New Year's Eve 2024

 

Sunset on New Year's Eve

I watched the sunset on New Year's Eve.  Tomorrow's sunrise will be the dawn of not only a new day, but, also, a new year!

I stayed up till after 5:00 a.m. this morning, and woke up a little after 10:00 a.m.  My daughter slept in, which was good, because she needs to rest and recover.  She did a Covid test, last night, and it was negative; she didn't take one, today.  She has been staying in her room with the door closed and she wears a mask when she comes out of her room to go to the bathroom and sprays the hallway with Lysol disinfectant each time.  I'm leaving her coffee and food outside the door on a stool and she takes it in, then, leaves the empty dishes outside the door for me to collect.  We've been texting each other throughout the day.  

I brought in the trash cans, aired the house, changed the dust sheets on the family room sofas, did a couple of loads of laundry including the old dust sheets and bath mats, etc., made turkey and vegetable soup for dinner, and tried to comfort poor Dancer who is very unhappy about daughter being in her bedroom with the door closed and not allowing him in.

Later, I called friend R to check on her.  A friend sent me a lovely e-card to wish me for the New Year and I exchanged a few more emails with another friend.  

I can hear fireworks going off around me in the neighborhood (you wouldn't know that we are in a city where fireworks are illegal) and will be watching the ball drop in New York (obviously a time delay since NY is 3 hours ahead of us).  I plan to boil milk and make milkrice at midnight.

Thank you to everyone who read my blog this year and for all the lovely, kind, and considerate comments you have left.  We haven't met in real life, but, I consider all of you as my friends and look forward to continuing to keep in touch over the coming year, too.  May you all have a blessed 2025 filled with good health and happiness.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being alive for another year
- The friends I've come to know through my blog
- My daughter being home this New Year's Eve, even if she's a bit under the weather 
- All the blessings this past year has brought me
- Being given the opportunity to look forward to another year

Today's joyful activity was communicating with friends.

See you all in 2025!

The Last Monday of the Year!

 

Snow Pikachu

One of the gift tags my daughter drew and colored to attach to the packages of Pokemon collector cards we gifted to my cousin's grandsons.

Today, I woke up feeling a little tired from the busy weekend.  Not so much tired as my back was hurting.  So, I took it easy.  I did go to CVS to pick up a prescription refill that was ready for pick up and while there, I bought a pack of red and green tissue paper, that was on sale for 50% off; regular price was $2.99 and I paid $1.50.  I still have most of a package of white tissue paper, so I am set for next year's gift wrap.  And when I came home from the pharmacy, I took the trash cans to the curb.  But, I didn't do any laundry or water the garden, or clean the kitchen (I did wash the doors of two lower kitchen cabinets as something had dripped down them).

Daughter woke up complaining of a scratchy throat and I made her some ginger-coriander tea, the Sri Lankan panacea for colds and coughs, etc.  We are under an unhealthy air quality alert, so we don't know if it is daughter's allergies flaring up or if she is coming down with something.  I have the air purifiers running to clean the air, if it is her allergies.  We are sort of staying in separate rooms for now, but, not wearing masks.

We are both hoping that it isn't some virus. We have been very careful up till last week.  But, we didn't wear masks when we went to our friend's place on Christmas or to my cousin's place (she with the sick daughter isolating in another room during our visit) on the day after.  We also didn't wear masks during the almsgiving.  However, we did wear masks when former neighbor T's daughter visited and I am very glad that we did, especially since she announced, during the visit, that she had just recovered from Covid, ending her isolation just the previous day!  We also wore our masks when my late friend's daughter came over, yesterday, to use the washer and dryer (we gave her a mask to wear, too, and she did).  

Anyway, hopefully, it is nothing to worry about!  Daughter is on mandatory work curtailment this week (a budgetary requirement at her work place; staff is required to take no pay leave or vacation time off and daughter is taking no pay leave because she wants to save her vacation days for an upcoming planned trip, next year).  So, she will have time to rest and recover.

Today, I am grateful for:

- My medication refills being available for pick up
- Daughter is taking time off this week so she can rest
- Leftovers for meals
- A safe drive to the pharmacy and back
- Working appliances

My joyful activity today was emailing friends and watching online videos.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  Is anyone thinking about New Year's Resolutions/Goals, etc.?

The Day After the Almsgiving

 

More Painted Ornaments: The Sailor Moon Series

Daughter's latest set of painted ornaments, representing some of the characters in the Sailor Moon anime:  Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Mercury.  They have been added to the tree.  

On Sunday, the day after the almsgiving, I focused on "erasing the evidence"  and put away the dishes used during the almsgiving.  I also put away all the Christmas themed dinnerware, too.  I had been planning to keep them out to use when daughter's friends came over for their annual holiday get together, but, that has now been postponed to the second weekend in January and the 12 days of Christmas will be over by then.  The Christmas drinking glasses are still being used, although, they will be put away over the next few days.  

I folded and put away the laundry, including the table covers and the sheets used to cover the sofas.

I tidied the laundry area, swept the kitchen and the family room, and took the recycling and kitchen trash out to the bins.

