Almsgiving Day 2025

 

Almsgiving Day, 2025

Almsgiving 2025 went well, 

Pictured above, is the reliquary containing a relic, supposedly a tiny bone fragment of the Buddha on the taller stand between the book case and the sofa. The reliquary is brought from the temple, by the monks, and it's presence transforms the house into a temporary temple and a sacred or holy place.

The shorter table in front of the reliquary contains a tray with food offerings to the Buddha, a vase of flowers from the garden, a candle, and incense.

On the coffee table in front of the monks are two plates with salad and glasses of water.  The items covered with paper napkins are plates and bowls of the almsgiving food that is offered to the entire Community of Monks, not just the two monks who are physically present at the almsgiving.  Often, this food is sent back to the temple with the monks to be given to any needy person or for the monks to have on the following day if there is no almsgiving scheduled.  

I was up at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and started on my almsgiving preparations, picking the flowers and tangerines from the garden, peeling and cutting the pineapple, taking out the cooked food from the fridge, etc.  Friend $ came over at 8:00 a.m. and started preparing the salads and plates of fruit.  Daughter joined us a short time later, checking her almsgiving menu and making sure that the warmed up food is served into the containers being prepared for offering to the Buddha and to the Community of Monks.  

We completed everything by 10:30 a.m. and while we waited or the monks to arrive, I went over my list showing the order of serving to friend R.  Once the monks arrived, we began the ceremony offering the prepared food to the Buddha and the Community of Monks and reciting the stanzas where we undertake to observe the five precepts that guide lay Buddhists in their daily life.

After that, the monks were served their meal.  On this visit, they did not bring their begging bowls and used the plates we had set out for them.   I took the above picture with their permission.  They know that I have a blog and that I post about my almsgivings.

After lunch, they gave a short sermon, chanted blessings, we transferred some of the merits acquired to family and loved ones who have departed, including Dancer (the monks remembered him especially), and tied blessed thread around our wrists, using the colored thread we had donated, earlier.  Then, we handed out the donations we had set aside to give to the monks and the ceremony ended.

After the monks left, we had our own meal and we gave friend R the Christmas gifts we had got for her.  She had mentioned wanting to buy two specific kitchen appliances and daughter and I bought them for her.  She was very pleased with her gifts.  Afterwards, we took her home.

Daughter took a nap after we got home and I put away the leftover food, washed the dishes, did two loads of laundry, and gave neighbor S a plate of almsgiving food.  In return she gave me some blinchick (stuffed crepes) that they had made.  Daughter and I shared that for our dinner.

After daughter woke up from her nap, I took a nap.  I was very tired and my spine was hurting from being on my feet for so long.  I put away the laundry after I woke up from my nap.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- All the help from friend R and daughter
- The almsgiving went well without a hitch
- We had a pleasant, sunny day for the almsgiving

-  R was pleased with her Christmas gifts

- Exchanging plates of food with neighbor S

Saturday's joyful activity was holding the almsgiving.

On Sunday, daughter is hosting a pancakes breakfast for her friends.  One friend has already called and made her excuses as she is not feeling well.  I am not required to help with cooking the breakfast so I can sleep in or just relax.

How is your weekend coming along?

Moving On

 

Winter Roses

Thank you, again, to everyone who has sympathized with us over the loss of our much loved Dancer.  I've shared your comments with daughter and we both appreciate your caring. We really miss him.

On Friday, I did another load of laundry, swept and mopped the kitchen, the bathroom, and my bedroom.  I made a few phone calls and confirmed the date of the almsgiving with the monks at the temple and made plans to visit one of my cousins as her daughter and grandsons are visiting from New York.  

M was here to tend to the garden on Friday evening and he took down the bin with the spare strands of lights for the Christmas tree, but, I haven't made any further efforts to decorate the tree and daughter is not in the mood to do anything, either.

Friend R visited on Friday evening to pick up her packages that she had delivered to my address.  We chatted a bit and had tea before she left.  Daughter and I offered to drive her to her apartment, but, she didn't want to trouble us, she said.  So, daughter called for a ride for her.  Friend R has offered to come and help me with the almsgiving preparations, which is very kind of her.

