Visiting Cousins on Thursday

 

Feijoa (Pineapple Guava) Flowers

The Feijoa or pineapple guava tree is flowering now.  I am hoping that there will be plenty of the fruit to pick, this year (there was no fruit last year).

Today, I enjoyed lunch with three of my cousins, including cousin M who is visiting from Australia.  I offered to bring something, but, cousin V, who was hosting the lunch, said not to bother.  So, I just took her a bag of lemons from my garden because she loves lemons.  Cousin V had prepared what she called a "simple meal" of rice and curries.  But, she is a wonderful cook and there was, in addition to the rice, chicken curry, beef curry, dhal, spicy sauteed potatoes, bread fruit curry with spinach, fried salted dry fish (a type of preserved fish), beetroot salad, and Sri Lankan mixed pickle!  Quite a feast in my opinion!  V had also made Sri Lankan style sego pudding (with coconut milk and jaggery)  for dessert and her sister R brought two type of cookies. 

I enjoyed seeing my cousins, again, especially M, as I haven't seen her in over a year (she generally visits once a year or so) and we spent the afternoon chatting.  Just before I left, cousin V served me a plate of food and a container of the sego pudding to bring home!  I have enough for my dinner and for lunch, tomorrow!      

I've had a relaxed evening since I came home. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Visits with cousins
- A safe drive to cousin V's and back
- V sending me home with dinner
- Lemons from the garden to share
- Sunshine in the afternoon after the morning clouds

Today's joyful activity was visiting with my cousins.

Plans for tomorrow include an afternoon appointment with the oncology nurse practitioner and tending to the garden with M in the evening.  I put the okra seeds to soak - we will plant them, tomorrow.

I hope I can get the internet connection to work long enough for me to copy and paste this post!

Hope you have a lovely day on Friday.

Stumped!

The Stumpery 

My gardener friend M brought me another stump or two and we placed them this morning.  We had to remove a couple of small succulents to make room for the newer stumps, but, we planted them elsewhere.   

There is an older stump to the right of the new stumpery (the viewer's right) that is half covered by the succulents:

One of the other stumps 

That is what I'm hoping the new stumpery will look like, once a few plants grow around it.  It's a work in progress.

M planted corn in a newly prepared bed in the back yard, today, and we cleaned out the poppies growing in the other half of the planting bed where the tomato was planted, to get it ready for planting some pole beans.  We will have to figure out some sort of support for the pole beans to climb on!  

He also brought me a new plant - he thinks it's a gentian.  Whatever it is, we will plant it in the front garden on Friday and hope it will grow!

I was without an internet connection this morning, but, I have one now, in the afternoon, so I thought I'll do a quick blog post. 

It's been a cloudy day with a high of only in the mid 60s (65F, right now at 4:05 p.m.)

Today, I'm grateful for:

- Being able to access the internet, even briefly
- M's help with the garden

- Water for the garden
- The small electric heater (guess who is feeling cold?!)

- Blueberries fresh from the garden.

My joyful activity today was finishing up the stumpery!

Plans for tomorrow (Thursday) include visiting my cousins.

I hope everyone is well and having a good week.  I will catch up with your blogs as and when I'm able to.  

 

May Meal Plan Week 3

 My computer is still acting up.  Intermittent access to the internet, often not long enough to copy and paste a post!  

But, otherwise, I am doing well.  Sunny and a bit cool on Tuesday. Neighbor S brought me some stuffed chicken breast = she said it came already stuffed (with rice, broccoli, and cheese) and she cooked it yesterday. I've added it to the week's meal plan.

Hope all is well with all of you!

Weekly Meal Plan - May Week 2 

Brunches:

Leftover yogurt flatbread with chicken curry (Monday)

Egg salad sandwiches (Tuesday and probably Wednesday, too)

Leftover flatbread with katta sambol

Banana-blueberry muffins 

Frozen burrito

Dinners:

Leftover rice, shrimp curry, and dhal (Monday)

Leftover battered fish, salad, potato wedges (Tuesday)

Stuffed chicken breasts (compliments of neighbor S) with salad and/or cooked vegetables.

Smoked sausage and vegetables stir fry with rice

Leftovers

Snacks:

Fresh fruit (apples, blueberries, pomegranate)

Leftover cake and blueberry compote

Yogurt and treacle

Monday

Having computer issues - keeps kicking me off the internet every few minutes.  Will reply to blog comments as and when I can.  Will post my meal plan, tomorrow.  Sorry!  