I also called friend R to check on her and to thank her, again, for helping me with the almsgiving.  

Later in the afternoon, late friend A's younger daughter arrived with a load of laundry to use our washer and dryer.  She brought us two portions of salmon with herbed butter as a gift from her father who works in a grocery store.  I was able to return their food container that had been sent home with us with leftovers after Christmas dinner and, since we don't return empty containers, I sent some of the ribbon cake I had bought from the Sri Lankan store in the container.  

I had a ham sandwich for brunch and daughter had leftover almsgiving rice and curries.  For dinner, I cooked the salmon we had received and served it with savory rice (with green peas added to it) and steamed broccoli and carrots.  Daughter had some dump cake for dessert and I had some of the cut up mixed melons and a slice of ribbon cake.

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- What I was able to accomplish in terms of  putting stuff away
- Being able to help my late friend's daughter by letting her use the washer and dryer
- The gift of two portions of salmon
- Working appliances
- Feeling energetic 

Sunday's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for Monday include doing another load of laundry, cleaning out the fridge, taking the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday, watering the front garden, and cleaning the kitchen.

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

- 

Almsgiving 2024

 

Reliquary and Offerings

I held my almsgiving on Saturday, December 28.  The photograph above shows the reliquary (covered with a gold cloth and placed on a lotus shaped cushion) that the monks brought with them from the Temple for the occasion.  On the table in front of it, is a tray of offerings of the meal that was prepared, a candle, an incense stick, and a vase of flowers.

I woke up early on Saturday morning and after having a cup of tea, started on the To Do List I shared in the previous post, going down the items on the list, one by one.  Friend R arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. and she covered the sofa where the monks will be seated with the white sheets I had kept out for the purpose.  White is the color of purity and it is non-distracting.  Then, she made the salad for me while I put the rice to boil and warmed up the curries.  We had finished all the preparations well before 10:00 a.m., which gave us a little time to relax and for me to change out from the sweatpants and sweatshirt I was wearing to the white long skirt and the cream colored sweater I had set aside to wear for the almsgiving.  Again, white is the color of purity and not only does it not distract ones attention as colors and patterns would, it also minimizes any obvious social distinctions in dress.  

The monks arrived a little before 11:00 a.m. and the ceremony began with offering the tray of food and flowers to the Buddha, lighting the candle and incense stick and chanting blessings.  Followed by the offering of food to the monks.  

Almsgiving 2024

The monks brought their traditional begging bowls; the food is served into the bowl and afterwards, the bowls are washed and returned to the monks to take back to the temple with them.

After they had finished lunch and the coffee table was cleared, they delivered a short sermon about the three kinds of almsgivings - one is giving physical items such as food, robes, medicines, etc., one is giving another being the ability to live safely, without fearing for its life. and the third is the giving of knowledge and wisdom.

Then, there were more chanting, including the recitation of the Ratana (Gems/Jewels) Sutta (a discourse about the three jewels which are the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha) and transferring of merits to those relatives and loved ones who have departed.

The ceremony concluded about 1:00 p.m. and I sent a plate of food to the temple to be given to anyone who might come to the temple needing some food.

Then, we had our lunch and friend R helped me to put away the leftovers and do the dishes (I loaded the dishwasher with some of the dishes, but, there were others that needed to be washed by hand).  

I was just about to take R back to her place, when former neighbor T's daughter K called and asked if we'd be home because she wanted to drop off something and give me an update on her mom.  So, we waited for her and exchanged gifts with her.  The update on T was not that good (she's receiving hospice care) and that made me feel very sad.  

After K left, daughter and I drove R home. 

Then, I did two loads of laundry, did a little ironing, ran the dishwasher, wrapped more gifts to be exchanged tomorrow, and tidied up the place a bit.

Daughter's get together with friends that was scheduled for Sunday has been postponed to a weekend in January because one of them is ill and she didn't want to expose me to anything.  However, late friend A's daughters might come over to use the washer and dryer as their own washing machine has broken.  So, there will still be some visitors on Sunday, just a different set of girls.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- The almsgiving went very well
- Friend R's help 
- Daughter being able to participate
- The weather being sunny and mild
- T's daughter visiting and giving me an update on T

Saturday's joyful activity was holding the almsgiving.  I am so happy that I was able to do everything.  I am feeling physically tired, but, the tiredness is mitigated by a feeling of joy.

Thank you, everyone, for your participation in the almsgiving by being interested in the ceremony and your kind comments about the proceedings.  

Tis the Night Before the Almsgiving

 

Holiday Gifts

And I finally have some time to post a holiday update!  

We had been invited to Christmas dinner by my late friend A's family, so, in the morning, I baked a peach and blueberry dump cake, using homegrown peaches and blueberries I had frozen.  In the late afternoon, after some discussion about how we were getting there (I had planned to drive us over there and back, but, A's younger daughter wanted to come and pick us up due to a lack of parking spaces at their condo unit; then, while we were waiting for her to pick us up, she called to say that a parking spot had opened up and her dad had parked his car there to reserve the spot, so could we drive ourselves?) I drove us there.  The girls and their father had prepared a lovely meal and we got to meet one girl's boyfriend who entertained us with some magic tricks.  After we came home, I wrapped up the gifts shown above, to take to my cousin's house, the next day.

