Maybe a Fruit Grower?

 

Calamondin

Even if I can't grow potatoes or corn, I can definitely grow some fruit!  Today, my daughter picked some calamondin (also known as calamansi), which is a type of citrus fruit.  They are a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin orange and are small, round, and very, very sour.   But, they make a great marmalade and I am going to experiment this year and see if I can make some chutney, too.  

Back in December 2024, I asked M to prune the calamondin tree.  Here's how it looked towards the end of January 2025:

Calamondin Tree After Pruning: January 2025

It has since grown back quite nicely and was full of fruit - here's how it looked in June, 2026:

Calamondin Fruit in June, 2026

Daughter picked just over six pounds of calamondin today and there's still more fruit on the tree.  But, six pounds are about as much as we can handle at a time.  I washed them all well and daughter spent about an hour cutting each fruit in half and removing the seeds.  We decided that it was too hot to make a batch of marmalade today (a high of 88F/31C and we have no air conditioning) so he deseeded fruit was put in the freezer to be processed later.  Some of the marmalade will be given as gifts later in the year.  

I am grateful for:

- The calamondin tree
- The abundance of fruit produced by this tree
- Daughter picking the fruit for me
- And deseeding them for me
- Having a working freezer to store the fruit

Do you like marmalade?  Do you think you might like calamondin marmalade?  Would it be something you might try?

MidWeek Catch-Up

 

Stumpery on Wednesday, May 27, 2026

I was happy to see the scaredy cat plant flowering among the stumps in the stumpery this morning. 

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and are having a good start to this last week in May.  Time sure goes by quickly, doesn't it?  I didn't realize i hadn't posted after the grocery delivery post on Saturday!

Time for a quick catch up, I think. 

On Saturday, after the groceries were delivered and I put things away, I made a quick trip to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription my oncologist had called in and was ready for pick up.  I used my Extra Care bucks to pick up two boxes of granola bars that were on sale for $1.99 per box.

After I came home, I picked more peaches.  Later, my daughter joined me and we picked most of the rest of the peaches that were on the tree. We left about half a dozen peaches on the highest branches for the birds to enjoy.  Thank you, peach tree; you blessed us with an abundance of peaches, this year.  

Daughter peeled and sliced the majority of the peaches we picked and I froze three bags of peaches, with six cups of sliced peaches in each, for making jam, etc., later on.  Daughter also ordered more canning jars and new lids for jars that I will be reusing, so I have plenty of supplies for future batches of jam and chutney.  

Neighbor S had asked if the guests attending her husband's birthday party could park in my driveway and I had said yes.  Later on Saturday evening, she brought us dinner and dessert:

Saturday Dinner Compliments of Neighbor S

I gave her some freshly picked peaches in return; about half an hour later, she called me to ask, very apologetically, if it would be possible for her to have just one more peach!  Apparently, she shared the peaches with her guests and one guest didn't get any!  Of course, I gave her about eight more peaches, not just one, and she was very happy.  I also set aside another dozen or so peaches to give my friend R.

I made a compote with some of the peaches, after dinner, and baked a tray of chicken drumsticks to have over the week.

On Sunday, I did a little housework, dusting and vacuuming the living room and doing a load of laundry.  Friend R called to say that a package she had ordered had been delivered to my address and could I keep it for her.  I told her I could bring it to her in the evening, along with some peaches, but, she said she will come on Monday to collect it.  Later, neighbor S called to ask if she could borrow my recycling bin as she had more items than could fit into her bin, so I told her she could borrow it.  

We had leftovers from Saturday's dinner for brunch on Sunday and for Sunday dinner, I cooked hamburgers using one of the packages of frozen hamburger patties I had bought.  I cooked the whole package (8 patties) so we could have them for brunches during the week.

Purple Daylily

Monday was Memorial Day.  Friend R messaged me in the morning saying she was not able to come to pick up the package and she was expecting more packages to be delivered on Tuesday, so could she come on Tuesday, instead?  I said that daughter will be working, but, Tuesday would be fine.

