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?
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Still Sorting and Trying to Organize

 

Family Room Bookcase

The family room didn't get painted and there was no emptying of the room.  In fact, it was quite the opposite as things that were emptied from the living room and dining area were put in the family room!  This was how the bookcase above looked when all the books from the living room bookcase were added:

During the Painting

In a way, it was good to know that all the books could fit in one bookcase, along with my scrapbooks, photo albums, and board games.  

Currently, I have some of my scrapbooks and all the board games on the bottom shelf and the rest of my scrapbooks and photo albums, along with books about scrapbooking on the shelf above that. 

The middle shelf has a few decorative items - two blue and white tea pots (which might go in the dining area), a green glass bird that was a gift from my aunt, and two pieces of pottery that my daughter made in school that she thinks I should get rid of, but, I'm keeping!

The two upper shelves have books, including some that didn't get put back in the living room bookcase for one reason or another.  There are a couple of books among them that I want to read and then, donate.  But, I have room for them and I am keeping them for now.

Meanwhile, in the dining area, the shelving unit there which has table linen and kitchen towels in the cabinet section:

Dining Area Shelving Unit

has had cookbooks and other items returned to it:

Dining Area Shelving Unit

However, I am now thinking that the two blue and white tea pots that are currently sitting on the middle shelf in the family room bookcase might look better on the middle shelf of this shelving unit.  There might be a little rearranging of items, later today.

It's still a work in progress, I would say.  But, this shelving unit is looking a lot better than it did before it was emptied in preparation for painting!

Half Way Through the Month

 

Chrysanthemums

A couple of weeks ago, gardener friend M gave me this chrysanthemum plant as a thank you gift for some jams and preserves I had given him.  Isn't it gorgeous?  It came in a small pot and we transplanted it into this bigger pot.  I hope it continues to grow well.

Sunday was Father's Day and I remembered and said a prayer for my father who died when I was 7 and my stepfather who died 39 years ago almost to the date (June 16).  

We went up to 93F on Sunday and I loved it.  To be honest, the house stayed cool for most of the day, so I was quite comfortable.

I spent a rather relaxed day, shifting a few decorative items around, sorting through some paperwork, and sewing.  I placed the two large blue and white vases and the Sri Lankan earthenware water container in front of the fireplace, along with the wooden elephant that had belonged to my father, to see how it looked:

Fireplace with Vases and Elephant

I like the vases, but, I am not sentimental about them.  The wooden elephant, on the other hand, is a definite keeper.  It's battered and bruised with one tusk missing, a broken tail, and the lacquer paint chipping off, but, I am sentimentally attached to it.  I didn't like this arrangement, however, but I left it as it was for several hours to see if it grew on me.  It didn't so, I played around a little bit with it:

New Arrangement

Sorry for the lighting - taken late at night.  I moved the water container and the elephant to other areas of the room for now.  I like this arrangement better.  I guess I like things to be evenly balanced.

I'm sure everyone is heartily sick of looking at my fireplace by now!  So, here's something else to look at:

Helper Kitty Sleeping on the Job!

I was sorting some papers for filing,  He came to help and plopped himself down on the papers for a cat nap!  And that was the end of my filing!  LOL.

Well, half the month is over and I think it went quite well.  Hope the rest of the month will go equally well.

On this Father's Day Sunday, I am grateful for:

- My father
- My stepfather

- A lovely potted plant from M
- A warm and sunny day
- My helper kitty 

Sunday's joyful activity was sewing (and eating fresh peaches).

To Do List for Monday:

- More sewing
- Clear the dining table

- Tidy the family room

- Water the garden

- Clean out the fridge

- Take the trash cans to the curb

- Meal plan for the week

How was your Father's Day Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?

Two Birds with One Stone

 

Empty Bookcase

This is how the bookcase in the living room looked after everything was taken out for painting the room.  Completely empty.  

After the room was painted, I planned to take my time and put back the items in an intentional way, replacing only the items I wanted to keep and taking the opportunity to declutter as part of the process.  I also planned to thoroughly clean the living room as well as I went, a sort of late spring cleaning.  Those are the two birds I've referred to in the post title - cleaning and decluttering.

This is how the bookcase looked before:

Before

Midway through the process:

During

It took just over a week, as I put things back in the china cabinet, as well, but, the last of the books were put in place on Friday night.

After

I have a few leftover bits and pieces that I still want to keep and display, but, they have been found new homes for now.  And I told my daughter that there is room on the third shelf (where I have the trio of elephants - a gift from my mother) for her books when she comes down.  

I might declutter a few more of the books, but, for the time being, I am happy with the number of books stored on the two bottom shelves.  I didn't count how many books I have, but, I know that there are more than the 30 books recommended by one famous organizer.  

