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| The Squash Seedlings: Eenie, Meenie, and Minie |
Remember those really old (packaged for the 2010 growing season) seed packets I had and "decluttered" by planting the seeds to see what might happen? There was a packet of butternut squash, a packet of some mixed pumpkins, and a packet of zucchini (well, of course!) along with several packets of tomato seeds, and although M mentioned what was planted where, we didn't bother to make any markers. We really didn't expect anything to grow, but, we have three squash seedlings (and, possibly, some tomato seedlings, too, in a different area of the planting bed!) We don't know what kind of squash seedling these are, but, if they survive the heat and grow big enough to bear fruit, we might find out!
On Tuesday, it being the first of the month, I made milkrice and did my usual offering of milk rice, fresh flowers, and incense at the altar. Afterwards, I had milkrice and chicken curry for brunch. I didn't make seeni sambol, this time. I did a load of laundry, too, and watered the back garden in the evening and picked a few more ripe tomatoes. Dinner was leftover pizza that neighbor S had given me on Monday. Much later in the evening, when it had cooled down a little bit, I baked a pan of brownies, using a mix I had bought earlier.
Today, Wednesday, I took Dancer for his appointment at the vet's. It was considered a visit with the technicians, although the vet was there for a consultation if needed. Dancer received his injection for arthritis - this is his third injection and I must say I've seen some improvement after his second dose. He has been jumping up onto furniture instead of pulling himself up by his front paws. He even run around the house a few times and tried to leap from the coffee table to the sofa (although he misjudged the distance and fell off the edge of the sofa!) I think the injections are helpful. They also did a blood test to see if the new dosage is helping his thyroid issues. The vet will call me with the results once she receives them. In the meantime, Dancer was very vocal about his displeasure at being put into his carrier and taken to the clinic and being subjected to being handled by strangers. He has spent the majority of the rest of the day hiding under my bed, emerging only to ask for his favorite pate, from time to time!
Gardener friend M was here this morning and he enjoyed a couple of pieces of the brownies and watered the garden, both front and back.
I relaxed in the afternoon, read a few blogs, watched a couple of online videos, played a few online games, and watched the news. I watch several different news channels, all of which broadcast in English, including one from Japan, one from Germany, one from France, and one from Britain, before I watch one of the American news channels. Yes, I'm a news junkie! I find it interesting to see what global news each network decides to cover.
After that, around 7:00 p.m. I took some brownies, tomatoes, chilies, and sprigs of curry leaves to my friend R and she gave me two packets of mustard seeds she had bought for me from one of the ethnic stores (so much cheaper at the ethnic stores than at the regular supermarket). It was a curbside visit and I wore a mask.
It was nice and cool when I came home and I decided to walk for 15 minutes, which I did. I have not walked much since I hurt my toe, earlier, when the jar of honey fell on it. It's been over a month, but, my toe still has a black crescent shape at the base of the nail!
Brunch had been leftover milkrice with chicken curry and seeni sambol from a jar. Then, I had bread and cheese with my evening cup of tea, around 5:30 p.m. Dinner was a big bowl of salad (lettuce, cucumber, carrot, and mandarin segments) with bottled dressing (raspberry pecan). I haven't had dessert, yet, but, I'm looking forward to a piece of brownie!
I am grateful for:
- Starting a new month (each new month is a new beginning, isn't it?)
- Vet services for Dancer
- M's help with the garden
- A visit with friend R and her buying me mustard seeds
- Squash seedlings!
Today's joyful activity was visiting friend R.
According to the weather forecast, tomorrow's high of 84F might be a record low for August 3! I think it would be a good day to make a last batch of tomato chutney and maybe even get some housework done, if I have the energy!
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for Thursday?
We both have tasks to complete for other people before the weekend, but this morning we are going out together to visit a nearby market
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed your visit to the nearby market, Angela. :)
DeleteI'm glad Dancer appears to have perked up. I hope the results of his blood test will be okay.
ReplyDeleteYou will be on seedling watch now. Here's hoping they grow and thrive. X
Thank you, Jules. It's a bit late in the season to start growing vegetables, but, we'll see what happens with the seedlings! :)
DeleteYou really do need a Mo to go with Eenie, Meenie and Minie, I hope they grow well for you and produce some fruit.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that Dancer's arthritis medication is doing him good. I used to give my last dog YuMove tablets which helped her a lot. My fingers are crossed that his thyroid meds are working for him.
I love how you share food with your friends and neighbours and I'm glad you saved some brownies for yourself.
We have been informed that July was the wettest month on record and August will not be much better. I have only unwrapped our garden furniture once this year and it looks like that's how it will stay and I haven't used the new patio table I bought yet.