We had a relaxed day on Monday.  I made waffles for brunch and we had that with bacon and peach compote.  I watered the garden, picked blueberries, and put away the laundry I had done on Sunday.  Later in the evening, daughter's friends V and A came over for a visit.  V spent the evening to play board games with daughter while A mostly came to drop off some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies she had baked!  Daughter shared the cookies with me and they were delicious.  

Monday Brunch

Tuesday was an overcast, cool day with the highs in the mid 60s.  I brought in the emptied trash cans, checked on the front garden, and was greetedwith a hug by one of my young neighbors who lives with her parents and younger sister in a rental unit a couple of doors down (she's a very friendly, outgoing teenager) which totally made my day.  At noon, daughter took a lunch break from work and I accompanied her when she went to the post office to mail a package to one of her friends.  

I made a version of a Sri Lankan street food known as "kottu roti" for brunch.  The traditional kottu rotiis made with a type of leftover Sri Lankan flat bread or roti.  I used Armenian lavash bread that neighbor S had given instead of the more traditional roti and added onions, shredded cabbage, leftover chicken curry, etc. to make my kottu roti.  

I had been expecting friend R to come in the afternoon, but, she messaged me to say she will come on Wednesday, instead.  

Later in the afternoon/early evening, I made a batch of blueberry muffins, in part to have with our tea and in part so that the oven could warm up the house a bit.  

In the evening, daughter went to do her gymnastics and I went with her for the ride.  I stayed in the car and read while she was at the gym and after it got too dark to read, I spent a little time praying and people watching while I waited for my daughter.  After we came home, we had leftovers for dinner and cookies for dessert.

Bread Roll with Spinach, Mushrooms, & Cheese Filling

On Wednesday, it was mostly sunny, but, still on the cooler side, with a high of only 63F.  Friend R messaged that she will be arriving around 1:30 p.m. and when she came, she brought some bread rolls with a spinach,mushrooms, and cheese filling from a nearby bakery.  Daughter was working and in a meeting, so she didn't join us, but, R and I enjoyed the bread rolls as well as some of the blueberry muffins and the drop biscuits with chives that I had baked earlier and a cup of tea. 

Gardener friend M arrived, too, as Wednesdays are one of his regular days, and he brought me a six pack of corn seedlings to plant in the garden.  There were more than six seedlings, however, so he planted out all the seedlings and watered the garden.  He, too, enjoyed the chive drop biscuits and the blueberry muffins I served him.  I gave R a tour of the garden and picked her some curry leaves to take with her.  

Daughter enjoyed her bread roll after she finished work.   I cooked sauteed green beans in the evening and daughter had rice, dhal, and green beans for dinner, with chutney.  I had half a leftover hambutger and strawberries for dessert.

I didn't make a meal plan as such, this week, other than baked chicken drumsticks and hamburgers as the main entrees.  I will probably make some fried rice for brunch on Thursday, and there is a loaf of "bake at home"  garlic bread that neighbor S brought over on Saturday, so I might make some pasta for dinner on Thursday night to have with the garlic bread.  

This week, I am grateful for:

- This year's peach harvest
- Neighbor S bringing us dinner on Saturday
- Friend R's visit on Wednesday
- M's help with the garden
- Daughter's help with the peaches

- The sound of laughter as daughter and her friends visited 
- Sharing and exchanging gifts of food with friends and neighbors
- Blueberries from the garden
- Working appliances
- The availability of medications
- Being able to help out a neighbor with parking and lending her my recycling bin

I am a bit behind with my blog reading.  I plan to catch up, on Thursday.

How has your week been?  Hope everyone is keeping well.

Thursday Mocktails and Canning

 

Peach Mocktails

On Thursday, we had a lovely, warm day with the daytime high being 82F.  The air quality was stil poor due to the area wild fires, but, it wasn't as bad as it was a couple of days ago when we could smell the smoke in the air and I needed to take my asthma inhaler and run the air purifiers.  

Daughter had a busy day of meetings and I did a few things around the house including emptying the dishwasher and dish drainer and putting away some laundry.  

