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| The Meal Prepared by Daughter |
Today, January 9, is the anniversary of my maternal grandmother's death and late Aunt T's birthday. My morning prayers included a special prayer for them and I texted a message to Aunt T's daughters, my cousins V and R, to let them know that their mother was remembered.
In the afternoon, we packed up the food that my daughter had cooked. Not pictured above was the container of rice I cooked to go with the curries. And we decided that the garbanzo beans could be given in a sandwich bag and didn't need a container. So, only 13 food containers, as opposed to the 14 I had mentioned, yesterday! Plus, a jar of zucchini chutney.
It was a lovely, sunny day with a daytime high in the low 70s. A perfect day to drive over to our friends' house. We left the bags of food and gifts on the doorstep and texted them to say that they have a delivery. They had left their gift to us (a basket of goodies and a gift card) on the doorstep for us to collect, as well. Then, we drove home, feeling happy about the whole thing. Being able to help daughter prepare this meal and deliver it is truly a blessing for me! And it has filled me with joy and gratitude!
In the evening, I did two loads of laundry and washed more dishes!
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| Crocheted Prayer Blanket |
This is the prayer blanket I crocheted for my friend, with yarn I had in my stash (although I did have to buy two skeins of the black yarn to finish the project). Three rows of five squares each, each square consisting of 10 rows (the 10th rows are in black yarn and form a border around each square). Since my friend is Catholic, I intended the 10 rows in each square to represent one decade of the Rosary, the five squares per row for the five decades of the Rosary, and three rows for the Holy Trinity. Originally, I had thought the three rows of five squares would represent the three Mysteries of the Rosary that I had known about (the Joyful, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious), but, one of my good friends (who is also Catholic) informed me that Pope St. John Paul II had added a fourth set of Mysteries (the Luminous) that I had not been aware of. I decided not to do a fourth row as I was trying to get the blanket finished in time for our planned visit which was to have been before Christmas, originally. The entire blanket is bordered with additional rows of crochet in purple and edged in black. A hadn't opened her gift yet when I spoke with her, this evening, to tell her what the blanket represented. It is my hope that this blanket will make her feel that she is surrounded by a prayer when she wraps it around herself.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter preparing a meal to take to our friends
- A safe drive to deliver the meal and back
- Being able to give the prayer blanket to my friend
- Memories of my grandmother and aunt
- Hugs from my daughter
Today's joyful activity was delivering the meal and gifts to friends.
Plans for tomorrow include taking down the Christmas tree! Or, at least, removing the ornaments so that M can dismantle the tree on Wednesday and put the Christmas bins in the garage for another year!
How was your Sunday? What are your plans for Monday?
That blanket is so beautiful, and in more than the visual way.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lyssa. :)
DeleteThe meal you gifted to your friends looks delicious. Your prayer blanket is lovely although I know nothing about the catholic faith I'm sure your gift will be very well received.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I'm Buddhist, myself, but, I've many family and friends who are Catholic, so I've learned a bit through association, mostly! :)
DeleteThe blanket is lovely, Bless. I love how your gifts are always thoughtful and so beautifully made. I'm sure the recipient will truly value it. X
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules; I hope she will like it. :)
DeleteThe food for your friends looks so good ... well done both of you, and such a generous gift. Is the prayer blanket for the same friend? I'm sure whoever the recipient is, she will treasure it.
ReplyDeleteMy Monday plans are sorting through the piles of items I've earmarked for disposal. I'll also be speaking with my neighbour to finalise the arrangements for replacing the garden fencing.
Thank you, Eileen. Yes, the blanket is for the same friend. :)
DeleteWell done on all the decluttering you did over the weekend! You've inspired me! Oh, I hope that fence replacement can take place soon, before you start planting your spring garden!
I like the colors of the prayer shawl and the meanings of its construction. Your friends should be able to eat for days with all of the food you are sending. Did you leave any for you and your daughter?
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. I started with the purple yarn and then realized that I didn't have enough to do the entire blanket with the 3 skeins I had. The store didn't have any more yarn in that particular color. So, I used leftover blue yarn that I had in my stash and bought the black yarn to do the borders.
