Starting October

 

A Fall Arrangement: Home Grown Squash

Daughter and I put together a fall arrangement with home grown squash, a table runner my mother crocheted, a brass platter I had, a white lantern that my daughter received (with a floral arrangement inside) when she was a bridesmaid at her friend's wedding, and some fabric fall leaves she had bought for a craft project.   We used what we had on hand, so it was a frugal decoration and frugal fun.  It was also one of the activities on my list of Fall Joyful Activities.

On Wednesday, October 1, I greeted the new month with fresh flowers for the altars and the mantelpiece (I picked some of the sprigs of bougainvillea that were coming over the wall from my neighbor's garden) and milkrice.  I almost burnt the milkrice because I left it on the stove while chatting with M who had come to tend to the garden, but, I managed to save it before it scorched and M was able to enjoy a bowl of milkrice, along with my daughter and I.

M mentioned that he wanted to buy a table cloth for his patio table.  I had a table cloth that my mother had sewn (she bought the fabric and hemmed it) which is too small for the two tables I currently have and which I had been thinking of donating.  I offered it to M and he accepted it.  So, I managed to declutter one item on the first of the month.  

In the evening, I ordered and picked up a few groceries as daughter's coffee was on sale and we needed half and half.  The coffee was on a buy 5 or more and get $1 off each sale, but, I got a text stating that two of the coffee we wanted were not available and I was not offered a substitute, so, I didn't get the multi-buy deal, after all.

I also restarted my daily walks, which I hadn't been doing on a regular basis, lately, walking for 15 minutes up and down the driveway and on the sidewalk in front of my house.

On Thursday, I spent a rather relaxed day.  I celebrated 10 years of being a cancer survivor (thank you, everyone, for your kind comments on that post), called one of my cousins for a quick chat, and walked for 20 minutes.  My goal is to walk for 30 minutes a day, either in two 15 minutes sessions or one 30 minutes session.  I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but, I am trying to accommodate my various joint aches and pains.

In the evening, my daughter finished her first pass of the spare bedroom and sorted and organized things for me.  We plan to do a second round, later, but, the kitchen is the next room on her agenda.  Since she'd doing all the work, I'm going with her schedule.    She decluttered several more items and we have another pile of donations for pick up.

Today, Friday, I called the charity I have been donating to, lately, and scheduled another pick up for Monday, October 13.  I should easily have 15 bags or boxes of donations ready to go on that day.  

I made a couple of other calls that were on my "to do" list, and then, my cousin called and we chatted a bit more.  

Later in the evening, M came to tend to the garden.  He watered and tidied up the place and I picked the remaining moringa pods.  

Moringa Pods Hanging on the Tree

Today, I managed to walk for 25 minutes.  

As I start the month of October, I am grateful for:

- Cooler days (daytime highs in the upper 70s and low 80s; nighttime temperatures in the low 60s)

- Being relatively well and alive
- Daughter's help with getting the house decluttered and organized
- M's help with the garden

- Friends (including blog friends) and family

Joyful activities have included putting together a fall ornament, gardening, and blogging.

Plans for Saturday include an outing with my daughter and one of her friends.  I'm looking forward to it.

How was your week?  Any plans for the weekend?