In the evening, after daughter finished work and we had our tea, we picked more peaches and blueberries.  The blueberries were washed and put in the fridge to have over the week.  Some of the peaches were put aside for one of daughter's friends to come and pick them up, on Friday.  The rest of the peaches were peeled, sliced, and canned:

Canned Peaches

My daughter helped with the blanching, peeling, and slicing of the peaches, making the sugar syrup, sterilizing the canning jars, filling them, and canning them in a water bath.  We made six jars of canned peaches (although only four are shown in the photo above).  Six pint sized jars are not a lot, but, it's six jars more than what I had before I started!  

There was a small amount of sliced peaches leftover (not enough for another jar) and some sugar syrup.  I blended the leftover peaches, added the remaining sugar syrup and lemon juice and poured the resulting peach lemonade into glasses.  We called them peach mocktails and enjoyed them after dinner (rice, chicken curry, green beans, dhal, and peach chutney).  I had some yogurt for dessert.

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- Fruit from the garden
- Daughter helping me with picking the fruit and canning the peaches
- Being able to share some of the garden bounty with friends
- Being able to preserve some of the fruit to enjoy later
- Peach lemonade mocktails

Thursday's joyful activities included picking fruit and canning with my daughter.

On Friday, I have a doctor's appointment in the afternoon.  M had requested Friday off to celebrate the long weekend, so daughter and I will have to water the garden in the evening.  

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

A Jam Session on Tuesday

 

Jars of Peach Jam

Tuesday evening, after daughter finished her work day, we had a jam session!  Yes, we made a batch of peach jam for  gifting this holiday season.  I like the 4 oz. jars when making jam to give as gifts as I plan to make about three varieties of jams from homegrown fruit and a set of three small jars filled with three varieties of jam makes a nice gift, I think.  Daughter helped with the jam making and I'm pretty sure that she will be taking over the jam making in the future.

In addition to making jam, I did a load of laundry, made some phone calls to schedule a medical appointment and to have our damaged yard waste bin (the lid has broken off) picked up and a replacement yard waste bin delivered, next week, and cooked a dhal curry.

I had toast with peanut butter and pineapple jam for brunch on Tuesday and daughter finished the fried rice I made on Sunday.  Dinner was rice, chicken curry, green beans, the last of the okra, dhal, and peach chutney (a previous year's batch).  

We were both tired after making the jam and washing up and cleaning the kitchen, afterwards.  But, we are happy to have all the jars of jam cooling on the dining table and listening to the pings as the jars sealed.  

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Several jars of peach jam
- Daughter's help with making the jam
- Getting several tasks crossed off my to do list
- Getting started on making my holiday gifts
- Working appliances

Tuesday's joyful activities included jam making with my daughter.

Plans for Wednesday include going for a lab test, M tending to the garden, and processing more peaches!

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

The Great Peach Race is On!

Peaches 

The birds have discovered the peaches!  The peaches are not quite ripe, yet, but, the house finches and the mockingbirds don't seem to care!  They will peck at a fruit and if it isn't quite to their taste, they will move on to another to see if that one has reached the peak of ripeness!

On Friday, I was sitting in the garden and I watched at least half a dozen house finches and several mockingbirds perched on the higher branches of the peach tree, enjoying the peaches.  Later on Friday evening, when M came to tend to the garden, I told him it was time to pick the peaches before the birds got them all and the great peach race was on!

M brought out the ladder and we might have picked some peaches:

Friday's Peach Harvest

I gave M some peaches to take home.  The rest was brought in, washed, and spread out on towels to dry off.

Today, Saturday, I gave neighbor S a dozen peaches and we set aside another two dozen peaches to give daughter's friends A and V; her friend A is on her way to collect her peaches as I type this.  

Then, I cut up enough peaches to make up 3 lbs. of diced peaches to freeze to make into jam or chutney, later on.  

I also cut up some peaches to make this:

Peach Pie

Daughter helped with the pie making, cutting up the last few peaches to add to it and adding the sugar and cinnamon, etc. to the pie filling while I made the pie crust.  

A Piece of Pie

We were too impatient to wait until the pie cooled to try it!  Still no ice cream or whipped cream to serve with it, but, the pie was delicious.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Peaches from the garden
- M's help with picking the peaches
- Being able to share the fruit with M and friends
- Daughter's help with the pie making
- Fresh peach pie!