Much later in the evening, daughter wanted to talk and we got into a rather intense discussion about religion and why I believe what I believe, and did I think action A carried more merit than action B, etc.  She had a lot of questions and I tried to answer to the extent I could.  By the time we finished our discussion, it was past 4:00 a.m. and then, daughter went to bed.  I, on the other hand, stayed up till after 7:00 a.m.

On Saturday, daughter woke me up at 11:00 a.m. to let me know that one of her friends had called to let her know that she wanted to drop something off.  I had only had 4 hours of sleep, but, I got up and got dressed.  Her friend brought us a lovely orchid plant and stayed for a chat and a visit.  

Later in the afternoon, daughter and I went to the pharmacy to pick up one of my medications and afterwards, we went to the adjoining dollar store to look around.  I bought another packet of white tissue paper, white paper napkins for the almsgiving, and some frozen food (Jamaican hand pies, burritos) and snacks (microwave popcorn).  Daughter found a couple of crafts supplies.  I think we both benefitted from being out of the house for a bit.  

I cooked some ground beef for dinner, with tomatoes, grated carrots, and spices added to it, and I boiled some spaghetti.  Daughter had her spaghetti with the ground beef mixture and pesto.  I opened a jar of spaghetti sauce for my ground beef and pasta.  The leftovers are in the fridge for another meal.  

I also spoke with Aunt C in the evening.  According to her daughter, Aunt C has been diagnosed with dementia.  I had my suspicions based on previous chats with Aunt C, but, I didn't want to say anything until my cousin confirmed it.  

Plans for Sunday include making my New Year cards and wrapping up a few gifts.

I am grateful for:

- Everyone's kind comments and empathy
- Daughter's friends being there for her
- A lovely sympathy card with a personal note from Dancer's vet
- The availability of medications
- Working appliances

Joyful activities have included spending time with daughter, knitting, planning the almsgiving.  

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

On Thursday

 

Flowers from the Vet's Clinic

On Thursday morning, this lovely bouquet of flowers arrived from the doctors and staff at the animal hospital/vet clinic where I had taken Dancer from the day he came into our lives.  I thought it was very sweet of them to do so.  

Thank you, everyone, for all your kind comments on the previous post about Dancer.  My daughter and I appreciate all the sympathy, empathy, and love you've extended to us.  Your comments have brought us comfort as we grieve the loss of our Dancer kitty whose presence in our lives was such a blessing.

Daughter, especially, is heartbroken over losing Dancer.  She cried herself to sleep on Wednesday night and woke up crying on Thursday morning.  She took the day off from work because she needed a little time to grieve.  

I, too, miss him, but, I think I had been mentally preparing myself for this eventuality for a few months, now.

I busied myself doing household tasks.  I did laundry and washed all the sofa dust sheets as well as our clothes.  Now that Dancer is gone, we won't have to cover the sofas to keep his fur off them.  I dusted and vacuumed the living room and dining area and removed the bowl of kibble and the open bag of kibble he insisted on having access to, as well.  I washed all of Dancer's food and water dishes; I'm not sure if I will donate them to the animal shelter or just toss them.  I cleaned his litter box one last time and removed all the pee pads and newspaper we had put down around it for the times when he couldn't make it to the litter box.  And I tossed the fluffy white knitted scarf he had claimed as his "lovey", which he would carry around with him:

Dancer and his "Lovey" in Happier Times

I also ordered and picked up groceries as we needed more half and half, bread, fruit, and a few other items, including a couple of treats.  Ground beef was on sale for $5.99/lb. and I bought two packages.  I kept one in the fridge to cook this weekend and froze the other.  

I had boiled mung beans for brunch on Wednesday and daughter had some of the leftover mung beans for her brunch, on Thursday.  Later, she ate some of the croissants I bought as part of my grocery order.  I had a croissant sandwiched with tuna salad for my brunch.  Later, I cooked curried pork chops and broccoli for dinner, which we had with leftover rice.  For dessert, we had a Sri Lankan treat called kalu dodol - made with coconut milk cooked with jaggery until it forms a dark, sticky, gelatinous fudge.  It is one of the items I brought from the Sri Lankan store.  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- The bouquet of flowers the vet's clinic sent
- All the kind comments everyone left on the previous post
- Daughter was able to spend time with Dancer before he had to go
- Daughter was able to take time off from work to grieve
- Memories of a loving kitty

Thursdays joyful activities included reminiscing about Dancer.

