To Review or Not to Review

That is the question!  

Every now and then, I write a review of a book I've read.  I don't post these reviews for any reason other than I enjoy reading other bloggers' reviews of books and I hope that my readers might enjoy reading my reviews, too.  Plus, sometimes, it's good to look back and remember reading a particular book.

So, imagine my surprise when, earlier this week, I received an email from a book publicist, stating that she came across my blog through the review of the book, The East Indian and suggesting another book, a debut historical fiction novel, that takes place during the British Raj, set in India, but, from the perspective of an American missionary family based on the author's real family history.

The publicist provided some information about the book, but, what really got me all excited was an offer to send me a copy of this book for me to review on my blog!  I had never imagined something like that happening!

To say that I was interested is an understatement.  BUT, and I hate that there is a but, I was nervous about needing to give out my name and mailing address to a complete stranger.  Yes, I've taken a chance and done that, once or twice, but, with the recent news of computer hacking and data breaches, etc., I felt I needed to be cautious.  

So, I emailed her back and declined the offer, saying I will try to obtain a copy of the book from the library (provided the library gets a copy when it becomes available; I've checked the library website and they don't have this book yet) and then, read and post a review.

She replied saying she understood my reluctance to give out my address, and offered to send me a PDF copy of the book, instead.  That sounded like an acceptable alternative, but, then, downloading an attachment from an unknown person has its own risks in terms of computer viruses, doesn't it?  I had one bad experience with malware, clicking on an attachment that I thought was valid!  So, I am going to decline that offer, too.  I will, once again, say that I hate this need to be so cautious!

However, since I feel so honored to have been approached by this publicist, I am going to do something I haven't done before - I am going to post the information on a book I have not read yet!  

The following excerpt is from the email that the publicist sent me:

"Award-winning poet Joanne A. Howard is debuting her first historical fiction novel inspired by her family’s history as missionaries in India. A commentary on colonialism that has impacted Indian society for generations, packed into an engrossing read for fans of The Poisonwood Bible and The Inheritance of Loss.

Sleeping in the Sun (She Writes Press, Oct 22, 2024) follows young George Hinton and his Indian servant, Arthur, in British-ruled India, as scandalous truths unfold around a mysterious family friend who comes to live with the Hintons. Told from two different perspectives, Joanne interweaves the experiences of someone with privilege and someone without, while displaying rich descriptions of the Indian landscape. Sleeping in the Sun will transport you to another time where British influence in India only benefited one group of people.

About the book: In the last years of the British Raj, an American missionary family stayed in Midnapore, India. Though the Hintons enjoy white privileges, they have never been accepted by British society and instead run a boarding house on the outskirts of town where wayward native Indians come to find relief. Young Gene Hinton, it’s a chance to make friends with Arthur, his family’s Indian servant. When Uncle Ellis, a high-ranking British judge, suddenly arrives and announces he’ll be staying indefinitely in their humble house, life as Gene knows it is interrupted. Also skeptical is Arthur. Then an Indian woman appears on their doorstep—and, after growing close to her, Arthur learns the sinister truth about the judge. He must now decide where his loyalties lie—and the Hintons must decide if they can still call India home."

It does sound like an interesting book, doesn't it?  I do hope the library will get a copy.  If not, I might have to break my own rule about not buying any more books!

What do you think?  Do you think I am being too cautious?  Would you have accepted an offer of a book to review?  

Resuming Regular Programs

Keeping Mummy Company

Daughter went back on Sunday.  She and her friend P had a safe drive back, although it took two hours longer than usual due to the post-Thanksgiving traffic. 

I spent most of Sunday doing a couple of loads of laundry, taking photos for my November garden post, blogging, watching a few online videos, and reading. 

Library Book

I finished reading this book I had borrowed from the library.  Another blogger had mentioned reading it and it sounded interesting.  It is a novel, based on the compilation and publication of the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.  The publication of the Oxford English Dictionary was a mostly male dominated enterprise.  However, there were some women who contributed, too.  Women like the wife of the editor who cared for their 11 children and ran the household while supporting her husband's efforts; three of their daughters who worked as assistants to their father with sorting the words that volunteers submitted; two sisters, one of whom was a published author, who, between them provided 15,000 quotations for words listed A and B (each word selected to be published had to have supporting printed quotations); and the daughter of one of the men in charge of publishing the Dictionary, who assisted her father.  Their contributions weren't really recognized at the time.  The novel is partially based on the contributions these women made to the publication of the Dictionary. 

In the book, the main character (a fictional character) Esme, is the daughter of one of the lexicographers assisting the editor.  At the start of the book, she is a child, playing under the sorting table where her father and other lexicographers sort and research the words that are being mailed in to be included in the Dictionary.  One day, a scrap of paper with a word written on it flutters to the ground and ends up under the table where Esme finds it.  No one seems to notice that this piece of paper had fallen, no one seems to miss the word, and Esme takes it.  Eventually, she realizes that not all the words being submitted make it into the dictionary and that the words being chosen to be included in the dictionary often didn't include words that pertained to women or words used by common people, especially if they had not been published or were considered vulgar, etc.  She sets out to collect these words that weren't being included in the dictionary, the "lost words", with the intention of compiling her own dictionary of lost words.  In the meantime, her own life evolves as she goes from being a child playing under the sorting table to an adult whose life is touched by the suffrage movement and World War I.

In general, I prefer non-fiction to fiction, but, I found this novel to be quite interesting.  I liked how the author wove in historic facts into the story.  

After I finished reading this novel, I started reading the book about decluttering.  I have finished reading the first half of that book and so far, I am finding it interesting, too.

