No Jury Duty on Wednesday

 

The Mirror is Back Over the Fireplace

On Tuesday, when I called in to find out if I needed to report for jury duty, I was told to report to the court house in person at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.  So, Tuesday night, I went to bed "early" for me, around 1:30 a.m., although I didn't fall asleep right away.

But, I woke up at 9:00 a.m., had a cup of tea, said my morning prayers, and took a shower.  I heard my cell phone ping shortly after I got out of the shower and got dressed.  I thought my daughter was messaging me, so I checked the phone and the automated jury service had sent both a voicemail and a text thanking me for my jury service and telling me that I didn't need to report to the courthouse on July 30, 2025 and that I will not be called for jury service for another 12 months!

I wasn't quite sure if that was accurate or not, so, I called the jury service number and of course, I got the automated messaging system.  I put in my information and was told I had fulfilled my jury service.  There was no number to press to speak to a live person, so, I accepted the fact that I didn't have to report in person.  In any case, I will save the voicemail and text messages, which were sent just after 10:30 a.m.  I'm glad they messaged me then because I had been planning to leave the house at 11:00 a.m. and if they had called me while I was driving, I would not have answered!  

So, I was home when M came to tend to the garden.  He brought me a cutting of a lemon verbena plant to try and grow it.  I put it in water to see if it will root.  

I also asked him to rehang the mirror in the living room.  It was taken down when the walls were painted and the painters forgot to hang it back up and I forgot to tell them to do so.  Then, I wondered if I wanted the mirror up and stayed without putting it up for almost two months.  But, I decided that the mirror sort of completes the fireplace and I wanted it back up.  So, M put in two new nails and hung the mirror up for me.  I'm too short to see myself in the mirror when I stand in front of it, but, I like having the mirror there.

I did more paperwork, on Wednesday, sorting through and filing some and shredding others.  I now have three grocery bags full of shredded paper to be used as mulch in the back garden planting beds.  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Not needing to go in person to report for jury duty
- M for helping me with the garden and hanging the mirror for me
- Water for the garden
- Phone calls, texts, and emails
- Getting some much needed paperwork done

Wednesday's joyful activity was being told I have fulfilled my jury duty service!  LOL.

Plans for Thursday include catching up on a few blogs (I am behind with my blog reading), dusting and vacuuming the main areas of the house, cleaning the kitchen, and doing a load of laundry.

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

On Tuesday

 

The Plumbago Shrub

The plumbago shrub is trying to take over the back garden!  I had asked M to trim it back at the end of last year and here's how it looked in January 2025, when it was starting to leaf out again:

Plumbago Shrub in January 2025

It has grown at least three feet forward since then.  There is a lantana plant buried somewhere in there, as well!  LOL.  I am sure we will be cutting it back again, this fall.

I finished cleaning my bedroom, on Tuesday.  I dusted and tidied the dressing table and the bookshelves and cleaned the window and the windowsill.  I would like to tidy the closet a bit, too, but, that's a task for another day.

I also brought in the emptied trash bins, took out the kitchen compost (didn't fall!), and did a small load of laundry.

I have to report for jury duty in person, tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.  At least I won't have to wake up super early and fight the morning traffic.  But, I am not planning to do much either before or after jury duty.  Such things tire me out these days.

I had cereal and milk for brunch, snacked on the leftover spicy potatoes, and had ramen noodles for dinner.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- What I was able to accomplish
- Weekly trash collections
- Working appliances
- Daughter has some helpful friends and co-workers helping her with the move
- An opportunity to do my civic duty.

Today's joyful activity was spending time in the garden.  

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

Starting the Last Week in July

 

Butternut Squash Vines

Can you believe that we are in the last week of July?  The month is going very fast, I feel.

Butternut Squash 

On Sunday, I decided to make a start on tidying my bedroom.  I started with the smallest, least cluttered piece of furniture, my bedside table/nightstand.  It has two drawers which are fairly organized that I didn't need to sort through.  The top drawer has my medications, my phone charger, and some extra medicated creams/pain relievers, etc.  The bottom drawer holds my blood pressure monitor, my blood sugar monitor, a heating pad, etc.  So, I only needed to dust and tidy the top.  Which I did, including wiping down the shade and bulb on the table lamp.  

There were two pieces of paper that I needed to recycle.  But, brown grocery bag I use to hold papers for recycling was rather full.  It needed to be emptied into the big recycling bin that is outside. The bag of recycling  kitchen items (cans, bottles, etc.) was also full and I decided to take the kitchen trash out, too.  So, I collected all three bags, and the bag of litter box cleanings that I had placed outside the sliding glass door and made a trip to the trash and recycling bins.  

On the way there, I noticed that the garden cats' water bowl needed refilling.   So, on the way back, I refilled the water bowl and, since I had the garden hose in my hand, I went ahead and watered the blueberry bushes that were right there, and the tomato plant, and the newly planted corn and, before I knew it, I had watered the entire back garden, all the while holding on to the now emptied brown grocery bag I use to hold papers for recycling!  LOL.  45 minutes later, I went back into the house to continue with my bedroom tidying.  And this is why I don't make a lot of progress when I tidy and organize.  

My next task in the bedroom was finding homes for the stack of yarn and fabric and other craft supplies that were kept in boxes near my bed.  I had found storage for some of the yarn, earlier, but, there was more yarn and all that fabric we bought on sale when the fabric store was going out of business.  The dresser drawers in the spare bedroom, where I store fabric, were already full and the yarn bin was full, too.  I sorted the yarn and the fabric into two boxes, but, before I could store them in the spare bedroom, I had to shift things and make room in the spare bedroom!  

As I told one of my friends, it was like playing a game of Tetris!  But, eventually, I made room for the box of yarn and the box of fabric.  While I did that, the robot vacuum cleaned my bedroom floor.  I also wiped the top of the chest of drawers where I have set up a small altar.  There was nothing to declutter there; I just took everything off, dusted, and put everything back in place.

On Monday, I didn't have to go for jury duty in person. So, I continued with tidying my bedroom.  I decided to focus on my desk.  The top of the desk is a real magnet for clutter.  Any time the rest of the house has to be cleared very quickly, such as when company comes, I gather everything and dump it on top of the desk in my bedroom.  And there the items stay and multiply!  I removed all the piles of paper and sorted them into piles by category. They have not been filed, yet, but, they are now separated into file folders and the files are contained in a bin.  The top of the desk was dusted and there's even some empty desk surface to be seen.  There are three baskets of sewing supplies, too, that are sitting on the desk, but that is to be sorted another day.

I also collected at least a dozen cardboard boxes of assorted sizes and broke them all up and filled the recycling bin with them.  The trash can and the recycling bin have been taken out to the curb to be collected on Tuesday morning.  