Plans for Friday include putting away a mountain of clean laundry, tending to the garden with M, cleaning the kitchen, and a visit from friend R who is coming to pick up her packages.

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

Dancer

 

Dancer: Always Found the Sun Beam 

He "danced" into our lives one August evening in 2008, after a Friday evening ballet class at the dance studio where my daughter and I took dance classes.

Another student had found him and his two siblings behind a shed and rescued them.  When she brought him into the class, we lost our hearts to a tiny ball of grey fluff we named Dancer.

And for 17+ years, we danced to his tune when it came to his choice of food and favorite napping spots, yielding our seats on the sofa when he chose to sit there and stopping what we were doing when he wanted cuddles.

He was always our helper kitty, always willing to lend a helping paw with whatever we were doing:

Quilt Quality Control

Assembling the Raised Planting Bed with Daughter

He would, sometimes, write a blog post and share his view of things and his words of wisdom.

He always found the spot with a beam of sunshine and that's what he did, on Wednesday afternoon, December 10, around 3:00 p.m., when I took this picture of him.

Dancer, in the Sun Beam

This is the last picture we took of Dancer at home, asleep in the warmth of a sunbeam.  We took him to the vet's clinic, one last time, at 4:00 p.m. and, of course, true to his self, he threw up on the way, just before we reached the parking lot.

He had been having health issues for a few years now, diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and arthritis, decreasing in weight from 16 lbs. to 5lb. 6 oz. today.  We noticed a rapid decline in the past couple of days .  He was not eating.  He was not drinking.  He was finding it hard to walk with his hind legs sliding out from under him and his front legs buckling.  He cried in pain and he hid under the furniture.

The vet diagnosed him with kidney failure.  She said they could do some aggressive treatment but, it would not enhance his quality of life and only prolong the inevitable for a short while.  We made the difficult decision to spare him the pain.

In Daughter's Arms at the Vet's Clinic

For 17+ years, he was a big part of our lives.  He leaves his paw prints on our hearts and a big Dancer-sized hole in our lives.  

May you sleep in the sunshine and be at peace for ever more.  

I am grateful for Dancer and the love and joy he brought us.

Yet Another Cat Hair!

 

The First Decoration

The poor Christmas tree is still without the additional strands of lights, but, I hung the first decoration on it - a felt stocking that my daughter made in grade 1.  For years, she disliked how it turned out, because she tried to "dress" the gingerbread man with bits of felt and it didn't turn out the way she envisioned it, but, now, she is old enough to appreciate the efforts her 5-year old self took to decorate her stocking.  

Today (Tuesday), I had my annual check up with the ophthalmologist.  Last year, during my visit, he found and removed a cat hair from my left eye.  Today, he gazed deeply into my eyes and asked me, "Do you have a cat?"  I said, "Yes".  And he said, "I knew it!  You have a cat hair in your right eye!"  And I reminded him that, last year, too, he found one in my left eye.  He called two of his assistants to have a look for themselves before he removed the offending cat hair!

"Meow gets blamed for everything!"

The rest of the visit was quite routine and I am to return in one year's time.  I made the appointment before I left the office.

Daughter had taken time off from work to accompany me to the ophthalmologist's so she could drive me back.  Then, she returned to work.  

I made myself a peanut butter toast with a little strawberry jam for brunch and daughter made herself a bagel sandwich.  

Friend R called to say she would be passing by my house a little later in the afternoon, and could she stop by to pick up her packages.  I told her that yes, she could, but, I couldn't drive her home because my eyes were still dilated and daughter was working; R would have to wait until daughter finished work to drive her back.  R decided that she would stop by tomorrow, instead. 

Afterwards, I took another nap on the sofa!  

After I woke up from the nap, I brought in the emptied recycling bin (daughter had brought in the emptied yard waste bin and the trash bin, earlier, before the recycling bin had been emptied) and made us some tea.

Dinner will be salmon, with rice, dhal curry, and curried green beans, plus chutney.  

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to have an annual ophthalmology examination
- Everything seems to be fine other than having a cat hair in my eye!

- Medical insurance

- Daughter being able to drive me home, afterwards
- Weekly trash/recycling collections

Today's joyful activities include knitting and taking a nap!

