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| Hummingbird on the Curry Leaf Tree |
It is hard to photograph hummingbirds with my cellphone, but, this one perched on a twig in the curry leaf tree long enough for me to take this picture. Do you see it? A minute or two earlier, it was drinking nectar from the bottlebrush flowers:
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| Bottlebrush Flowers |
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| The Back Garden |
My arm felt only a little sore, today, but, I took it relatively easy and didn't do too much. I checked on the garden, picked more peapods and broccoli side shoots, took another bag of shredded paper to spread as mulch on a flower bed, and brought another box of files from the garage to go through and shred. I shredded 5 years worth of my mother's tax files and I thinned out 5 of my own tax file folders, tossing out all the tax preparation booklets and instructions; but, I kept the copies of my filed taxes and all the supporting documents. I don't feel comfortable shredding them, yet.
I boiled mung beans for brunch and had it with katta sambol (a mixture of onions, dried fish flakes, and dried chilies, with salt and lime juice to taste):
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| Brunch: Boiled Mung Beans and Katta Sambol |
For dinner, I made chicken fried rice using leftover sauteed chicken, leftover rice, some peapods and the broccoli side shoots I picked today, an egg, and a handful of roasted peanuts:
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| Dinner: Chicken Fried Rice |
When my daughter came home, in December 2020, she brought down her big suitcase since she got a ride down with her friend P and the plan had been for her to get a ride back with P, in March, 2021. She left her smaller carry-on suitcase in her apartment. But, because she is flying back up, she would have to check in her suitcase, which won't be a problem, except, at the other end, it would be a bit unwieldly for her to take it in the subway and bus from the airport to her apartment (she will have her backpack, as well, which will be heavy because she has to take her work computer back as well as her personal laptop, etc.) So, today, we decided that she will buy a new carry-on suitcase to take back with her. We ordered it and will pick it up from the store, tomorrow, along with a roll of duct tape and a packet of permanent markers that I needed. Her big suitcase will stay down here for the time being.
Today, I am grateful for:
- The garden continuing to provide vegetables to pick
- Flowers in the garden, supporting the birds, bees, and other pollinators
- My new paper shredder!
- Being able to order items online and pick up at the store
- Leftovers for easy meal preparations
Today's joyful activity was spending time in the garden.
Saturday's Decluttering:
5 file folders full of tax documents
Plans for tomorrow include picking up the new carry-on suite case from the store (curb-side pick up).
How was your Saturday? What are your plans for Sunday?
You are a fast shredder and are making lots of headway.
ReplyDeleteWe got our 2nd booster yesterday and other than the sore arm, we don't feel any different. I did wake up with a headache this morning - that's not something I usually do - who knows if that's related. But it's gone now so all is good.
You got a good price on your mulch. Things will look nice and tidy when you get the front area done in the way you want. Fingers crossed that no one messes with that area.
What a nice long meander you can take through your back garden! So much to see as you watch Mother Nature do its thing.
Thank you, Debra. The shredder is supposed to be able to handle up to 8 pages at a time, but, I usually put fewer than that, as I don't want to overheat it! But, once I have decided what to shred, I just put on a video on my computer or watch news and shred!
DeleteI'm glad you are not experiencing any side effects other than a sore arm. I'm glad the headache went away - maybe you were a bit dehydrated?
Yes, the mulch was on sale at pre-Covid prices! Even M, who usually turns his nose up at the mulch I buy on sale, admitted it was a good deal! :D M thinks I should also put down some pavers in the parkway, so I might ask him to get some pavers, too.
Ha, ha, yes, meander is the right term, because, other than that one cemented walkway along the side, there are no straight paths in the garden! It has evolved so that one has to weave ones way around planted areas! :D
Your back garden looks so lush and it certainly is productive. Sometime, I would like to start getting rid of my father's files. I think it's time, but I will have to ask my sisters. My mother hasn't been gone long enough to shred some of her things yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. Yes, the summer heat hasn't turned things brown yet! I checked the IRS website to see how long one should keep tax documents and I found it a bit confusing, but, my mother has been dead for 16 years, so, I think it is safe to get rid of her documents!
DeleteI always love your grateful lists. I am so jealous that you have such wonderful weather and growing things. What a blessing! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana. Yes, definitely a blessing to have the weather we have and to be able to grow things year round! :)
DeleteYes, I can see the hummingbird! Your garden looks huge in the photo and it's looking great. Do you ever sit outside to enjoy it? I like eating my breakfast in the garden when it gets warm enough.
ReplyDeleteIs you daughter definitely going back soon or is she still waiting for confirmation about the return to the office from her employers? I wish there was some way her stay could be extended.
I've had a quiet weekend. The bright sunlight triggered the flashing lights in my eyes so I stayed indoors and closed the blinds and have just been reading, playing piano and doing some genealogy research.
