Wednesday's Blessings

 

Hellebores Flower

The hellebores plant that M gave me had its first flower!  It appears to be a very pale green, but, M thinks it might turn white, later!  This is how it looked, yesterday, but, I shall try to take another photo when there isn't such glare from the sun.  There are several buds on the plant, as well, so I anticipate more flowers in weeks to come.  This is the first time I am growing this type of plant.

Another first time plant is this "stinky flower" plant that is growing from a bulb that, once again, M gave me:  

"Stinky Flower" Plant

I don't know the proper name of the plant, but, M said it has a stinky flower!  Which is why I had him plant the bulb towards the back of the garden!  He planted it near the rosemary bush.  In the meantime, the crocosmia bulbs that were already in that area of the garden started to grow and hid the emerging 'stinky flower' plant until M discovered it growing there, today!  He asked my permission to remove some of the crocosmia and I said fine, but, asked him to dig them up and replant them along the back wall, which he did.  The crocosmia were one of the few plants that were already here when I bought the house.  My mother didn't much care for them and she pulled them out, only to have them return the next year!  And the next!  I admire that plant's tenacity!  

This morning, my friend S (not neighbor S) called me.  The first time she called me, I was saying my morning prayers and I didn't answer the phone.  A few minutes after I finished my prayers, the phone rang again, and it was friend R, calling to tell me that friend S was trying to reach me!  Apparently, when I didn't answer my phone, S called R to ask if I was OK.  So then, I called friend S back and explained that I had been saying my prayers and that's why I didn't pick up the phone.  I was asked if I'd be home in the evening and then, I was told not to cook dinner because she was going to bring me dinner!  What's the occasion?  No occasion; she's home today and she's cooking!  

Dinner, Compliments of Friend S

In the evening, friend S, her husband, and their daughter came over and brought us dinner!  Yellow rice and curries (clockwise, from the back - cashew curry, shrimp curry, chicken curry, Sri Lankan style mixed vegetable pickle, fried eggplant "pahi", green bean curry).  Cake and homemade marshmallows for dessert!  What a blessing!  Friend S is a very good cook and both my daughter and I enjoyed our dinner.  We visited very briefly, with everyone fully masked, etc.  I gave S a grocery bag full of lemons and curry leaves I picked earlier in the evening, in exchange.  Afterwards, they took dinner over to friend R, too. 

After dinner, I did the dishes and tried to unclog a slow draining bathtub - the usual pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar, and a kettle of hot water; it doesn't always work the first time and I might have to repeat it a couple of times, but, it's a bit better than it was!

M was here this morning and he tended to the garden.  In the afternoon, I dropped off a birthday gift for neighbor S's daughter, leaving it on the doorstep for her (after calling her to let her know).  

Today, I received a letter from the clinic saying my mammogram results were normal; such a blessing and a relief, too!  The full report will be sent to the oncologist in time for Friday's appointment.  I also received a phone call from the oncologist's office about the injection I receive every six months to boost my bone density; I now have a $75 copay for it (it used to be fully covered by insurance, till now).  They asked if I'd like to pay it by credit card over the phone and I asked if I can pay it by check when I go in on Friday for my appointment, instead.  I'd rather pay by check than by credit card!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Friends like S, who call and say, "Don't cook, I'm bringing you dinner!"

- Good news about the mammogram
- Having health insurance and being able to pay the increased copays, etc.
- Access to medical care
- New plants and flowers coming up in the garden

Today's joyful activity was visiting briefly (with everyone wearing masks) with friend S and her family when they brought us dinner.

Plans for tomorrow include resuming my piano lessons after more than 6 months!  I am both excited and nervous!  

How was your Wednesday?  What are your plans for Thursday?