Plans for tomorrow (Wednesday) include:

- Tending to the garden with M
- Ordering and picking up groceries
- Waiting for friend R to collect her packages and driving her home 
- Making some phone calls to set up appointments

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

Thanksgiving Week

 

Thanksgiving Dinner

Happy Thanksgiving!  I know I'm a day late, but, we can give thanks year round, can't we?

This week has whizzed by!  Daughter worked on Monday morning and took the afternoon off as well as Tuesday and Wednesday, so, with Thursday and Friday being holidays, she had most of the week off.

On Monday, I had an appointment with the dental hygienist to get more deep cleaning and a digital scan done.  Daughter accompanied me and drove us back.  I also put away the tea things used for Sunday's tea party, made cranberry sauce in advance, and had a chat with neighbor S, who said that the stray puppy belonged to one of my neighbors and she was able to return the dog to them.

We had egg salad sandwiches for brunch and I opened a can of chicken noodle soup for a quick and easy to eat dinner for me.  Later, I cooked a package of ground turkey with diced onions, bell peppers, celery, grated carrots, and tomatoes added to it and boiled some pasta for daughter's dinner.

On Tuesday, we took Dancer for his monthly arthritis injection.  This time, he threw up the sedative even before we left the house!  However, with daughter sitting in the backseat with him and petting him through an opening in his carrier, he was fairly relaxed during the car ride there and back.  

After we came home and let Dancer out of his carrier, we went grocery shopping.  We went to the Armenian grocery store to take advantage of their Tuesday special of pork chops for $1.99/lb.  We also bought some large head-on shrimp on sale for $4.99/lb., although the fish counter service person initially charged me more!  I disputed it and showed in the flyer and the sale sign with the price per pound posted on the glass case.  He still had to come around to verify it, but, he acknowledged the posted sale price and I got the shrimp for $4.99/lb.  We also picked up some fruits and vegetables, bread rolls, and a few treats. My total came to $48.49.

Grocery Receipt

Later in the afternoon, I put in a grocery order for pick up from the supermarket, which included a whole chicken, salmon fillet, a pumpkin pie and two mini pecan pies, whipped topping, and a dozen bottles of flavored water.  When I came home, I realized that, while they had charged me for the flavored water, they had not included it in the bags of groceries that were loaded into my car!  I called the store and they weren't even sure if they had any left in stock.  So, I put in a request for a refund, online; I received a message that the refund went through, but, it would take a few business days for it to be posted to my account.  

Here's the original receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$77.89

Item Coupons/Sales-$19.57

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.20

Sales Tax+$1.17

Order Total$59.69

---

Item Details

18 Items

Bakery Fresh Mini Pecan Pie, 3.25 oz$3.00

2 x $1.50 each

Bakery Fresh Pumpkin Pie, 21.5 oz (6 servings)$4.99

1 x $4.99 $5.99 each

CA Redem Val$0.60

1 x $0.60 each

CA Redem Val$0.60

1 x $0.60 each

CA Redem Val$0.20

2 x $0.10 each

CA Redem Val$0.20

2 x $0.10 each

Farmer John Maple Pork Sausage Links, 8 oz$5.00

2 x $2.50 $2.59 each

Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Cage Free Whole Chicken, 1 bag$9.67

4.86 lbs x $1.98 $2.99 each (approx.)

Fresh Atlantic Whole Salmon Fillet Farm Raised (sustainably sourced), 1 lb$9.09

0.91 lbs x $9.99 $14.99 each (approx.)

Martinelli's Gold Medal® Sparkling Apple Cider, 25.4 fl oz$7.00

2 x $3.50 $4.99 each

Reddi Wip Original Whipped Topping Made With Real Cream, 6.500 oz$5.98

2 x $2.99 $4.49 each

Sparkling Ice Lemonade Variety Pack, 12 ct / 17 fl oz$11.99

1 x $11.99 $14.99 each (not received)

---

Other Fees

$0.20

Bag Fee$0.20

2 x $0.10 each

The original total came to $59.69.

But, the refund for the missing flavored water amounted to $13.16 ($11.99 + $1.17 tax)

So, total paid would amount to $59.69 - $13.16 = $46.53

No turkey since it was just my daughter and I for Thanksgiving dinner and a whole turkey would have been too much for us and we prefer chicken, anyway.  I had invited my late friend A's husband and two daughters to join us, but, they had made other plans.  I was a little disappointed, but, daughter had been worried that I'd get too tired preparing Thanksgiving dinner for company.  As it was, it turned out for the best.