In between sorting out the papers, I had a long chat with Aunt C and a shorter chat with friend R and video chatted with my daughter.  I cooked some spicy sauteed potatoes with the last of the potatoes because I had been wanting some spicy potatoes and I had some of that as a snack.  Brunch had been cereal and milk; dinner was half a bread roll with salmon.  Snacks included cream cheese coffee cake and the spicy potatoes.  I also made myself a glass of fresh lemonade.  

In the evening, I called to check if I need to report for jury duty on Tuesday and was told I didn't have to.  But, I have to call again, on Tuesday evening to see if I need to go in on Wednesday.

Plans for Tuesday include continuing to clean my bedroom (need to finish tidying the desk and dust the dressing table).  

On Monday, I am grateful for:

- Progress being made in tidying the bedroom
- Phone chats and exchanging emails with family and friends
- Garden produce
- Working appliances
- Pleasant weather

Joyful activities have included spending time in the garden.

Another Butternut Squash

July Week 4 Meal Plan Options Review and July Week 5 Meal Plan Options

These were the meal plan options for July Week 4:  

Brunches: Egg salad sandwiches; tuna salad on crackers or toast; uppuma (again; I enjoyed it when I made it earlier); burritos (from the freezer); waffles or pancakes; leftovers

Dinners: Rice and curries (salmon curry, dhal, moringa curry, tomato chutney); fried rice; hamburger patty with salad and corn; ramen noodles/soup; leftovers.

Snacks/Desserts: Fruit, crackers with peanut butter, yogurt and granola, dry cereal, chocolate cake

And here's how that worked out:

Monday:
Brunch: Tuna sandwich
Dinner : Rice and the last of the jalapeno chicken
Snacks/Desserts: Strawberries, cereal (dry), chocolate

Tuesday:
Brunch: Uppuma
Dinner: Egg salad sandwich
Snacks/Desserts: Cherries, toast and butter, cereal(dry)

Wednesday:
Brunch: Uppuma
Dinner: Egg salad on toast
Snacks/Desserts: Strawberries, peanut butter and crackers

Thursday:
Brunch: Bread, butter, and banana
Dinner: Beef steak and bread
Snacks/Desserts:  Chocolate milk, cream cheese coffee cake

Friday:
Brunch: Bread and beef steak sandwich
Dinner: Bread and butter
Snacks/Desserts: Cream cheese coffee cake

Saturday:
Brunch: Bread and butter, banana
Dinner: Pork fried rice
Snacks/Desserts: Cream cheese coffee cake

Sunday:

Brunch: Cream cheese coffee cake
Dinner: Rice, salmon, tomato chutney
Snacks: Nectarine/chocolate

I went completely off the meal plan after I went grocery shopping on Thursday!  But, that's okay.  

Moving on to the last week of July - daughter comes home on Friday night and I plan to order some groceries earlier that day to have half and half, etc., on hand for her morning coffee.  I have salmon already cooked and frozen for Friday night's dinner and there will be leftovers for at least one other meal.  I will also need to buy more chicken and meat, depending on the grocery ads and what's on sale.

These are my meal plan options:.  

Brunches: Bolillo roll sandwiches - fillings of tuna salad, egg salad or scrambled eggs, or canned corned beef; milkrice on Friday (August 1), leftover milkrice, cereal and milk

Dinners: Rice and salmon with tomato chutney, broccoli or sauteed beans; rice and chicken curry with dhal and beets; beef pepper steak with vegetables and rice; Breakfast for dinner (?), ramen noodles soup; leftovers; maybe patties if I feel up to making them, or something different!

Snacks/Desserts: Fruit, bread pudding, cereal, crackers and peanut butter, granola bars, cake, yogurt

As always, I am grateful for:

- Having enough and plenty to eat
- Having a variety of food to eat
- Having a choice of what to eat
- Refrigerators and freezers to help preserve the food

How about you?  Will you be making a meal plan this week?

On Saturday

 

Fried Rice for Dinner

On Saturday, I went to the pharmacy to pick up one of my medication refills that was ready.  Afterwards. I went next door to the dollar store to get a box of quart sized zippered food storage bags as I had finished the box I had been using.   

After that, I spent a relatively relaxed day.  I spent some time tidying up the family room and cleaning the kitchen.  The room I really need to tidy is my bedroom, but, I've been procrastinating on that!  I also did a bit of reading and watched some online videos.  

Brunch was bread and butter with a banana.  For dinner, I made some fried rice, using the last few pieces of the barbecue pork from my Chinese take out.  

Daughter is busy packing up her boxes and moving them, with the help of some friends, to the moving box/container which is located at a warehouse in a neighboring city (you have the option of having the container delivered to your residence, but, there is no where for it to be parked in front of daughter's apartment building and they will not deliver to the underground parking garage).  

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- My medication refills being available
- A safe drive to the pharmacy and back
- Daughter is making progress with her packing
- Her friends are helping her to move the boxes to the moving box/container
- A fairly relaxed day

Saturday's joyful activities included reading and tending to my indoor plants.

No big plans for Sunday, but, I would really like to get my bedroom organized!

How is your weekend coming along?  Any special plans for Sunday?

Towards the End of the Week

 

Pomegranate Forming

On Wednesday, the vet called with Dancer's blood test results.  Everything seems to be under control, she said, and she will keep his medications at the same dosage.  She asked how his appetite was because he is still losing weight.  I said he is being a bit picky and I've been coaxing him to eat.  She suggested trying an appetite stimulant, an ointment to be applied to the inside of his ear.  

On Thursday, the vet's office called to let me know that the appetite stimulant ointment was ready for pick up.  So, in the afternoon, I went to the vet's clinic and picked up the ointment.  

Then, on the way home, I stopped at the supermarket to pick up bread and milk.  This time, they had the half gallons of whole milk ($2.99), but, only one very sad looking loaf of store brand sandwich bread!  I bought whole wheat bolillo bread rolls, instead; a bag of 6 rolls for $3.00; if I have to report to jury duty next week, the rolls can be sandwiched with a filling and be taken for my lunches.  I also bought a "baked in-store" loaf of French bread which looked (and tasted) delicious for $2.99.  In addition, I bought two bananas ($0.65/lb.) and a cream cheese coffee cake for a treat (a bit of a splurge at $6.00); that's the problem with grocery shopping in person - I get tempted by treats at the bakery!  But, the good thing about shopping in person is one gets to find marked down bargains.  In the meat department, I checked the marked down meats and found a package of two thinly sliced beef shoulder steaks, just under half a pound in weight, regular price with a store loyalty card at $7.74, marked down to $3.74 for a quick sale.  I thought that was a good bargain and bought it.  I spent a total of $18.85 at the grocery store.  I now have just under $3 ($2.91 to be exact) left in my July grocery budget!