I am pleased with how the bookcase looks.  I am by no means a minimalist, but, I think I've reduced the visual clutter to a level that seems right to me.  All the items being displayed are meaningful to me - the laughing Buddha at the center of the top shelf which was a gift from my mother, the six smaller laughing Buddhas I've placed at the base, which were gifts from aunt C, the seated Bodhisattva which was a gift from my sister, the standing Chinese sage which was a souvenir of our time spent in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the round Japanese platter which was a gift from my daughter one Mother's Day, and the trio of blue and white elephants which were another gift from my mother.  

A bit further down along the same wall is the fireplace:

Fireplace

The painters forgot to rehang the mirror that used to be above the mantelpiece and I haven't done so, yet.  I also haven't put back the large blue and white vases that used to be placed on the hearth, on either side of the fireplace.  I do like those vases, so, I might put them back.  But, for now, I am enjoying how it looks without them.

In the meantime, the shelves and the items displayed on them have been washed and the pictures have been dusted.  The fireplace and shelves were not painted, and I don't think they look bad, but, I might decide to paint them, later.  I've never used the fireplace in all the years I've lived in this house; I'd have to get the chimney inspected and probably repaired, before I do so, if I ever decide to light a fire!  With my luck, I'd probably end up setting fire to the house!

At this time, I think my living room decorating and decluttering is almost done (still have to decide if I want the mirror rehung and those large vases placed near the fireplace).  

Obviously, a living room only requires some seating, a flat surface such as a coffee table or a side table on which to place a cup of tea or a glass of water (and maybe a small plate with a cookie or a piece of cake!) and a couple of lamps for lighting.  Everything else is a want, not a need - pictures, books, decorative items, etc.  But, they are the items that make a house a home, I think.  I've lived in an apartment that had no furniture other than a patio table and some chairs that the landlady gave us, which we used as our dining table.  We had no spare money to buy any furniture, so we covered sturdy cardboard boxes with table cloths or fabric and used them as places on which to keep a few necessary items.  Now that was real minimalism although, I don't think we had heard of that term at the time, in the mid 1970s.  I don't think I want to get back to that level of minimalism!  What I'm looking for is a happy medium where I have enough to be comfortable and feel grateful for the abundance without feeling overwhelmed by it.

I am grateful for:

- My home
- Furniture (cat clawed as the upholstery might be!  😸)
- My favorite things on display to enjoy seeing without feeling overwhelmed by visual clutter

- Being blessed with enough and plenty!
- Memories to look back on and smile

What do you think?  

A Whole Lot of Painting Going On!

 

Prepping to Paint

The painters arrived on Thursday morning!  I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and took down the altar and one or two other items I had left in place until then.  At 7:30 a.m., two young men showed up with paint and brushes, and after verifying that I wanted the whole room painted, set about moving the furniture away from the walls, covering everything with sheets of plastic (I guess drop cloths are a thing of the past?) and prepping the walls.

They took down the drapes and I washed and dried them.  I also hemmed one pair of drapes that I had cut off the bottom foot or so when Dancer had an accident. One really old pair of drapes shredded in the wash (which I suspected would happen).  They had hung in a window that is mostly covered by the china cabinet and I didn't have a spare pair of drapes on hand for that window.  Instead, I used a table cloth or bedspread that had been given to me by neighbor S's family, as a temporary drape.  I really need to buy new drapes and drapery rods, but, that's another task for another day.

The walls and ceiling were painted with flat white paint (they had been painted white, earlier, too), the washed drapes were rehung, and the furniture was put back in place.  They rehung the prayer and horseshoe I had hung above the front door, but, they forgot to hang the mirror over the mantelpiece and I forgot to tell them to do so until I saw the mirror after they had left.  So, that is something else that needs to be done another day.

In the meantime, I have a freshly painted living room and dining area and I get to cross of another task on my Mile Long To Do List!

They finished the painting and left around 4:00 p.m.

After they left, I set the altar back up, with my daughter's help.    

So far, that is the only thing I put back.  I had read about "hushing a room" and "backwards decluttering" where you remove everything other than the heavy furniture from a room, leave it empty for 24 hours and then, put back just the items you want, being intentional about what you are putting back.  Since the living room and dining area were "hushed" when I removed everything in order to paint the room, I want to take my time and put my decorative items back in a more intentional manner.  

Empty Bookcase in Living Room

Then, it was time to make a dessert to take to my cousin's for the family get-together.  I decided to try a new berry cobbler recipe a friend had sent me that she had found online.  I decided to substitute peaches for the berries and I think it turned out well.  But, when we got to my cousin's house, everyone was asking if I had made another bread pudding, saying my cousin had been raving about it and they were looking forward to trying it!  Oops!  