On Wednesday, daughter woke up with a migraine headache.  Gardener M was here and we did a little tidying up of the garden and chatted a bit.  Afterwards, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication refills that were ready.

In the evening, daughter was feeling better and we did a craft project together, making some gifts to give at Christmas or New Year.  Then, we tried to unclog a slow draining bathroom sink and I'm afraid our efforts might have made things a bit worse!  I am probably going to have to call a plumber, next week.  

I cooked rice, shrimp curry, and sauteed curried green beans for dinner and poached some pears for dessert.  We might have also sampled some of the pies we bought for Thanksgiving dinner, a day early!  LOL.

On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, daughter still had a lingering migraine, although she said it was more of a dull headache.  But, she had no energy to do anything although she vacuumed the living room.

I watched part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and part of a football game while I did several loads of laundry and did some ironing.  All the laundry got put away right away, so we didn't have a mountain of clean laundry piled up on the table!  I also spoke with my sister and aunt, texted with cousins and friends, and exchanged emails with a couple of friends, as well.

I had planned to have Thanksgiving dinner about 4:00 p.m., so I started cooking around 1:00 p.m., putting the chicken to roast.  I made mashed potatoes, sauteed garlicky green beans, gravy, and there was canned baked beans and the previously made cranberry sauce for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Plus pies, of course.  I was going to make cornbread, but, I got tired and didn't make it.  I'll make some another day.

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner and afterwards, I look a fairly long nap on the sofa!  We snacked on leftovers later in the evening and daughter helped me put away the balance leftovers.  She also rinsed all the dishes and loaded the dishwasher for me, which I appreciated very much.

Today, the day after Thanksgiving, we both relaxed and took it fairly easy.  I made French toast for brunch and we will have leftovers for dinner. 

Later in the evening, I helped daughter make the filling mixture for Sri Lankan fish cutlets, using canned mackerel, mashed potatoes, finely minced onions, herbs, and spices.  The mixture will be made into small balls, about one inch in diameter, dipped in beaten egg, rolled in bread crumbs, and deep fried.  I had toasted several pieces of bread crusts in the oven, last night, and daughter crushed them with a rolling pin to make the bread crumbs.  We will make the fish cutlets tomorrow and daughter will take some of them to the "Friendsgiving" potluck dinner her friend A is hosting.  

This Thanksgiving week, I am grateful for many things, but I am most thankful for:

- Being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with my daughter
- For the food we've shared and enjoyed
- For a warm and comfortable home 
- For family and friends 
- For all our blessings

My joyful activities have included spending time with daughter, doing crafts with her, chatting with family and friends, and tending to the garden.

Plans for the weekend include helping daughter make the fish cutlets, starting on my Christmas/New Year Greeting cards, and making a batch of blueberry jam (which I haven't made before, so something new to try!)

How was your week?  What were you thankful for this week?  What are your plans for the weekend?

The Rest of the Week

 

Pom Pom Chrysanthemums
at the Japanese Garden

Thank you, everyone, for your very kind comments about my visit to the botanical gardens.  Visiting a public garden had been on my Fall/Autumn Joyful Activities List and I am so happy that I was able to do so on my birthday, thanks to my gardener friend M who gifted me with the tickets.  He had been very keen for me to visit the Descanso Botanical Gardens for years, but, I wasn't ready to go until now.  It was a very big deal for me, especially since I generally tend to stay home.  

I needed to take it easy for the rest of the week because I was quite tired after that outing!  First, my left knee complained about the walking (the fact that I had dropped a large glass jar on my left foot a day or two prior to the trip and bruised my second toe didn't help).  Then, my hips protested for a couple of days.  

On Wednesday, M came to tend to the garden and I was able to show him some of the pictures I took at the Gardens and thanked him again for the tickets.  He brought several bags of potting soil I had requested him to buy for me and we planted some herbs and cool weather vegetables such as celery, kale, and carrots.  Later on Wednesday, I had a chat with my friend from university days. and, afterwards, I went to the pharmacy to pick up some medication refills.  We had leftover egg salad sandwiches for brunch and leftover Thai food for dinner.  We applied the vet prescribed flea treatment to Dancer and he seemed to tolerate it.  