I kept the beef to marinate with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, ground ginger, and Worcestershire sauce and cooked it with onions and home-grown tomatoes.  I froze one steak, ate a piece of the second steak with some French bread for my dinner, and kept the rest of the piece in the fridge.  I seem to have gone off my meal plan, this week, but, I'm not going to worry too much about that!

In addition, I did a load of laundry and remade my bed with freshly washed sheets.  Dancer helped, as usual.  And then, he took a nap on the bed to try out the fresh sheets!  LOL.

On Friday, the pharmacy called to let me know that Dancer's thyroid medication was ready for pick up.  So, I went to the pharmacy to collect it and came home directly.  Gardener friend M was here in the evening to tend to the garden.  We picked more tomatoes and lemons, he watered the garden for me, and he also nailed the part of the gutter that was coming down along the side of the house.  It might be a temporary fix; we shall see how well it holds up when it rains, later in the year.  

I am grateful for:

- Dancer's blood test results were good
- His medications are available
- Bargains at the grocery store
- M's help with the garden and other things around the house
- Tomatoes and lemons from the garden  

Joyful activities have included spending time in the garden, video chatting with my daughter, and reading.

Plans for the weekend include some cleaning and tidying.  

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

Grocery Ads

 

Grocery Ad for June 25-July 1, 2025

The weekly grocery ads usually get delivered to my mailbox or email box (for the big supermarket) on Tuesdays as the prices go into effect from Wednesday through Tuesday.  I love to look at the grocery ads, as I try to shop the weekly specials and stock up when there's a good deal.  I shop first and then, meal plan based on what I buy.

Above  is a photo of the grocery ad from one of the ethnic stores I like to shop at, showing the week's specials for the week of June 25 through July 1, 2025 (Wednesday to Tuesday).  Check the price of salmon fillets, on sale (or on offer, if you prefer) for $7.99/lb.  I bought some salmon at that price that week, as a special treat, because my daughter was home on a visit.  

Below is a photo of the grocery ad from the same store for this week (July 23 through July 29, 2025:

Grocery Ad for July 23-28, 2025

Ignore the top picture of the beef tomahawk steak.  Focus on the salmon fillets shown in the middle row.  The same picture as the one shown in last month's ad, just a bit smaller, but, notice the price!  It has increased from $7.99/lb. to $8.99/lb., or $1.00 more.

That is one whole dollar more per pound in just one month!  Now, I'll be the first to admit that math is not my strong point and I might be mistaken (and please correct me if I am wrong), but, I think that comes out to be a 12.5% increase in price!  In one month!  

In comparison, the big chain supermarket is having salmon fillets on sale (or, on offer) for $9.99/lb. this week.  So, it's still less expensive at the ethnic store.

This is not a rant.  At least, I don't intend it to be a rant, if only because I don't usually rant.  But, still, I am trying to come to terms with the price increase.  How can one keep up with such steep price increases?  A price book doesn't help much when prices increase so much in a very short period of time.

We are told to eat fish at least three times a week because it is good for us and salmon is considered one of the best fish in terms of omega fats and such.  But, it is difficult when the recommended as "good for you" items are priced so high that people almost can't afford it, at least not on a regular basis.  It becomes a luxury, then, an occasional treat.  Food that is supposed to be good for you should not be something that can be had only as an occasional treat.  It needs to be priced so that people can afford to buy it on a regular basis. 

Frozen salmon is an alternative and the price at the supermarket varies from $14.99 for a 2 lb. package (or $7.50/lb.) for store brand wild caught pink salmon to $9.99 for a 1.25 lb. package of a branded salmon, to $22.99 for a 2 lb. package (or $11.50/lb.) for store brand farm-raised Atlantic salmon. The ethnic store doesn't carry frozen fish.

I buy salmon as an occasional treat and I tend to buy the fresh salmon because my daughter prefers it (she says she can taste the difference between fresh and previously frozen; my palate isn't quite as discerning).  She doesn't mind salmon I've cooked and then frozen.  

I bought salmon steaks, which cost less per pound than fillets, when it was on sale at $5.99/lb., over the weekend, so I am not planning to buy salmon fillets, this week.  And the price of salmon steaks stayed the same at $5.99 as when they were on sale at the beginning of June.  So, it does help to pay attention to sale prices and recognize a bargain.  I bet, though, that the next time salmon steaks go on sale, the price per pound will increase! 

At least the price of eggs have come down to $4.49/doz. at the supermarket (from a high of $9.99/doz.)  Be thankful for small mercies, Bless.

I had thought I'd go to the supermarket to buy bread and milk, today (Wednesday), but, the store website shows that they are out of whole milk, which I prefer.  So, I'll wait another day or two. Incidentally, there were a few empty bins and shelves at the ethnic store when I went on Sunday - they were out of cauliflower and a couple of other vegetables, and most kinds of bread. The empty bread shelves reminded me of the last time I grocery shopped before the first Covid lockdown.

I am grateful for:

- The availability of groceries
- Having enough to eat
- The price of salmon steaks didn't increase 
- Still being able to manage my grocery budget to include the occasional treat of a "good for you" item! 
- Home grown tomatoes (picked one ripe Berkeley tie dye tomato, today)

Do you buy salmon?  If so, what price do you pay?  Have you seen a price increase since the last time you purchased any?  Do you think I succeeded in not ranting? 

Starting a New Week

 

Nectarine

On Monday, I picked this nectarine from the tree.  It looks perfect, doesn't it?  But, looks can be deceiving:

Not Quite Perfect

It looks like some insect tried to bore into it.  Oh, well, this is what happens when you grow things organically, without spraying your fruit.  At least the birds didn't eat it before I picked it.  

Last year, we had about 9 or 10 nectarines.  This year, the nectarine tree didn't set many fruits.  Only this one and possibly one other that is still forming.  Needless to say, I am disappointed.  

On Monday, I did some paperwork in the morning and then, took Dancer to the vet clinic for his arthritis injection, thyroid panel (the vet wanted to check if the new dosage of medication was helping), and have his claws trimmed.  The last time I got a professional manicure done was back in July 2018!  

Dancer was very good on this trip to the vet clinic.  He had been sleeping when I picked him up to give him his sedative and in his sleepy state, I was able to give him the full dose before he realized what was happening.  I also made sure to give him the medication one full hour before we left the house, and not one hour prior to his appointment time.  Those extra 20 minutes or so really helped.  He protested a bit when he realized that he was in his carrier and when he was first put into the car, but, he settled down soon after that.  And he didn't hyperventilate or drool or throw up or mess up on the way there and back.  He was a very good boy!

Once we arrived home, I waited a few minutes to make sure he was okay.