I enjoyed the evening at my cousin's house.  She had prepared a Sri Lankan meal of rice and curries and appa (hoppers) which she made as people ate as hoppers must be eaten while the edges are still crisp and they get soft if you make them ahead.  There were two types of Thai desserts and a cheesecake (all purchased) and my homemade peach cobbler for dessert.  

Also on Thursday, I received an email from my primary care doctor with the results of the ultra sound I had done on Wednesday.  The scan results showed that everything was normal, which was a big relief and an answer to my prayers!  I still have the appointment with the specialist scheduled for next Wednesday to discuss the lab test results which showed some cause for concern, but, at least we can rule out some of the possible causes with the scan results being normal.  

I think I can say that Thursday was a very good and blessed day.

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- The good scan results and my doctor forwarding me the results as soon as she received them
- The painters showed up and painted!
- Getting another item crossed off my Mile Long To Do List 

- A lovely evening spent with my family at cousin V's house

- A safe drive there and back

Thursday's joyful activities included getting my living room and dining area painted and getting together with family and spending a lovely evening, chatting, laughing, and enjoying a delicious meal.  

How was your Thursday?  Have you heard of house hushing? Have you tried it? 

A Degree Cooler on Tuesday

High of Only 99F 

On Monday, we went up to 100F; today's high was only 99F and it was still only 98F when I took the photo.  Humidity was 23% at the time, but, it has now gone up to 29% at 4:45 p.m. (and the temperature has come down to 91F).  I am comfortable with the fans on.

On Monday, I managed to be somewhat productive.  I paid the three bills that were coming due, later this week, called and made Dancer's vet appointment for his arthritis injection, took the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning, picked more okra , another ear of corn, and ripe chilies from the garden, cooked the green beans I had picked earlier and the ear of corn, made egg salad for sandwiches, and watered the back garden.  I also did my meal planning blog post, borrowed and read another ebook and watched the Olympics games coverage.

The rooms of the week, this week, are the dining room/area and the laundry room.  Today, I dusted and polished the dining table, changed the table cover (my mother crocheted this little square table cover; obviously, I didn't block it the last time I washed it!), and dusted the china cabinet.  On my "someday" to do list, I have "remove everything from the china cabinet, wash everything, wash the glass shelves in the cabinet, and put everything back".  But, that someday is not today!  Today, I've already dropped and broken a glass plate and dropped a drinking glass (which didn't break)!

Dining Table

The basket of fruit contains lemons and passionfruit from the garden.

I also dusted and polished the living room coffee table and a side table.  Dancer had been sleeping on the coffee table, lately, and it needs to be dusted more frequently than once a week, as a result.

In addition, I did a load of laundry, today, and hung up everything inside the house to dry.  

Salad for Brunch

I made myself a salad for brunch: lettuce, cucumber, carrot, apple, garbanzo beans, plus honey mustard salad dressing.  

I'll probably have an egg salad sandwich for dinner.

I called former neighbor T to check on her, today, as she didn't call me as usual on Sunday or on Monday; she was fine, but, had forgotten to call.  I also called aunt C and left a message, as she hasn't called in several weeks.  Hope she is well, too.

I am grateful for:

- Electric fans

- Electricity to run the fans
- Fresh produce from the garden
- Water for the garden

- Weekly trash collections

Today's joyful activities included watching the games on TV and reading.

Are you having similar temperatures where you are?  

On Wednesday

Flowers

I was asked if I would post a picture of daughter's painting; the photo she took of it last night came out with a yellowish tinge because it was taken under artificial light and I chose not to publish it.  This photo was taken today, in natural light, and the colors photographed better.  

Today, gardener M was here to tend to the garden.  He watered the garden, tidied it up a little, and planted the last six potatoes I had left in the bag of potatoes I had bought earlier in the year since they had all sprouted while still in the bag!  It's hard to keep potatoes from sprouting when it is so warm.  Today's high was 94F (34.4C).

I made waffles and blueberry compote for brunch, today, and M enjoyed a waffle with the compote before he left.  

I put in an order for groceries and picked it up, today.  I wanted to buy more salmon while it was still on sale and one or two items for Friday's dinner.

Later, I cooked a cashew curry and froze most of it for Friday night's dinner (left a little out for our dinner, tonight).  I also prepared a dhal (lentil) curry for Friday.  Later I cooked the salmon I bought and a pot of rice for tonight's dinner.  Daughter made a cucumber salad to go with it.  Neighbor S's daughter brought over four pieces of gata (Armenian pastries) and daughter and I had a piece each for dessert.