Mother's Day Weekend

Garden Flowers

The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day, here in the US and in Canada, too.  Happy Mother's Day to all the women who are mothers, step-mothers, foster mothers, or fulfill the role of a mother in someone else's life.  I hope you have had a lovely weekend.

It has been a sunny and warm weekend at this end.

On Saturday, I changed the bedsheets on my daughter's bed (she's not here, of course, but, Dancer has been sleeping in her bed) and the sofa dust sheets and did a load of laundry.  In the afternoon, neighbor S called me to offer me some watermelon and I went over to visit her very briefly, as it was the one year anniversary of her mother-in-law's passing.  S gave me a quarter of a watermelon, saying she and her family couldn't finish the whole watermelon they had bought, a slice of zucchini bread, and a gata (Armenian cookie)!

Treats Compliments of Neighbor S

In the evening, I cooked another chicken curry with the second tray of chicken thighs I had bought, earlier:

Chicken Curry

Once again, there were eight thighs in the package; I ate one of the thighs for dinner, with the yogurt flatbread/roti I made to go with the chicken curry, and froze the rest of the chicken curry in smaller packages for future meals.

Yogurt Flatbread/Roti

Today, Sunday, I had another piece of chicken curry and roti for my brunch.  I had considered making waffles or French toast, but, curry and roti was what I wanted and that's what I had!  I ate some watermelon, afterwards.  All I wanted for dinner was scrambled eggs and toast.

I had a very relaxed day.  I spoke on the phone with friend R, former neighbor T, aunt C, and, of course, with my daughter; texted with cousin N and with my late friend A's daughter.  I walked in the garden and picked some flowers.  I watched some videos online and crocheted.  Later in the evening, I video chatted with my daughter.  

This weekend, I was grateful for:

- My daughter
- My mother
- Being able to keep in touch with family and friends
- Having wonderful neighbors like S
- Garden flowers

My joyful activities included chatting with my daughter, phoning and texting with family and friends, and spending time in the garden.

Plans for Monday include some much needed housework and tidying the linen closet!

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

On Friday

The Star Jasmine is Flowering

The star jasmine vine, growing up on the home grown and home made pole trellis, is flowering.  

Star Jasmine Flowers

I had planned to take the laptop in to the shop, today, but, I was pleasantly surprised, late yesterday evening, to find that the whirring fan noise had disappeared!  It has been working just fine, today, too, so, it seems that the threat of taking it to the store for a check up worked!  LOL.  I will see how it goes over the weekend and take it in if the noise returns.  

Yesterday, after I did my blog post, I took over some cake to my neighbor S; she said to bring her a small piece just to taste, but, I took her enough to share with her husband and daughters.  Later, I cooked a chicken curry with one of the packets of chicken thighs I had bought, earlier in the week.  There were eight thighs in that packet and I froze six of them, two to a package, for future meals and kept two in the fridge.  Today, I sliced one of them and had chicken curry sandwiches for brunch.  I still need to cook the other package of chicken thighs - I might saute them for a change from the chicken curry or make more curry (I am more likely to eat the curry than sauteed chicken).  

I changed my bed sheets, today, and did two loads of laundry.  

With this year's blueberries ripening, I decided to use some of the frozen blueberries from last year to make a blueberry compote to go with the cake I baked:

Blueberry Compote

I used about two cups of blueberries, 1/4 cup sugar, the juice of half a lemon, and a small piece of cinnamon stick and cooked it for about 10 minutes (the only thing I measured was the sugar).  The resulting compote is both sweet and tangy.  I served a piece of cake with some of the compote poured over it to M and he thought it went well with the cake.  

Brunch had been chicken curry sandwiches; dinner will be reheated fried fish, a baked potato, and salad.  There might be cake and compote for dessert.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another sunny, warm day
- Working appliances
- M's help with the garden
- The laptop seems to be working well
- Blueberries from the garden

Today's joyful activity has been being online without worrying about the computer breaking down!

Ripening Blueberries

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Sunny on Thursday

Pomegranate Flower

The pomegranate tree is flowering; I hope we will get some fruit, this year:

Pomegranate Flowers

Last year, too, it flowered well, but, we didn't get any fruit!

My laptop fan is making a high-pitched whirring noise, so, I'm going to keep off the computer for longer periods of time, now.  I've been doing this post in short periods of time, turning the computer off for a few minutes in between.  I will catch up on my blog reading in small periods of time.  Hopefully, the fan will adjust itself, if not, I might have to take the laptop in to have it checked.