Today's joyful activities included sharing the peaches with friends and baking and eating peach pie!

Plans for tomorrow (Sunday) include processing more of the peaches for the freezer and accompanying my daughter to the open gym at the community college in the evening.

Peaches!

The First Peaches

I picked the first peaches from my tree today.  This is an early ripening variety of freestone peach, with the peaches ripening well before the heat of our summer burns them up.  But, this might be the earliest I've picked them as I am trying to get to them before the birds get to them!  This year's peaches are small in size, but, they are a blessing and I am grateful to have them.

According to a news article I read a couple of days ago, peach farmers in California are considering destroying about 3,000 acres planted with peaches, amounting to some 420,000 clingstone peach trees, because a certain well-known canned fruit company closed its canneries in California, in March of this year, and cancelled more than $550 million in long term contracts with the farmers.  The company had filed for bankruptcy last year, in July 2025, due in part to changing consumer habits as more people preferred fresh fruits and vegetable over canned and in part due to rising manufacturing costs.  

Fresh Peaches

I agree that there's nothing quite as good as freshly picked peaches, especially when they are from your own tree and still warm from the sun.  

According to the news article, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved $9 million dollars in aid to the peach growers to help them destroy the peach trees and transition from growing peaches to other fruits and/or nuts.  Which is something, I suppose. 

I am guilty of not buying a lot of canned fruits and vegetables for daily consumption, but, I do like to have canned items in the pantry for emergencies.  The thought that canned goods might become scarce due to manufacturers going out of business is a bit sobering.  We can no longer take it for granted that the stores will always have canned fruit available whenever we want to buy some.

We will definitely enjoy our fresh peaches in the coming days and weeks.  And I will try to can and preserve some of them to enjoy later.

Yum!

 Today, I am grateful for:

- Fresh peaches from the garden

On Wednesday

 

Wednesday's Pickings

On Wednesday morning, daughter had a call from the library telling her that her books were overdue!  These were the books we returned to the library, several days before they were due. in person and handed over to the library staff at the front desk to be checked in!  Apparently, the library staff forgot to check them as returned on the computer.  Daughter called the library back and told them that she had returned the books and could they please do a shelf search.  She stayed on the line while they checked and the librarian came back to admit that the books were there on the shelves and her account was cleared.   Thank goodness for that!  

On Wednesday, I picked some blueberries while I waited for M to arrive. he continued to clear the area behind the shed.  We should have that area cleared by the end of this week, I think.

Remember the rose cuttings we took and tried to root, rather unsuccessfully?  The majority of them dried up and we pulled them all out and composted them.  But, one cutting stayed green and I left it in the pot and kept it outside on the back steps.  Guess what?  It has grown a new leaf!

Rose Cutting

It is a cutting from the pinata rose and I am hoping that this is a sign that it has rooted!  I am now more determined to experiment with more rose cuttings.  

On Wednesday, I did more clothes alterations, adjusting the waistbands of a pair of pyjamas and a pair of trousers.  Two more items completed and crossed off my "To Do" list!  

Later in the evening, I made another mallung - shredded greens cooked with onions, grated coconut, turmeric, and other spices - using carrot tops, some kale, and mizuna from the garden:

Mixed Greens Mallung

We will have some of it with rice and curries for our dinners, later this week.  I froze some of it for a later date.

I had leftover pancakes with chicken curry for my brunch on Wednesday.  Daughter had rice and chicken curry with green beans.  For dinner, I baked two more of the frozen pot pies.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Blueberries and mixed greens from the garden
- M's help with the garden
- Getting two clothes alteration projects completed
- Daughter's library books were found on the shelves
- One of the rose cuttings seems to have rooted

Wednesday's joyful activities included spending time in the garden.

I had planned to mop the kitchen on Wednesday, but, that didn't happen.  So, it's moved onto Thursday's To Do List.

Plans for Thursday include sweeping and mopping the kitchen, doing a load of laundry, and maybe some sewing.

