Monday, September 5, 2022

Labor Day Monday

Labor Day Feast Compliments of Neighbor S and Daughter

I had a phone call from neighbor S, this evening; her daughter N and N's friend had made fried tilapia and a salad, if I would like some, she could bring some over!  I said I'd love to have some and a short time later, S and N brought over this feast!  Battered, fried tilapia, sauces for the fish, mango salsa, pickled bell peppers and red onions (so colorful), a big container of coleslaw, tortillas, some tortilla chips, and for dessert, a gluten free brownie made with almond flour and applesauce!  Oh, my!  Enough food for several meals!  I had a piece of the fish, the mango salsa, and the brownie for dinner and I am full!  S and family are such wonderful neighbors and such a blessing! 

Thank you, everyone, for your kind concern for my daughter.  She woke up early, this morning, feeling much better, did her meal prep for the week since she was feeling OK, took a nap in the afternoon, and has been relaxing in the evening.  It went up to 91F in Berkeley, today, which was very hot for them, although daughter loved it.

It only went up to 104F, here, today, with 39% humidity,  According to the forecast, the humidity made if feel like 108F.  I decided to try my sewing project, with a different pattern, and had more success:


New Cotton Blouse


I used one of my old blouses that I had sewn as my pattern!  Kept the blouse on the fabric (leftover from making a pillowcase for my daughter's bolster pillow) and cut out the pieces!  I made it a bit bigger though, as the other blouse is a bit tight on me.  I had to patch a strip of fabric at the bottom to get the length I wanted, but, it is hardly noticeable.  I didn't have enough of the blouse fabric to make the bias bindings for the armholes and neckline, so I used some lilac colored fabric that was leftover from a nightdress that I had sewn several years ago for the bias bindings.  This blouse is made for wearing around the house and I don't mind that the bindings are of a different colored fabric!  I am not fussy!   I wore it in the evening, after I took a shower to cool off:

Modeling the New Blouse!

I changed out of the white cheesecloth skirt and into a pair of shorts after I took the photo and after neighbor S and her daughter brought over dinner; I would not dream of subjecting anyone to the sight of me in a pair of shorts!  LOL.  

Neighbor T called in the afternoon, saying she had been concerned about me.  I told her I had called and left messages, but, she sounded surprised by that bit of news.  I guess she didn't receive my messages?  Maybe she doesn't know how to check her voicemail!  I will call her daughter, tomorrow, and mention it to her.

Later in the evening, I watered the back garden just to keep the fruit trees and the rose bushes alive.  All the vegetable plants, except the chili plant and the moringa tree, have been uprooted.  I am not sure if the chili plant will bear anymore chilies, but, I will keep it to see if it does (this is the second year for it).  

Still later, I chatted with friend R and video chatted with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Neighbor S and her daughter N being such wonderful neighbors and bringing me such a generous dinner
- Hearing from neighbor T
- The fabric stash!
- My new blouse
- Daughter felt much better, today.

Today's joyful activity was sewing!  

Today's decluttering was a catalog that arrived in the mail, last week, featuring Labor Day sales.

Plans for tomorrow will depend on the weather, of course.  According to the forecast, it will be 101F, tomorrow.  I shall try to water the front with some shower water I have collected in buckets.

I didn't do a meal plan, today; I think it will be safe to say that this week's meal plan will be based on leftovers from the feast that neighbor S gave me, leftovers I have in the fridge (sauteed chicken, moringa curry, etc.), and stuff from the freezer (leftover pizza, gyoza, etc.) which will be quick and easy to cook during this heatwave! 

How was your Monday?  What are your plans for tomorrow?

22 comments:

  1. I think it is a lovely top and I like the material. I can't see the different coloured bindings or the strip added across the bottom - but even if I could, I don't think they matter. That looks like a delicious feast from S. You will be playing catch up now, with leftovers galore in the fridge!

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    1. Thank you, Lady Ella. I am pleased with the blouse. The print on the fabric features branches with cherry blossom like flowers (which is why my daughter selected it for her pillowcase). :)

      It was a very delicious feast! I won't have to cook all week, I think! :)

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  2. You are a very gifted seamstress to be able to make such a lovely blouse just by laying another on top of fabric - I envy your skill. What a perfect design element you added with the binding; who says it has to be the same colour and/or pattern. How kind are your neighbours ... we did meet our new neighbours, so far so good & I hope they say the same about us :)

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    1. Thank you, Mary-Lou. It is a very simple blouse - basically a rectangle with holes for the neck and arms. No shaping, no darts, etc. (although, I admit that a couple of darts on the sides would have improved how it fits!)
      Yes, neighbor S and her family are very kind and generous. I'm glad you met your new neighbors and they seem nice; I'm sure they think you are lovely neighbors, too. :)

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  3. I like the fabric you used for the blouse, and I'm glad you another cooler option in your wardrobe. I can't see it in the picture, but the different arm facings sound whimsical to me.