Yesterday (Wednesday) went well.  The pharmacy called in the morning to let me know that Dancer's prescription refill was ready for pick up and I said I'll be there in the afternoon.  Then, I went for my blood test and that went fairly well.  But, the lab tech told me that the lab results might not be available in time for Friday's appointment with the doctor.  So, after I came home, I called the cancer clinic and rescheduled my appointment for next week, Friday.

M was still tending to the garden when I came home from the lab and I was able to chat with him for a bit and reimburse him for the packet of pole bean seeds he bought for me.  The packet of green beans cost $2.99 (and I gave him a little extra for his time and trouble).  One pound of green beans cost $2.99 to buy from the grocery store;  I'd better be able to harvest at least two lbs. of green beans to make it worth my while to plant beans and water them!  Last year's bean harvest was pitiful!  

I had been fasting for my blood test, so, I ate the last of the ground turkey filled patties for brunch.  Then, I went to pick up Dancer's medication.  I decided not to treat myself to a doughnut and told myself that I will bake a cake, instead!

I had a long chat on the phone with Aunt C and with former neighbor T in the afternoon, and an even longer chat with my daughter after she came home from work.  

But, the best news of the day was an email from Dancer's vet, stating that his blood test results showed that his thyroid levels were finally within normal range!  It took nearly one year!  He will continue to take the dermal medication at the current dose and, I suppose, they will recheck him again, later.  That is such a relief to know that he's doing better!

Such a Good Boy, Dancer!

Dinner was leftover fried fish (I warmed it up in the toaster oven and the batter crisped up, nicely), with oven "fried" potato wedges, and cucumber salad:

Dinner: Fish and Chips

Then, I baked that cake I had promised myself!  I used a boxed pound cake mix that I had received free from the grocery store some time ago, but, instead of a loaf pan, I used the bundt cake pan: 

A Slice of Pound Cake

 I added a little grated lemon peel to it, but, I should have used more, I think.  I couldn't get any taste of the lemon!

Yesterday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to get my lab work done
- Being able to reschedule my oncology appointment
- Pleasant lab technicians and doctor's office assistants

- M tending to the garden and getting the packets of vegetable seeds for me
- Dancer's good news!

My joyful activity was chatting with my daughter.

Today, Thursday, is a sunny day with a high of 73F.  I walked for 20 minutes and enjoyed the sunshine and the birdsong.

Plans for today include some paperwork, mending, and maybe doing a load of laundry.

Tuna salad sandwich for brunch and dinner will be leftover rice, shrimp curry, dhal, and broccoli (have to cook the broccoli)

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny and warm day
- Flowers in the garden
- A working computer (even if it is singing to me!)
- Being able to walk for 20 mins. without pain (remember when I couldn't walk for more than 8 mins. max?)

- Birdsong (even if the birds have already eaten some of my ripening plums!)

Today's joyful activity is spending the day at home without having to go to any appointments or run any errands!  LOL

The Week So Far

Martha Washington Geraniums

On Monday, I ordered and picked up groceries and on the way home, put gas to the car ($5.15/gal.; I put $50 worth).  I also called in a refill for Dancer's medication, gave Dancer his monthly flea prevention medication, paid the natural gas bill, watered the indoor plants, and took the trash cans to the curb.  I started making a meal plan, but, then, my lovely neighbor S brought me dinner!

Beer Battered Fried Tilapia and Cabbage Salad
(Plus some mango salad)

There are leftovers for at least another couple of meals.

On Tuesday, I took Dancer to the vet clinic for his arthritis injection and thyroid blood work.  I had to give him his sedative before I took him in and this time, he was very mellow on the ride to and from, even falling asleep for short periods of time.  He has gained a pound and that is a very good sign.  The vet will contact me with the blood work results, later in the week.

After I brought him home, I went to the grocery store to pick up the missing box of baking soda.  The person I spoke with on Monday wasn't there, but, the person I spoke with on Tuesday was very helpful and I was able to get the missing box of baking soda.  

I had made patties (ground turkey filling encased in pastry) for dinner on Sunday and I had leftover patties for brunch on Monday and for breakfast on Tuesday.  After I came home from the grocery store, I shared a can of tuna with Dancer, making a tuna salad sandwich with my share of the can of tuna (there's leftover tuna salad for Wednesday's brunch).  I cooked a shrimp curry for dinner on Tuesday, with rice, cucumber salad, and dhal:

Rice, Shrimp Curry, Dhal, and Cucumber

I kept about two servings of shrimp curry in the fridge for meals this week and froze another two servings for later.  