Today, Monday, I did another load of laundry, ran the dishwasher, ordered a refill on one of my medications, took the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning, visited friend R (a quick, curbside visit with masks on) to drop off some packages she had ordered and had delivered to my address as well as a packet of Japanese curry sauce that my daughter had bought for R to try and some fruit I had bought for the Thanksgiving dinner, and stopped at the library on the way back to return "The Dictionary of Lost Words".  I also read for a bit and watched some TV.  

Meals over the weekend were mostly leftovers or snacks!  I had a bit of an upset tummy on Sunday, so, I had cream crackers for breakfast, half a bagel with a little butter for lunch, and scrambled eggs on toast for dinner.  Today, my tummy was fine and I had the other half of the bagel with butter for brunch, rice with leftover beef curry for dinner, and mandarin oranges for snacks.

I haven't made a meal plan for this week, but, I plan to make some soup with the turkey bones, some turkey fried rice, and, of course, there will be milkrice for brunch on Friday (December 1).  

I am grateful for:

- Daughter's friend gave her a ride back to Berkeley
- They had a safe journey back
- Library books
- A quick visit with friend R
- Dancer keeping me company

Today's joyful activity was reading.  Speaking of joyful activities, I reviewed my Autumn/Fall Joyful Activities list and while I didn't do some of the activities listed there (such as scrapbooking), I did other activities many times (such as arranging flowers) and I enjoyed doing those activities. 

Plans for Tuesday include putting gas to the car and picking up my medication refill.  

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

Sunny on Tuesday

 

Make Space for Happiness

It was mostly sunny, today, with some clouds moving in.  There's rain in the forecast for tomorrow!

Yesterday (Monday), I had dusted the living room and dining area.  I was going to dust the family room, today, but, I didn't.  Instead, I brought in the trash cans after they had been emptied, went through this week's grocery ads (it paid to hold off on buying the coffee my daughter likes when it was on sale for $7.99 a package a couple of weeks ago; this week, it's on sale for $5.99 which is my current stock up price), did two loads of laundry, picked a few green beans and one ripe cherry tomato from the garden, watered some of the plants in the front garden with water I had collected in buckets while waiting for the shower water to warm up, etc., had a phone call with one of my cousins and exchanged texts with another, and finished reading this library book, pictured above.

This book examines the acquisition cycles that keep our homes cluttered and identifies seven "emotional clutter magnets" that attract clutter.  These clutter magnets pertain to seven important feelings which are: purpose, love, connection, wisdom, confidence, self-respect, and ease.  Then she goes on to describe how we try to assuage those feelings with  buying things that become clutter and suggests how to fulfill those feelings in ways other than buying things.  

All very good insights and useful, proactive steps to take, but, I found it difficult to connect with this book.  Why?  I think it is because of the author's premise that we are constantly buying things.  I used to buy things - mostly books, decorative items, collectibles, craft supplies, etc. No so much clothes, but, definitely fabric for my various sewing projects.  They were things that I enjoyed having.  I no longer buy a lot of things.  I have stopped buying books, I no longer buy decorative items and collectibles, and I rarely buy craft supplies unless I have a specific project in mind (I bought yarn to knit sweaters a few months ago, after I more or less used up my yarn stash).  My current clutter comes from items I have bought previously or was given over the years, which I have continued to keep.  

Apparently, the author had written a previous book about the seven emotional clutter blocks which prevent us from letting go of our possessions.  I think that is the book I need to read, because that's where I am right now - stuck with being unable to declutter what I have.  I have requested that book, Making Space Clutter Free, from the library and am waiting for it. 

In the meantime, I received an email notification this evening that another library book I had requested has come in.  So, the plan is to go to the library tomorrow to return the book I finished reading today and borrow the new book that's waiting for me. 

Today, I am grateful for:

- Phone call and texts from cousins 
- Weekly trash collection services
- Library books and free library services
- Working appliances
- Video chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was reading.

Brunch was leftover rice and curries; dinner was a tuna salad sandwich (went off the meal plan, a little bit!)

Plans for tomorrow (Wednesday) include M's visit to tend to the garden (if it is not too rainy), a trip to the library, dusting the family room.

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

A Sunny Sunday

Cookbook Collection

I took this photo of my cookbook collection as a "before" picture, thinking I might declutter some of the books.  They take up about 15 inches on a 24 inches wide bookshelf, which, I suppose isn't too bad for a collection of cookbooks.  Several years ago, I used to belong to a "cookbook of the month club" and I bought quite a few cookbooks and had at least two 3-ft. wide shelves crammed full with cookbooks.  Over the years, I decluttered them until I thinned them down to what is pictured above (the white folder has a few recipes I've cut out from magazines and one or two handwritten ones).  My collection includes a notebook in which my mother handwrote some recipes (the book with the blue spine) and several notebooks in which a 17 year old me hand-copied recipes from a printed cookbook that my mother had, which she gave away before we left Sri Lanka (she later told me that if she had known I'd wanted the recipes, she would have kept the book; she bought me a replacement book on a return visit to Sri Lanka, but, it was a newer edition and some of the recipes had been "updated" and weren't the same.)  I keep thinking that a lot of these recipes can be found online, and I pulled out three of the books, thinking I might donate them, but, then, I put them all back again!  Decluttering books is like pulling teeth, for me!

We had sunshine, today, and the daytime high did go up to 77F (which is still quite cool for this time of the year; last year, we had a record setting 107F on Sept. 3).  But, it was nice and comfortable, not too hot, not too cold.

Maybe I did a bit too much, yesterday, cooking the beef smore, because my hip was a little painful when I woke up.  I considered taking a Tylenol, but, over the course of the day, the pain eased somewhat, so, I didn't take anything.  I've been trying to drink more water and that is helping, I think.  My goal is to drink 8 cups of water and I've drunk 7 cups, so far (10:00 p.m.); I am sure I'll be able to drink the last cup when I take my medications before I go to bed.  This amount of hydration does not include the two cups of tea I drank.