Yesterday I met a friend in a secure park for our dogs to play together but Tilly was scared of him and Duke is almost fifteen years old, I was ashamed of her :-)
I shall be watching to see if Mo makes an appearance! :D
DeleteThank you, Eileen; I, too, hope that Dancer's blood test results will be good.
Oh, yes, I made sure to have my share of the brownies! LOL. It's a pleasure to be able to share with friends and neighbors, though. :)
I'm sorry that July was such a wet month for you and the forecast for August isn't much better! It seems that the weather is just one extreme or another, these days! Hopefully, you'll still have some warm, sunny days to enjoy your patio furniture before winter!
Oh, Tilly; you must not be so scared of other dogs!
Good news that Dancer is enjoying a renewed bout of energy because of his injections. I had two plants I wasn't sure about growing earlier this year, alas I now know that they are what I consider weeds but it was fun watching them progress to something I could recognize. It will be interesting to watch your squash seedlings grow & develop. I often peek in on news casts from around the world. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. Dancer is now officially 15 years old, so, it's good to see him being a little more active (he still sleeps a lot, though!)
DeleteI'm sorry your plants turned out to be what you consider to be weeds, but, I agree with you that it's fun to watch things grow. I shall post regular updates on the squash trio!
It's good to see what's going on in the rest of the world, from time to time, isn't it? :)
I hope Dancer has forgiven you now!! Love FD xx
ReplyDeleteI think he has, FD. I plied him with his favorite canned cat food and brushed him and he relented and curled up next to me on the sofa, later in the evening. :D
DeleteWe cleaned up gardening shelves yesterday - a much needed job since it hadn't been done in a couple of years. Everything is sorted except various seeds that I've saved. I may be able to plant a few of them, but most of them will have to wait until next year if I decide to keep them. It's exciting that you have 10 year seeds coming up.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a job well done, June. I've some saved seeds, myself, which I'll plant next year and see what happens. It's good to know that old seeds can still be viable, isn't it?
DeletePoor Dancer! Evil cat had a real improvement in quality of life when she went onto arthritis meds. She had a lot less pain, a lot more movement and a nice fight with the vet every three months when they had to take blood. Please pass on scritches.
ReplyDeleteOld seeds can be surprisingly resilient, from the little that I've seen. I hope that you get a great crop.
Glad to hear that evil cat had an improved quality of life after her arthritis meds. That's what we want for Dancer, too. It was painful to watch him struggle to get onto furniture - I had placed stools and boxes to help him get onto the sofa, etc. I've passed on your scritches and he purred a thank you! :)
DeleteIt's good to see that the old seeds are still viable - even if all didn't germinate. It would be great to see if the seedlings will grow big enough to bear fruit!
The arthritis shots helping Dancer is very good news! I hope he continues to improve with this latest shot. My cat always seem to hide after a visit to the vet. A little too late for that! I planted nasturtium seeds that were 5 years old and many grew and are full of flowers now. I hope your squash seedlings produce a good harvest.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie. I'm glad to see that there is some visible improvement from the shots.
DeleteHow wonderful that your 5 year old nasturtium seeds grew so well! I'm hoping my squash seedlings will grow and produce at least one squash! They have at least two good months of summer left to grow!
Dancer may complain about being hauled off to the vets, but he doesn't realize how fortunate he is to have someone caring for him and willing to take him there! You would have a lot in common with DH and DDIL, who are both news junkies.
ReplyDeleteI have to recommend your banana "nice cream" portrayed on the Thursday blog last week. DH and I both enjoyed ours very much.
Yes, I must tell Dancer how fortunate he is!
DeleteIt does sound like I have something in common with your DH and DDIL. I am currently watching some news unfold even as I type this.
So glad that you tried the banana "nice cream" and liked it. :)
It was definitely worth throwing those seeds down! Never know what you might get, even from ancient packs. Hope you get some delicious fruits before the season is over.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. It'll be fun to see what these seedlings turn out to be! I wonder if there is a zucchini in there?! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is not too late in the season for these seedlings to grow!
DeleteThe beginning of your month was very good with your traditional new monthly rituals & many daily things accomplished along with a visit with friend R.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about those old seeds, Bless! How fun is this going to be watching them grow to a point that they can be identified for sure.
You are a very informed news consumer. I should watch more world news. I do listen to the world news on PBS radio but I don't think to watch it in tv.
It was a very good start to the month, wasn't it? I'm excited about the seeds, too! I have some tomato seedlings growing, too! I still can't quite identify the squash seedlings, yet.
DeleteI like to find out what's going on in the rest of the world, too, because they do impact us over here, one way or another. Nothing I can do about it, but, at least I'll know. :)