On Thursday, I had a follow up appointment with the dermatologist.  It rained just a little bit on my way to the dermatologist's and it rained again on my way back.  I stopped for gas on my way home; gas has gone up, again ($4.69/gal. at the cheapest station in my neighborhood).  Later in the night, it started to rain in earnest - mostly light showers in my area, but, it rained throughout the night.  I was happy we were getting some rain because the garden really needed it.

On Friday, it rained all day and all night!  Once again, mostly light rain in my area, but, every now and then, it rained more heavily.  The garden received a good watering.  I didn't expect M to tend to the garden on Friday, but, he still showed up, moved some of the potted plants out from under the awning in the back and set them out to get watered by the rain, checked on the garden, and left early because I told him to go home.  I didn't want him working in the rain. 

Saturday was another rainy day!  Daughter vacuumed most of the house and I vacuumed my bedroom.  Then, I started on the laundry - my daughter's bed sheets and quilts,  the sofa dust sheets, and our clothes, etc.  There's extra laundry getting done because Dancer is still battling the fleas.  I've been flea combing him, daily, too, and sometimes, twice daily.  I think we are making some progress, but, it's an on-going battle.

The rain paused for the day on Sunday.  Daughter helped me order some groceries and I picked up the items in the early evening (I will do a separate post about the groceries).  Afterwards, I drove over to friend R's apartment to hand over a package she had ordered (she gets them delivered to my address because I'm home to receive them).  

Daughter tried a new recipe and baked some scones made with olive oil instead of butter and we both enjoyed the scones with butter and jam or cream cheese and jam.  

We are supposed to get more rain on Monday.  We need all the rain we can get, but, there have been floods and mudslides in certain areas.

As this week ends and another one begins, I am grateful for:

- Living to be 70
- M's gift of tickets to the botanical garden
- A lovely day at the botanical garden

- Access to medical appointments and prescriptions
- The rain we've received

My joyful activities have included a visit to the botanical gardens, planting cool weather plants in my own garden, knitting, and spending time with my daughter.

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

Dancer's Battles

 

This Little Kitty...

This little kitty went to the vet's clinic, again.  

Dancer has been battling fleas, again.  I had given him his flea prevention treatment at the end of September, but, we had to give him another treatment a week before the next treatment was due.  However, we've been noticing some tell-tale signs that the treatment hadn't been very successful.  I've been flea combing him daily and changing the sofa dust covers daily, too, and daughter has been spraying the house with indoor flea spray.  She even bought a different spray that is supposed to be stronger.  And we've been vacuuming daily as a precaution.  

However, on Friday, we saw signs that he has tapeworms, again.  So, I woke up quite early on Saturday and called the vet clinic at 7:15 a.m.(they openat 7:00 a.m.) and made an appointment to bring him in at 12:30 p.m.  They wanted a stool sample and this time, I was able to collect the sample right away.

I gave him his sedative an hour before we left and I took him to the vet's clinic by myself as daughter was having a migraine.  Of course, he threw up.  But, I suppose I should be glad it wasn't worse!  He received a pill for the tapeworms (this time, the technician gave it to him) and had his nails trimmed. He's been sleeping it off ever since we came home.

Daughter was feeling better by the time Dancer and I came home from the vet's.  She vacuumed the house while I helped a little bit.  Then, I stripped my bed and did a load of laundry.  Daughter sprayed my mattress cover with the flea spray since Dancer sleeps on my bed at night.  

I had a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast and both daughter and I had leftover Mexican rice for lunch.  I was summoning the energy to cook dinner, but, daughter ordered pizza as her treat.  There is something about dinner being delivered to my front door that appeals to me.  LOL.  

I still need to make my bed with the sheets I washed and dried.  Then, maybe I'll go to sleep at a more reasonable time, tonight.  I had 4 hours of sleep last night and didn't take an afternoon nap.  I wonder if this will reset my internal clock and reset my up-side-down sleep schedule?

Today, I am grateful for:

- I was able to get Dancer in for a same day appointment
- The availability of medications and treatments for him
- Daughter helping with the vacuuming
- Working appliances 
- A safe drive to the clinic and back

Today's joyful activity was knitting.  

