Rainy Days and Mondays and Furnace Checks

Guess Who is Sleeping in the Blueberry Planter?

It's Mama Cat, Ignoring Her Box!

It started raining, a fine drizzle, actually, very early in the morning; I only noticed that it was raining when I looked outside around 2:30 a.m., when I was getting ready for bed.  It was still drizzling when I woke up this morning and it continued to drizzle during most of the day, clearing only around 4:30 p.m.  A rather grey day and cool, with a temperature of 61F both inside and out!  

I called the gas company to confirm that I was still on the schedule for the furnace check this afternoon and scheduled an appointment for lab work to be done prior to my appointment with my primary care physician later in the month.  Then, I got started on the "to do" list I had made for myself: I did a little dusting, cleaned the fridge, cleared the kitchen counters (again), replaced the battery in the family room clock and reset the time, replaced the batteries in the TV remote control, watered the indoor plants, took the trash cans out to the front of my driveway, and did a little paperwork (a lot more paperwork to be done).  

The gas company service technician showed up around 4:00 p.m. and checked the furnace.  He needed to readjust the pilot light flame to get it to ignite and I explained about the delayed ignition problem we have had.  He said the furnace itself is a good one with several safety features built into it, but, having the pilot light flame being kept so high, there is a chance that the ignition device which detects if the pilot light is lit or not will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.  But, he said that doing the annual safety inspection will help with knowing when to replace it.  He also suggested that I got a second carbon monoxide detector, so, that's another item to add to my "to do" list.  I left the furnace on with the thermostat set at 70F and sat in the living room, near the heater, until it turned itself off once it reached 70F.  Since the heat spreads through the house through diffusion, the temperature in the family room is 68F.  At one time, I'd have said that was a bit chilly for me, but, after the past few days, 68F feels quite comfortable (I'm still bundled up, though - wool socks I hand knitted and partially felted on purpose for added warmth; sweatpants, a sweatshirt, a wool sweater, and a knitted poncho over that, and a scarf around my neck; I was wearing my fingerless mitts earlier, before the furnace was serviced, but have removed them, since.)

I had the leftover cup noodles for brunch, today, with cooked ground turkey (from the freezer) added to it and reheated in the microwave.  For dinner, I had Eetch - a type of Armenian salad (which can also be eaten as a main dish), similar to tabbouleh, but, not quite:

Eetch - Compliments of Neighbor S

It has bulgur wheat, tomatoes, onions, herbs, and I think S added some chopped cucumber pickles, as well.  It was quite delicious and I have leftovers for another couple of meals.

My daughter had to do a presentation at the conference, today, on a paper on which she is the first author and participate in a panel discussion.  She was nervous and excited about it because this was only the second time she has done a paper presentation at a conference.  She had prepared her slides and practically memorized her presentation, but, even so, she said she stumbled over a couple of words during the presentation, but, she corrected herself and continued.  Tomorrow, she will be doing a poster presentation on behalf of a colleague who is unable to be there in person.  But, she said that poster presentations are easy as all one has to do is be available to answer any questions that might be asked about the poster and its information, etc., not give a formal presentation.  She went out to dinner with her friends, again, this evening, so she's having some fun, too.

Today, I am grateful for:

- The heater passed the safety check
- A warm house
- S bringing me another delicious meal
- Daughter had a good day at the conference
- The much needed rain

Today's joyful activity was having the furnace checked and working!

More rain is in the forecast for tomorrow.  I will continue to do my paperwork and make another pot of soup, I think.  

This week's meal plan will include fried rice with ground turkey, turkey/vegetable soup, and eetch.  

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