 |
| Hellebore Flower |
A sunny Sunday, in contrast to the cloudy Saturday. Clear blue skies and an afternoon high of 72F. Very pleasant weather for the end of January.
My day started out with a phone call from friend A, saying she has to postpone our visit. She was on her way to the hospital for an evaluation, as she put it. Of course I said we'll visit her another day when she is feeling better. Much later in the day, my daughter texted A's daughter to get an update; A was home and resting. I will call her tomorrow to check on her.
I spent a quiet morning, after that, replying to blog comments, reading and commenting on other blogs, etc.
Later, I decided to make some soup for lunch. I pulled out a package of turkey bones from the freezer (from the Thanksgiving turkey) and put them to boil to make the broth. I don't make the broth and freeze it because it takes more space in the freezer, I think. After it had boiled for a couple of hours, I strained the broth and then, added the shredded turkey meat and a package of cut up ham, along with an assortment of chopped vegetables - half an onion, several cloves of garlic, a large carrot, the stems of some kale, bell peppers, tomatoes, a handful of edamame, and the last of the homegrown potatoes. Some salt and crushed black pepper corns and a little soy sauce and let it all simmer for another hour or so.
I took a container of the soup and a couple of pieces of the applesauce brownies my daughter made over to neighbor T. Then, my daughter and I took a container of the soup and another container of the brownies to friend R, along with some lemons from the garden. She gave me some tangerines a friend had given her (from the friend's garden) and a new set of small food storage containers!
In the afternoon, I practiced the piano for a bit and played word games. I also did two loads of laundry, so I was somewhat productive!
More leftovers for dinner and a relaxed evening spent in my daughter's company.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Friend A is home from the hospital
- Being able to share some of my homemade soup and daughter's brownies with neighbors and friends
- A sunny and warm day
- Working appliances
- The blessings of an ordinary day, relaxing at home and all what it means
Today's joyful activity was taking some soup and brownies to share with friends and neighbors.
Plans for tomorrow include:
- Doing some housecleaning!
How was your weekend? What are your plans for the week ahead?
That sounds like such a calming weekend. Bone broth is all the rage on the health blogs right now, for the collagen. Your Hellebore flower is such a delicate yellow - lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very relaxed weekend. Good to know that what I am doing for frugality (boiling the bones that would have otherwise been tossed) is also healthy and the "in" thing! :D I think that hellebore is a pale green, M thinks it's creamy white!
DeleteThat soup sounds good. I pulled out some of the ham frozen at Christmas out of the freezer and made a big crock pot of ham and bean soup. It is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteYour flower pictured there is pretty, although the leaves looks a bit weedish, don't they? No offense intended, mind you. I think that is a bit typical of perennials compared to annuals, says the woman with no green thumb whatsoever. The sunny yellow color of the bloom is glorious.
Thank you; ham and beans or ham and peas is the next soup I want to make.
DeleteThe leaves on that plant are interesting, aren't they? :D No offense taken! I need to take a proper picture of the flower, because I think it is the sunshine coming through that makes the flower look yellow. I think it is pale green and gardener M thinks it is a creamy white! I lucked out with a color-changing flower! :D
It sounds like you had a very pleasant day. It's disappointing that you couldn't visit with A but great news that she was back at home again rather than admitted to a ward.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you currently practicing on the piano?
It was a good day and I am very relieved that A was able to come home. We will try to visit her another day when she's feeling better.
DeleteI'm still practicing the last four pieces I was given - Brahm's Lullaby, Minuet in D Minor (from the notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach), and two other pieces with titles written in Cyrillic (one is called Court Dance, I was told).
I hope your friend is OK following her hospital visit, best place to be is resting at home. Your turkey and ham soup sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteI had to order a new washing machine yesterday and it will be delivered tomorrow and they will take away the old one to be recycled, now that's what I call a very good service.
Thank you, Eileen; she is having a type of cancer that hasn't responded to chemo. She is receiving a different form of treatment now, but, the side effects are getting to her.
DeleteThe soup turned out well; I had a bowl of it for my lunch, today.
That's great that your new washing machine will arrive so quickly, especially these days with everyone talking about supply shortages, and the old one will be taken away, as well. Definitely good service! Enjoy your new washer once it is installed. :)
Your soup sounds delicious. I'm sure your friends enjoyed receiving a nice food gift of a wonderful homemade soup.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned being grateful for the blessings of an ordinary day.
I often think about the same thing and also feel very grateful.
Thank you, Debra. I hope my friends enjoyed the soup. I always end up making more soup than I can eat (I suppose it can be frozen, but, the freezer is rather full, right now!).
DeleteAn ordinary day is usually filled with so many blessings that we often take for granted, isn't it? I am grateful for all the things that could have gone wrong and didn't and for all the things that did go well. What more could I ask for?
That is good to know that friend A is back from the hospital. You were busy with the "food go round" yesterday!
ReplyDeleteThe weather has warmed up a little and yesterday we had a pleasant walk out on the river in the sun. This morning DH went out so I snuck into his office and gave the floor a good clean, also the stairs.
Thank you, Bushlady. I called A and left her a message, asking how she's doing today; so far, I haven't heard back from her.
Delete"Food go round" is a good term for it! :) It's the next best thing to getting together for a meal, I think.
I'm glad the weather warmed up and you were able to go for a walk along the river. Oh, I wish someone can sneak into my house and give the place a good clean! That cleaning fairy has been making herself scarce, lately. :D
I hope it wasn't anything too serious with your friend.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely and warm. Freezing cold here lol. It is actually supposed to get above freezing tomorrow though lol
Thank you, Sharon. She is having cancer which isn't responding well to chemo.
DeleteIt is definitely above freezing over here! :) Enjoy the warmer temperature, tomorrow! :D
That soup sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lyssa. I had some for lunch, today, and it was very good. :)
DeleteIt sounds like it was a very nice and also delicious day! I'm glad A is doing ok. Speaking of word games are you playing the latest craze call Wordle. Check it out if you haven't played yet, it's only one word a day and it's a bit addicting. Have a great evening Bless!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha; yes, it was a good day, and I'm glad A is home, again.
DeleteI've recently found out about Wordle and I've played it a couple of times. I'm taking a break from Sudoku and doing word games, now. :)
I'm having a quiet evening; hope your day is going well, Martha.
Soup and brownies. Yum. Who wouldn't want to be the recipient of those?
ReplyDeleteI'll say a prayer for A and hope the new treatment works.
It was a pleasure to distribute them. I need to make another batch to share with other friends...next weekend, maybe. :)
DeleteThank you, June. Prayers are welcome.