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

When the Garden Gives You Lemons

 

Lemons

According to the famous saying, when life gives you lemons you are supposed to make lemonade.   But, when the garden gives us lemons, we like to share them.  Daughter picked two dozen lemons from this one tree to share with her friends when she went out with them on Sunday.  And I picked another two dozen or so of lemons on Sunday afternoon to share with one of my neighbors.  There are still more lemons on the tree!  I will make some lemonade with some of the remaining lemons and maybe some lemon marmalade if I feel up to it.  My mother used to salt and dry the lemons and make lemon pickle with the salted, dried lemons, but, neither my daughter nor I like pickled lemons, so, I don't make them.

Sunday was another lovely, sunny day, and it was warmer than it has been recently.  Daughter spent the day out with her friends, doing escape rooms.   I opened all the doors and windows to air out the house, took lemons to my neighbor, did a little more mending on the quilt, watched some videos online, read a bit, and watched the Olympics Closing Ceremony.  

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- Lemons from the garden
- Being able to share lemons with friends and neighbors
- Daughter had a good time with her friends
- A sunny and warm day
- Time to relax

Sunday's joyful activities included sewing and watching the Closing Ceremonies.

Plans for Monday include a trip to the library to return a book that is due, meal planning for the week, and more quilt mending!

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

One Week into the New Year

 

Lemons

We are already one week into the New Year!

Wednesday was sunny and a bit breezy.  Gardener friend M was here to tend to the garden, his first visit for this year.  I asked him to tidy up the front garden a little as all the recent rain had left eucalyptus flowers and pieces of bark all over the front, including the sidewalk.  He weed whacked and raked and left the front garden looking a lot better.

After he left, I went to the pharmacy to pick up one of my medication refills that was ready.  My receipt included a $2 coupon, so I redeemed it for a box of granola bars that was on sale for $1.99.  

I watched some gardening videos and the news and knitted after I came home and spoke with friend R.  

Breakfast was a banana with peanut butter.  Lunch was a baked chicken drumstick with a small amount of ketchup.  Daughter ate rice , green beans, and salmon.  For dinner, I made soup with the leftover pot roast gravy, adding more water, carrots, potatoes, scallions, and a handful of red lentils to it.  We had toast with the soup.  I had yogurt for dessert with homemade cranberry sauce and granola.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- The availability of medications
- Insurance to help pay for the medications
- M's help with the garden
- A safe drive to the pharmacy and back
- A sunny day

Wednesday's joyful activities included spending time in the garden and watching videos.

I've no special plans for tomorrow (Thursday).  Maybe I'll do some baking.

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

On Thursday

 

Aloe Flower Stalks Forming

The aloe plants in the front garden are starting to form flower stalks.  They'll take several weeks before they form flowers and bloom.

I went to my doctor's appointment on Thursday afternoon.  The appointment went well and we discussed the blood test results and I mentioned some symptoms I've been experiencing.  As a result, the doctor made some changes to my medications and she also wants me to increase my protein in-take.  So, I shall be making some changes to my diet and meal planning in the future.  I need to take another blood test and see her again in three months time for a follow up.

I picked up a pizza on the way home and daughter and I had some of that for a late lunch.  After lunch, I took another short walk to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.

M sent me a picture of the pineapple he is growing in his garden:

M's Pineapple

Isn't it amazing?  He grew if from a pineapple top and now it's produced a fruit of its own!

In the evening, after daughter got off work, we went to the crafts store.  She had already ordered the items she wanted online for store pick up, but, I wanted to walk around the store and take a look at what they had on sale.  I also wanted to buy some blank cards with envelopes and I found them on sale for 50% off, so, I bought two packets of 25 cards and envelopes each.  I spent $7.71 with tax.  I will use these blank cards for my Christmas and New Year greetings cards.

I took a nap after I came home!  I guess shopping tires me!  

Later, I made fried rice for dinner, using up some leftover rice, leftover ground turkey mixture, a small piece of leftover smoked sausage, some frozen green peas, a scrambled egg, and a handful of cashews.  Daughter and I shared a piece of pumpkin pie for dessert and I had a tangerine and some dates, too.  Later, daughter warmed up a chocolate chip cookie and shared it with me.  Yum!