Plans for Wednesday include going for some lab work in preparation for my appointment with the oncology nurse practitioner on Friday.  Unfortunately, the lab appointment time coincides with M's regularly scheduled time and day for tending to the garden.  But, I'll leave instructions for him - he needs to start making two planting beds for the corn and okra we want to plant this year.  

So far this week, I am grateful for:

- Being able to order and pick up groceries, including being given the missing item without a fuss
- Vet services for Dancer
- Availability of gas for the car
- Availability of medical services for myself
- Neighbor S bringing me dinner on Monday night

The week's joyful activities have included enjoying the dinner S provided, spending time in the garden, and crocheting.

How is your week coming along? 

May Grocery Shopping Part 1

I put in an order for groceries today and picked it up in the afternoon.  I mostly wanted to take advantage of the sale on chicken.  But, of course, I had to buy enough groceries to qualify for the free pick up (minimum $35.00 order, before coupons are deducted).

I bought:

7.33 lb. chicken thighs (2 trays) @ $0.99/lb. (reg. price $2.49/lb.) = $7.25

0/91 lb. shrimp @ $7.98/lb. = $7.27

2 bananas (0.73lb.) @ $0.68/lb. = $0.52

1 Italian salad kit, 11 oz. = $3.67

1 orange juice with mango, 54 fl. oz. = $3.99 + $0.10 deposit

1 can coconut milk = $1.99

1 box 12 oz. cereal (reg. price $4.29; free with coupon) = $0.00

1carton ice cream, 48 fl.oz., reg. price $6.49, on sale for $3.99 plus $1.00 coupon = $2.99

1 box baking soda (1 lb.)* = $1.69 

* Missing item!  Need to go back and pick it up, tomorrow.

Original price of items bought = $53.22
Less coupons/sales = $23.75
Total paid = $29.47

May grocery budget = $100

Spent to date = $15.39 (over spent in April) + $29.47 = $44.86

Balance remaining in the May grocery budget = $100 - $44.86 = $55.14

The shrimp was a bit of a splurge item, I think it was a good start to May's grocery shopping.  

When I came home and realized that the baking soda was missing, I called the store and they said I could come by today or tomorrow to pick it up.  I didn't feel like going back today, so I'll go over, tomorrow.  

Have you gone grocery shopping in May, yet?  

A Stumpery

First There Was One

Remember this stump M and I placed in the front garden in the succulents border?

It was soon joined by this partially decomposed stump that I had in the back garden from when the pyracantha bush was cut down:

Then There Were Two

Then, I added some of the branches we had cut down from the bottlebrush tree:

And More

They joined the other branches that were already in place, which were originally placed as an edging for the beds, which are more or less covered by the succulents and the osteospermum:

Existing Branches Already in Place

What on earth are you trying to do, Bless?

Well, I've been watching some gardening videos and learning about "stumperies".  They are made by placing stumps and upturned roots as a garden feature, usually in a shady part of the garden, and planted with ferns and other shade loving plants.  They provide shelter for small garden animals and insects and as they slowly decompose, add nutrients to the soil.  In my garden, I'm placing the couple of stumps that I have and some branches among the succulents.  I am still in the process of tweaking the branches into what I consider to be a pleasing arrangement.  Currently, it looks like I dropped an armful of firewood in front of the succulents!  

Maybe I need to ask Gardener M to bring me another stump or two.  However, he is not sold on the idea of a stumpery.  LOL.

I placed the extra branches in the back yard, next to the side wall - I'm in the process of weeding this area, but, there are asparagus ferns growing here, as well, and they will grow through and over the branches in no time.  

A Second Stumpery in the Making

What do you think?  Would you consider having a stumpery in your garden?
 

A Quick Post on Sunday

Sunday's Pickings

Just a quick post on Sunday because I've been having internet connection issues.  I keep getting disconnected and then, even restarting the computer doesn't seem to help.

Saturday was cool and cloudy - a typical "May Gray" weather day.  Today, Sunday, it is sunny and quite windy.  I've taken a walk on both days, checked on the garden, chatted with family and, when the internet connection worked, emailed friends.  

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  

I'll post another garden post if the internet connection works!

Dancer's Mountain Climbing Tips

Step 1: Look ahead to see how far or high you have to go

Dancer decided to climb Mt. Washmore, the other day, and wanted me to photograph his technique.