Then, I went to the post office to mail something and went to the library to return two books.  One book was due on the day and the other one wasn't, but, I wanted to return them both and have one less thing to remember to do.   Besides, I'll be busy this week and I might have to report for jury duty next week; I have to call on Sunday evening to find out if I need to report in person on Monday.

Later in the evening, I watered the back garden (which was when I picked the nectarine), cleaned out the fridge, and took the trash cans to the curb.

Today, (Tuesday), I brought in the emptied trash cans, checked the new grocery ads, did a load of laundry, watered the indoor plants, and received an e-book that I had put a hold on through the library.  There had been 7 people waiting for this book (on decluttering) before me, so, I didn't anticipate I'd receive it as soon as I did (within a week of requesting it).  I've already started to read it.  This person has decluttering videos posted online and I've watched them, so I thought I'd read her book, as well.  

Later in the afternoon, I went out to the backyard to take the kitchen compost to the compost heap, tripped on something, and fell!  I had just been thinking that I haven't fallen recently!  It knocked the wind out of me, but, I was okay.  Not hurt.  I did lie there for a minute before I sat up and then tried to get up.  I had seen a video where you are encouraged to get up on one knee, bend the other leg and rest your foot on the ground with that knee raised. put your weight on the raised knee to lever yourself up.  Well, I tried that, but the leg I was kneeling on wouldn't move!  Eventually, I just put both hands on the ground and levered myself up like that.  I did have my cell phone with me and if all else failed, I would have called M as he has a key to my gate and sat there in the garden until he could come and help me up.  I might have had to wait a long time, though.  Thank goodness I didn't hurt myself, although I might have a bruise or two, tomorrow.

I am grateful for:

- I didn't hurt myself when I fell
- I was able to get up on my own
- Dancer had a good trip to the vet clinic and back on Monday
- Libraries and being able to borrow books and other material through them
- Working appliances
- Water for the garden
- Nectarines from the garden

Joyful activities have included reading, watching online videos, and relaxing.

Plans for Wednesday include maybe another load of laundry, booking the car for a routine service, more paperwork, tending to the garden with M, and maybe going to the grocery store for bread and milk.  I finished the last of the bread tonight, when I had an egg salad sandwich for my dinner.

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

July Weekly Meal Plan Options and Grocery Shopping

Uppuma (Indian Style Cream of Wheat)

This week, I am combining what would have been two posts in one!  Meal plans and grocery shopping.  They do go hand in hand, don't they?

First, a review of last week's meal plan options.  This was my meal plan for the week of July 14 -20:

Brunches: Egg salad sandwiches; Tuna salad sandwiches✔; Uppuma (Indian style cream of wheat)✔, fruit salad and/or yogurt; salads  waffles or pancakes✔? 

Dinners: Yellow rice, chicken curry, pappadum, tomato chutney✔; Breakfast for dinner (scrambled eggs✔, ham, toast or fried potatoes), ham  chicken fried rice✔, ramen noodles with chicken and vegetables, hamburger patty with oven baked potato wedges and salad, Leftovers✔ and/or something different (Chinese food)✔.

And here's how it all worked out:

Monday:
Brunch: 2 Manzano bananas 
Dinner:  2 Scrambled eggs (I usually have 1 scrambled egg with toast or something, but, on this day, I just had 2 eggs; it was after my CT scan and I was too stressed to feel hungry)
Snacks/desserts: Plum, crackers and peanut butter

Tuesday:
Brunch: Tuna sandwich, mango
Dinner: Rice, chicken curry, tomato chutney, pappadum
Snacks/dessert, Boiled cashews, yogurt, chocolate cake

Wednesday:
Brunch: Ham sandwich
Dinner: Tuna salad and crackers
Snacks/dessert: Mango, boiled cashews

Thursday:
Brunch: Uppuma (Indian style cream of wheat which is a savory dish)
Dinner: Ham sandwich; microwave "baked" sweet potato
Snacks/dessert  Mango. yogurt and granola

Friday:
Lunch: Chinese food (Combo plate: fried rice, noodles, barbeque pork, jalapeno chicken).  

Chinese Take Out

Dinner: Leftovers from lunch
Snacks/dessert: Nectarine; chocolate cake

Saturday:
Brunch: Leftover Chinese food
Dinner: More leftover Chinese food
Snacks/dessert: Cereal, boiled cashews, nectarine

Sunday:
Brunch: Pancakes, some with syrup and some with lunu miris (sambol)
Dinner: Chicken fried rice, using the leftover yellow rice I had cooked earlier and some of the jalapeno chicken from the Chinese take out: 

Chicken Fried Rice

Snacks/dessert  Cherries, yogurt and granola, a chocolate

Well, I didn't quite follow the plan, but, it worked out well.  

Moving on to July Week 4 (7/21-7/27).  

July 20 Groceries

I did a little grocery shopping on Sunday at the Armenian store and I bought some salmon steaks, cherries, and strawberries.  

The salmon steaks were on sale for $5.99/lb. and I bought just over 3 lbs.  I will cook and freeze most of it for when my daughter comes home.  The cherries were $1.99/lb. and the strawberries were $1.50 per container.  My grocery total came to $23.42.

July 20 Grocery Receipt

My July grocery budget is $100 - $40 overspent in June = $60.
Spent to date = $14.82 (on 7/12) + $23.42 (on 7/20) = $38.24
Balance left in July grocery budget = $21.76

With just 10 days to go, I think I'll be able to keep to my July grocery budget.  We shall see!

Moving on to this week's (July 21-27) meal plan options -

These are the meal plan options for July Week 4:  

Brunches: Egg salad sandwiches; tuna salad on crackers or toast; uppuma (again; I enjoyed it when I made it earlier); burritos (from the freezer); waffles or pancakes; leftovers

Dinners: Rice and curries (salmon curry, dhal, moringa curry, tomato chutney); fried rice; hamburger patty with salad and corn; ramen noodles/soup; leftovers.

Snacks/Desserts: Fruit, crackers with peanut butter, yogurt and granola, cereal, chocolate cake

I am really going to try and stick to these meal plan options, this week.  Let's see if I do!

How about you?  Are you making any meal plans this week?

The Weekend

 

Gifts from Neighbor S

Thank you, everyone, for your very kind comments on my previous post about my blog anniversary.  I appreciate all your comments and all the friends I've made through this blog.  It has been a pleasure to "meet" all of you.  :)

My weekend began on Friday as I decided I wanted a celebratory lunch in response to the good scan results.  I also needed to put gas to the car, so I did that, first, and put $50 worth of gas.  Then, I went across the street to a favorite Chinese fast food place in my neighborhood.  They have an eating area, but, I am not eating out, yet, so, I got a combo plate to go:

Chinese Food 

Fried rice, noodles, barbeque pork, and jalapeno chicken.  They give generous portions for a reasonable price; my meal came to $10.95 with taxes.  

