Earthquake On Saturday

My daughter called me around 4:00 a.m. this morning to let me know that she had been woken up by an earthquake!  Initially estimated at 4.1 magnitude, the earthquake was later downgraded to 3.6 magnitude.  But, the epicenter was just a few miles from Berkeley (in an adjoining city) and on the Hayward fault line which runs directly under the City of Berkeley and the UC Berkeley campus.  As a result, my daughter felt the full effects of the shaking!  Fortunately, there was no damage and daughter was able to fall back asleep, eventually.  It was another reminder that we are living in earthquake country, but, such a blessing that it was a small quake and no damage other than some rattled nerves!

I spent a relaxed morning, replying to blog comments and chatting with aunt C who called to check how my daughter was doing.  In the early afternoon, I decided to cook some canned garbanzo beans (chick peas) for brunch.  Which led to the discovery that my can opener, which I had used a couple of days ago and which had been a little difficult to use, recently, was not working at all!  I managed to make a small opening, but, it was not enough to get the contents out.  I will order a new can opener,  but, in the meantime, I had a partially opened can of beans.  Should I put the partially opened can in the fridge, wait until I get a new can opener, and make something else for brunch?  Or, should I call neighbor S to ask if she had a can opener and, if so, could I borrow it?

This is the can opener that wouldn't work

I decided to call neighbor S.  Yes, she had a can opener and yes, I could borrow it.  So, I took the partially opened can of garbanzo beans (I drained it, first, so as not to slosh the canning liquid all over the place) and went across the street to neighbor S's house.

This is the can opener S gave me
to replace the one that didn't work

Yes, that's right.  She gave me the can opener saying I could keep it, she didn't need it, her daughter had bought her a new one!  

Then, she offered me a bag of kitchen utensils that she was getting rid of!  I could keep what I wanted and get rid of any that I didn't want!  I saw a couple of items that I have been wanting to get, including the pair of tongs that are visible in the picture below, so I accepted the utensils.   Yes, I know, I'm supposed to be decluttering my own items!  But, I will keep only the items I will use! 

These are the kitchen utensils S gave me
to go with the can opener she gave me
to replace the one that didn't work!

And since S is S, she offered me a selection of treats!

These are the treats S gave me
to go with the utensils and the can opener she gave me
to replace the one that didn't work!

A type of anise flavored bread (I took a couple of slices to try - it was very good and the texture reminded me a little of the bread I made!), two cornbread muffins her daughter had made, some chocolates from a box her niece had given her, and some dried orange slices!  

S's mother was there, too, making kufta (a type of Armenian meatballs) and S asked me if I'd like to have some once her mother had finished making them, but, I declined.  S is forever feeding me and I didn't want to accept even more food than what she had already given me.

I came home, opened my can of garbanzo beans, and made the sauteed garbanzo beans dish I had been planning to make:

These are the sauteed garbanzo beans I made
after I opened the can with the opener S gave me!

I sauteed the garbanzo beans with finely cut onions, curry leaves, sliced green serrano chilies, mustard seeds, and lemon juice.  I didn't make it very spicy.  I took a small dish of it over to neighbor S for her to try.  

Then, I had a bowl of the garbanzo beans for brunch.  Later, I tried one of the slices of the bread S had given me; it was delicious!  I had a portion of it with butter and the other portion with cheese.  

In the evening, I watched news, spoke with my daughter, spoke with the monks at the Temple (my daughter had said that they had called her to check on her and assured her that they were praying for her good health), and with friend R.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The earthquake felt by daughter was a small one and didn't cause any damage
- Daughter continues to be fever free, although she has a sore throat and is coughing
- Neighbor S and her kindness and generosity
- Chats with family and friends
- A working heater

Today's joyful activity was taking some of the prepared garbanzo beans over to share with neighbor S. 

Plans for tomorrow include tidying up the house a bit.

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for Sunday?