The New Area Rug

This is the new area rug I bought for $60 (plus tax, of course).  I think that the dark blue of the borders go well with my blue and white china collection and daughter says that the yellow bits go well with the brass accessories in the room.  I like the muted colors in the lighter area in the middle.  I think the rug goes well with my rather shabby upholstered furniture, where Dancer and the cats before him have sharpened their claws and shredded the fabric.  

Brunch was waffles and blueberry compote.  Dinner was rice, sauteed salmon with onions and tomatoes, cucumber salad, and tomato chutney.  Snacks included cherries and gata (Armenian pastries).  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- M's help with the garden
- Being able to order groceries online and contactless pick up
- A safe drive to the grocery store and back
- Neighbors bringing gata (Armenian pastries)
- Daughter doing the dishes

Today's joyful activities included gardening and reading.

Plans for tomorrow include going to watch a fireworks display with daughter and friends.

How was your Wednesday?  What are your plans for Thursday?  What are your plans to celebrate the 4th of July/American Independence Day?

Easter Sunday

The First Rose of Spring

There was rain, Saturday night into early Sunday morning, but, the rest of Sunday has been dry.

I woke up around 10:00 a.m. (after going to bed at 4:00 a.m.) and didn't go back to sleep, so, maybe I'll be able to go to sleep a little earlier tonight.  

My daughter and I have had a fairly relaxed day, today.  She helped me do a little more furniture rearranging:

The Croton Has a Home

We pushed the dining table a little bit to make room for another plant stand that I had been using as a display stand in the living room.  It is one of a pair that I bought, back in the early 1980s, when my mother, step-father, and I were living in an apartment.    It is sturdy enough for the croton.  We also removed the wheels from the new plant stand because daughter thought the stand was not as steady with the wheels.  Of course, this arrangement requires the plant stands to be moved aside a bit when we need to use the dining table for a sit down meal, but, I don't eat at this table on a regular basis when I'm by myself and the next big gathering will probably be Thanksgiving, so, we are set for several months.  Oh, and I added a couple of bowls and vases to the empty shelves on the new plant stand, after I took this photo, to deter Dancer from climbing up (although he has not shown any signs of wanting to do so, as yet).  

While moving the furniture, I bent down to reposition the dracaena plant that we moved from this window to the other end of the dining table, and managed to knock my head on the sharp corner of the china cabinet!  I applied an ice pack, but, I now have a lovely bump on my right temple, just above the dent left from when I fell in the bathroom (years ago) and knocked my head on the shower door rail! 

I ran the dishwasher and wiped down the kitchen counters (and will clean the litter box and sweep the bathroom, later), but, that's all the housework I plan to do, today.  I also watered all the houseplants, but, I don't consider that as housework.  

In the evening, I called friend R and chatted with her for a bit.  I'm planning to stop by her apartment, tomorrow, to drop off a few things for her.

We had leftover pastries for brunch and I cut up the pineapple I had bought during my last grocery shopping order (and I just remembered that I had not posted the details of that, yet!) and made more avocado pudding.  We will have leftovers from last night's dinner for dinner, tonight.  

By the way, we had a visitor, last night:

Rocky Raccoon, I Presume?

Poor Patches had been eating the kibble when the raccoon appeared and tipped over the plate to help itself to the kibble!  Patches pressed herself against the door, to the right of the picture, terrified of this big thief!  But, the raccoon ignored her, completely.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter being home to help me rearrange the furniture
- A relaxed, restful day

- Working appliances

- Being able to order kitty litter online and have it delivered
- Leftovers!

Today's joyful activity was spending time with my daughter.  She's feeling just a bit under the weather, but, still planning to leave, tomorrow.

Plans for tomorrow include making milkrice in the morning, taking my daughter to the airport in the afternoon, and taking a few things to my friend R in the evening.  

Hope everyone had a lovely day, today.  What are your plans for Monday?  Are you ready to start a new month?

Saturday: Decorating for Halloween

Halloween Decorations

Today, I decorated the house for Halloween.  The Jack-o-Lantern mug (a gift my daughter received when she was a little girl from my sister) took the place of the blue vase with the fading squash leaf in the arrangement with the silver grey pumpkin and the white lantern.

I put the trick-or-treating teddy bears runner I had sewn on the living room coffee table and placed the plastic Jack-o-Lantern candy bucket I bought for my daughter for her very first Halloween.  Not pictured is another plastic trick-or-treating bucket which I bought for my daughter when she was 5 years old - we were on our way to trick-or-treat at her piano teacher's house and we realized that we had forgotten to bring her Jack-o-Lantern bucket with us, so, we made a quick stop at a grocery store on the way and picked up another bucket.

The decoration hanging on the back of the door and the scarecrow on the mantelpiece are items my mother bought for my daughter.  

There seems to be a theme here, doesn't it?  Almost all the decorations are items that were bought for my daughter!  LOL.  