On Friday evening, M came to tend to the garden.  He weeded and watered and helped to bring in a box of cat kibble that had been delivered.  

On Saturday, I changed the sofa dust sheets, did a load of laundry, put away the washed and dried laundry, and chatted for a bit with friend R.  Otherwise, it was a fairly relaxed day.

Sunday was my blog anniversary.  It was also my father's death anniversary.  He died when I was 7 years old.  I treasure the memories I have of him and the stories people have told me about him.  I called my half-sister (my father's daughter from his first marriage) and chatted with her for a bit in the afternoon.  

I dusted the living room which has stayed tidy since it was painted and cleaned, last month.  I've been keeping the dining area cleared and tidy, too.  The rest of the house, not so much!  

A little later in the afternoon, my lovely neighbor S called me and came over with some gifts!  She has recently returned from a trip to Europe and she brought me a set of kitchen towels from there as well as some fresh plums from her friend's garden, a frozen Korean seaweed wrapped rice roll (kimbap) for my daughter, some mini boxes of cereal for us to share, and a jar of tikka masala.

Still later, I went to the Armenian grocery store to get a few items.  But, that's another post!

This weekend, I was grateful for:

- Pleasant weather 
- M's help with the garden
- Gas for the car
- The reason for the celebratory lunch
- Phone chats and emails with friends and family
- A visit and gifts from neighbor S
- Memories of my father

My joyful activities have included tending to the garden with M, having a celebratory meal, chatting with my sister, and visiting with neighbor S.

Plans for Monday include taking Dancer to his vet appointment.

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

Eleven Years and Counting

Blue Hearts Sweater

Eleven years ago, on July 20, 2014, I started this blog of mine.  Back then, I was preparing to be an empty nester as daughter was heading off to graduate school and we were busy getting everything ready for her to leave home for the very first time.  Eleven years later, I am preparing to have my daughter return home to the nest!  It seems that we've come full circle!  Pictured above is the sweater I mentioned in my first blog post.

This was my first blog post:

My first blog post!  I have been persuaded by my daughter to start a blog (so very gratifying that my  child thinks that what I write makes interesting reading!) and she was kind enough to set it up for me (since I am hopeless when it comes to such things).  So, here I am, adding my two cents to the blog sphere!  I must admit that I am rather excited to do so. 

It will be a blog about this and that.  My daily activities, musings, my craft projects, my attempts to be as organized as I'd like to be, etc. I've kept journals and diaries for years; this will be another form of journaling for me. 

These days, I am an empty nester-in-training, since my daughter will be going away to graduate school in the Fall. It's a time of change for us both.  A time of loosening the proverbial apron strings and learning to let go.   Of preparing for her moving away and getting things ready for her to take with her when she goes.

Today, I finished knitting a sweater for her.  It's colder where my daughter will be moving to than here, and she feels the cold.  Daughter designed the sweater, with two hearts on the front.  My love for her is knitted into that sweater.   Each stitch was a prayer for her safety, for her well-being, for her success.  It is my hope that when she wears that sweater, she will feel, not only the warmth of the yarn, but also the warmth of my love.  Each time she wears it, it will be like a hug from me to her.

Looking forward to posting many more blog posts.

**************

In the past eleven years, I have written and published 4,148 (including this one).  At times, I've posted daily. At times, I've posted less frequently.  But, I think I've kept to the goal of this being "a blog about this and that.  My daily activities, musings, my craft projects, my attempts to be as organized as I'd like to be, etc."    I have enjoyed blogging and I plan to keep on blogging in the foreseeable future.

Over the years, I've had readers who have come and gone (and I often think about them and wonder how they are) and others who have stayed.  Some have gone back and read my blog from the very beginning, letting me know that they have done that.  Some readers leave comments and others rarely comment.  I have always tried to reply to any comments.  I feel that I've found a community of supportive friends through my blog and that has been a blessing to me.  I have formed virtual friendships through this blog that are just as real as friends in real life.   

I do thank all of you who read my blog for doing so, especially those who leave a comment to let me know you've read a post.  I appreciate you taking your time to do so.  I hope you will all continue to read and comment on my blog posts as I look forward to reading your comments.  Dancer does too!  😸

Today, I am grateful for:

- Eleven years of blogging
- Daughter encouraging me to blog and setting it all up for me
- The many friends I've made through this blog 
- All of you who take the time to read and comment 
- The technology that enables me to blog

The Blessing of an Answered Prayer

Pink Rose

I had my appointment with the specialist (urologist) on Thursday afternoon to go over the CT scan results.  The CT scan report was an answer to a prayer!  It was very favorable.  There was no evidence of kidney disease or cancer and nothing to be concerned about. Such a blessing!  Prayers have been answered in the best way possible! I felt so thankful (and relieved, too).

But, what about the original symptoms (hematuria or blood in the urine) that raised the initial concern?  The urologist thinks it is a side effect of the aspirin I take as a blood thinner to prevent additional blood clots.  It might be something to discuss with my primary care physician, but, I think the benefits of taking the low dose aspirin outweighs the negative side effects.  It'll probably be something that will be monitored on a regular basis from now on.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind thoughts. well wishes, good vibes, and prayers for good health and well being.  I appreciate each and every one of your prayers and well wishes on my behalf.   I firmly believe that they helped me to receive the results I did.  I am blessed to have such good blog friends.

I admit to having felt worried and concerned by this latest health issue.  I lost a cousin to kidney disease just last week, so, it runs in the family.  I spent the morning in prayer and steeled myself to receive  the results.  "Hope for the best, but, prepare for the worst", as the saying goes.  I am so grateful to receive the "all clear" scan report.  

I was told that I don't need to return to the urologist's office unless something else of concern comes up.  I do hope not!

Today, I am grateful for:

- The best possible scan results and answer to a prayer
- Access to health care and insurance to help pay for such care
- The doctors making sure that all necessary screening tests were done
- The availability of such screening tests
- The prayers and well wishes from family and friends, including my blog friends.

My joyful activity was sharing the good news with my daughter who was worried on my behalf.  

Thank you, again, for all your prayers and well wishes.  They mean a lot to me.  I am blessed to have such caring blog friends.

CT Scan on Monday

 

Asparagus Fern Flowers

On Monday, I had my CT Scan.  It was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (I didn't even know that the radiology clinic would be open that late!).  I was told to be there by 6:15 p.m.  I left the house in plenty of time to make allowance for the evening commute traffic and I'm glad I did.  I got to the clinic just before 6:00 p.m. and it took me about 20 minutes to fill out all the forms! 