On Thursday (or Boxing Day as it is known in some countries; it's a regular work day over here), I called the monks to confirm Saturday's almsgiving, then, picked up the groceries I had ordered.  I had received everything I had ordered (including a dozen large eggs for $7.99), but, I had forgotten to order some orange juice to serve at the almsgiving.  So, I put in another order for groceries, ordering a few other items, such as bagels and cold cuts, in addition to the orange juice.  I ordered enough pantry items to bring the total up to qualify me for free pick up.  With daughter staying with me for at least another couple of weeks into January, the pantry items will not go to waste.  

I watered the backyard after I came home.  

In the evening, we went to visit cousin V and her family, including her daughter who had come from New York with her husband and two young sons.  Cousin R (cousin V's sister) joined us, too, and it was nice to see the family.  V's other daughter was not well and V had told her to stay in her room for the duration of the visit because she knows that I am still being extra cautious.  Although V had invited us to an early dinner, I had told her we'll just have a cup of tea and some snacks.  We had the tea and the snacks V had prepared and were considering leaving, when V started making "appa" or "hoppers" as they are also called in English - a type of bowl shaped pancake with a soft spongy center and a thin crisp edge - I couldn't resist!  Both my daughter and I love V's hoppers.  So, we stayed and had dinner, after all!

After we got home, I put away all the Christmas gift wrapping paper and card making supplies and cleared the big table in the family room.

Today (Friday), I picked up the second batch of groceries and picked up my friend R on the way home.  She had offered to come and help me with the almsgiving preparations.  We removed the Christmas dinnerware and the red plaid table cloth from the dining table and set out all the almsgiving plates and dishes, rearranged some of the furniture, got the robot to vacuum, and prepared the last two dishes that needed to be made - the shredded kale "mallung" with grated coconut and turmeric and another peach and blueberry dump cake.  I crossed off all the items on my Almsgiving Schedule that I had listed that needed to be done, today.  Thanks to R being here, we were done by 4:00 p.m.  We exchanged gifts after that and R was very pleased with the blanket I had made for her and the beaded necklace my daughter had made for her.  Afterwards, daughter and I dropped R off at her home.

R has promised to come over in the morning to help with the last minute preparations.  It's her late husband's death anniversary, so, the almsgiving will be given in his name, as well.  

Here's the To Do List for tomorrow:

- Pick flowers from the garden, arrange in vases
- Cut up fruits and arrange in saucers; cover
- Arrange the various sweets in saucers; cover
- Make the salad
- Pour treacle into the sauce boat
- Serve the yogurt into dessert bowls
- Serve the dump cake into dessert bowls
- Cook rice (red rice and white rice)
- Warm up the curries (they are thawing in the fridge)
- Dish up the curries
- Serve the rice and curries to be offered at the altar and the plate to be offered symbolically to the community of monks (not just the monks who will be physically present at the almsgiving)
- Boil a kettle of water and keep hot for the monks who prefer to drink hot water
- Pour out the juice
- Keep warm water in bowls for the monks to wash their hands both before the meal and afterwards

10:45 a.m. - everything should be ready
11:00 a.m. - the monks arrive

After they arrive, the monks will chant some blessings and offer the food to the Buddha and to the community of monks (Sangha).  

Then, the meal will be served to them. The menu has been posted on the fridge door so that we won't forget anything!

They need to finish eating by 12 noon.  After which, they will deliver a short sermon, we will offer the merits accrued by the almsgiving to those family members and loved ones who have departed by pouring water into a bowl until it overflows (there will be a larger bowl to catch the overflow), and then, the monks will chant more blessings.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, I will offer some donations to the monks.

We will have our lunch after they have left and then, I'll do a load of laundry (chair covers, table cloths, napkins, etc.) and drop R at her home.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Friend R helping me with the almsgiving preparations
- Daughter doing what she can to help
- Being able to order and pick up grocries as needed
- Working appliances
- Celebrating Christmas with family and friends

Joyful activities have included spending time with family and friends; getting ready for the almsgiving.

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas or are celebrating a joyful Chanukkah.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Greetings

Christmas Eve was cloudy and on the cool side.  I was very thankful that I had a working heater.  

Daughter and I had a quiet, relaxed day.

I brought in the emptied trash cans, although, I noticed that someone had dumped a bag of trash into my trash can!  I don't know who did that or why, but, now, it will sit in my trash can until next Tuesday!

There were some deliveries including a gift for us from a friend and something my friend R had ordered.  The mail carrier had taken the cards I had left in my mailbox and left my neighbor's mail in my box!  I wonder if there had been any mail for me and in whose mail box they were left in?  I took my neighbor's mail over to him.

I wrapped a few more gifts and tagged them using the fronts of old Christmas cards.  I still need to wrap a few more gifts and make one more gift!

