Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Starting November

 

Passionfruit on the Vine

I made sure that the month got off to an auspicious start by preparing milk rice for brunch on the 1st, along with seeni sambol (spicy onion relish) and a fish curry.  In addition, I brought the trash cans in, walked in the driveway for 10 minutes, or so, paid a bill, checked this week's grocery ads, chatted with friend R, put away the few Halloween decorations I had displayed, cleaned the litter box, and did the dishes.  It was a relatively quiet, relaxed day.

It started to rain, late last night/early this morning - a light rain, but, it was enough to wet the ground (we had 0.2 inches of rain, according to one report).  It had stopped by the time I left the house at 10:00 a.m. to go to the pharmacy at the drug store for my booster shot.  The pharmacy wasn't crowded when I went in and no line when I went up to the counter to check in for the booster.  Apparently, they have stopped doing walk-ins!  But, they had told me that they were still doing the walk-ins when I called on Monday, but, told me to come in on Wednesday because they were so busy.  The pharmacy technician I spoke with today, Irene, knows me from my years of going to that pharmacy to pick up my medications; she spoke with the pharmacist and told me that they will still give me the booster shot today.  Apparently, the person who was supposed to come in three times a week to vaccinate the walk-ins is out sick!  I didn't ask what they illness they were having!  So, they were back to going by appointments, only, which makes perfect sense to me.  I would have made an appointment if I hadn't been told that they were accepting walk-ins!  

Anyway, I didn't have a long wait to get the booster and I didn't even feel the needle going in!  I was told to hang around the drug store for 15 minutes afterwards, so, I looked around the store and did a bit of shopping!  Ha, ha!  The shopping side effect was still there!  I bought two packets of a fudge brownie mix; they were $1.29 each (they were on a multi-buy special for 5/$5, but, there were only two of the brownie mixes left; they are $1.99 each at the grocery store).  When I went to pay for them, I received a $5 bonus coupon!  It was valid until November 16, but, I knew that I was not likely to go back to the store before that, so, I did a little more shopping and bought a packet of pens because my stock of pens are starting to run dry; I had to pay an additional $0.21 for the pens.  So, my total shopping came to $2.79, which isn't too bad, is it?  

Then, I came home and had leftover milkrice, seeni sambol, and fish curry for brunch.  

M was running a bit late, today, and it was 12:30 p.m. by the time he got here.  He didn't have to water the garden because it had rained; instead, he did some weeding and tidying up.  I shared some of the grapes I had received from S with him and he ate them, seeds and all!  We discussed the parkway a little bit and decided that we will fill in around the pavers with pebbles, after all.

I took it easy, the rest of the day.  I replied to all the wonderful comments on the blog (a big thank you to all who comment), watched a couple of online videos, watched news, chatted with friend R, made a small batch of chicken and vegetable soup to have something warm to drink (I was feeling cold when I made it, but, by the time I finished, I felt warm enough that I didn't have any; I might have some before I go to bed), made an "open face" burger, using a beef patty from the freezer and one bread end for dinner, and did the dishes.

I am not doing a separate meal plan as such for this week, seeing that we are already halfway through the week!  But, meal plan options include:

- leftover milk rice and waffles with fish curry and seeni sambol
- soup
- sauteed garbanzo beans 
- frozen burritos
- rice and chicken curry
- or something else! 

Today, I am grateful for:

- Rain!  
- Being able to get my booster shot as a walk-in
- Bargains at the pharmacy/store!
- M helping with the garden
- A safe drive to the pharmacy/store and back

Today's joyful activity was gardening with M (he did the work; I stood around and chatted with him!)

Plans for tomorrow include doing some paperwork and making a few appointments for later this month.  

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

Mama Cat Claims M's Kneeling Pad!

20 comments:

  1. The shopping was a result - a good bargain on the brownie mix AND the voucher. I'm glad you got your booster okay. Mama Cat looks elderly, like she has seen it all. If you can, pass on gentle scritches.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was happy I was able to get my booster, after all, and the shopping was fun! :D Mama Cat is rather advanced in years. She doesn't let me touch her, but, I'll give her a little extra treat instead of scritches. :)

      Delete
    2. She enjoyed the spoon of canned tuna I gave her. Now she thinks that she should get some every day! :D

      Delete
  2. I'm sure you are happy that you got your booster and some useful shopping as well. Great that you had the voucher and were able to use it there and then. We can never have enough pens, can we? I like the photo of Mama Cat.
    Good that you had some light rain. We have figured out that some torrential rain we had last month was probably the reason why that root I fell on was uncovered!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was happy to get my booster, Bushlady, and the shopping was fun! I had a list of items I wanted (a new comb for me, a new scrub brush for the kitchen, a seam ripper if they had one, etc.), but, they didn't have combs (they had hair brushes, but, I prefer a comb), or the scrub brush and the seam ripper they had came with a tape measure (which I don't need) and cost $8.00! The same item is available for $4.79 at the grocery store; I guess I'll order from there (just the ripper is $3.29 at the fabric store, but, not available/in stock at the store near me and available only for shipping; my current ripper works, but, the blade part came out from the handle! The pens are much needed!