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    1. Thank you, June. I'm glad to have another cooler blouse to wear - it's going up to 105F today, according to the revised forecast (we are at 100F right now, at 1:30 p.m. and with 35% humidity it "feels like 104F" according to the forecast; it's 90F inside the house and I have a fan on). I looked to see if I had a big enough piece of light blue for the facings, but, I didn't. Maybe the different colored facings can be a design feature! :D

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  4. That's a lovely colourful feast from neighbour S and her daughter! Your blouse has turned out really well and I'm sure you could wear it anywhere.
    We had leftovers at the weekend and there was enough beef and sides for a microwaveable bowl for DS to take home for lunch at work the following day, and they all had some leftover chicken and rice to take, and I also had a leftover half chicken breast for my supper after they left. I also had a leftover pancake and sausage for breakfast this morning! I love leftovers!

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    1. Wasn't it a lovely feast? They are so kind and generous to me.
      Thank you, Bushlady. I'm happy with the blouse. I will be wearing it around the house, but, I could wear it to pick up groceries, etc. :) It's a bit too big at the top, but, loose and comfortable is good when it is hot, isn't it?
      Sounds like you cooked a feast, yourself, to have all the leftovers that you did! But, that's the benefit of cooking a large meal - the plentiful leftovers! I, too, love leftovers! :D

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  5. Such generous neighbours and your feast looks delicious. Your blouse is lovely, a very nice material. I had to smile when I read you wouldn't inflict the sight of you in shorts on your neighbours, I know if you feel comfortable wearing shorts they wouldn't mind :) So glad your daughter feels better now.

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    1. They are such generous neighbors and kind and helpful, too. I will be feasting on the delicious food they gave me for at least a couple of days!
      Thank you, Eileen; I'm happy with my new blouse. I handwashed it, last night, before I went to sleep and hung it up to dry and it was ready to wear, this morning! Oh, even I don't want to see me in shorts! LOL! But, it is really too hot for anything else at this point.
      Yes, my daughter is feeling fine, today, she said; thank you. :)
      Hope all is well with you and Tilly, too. :)

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  6. I like your new blouse, just right for the hot days. Will you make any more or will one be enough?

    That really is a lovely meal from S. It looks very tasty and you'll be eating well for a few days. I hope you enjoy it all!

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. I am tempted to make one more, but, I'll think about it. Last night, before I went to bed, I handwashed the new blouse and it was ready for wearing this morning. :)

      That was quite a feast S and N brought me, wasn't it? In fact, I'm just about to sample some of the coleslaw!

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  7. That blouse is so pretty, and it looks like you made it perfect for you. And that does look like an amazing feast. You have a great community around you. I'm glad that your daughter feels better.

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    1. Thank you, Lyssa. The blouse is cool and comfortable. Perfect for this weather (we are at 100F right now and expected to go up to 105F).
      Neighbor S and her family are wonderful! I'm so grateful to have them as my neighbors.
      Thank you, Lyssa; my daughter is feeling fine, today. :)

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  8. I'm glad your daughter is feeling much better now. As someone who very rarely experiences headaches, I can't begin to imagine how horrible it must be to suffer from migraines.
    The blouse is lovely! Such a gorgeous colour and pattern. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules; migraines are not fun. My daughter is feeling fine, today, she said.
      Thank you; I'm happy with my new blouse. Now, I'm eyeing a piece of darker blue fabric that I have in my stash... :D

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  9. Glad your daughter is feeling better. Migraines are horrible. I don't get them often but when I do the only thing that seems to help is sleep. How lovely to have such good friends and neighbours. Hope it's cooled down a little.

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. Yes, migraines are not fun, are they? I've some lovely neighbors (and, of course, the noisy ones, next door with their too loud music!). It has cooled down a few degrees - today's high has been downgraded from 105F to 104F! Currently, it is 101F. :)

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  10. That's a lovely blouse, Bless. I really like the color.

    I'm glad your daughter is feeling better now. I get migraines, so I know how awful they are.

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    1. Thank you, Nil. I, too, like the color. :)
      I'm sorry that you suffer from migraines, too. I used to get migraines, then they stopped, but, I still get the eye auras from time to time, without the headache!

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  11. I missed this post with your new blouse. You mentioned something in a comment response that made me go back and find it.
    Your blouse is so pretty! Good job on making a pattern. I love the color especially with the white of your skirt.
    My mother always told us no white shoes or white purse after Labor Day but she never included clothing. lol
    I am hoping you got some of the rain your area was forecasting -
    I will catch up reading and find out.

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    1. Thank you, Debra. The blouse turned out well, didn't it? Next time, I need to make the top (neck, shoulders) a little narrower! Yes, I know one is not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but, I didn't grow up with that rule (we wore white year round)!

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