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| Cornflower |
Last year's cornflowers self-seeded and there are two plants that are just starting to flower. Except, they are growing just outside of the edge of the flower bed! I guess we will have to make that flower bed a bit bigger, around!
Yesterday, after I posted, I managed to get a few things crossed off my to do list. I dusted the family room, watered the indoor plants, did the dishes/ran the dishwasher, cooked dinner (salmon, rice, and broccoli), and decluttered.
Tuesday's Decluttering:
3 lace curtains (the old ones from the living room window - although I replaced them, I hadn't disposed of them till now)
1 brochure
- some dried flowers/rose petals
Today, Wednesday, the temperature soared to the mid-90s (F). Hello Summer! It's going to remain in the mid-90s for at least the next couple of days!
M was here to tend to the garden and he watered both the front and the back gardens for me. I showed him an ad for bags of mulch at a local home improvements/DIY center (2 cf each, 5/$10) and asked him to buy me 10 bags, if possible. I want to use them to try and landscape the parkway in the front. Currently, there is nothing but dirt and a few weeds growing there. I want to put cardboard boxes down as a weed barrier and cover the cardboard with the mulch to make that area look a little more attractive. I might even plant some succulents there to improve the appearance. The last time I tried planting succulents there, someone/something pulled them all up and left them uprooted! How rude!
Daughter and I had leftovers from last night's dinner for our lunch, today.
In the afternoon, I sorted through some paperwork (regular mail) and paid the water and electricity bill, which also includes solid waste removal fees and sewer charges. Each bill covers a 2 months period. I stayed within my allocations for both water and electricity, but, because the rates have gone up, the bill was almost $400! Part of the electricity usage is due to my daughter working from home; we both have our computers going most of the day. Later in the evening, I sorted through one more file folder of my mother's papers - tax documents from 1990! One less file folder to store!
I also made a vanilla pudding with oat milk and cornstarch (plus sugar and vanilla extract) to take to my friend A in the evening. She had called me to ask us to join her and her family in a prayer gathering this evening. She asked us to come by 6:00 p.m. and we got there on time, even though there was some traffic congestion on one of the roads due to road construction. I was able to take an alternate route and that worked out quite well. We were the only non-family members present at the prayer gathering; daughter and I wore our N95 masks and the others were mostly masked, as well. After the Rosary was said, A, who was having a fever, was persuaded to go upstairs to rest. Daughter and I were asked to stay to dinner, but, we chose not to; instead, we were given dinner to bring home:
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| Dinner: Rice, chicken curry, dhal, spicy tempered potatoes, chutney, and salad |
Daughter and I enjoyed the meal after we came home and there's still some leftover for lunch, tomorrow.
Wednesday's Decluttering:
4 glass jars (used to root cuttings, mostly unsuccessfully)
1 file folder full of tax papers
4 glass jars (used to root cuttings, mostly unsuccessfully)
1 file folder full of tax papers
Today, I am grateful for:
- Being invited to attend the rosary prayer gathering at A's and being able to do so
- A safe drive there and back
- M tending to the garden
- Having water, electricity, sewer service, and weekly trash pick up, even if the costs have increased
- Being given our dinner to bring home to eat
Today's joyful activity was being able to attend the prayer gathering.
Plans for tomorrow include:
- Going for my 2nd booster shot
- Dusting my bedroom
- Vacuuming
- Decluttering/file cleaning, etc.
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for Thursday?
It certainly was rude of someone or something uprooting your plants. It reminds me of the time we planted rose bushes in our front garden only to find they had all been stolen overnight. Just makes me wonder how low some people will stoop,thankfully there are more good people in the world than bad. That's nice that you were invited to the prayer meeting and were given food to take home. I hope you don't suffer any side effects from your booster jab.
ReplyDeleteOh, no! So sorry to read that you had your rose bushes stolen! I've had a couple of plants (succulents, for the most part) stolen from my front garden, too, from time to time!