      Thank you; the rain was much needed! Oh, yes, a heavy downpour could have washed off some of the soil and exposed that tree root which tripped you! Hope you are recovering well from your fall.

      Delete
  3. I'm glad that you were able to get your booster. I got my flu shot as a walk-in and it took a while, but I was glad to see that they were taking the appointments as they showed up. That doesn't always happen and frustrates me when I've made an appointment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, June. I was the only person waiting for the booster (or any vaccines) at the time I was called in, although two others were waiting when I came out of the booth; not sure if they had appointments or not.

      Delete
  4. I'm glad you were able to get you booster jab even though they were no longer doing walk-ins. I wonder if a lot of people get the shopping side effect after their jabs - maybe all that impulse buying is what's helping to keep the pharmacies going in these tough times! Although I suppose if everyone gets a bonus coupon the shop isn't taking in as much money as you'd think.

    I think that pebbles around the pavers will look good and hopefully your neighbours will leave it all alone! You have the same approach to gardening as I do with my M ... she does all the work and I stand around chatting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Eileen; I'm glad I was able to get my booster even as a walk-in!
      Ha, ha, I anticipated the shopping side effect and went in with a list! I wanted a new comb (they didn't have), a scrub brush for the kitchen (they didn't have), a seam ripper (they had one with a tape measure, as well, which I didn't need and the package was overpriced, so I didn't buy), brownie mixes, and, yes, pens. I also thought I'd get some Halloween candy on discount and maybe potato chips, but, they didn't have much discounted candy and I talked myself out of the potato chips! :D I had also considered going to the dollar store, next door to the pharmacy, to buy some bread and bananas, but, I decided not to and came home, instead.

      I'm hoping that small pebbles around the pavers will work. It will be a water wise thing to do. We have the right approach to gardening, I think! :D

      Delete
  5. You had a good day what with getting your booster, shopping (with your $5 extra bucks;) and the RAIN! Yeah for rain!
    .20 inches is a nice amount. I am hoping you get some more.
    You don't seem like the booster affected you. I hope that is true and it continues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Debra; yes, it was a very good day! We had rain (there's more in the forecast for Mon, Tues, and Wed of next week!), I got some shopping done (needed items that were on my list), and so far, I haven't had any other side effects from the booster! Not even a sore arm! I had more side effects from the flu/pneumonia shots! I hope it continues to be that way!

      Delete
  6. It sounds like your day went very well. I hope you have no side effects from the booster, other than shopping! You did well with that also. Pens are always needed. Glad you got some rain. Today is my sister's birthday, she would have been 68. So I've been feeling sad, but also thinking of good times we had together and treasured memories of her. Your mama cat is enjoying the cushion! She's very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (((HUGS))) Celie. Your sister would have been one year and a few days older to me! Yes, remember the happy days spent together and the good times; she lives on in your memories.
      My day went well, yesterday. I haven't tried the pens yet and I hope they work! But, I haven't bought any pens in at least 3 years and the ones I have are running dry!

      Delete
  7. You are so inspiring. The rain makes all the difference in the garden. We had a sprinkling of snow up at the cabin. Glad you were able to get your booster. I am debating on getting my second booster. We'll see...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Stephenie! Not quite sure what I did that was so inspiring, but, thank you! :) I wondered if you got any snow; the news said there was some snow in the higher elevations. I feel safer knowing I've had this latest booster.

      Delete
  8. I'm glad the booster when well and you were able to get it this time. It just seems like yesterday that you were preparing Milk Rice for October!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thank you, Sharon. It's crazy how quickly the months are going by, isn't it?

      Delete
  9. A positive and productive day. I'm liking the sound of the chocolate brownies :)
    Mama cat looks nice and comfortable there. Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it was a good day. Mama Cat was very happy on her perch!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. Your comments are much appreciated. Please comment in English. Thank you.