Daughter has the day off on Friday.  We are planning another trip to the Sri Lankan store to buy a few more items I want for the almsgiving and some snacks, as well.  Later, M will be here to tend to the garden.  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- The doctor's appointment went well
- A safe drive there and back
- Bargains at the craft store
- An evening nap
- Working appliances

Thursday's joyful activities included shopping at the crafts store and knitting.

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

Mid-Week Catch Up

 

Homegrown Asian Pears

I've been harvesting a few Asian pears from my tree, a couple at a time.  There aren't that many of them and they aren't very big, but, we are enjoying them.  

We've been having some warm temperatures and I've discovered that I am not quite as tolerant of high heat as I once was!  Once the temperature goes above 95F, I find myself going into the bedroom and turning on the a/c and I stay in the cool room for the rest of the afternoon.  The past three days, however, the highs have been only in the mid to upper 80s and I've not needed the a/c.  

Daughter started decluttering her bedroom, over the weekend, starting with her closet.  It's been years since she last went through her closet; she has clothes from when she was in high school and while she still likes them, they no longer fit her.  She has decluttered several big trash bags worth of clothes and passed along a few items to me, should I wish to keep them.  There are also a few items she has asked if I could mend or alter, so I will be working on them over the next several weeks.

In the meantime, I have been keeping myself occupied with watering the garden (M is taking his annual two weeks of summer vacation), general housework (lots of laundry as I am washing the quilts and blankets and putting them away for the summer), and taking naps!  

I did finish reading the e-book on decluttering and "space making" ("The Mindful Art of Space Making: How to Declutter When You're Overwhelmed by April Scott Tandy  that I had borrowed from the library.  I've watched the author's on-line videos and was already familiar with her method, but, it was an interesting book to read.  Now, I need to put those tips to use.

Today, I am grateful for:

- The temperature was a very comfortable 84F
- Working appliances
- New bed sheets (A set of bed sheets bought on sale a while back and never used until now)
- Phone chats with family and friends
- Having my daughter home

Today's joyful activity was enjoying a small bowl of ice cream.  

Plans for Thursday include making a couple of phone calls, booking a couple of appointments, folding and putting away laundry, and giving the garden another drink of water.  Exciting stuff!  LOL.

How is your week coming along?

Starting a New Week

 

Nectarine

On Monday, I picked this nectarine from the tree.  It looks perfect, doesn't it?  But, looks can be deceiving:

Not Quite Perfect

It looks like some insect tried to bore into it.  Oh, well, this is what happens when you grow things organically, without spraying your fruit.  At least the birds didn't eat it before I picked it.  

Last year, we had about 9 or 10 nectarines.  This year, the nectarine tree didn't set many fruits.  Only this one and possibly one other that is still forming.  Needless to say, I am disappointed.  

On Monday, I did some paperwork in the morning and then, took Dancer to the vet clinic for his arthritis injection, thyroid panel (the vet wanted to check if the new dosage of medication was helping), and have his claws trimmed.  The last time I got a professional manicure done was back in July 2018!  

Dancer was very good on this trip to the vet clinic.  He had been sleeping when I picked him up to give him his sedative and in his sleepy state, I was able to give him the full dose before he realized what was happening.  I also made sure to give him the medication one full hour before we left the house, and not one hour prior to his appointment time.  Those extra 20 minutes or so really helped.  He protested a bit when he realized that he was in his carrier and when he was first put into the car, but, he settled down soon after that.  And he didn't hyperventilate or drool or throw up or mess up on the way there and back.  He was a very good boy!

Once we arrived home, I waited a few minutes to make sure he was okay.

Then, I went to the post office to mail something and went to the library to return two books.  One book was due on the day and the other one wasn't, but, I wanted to return them both and have one less thing to remember to do.   Besides, I'll be busy this week and I might have to report for jury duty next week; I have to call on Sunday evening to find out if I need to report in person on Monday.

Later in the evening, I watered the back garden (which was when I picked the nectarine), cleaned out the fridge, and took the trash cans to the curb.

Today, (Tuesday), I brought in the emptied trash cans, checked the new grocery ads, did a load of laundry, watered the indoor plants, and received an e-book that I had put a hold on through the library.  There had been 7 people waiting for this book (on decluttering) before me, so, I didn't anticipate I'd receive it as soon as I did (within a week of requesting it).  I've already started to read it.  This person has decluttering videos posted online and I've watched them, so I thought I'd read her book, as well.  