There is an old wreath, too, which I put together years ago, with another scarecrow (again, something my mother bought for my daughter) and other bits and pieces:  

Old Halloween Wreath

But, stuff was falling off the wreath and it was looking very old and tired.  I am planning to redo the wreath and I'll post a picture of it once I've done it.  

This was today's garden harvest:

Today's Garden Harvest: Green Beans and Cherry Tomatoes

Just a handful of green beans (most of the bean plants are done producing and I pulled them up) and cherry tomatoes from the volunteer tomato plant.  I froze most of the cherry tomatoes, but, I cooked the green beans to have with my dinner, and I added a couple of the cherry tomatoes to the green beans:

Saturday Dinner: Hamburger Patty, Green Beans,
and Cheesy Instant Mashed Potatoes

There was a packet of cheesy instant mashed potatoes that neighbor S's daughter had given me a long time ago (towards the beginning of the pandemic; she gave me two packets).  They have sat in the cupboard all this time and I decided that I should make up one of them to go with the hamburger patty and the green beans from the garden.  I think I would have enjoyed regular mashed potatoes to the cheesy ones, but, it wasn't too bad.  There's leftover mashed potatoes for future meals.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another sunny and warm day
- Today's garden harvest
- Books to read
- A relaxed day
- Online videos to watch

Today's joyful activity was decorating the house for Halloween.

How was your Saturday?  Do you decorate for Halloween?

 

Monday

 

"That was one small step for a squash vine..."

I thought the other squash vine (at the upper part of the photo) would be the vine to climb up the steps, but, it seems to have stopped growing!  Instead, a side vine made it to the first step, this weekend!   I think the 90F temperature brought on a growth spurt!  

Thank you, everyone, for your very kind comments on my post, yesterday.  I have always been a bit of a collector, but, I usually manage to keep the collections under control.  But, every so often, I look around and see that the collections have grown or there are too many different collections or remnants of collections.  Part of me loves seeing all the decorative items and many of them have memories associated with them.  The other part of me wants less visual clutter and fewer items on display!  I need to continually edit and curate my collections, I guess.  

M gave me a second mini pumpkin, so, I changed my display, today:

Centerpiece Version 2

The second pumpkin has a silvery grey, almost pale lilac color to it.  I like this arrangement, too, but, my daughter says she preferred yesterday's arrangement with the black candle holder contrasting with the orange pumpkin.  Which one do you prefer?

It was another sunny and warm day, today.  I walked around the garden, redid my centerpiece display, took the trash cans to the end of the driveway, and called my friend S (not neighbor S) to thank her for this:

Dinner, Compliments of Friend S

She had prepared meals for a mutual friend who has had emergency surgery and she sent me a share of it through her husband and daughter!  Rice, green beans, fish "cutlets" (the round balls - made with a fish mixture that is battered, breaded, and deep fried), young jackfruit curry, potato curry, cabbage, lentils, and beef!  There was a small container of yogurt, as well, which the manufacturers are calling "cultured cream"!  Friend S makes the best Sri Lankan rice and curries!  I had some of it for my dinner and there's enough leftover for tomorrow's lunch, too!  I picked a bag of curry leaves and sent it to S through her daughter.

I usually post my weekly meal plans on a Monday, but, I will post that, tomorrow!

Today, I am grateful for:
- Another sunny and warm day
- Kind blog comments
- Friend S sending me dinner (and her husband and daughter bringing it to me)
- Weekly trash collection services
- Being able to video chat with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was rearranging my fall pumpkin display!

Plans for tomorrow include spot watering the garden and tidying the dining area.

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

Mid-October Weekend

Fall Centerpiece

When M was here on Friday evening, he left one of his gardening tools behind and didn't realize it until later in the evening.  So, he texted me and stopped by on Saturday morning to pick it up.  He brought me this really cute little pumpkin he had grown.  I decided to put together a fall themed centerpiece, using a few other items I had on hand.

The brass platter is from India and I've had it for years, although I decluttered the set of six brass goblets that came with it (I didn't drink out of them).  The white pumpkin-like planter with the artificial succulents was a holiday gift from a cousin, a few years back.  The black lantern is a candle holder and is something M rescued (one of his other clients had a garden party and used the lanterns as table decorations; she was getting rid of them after the party and M brought me a white one and a black one, saying I was under no obligation to keep them).

The brass platter and the black lantern candle holder are usually displayed on shelves in the family room bookcases and the white pumpkin planter is usually on display on the top of a shelving unit in the dining room (most decluttering experts say not to keep artificial plants or to display items on top of bookcases, etc., as they add to visual clutter.)  What's funny is, the items I used (other than the pumpkin M gave me on Saturday) are all things I've considered decluttering, but, have continued to keep.  They are purely decorative for the most part (I've used the candle holder during power outages), but, come together nicely (in my opinion, of course) for a centerpiece like this.  Which is why I find it so hard to declutter some of my decorative items!  They come in handy from time to time.