Plans for Sunday include some cardmaking and more flea control!

On the lookout for the enemy!

How is your weekend coming along?

On Friday

The Front Garden in October

Another View of the Front Garden in October

On Friday, our high was 81F.  

Dancer had an appointment at the vet clinic for his monthly arthritis injection in the afternoon.  I gave him his sedative an hour before we had to leave and this time, daughter accompanied us as she had the day off from work.  She sat in the back seat with him in the carrier, petting him through the opening on the top of the carrier and that kept him calm during the journey both to the clinic and back.  There were no accidents or mishaps going or coming, which was lovely!  

After we came home, I made French toast for our brunch, vacuumed the bedrooms, and did a load of laundry.  

Later in the evening, M arrived to tend to the garden and he watered both the front garden and the back.  One of his other clients had given him some fruit and a freshly baked loaf of bread that was still warm from the oven; he shared some of the fruit (a guava, a dragon fruit, and a pomegranate) and half the loaf of bread with us, which was very generous of him.  

We had a very relaxed evening.  Daughter did some cross-stitching and played the piano, I watched some videos, the news, and a couple of the news programs I like to watch.  

For dinner, I heated some of the frozen parathas I had bought on Thursday and we had them with chicken curry.  I had chocolates for dessert; I don't think daughter had any dessert.

On Friday, I am grateful for:

- Access to vet care for Dancer
- Daughter was able to accompany us to the vet clinic and keep Dancer calm
- A drama free trip to the vet clinic and back
- M sharing what he received from another client and his help with the garden
- Working appliances

Friday's joyful activity was tending to the garden.

Oh, and the past couple of nights, we've had a new visitor to the back garden:

A New Night Visitor

Meet Blossom!  I was going to call it Flower after the skunk in Bambi, but, I don't want to infringe on any copyrights!

Blossom

Apparently, my backyard is an urban wildlife sanctuary!  Who knew?

After the Rain

 

Whiskers on Kittens

In my previous post, I showed some pictures of raindrops on roses and Angela asked, "But where are the whiskers on kittens?" and Dancer was happy to oblige (thank you, Daughter, for taking the picture).  

After Tuesday's rain, Wednesday turned out to be a bright and sunny day.  I put gas to the car in the early afternoon.  Later, M was here to tend to the garden.  He didn't need to water the garden after the previous day's rain, so he weeded and tidied the place a bit. 

Later in the afternoon, daughter and I went for a follow-up visit with the prosthodontist and he went over what he thought would be the best plan of action for me.  Daughter asked some good questions and summarized the treatment plan that was out lined and I think the prosthodontist was impressed by her, because he asked her if she would like a job working at the dental clinic!  LOL.  She declined the offer, saying she already had a job she enjoyed very much.  We are still going to wait until I have my appointment with the oral surgeon, scheduled for next week, before we make a decision, but, I made an appointment to have my teeth cleaned by the dental hygienist.  Not something I am looking forward to!

On the way home, we stopped at a nearby outdoor mall to browse around in the Japanese imports store, a favorite of daughter's.  She got a few things including some snacks.  Then, we stopped at the French bakery to pick up a baguette, which we had, sandwiched with chicken curry, for dinner.

Today (Thursday) was another sunny day.  I did several loads of laundry, including my bed sheets, did a short walk, caught up on a couple of blogs, watched the news, and relaxed.

After the rain, I am grateful for:

- Sunny days
- Daughter going with me to the dental appointments
- M's help with the garden
- Being able to shop with my daughter
- Working appliances

and, of course, whiskers on kittens!  LOL.

Halloween Decorations On Thursday

 

Halloween Decorations

Dancer decided he was a Halloween decoration, too!  LOL.  I sewed the table runner (the matching cushion covers are on the cushions on another sofa) and the mug was a gift from my sister to my daughter when she was about 3 or 4 years old.

On Thursday, I slept in.  I woke up once around 6:30 a.m. (after going to bed around 2:30 a.m.), went back to sleep, and got up at 9:30 a.m.  

Halloween Decorations in the Family Room

The trick or treat bucket in the family room was bought when daughter was 5 years old and she forgot her pumpkin treat bucket at home when we drove to her piano teacher's house to trick-or-treat.  I stopped at a grocery store and picked up this bucket for $1 or so.  The scarecrow is something my mother bought for my daughter who was probably 5 or 6 at the time.  