Later in the afternoon, I went out to the backyard to take the kitchen compost to the compost heap, tripped on something, and fell!  I had just been thinking that I haven't fallen recently!  It knocked the wind out of me, but, I was okay.  Not hurt.  I did lie there for a minute before I sat up and then tried to get up.  I had seen a video where you are encouraged to get up on one knee, bend the other leg and rest your foot on the ground with that knee raised. put your weight on the raised knee to lever yourself up.  Well, I tried that, but the leg I was kneeling on wouldn't move!  Eventually, I just put both hands on the ground and levered myself up like that.  I did have my cell phone with me and if all else failed, I would have called M as he has a key to my gate and sat there in the garden until he could come and help me up.  I might have had to wait a long time, though.  Thank goodness I didn't hurt myself, although I might have a bruise or two, tomorrow.

I am grateful for:

- I didn't hurt myself when I fell
- I was able to get up on my own
- Dancer had a good trip to the vet clinic and back on Monday
- Libraries and being able to borrow books and other material through them
- Working appliances
- Water for the garden
- Nectarines from the garden

Joyful activities have included reading, watching online videos, and relaxing.

Plans for Wednesday include maybe another load of laundry, booking the car for a routine service, more paperwork, tending to the garden with M, and maybe going to the grocery store for bread and milk.  I finished the last of the bread tonight, when I had an egg salad sandwich for my dinner.

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

Pink Lemonade Blueberries

 

Pink Lemonade Blueberry

I have four blueberry bushes, all growing in planters.  Three of them produce regular, blue colored blueberries and are quite prolific.  The fourth bush, which is the newer bush, is a variety of blueberries that turn pink when ripe and is called Pink Lemonade. Last summer, which was the first year the bush bore fruit, the Pink Lemonade blueberries ripened later in the summer when it was very hot and the berries were parboiled by the sun.  They didn't taste very good and we were disappointed.  This year, the bush didn't produce many flowers and only four berries formed!  This is one of them and the first one to ripen.  I picked it on Friday and ate it.  It tasted very sweet and delicious.  On Saturday, I picked another ripe berry and gave it to M to try and he, too, pronounced it to be sweet.  There are two more Pink Lemonade blueberries ripening and I hope to pick them in the next day or two.  I do hope that next year, this plant will produce more Pink Lemonade blueberries.

Today, Sunday, I changed the sofa dust sheets (old bedsheets that I use to cover the sofas to keep Dancer's fur off the upholstery) and washed them, along with a couple of towels I use to line Dancer's carrier, etc.  Then, I cleaned my bathroom and mopped the floor.  Cleaned the kitchen a bit, too (wiped down the counters and stove top, took out the kitchen scraps to the compost pile in the garden, did the dishes, etc.)   

Today, I am grateful for:

- Working appliances 
- Electricity and gas to operate them
- Fresh produce from the garden
- Phone calls and emails from family and friends
- Warm, sunny days

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

Plans for tomorrow (Monday) include:

- Go for my lab test
- Clean out the fridge
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Water the garden
- Meal plan
- Pay bills

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

On Sunday

Strawberries

On Sunday, I went to the pharmacy to pick up two medication refills that were ready.  I received a 40% off one full priced item, so I bought myself a bar of chocolate to share with my daughter when she comes home.

Then, I went to the dollar store that is next door to the pharmacy.  I didn't need anything, but, I found plenty of items I wanted!  LOL.  I bought a large gift bag for the baby quilt I made and two packages of colored tissue paper.  All the large gift bags I have are Christmas themed and I couldn't use them to give a gift for a little girl's birthday.  Then, I bought some frozen burritos that both my daughter and I like; the store doesn't always have these burritos and I didn't have any in my freezer, so I bought six of them to have on hand.  I also bought some ice cream bars and a package with two slices of frozen key lime pie.  In addition, I bought four cans of lemon lime soda.  I spent $20 and change at the dollar store.  