I took the trash and the bag of recycling out to the bins in the morning and I walked just once up and down the driveway and along the sidewalk in front of my house, just to keep the joints moving!  I noticed several vehicles parked on the front yard of the house next door and I could hear the voices of people working on the house.  I believe they are construction workers and not necessarily the owners of the house.  They seem to be doing quite a few renovations.  

I spent the majority of the afternoon on the living room sofa, resting my hip, reading blogs, watching online videos, playing Sudoku, etc.  And attending to Dancer!  Since yesterday, he's back to not liking any of the food I've been offering him; he takes a couple of bites and then, walks away and two minutes later, he's meowing at me again!  And it is such a sad sounding meow!  Then, I get up off the sofa and offer him something else.  As a result, he has his personal buffet spread out for him with separate bowls of three flavors of cat food and some tuna.  There are two kinds of kibble, too!  His water bowl is full and so is the bucket he likes to drink from!  And still he kept meowing.  Eventually, I figured out what he wanted - tuna from a freshly opened can, not the last bits from a can that was opened two days ago!  He is such a spoiled kitty!  He's due for his arthritis injection, too - I need to call the vet's office on Tuesday (Monday being a holiday, Labor Day, the vet's clinic will be closed) to schedule that.  The garden cats (Mama Cat and her admirer who visits from time to time, a fully black cat I call Black Jack) aren't quite as fussy and they will eat the opened cans of cat food that Dancer won't eat and whatever the garden cats don't eat, the possums will eat. 

In the evening, my hip felt much better and I did a little bit of tidying up and putting away.  I finally put away the new yarn in the yarn bin which is now full, again, and I cleaned the glass top of the family room coffee table.  I also ran the cleaning cycle on the washing machine as that light has been coming on the last couple of times I did laundry.  

Brunch was leftover milkrice with mackerel curry.  Dinner was some of the beef smore with bread.  I had some yogurt for dessert, afterwards.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny day and pleasant temperatures
- Being able to rest as needed
- The hip pain getting better, as the day progressed
- The few tidying/putting away tasks I managed to do
- Emails from friends

Today's joyful activity was relaxing in the afternoon sunshine coming through the window and watching online videos.

Tomorrow is a holiday, but, I'm not planning any Labor Day celebrations.  I'd like to get a little more tidying done, depending on how I am feeling.

What are your plans for Monday?  Is it a holiday where you are?

Book Review: The East Indian by Brinda Charry

The East Asian by Brinda Charry

"The East Indian" by Brinda Charry is the author's first novel.  It is fiction based on historical facts - in this case, the presence of the British East India Company in India, the headright system during the early days of colonial North America, by which any individual who paid for the transportation of other individuals (mostly indentured servants, but, also family members and friends) to the colony was awarded fifty acres of land for every "head" brought over, and the fact that, in 1635, a Virginia landowner named George Menefie had claimed a headright on someone he had listed as "Tony East Indian".   

The book is narrated in first person, with Tony giving an account of his life.  Tony is a young boy living in a coastal village in India, where agents of the English East India Company have set up a factory.  After his mother's death, Tony is sent to England as the servant of one of the Company men.  When his master dies on board, he is taken on by the ship's surgeon and he meets other East Indians who were also living and working in the docks around London.  One of the highlights of his stay in London was watching a play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare, in which Oberon and Titania are fighting over her attendant, "A lovely boy, stolen from an Indian king" (I found the quote in Act II, Scene 1 if anyone is interested).  Tony is much intrigued and wonders what happens to the boy.

One day, however, Tony is kidnapped and put on board a ship to sail to Virginia, where, in 1635, he is claimed as a headright.  The rest of the book is the story of Tony's life in colonial Virginia, the people he met, the situations he faced, and how he dealt with them.  At first, Tony, who arrived in colonial Virginia involuntarily, wishes to return home to India.  Eventually, however, he comes to terms with with his circumstances and realizes that he can't ever return, that he needs to move forward and not back.

I quite enjoyed reading this book.  I had not known that there had been Asian Indians living in colonial North America, but the author cites several sources documenting their presence.

In general, I read fiction for enjoyment, without any deeper analysis.  But, one of the other bloggers I follow, Lady Ella, often cites quotes to ponder from the books she reads, and I like that.  So, I offer one quote that struck a chord with me:

"I too had to understand that previous lives are no longer accessible.  That they are, in fact, quite gone.  That one can learn, must learn, to live anew."

I returned the book to the library, today, and checked out another book that I had put on hold.  It's a book about Type 2 diabetes, not a novel.  

New Library Book

This is a book that at least two other bloggers had posted on their blogs.  I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes several years ago and put on medications.  Over the years, I went from two fairly high dose pills a day to no medications, controlling my diabetes through diet and weight-loss (mostly due to a loss of appetite during my chemo treatments).  According to my blood tests, I am controlling my diabetes well, but, I thought there would be no harm in reading about it and improving my understanding of it.

What are you reading currently?

A Visit to the Library and a New Book

 

The Woman in the White Kimono

Recently, one of the bloggers I follow, Lady Ella (her blog is a private one, so I won't post a link) had posted a review of a book she had read.  She writes excellent book reviews!  Based on her review, I recommended the book to my daughter, who loves all things Japanese.  Then, I checked my library's online catalog.  My neighborhood branch library didn't have a copy, but, the City's library system had several copies in other branch library locations; I put in a hold request on July 5 and asked that a copy be sent to my neighborhood branch library for me.  A week later, on Wednesday, July 12, the library emailed me to notify me that the item I had requested was waiting for me at the branch library.  