I guess the question is: do I use them often enough to justify keeping them/the space they take up?  The honest answer to that is, "Probably not!"   But, it is nice to have them for just such a use!  Maybe I should use them more often!  Could I have used something else to go with the pumpkin to create a centerpiece?  The answer to that is, "Yes!"  I could have used one of my blue and white china platters instead of the brass one.  I could have used a blue and white china vase instead of the planter.  I could have used a different candle holder.  It would have been a different centerpiece, then, of course.  

This weekend has been sunny and warm (a high of 95F, today!)  I slept through the solar eclipse on Saturday, so didn't get to see it.  After M had been to pick up the forgotten tool, I took some packages to friend R (they had been delivered to my address because she didn't want them left outside her apartment building in case someone took them), along with a bag of curry leaves that she had requested.  Afterwards, I did a load of laundry and relaxed.  I tried to take a nap, but, I couldn't fall asleep, so I watched videos online and played sudoku!

Today (Sunday), I did two more loads of laundry, including my bed sheets, and ran the dishwasher.  

October Decluttering Week 2: 

4 more discontinued/expired medications

2 more medical/health insurance brochures

1 jar candle 

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- The sunny and warm weather
- Working appliances
- A brief curbside visit with friend R
- M bringing me a mini pumpkin
- Being able to video chat with my daughter

My weekend joyful activities have included visiting with R and putting together a fall centerpiece.

Plans for Monday include continuing with the kitchen tidying and maybe sewing.   

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

Winter Solstice Tuesday

Gata (Armenian Cookies) from S

Neighbor S called and brought me some gata (Armenian cookies) that she had made.  She brought over four cookies, but, my daughter ate one before I could take the photo!  LOL.  She loves them!

Today, I received a call in the morning from the charity I will be donating to, to remind me that the pick up is scheduled for tomorrow, "between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.".  I have to put the bags by the front door, with a sign on them, naming the charity group.  

That phone call was followed by a call from cousin P; I politely declined today's offering because I wouldn't have been able to wash it in time for the donations pick up, tomorrow.  

My daughter is hosting a small get together for three of her friends, today.  Two of them are friends from middle school and one is a friend from high school days.  They used to call themselves the Awkward Turtle Squad and have been bridesmaids together at one girl's wedding and they will be bridesmaids and maid of honor at another's planned wedding, next year (it was postponed from last year, due to Covid).  They started this tradition of having a holiday pot luck when they were in high school and after they graduated, they continued to get together, even when some of them moved out of state to go to college, every year, usually at our house.  In 2019, they had a dinner at a restaurant for the first time.  Of course, they didn't do anything in 2020, but, this year, with a great deal of discussion, watching the Covid case numbers, and endless rounds of "should we/shouldn't we", they've decided to go ahead and have the gathering, with my daughter hosting.  She offered to cook rice and curries, which she did on Sunday, leaving only the cucumber salad and rice to prepare, today.  All the girls are fully vaccinated and daughter and at least one other girl have had their boosters.  I have had my booster, too, but, I am staying sequestered in my bedroom to minimize contact!  Daughter has the air purifiers on and two or three windows are cracked open for ventilation, as well.

Today, I did some final house cleaning and tidying before tonight's get together, even though my daughter told me not to bother.  I dusted and vacuumed the living room, dining area, and family room.  Scrubbed the stove top (including under the burners) and the top of the vent hood and swept the kitchen.  There are some decorations up and I've made sure the holiday table cloths are spread on the tables, although my daughter didn't want to take down the holiday plates, etc.  They are using paper plates, she told me.  LOL.

Today, I am grateful for:

- S bringing us gata 
- Being able to get the house cleaned, tidied, and decorated for the holidays

- My daughter having good friends of many years
- The last of the holiday gifts I ordered arriving safely
- The sound of laughter as my daughter and her friends enjoy being together

Today's joyful activity was getting the house cleaned for the holidays.

(We will not talk about the few boxes of stuff that ended up on my bedroom floor to be dealt with over the next few days!  They contain gifts to be wrapped and tagged, paperwork to be dealt with, sewing projects to be finished, etc.)  

Plans for tomorrow include having the donations collected (I'll put them out by the front door, before I go to sleep, tonight), wrapping and tagging some holiday gifts, having M tend to the garden, and relaxing.  

How was your Tuesday?  Did you do anything special to celebrate the Winter Solstice?  What are your plans for tomorrow?