Brunch was grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and fresh oranges.  Dinner was mostly leftovers: rice, sausages, stir-fried vegetables, the last bit of the General Tso's chicken, and dhal.  Later in the evening, I baked a pan of brownies, setting aside some of it for the almsgiving.  

My late friend A's family invited us to Christmas lunch; I am planning to make a dump cake using homegrown peaches and blueberries from the freezer, to take as a dessert.  My cousin V has invited us over to an early dinner on the 26th, so that's when I'll give the majority of the family gifts.  

I am writing this blog post while I watch Midnight Mass from the Vatican, which has become a Christmas tradition with me.  

On Christmas Eve, I am grateful for:

- A working heater
- Other working appliances
- Having electricity (there is a power outage in parts of the county)
- Deliveries of packages
- Invitations from friends and family to spend time with them over Christmas

My joyful activity of the day was wrapping gifts.  It's something I have always enjoyed doing.

I wish all my blog friends a joyful Christmas.  May your day be filled with peace and joy.

We Have Heat!

 

Another Completed Gift

A peek at the lap blanket I crocheted as a Christmas gift for a friend of mine.  I washed and dried it, on Monday, and wrapped it up.  She is getting a "Winter Warmth" themed gift of a blanket, a new kettle (that she had requested) and a box of her favorite tea.

I was up early (6:30 a.m., after going to sleep at 2:30 a.m.) on Monday morning, to be ready for the gas company technician who could arrive at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., which was the best they could do when I called on Friday to schedule an appointment.  As things turned out, I could have slept in a bit longer because the technician wasn't able to arrive until after 6:00 p.m.  I rather suspected that he wouldn't arrive first thing in the morning, but, I didn't want to be sleeping if he did get here early.  They do call first, to let you know that they are on their way and will say something like, "Be there in 15 minutes".

Backyard in the Early Morning Light

There's a picture that's rarely seen on my blog!  The backyard (which faces east) in the early morning.  You can see the shadows of the bags of mulch on the patio roof, holding down the roof panels!  That's another project I've spoken about with new neighbor E.

While I waited for the gas company technician, I mended another pair of my knitted socks, washed and dried the crocheted blanket, wrote out a few Christmas/New Year cards, checked on the garden, and put away a load of laundry.  Somehow, by late afternoon, I had developed a pain in my left hip, which felt like the beginnings of a sciatica flare-up.  I was limping as I warmed up some leftovers for our brunch and did a few other things.  I wondered if I was dehydrated or if it was due to the lack of sleep or, perhaps, stress/anxiety over the gas heater.  Or, could it be because I had simply slipped on my sneakers to go out into the garden, instead of wearing the shoes, properly?  I decided to put on my sneakers properly, tying the laces, etc., when I went out to take the trash cans to the curb.  And I kept my shoes on, even when I came inside (I usually don't wear shoes inside the house).

By then, it was around 5:30 p.m. and I started to make us a cup of tea.  That's when the gas company technician called to let me know that he was on his way and should be at my house in about 20 minutes or so.  About 10 minutes later, he called again to say he had been redirected to attend to an emergency (which takes priority over any appointments), but, he was still planning to come over afterwards.  Then, he called around 6:15 p.m. to say he was on his way and should be here shortly.  I told him that he could park in my driveway because there's very little street parking available on Monday nights when people put out their trash bins.  

Jacob, the gas company technician, was here a little after 6:30 p.m.  He was a very nice young man, who offered to put on a mask as soon as he saw that both my daughter and I were wearing ours.  He listened to me while I explained about the heater and the delayed ignition problems I've been having almost from the start, and took a look at the heater.  He confirmed that the safety mechanism had turned the gas off and caused the pilot light to go off during that last very delayed ignition.  At least we know that the safety mechanism works!  He was able to turn the gas back on and relight the pilot light.  He tested the heater by turning it on and off a few times, trying to replicate the delayed ignition, but, the heater worked without any problem, each time.

He did say that the gas control valve should open more, but, it wouldn't do so when he tried.  He recommended that I got a heating maintenance company to come out and take a look at it.  In the meantime, he said to call the gas company any time if there are any further issues, they have 24-hour emergency service and work during holidays (non-emergency service calls are scheduled during regular hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.)  As he left, he thanked me for letting him park in my driveway (there really wasn't any street parking available).

And the cost of today's service? There was no charge! It is a free service provided by the gas company to its customers!  

The heater has been working well the rest of the evening.  I have set the thermostat at 70F and it has turned itself off when the temperature reached the setting and come back on without any delayed ignition. I think I will turn off the heater when I go to sleep, but, it is a blessing to have a working heater and a warm house.  I hope it continues to work for a long time to come!

After Jacob left, I realized that the hip pain had stopped. Whether it was due to wearing the shoes all evening or not being stressed about the heater, I don't know!  I haven't removed my shoes, yet!  

I cooked fresh rice and stir-fried vegetables to have with some of the leftover General Tso's chicken for our dinner.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- The gas company sent out a technician who was able to get the furnace to work again
- There was no charge for the service

- The service tech was considerate and offered to wear a mask during his visit
- I have a working heater, again!
- My hip pain seems to have gone away!