M was here on Wednesday morning, tending to the garden, but, Wednesday afternoon, I went to the library!  It was the first time I had been to the library since the the pandemic and the first lockdown!  I had driven to the library's parking lot to drop off my mail-in voter ballots, on a couple of occasions, but, I had not gone inside the building.  I went in wearing my mask, went directly to the holding shelves located in the "reading area" with newspapers and magazines, picked up my book, checked it out, and was out of the building in about 5 minutes!  I was not brave enough to browse in the stacks on this visit, although I was tempted to grab a few magazines that were right there, below the holding shelves.  But, I might browse a bit when I go to return the book.  

The book...First of all, I generally prefer non-fiction to fiction and when I do read fiction, I prefer historical novels (and love stories by a couple of favorite authors, both of whom are now dead!)  Having said that, I came home from the library, sat down to read, and read until I had to stop reading because my eyes hurt from crying!  I had read about 2/3 of the book by then.  I had a few other things to do on Thursday and the book sat unread.  But, I finished reading it on Friday.

I am not good at writing book reviews and have never been in a book club, but, I really enjoyed reading this book.  It is a story (apparently based on several true stories) of two women, connected through their very different relationships with one man and family secrets.  There are two narrators, one of whom is in 1957/58 Japan and the other in present day America, until the very end of the book, when they are both in present day Japan.  But, there are parts of the story that could have been set anywhere else in the world at just about any time, even in the present day.  The story really resonated with me for one reason or another.  

I don't want to give away the plot, but, if you think you might want to read this story, I found it to be a very engrossing book, although, by no means "light reading".  Apparently, it is the author's first novel; I think it was very well researched and on the whole very well written, too.  Yes, I recommended it to my daughter.  She was unable to locate it in her local branch library, but, she is planning to look for it at the main library.  

Thank you, Lady Ella, for reviewing this book and getting me interested in reading it, too,   And, yay me for taking a trip to the library, at long last! 

November Decluttering - Week 2

This week's decluttering didn't go quite as well as last week's, but, I still managed to declutter at least one item each day, although I took a little bit of liberty with the item I counted as tossed on my birthday!  It did come from my dwindling stock of birthday candles, though, so, it counts!

11/8 - 1 toy rocking chair (to be donated)
           1 picture frame (to be donated)
           1 packet plastic beads  (tossed)

11/9 - 1 VHS tape (yes, I still have those! to be donated)

11/10 - 1 name plate from when I used to work (tossed)

11/11 - 1 birthday candle!  (lit, blown out, and tossed) 

11/12 - 1 bottle old nail polish (tossed)
          - 1 old powder compact (tossed)

11/13 - 1 glass vase (given with flowers)
             1 food storage container (given with food)

11/14 - 1 wooden box

11 items decluttered (including the birthday candle).  I am keeping to my goal of decluttering at least one item per day.  I am starting to feel the effects, here and there!  An empty shelf appeared on one of the shelving units and it remained empty for a whole week, until I moved three items from other areas to be displayed there.  Which opened up a small space on an otherwise full shelf.  There are other items I've been eyeing, but, I haven't been able to decide if I want to keep or give away.  They have been put on notice!  

I would like to declutter my books again and I was hoping to do some of that, this week, but, I put back every book I pulled out to declutter!  It's not that the house is being overrun by books; there are no stacks and piles of books everywhere.  I have plenty of shelf space for the books.  It's just that I am wondering why I am keeping them all!  I have some favorites I read and re-read - you can tell which ones they are because they are falling apart!  I will probably continue to keep them.  There are others I've read once or, occasionally, twice; will I re-read them again if I keep them?  Then, there are others I haven't read yet, even though I've had them for years - if I haven't read them, yet, will I read them if I keep them?  The hardest books for me to declutter are the crafts books and the home and garden type books.  I just like to look through them from time to time.  Decluttering the books is going to take some effort!

Did you declutter anything this week?

Sunny and Clear on Tuesday

Kufta, Compliments of Neighbor S 
and her Daughter N

We had a sunny, clear day, today.  It was cool in the morning, but, warmed up to 71F in the afternoon.  The rain has moved east, they were saying.

I brought in the trash cans after they were emptied, collected the mail, walked a little bit in the driveway and back yard, and checked on the plants.  Bun Bun was very much at home in the back yard, stretched out near the sweet potato plants and later, he ate some of the cats' kibbles and munched on watermelon leaves!  This is the watermelon vine grown from the newer seeds that M had given on which Baby Melon grew.  There is another watermelon growing on that vine, but, I haven't been trying to protect it as much as I did with Wawa and Walter III.  I haven't seen any of the other rabbits, recently, so I wonder if Bun Bun is the only one left?

Later, I tidied the family room as some horizontal surfaces were getting cluttered!  Speaking of clutter, today's decluttering included four books.  They were daughter's books, but, I'm including them in my decluttering count!

Today, I finished reading the e-book I had borrowed from the library; "Caroline: Little House, Revisited" by Sarah Miller.  It is historical fiction, focusing on the events described in the first two books in the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the move from Wisconsin to Kansas, as seen from the perspective of her mother, Caroline Quiner Ingalls.  I enjoyed reading it, but, I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a biography, or, covered a longer period of her life.    

I have been experiencing some pain in back of my right leg, today.  A little similar to the sciatica pain I felt in May on my left leg, but, not as intense or painful, more like a mild cramp.  I don't want to believe that I might be starting to have sciatica pain, again!  I am assuming I'm dehydrated and have been making it a point to drink plenty of water in the hope that the pain will go away once I'm fully hydrated!

Neighbor S called and brought over some kufta that she and her daughter had made and my daughter and I enjoyed them for dinner.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The sunny day after the rain
- No damage to my house and garden from the rain
- Neighbor S bringing us dinner
- Weekly trash collections

- Being able to borrow e-books from the library

Today's joyful activity was reading.