Sunny on Wednesday

Dancer Checks Out the Christmas Tree

It was a sunny day, today.  In the morning, the temperature was 36F at M's house, which is a couple of miles from my house and he said there was frost on the roofs in his neighborhood.  It was a little warmer by the time I woke up, but, it was still crisp and cold.  Our high today was 55F.  

M was able to fix the cover on top of the vent pipe, this morning, but, he found that there was a hole in the pipe, itself.  I might have to replace that pipe - I'll add it to that ever growing list of home repairs I have to do!  

I finished crocheting the blanket, today, and washed and dried it.  Then, I hung up the wreaths and did a bit of decorating.  I didn't put the Winter Village up, yet, though.  I need to clear off the counter on the pass through between the kitchen and the family room to set up the Village, there.  The house is looking very messy, again, with the bins of holiday decorations out and piles of gifts waiting to be wrapped, etc.  I discovered that I didn't have as many medium sized gift bags as I had thought and had to order a few, as well as more tissue paper!  They should be delivered on Friday, along with a gift that I ordered.  

Later, in the evening, I cooked a dhal (lentils) curry and curried green beans to go with leftover rice and chicken curry from yesterday for our dinner.  After dinner, I put away the leftovers, did the dishes, cleaned the litter box, etc., and chatted a bit with friend R.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny day to dry out from the rain
- M tending to the garden and fixing the vent cover
- I was able to finish crocheting the blanket in good time
- Being able to order gift wrapping supplies online and having them delivered
- Cards arriving in the mail, each bearing a holiday wish from a friend or family member.

Today's joyful activity was finishing the blanket!

Plans for tomorrow include tidying the house and writing cards!

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

The Tree is Up!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

My daughter put up the Christmas tree (a pre-lit artificial one that, nevertheless, sheds its needles just like a real tree would!) and decorated it, yesterday (Saturday)!  This is the first time she decorated this tree by herself (in previous years, I've been the one decorating it).  This year, my job was limited to vacuuming, before we moved the second sofa away from its usual position in front of the window to make room for the tree, after the sofa was moved to clean the area that used to be under the sofa, after the tree was set up to remove all the needles that dropped, and again, after the decorations were hung up because there were still more needles!  Did I mention that this tree dropped its needles just like a real tree?  Daughter claimed that putting up and decorating the tree was a workout!  LOL!  We didn't put the topper, yet, because it is in a bin that we haven't opened, yet.  

We took the opportunity to declutter 3 ornaments that were broken, which I decided not to try and hot glue back together!  

The reason why I didn't join in the decorating of the tree (which is also the reason why I am so behind with reading and commenting on blogs) is the blanket that I am crocheting for my friend!  You see, originally, the plan had been to visit my friend next weekend, which would have given me all of next week to finish the blanket.  But, yesterday morning, my friend's daughter texted asking if we could visit this coming Monday, instead!  Yikes!  I still had to crochet 5 more squares and then, sew them together and do a border around!  So, I spent the majority of the day, yesterday, crocheting!  I also thought of a couple of alternative gifts to give my friend, in case I couldn't finish the blanket!

Eventually, however, after some texting back and forth since my daughter has work on Monday and we would be able to visit only much later in the evening, it was decided that next weekend would be better, after all!  Whew!  Big sigh of relief, especially as I found out that the black yarn I was planning on using for the border would not be enough!  So, we put in an order for new yarn, to be picked up, this afternoon!  I didn't feel guilty about buying more yarn because I needed it for this specific project!  I bought two skeins of black for me and a skein of white for my daughter, as she had come to the end of her white yarn.

Daughter and I also put in an order for groceries, as well.  

Where is Dancer?

"Here I am!"

Today, Sunday, I put up a couple of Christmas decorations and ran the dishwasher.  

Later, daughter and I ran a few errands in the afternoon.  First, we went to the craft store to pick up the order of yarn - they had curbside pick up, which was very convenient.  Then, we stopped by a favorite Chinese fast food place (in the same shopping complex) which has a drive through to pick up some lunch. 

Then, we drove to another store (a department store) to return something that daughter had ordered online as it was the wrong size.  I stayed in the car, but, she had to go in to the store.  However, she received a $5 coupon to be redeemed in store only, valid from today until the 20th, just for going to the store in person!  I guess the stores are really wanting people to shop in person!  Daughter said the store was fairly crowded, but, that is to be expected on a Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks before Christmas!  She wore her mask and was there for less than 10 minutes.

From there, we went to the grocery store (again, in the same shopping complex as the department store) to pick up the groceries.   We had to wait less than 10 minutes for the store clerk to bring the groceries to the car, but, she apologized for the wait and gave us a $10 discount!  Wow!  We are not complaining!  That discount paid for the deli pizza ($5) we had ordered as part of the groceries and the jar of almond butter ($4.79)!  I will do a post about the groceries, later.

