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| The First Nasturtium Flower |
The week is going by fast!
Monday was President's Day. We enjoyed a fairly relaxed day at home. I did some house cleaning, checked on things in the garden, and took the trash bins out to the curb.
On Tuesday, I brought the emptied trash cans in and went to the pharmacy to pick up a medication refill that was ready. The pharmacy receipt showed that I had another $2 bonus rewards coupon. I looked in the cereals aisle and most of the cereals that had been on sale for $1.99 were sold out, but, there were boxes of frosted mini wheats that were on sale for $1.99, so I used the coupon and got a box for free. I was happy with my free cereal. Then, I went into the dollar store next door to the pharmacy, but, they didn't have the item I was looking for, so I didn't buy anything.
Afterwards, I went to the Armenian store to get their pork chops that were on sale for $1.99/lb. on Tuesday, only. I bought six pork chops which weighed a little over 3 lbs. and came to a total of $6.70. Daughter had also requested a few more packets of the grilled and peeled chestnuts, which were still on sale for $0.95 each, so I bought six packets of those for her, for a total of $5.70. My grocery total came to $12.40
I did a load of laundry and remade daughter's bed with the freshly washed (and dried) sheets.
On Wednesday, M was here to tend to the garden. He brought me two more day lily plants and planted them in the stonery area. We admired the first flowers on the nasturtium plant and discussed eating the nasturtium leaves and flowers. I want to keep the flowers to form seeds, but, maybe there will be sufficient flowers to do both, eventually.
I called the vet's clinic and made an appointment for Dancer to have his arthritis injection. There was an appointment available for later in the afternoon on Wednesday, so, I took him in, only to be told that he was not due to have this injection for another four days. I wish I had checked the dates more closely or they had checked his charts and told me when I made the appointment. Anyway, because they know how difficult it is for him to be sedated and brought in, they offered to trim his claws at no charge to make up for the fact that we had made the drive there. So, Dancer had his claws trimmed and he was very good about the journey in the car, so he got to enjoy a little tuna after we came home.
I cooked two of the pork chops for dinner and froze the rest, individually, with a marinade, for later. Daughter and I shared one of the pork chops, with rice and broccoli for dinner. The other pork chop is in the fridge for another day.
Thursday was another relaxed day. Daughter woke up with a migraine; she managed to make it through a meeting in the morning, but, had to take the afternoon off on sick leave. While she took her medications and slept off the migraine, I did some scrap piecing. I find it very relaxing and enjoyable.
Plans for Friday include a follow up appointment with my oncology nurse practitioner to go over my mammogram and blood test results. Later in the evening, M will be here to tend to the garden.
This week, I am grateful for:
- Pleasant weather
- My medications were available
- A free box of cereal with my coupon
- M's help with the garden
- Being able to go over this month's grocery budget
Joyful activities have included piecing my scrap fabric, being in the garden, watching videos with my daughter, exchanging emails and chatting with friends on the phone.
How was your week? Any plans for Friday and the weekend?
Hope all tests OK, and visit with nurse is helpful. [Bob has an appointment soon with Pain Clinic to sort out his meds, as his back issues are causing difficulty.] I have a quiet day today, recovering from a week of childcare!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. I have been referred to a specialist, so waiting for an appointment. I hope Bob's appointment goes well and his back issues are resolved. I'm glad you are taking it easy and having a quiet day after a busy week.
DeleteThe nasturtiums look lovely. I've just commented on another blog that I think I might plant some against the back wall, this year.
ReplyDeleteI hope your daughter is feeling much better and I will be thinking of you today, as you receive your test results. Xx
I think nasturtiums will look great in your garden, Jules.
DeleteThank you, Jules. My daughter's foot is getting better and I have been referred to a specialist.
The nasturtium is a sight for sore eyes. We are a long way away from flowers blooming, although the snow drops sometimes show up in February. We have had a cold winter, so I'm guessing not, but I need to go check. They are in the far corner of the yard growing under some ground cover, so they're hard to find sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June; it's early spring over here and the flowers are starting to bloom. I love snow drops (haven't been able to grow them, here); I hope you find that yours are starting to come up and flower.
DeleteI'm sorry Dancer had to make the trip, but good that he got his claws trimmed and he did ok. Nasturtiums are one of my favorite flavors. I always plant a pot full, but also poke seeds into other pots for a few extra! I'll add a few flowers to decorate a salad if I have guests over, but I don't like the flavor much so i don't eat them. I hope your meeting with the nurse goes well.