Plans for tomorrow include M tending to the garden in the late morning and doing some paperwork.

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

Tuesday

 

Serrano Chili Peppers

Today, I picked the first of the chilies from the plant in the garden!  These are Serrano chilies and I use them in my curries.  There are a few more chilies on the plant; I left them to become bigger.  

I spent a fairly relaxed day, today.  I brought in the trash cans, started dusting my bedroom (didn't finish), watched some TV, read a little, and did some cooking (made a stir fry with smoked sausage, carrots, broccoli, and zucchini and also cooked a chicken breast to be used in salads, sandwiches, etc.)

I walked a bit in the garden in the evening and pulled out the rest of the green bean plants.  The buddleia plant didn't do well this summer.  Last year, it grew well and had lots of flowers.  Then, it was pruned back and this year, it didn't do anything!  I am hoping it will revive over the winter, if not, we might have to say goodbye to it, which would be sad because it was a birthday present from M, a couple of years ago.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Green chilies from the garden
- Relaxed days
- Phone chats with friends
- Working fans and air purifiers
- Electricity to run them

Today's joyful activity was picking chilies (and some tomatoes, too) from the garden!

Plans for tomorrow include going for a blood test in the morning.  I should be home in time for M's visit to tend to the garden, but, I'll leave him a note, just in case.  

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

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

August Decluttering Challenge: 

8/1 - 1 pair gardening gloves

8/2 - non-working heating pad

8/3 - old purse/handbag

8/4 - 1 computer CD containing a report

8/5 - 1 plastic lid that cracked and broke in two

8/6 - 1 hooded sweatshirt (received a new one to replace it)

8/7 - old make-up I no longer use

8/8 - 6 plastic laundry detergent scoops (I use powdered laundry detergent; each new box comes with its own scoop; I don't need to keep the old ones, but, it seems such a waste to toss them in the recycling bin)

8/9 - 1 sponge paint brush (unused, but, so old, the sponge is no longer spongey!)
         1 plastic food container

8/10 - 1 blouse (given to daughter); will be donated as she decided it didn't fit her properly

8/11 - 1 broken clothes hanger
          3 bras

8/12 - 2 Zucchini!  LOL!  Eileen informed me that the zucchini don't count!

8/13 - Daughter's old artwork: A poster 

8/14 - Daughter's old artwork: A painting

8/15 - 1 long dress (given to daughter) - she had urged me to buy it for myself one year for all of $1, but, I didn't wear it.  She, on the other hand, loves it!  It looks much better on her than on me! 

8/16 - 1 coffee mug 

8/17 - A book on cake decorating:

Cake Decorating Book

It was a gift from my mother, along with a box of decorating tips, in 1981, which was when I graduated with my master's degree.  I baked and decorated a lot of cakes over the years, including almost all of my daughter's birthday cakes.  But, I don't bake that many cakes, any more, and I've given away most of my cake pans.  I still have most of the decorating tips, however!  But, I am ready to let go of this book.  I looked through it one last time, today, and said goodbye to it!

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

Thursday Update

 

Another Book to Donate

I had another good night and the day has been mostly pain free.  However, in the morning, I experienced some pain when standing and walking for more than a few minutes.  Not the excruciating pain I had felt earlier, but, there was some pain and discomfort.  What I don't know yet is just how much I should heed it or ignore it!  I am more likely to push through the pain, but, my daughter has asked me not to.  She is afraid that I might end up being in that really bad pain again.  On the whole, as a result, today has been more of a day of rest than activities.

I called the doctor's office, in the morning, and left a message telling them that the pharmacy had said my insurance does not cover the anti-viral medication that had been prescribed and asking for a different medication.  The pharmacy is supposed to have notified them, but, I thought I'd better follow up.  The next call might be to the pharmacy to find out if they have heard from the doctor's office, but, I might do that tomorrow, just to give the doctor's office enough time to attend to it.  I know they were closed, yesterday; I'm not sure if they are open tomorrow (the doctor sees patients only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, currently) and Monday is a holiday.   Most probably, it will be Tuesday before I get a new prescription.  Which if fine, but, it emphasizes the need to take it easy in order to avoid any flare ups during the long weekend when the doctor will not be available.

I did spend about an hour in the evening, seated in the family room, cutting up some of the peaches that had some stem end holes.  Daughter had tried to cut one of them, yesterday, and found some insects inside it, which had her feeling squeamish and shuddering!  I laughed at her about it and she was most upset about it!  She threw the offending peach, put the rest of the ones with stem end holes into a bag and left them outside on the doorstep!  But, today, I had her retrieve the bag of peaches and I washed and cut them up.  Of course, I didn't find a single insect in any of them!  Daughter sprinkled some salt and chili powder on some of them and had them as a snack.  The rest will be eaten later in the night, or, perhaps, tomorrow.

I finished re-reading another book I had in my collection:  "The Princes in the Tower".  It's another of the books I had bought and read, but, didn't want to declutter until I had re-read it.  It was published in 1992 and I had bought it in 1994.  I enjoyed reading it when I first bought it and I enjoyed re-reading it, this week.  I don't think I will want to read it for a third time, but, if I do, then, the library has a copy of it.  So, this book will be donated.  I am currently looking through another book I've had on my bookshelf (a gardening book) to see if that can be donated, too.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being pain free
- Being able to take it easy as needed
- Daughter's continued help
- Fresh peaches
- Phone calls with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was reading.

Once again, no firm plans for tomorrow.

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

Saturday Update

Dinner Compliments of Neighbor S

It has been two weeks for tonight since I started having the sciatica pain.  It began on the night of May 8.  The past two weeks have been devoted mostly to pain management!