Our errands took us all of one and a half hours!  We came home and had some of the Chinese food for brunch.  I thought I'll do this blog post before I get busy with crocheting the blanket!  I want to try and finish it by tomorrow!  

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- Daughter being home for the holidays, setting up the tree and decorating it

- Being able to order stuff online and pick up curbside
- Unexpected discounts and coupons
- A safe drive to the shops and back
- More time to finish my gifts!

This weekend's joys included seeing the Christmas tree up and decorated and crocheting!

How is your weekend coming along?  Do you decorate for Christmas?  If so, have you started?

A Space for Everything - The Big Reveal!

New Sideboard!

Today, I cleaned the corner of the family room a little more, washing the walls and the baseboard, again.  Then, daughter pushed the sideboard into place!  

Plenty of Covered Storage Space!

The two cupboards on either side have three shelves, the upper two are adjustable.  The top drawer is shallower than the other two.

Then, daughter sorted through everything that I had stored on top of the old computer desk and the plastic shelving unit that used to be on the side of the computer desk.  She went through all the computer accessories and decided what could be discarded - old computer mouse attachments (computer mice?), keyboard, monitor, and speakers (set aside for donating).  I dusted the items while she sorted, organized, and consolidated things for me!  Then, she arranged everything: 

Left Cupboard

Right Cupboard

The cupboard on the left (when standing in front of the sideboard, facing it) has computer cords and program CDs in a pink basket on the bottom shelf.  The cardboard box on the middle shelf holds some empty canning jars (I might cover the box with fabric or contact paper, later).  The top shelf holds my tool kit (screwdrivers, hammer, etc.) in the clear plastic shoe box in front and extra nails, screws, and other pieces of hardware in another container, behind it.  Much of this stuff was stored on the plastic shelving unit.  

Speaking of screwdrivers, remember the cordless screwdriver with the rechargeable battery that had run out of charge and I didn't think I had the battery charger?  We found the battery charger, today, when daughter was sorting through a basket of tools and supplies!  I had forgotten I even had it, never mind where I had put it!  Of course we found it after she put the sideboard together without the cordless screwdriver!  It is now stored together with the screwdriver!  

The cupboard on the left stores the old, non-working laptops on the bottom shelf, being stored until we are able to go to the computer store to have them delete whatever files stored on them before being recycled.   These laptops were stored on a shelf on the computer desk.  The middle shelf is actually empty!  Imagine that!  The top shelf has a basket with my gardening supplies - seed packets, gloves, and a new hand spade!  As well as a can of WD40 lubricant, which could probably go to the garage!  

The drawers in the middle contain all my gift wrap supplies that used to be stored in a battered old wicker chest!  The bottom drawer has Christmas gift wrapping supplies, the middle drawer has birthday and all occasion gift wrapping supplies, and the top drawer has tissue papers, bubble wrap, etc.  Two plastic shoe boxes filled with ribbons, Christmas cards, etc., that were stored on a different shelf unit in the family room, also fitted into the drawers.  I put in a small box with a pair of scissors and tape in the top drawer, as well.  The sideboard makes a good gift wrapping station!

The only items being stored on the top of the sideboard are the computer modem and the white cookie jar which stores bird seeds.  Of course, I am not sure just how long that top will remain so clear!  I am already tempted to place a set of candle holders or perhaps a small plant on it!

As a result of getting this new piece of storage furniture, I was able to declutter the computer desk and the plastic shelving unit (might move that to the garage or the shed to store plant pots, etc.; if not, it will be taken apart and either donated or recycled).

That just leaves the old wicker chest that is falling apart:

Old Wicker Chest

This chest was purchased several years ago, when the old coffee table in the family room broke and I needed something to function as a coffee table for the prayer gathering that was being held later that evening!  Friend R and I ran to a discount store that sold furniture, but, they didn't have a coffee table for a reasonable price!  I purchased this chest in lieu of a coffee table and later, used it to store my gift wrap and gifts as I purchased them ahead of time when there were sales, etc.  Dancer Kitty liked to sleep on the top and over the years, the wicker began to break (I made a half-hearted attempt to repair it with some raffia, at one point!)  Daughter thinks I should dispose of it.  But, I decided to store the big bags of cat food in there, for now.  At least until the bottom collapses! 

Daughter said that assembling and setting up the sideboard, sorting through the stuff and organizing everything was her gift of service to me - it's a gift I appreciate very much!  Such a blessing to have her do these things for me!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter's gift of service to me
- The new sideboard 
- The new storage space!
- Having everything nicely organized
- Finding the charger for the cordless screwdriver!

Today's joyful activity was getting the new sideboard set up and organized by my daughter!