, raised the pilot light flame a little more, and said everything looked well. :)
DeleteI hope your succulent does well. Our radio gardening expert was talking about jade plants this week and his advice on watering them was to wait until they dry out and then wait another week before watering. My only jade plant is a tiny plastic one, so no risk of overwatering!
ReplyDeleteI hope it does, Bushlady. It has unusual leaves - I took a picture of it, but, waiting for daughter to upload the photos for me! All my jade plants are in the garden in front...they get watered along with everything else! :)
DeleteThe discussion about cornbread sweetness reminds of what my mother always said, "If I wanted sweet cornbread, I'd make a cake." As you can tell, she didn't like sweet cornbread. I, on the other hand, like the sweet version.
ReplyDeleteLOL, the sweet cornbread does taste a lot like a cake, doesn't it? I usually follow the corn muffin recipe given on the side of the box and that is even sweeter, I think, that the cornbread recipe on the back of the box! I eat it as I would a piece of cake, as a dessert, rather than a side with the meal. :)
DeleteSo once the gas company gives it the all clear, will you feel happy to leave it on overnight? Hope that all goes well tomorrow. Tree cutting as well on the same day? You do like a lot of excitement at once, don't you.
ReplyDeleteYour plate of food, as always, looks very tasty. I don't recall ever having a sweet cornbread and can't imagine what it will taste like. I like cornbread with anything spicy, like chilli or Mexican chicken stew.
Yes, the gas company technician came out, today; I explained the situation and showed him the video and the screen shot; he agreed with me that there should not be flames shooting out, that it wasn't normal, and checked it for me. He raised the pilot light flame a little more and we switched the furnace on and off a few times and it worked well. I am now comfortable with the idea of leaving it on during the night. The gas company tech wasn't happy that I didn't have a digital thermostat, but, that's fine. I might get a digital thermostat installed someday, but, I'd need an electrician to do that for me.
DeleteYes, tree trimming on the same day! :D I do know how to celebrate a special day, don't I? :D
The sweet cornbread is a bit like cake! :D
Your dinner looked amazing! I spent most of yesterday (Wednesday) working on organizing my pantry. I still have bags all over the living room floor that need to be gone through and get put away. Hopefully I will be able to get it all done before Jeff gets home later tonight after his bowling league.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie. Sounds like you have been busy! Good of you to get the pantry organized - hope you are able to finish it by tonight. :)
DeleteSo glad the furnace is working. We wait as long as possible before turning ours on every year dreading it might not start. We hold our breaths, wait quietly, and then breathe a sigh of relief when the dust blows out followed by the heat.
ReplyDeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
Thank you, Jeannie. Too funny about holding your breaths while waiting for your furnace to start! I've done that, too! :D
DeleteI'm sure you were worn out from all this furnace stuff. It's good you were able to nap for a few hours.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad things seem to be sorted out and your furnace is working properly.
I will look forward to seeing how much the adjustment affects your gas bill.
I hope the tree trimming went well. I have some scheduled for the end of the year. I'm using a different company then I used last year.
This company is owned by someone my husband has known for decades so I'm hoping he can get to us by the scheduled time.
And the outside painter is supposed to come next week. Yes the same painter who was supposed to come in the spring - then supposed to come in July - yes, him.
we shall see
But I am getting a few other projects done inside by a different company. Again someone we have known for a long time and I just never thought of him until I was mentioning to a friend that I just can't find any tradesman to do a few jobs for me. She mentioned our mutual acquaintance who has a small contracting company.
He was here for the second time this morning :)
He has my replacement window all ready to install in my living room next week and new closet doors for the bedroom closet. (Which currently doesn't have doors!)
Next week he will start some repairs to the outside as well. And put in a new fence along the north side which needs to be replaced.
Lots going on here.
Yes, I was worn out from the furnace saga! I am not looking forward to the gas bill, though! :D But, my gas bill is usually quite low during the summer (around $20-$25 per month) and then, quite high from December, January onwards ($300 and up!). I expect that and have decided that it is worth it to me. It's what I might have paid for air conditioning in the summer! :)
DeleteSounds like the planets have aligned for you and you are getting your projects done! Woo hoo! I'm glad you were able to contact your old acquaintance who has his own contracting company! Maybe you can send him my way, once he's done with your house! :D