I had a pain-free night, last night.  I couldn't fall asleep until very early this morning, but, I didn't have any pain, and I was eventually able to sleep towards morning.  I woke up pain-free and have been feeling relatively well, all day.  My left foot is still swollen and slightly numb, but, I am not in pain.  For which I am very, very thankful! 

I spent most of the morning replying to blog comments, reading and commenting on blogs, etc.  Then, in the afternoon, I did some knitting.  I am knitting a sweater for my daughter with yarn we had bought, earlier, for the purpose.  She has requested a central cable going up the front and that's what I am working on, now.  I've already knitted the back (just a plain stockinette stitch) and the sleeves will probably be a plain knit, as well.  

Neighbor S called in the early afternoon.  Apparently, it was her husband's birthday and she was expecting some family and guests to dinner.  Usually, there isn't enough parking on the street on our block, especially in the evenings and weekends, so, I said she's welcome to have her guests park in my driveway.  She said not to worry about making anything for dinner because she will bring us Armenian barbecue, which she did, later: barbecued chicken, pork ribs, and beef; baked potatoes; a bowl of salad; rice pilaf; lavash flat bread; and chocolate cake for dessert!  How wonderful is that?   

Another Book to Donate

Last night, I finished reading the book, I've pictured above.  I had bought it back in 1994 and read it, but, I had retained it.  It's one of the books I wanted to re-read it before I decluttered it.  It has now been re-read and I will set it aside to donate.  I have started re-reading another book with the intention of decluttering that, too.  I might not be able to do much active work and decluttering, while I am resting my leg and waiting for my doctor to say what I can and can't do, but, I can go through a few books at a time and decide if I want to continue to keep them or declutter them.   Will need to call and schedule a pick up, next month or so.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another pain-free night and day
- S bringing us dinner
- Daughter taking care of me and the household chores
- Dancer keeping me company
- Phone calls and emails with family and friends

Today's joyful activities included reading and knitting.

I am not too sure about my plans for tomorrow.  The Temple I attend is having a retreat to observe Vesak (the birth, attainment of Buddhahood, and death of the Buddha), tomorrow.  People may participate in person at the temple or online.  It starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m.  I wouldn't be able to go to the temple in person, but, I am wondering if I would be able to join online.  I usually have to wake up at 6:00 a.m. to take my prescription medicine, so, I could simply stay up for it.  It would all depend on how well I sleep, tonight, I suppose.  If I am unable to participate in it, tomorrow, another temple will be holding their services next weekend and I might be able to participate in that.  I know I really appreciated being able to participate, virtually, last year.  Well, we shall see how it goes.

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

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

 

Banana Cookies

Happy St. Valentine's Day!  Hope your day was filled with love!

My daughter tried out a recipe she found online to make a so-called healthy cookie using ripe mashed bananas, 1/3 cup maple syrup, and flour, plus optional ground cinnamon and nutmeg; no eggs.  Except, she substituted 1/3 cup brown sugar (and a little milk) for the maple syrup and used a half and half mixture of whole wheat flour and white flour.  The resulting cookie was soft, with an intense banana flavor (to me; she didn't find it that intense) and not very sweet.  It was alright, but, not quite what she had hoped for!

It was a sunny, but, windy day, today.  I watered the newly planted Asian pear tree with something that is supposed to help reduce the shock of being transplanted, which M had mixed up and left for me.  The strong gusts of wind had knocked a few oranges off the tree, so I picked them up, too.  

I spent a relaxed day.  Neighbor T called for our weekly chat, I practiced the piano, and I called friend R to check on her.  I also finally finished reading a book I had started reading some time ago, then,stopped reading.  I pulled it out to declutter on June 1, 2019, but, decided to hold onto until I finished reading it:

Finally Read!

It was a good book and I like the author's style of writing.  What made it difficult to read was how angry I would get at the people and events described in the book!  I could read it only in small doses!  But, it is not a book I will re-read, so, it will now be given away!

Brunch had been a slice of the bread my daughter had made, yesterday, with butter and some of my feijoa (pineapple guava) jam.  Dinner was rice, chicken curry, green beans, and peach chutney.  I had a couple of the banana cookies for dessert.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Windfall oranges

- "Healthy" cookies

- Chats with neighbor and friend

- No damage to the house or garden from the strong winds

- Books to read

Today's joyful activities included reading and eating cookies!  LOL!

Have you ever tried making banana cookies?  

Monday

Monday's Decluttering

Three more crafts magazines were decluttered, today.  I tore out two knitting patterns from one of them and put the patterns in the file folder with my favorite knitted socks pattern.  These magazines are all from the 1980s.  

But, I chose to keep this one, from 1974!

August 1974 Crafts Magazine

It is old, tattered, and falling apart, but, I have sentimental attachments to this magazine!  It was purchased in Hong Kong, back when it was still a British colony (my British readers will no doubt smile at the price: 19p!) by one of my step-cousins (step-father's niece) who still lives there.  She gave me the magazine when I was living in Hong Kong so I could knit myself a cardigan using one of the patterns given in it.  August 1974 was when I left Hong Kong to come to the United States and the magazine came with me.  In fact, today is the anniversary of the day I left Hong Kong!  ("Wait, Bless, we thought you were from Sri Lanka?" Yes, originally, but, I left Sri Lanka in August 1973, then, visited Malaysia, had an extended stay in Taiwan and then, in Hong Kong, before I came to the States).   I am keeping this magazine, a home and garden type American magazine also from August 1974, and a magazine from March 1993 (when my daughter was born) for sentimental reasons.  Other than the magazines I have from this year's subscriptions (last year's birthday gift from my daughter was a subscription for four magazines), they are the only magazines I now have.  

Remember the bookcase in the family room?  