DeleteWe only kept a little of the dhal because what we cooked was too much for the container! In fact, on the way home from delivering the food, I picked up some hamburgers and chicken nuggets for our own lunch! :D
Such wonderful food! Your daughter and you made a very impressive variety of dishes. The prayer blanket is lovely also. You and your daughter are so generous. Your daughter takes after you! I'm sure your friends are grateful. Best, Celie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie. My friend's daughter texted my daughter this morning to say her mother ate the eggs this morning and liked them, very much. She asked what milk we used for the curry and my daughter texted back that it was oatmilk and we made sure to get one that contained 0% fat in the list of ingredients.
DeleteYou and your daughter are wonderful to do this for your friend and her family.
ReplyDeleteI am sure your friend feels the love with which the food and the shawl were given.
The religious meaning you imparted the shawl with is so thoughtful and I'm sure your friend will be comforted by it.
And what a glorious table of food that is! Oh my goodness.
I still have my tree up lol. Such is one of the bonuses of an artificial tree, right?
My mother's birthday is the 13th and I usually wait until then to start taking it down.
I have de-Christmassed the rest of the house though. But we are still enjoying the lights on the tree :)
Thank you, Debra. It felt good to be able to do this for our friends. :)
DeleteGlad to see that I'm not the only one with the tree still up! :D That's nice that you keep the tree up until your mother's birthday! :)
My goodness that food looks wonderful, and I'm sure your friend was thrilled, and also with the lovely blanket.
ReplyDeleteI've been putting away some Christmas decorations but I will leave the tree in the hope that DS and family visit next weekend. Otherwise the presents underneath will have to find another home in the meantime. Anyway, I'm still enjoying switching on the lights on the tree, and they don't use much electricity at all. It is just so cozy when we have such cold weather right now.
Thank you, Bushlady. Apparently, my friend had the eggs, this morning, and enjoyed them.
DeleteOh, you should definitely keep the tree up until your DS and family can visit! Hopefully, they will be able to visit next weekend! :)
Your daughter has created quite a feast - she has your skills in the kitchen for sure. I like your prayer quilt. Ladies of our church make prayer shawls (either knitted or crocheted) to give out to those in need of comfort during times of difficulty.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. I was very proud of my daughter and her act of service, preparing this meal. I made a prayer shawl for my aunt T, too, to be used either as a wrap or a lap robe when she had to be in a wheel chair, because she felt so cold all the time. :)
DeleteTh food looks delicious. What a wonderful gift to your firend.
ReplyDeleteI'm back to work again. Today is the first day. :)
Have a wonderful week, Bless.
Thank you, Nil. She's been eating boiled vegetables, chicken, and rice and her daughters, who hadn't learned to cook because mom cooked, every day, have had to learn quickly, but, were longing for "authentic Sri Lankan" food! :D
DeleteHope your first day back to work goes well and you have a not-too-hectic first week! Take a minute or two each day to relax!
That meal looks like a banquet, and so yummy. The prayer shawl is lovely and the story behind the construction is interesting. Love how you put the love you have for the recipient into your gifts. Its Tuesday here and gearing myself up to work in the garden, its starting to look like a jungle!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. I hope my friend and her family are enjoying the food. I tried to make the blanket as meaningful as I could because I want it to be a special gift. It's still Monday, here, and I just finished watering the back garden! Enjoy your time in the garden, Sharon. I am sure it is looking lovely!
DeleteWhat an array! It looks delicious and they must have been so touched to receive it. Yes, I often think it is a blessing to be in a position to do things to help or show care to others. I assume this is the blanket which you were rushing to finish when you thought the deadline had changed? Or was that yet another project? Anyway, it looks good and I love the way your conceived of the idea/the meaning behind the construction.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. By the way, your comments appeared twice, in my in box, but, I double checked that they were the same and deleted the duplicates.
DeleteYes, this is the blanket I was rushing to finish with the visit date was brought forward! Then, of course, it was postponed! What's that saying? "Hurry up and wait"? LOL. Thank you, I wanted the blanket to have some significance. :)