Monday's joyful activity was singing with my daughter.

Plans for Tuesday include more gift wrapping and a little bit of tidying up.

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

On Sunday

 

A Jar of Homemade Jam Ready for Gifting

The gift wrapping of two sheets of tissue paper was saved from a gift I received last year and the gift tag was cut from an old greeting card.  The natural raffia tie can be composted.  I do try my best to reuse and recycle when I can.

Sunday was overcast and grey in the morning, but, there was some sunshine in the afternoon.  The morning was cool, but the afternoon high was in the upper 60s (F) and I opened the front door and the back window to air out the house.  

I loaded the dishwasher with all the dishes I will be using during the almsgiving, along with the Christmas dishes we took down from the cabinet and washed them all.  The Christmas plates and glasses are being used now for our daily use.  The almsgiving dishes have been turned upside down on a towel and are being kept dust free until needed.  

Daughter wanted a salad for brunch and I made one for her.  I wanted something warmer than a salad, so, had leftover garbanzo beans, warmed up.  For dinner, I made some oven baked potato wedges and warmed up two leftover Italian sausages and the rest of the leftover broccoli in a little baking dish, along side the potato wedges.  Having the oven on warmed up the kitchen for a little bit.  We had fresh pears, sliced, for dessert (and I might have eaten a sugar cookie or two). 

I need to put in a grocery order, next week, for the fresh produce and other items I need for the almsgiving.  I want to get another dozen eggs, too, and I have been looking at the price of eggs and trying to come to terms with paying $7.99 for a dozen large eggs!  They were priced at $3.49 when I last bought them, in November.  I realize that there is an egg shortage due to the bird flu virus impacting the chickens, but, that's a lot to pay for a dozen eggs!  I'm hoping that the prices will come down a bit by Thursday, when I plan to pick up my groceries and/or Chicken Little will start laying some eggs, soon!  In the meantime, I am hoarding the 8 eggs left in the carton in the fridge, just in case I am not able to buy any eggs this week!  I want at least 5 eggs to hard boil and serve at the almsgiving and two eggs for the brownies I am planning to bake for one of the desserts for the almsgiving.  

How are egg prices where you live?

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- A sunny and warm afternoon
- Packages being delivered to the doorstep
- The appliances that are still working
- An extra blanket on the bed to provide more warmth
- A fun e-card sent by a friend

Sunday's joyful activity was spending time with my daughter.

Plans for Monday include waiting for the gas company technician to come out and see what's wrong with the gas heater!  I am hoping it is an easy fix such as relighting a pilot light that might have gone off!  In the meantime, daughter will be working and I plan to wrap more gifts and get them tagged, ready for giving whenever I meet my family and friends between now and the New Year.

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

Winter Solstice on Saturday

A Trio of Pokemon: Charmander, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur

 

My daughter made three Christmas themed Pokemon using Perler beads on Saturday: Charmander is wearing a Santa hat, Pikachu has got entangled in a string of Christmas lights, and Bulbasaur's bulb has turned into a Christmas tree!  

Saturday was winter solstice and, to celebrate the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter, I dusted the living room and dining area and put out some of my Christmas decorations.  This year, I am decorating minimally, but, a little goes a long way, doesn't it?    

In the morning, I took Dancer to the vet's clinic to get his injection.  Although I sedated him before we left, he still meowed a bit during the ride there and then, just before we got to the clinic, he threw up.  But, he was quiet on the way home and then, he slept for most of the afternoon.

I did laundry in the afternoon, crocheted, did some paperwork and bill paying, and relaxed watching some online videos.  

Brunch was grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and cut up fresh oranges.  Dinner was salad, followed by sauteed Italian sausages cooked with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, homegrown corn on the cob, leftover steamed broccoli and rice. We had baklava for dessert.  

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- Dancer received his monthly injection and the trip there was only a little stressful for him
- We had a safe drive to the clinic and back
- Winter solstice and being able to look forward to longer daylight hours
- Warm clothes and plenty of blankets to make up for not having a working heater
- The appliances that are still working!

Saturday's joyful activities included crocheting and decorating the house.

Plans for Sunday include making a couple of holiday gifts.

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

On Friday

 

A Basket of Crocheted Flowers

Another of daughter's crafts projects.  She started on the flowers on Thursday and finished the project on Friday.  She used a basket I had in my craft supplies stash.  The little basket of flowers was given to gardener friend M as part of his Christmas gift, along with a small check and a jar of calamondin jam.  M gifted us with a rose plant!

Friday got off to a bit of a wobbly start when the gas wall heater/furnace wouldn't work when I tried to switch it on in the morning!  I checked the stove and the clothes dryer (both are gas appliances) and they worked fine and there was hot water, so the water heater was working too.  Only the furnace was not working.  I called the gas company and made an appointment for another service technician call.  The earliest they could fit me in is on Monday, which is reasonable; they couldn't give me a specific time, but, they will fit me in between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.  I am fine with that.   I just have to make sure that I am home all day on Monday.  The heater is only 3 years old, but, it has been giving me trouble ever since it was installed!  The heater has a 5 year warranty on labor and 10 year warranty on parts, however, so, depending on what the gas company service technician has to say, I might be calling the company I bought it from and see what they can do about it.