Here's the pumpkin bucket we bought for daughter for her 1st Halloween:

Jack-O-Lantern Bucket and Kyo (an Anime Character)

It was a sunny day with a high of 80F.  I walked for 20 minutes in the late afternoon.  I have not managed to walk twice a day, yet, but, that is a goal.  I weighed myself today; I have not gained or lost anything, but, I'm happy I've maintained my new weight.  

The Matching Cushion Covers
(the sofa seats are covered with old bedsheets to keep Dancer 's fur off)

This year, I propped the wreath on the mantelpiece; the scarecrow in the middle of the wreath was bought by my mother at the same time as the scarecrow pick shown in the second picture.

Halloween Wreath

Daughter and I had cold cuts sandwiches for brunch.  Dinner will be leftovers; rice and chicken curry, most probably, with dhal, etc.

The autumn display was moved to the dining table and will probably be there until I decorate for Thanksgiving.

On Thursday, I am grateful for:

- Being able to sleep in
- Another sunny and warm day
- Walking for 20 minutes
- Halloween decorations with memories attached
- Daughter being home with me

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

How was your Thursday?  Do you decorate for Halloween?  If so, have you decorated yet?
- 

Dancer's New Box

Dancer Claims a New Box

Two large bags of kibble were delivered earlier in the week and we opened one bag for immediate use and stored the other bag in the spare bedroom.  That left an empty box and it didn't take long for Dancer to claim it as his new box!

"Nothing hiding in this corner"

"I do wonder what happened to the kibble that was here"

"I wonder if this box will suit me?"

"Yes, it seems to fit me"

"If I tuck my paws it, I can lie down"

"Time for a catnap, zzzzz"

We left the box out for a couple of days for him to enjoy, but, daughter broke it down on Sunday.  More about Sunday in another post.

Starting Fall

 

Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Decorations
at the Vets' Clinic

Fall started on Monday, but, we are still experiencing summer with daytime highs in the upper 80s and mid-90s.

On Monday, 15 bags of donations were picked up by the charity I had called.  I actually have more bags of donations, but, 15 are all they will pick up at one time.  I will be calling them in the next day or two to schedule another pick up at their earliest convenience.  

I took it easy on Monday as I didn't feel 100%.  Daughter took the trash cans out for me in the evening and I took a 2-hour nap.  Daughter had leftovers for lunch and dinner; I had dry cereal and crackers with lemon-lime soda.  I felt fine on Tuesday morning, though.

I took Dancer to the vets' clinic to get his monthly arthritis injection on Tuesday.  The waiting area had a Day of the Dead altar set up, featuring cats and dogs.  

Dancer was not impressed.  He protested when daughter picked him up and held him for me to give him the sedative.  He protested when we put him in the carrier.  He protested during the car ride.  Then, he threw up just as I turned into the parking lot.  I usually put a towel down in the carrier and this time, I put an absorbent water proof "pee pad" on top of the towel too, as added protection.  In addition, I took an extra pee pad with me, which I handed to the technician so she could throw away the soiled one and put the dry one down for the ride home.  

The ride home was better and he didn't protest much until I turned into my street.  Then, he protested and, just as I turned into the drive way, he pooped!  Let's just say that Dancer helped me declutter a towel (I put it in the trash).  By the time I had cleaned him up and the carrier, I was pretty much done for the day!

Daughter brought the empty trash cans in, helped me fill out some paperwork, and replaced the broken handle in my toilet with a new handle she ordered for me.  She made us peanut butter toast for brunch.  For dinner, I went off the meal plan and ordered pizza to be delivered.  Later, I browned the ground turkey I had kept to thaw and added curry powder and chili powder, etc., to it.  I will finish making the keema curry on Wednesday.  

As I write this blog post, I am grateful for:

- Daughter's help with various tasks
- Vet care for Dancer
- Donations pick up by the charity
- Fans to keep us cool and electricity to run them
- Feeling better

Daily joyful activities have included decluttering, reading, and watching videos online, picking fruits and vegetables from the garden.

Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M, cooking the keema curry, and doing a bit of tidying.

How is your week coming along?