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| Bauhinia Flowers |
Another relatively cool day, with a high of 66F/19C and cloudy. There had been some light rain in the morning and it was still drizzling when I left for my lab appointment.
The lab appointment went well. I was greeted with a hug by one of the staff members and had my blood drawn by another friendly staff member (who wasn't wearing a mask).
After I came home, I put on more clothes to feel warm and when that was not sufficient, I put the gas heater on, with the thermostat set at 70F, once again. Then, I turned the heater off.
By the way, I received my May natural gas bill, today. It covers the period of April 19 to May 18. My baseline allowance for this period (it seems to vary from billing period to billing period) was 17 therms; I had used 16 therms (in comparison, during the equivalent period in 2022, I had used 33 therms). The gas company's original estimate for the May bill was $52.62; my actual bill is for $29.61. I'm happy with that bill amount and hopefully, the bill will remain around that amount during the summer months.
I had been fasting for the blood tests, so, after I came home, I cooked some frozen gyoza for brunch. I had planned to have a scrambled egg and toast, but, I was wanting something different. I will have the scrambled egg and toast tomorrow.
M arrived around that time and tended to the garden. He brought me a morning glory seedling to plant in the front garden, going up one of the trellises. I hope the plant will grow; I like morning glories.
In the afternoon, I took a nap on the sofa. Afterwards, I watched the evening news and knitted until my fingers started to cramp. Some days, I can knit for a good hour or so; other days, only for about 30 minutes before my fingers cramp.
I've had a relaxed evening. I watched a couple of programs on TV, played sudoku games, called and chatted with friend R, and will video chat with my daughter a bit later. Dinner was the leftover teriyaki chicken. I was going to make soup, but, I'll probably do that, tomorrow.
Today, I'm grateful for:
- The lab test appointment went well
- Friendly staff at the lab
- A safe drive there and back
- M helping with the garden
- A low gas bill
Today's joyful activity was relaxing!
Plans for tomorrow include some housework and cooking.
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for Thursday?
I'm glad your appointment went well and hoping for good results for you. It's good to have lower gas bills now the weather is warming up and less gas being used. Your bauhinia flowers are very pretty. I'm hoping to visit the garden centre today to buy some plants for my planters, I don't make a list of what I'd like I just see what catches my eye while I'm there.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I'm feeling a little nervous about the one test that they did, but, I'll find out the results next week.
DeleteI've been making it a point to not put the heater on unless I really feel I need it. I will continue to budget the same amount for gas to help with the higher bills in the winter to come.
I hope you find lots of lovely plants at the garden center. I've been thinking that, when I feel up to visiting places again, a plant nursery will be a good place to go to as they are outdoors. :)
You must be a very fast knitter, if you only knit 30 minutes or so at a time. You seem to churn out your sweaters pretty fast.
ReplyDeleteI don't consider myself to be a fast knitter, but, there was a time when I used to be able to knit a sweater in a couple of weeks. It takes longer, now! I am currently knitting a pair of socks with leftover wool from the blue and grey sweater.
DeleteI'm glad your latest appointment went well.
ReplyDeleteThe weather here is much improved, so I no longer have my heating on each day. I heard on the news that our energy bills should start to drop slightly next year, which will be a huge relief.
It's a lovely afternoon here, and I've tried to do some small jobs in the garden before I attend a meeting later on. I've refilled the container pond and disposed of the ugly looking chiminea, which I will probably replace with a much smaller fire pit.
Have a lovely day. Xx
Thank you, Jules.
DeleteGlad your weather has improved and you are able to turn the heating off. The lower energy bills will be much welcome, I'm sure.
Sounds like you were able to get quite a bit done in the garden! Have you decided what you are going to plant this year?
Hope you and Lily have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend. :)
That is a beautiful tree! I'm glad you got your bloodwork done with and your gas bill wasn't alarming. Hopefully you will be able to keep it low during the summer. We still have cool weather but sunny. It was mild enough that we ate on the deck yesterday lunchtime and today, and each time a hummingbird came and hovered near us. Perhaps he was saying thank you for the feeders.
ReplyDeleteI hung some towels on the line and they don't seem to have picked up any pollen. In any case they are getting 10 minutes in the dryer on cold, to fluff them up, so that should eliminate pollen.
Thank you, Bushlady. My mother started it from a seed her brother gave her from his garden. I have a seedling from this tree, growing in a pot, right now, that is ready to be planted in the ground.
DeleteI'm glad you are having some sunny, if cool, weather and are able to have lunch outside. It's still a bit too cold for me to do that! I'm sure the hummingbirds were thanking you for the syrup you provide! :)
Glad your towels will be pollen free. I like the idea of fluffing up line dried towels in a cool dryer! I must try that! I just dry them indoors, and I don't mind them being stiff when they are dried, but, they could do with a little softening from time to time. :)
What a good gas bill - I guess it really pays to stay in that lower tier. Good Job.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your blood test went off without any issues. And how nice that you were greeted so warmly.
I am out of dumplings for the freezer and need to get some. They are a good thing to have on hand.
It was a good gas bill, wasn't it? But, I was cold trying to achieve it and the weather didn't help at all! It has been unusually cool, the whole month!
DeleteThank you; yes, it felt nice to be greeted with a hug at the clinic! There are some really friendly and caring people out there!
Dumplings are definitely a good thing to have on hand, aren't they? I still have another serving or so left in the bag, but, will get more on my next grocery order. :)
The bauhinia tree reminds me of magnolia; I am not familiar with it.
ReplyDeleteIt's also called the orchid tree. My mother grew the tree from some seeds her brother gave her, from a tree in his garden. I now have a seedling that grew from this tree, growing in a pot, waiting to be planted in the ground.
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