Glad you can see the hummingbird, Eileen; it was darting around so much that in most of the photos I took it was just a blur! I don't sit outside as much as I could or should! Partly because of the insects - gnats and flies, etc. Partly because Dancer sits at the window or by the sliding door and meows when I am outside! He suffers from separation anxiety! Once when one of my cousins called me and I went outside to check something, she could hear Dancer carrying on in the background and asked what was wrong; I told her he was crying because I went outside! LOL.
DeleteYes, my daughter is definitely going back! She has booked her flight for next Sunday! Yes, Easter Sunday. She is scheduled to go in to the office on the 21st to set up her cubicle and then, will start going into the office 2 days a week after that. She will work from her apartment the rest of the week.
Sorry to hear that the sunlight triggered the flashing lights, but, I'm glad you decided to have a restful weekend, indoors. Hopefully, you will be able to go places on a dry but cloudy day. :)
Your back garden looks so lush and inviting! I'm looking forward to seeing our hummingbirds back again in a few weeks. I love it when they perch on twigs.
ReplyDeleteI got out of bed very early this morning and found a thin layer of snow had fallen in the night. By the time we got up, it had disappeared but it was still only around 40°F. We will go for a walk this afternoon, now that the maple syrup season is no longer taking up time.
Thank you, Bushlady. It is still nice and green, isn't it? I remember you saying you put up feeders for your hummingbirds. I don't have any, but, this particular bird keeps hovering around my back porch area, almost as if it hopes to find a feeder there!
DeleteOh, my! Snow again! 40F is cold! We are in the low to mid 70s, today. I hope you were able to go on a walk, today, Bushlady and enjoy a nice afternoon. I picked up some shopping and Thai food for lunch, this afternoon; drove by friend R's too, to give her some lunch and binders. :)
You have had such a wonderful protracted time with your daughter. I know you will be sad to see her return to her home, and I know she will miss you equally. But at the same time, a return to normalcy is something we have all hoped for.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely long visit and we both enjoyed it (which is good!) Yes, we are going to miss each other and she says she is going to be really homesick, but, she is also looking forward to being able to go out and do a few things with a couple of her friends who are in the Bay Area, without worrying about coming home and exposing me to any germs. :)
DeleteYour back garden looks so green and lush! The path looks to wander through, with little secret gardens along the way. I'm glad you've not had any major side effects from this booster. I need to schedule mine soon. I would like to get it early May. I read the protection it offers reaches a max about 4 weeks after the shot, and I'm going to a niece's wedding in Atlanta end of May. This is my brother's daughter, I haven't seen her in almost ten years and I do want to attend. I'm sorry your daughter has to leave soon. She's sure had a long visit with you!! Celie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie; I do enjoy taking a stroll through my garden. :) I think I was able to get through the 2nd booster without any major side effects; my arm is back to normal, today. Sounds like a good idea to take your 2nd booster in early May so you can attend your niece's wedding. I am hoping your brother is fully recovered now and will be able to attend his daughter's wedding (assuming it is the same brother!) My daughter was here for 1 year and 4 months! :)
DeleteI have never seen a hummingbird in the flesh, they look fascinating. The nearest we have is the tui, it likes bottlebrush trees as well as the kowhai. Except it is destructive and the shredded flowers go flying all over the place!
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks like an oasis of tranquility. I love how you have the beds placed randomly.
Are the boiled mung beans cooked in any flavourings? I only have had mung bean shoots and the shoots in Chinese stir fries.
Hummingbirds have beautiful iridescent colors, Sharon; you would enjoy painting them, I think. The garden has evolved over the years, but, yes, the beds have no rhyme or reason! I have some long planting beds along the rear and side walls, but, every time we needed to plant something, we'd just dig a bed wherever there was room! :)
DeleteI soak the mung beans overnight and then, boil them in salted water. No other flavorings (although, you can use them instead of lentils to make a dhal curry). When boiled, I like to eat it with the savory, spicy sambol and my daughter likes it with sugar! I like boiled mung beans, but, not the mung bean sprouts!
Your garden looks quite big and certainly is productive, the bottlebrush flowers look very nice. What a shame your daughter is having to return to her home and workplace and a shame she couldn't continue to work remotely permanently as you have enjoyed each others company for so long now. It's another step towards normality I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI live in an older suburb (homes built around 1940s) and the lots are big by today's standards. Many people in my area are building what they call an additional dwelling unit in their backyards for rental purposes or for in-laws.
DeleteYes, returning to the office in person is another step towards normality, although, my daughter's office wants the staff to come in to the office only 2 days a week for at least the next several month! Daughter will work from her apartment the other 3 days.
You are so lucky to get hummingbirds. I'm keeping everything crossed for your daughter's safe journey
ReplyDeleteHummingbirds are frequent visitors in my garden. I am now considering the idea of putting up a feeder for them.
DeleteThank you, Lyssa; daughter hates to fly, so, we appreciate you keeping everything crossed for her safe journey. :)