After the Almsgiving

 

The Last of the Butternut Squash

Thank you to all who left such kind, considerate, and respectful comments and genuine questions on my almsgiving posts.  I truly appreciate them.  

Happy Winter Solstice and the first day of Winter!

I had thought that I would sleep in on Sunday, especially since I didn't go to sleep until past 4:00 a.m.  But, I got up at 8:00 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep.  So, I had a cup of tea, got dressed, unloaded the dishwasher, etc.; daughter was surprised to see me already up and about when she got up around 8:30 a.m.  She woke up with a migraine-related visual aura but, couldn't go back to bed because her friends were coming over for the planned pancake/waffles breakfast at 9:00 a.m.

Her friend C, who lives out of state and was visiting family to attend a grandparent's funeral, arrived just after 9:00 a.m. and they chatted and had some one on one time before friend A arrived around 9:30 a.m.  A third friend V was not well and had let daughter know she was not attending the breakfast, out of consideration for the others.

There was a lot of laughter and chatting while daughter and her friends made scrambled eggs and pancakes (apparently, they didn't want waffles).  Friend C left around 10:30 a.m. and friend A stayed for another couple of hours.

I had retreated to my bedroom after I had greeted friend C when she first arrived, but, I sat in the family room when it was only friend A.  These are girls I've known since daughter was in middle school and it is lovely to see how they've grown over the years and stayed in touch.  

After they had their pancake breakfast, I made myself waffles for my brunch.  

I had just finished my brunch when gardener friend M showed up!  He had been unable to tend to the garden on Friday since he had an issue with his truck.  So, he was making up for it by working on his day off!  He cleared up the butternut squash vines and harvested the last of the butternut squashes!  The biggest one is just around 6 inches, the smallest one is just under 2 inches!  I think that will go in the compost heap, but the other two might yield about a cup and a half of squash to be cooked!

I served a plate of the leftover almsgiving food for M and he enjoyed it.  

Later in the afternoon, I made myself an egg salad sandwich.  

After that, daughter helped me to put away the dishes and other items that are used only for our almsgivings.  They are stored on the higher shelves in the upper kitchen cabinets that I can barely reach even when standing on the top step of a two tiered step stool.  I am definitely vertically challenged!  Daughter also cleaned the top of the refrigerator for me and I cleaned the top of the vent hood over the stove and the cabinet doors directly above.  I would like to clean the rest of the kitchen cabinet doors before the New Year.

Both daughter and I had naps in the early evening.  Afterwards, we both had leftovers for dinner.  

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- Daughter had a good gathering with her friends
- The sound of laughter blessing the house
- M making time to tend to the garden
- The last of the butternut squashes from the garden
-  A lovely day

Sunday's joyful activity was sharing some of the almsgiving leftovers with M.

Plans for Monday include getting my flu vaccine, making a batch of blueberry jam, and maybe sewing a couple of New Year gifts.

How was your Sunday?  Did you do something special to observe Winter Solstice? What are your plans for Monday?