Step 2: Look down to see how high you have climbed

Step 3: Look behind to see how far you've come

Step 4: Plop yourself down on the peak
to celebrate having climbed the mountain

And finally,

Step 5: Take a well deserved nap

 Dancer assures me that one can climb any mountain, this way, not just Mt. Washmore.

Balanced Life Monthly Goals: April Review and May Goals

Since I didn't post my April goals until close to mid-April, there isn't much to review, but, I thought I'll do a quick review, anyway.   

Health, Self-Care & Well Being (6.0)(6.0):  The goal is good health.

April Health Goals: Focus on improving my health - I have continued to apply the medicated cream and take the blood thinning medication I was prescribed.  I've made it a point to take a short walk on most days.  I am still not going to bed at a decent time, but, I do allow myself to sleep in so I get at least 6 hours of sleep a night.

May Health Goals include going to my medical appointments (2 scheduled in May) and doing the required lab work; taking my prescribed medications; more regular exercise and a better diet! 

I am keeping the rating the same because the blood clot is still palpable and I started off May with a stumble in the garden, although nothing was broken or sprained.

Spiritual (10)(10):   The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life.

April Spiritual Goals: Daily prayers, meditations, gratitude, etc.  In April, I continued doing the things I consider as important to live a spiritually meaningful life.  

May Spiritual Goals: Continue to pray daily, meditate, cultivate gratitude, etc.

The rating remains the same.

Daughter (10)(10):  The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her.

 

April Goals: Continue to maintain a close relationship with my daughter.  I continued to maintain a close relationship with my daughter in April, through texts, phone calls, and nightly video chats.  She was very helpful with setting up the credit monitoring, etc., after the data breach. 

May Goals: Continue to have a close relationship with my daughter.

I'm keeping the rating the same, but, I'd raise it if I could!  She was so helpful!

Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies (10)(10):  The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.

April Goals: Continue to engage in fun, relaxing activities including reading and crocheting.  I spent some time crocheting in April and finished making a lap blanket.  

May Goals include engaging in more fun, relaxing activities, including crocheting another blanket (that I have already started).

I'm keeping the rating the same.

Finances (10)(7.5):  The goal is financial security.

- Continue budgeting and spending mindfully, with purpose

April Goals:  April goals included continuing to budget and spend mindfully, with purpose.  I had to focus quite a bit on my finances in April due to a data breach, which led to my personal information, including my social security number, being found on the "dark web". With identity theft being a real possibility, I needed to put credit monitoring in place (with my daughter doing most of it for me because I was absolutely overwhelmed and clueless).  

Apart from that, I did well enough with my finances in April, although I went over my grocery budget by $15 and some cents; it will be taken out of the May budget.

I debated whether to keep the rating the same or downgrade the satisfaction rating; the data breach was due to factors beyond my control and we did everything we could to minimize any damage, but, I am not happy with what happened and I am left wondering just how secure my finances are.

May Financial Goals: Continue to budget and spend mindfully, with purpose.

Garden (10)(10):  The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant.

April Garden Goals:  To continue with maintaining the garden.  The garden was full of flowers in April and was maintained with M's help.  I wanted to start planting the vegetables I want to grow this year, and we bought the seeds, but, it was too cold to plant them.

May Garden Goals: Plant the vegetables I want to plant and continue to maintain the garden.   

The garden continues to get a high rating because I am so pleased with how it looked in April.

Family/Friends/Community (10)(10):  The goal is to have a close connection with family and friends and be involved with my community.

- Regular phone calls and emails, etc., to keep in touch with family and friends
- The occasional in person visits as and when I feel comfortable with doing so

- Participate in the blogging community and the online organizing community

April Goals:  The same as above. I kept in regular phone, text, and email contact with family and friends, and there were a couple of in-person visits and food exchanges with my neighbor S.  I also participated in the blogging community and the online organizing community. 

May Goals will continue to be the same as above.  One of my cousins will be visiting from Australia and I am looking forward to seeing her.

The rating is unchanged.

House (8.5)(8.5):  The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming.

- Clean - Clean the house as needed 
- Organized - Continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - Keep "erasing the evidence"; implement daily and weekly cleaning schedules
- Decluttered - Continue with the decluttering process

April House Goals:  Were the same as above.  I kept the house maintained and, while there's always room for improvement in all the areas when it comes to keeping the house clean, organized, decluttered, and maintained, I am satisfied with the general state of the house.  

May House Goals: Continue to keep a pleasant, well maintained house and keep the horizontal surfaces clear!  