Bookcase - Before

Bookcase - After

Gardening and books on religion on the top shelf. mostly crafts books (knitting, quilting, crocheting, etc.) books on the second shelf, brass decorative items on the middle shelf, some sewing and other books on the fourth shelf, and decorating, Christmas books on the bottom shelf.  I do have room for all the books, but, will probably continue to slowly go through and declutter more of the books.  I mean, just how many books on quilting and patchwork do I need (although I love just looking through them).  I might also rearrange some of the books - maybe put the gardening books on the bottom shelf with the decorating books.  It might look a little less top heavy if I did that!  

I didn't have my piano lesson, today, as S needed to run some errands in the afternoon.  We rescheduled it for either Tuesday or Wednesday; she will call me tomorrow to confirm the day and time.  She mentioned she was going to the dollar store for some items and I asked her if she could pick up a loaf of sandwich bread for me, as I was out of bread and hadn't put in a grocery order, yet.  She was kind enough to get me a loaf of bread and now, I can change my meal plan to include sandwiches, if I like!  

Today, I am grateful for:

• The pharmacy being able to mail my medications to me, free of charge
• Having postal services available
• S picking up a loaf of bread for me
• Another day to practice my piano pieces
• Daughter continues to be safe from all the fires (although dealing with bad air quality)

Today's joyful activity was decluttering my magazines.

Monday's To Do List:

- Practice the piano - DONE

- Piano lesson - Postponed

- Dust living room & dining area - DONE

- Clean the fridge - DONE

- Take trash cans to the curb for Tuesday trash pick up - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:

- Piano lesson (maybe)

- Start the car

- Dust family room and my bedroom

- Bring the trash cans in
- Water the garden, front and back

- Water the house plants

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

Sunday

Sunday has been slightly cooler.  I did need two fans in the afternoon, but, the evening is cool enough for just one fan!  LOL.

I spent another quiet day, today.  I put away the laundry from yesterday, practiced the piano, watered the front garden, watched a little TV, and spent the afternoon reading an American classic, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  I knew the story, but, this was the first time I actually read the book.  It was required reading for my daughter when she was in 7th grade and it was her copy of the book which I read, today.  I had kept it, all these years, intending to read it!  Well, I've read it and it has been decluttered from my bookshelves.

8/23 Decluttering

A recent post by Sharon at My New Uneventful Life had me thinking about my collection of magazines.  At one time, I had so many magazines that I put up shelves in the garage to store them, all!  Eventually, I got rid of most of them.  But, I held on to a few knitting and crochet magazines, for one reason or another.  Today, I went through some of them and decided to declutter the two shown above; they are both from the 1980s!  I had held on to them for various reasons - one had the pattern for a toddler's crocheted dress that my mother made for my daughter. the other had some sweaters that I liked, including a couple I had knitted.  Sweater patterns don't change all that much, but, I have a lot of knitting books, too, so, these magazines can go.  Thank you, Sharon, for motivating me.  

Today, I am grateful for:

• A quiet, relaxed day
• An afternoon spent reading
• Phone calls from friends
• Having electricity and water
• Being able to video chat with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was reading.

Monday's To Do List:

- Practice the piano

- Piano lesson

- Dust living room & dining area

- Clean the fridge

- Take trash cans to the curb for Tuesday trash pick up

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

Music Book Arrives on Tuesday

Music Book and Coffee/Spice Grinder

My new piano music book arrived today!  Along with it, the coffee/spice grinder I ordered as mine had broken.  While using the pestle and mortar to pound the spices for the love cake worked out pretty well, a coffee/spice grinder is a useful gadget to have and buying it enabled me to qualify for free shipping.

The piano book is called "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level One":

New Piano Book

I sat at the piano and played the first few pieces without any difficulty.  S, who has no idea what I can or cannot play, has already said that we can skip ahead if she thinks I can handle it, but, I don't mind starting from the very beginning.  I will call her, tomorrow, to let her know that the book has arrived and confirm that I will have my first lesson on Thursday.  I should also call my piano tuner!

Today, I watered the garden, front and back, watered the house plants, put away a few things, and video chatted with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The piano book and spice grinder arrived sooner than estimated
- No "porch pirates" stole my package!
- Water for the garden
- Hearing from a blog friend I haven't heard from in several months
- Other friends I keep in contact with on a more regular, often daily, basis.

My joyful activities included moving to music!

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Call neighbor S
- Call the piano tuner
- Vacuum
- Finish tidying and dusting my bedroom

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

Quiet Wednesday

Another warm day, but, the weather forecast says it will cool down to the 80s and 70s, with even a chance of rain, later in the week!

I had a fairly quiet day, today, partly because I was feeling nauseated (side effect of some of the medications I take).  I wasn't able to sew as much on the baby quilt as I had hoped to, either, because the sewing machine was acting up, with the bobbin thread getting jammed all the time.  I will change the bobbin thread, tomorrow, and hopefully, that will take care of the problem.

I did a load of laundry in the afternoon.  I had to toss out three pillowcases I had sewn several years ago as they all tore during today's washing!  I considered mending them, but, the fabric was too worn out.  I think I sewed them at least 12 years ago! 

Brunch had been cereal.  Later, I cooked rice in my new rice cooker (tried it out for the first time, today), a mackerel curry, and a lentil curry (dhal).  I also had some of my tomato chutney with it.

I finished reading my library book, today.  The Occupied Garden, by Kristen den Hartog and Tracy Kasaboski.  I enjoyed reading it.

Friend R called in the evening and we chatted for a bit.  Later, I video chatted with my daughter.

My utilities bill came in the mail, today; $310.47.  It covers water, electricity, sewer service, and solid waste collection (trash,recycling, and yard waste collection) for two months.  I went over my Tier 1 water allocation for the period.  I am allowed 16 hundred cubic feed (HCF) of water at Tier 1 rates ($6.55/HCF) and I had used 21 HCF.  The additional 5 HCF is billed at a higher rate of $8.22/HCF.  I guess I watered the garden too much!