I was called in shortly after that, but, there was a long wait to be taken in for the scan.  I had to have an IV inserted for a contrast dye for the scan; the scan itself took about 10-15 minutes.  The most uncomfortable part for me was to keep both arms held above my head.  For some odd reason, I just couldn't relax my shoulders.  I left the clinic around 7:30 p.m. and got home just before 8:30 p.m.  

Then, I took the trash cans out to the curb and checked the mail before I came inside.

I had been told not to eat anything four hours before the procedure.  But, I wasn't hungry and couldn't really eat anything other than the last two manzano bananas.  I didn't feel like eating after I came home, either, so I just had two scrambled eggs and the last homegrown plum for dinner and dessert.  

I did a little bit of housework in the morning before I went for the scan; I just couldn't settle down to do anything much.  And I felt quite worn out after I came home, so, I took it easy.  I will have to double up and get a few things done on Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Thursday, I have an appointment with the doctor to go over the scan results and I probably won't feel like doing anything much then, either!

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- A safe drive to the clinic and back
- Having access to diagnostic tests
- Health insurance
- The procedure went smoothly
- Prayers and well wishes from family and friends

Monday's joyful activity was relaxing!  

No big plans for Tuesday.  I've a list of small tasks to accomplish and I'll be happy if I can get through that list.

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

Meal Plans - July Week 2 Review and Week 3 Plan

Saturday's Dinner: Rice, Chicken Curry, Pappadum

This was my July Week 2 meal plan or, rather, my meal plan options.

Brunches: Pita bread and spicy beef stir fry (Monday)✔; French toast✔ or pancakes; peanut butter sandwich✔ toast; egg salad or tuna salad sandwiches; leftovers

Dinners: Burrito (Monday)✔; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, baked beans)✔; ramen cup noodles with shredded chicken and vegetables; sandwiches; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; yogurt and fruit or treacle; crackers and peanut butter; granola bars

Or, of course, something different as the mood strikes!  LOL.

And here is how it all worked out:

Monday:
Brunch:  Pita bread and spicy beef stir fry
Dinner: Burrito
Snacks/desserts: Cereal

Tuesday:
Brunch: Leftover burrito
Dinner: French toast
Snacks/Desserts: Cashews, plums

Wednesday:
Brunch: Peanut butter sandwich
Dinner: Baked beans and sauteed potatoes (I was going to have an egg, too, but, decided not to)
Snacks/Desserts: Half a sandwich with the last of the beef stir fry; plums

Thursday:
Brunch:  Bolillo bread roll sandwiched with a slice of American cheese
Dinner: Another bolillo roll with chicken curry
Snacks/Desserts: Plums; yogurt and coconut treacle, granola bar

Friday:
Brunch:  French toast
Dinner:  Hamburger patty, salad, homemade potato chips

Friday's Dinner

Snacks/Desserts: Plums, bananas

Saturday:
Brunch: French toast
Dinner: Chicken curry, yellow rice with green peas and cashews, pappadum
Snacks/Desserts: Yogurt and granola, bananas, hot cheetos

Sunday:
Brunch: Banana, peanut butter and crackers
Dinner: Cup noodles 
Snacks/Desserts: Chocolate cake

Well, I might have gone off the plan just a little bit, but, it worked out well enough, I think.  

Moving on to Week 3 (July 14 - 20):  

I checked my freezer and I am nearing the end of the chicken and meat I had bought and frozen.  I will be on the look out for sales on chicken and meat.  I have bread, vegetables, and fruit in the fridge.  Plus plenty of eggs.  But, I might need to buy some milk.  

In any case, the upcoming week's meal plan is based on what I have on hand:

Brunches: Egg salad sandwiches; Tuna salad sandwiches; Uppuma (Indian style cream of wheat), fruit salad and/or yogurt; salads  waffles or pancakes? 

Dinners: Yellow rice, chicken curry, pappadum, tomato chutney; Breakfast for dinner (scrambled eggs, ham, toast or fried potatoes), ham fried rice, ramen noodles with chicken and vegetables, hamburger patty with oven baked potato wedges and salad, Leftovers and/or something different.

How about you?  Are you meal planning this week?

July Grocery Shopping Part 1 and Other Happenings

 

Dancer Looking Pensive 

Dancer's 17th birthday came and went, earlier this month.  He has decided he likes his canned cat food, after all, as long as it is the chicken pate.  I am relieved he is eating his food, again.

On Thursday, I had an appointment with my tax accountant in the afternoon.  Afterwards, I went into the Hispanic grocery store located in the same shopping center because they had a sale on canned condensed milk ($1.99@) and I wanted to stock up (I bought 6 cans).  I also bought two bolillo bread rolls (2/$1.00
) and some Manzano bananas (also known as apple bananas) for a treat.  They were more expensive than the regular bananas at $1.79/lb.., but, they remind me of a type of banana called "kolikuttu" that I grew up eating.  

Manzano Bananas

My grocery bill came to $14.82.

My July grocery budget is $100 - $40 overspent in June = $60

I have approximately $45 left in my July grocery budget.  I am determined to stick to that amount, too.  

My grocery budget will be increased once daughter comes home and I am fully prepared to do that.

On Friday, I paid some bills, tended to the garden with M (we planted okra and he watered the garden) and did a few things around the house.  

Plans for Saturday include buying (or making) three sympathy cards to send to family in Australia (one of my cousins passed away earlier this week), doing a load of laundry, and doing some housework.  I also plan to catch up on my blog reading!

I am grateful for:
- Everyone's kind comments on my previous blog post

- M's help with the garden

- Dancer has started to eat his canned cat food, again
- Being able to pay my bills
- The internet

Joyful activities have included planting more vegetables in the garden, watching online videos, and relaxing.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Counting Our Blessings

Garden Rose

I haven't posted much this week and I haven't kept up with my blog reading, either (but, I will catch up on the blog reading in the next day or two, I promise), because I have been fervently counting our blessings, these past few days.  Since the beginning of the month, really.

On Tuesday, July 1, I had an appointment with the specialist to have a screening test done which turned out to be clear; which was a blessing.

I followed it up with a blood test on Monday, July 7.  The lab tech claimed that he did not have the lab requisition, which had been faxed over by the doctor's office.  He looked for it on his computer monitor and I wondered why he checked the computer, but, I thought that, maybe, they scan the faxes in order not to have a pile of papers.  He told me to ask the doctor's office to fax it again.  So, I called them and they faxed it over and I waited in the waiting room for the lab tech to call me in.  Except he didn't.  Another lab tech saw me waiting and asked if I had been helped and I explained that I was waiting for the fax to arrive and she said she will check into it.  A short time later, the first lab tech came to the waiting room with the fax in his hand; apparently, he was expecting the lab requisition to be emailed!  I didn't ask him why he told me to ask the doctor's office to fax it if he had meant to say email it.  I was not going to say anything that might anger someone who was going to insert a needle into my artery!  Instead, I apologized for any confusion on my part and counted my blessings: access to medical care, health insurance, diagnostic tests, fax machines!  Hopefully, the blood test results will be available when I go for the scan on Monday, July 14.