ReplyDeleteFavorite flowers! Not flavors!
DeleteThank you, Celie; Dancer wasn't too thrilled about it, but, he was generally well behaved. I tried to grow nasturtiums, earlier, but, the seeds didn't germinate. This time, too, only one seed germinated, but, the plant is growing well. I am hoping I can get some seeds from it to plant elsewhere in the garden.
DeleteYes, the meeting with the nurse went well, thank you. I was referred to a specialist for further tests.
Did you soak the seeds in water first? For about 24hrs. Any longer and they rot. You can also use a knife to nick them. You just need to get through the outer skin. These usually work for me.
DeleteThank you for the tips, Celie. M did the planting and I am not sure if he soaked the seeds first or not. He might have just planted them without soaking them. Maybe I'll buy a packet of seeds and try soaking and nicking them and plant them without telling M! If they germinate and grow, they'll be a surprise to him! :D
DeleteIt's sad that you have to have those medications, but at least you get the bonus of free cereal! And those chops sound incredible value, so a really good deal. You may have spent money, but it will come off future bills. The same for the chestnuts.
ReplyDeletePoor Dancer, he'll have another journey soon. Please pass on gentle scritches.
Thank you, Lyssa. Yes, the medications are a necessity at this point. At least they are available. And the bonus coupons are welcome, too. I am keeping track of all the extra money I am spending on groceries and will adjust next month's budget, accordingly.
DeleteDancer says thank you for the gentle scritches. :)
Hello my friend! I love hearing about your garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie. :)
DeleteSounds like a really good week! I love the bright yellow flower. How pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt was a good week, Sharon. The nasturtium flower is very pretty, isn't it? There's another one in bloom, now. :)
DeleteI remember that nasturtiums are edible, also part of them become capers, which I remember buying but I don't remember how I used them and I probably won't buy them again. The flowers would make a lovely edible, or at least safe, garnish for food.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are edible but have a very peppery taste. I want to keep the flowers to form seeds, but, they would make a lovely garnish, wouldn't they?
DeleteI bought my parents a packet of nasturtium seeds for one of their "round" anniversaries, as it was the symbol for that year. They had them, self-seeding, in their garden for a time, but I think they've all died off now. Glad you bought the chops. As per previous comment, I think not to have done so would have been illogical, depriving yourself just so you could say you stuck to some self-imposed limit, which will average out later anyway. (You did ask!) Hope the nurse's appointment went well. I have an "appointment" booked to go over my blood results too ... but it's rather silly as they have left me a message telling there will be a phone call on a certain day - no time or even time window, not whether morning or afternoon ... I am just expected to be available all day! It makes me wonder why they bother - they might as well just ring on the off-chance and say what they need to say!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sure your parents enjoyed seeing the nasturtium flowers in their garden for as long as the plants self-seeded.
DeleteYes, I am very glad that I bought the pork chops. I was able to "transfer" an unspent $50 (my monthly budget for gas for the car) to the grocery budget which will even things out.
The appointment with the nurse went well, thank you. I hope your phone appointment will go well, too, and they call you at a time that is convenient to you. Hope the results will be good, no matter what time they call you!
Your nasturtium looks nice and healthy. I'd go for the seeds and skip the eating until you get them established ;)
ReplyDeleteI had a good patch going and got a ton of seeds one year. More than I could use - They've died off pretty much so I need to restart the process if I want more.
I'm glad Dancer didn't mind his vet trip too much but how disappointing the timing mess up was. It's nice they did his nails to compensate somewhat.
I hope your tests turned out fine.
Yes, that's what I thought, Debra, that I'll hold off on eating the nasturtium until I'm sure the plant is well established. I'm sure your garden looked colorful with the nasturtium flowers. Back when I walked around the block, as opposed to in my drive way, I would pass a house that had a bed of nasturtium plants all around their front garden and it looked so pretty! M planted some seeds in the front garden for me, which didn't grow. I will try Celie's tip and soak the seeds prior to planting them, next time.
DeleteDancer was not very impressed by the whole trip, but, he was very well behaved. My fault for not verifying exactly when his injection was due, but, I have made his next appointment and it will be OK. :)
My tests turned out well for the most part, thank you. I'm being referred to a specialist and we'll take it from there.