DeleteI appreciated being invited to participate in the prayer gathering and being given food to bring home. :)
Thank you, Eileen; I'm trying to drink plenty of water before the booster!
I hope your friend's fever has improved. The food from the prayer gathering looks very good. It's nice that you were invited to the private family gathering. I'm sure you were glad to be there for friend A.
ReplyDeleteThe mid 90"s! Oh my - summer is in a hurry. Not soon enough for you, I know.
That's a big bill for your water, electricity and the other items. It's good you are able to handle the higher amounts.
My electricity and water (billed monthly) seem to be the same so far but I am anxiously awaiting what my end of the season oil tank fill will be. I like to get it filled in May or June so that it's all set for the next winter season.
I saw on another blog one lady's electric bill was up over $100 (a month) for the same period last year AND she used less energy.
She is not in a comfortable position financially and is not sure what she will do as she has cut everything to the bare bone. I feel so sorry for people in the position she is in.
The color of the cornflower is such a nice shade of blue.
Good luck on your shot. Let us know how it goes.
Thank you, Debra; I called to check on A and she said the fever went down and she was able to come downstairs to have her dinner, later. She tends to get a fever most evenings and the doctors have told her to put ice and take Tylenol and only come to the hospital if it spikes over 104F. I was very touched to be included in what was essentially a family gathering. A said she invited one other friend, but, that friend wasn't able to attend.
DeleteIt's 93F right now (just before 1:00 p.m.) and it is supposed to go up to 98F, later in the afternoon. :) You know me - I'm thrilled to have the warmer weather!
Yes, it is a blessing to be able to handle the higher bills, isn't it?. I had to increase the budget for this particular utility bill, last year and I am glad that I was able to do so. I just hope it doesn't go up even more! I can't imagine what the electricity bills must be for those who use central air conditioning.
I hope your oil tank will be refilled at a reasonable rate, this year.
I really like the color of the cornflower and I was hoping to have more self-seeded plants! But, so far, there are only two. I might have to buy a packet of seeds, next year. Apparently, the flower petals are edible! But, I haven't tried them!
Thanks, I'll let you know! I'm trying to drink plenty of water as that is supposed to help keep the side effects to a minimum!
I am glad that you have been able to return to your prayer gatherings even if it is in a modified way.
ReplyDeleteI love cornflowers. They grow along the roadsides here.
Thank you, June. I guess you could say that I am starting to participate more in social activities, in a very, very cautious manner! :)
DeleteIt must look so pretty with all those cornflowers growing along the roadsides! :)
My Wednesday was uneventful. I didn't get much done as I am still dealing with some inflammatory issues. I did have my grandson here after school for a while. He is delightful. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you are still dealing with some inflammatory issues; hope you'll feel better, soon. Glad you got to enjoy your grandson's company; I'm sure he's delightful. :)
DeletePlease will you send some of that lovely hot weather my way? It's been raining on and off all day and it's cold.
ReplyDeleteWell done on your continued decluttering efforts. Do you think you're starting to find it easier to let things go now or is it still a struggle?
I'm glad you were able to attend A's prayer gathering. The food they gave you to bring home looks so good. Are you finding it easier to socialise now or are you still anxious about it?
Good luck with you 2nd booster shot tomorrow and I hope it all goes well.
I will try my best to send you some of the hot weather your way, Eileen, although I don't know if you want today's upper 90s (98F is the forecasted high for today; it is 95F at 2:00 p.m.; we went up 2* in the past hour!) :)
DeleteThank you; it is still a bit of a struggle, but, I am making progress!
I was happy to be invited to A's prayer gathering and felt fine, attending it. But, I kept my mask on the whole time. I find it harder to stay masked when I am with my own family, though! I find myself weighing risks before I do anything - is this activity worth the risk of possibly getting Covid? Can I wear a mask the whole time while I do it? Attending a funeral or a prayer gathering with a mask on is, obviously, within my comfort zone.