In the meantime, I ordered another small electric heater and picked it up from the store in the afternoon.  I also picked up some Chinese food from a restaurant in the neighborhood for a late lunch (with leftovers for dinner).

Daughter designed and printed out some labels to attach to the jars of jam and chutney I am planning to give as gifts this year and, because the printer ink had dried up, she hand colored the labels (and ordered some new printer ink).  Later in the day, daughter cut up the green beans I had bought and I cooked and froze them for the almsgiving.  I have now cooked all the curried I had planned to cook ahead of time; the last curry will be cooked on Friday, after I buy the kale I need for it.  

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- The gas company will send out a service technician on Monday
- The heater has a 5 year warranty on labor and 10 year warranty on parts
- I was able to order and pick up another small electric space heater
- The gift of a rose bush from M
- Daughter's help with the almsgiving preparations and getting the Christmas/New Year gifts ready

Friday's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for Saturday include taking Dancer to his vet appointment, catching up on a few blogs, and tidying the family room.

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

Calamondin Marmalade on Thursday

Calamondin Marmalade 

On Thursday, I decided to make a small batch of calamondin marmalade with the fruit I picked off the branches that were cut on Wednesday.  I meant to take a picture of the calamondin fruits, but, I forgot to.  But, here is a picture of some calamondins that I took a few years ago when I made a batch of calamondin marmalade:

Calamondin Fruit (picture from 2021)

I had far fewer fruit, this time.  There were about 40 fruit and most of them were fairly small.  By the time I seeded them and sliced them up, there was about one and a half cups of the prepared fruit.  Today's batch of fruit wasn't very juicy and I added 1 1/2 cups water and 3 cups of sugar and brought it all to a boil and stirred the mixture until it reached a setting point.  I was able to get three half pint jars of the marmalade (at least one of which will be given as a gift).

There was a little bit leftover, which I put into a small bowl:

Just a bit extra marmalade

Later, I warmed up some frozen meat balls and the little bit of extra marmalade made a nice glaze for them.  Breakfast had been oatmeal and the meat balls were lunch, with some leftover ramen noodles.  For dinner, I cooked a half a bag of frozen General Tso's chicken that I had in the freezer long with some broccoli and we had that with leftover rice and cucumber salad.

I also cooked the dhal curry I had been planning to make and froze most of it for the almsgiving.  I put the rest of it in the fridge to have over the next couple of days.  

I called friend R in the evening to check on her and we had a nice chat.  I also called Dancer's vet clinic and made an appointment for his arthritis injection for Saturday morning.  

In between making marmalade, cooking, and doing some housecleaning, I crocheted.  Borders take me a long time to crochet!  While I crocheted, I watched some news and online videos.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Calamondin from the garden and three jars of marmalade
- Another warm day of 80F
- Texts, emails, and phone calls with family and friends

- Working appliances
- What I was able to accomplish

Thursday's joyful activities included crocheting and making marmalade to preserve the garden bounty.

Plans for Friday include making some gifts and getting the living room decorated for Christmas.

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

 

Almsgiving Preparations 2024 December

Almsgiving Preparations Schedule

This is my trusty almsgiving preparations schedule that I put together several years ago, which I pull out every time and follow, with minor variations as needed.  It lists everything from setting the date to the types of donations I will be making to all the different serving dishes I need to take down from the upper cabinets where they are stored to the order of serving the meal and concluding the ceremony.  I will check off each thing on the list as I complete them.  

On Wednesday, I asked gardener M to help me take down the plates and dishes reserved for use during the almsgiving.  I will wash them all closer to the day.  M also took down one of the sets of Christmas dishes and, although I will not be hosting any Christmas gathering on Christmas day, I will set the table with them, next week.

M watered the backyard while he was here and we started to prune the calamondin tree.  I want the branches to be reduced in height by about half, so that the new fruit will be more within my reach.  I picked whatever fruit there was on the branches that we cut down on Wednesday and I will make a small batch of calamondin marmalade with them.  

I took inventory of the top shelf of the freezer in the evening, when I took out some butter to make a batch of cookies.  There are quite a few odds and ends in there that must be used up.

I mixed up the cookie dough and daughter formed them into balls and flattened them with the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar.  I baked them and reserved one tray of them for the almsgiving and kept the rest for us to enjoy.    

I made tuna salad sandwiches for our lunch, on Wednesday (Dancer got some tuna, too, and he was very happy).  Dinner was "fridge buffet" - a selection of leftovers: rice, the last bits of chicken curry, garbanzo beans, roasted cauliflower, cucumber salad, etc. We had sugar cookies for dessert.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for

- Another sunny and warm (80F) day
- M's help with the garden and household tasks
- Having my almsgiving schedule to refer to
- Daughter is having minimal side effects from the flu vaccine
- Working appliances

Wednesday's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for Thursday include making the calamondin marmalade.