On Wednesday, July 2, I spent most of the day watching live coverage of the debate and voting on the budget bill in the House of Representatives and stayed up all night, too.  I have always been interested in such procedures and had followed its passage in the Senate, too.  In this particular instance, I was keen to find out what the outcome would be.  While I watched the live coverage, I counted my blessings: being able to watch live coverage of the proceedings. 

The budget bill was voted on and passed on Thursday, July 3 and signed into law on Friday, July 4.  With that, I knew that my daughter might be out of a job.  Her position is grant funded and 70% of her salary comes from one particular federal grant which was eliminated.  Current funding for this grant will end at the end of September.  The balance 30% of my daughter's salary comes from another, non-federal grant that will continue to be funded for at least next year.  Nothing is certain, of course.  Her employers are trying to figure out which positions will be eliminated and who will go and who will stay, in accordance with their employment policies and funding availability.

Faced with the reality of a 70% cut in pay, my daughter and I have been counting our blessings:

- It's a blessing that her position is not 100% funded by this one grant; some of her colleagues are. 

- It's a blessing that she will still be employed 30% of her time.  Unfortunately, daughter needs to be employed at least 50% of her time in order to qualify for employer paid health insurance and she needs health insurance in order to afford her asthma medications.  Of, as she puts it, "In order to be able to breathe".  We are looking into the costs of self paid health insurance.

- It's a blessing that she had already decided she would move down to live with me when I turn 70 and had decided not to renew the lease on her apartment when the current one ended at the end of August.  She would not be able to afford the rent she's currently paying on just 30% of her salary.  And had she renewed her lease, it would have been very costly to get out of it.

- It's a blessing that she will be able to come home to live with me.  It's a blessing that I have a home for her to come back to.  It's a blessing that I will have my daughter living with me, again.

- It's a blessing that, by living at home with me, she will not have to pay rent and there will be very little living expenses for her, at least until she finds another job.  Of course, she would love to be able to continue to work at her present job; she loves the work she does and the people with whom she works, but, it would be a challenge to live on 30% of ones income.

- It's a blessing that she has no obligations - no mortgage to pay, no dependents to support, no student loans or other debt.  One of her colleagues is expecting her first baby; another has recently purchased a house and taken on a mortgage; others might have student loans and other obligations.

- It's a blessing she has an emergency fund and savings in place.  She says I have drilled the importance of budgeting, saving, and having an emergency fund into her and she's grateful for that.

- It is a blessing that her apartment management asked if she could vacate her apartment a month before she was due to as it meant she doesn't have to pay August's rent.  It was stressful to bring forward the date and make arrangements to move out on a shorter time frame than planned, but, she is making it happen and negotiated a deal where the management will give her a monetary compensation for leaving early.  That compensation and what she saves on the August rent will pay for the costs of moving.

- She is blessed with good friends who have offered to help her move her belongings to the shipping container she will rent; the container will be delivered to the company's warehouse at this end and she has some friends lined up to help her unload the boxes and bring them to the house.  I, too, will be able to help her with that.

- It is a blessing that we can focus on our many blessings and not stress too much about such drastic changes to her income and potential loss of employer paid health insurance, etc.  

In addition, we are blessed with family and friends who are keeping us in their thoughts and prayers after I confided in them about my health issues and my daughter's job uncertainties.

I believe that things happen for a reason, even though we might not always know the reasons why they happen, especially at the time.  Perhaps, with hindsight, it might become clearer.  Maybe some day we will look back and say, "Wasn't it a blessing that happened?"

My mother used to say that change was good.  My daughter and I are determined to seek the good in this change.  We are focusing on the positives and, yes, counting our blessings.  We are both grateful for those blessings and thankful we have each other and are able to be there for each other. 

July Week 1 Meal Plan Review and July Week 2 Meal Plan

Friday Night Dinner

This was my July Week 1 Meal Plan/Options:

Brunches: Milkrice with chicken curry (Tuesday, July 1)✓, leftover milkrice and chicken curry (Wednesday)✓, French toast (there's milk that must be finished); scrambled eggs and fried potatoes, salad with  leftover sauteed chicken, tuna salad sandwiches

Dinners:  Spicy beef stir fry with rice ✓and broccoli and/or cucumber salad;  Hamburger/cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and salad✓;  Fried rice; Leftovers✓

Snacks/Desserts: Blueberry yogurt loaf cake (yes, there's still a couple of slices left); yogurt and fruit or treacle; fresh fruit✓

And here's how that turned out (I kept an on-going record all week):

Monday:
Brunch:  Leftovers from Saturday's party (Mexican rice, grilled chicken, and grilled beef)
Dinner: Pizza (another party leftover) and salad
Snacks/desserts: Leftover birthday cake (from the party); plums

Tuesday:
Brunch: Milkrice and chicken curry
Dinner: Leftovers from Saturday's party
Snacks/desserts: Crackers with peanut butter; cereal; nectarine

Wednesday:
Brunch: Milkrice and chicken curry (leftovers)
Dinner:  Rice and spicy beef stir fry
Snacks/desserts: Crackers, nectarine & plum; piece of the blueberry yogurt cake

Thursday:
Brunch: Milkrice, beef stir fry, lunu miris (sambol); I made what I thought would be two brunches of milkrice, but, it turned out that I had made enough for three meals!  
Dinner: Leftovers from Saturday's party
Snacks/desserts:  Plums, crackers, chocolate

Friday:
Brunch: Scrambled egg and baked beans, a piece of mango, coconut water:

Friday Brunch

Dinner:  Cheeseburger (no bun), toaster oven baked sweet potato "fries", cucumber slices
Snacks/desserts: Plum. cereal

Saturday:
Brunch: Not Quite Kedgeree (Spiced rice, flaked salmon, scrambled egg because I don't much care for hard boiled eggs)

Not Quite Kedgeree
 (Spiced Rice, Flaked Salmon, Scrambled Egg)

Dinner:  Pita bread and beef stir fry

Pita and Spicy Beef Stir Fry

Snacks/desserts: Mango

Sunday:
Brunch:  Pita bread and beef (same as Saturday's dinner)
Dinner: Sauteed chicken sandwich
Snacks/desserts: Plums

I didn't quite keep to the meal plan for one reason or another, but, I think it worked out well enough.   I needed to use up quite a few leftovers and that's what I tried to do.  