Today, I am grateful for:
- A relaxed day
- Lemon lime soda and crackers
- Library books
- The new rice cooker working without any problems
- Cool evenings

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

Cool on Tuesday

Today was a cool and cloudy day.  It didn't rain, but, the weather was such that it triggered an asthma attack.  I took my rescue inhaler and took it easy.  I had planned to go for a walk in the morning, but, I decided not to do anything to aggravate the asthma.  I just brought the trash cans in and collected the mail.

I changed my bed sheets and did a load of laundry.  Finished sewing my daughter's dress, which took a little longer than I thought because I had to do some unpicking and resewing.  I decided to do her friend's dress tomorrow and mended one of my blouses, instead.  Later, I watered the indoor plants.

Library Book

Last week, I finished reading this book I had borrowed from the library.  It contains recollections of Russians who were children during World War II.  I am still reading The Dictionary Wars by Peter Martin - I put it aside to read "Last Witnesses".   

Cousin V called in the evening and we had a nice chat.  Later, I video chatted with my daughter. 

Lunch had been egg salad sandwiches.  Dinner was chicken and vegetable soup from the freezer. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Rescue inhalers
- My sewing machine
- Library books
- Video chatting with my daughter
- What I was able to accomplish today


Tuesday's To Do List:
- Go for a walk
- Bring the trash cans in - DONE
- Grocery shop?
- Finish sewing daughter's dress - DONE
- Start hemming her friend's dress
- Water the house plants - DONE
- Dust the house
- Mend my blouse - DONE
- Do some cooking
- Put gas to the car

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Go for a walk
- Grocery shop
- Start on daughter's friend's dress
- Dust
- Do some cooking
- Put gas to the car
- Apply the spray to the peach tree

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

Monday

The Dictionary Wars by Peter Martin

Monday was a much cooler day, but, I really didn't feel like doing most of the things on my to do list, so, I gave myself permission to take it easy and read.  I finished reading "The End of Ice" by Dahr Jamail and started on "The Dictionary Wars" by Peter Martin.

In addition to reading, I did some laundry (washed three quilts), flea combed Dancer at least three different times, renewed some of my library books, took the trash cans to the curb for trash pick up in the morning, watered the garden both front and back, did a little bit of weeding, and visited neighbor S, across the street. Later in the evening, I video chatted with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The cooler temperatures
- Visiting with neighbor S
- Water for the garden and for all the laundry
- Being able to renew my library books, online
- Books to read

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Renew car registration
- Call gynocologist's office for an appointment

- Change bed sheets

- Laundry 

- Dust
- Vacuum
- Water the indoor plants

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

Tired on Friday

I woke up with a headache, this morning, probably from all the spraying and stressing, yesterday.  Although the headache wore off, later, I took it easy, today.  Partly because the duct taping and spraying seemed to have helped.  I only found one flea on the bathroom floor and it seemed to be dying, anyway (the spray leaves an oily residue that remains effective for several days).  When I flea combed Dancer, I found only one flea on him and it seemed to be dead, too.  I felt I could afford to relax my guard for one day and didn't vacuum.

I did a load of laundry and hung it inside the house to dry, instead of using the dryer, because I felt confident enough that no fleas would jump on the items.  However, later in the evening, when I washed my bed sheets, I dried them in the dryer. 

It was another rather warm day, but the fans were sufficient.  I spent the afternoon reading one of my library books, "The End of Ice" by Dahr Jamail:

Library Book

In the early evening, I turned on the sprinklers in the back yard.  When M came to do the garden, I asked him to spray both the back and front yards for me.  He had a different type of spray he had used to spray ants in another client's kitchen, which stated it was effective against fleas, as well, and he offered to spray it around my bathroom, laundry closet, and outside, around the walls of the house at the back.  It was an offer I accepted, gratefully.  After he sprayed that chemical, he sprayed the stuff I had bought for the yard, as well. 

Much later in the evening, I mopped the kitchen floor. 

My joyful activity for the day was to make a bookmark with some scrapbooking paper to give to my friend as a thank you for lending me her book on the women in the Bible; I will be returning the book to her, tomorrow, at this month's rosary gathering.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Finding fewer fleas
- M helping me with the spraying
- Library books
- Washing machines and ceiling fans
- Video chatting with my daughter

Friday's To Do List:
- Buy more vacuum cleaner bags
- Vacuum
- Mop the kitchen - DONE
- Water the garden - DONE
- Have M spray the garden - DONE
- Other things as needed - DID LAUNDRY

Saturday's To Do List:
- Vacuum
- Buy more vacuum cleaner bags
- Buy a dessert to take to the prayer gathering
- Buy a few groceries (eggs, milk)
- Put gas to the car
- Change the sofa dust covers
- Laundry
- Attend the prayer gathering (& give cousin P a ride)

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

June Decluttering - 30 Books in 30 Days

My goal was 30 books decluttered during June; an average of one book per day.  I didn't always declutter a book a day and, at times, I struggled with it!  But, I did manage to declutter 30 books.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17, 18,19

#20

#21

#22

#23-30

One or two of these books have already left the house.  The others are in a box, waiting to be donated.  I admit that I am already having second thoughts about getting rid of some of these books!  I am trying to resist the urge to put some of them back on the shelves, but, I reserve the right to do so!  LOL!  However, if I do reclaim some of them, I shall substitute others for them.  Does that sound fair to you? 

I intend to repeat this exercise later in the year, in about 6 months' time.  I am giving myself time to re-read some of the other books that I think can be decluttered. 

I know some of you joined in this challenge whole heartedly and decluttered more than 30 books!  You know who you are!  Well done!