 |
| Purple Japanese Mustard Leaves |
They are more bronze than purple, aren't they? I picked 11 leaves from the 8 plants that we have. This is the 3rd harvest we've had from them as I pick just one or two outer leaves from each plant, each time.
Today, being the first of the month, I cooked kiri bath (milk rice) and seeni sambol (spicy onion relish) for brunch and picked flowers (roses and chrysanthemums) from the garden to offer at the altar. It is considered to be an auspicious way to start the month! We had a beautiful, sunny and warm (85F) day to start off December!
M was here in the morning to tend to the garden; he watered the garden and pruned the peach tree. We decided to toss the passionfruit cuttings we had kept to root because they had become moldy! Instead, we will buy a passionfruit vine and try growing that! I will have to find a spot for it and put up some kind of a trellis for it to grow on.
In the afternoon, I called the Sri Lankan store to see if my order of groceries was ready to be picked up, but, they were still waiting for one item to arrive from their warehouse. They said they will call me when the order is ready.
I spent most of the afternoon responding to comments and reading and commenting on other blogs. It's one of my favorite activities of the day!
Later in the evening, I called one of my friends that I hadn't spoken with for some time! I had misplaced her phone number and I found it, the other day. She used to work at the pharmacy that I used to go to when I was working in downtown and over the years, she became a friend. She said I made her day because I called her! Wasn't that a very kind thing to say?
Aunt C called me and I called friend R, later. Plenty of family and friends interactions, today!
I also sewed a few more Christmas gifts. Still sewing from The Stash! It's not showing any signs of going down, yet!
Dinner was rice, turkey curry, curried green beans, lentils (dhal), and zucchini chutney.
Today, I am grateful for:
- The start of a new month
- Flowers from the garden
- M tending to the garden
- Reconnecting with a friend after a few years; chatting with family and friends
- The Stash!
Today's joyful activity was sewing.
Plans for tomorrow include taking my daughter for her booster dose and picking up the Sri Lankan groceries if they are ready.
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for tomorrow?
We don't have those Japanese mustard leaves here in the UK or at least I don't think we do. I agree they do look more bronze than purple. We didn't have good weather to start the month but the sun is shining today but it's very cold. Your friend would have been very happy that you called her and I'm sure you had a lot of news to catch up on.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I'm growing these mustard leaves; I didn't know about them until my daughter mentioned them and M, my gardener, found some seedlings for sale at a nursery run by people of Japanese ancestry. We bought one set of the mustard greens and another set of purple mizuna (the leaves of which are definitely purple). I'm glad you are having sunshine, even if it is cold. It's a sunny day, here, too. Yes, my friend was very happy that I called and we did have a lot to catch up on. :)
DeleteWhat do the mustard leaves taste like? Are they somewhat bitter like other members of the mustard family?
ReplyDeleteI prefer them raw (they taste a little peppery) in a salad to cooked; they do taste a little bitter when cooked, but, not too bad. Daughter sauteed them in a little sesame oil and added some soy sauce and dried orange peel powder (she was trying to approximate the taste of ponzu, which is a type of citrusy soy sauce, that we didn't have).
DeleteHow lovely that you were able to make contact with your friend again. Will you meet up when it feels safe to do so?
ReplyDeleteI hope your daughter's booster goes well for her tomorrow. That'll be a relief for both of you when that's done. Will you feel more comfortable about socialising with family and friends once the booster is done and has had time to work?
I'm hoping to catch up with my nephew and family tomorrow (Friday) evening, and the day will be a mixture of piano and Italian practice, online nutrition class, and a Zoom meeting with friends. I hope you have a good day tomorrow x
It was great to get in touch with my friend, again. I'm not sure if we will meet up any time in the near future, but, we shall see (she is still working and her weekends are taken up with family obligations).
DeleteThank you, I hope she won't have a lot of adverse side effects. As for feeling more comfortable about socializing, they identified the first case of omicron in the US and it was someone in California! So, I will continue to be cautious, but, we will visit family and friends in small groups.
Sounds like you're having a lovely day, Eileen. Hope you are feeling well and the sun is shining. :)
It's always nice to hear from a friend on the phone. Such a great way to keep in touch during Covid. You sound busy and happy.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to catch up with a friend, over the phone. I am keeping myself busy with various things and yes, I am happy for the most part. :) Hope all is well with you, too, Stephenie. :)
DeleteThat's quite a harvest!
ReplyDeleteYour meal sounds like a lovely way to start the month. Quite the temperature for December or is that normal?
Thank you, Sharon. We are having some above normal temperatures, currently. I'm not complaining! :D
DeleteThe mustard greens look lovely and fresh. We have been eating a lot of kale because a bunch is rather a lot for 2 people. So we have it sauteed sometimes and in a salad with pecan pieces, dried cranberries, tiny cubes of cheese and raspberry vinaigrette some days (love that). I need to think about freezing some in future. I tend to pass it by in the store because there is so much!
ReplyDeleteWonderful that you found your friend's phone number at last. I'm enjoying sending Christmas cards overseas right now and tracking down address changes!
Haven't seen the dog next door lately but I met his mistress who told me he has a bad leg and is on medication - poor doggy!
The mustard greens were very fresh as they were picked just before I took the photo. :) Your kale salad sounds delicious! I love pecans and dried cranberries!
DeleteI haven't started on my holiday cards, yet, but, I received the first one from a niece who is out of state with a new address - I made a note of it in my address book!
Oh, the poor doggy! You might have to make a delivery of a treat for him! He'll like that, I'm sure!
The mustard greens from seed have really produced well for you. You didn't plant them that long ago did you?
ReplyDeleteThat's nice that you reached out to your friend - it sounds like she was very happy you did so.
The mustard greens were a good purchase! We planted them on October 22. We harvested the first leaves a month later, on Nov. 22! :)
DeleteFriend N was very happy that I had called her. I had been wanting to call her for a long time, but, had misplaced her phone number. Of course, I had given her my phone number, too, but, she had already told me that she's not good about calling people! :D