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

Warm On Tuesday

 

Daughter's Christmas Tree 2020

This is a picture of the cardboard Christmas tree my daughter made for herself in 2020 when it looked like she might not be able to come home for Christmas because her friend who was giving her a ride home had been exposed to Covid.  However, her friend tested negative and daughter did make it home for Christmas, after all.  She explained what all the symbols represented and I copied and posted it on my blog post, that year.  I can't believe it's been four years since then!

It was sunny and warm on Tuesday, with a high of 75F.  I didn't need a jacket when I went out!  That rarely happens in the winter!

In the afternoon, I took daughter to get her flu vaccine during her lunch break.  There was no waiting at the walk-in clinic and she was in and out in five minutes.  On the way home, I treated us to a coffee drink and pastries from her favorite drive-through coffee shop.  A bit of a splurge, but, I wanted to make it a special occasion.  There was no line at the coffee shop, either and we were home before her lunch break was over.

I spent some time crocheting the border of the blanket I am making, while watching the evening news and a online video.  I have about 3 or 4 more rows of the border to crochet and then, that blanket will be finished.  I'd like to get it done before Christmas!  

The pastries were our brunch and we had some crackers as a snack around tea time, although I didn't make tea because we had that coffee drink we had bought (daughter and I shared it).

For dinner, I baked the last two lime/ginger/chili marinated frozen salmon steaks we had been gifted at Thanksgiving, and made roasted cauliflower to go with the salmon, along with rice cooked with green peas.  A cut up fresh orange for dessert, followed by a piece of baklava.  

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- A sunny and warm day
- A safe drive to the clinic and back
- No waiting at the flu clinic
- The availability of vaccines for those who want them
- Being able to treat us to a coffee and pastries on the way home

Tuesday's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M and setting up the Winter Village.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday>

 

Productive Monday

Punch Needle Ornaments

Daughter is making a set of punch needle ornaments to hang on the tree.  It's turning out to be a multi-day project.

On Monday, I had my annual mammogram and scan.  My appointment went well and the results will be sent directly to my oncologist, sometime next week.

After I came home, I did two loads of laundry and ran a cleaning cycle on the washer as the "clean machine" light came on.

Later, I boiled the garbanzo beans I had kept to soak overnight, and made it into sauteed garbanzo beans with onions, curry powder, curry leaves, mustard, dried chilies, etc.  Once cooled, I packaged most of it to freeze for the almsgiving.  I kept a little bit in the pan for our dinner.  

Later, I took the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning, checked the mail, made tea for us, replied to blog comments, etc., and watched the evening news.

Dinner was leftover rice, chicken curry, and cashew curry with the garbanzo beans I had reserved and a freshly made cucumber salad.  

After dinner, I washed the dishes and wiped down the stove top and counters.

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- A safe drive to the clinic and back
- Access to medical care
- Having medical insurance
- Working appliances
- A mostly sunny and clear day

Monday's joyful activity included reading greeting cards sent by family and friends.

Plans for Tuesday include:

- Taking my daughter for her flu vaccination in the afternoon
- Cooking a dhal curry to freeze for the almsgiving
- Bringing in the trash cans
- Watering the front garden

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

On Sunday

 

Avocado Seedling Christmas Tree: 2012

2012 was the year when my daughter and I didn't put up the regular Christmas tree and I decorated the avocado seedling, still in its jar of water, and called it my Christmas tree.  Dancer was very interested in this new Christmas tree as you can see.

On Sunday, I did a little more freezer inventory.  I am doing this a shelf or two at a time so as not to get too overwhelmed by it.  I pulled out a package of chicken curry, while I was at it, and warmed it up for dinner.  I am trying to clear a space to put the almsgiving food as I cook and freeze them.

Also on Sunday, I did a little more almsgiving preparations and cooked a cashew curry.  I had put the cashews to soak overnight and cooked them in the afternoon.  I cooked two pots of cashew curry - one for the almsgiving and one for our own consumption.  The curry for the almsgiving has been packeted and frozen. Daughter and I enjoyed some of the second pot of cashew curry with our dinner.

I put a packet of dried garbanzo beans to soak on Sunday night, to be boiled and cooked on Monday.  Most of it will be frozen until needed for the almsgiving.  My plan is to cook as many of the curries as possible ahead of time, so that I am left with only a few items to be prepared the night before or the day of. 

We had a bowl of cashew curry for brunch; dinner was rice, chicken curry, cashew curry, and leftover steamed broccoli.  Later, daughter asked for a smoothie, so I blended orange juice, frozen blueberries, peanut butter, and a handful of spinach leaves to make us a smoothie.   

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- A full freezer (a good problem to have, I'd say)
- Being able to start my almsgiving preparations
- A relaxed day at home
- A working heater

- Daughter's company

Sunday's joyful activity was starting on my almsgiving preparations.