Thank you! In anticipation of the "shopping" side effect on previous occasions, I have written myself a small list of things to buy while I am in the store the pharmacy is located in! :D
I hope all goes well with your 2nd booster shot. I'm debating when to get mine. I always think of cornflowers as bachelor buttons, as my mother called them that. They are such sweet flowers. I'll plant seeds again this year, the seeds don't survive the winters. 90s is too hot for me! Celie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie; fingers crossed I won't have any side effects (other than that urge to shop, which tends to creep over me while I'm at the store! :D)
DeleteYes, they are called bachelor's buttons, too, aren't they? I'm reading that the petals are edible, both fresh (as a garnish, in a salad, etc.) or dried (made into a tea)! I haven't tried them, but, it is intriguing!
95F right now, at 4:40 p.m. as I type this! :D
Cornflowers are one of my favourite flowers, that blue is stunning. Your temperatures are shooting up. we are in autumn so far it has stayed warm but there is a definite chill in the morning.That meal looked yummy, I am thinking of making a beef curry for dinner today, looking at that meal I tempted to make some spicy potatoes instead of rice. It midday Friday here and I think this afternoon I will pick some apples and put them in the dehydrator, I love a tea made with a dehyrated apple slice and mint leaves in winter. Hope your booster goes ok.
ReplyDeleteCornflower blue is very pretty, isn't it?
DeleteYes, today's high went up to 99F! It will be back in the 70s over the weekend, though. I keep forgetting that you are in autumn and getting ready for the cooler weather!
Beef curry and spicy potatoes sound pretty good. :)
It's already Friday for you; we are still in Thursday!
I've never had tea made with dehydrated apples and mint, but, it does sound delicious! Are you dehydrating apples from your own garden?
You are so inspiring. I need to vacuum and dust my room, too. That bill sounds high.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephenie! Not quite sure what is so inspiring, though! :D Dusting and vacuuming is ongoing, isn't it? My water and power bills have been going up, steadily! I haven't even got to the summer watering, yet! I need to mulch with straw like you do, I think!
DeleteI love cornflowers! It is good that you were able to get to the prayer meeting and bring home your dinner. Many people do understand the need for caution. I hope you don't have any ill effects from the 2nd booster shot. I think I need another month at least since my first booster so I haven't booked one yet.
ReplyDeleteWe had rain and it was cool today, but I was busy in the afternoon preparing bottles and we actually bottled over 29 litres of syrup in the evening! That is the last as the trees have definitely given up but we and our helpers are happy with what we gained this year.
Cornflowers are so pretty! One of the few naturally blue flowers in the garden.
DeleteI was glad I was able to attend the prayer gathering and I was happy, too, to see the prayer blanket I crocheted on the back of the sofa. A's daughters showed me a photo of their grandmother with the blanket wrapped around herself, taken a few days before her death. Apparently she found it to be very warm. :)
Oh, wow, you had a very busy day, bottling up that syrup! Yum! Pure maple syrup! You'll have to have some pancakes with that syrup for me! :)
How lovely that A's mother found comfort with your prayer blanket!
DeleteI thought so, too, Bushlady. :)
DeleteGlad you were able to attend the prayer meeting. Sounds as though everyone is still taking precautions. I love the flower. It is such a lovely colour.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very pretty blue, isn't it? Yes, we are all taking precautions. Covid numbers are going up, again, apparently (going by the number of new cases being posted, daily, on our county's website).
DeleteYou are a good friend to A and her family.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed at how the decluttering is going. You seem really determined. You must be seeing the benefit now.
Thank you, Lyssa; A and her family have been good friends to us, too. :)
DeleteThe decluttering is coming along! Yes, I am determined! The frugal side of me is protesting, "Don't toss that, you can reuse that", but, I am trying to break a decades long habit and shutting off my frugal side! :D