The satisfaction rating stays the same.

Time Management (8.0)(7.0): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.

- Spend time purposefully, mindfully

- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me

- Procrastinate less

April Goals: Continue to manage my time in a mindful and efficient manner.  I feel that I procrastinated a lot in April.  I think it was because lots of other stuff came up that I had not planned for, such as the issues with the phone, the data breach, etc.  They took up a lot of my time and, even more than my time, my energy.  As a result, I procrastinated on doing other stuff that should have been done!

May Time Management Goals: To be more efficient with my time, to procrastinate less.

I have reduced my satisfaction rating to reflect how I feel about this area of my life.

April continued to be another wobbly month for me.  I'm hoping that May will be a more balanced month.

Starting May

Roses 

On the first of May, I made my usual breakfast of milkrice and picked fresh flowers for the altar and mantlepiece.

M was here to tend to the garden when I went outside to pick some curry leaves for the spicy onion mixture (seeni sambol) that I wanted to make to have with the milkrice.  The curry leaf tree growing closer to the house has grown so tall that I have been having a hard time reaching the leaves to pick them.  So, I went to the back, where another curry leaf tree is growing behind the garage.  That one is quite tall, too, but, there are suckers growing around it, that are within my reach.  As I picked the leaves, I told M that we need to prune the curry leaf tree that is closer to the house because I can't reach the sprigs of leaves and I didn't like having to come to the back to pick curry leaves.  M said he could trim it right then because he had the trimmer with him.  He went to his truck to get the trimmer out and I turned around with my curry leaves to go back to the house, tripped on the uneven pavers lining the path, and fell!  

The Paved Path by the Curry Leaf Tree

It knocked the wind out of me for a minute and I was still trying to get myself up when M came back from the truck.  He offered to help me up, but, I was able to get up by myself.  Considering the fact that I have osteopenia and fell on the paved path, I was fortunate to get away with only a scraped left knee!  

Needless to say, I took it fairly easy the rest of the day.  It was not the best start to the month, but, it could have been so much worse.

M fertilized and watered the garden and trimmed the curry leaf tree.  It's still too high for me, so, I'll ask him to cut down one or two branches down even further.  It'll have to be done in a manner that will not cause the tree to die.

Brunch was milkrice, chicken curry, and seeni sambol; dinner was a microwaved "baked" potato and a scrambled egg, with sliced fresh apples and yogurt.

Today (Thursday), I did a load of laundry (which was hung up to dry, rather than dried in the dryer), made an appointment for Dancer's injections and blood tests and made an appointment for my own blood tests.  I walked up and down the driveway for 15 minutes, or so, and walked around the backyard, checking on things, being very careful not to stumble!  Some of the blueberries were turning color and I picked a handful:

The First Blueberries of the Season

Some of them are still tinged green, but, I find the slightly underripe berries to be tastier than the fully ripe ones, which tend to have a soapy taste to me!  I enjoyed the berries after I had some leftover milkrice (with chicken curry and seeni sambol) as part of my brunch.  

Dinner will be baked breaded shrimp with tomato chutney and a cucumber salad.  

As I start this new month, I am grateful for:

- I didn't break or sprain anything when I fell 

- M was there in case I needed his help to get up 
- Roses and blueberries from the garden
- Being able to set up appointments for Dancer and myself
- Working appliances

My joyful activities have included spending time in the garden and chatting with family and friends.

Plans for Friday include some crocheting, housework, and gardening with M in the evening. 

How is your week going?  What are your plans for Friday? 

Monthly Photo Challenge: April "Weather"

Eileen at A Bracelet of Days set "Weather" as the theme for April.  I thought it would be quite a challenge for me because we generally don't experience a lot of changing weather in April, but, here's what I was able to photograph:

The weather was sunny, some days, with cloudless, clear blue skies:

Blue Skies

So clear one could see the moon in the afternoon:

Afternoon Moon

Days with blue skies and fluffy white clouds:

Fluffy White Clouds

Then there were days when the weather changed from sunny to cloudy:

Clouds Moving In

More Clouds Moving In

Cloudy days:

Cloudy Days

Even a few rainy days:

Rainy Weather

Rainy Days

Back to sunny, warm days:

The Sunny Garden

Then there were days when curling up on a mound of still-warm-from-the-dryer laundry felt good:

Dancer Keeping the Laundry Warm

 

Thank you, Eileen, for organizing the monthly photo challenge.   I had fun trying to capture the weather!