Plans for Monday include:

- Going for my mammogram and scan

- Cooking the garbanzo beans

- Taking the trash cans to the curb
- Watering the back garden
- Doing a load or two of laundry

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

On Saturday: Groceries, Door Handles, and a Decorated Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree 2024

The Christmas tree has been decorated and M (being tall) did the honors and put the topper, on Friday evening.  I put the empty tree decorations bin in the garage on one of the shelves in the former entertainment center shelving unit that is now in the garage:

The New Holiday Decorations Shelving Unit

This might not work out quite as well as I had hoped, unless I declutter my Christmas decorations by quite a bit!  I have three such bins, currently, and two even bigger ones!  The shelving unit will not hold all of it!  I used to stack the two larger bins on the floor and place the three smaller bins on top of them.  Well, I guess I could still stack the larger bins in front of the shelving unit, if necessary.

I picked up my groceries on Saturday afternoon and this time, I checked my groceries against my receipt when I got home.  They had given me all the items I had ordered and paid for and nothing was missing!  I received a free container of juice (best customer coupon) and a free pack of store brand toilet paper (weekend freebie with coupon).  My total came to $41.75.  

I didn't take a picture of my groceries, this time, either, because, as I brought in the last bag of groceries, and tried to close the sliding glass door, yet another thing in my house broke!  This time, it was the sliding glass door handle.  Again.  It broke and I replaced it in March.  Well, it broke, again, today.  Fortunately, there was a spare door handle that we had bought, earlier, and my daughter was able to install it for me.  I took the opportunity to clean the groove the door slides along (it was full of gunk) and lubricate it with some WD-40.  

It was only after the door handle was fixed (and a new "spare" was ordered to have on hand when this one breaks!) that I checked the grocery receipt.  By which time, I had already put away the half & half and the container of juice, etc. and, I didn't want to take things out, again, to take a picture.  

But, here is the receipt showing what I bought and how much it cost:

Bauducco® Chocolate Wafer Cookies, 5 oz$3.00

3 x $1.00 $1.49 each

Broccoli Crowns, 1 ct$2.49

1 lbs x $2.49 each

Cauliflower, 1 ct$2.01

1.01 lbs x $1.99 each (approx.)

Cucumber, 1 ct$0.89

1 x $0.89 each

Fresh Banana - Single, 1 ea$0.43

0.62 lbs x $0.69 each (approx.)

Fresh Green Beans - Bag, 1 lb$1.98

2 lbs x $0.99 $2.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$4.00

Fresh Large D'Anjou Pear - Each, large/ 1 count$0.70

0.35 lbs x $2.00 $2.49 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.17

Iceberg Lettuce, 1 ct$1.59

1 x $1.59 $1.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.40

Kroger® Fresh Navel Oranges Bag, 4 lb$2.99

1 x $2.99 $4.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Kroger® Half & Half, 32 fl oz.$3.49

1 x $3.49 each

Kroger® Premium Coconut Milk, 13.5 fl oz$3.18

2 x $1.59 $1.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.80

Kroger® Pure Canola Oil, 48 fl oz$4.49

1 x $4.49 $5.49 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Kroger® Soft & Strong Toilet Paper Double Roll, 12 rolls$5.99

1 x $5.99 $7.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Store Coupon-$5.99

Kroger® White Sandwich Bread, 20 oz$2.29

1 x $2.29 $2.49 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.20

UPC: 0001111008486

Kroger® Whole Carrots Bag, 2 lb$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Large Cosmic Crisp Apple - Each, large/ 1 count$0.98

0.98 lbs x $1.00 $2.49 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.46

Medium Yellow Onions, medium / 1 lb$1.11

1.25 lbs x $0.88 $1.29 each (approx.)

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Simply Cranberry Cocktail Fruit All Natural Juice, 52 fl oz$0.00

1 x $0.00 $4.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$4.49

CA Redem Val  (deposit on the juice container)$0.10

1 x $0.10 each

Spinach, 1 ct$1.49

1 x $1.49 each

Tetley® British Blend Premium Black Tea Bags, 80 ct$5.99

1 x $5.99 each

That last item, the tea, is actually for a Christmas gift, so should come from my Holiday budget.  

Nothing was specified as being "delivery only" this time around.  So, I think, that it all depends on the availability of the items.

Spent on groceries so far this month:

$61.12 (December 6th) + $41.75 (December 14) = $102.87 - $5.99 for tea (X-mas gift) = $96.88

With daughter home for another month, I have increased my December grocery budget to $200.  That amount will be augmented with what I budget for the almsgiving.  

Lunch on Saturday was toast and scrambled eggs, with orange juice to drink.  For dinner, I baked some of the frozen meatballs I had been given by neighbor S's family, boiled two ears of homegrown corn I had frozen, earlier, and steamed some broccoli.  In addition, there was some leftover ramen noodles from Friday's dinner (which was ramen noodles, sauteed chicken, and stir fried carrots and broccoli stems).  

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to order groceries and pick up curb side

- All the grocery items were available and included

- Having a spare door handle

- Daughter being able to install it

- A safe drive to the grocery store and back (I'm not just saying that - there was a shooting there, quite recently, with one person killed and one person injured).

Saturday's joyful activity was watching online videos.

Plans for Sunday include making and wrapping gifts.

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