On Saturday

 

Earl Grey Tea Mini Bundt Cakes

On Saturday, daughter vacuumed the whole house and I dusted.  Then, we both tidied up the living room, dining area, and family room.  I took the recycling, kitchen compost, and the trash out, checked on the garden, and did a load of laundry.  Daughter cleaned her bathroom.  We shared another frozen burrito and the two pineapple guavas I had picked from the garden for brunch.  Later, daughter baked the Earl Grey tea cakes and frosted them with a simple powdered sugar glaze.  I made the egg salad for the sandwiches and I also made a small batch of jam using strawberries I had bought and frozen in the summer.  They will have a choice of strawberry jam and peach jam to go on their scones.  

Neighbor S called to say that she had seen someone's dog come into my yard and her cousin managed to get a leash on him.  She asked if I would happen to know whose dog it was. So, I went over to her place to look at the dog to see if I recognized him. Both neighbors on either side of me have dogs, but, I haven't seen this little dog before.  It was obviously someone's pet, as it was wearing a little red plaid coat.  But, apparently no tags.  And we didn't see anyone out and about who seemed to be looking for a little lost dog.  I tried calling on the neighbors on either side of me to see if they knew who the dog belonged to, but, no one was home.  I suggested taking the dog to the shelter to see if it was chipped and if they could locate the owner.  I am not sure quite what they ended up doing.  I shall call S on Sunday to find out.

Daughter selected which tea set she wanted to use and washed all the items (they were stored in the china cabinet, but, things still get dusty in there).  While she washed the items, she asked me to repeat the story behind this particular tea set.  It was one of two sets that had been given as gifts to my step-father's mother by two of her daughters.  We had brought the sets back with us on a subsequent visit to Sri Lanka.  One set is more complete than the other, after more than 70+ years of use.  

Daughter's friend, whose birthday is being celebrated, doesn't know that daughter is planning a surprise tea party for her.  Her friend thinks they are just getting together to play some board games and maybe do a craft activity.  She texted daughter this evening to say that she's bringing some of the chocolate cake she had made for her birthday!  She is an excellent baker, too, so we know her chocolate cake will be delicious.

I cooked a boxed pasta mix with frozen green peas added to it and fried a few slices of ham I had in the freezer to go with it for dinner.  It wasn't in the meal plan, but, we finished most of the mac and cheese I made the other day and the little bit that's left isn't enough for a meal.  

The Mini Bundt Cakes Before Being Glazed

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- A clear day after all the rain
- Daughter doing most of the housework and cleaning
- Working appliances
- Quick and easy pantry meals
- My strawberry jam turned out well

Saturday's joyful activities included helping daughter with preparations for the tea party.  

Plans for tomorrow include doing the final cleaning (removing the sofa dust covers and wiping down the living room coffee table - can't do it earlier because Dancer likes to sleep on it at times), helping daughter make the sandwiches, and putting the water to boil for tea.  Later, I will help daughter put away any leftovers and the clean up.

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