Moving on to July Week 2.  I am trying to avoid grocery shopping this week, too.  I am also not wanting to cook much.  So, I am going for fairly easy meals based on what I have on hand:

Brunches: Pita bread and spicy beef stir fry (Monday); French toast or pancakes; peanut butter toast; egg salad or tuna salad sandwiches; leftovers

Dinners: Burrito (Monday); Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, baked beans); ramen noodles with shredded chicken and vegetables; sandwiches; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; yogurt and fruit or treacle; crackers and peanut butter; granola bars

Or, of course, something different as the mood strikes!  LOL.

Are you making a meal plan this week?  

Pink Lemonade Blueberries

 

Pink Lemonade Blueberry

I have four blueberry bushes, all growing in planters.  Three of them produce regular, blue colored blueberries and are quite prolific.  The fourth bush, which is the newer bush, is a variety of blueberries that turn pink when ripe and is called Pink Lemonade. Last summer, which was the first year the bush bore fruit, the Pink Lemonade blueberries ripened later in the summer when it was very hot and the berries were parboiled by the sun.  They didn't taste very good and we were disappointed.  This year, the bush didn't produce many flowers and only four berries formed!  This is one of them and the first one to ripen.  I picked it on Friday and ate it.  It tasted very sweet and delicious.  On Saturday, I picked another ripe berry and gave it to M to try and he, too, pronounced it to be sweet.  There are two more Pink Lemonade blueberries ripening and I hope to pick them in the next day or two.  I do hope that next year, this plant will produce more Pink Lemonade blueberries.

Today, Sunday, I changed the sofa dust sheets (old bedsheets that I use to cover the sofas to keep Dancer's fur off the upholstery) and washed them, along with a couple of towels I use to line Dancer's carrier, etc.  Then, I cleaned my bathroom and mopped the floor.  Cleaned the kitchen a bit, too (wiped down the counters and stove top, took out the kitchen scraps to the compost pile in the garden, did the dishes, etc.)   

Today, I am grateful for:

- Working appliances 
- Electricity and gas to operate them
- Fresh produce from the garden
- Phone calls and emails from family and friends
- Warm, sunny days

Today's joyful activity was spending some time in the garden.

Plans for tomorrow (Monday) include:

- Go for my lab test
- Clean out the fridge
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Water the garden
- Meal plan
- Pay bills

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

Not Quite Kedgeree

 

Not Quite Kedgeree

Kedgeree is an Anglo-Indian dish, developed by the British based on, it is said, an Indian dish of rice and lentils.  It is rice cooked with curry powder and other spices, with flaked fish (usually smoked haddock) and served with hard boiled eggs, often as a breakfast dish. 

Today, I decided I wanted to make a version of kedgeree using leftover rice, leftover salmon, and, since I don't much care for hard boiled eggs by themselves, a scrambled egg.  I added a Sri Lankan spice blend to the rice and made what I am calling not quite kedgeree.  It made a very filling brunch.

The need to rest on Tuesday after the doctor's appointment spilled over into Wednesday, too,  I tended to the garden with M (well, he did most of the work and I chatted with him!), did the dishes, wiped down the kitchen counters and stove top, and tended to Dancer.  But, for most of the day (and night), I watched live coverage of the House of Representatives debating and voting on the budget bill.

My daughter had given notice to her apartment management at the end of June, stating that she was not renewing her lease when it ends at the end of August and letting them know that she plans to move out at the end of August.  She is required to give only a 30 day notice, but, they had been pestering her to know her decision, so she gave them a two months notice and received a signed copy of the document stating she has given them notice of her intention to vacate.  The agreed upon date was August 30, 2025.  Well, on Wednesday, they called her to ask her if she could possibly vacate the apartment at the end of July, instead!  It would mean she would have to scramble a bit to get everything ready, since the people she had lined up to help her with the move won't be available at the end of July, but, vacating earlier would mean she doesn't have to pay August's rent and renters' insurance.  She had already ordered the boxes for packing and she has already started packing.

On Thursday, I still felt very unmotivated to do anything, but, I changed my bed sheets and did two loads of laundry.  There are some things happening that are beyond my control to do anything about, but, which will have an impact on both my daughter and me.  We are trying to be positive and cheerful and we are counting our blessings.  But, I've struggled to come to terms with it and every now and then, I worry.  I do keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason and while we might not know why things happen, we might, in hindsight, be able to see why.  

On Friday, I watered the back garden because M switched his day to Saturday.  Neighbors started lighting fireworks from early evening and well into the night.  Fireworks are illegal in our city, but, you wouldn't have known it if you had seen just how many people were lighting them. Some of them seemed to come very close to my house and I was nervous because of the fire danger.  I think my fears were justified because on Saturday, I found several spent fireworks casings in my driveway:

One of the fireworks casings in my driveway

On Saturday, I did a few things (very few) around the house and tended to the garden with M in the evening.  Some of the corn seedlings are just starting to pop up and we put up wire mesh around the planting area.  M brought me another log to add to the stumpery and he put water to the garden, again.

I am grateful for:

- Daughter might be able to come home a month earlier than planned
- Good friends
- M's help with the garden
- Water for the garden
- The house didn't catch fire from the fireworks!

Joyful activities during the past couple of days have included feasting on plums from the garden, chatting with friends, and watching some videos online.

Sunday plans include doing more laundry, watering the indoor plants, and starting another craft project.  

What are your plans for Sunday?

July Week 1 Meal Plan

Salad with Sauteed Chicken and Garlic Bread

June's Week 4 Meal Plan didn't work out quite as planned since I bought and cooked salmon for a celebratory dinner on Wednesday when daughter came home for a visit.  We had leftovers from that for a couple of meals during the rest of the week and daughter took the last piece of leftover salmon with her when she returned to her apartment.  I also made sauteed chicken which we had with bread rolls and in a salad.  We had lunch out on Saturday at the birthday party and we were told to take plates of food home because they had bought too much, so, there were leftovers from that for a couple of meals.  In addition, we bought Chinese food for Sunday's lunch.  I also didn't keep a proper record of what we had and I don't remember!  Suffice it to say that we didn't go hungry!  

So, I'm just going to move on to July!  I start out the week with leftovers in the fridge which must be finished.

July Week 1 Meal Plan Options:

Brunches: Milkrice with chicken curry (Tuesday, July 1), leftover milkrice and chicken curry (Wednesday), French toast (there's milk that must be finished); scrambled eggs and fried potatoes, salad with  leftover sauteed chicken, tuna salad sandwiches

Dinners:  Spicy beef stir fry with rice and broccoli and/or cucumber salad;  Hamburger/cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and salad;  Fried rice; Leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Blueberry yogurt loaf cake (yes, there's still a couple of slices left); yogurt and fruit or treacle; fresh fruit; maybe bread pudding?  

We shall see how this turns out!  Anyone else meal planning this week?