I had considered buying some square foil baking pans for when I make desserts to take to my cousins, etc., but, I didn't buy them. At least, not on this shopping trip.

After I came home, I did three loads of laundry, including my bed sheets, the sofa dust covers, and clothes.  

Later, I had leftover rice and curries for a late lunch/early dinner.  There were homegrown strawberries for dessert (along with one of the ice cream bars I bought):

Homegrown Strawberries

Friend E texted me to let me know that she had a safe flight home and she enjoyed seeing me.  I texted her back to say that I enjoyed her visit and hope to see her again, soon.

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- My medication refills were available
- Deals at the dollar store
- Working appliances
- Emailing and texting with friends
- Leftovers for dinner

Sunday's joyful activity was video chatting with my daughter.

Monday's To Do List:

- Call the radiology clinic to schedule appointment
- Clean out fridge
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Water the garden
- Put away laundry

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

Garden Harvests on Friday the Thirteenth

 

Wax Beans and Squash - The Squash Side

M planted some wax beans and squash in the same planting bed and the plants are flourishing.

The Wax Beans Side

On Friday the thirteenth, I picked the first wax beans:

Wax Bean Harvest

I am pleased with the amount of beans I was able to pick.  

I also picked some peaches:

Peaches (in a bowl of water to wash them)

These peaches were not fully ripe, but, they were not bird pecked.  I'm trying to pick the rest of the peaches before the birds get to them.

And I picked the two strawberries that were ripe:

Ripe Strawberries

Such a blessing to be able to pick vegetables and fruits from my garden.

B;In addition, I did two loads of laundry, put some more books back on the bookshelves, called the vet's office for a refill on Dancer's medication, and tended to the garden with M.

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- Fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden
- M's help with the garden

- Water for the garden

- Working appliances
- A relaxed day

Friday's joyful activity was spending time in the garden and picking some fruits and vegetables.

How was your Friday?  Are you superstitious about Friday the thirteenth?

Blueberries and Rose Lemonade

 

Blueberries

On Monday, I noticed that there were quite a few ripe blueberries on the bushes.  So, I decided to pick them:

Blueberry Pickings

A few of the berries weren't quite ripe, but, that's fine.  They are ripe enough for me to eat them.  I like them a bit on the tangy side, anyway.  

In the afternoon, I went to the library to return a book that couldn't be renewed any more; I hadn't quite finished reading it, though, so I borrowed it again, after making sure that no one had placed a hold on it.  Now I have at least three more weeks to read it.  It's not a big book and I should have been able to finish it sooner, but, I've not been reading that much, lately.

I didn't do a lot in terms of household tasks on Monday, but, I took the trash cans to the curb.  Throughout the rest of the day, I made a few phone calls with family, friends, the monks at the temple, and exchanged some emails with friends.  

I also made some rose lemonade:

Rose Lemonade

Fresh lemons from the garden, mixed with water, sugar, and rose syrup.  I might not have used enough syrup because I really couldn't taste the rose flavor, but, it was a very pretty color!

I should have made a meal plan on Monday, but, I didn't!  This week is probably going to be more leftovers and milkrice on Thursday.  I had a roast beef sandwich for brunch and more soup for dinner. 

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- A slightly warmer, sunny day
- Blueberries from the garden
- Libraries and being able to re-borrow the book I was reading
- A safe drive to the library and back
- Phone calls, emails, and texts with family and friends

Monday's joyful activity was picking blueberries.

Plans for Tuesday include some housework, a load of laundry, and meal planning.

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

Another Rainy Day

 

Crocosmia

Thursday was another rainy day.  We had light rain on and off all day.  I went out into the garden to pick some fresh oranges when there was a lull in the rain and took a picture of these beautiful orange crocosmia, as well.

Brunch

I made scrambled eggs and sausages on toasted bagels for brunch, along with cut up freshly picked oranges.  Dinner was left over soup from daughter's birthday lunch.  

It was a relatively cool day for us.  I folded and put away laundry, did some paperwork, watched some videos and the news, read a few blogs, and did a few things around the house.  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- More rain for the garden
- Fresh oranges from the garden
- A working heater
- Working appliances
- Garden flowers

Thursday's joyful activity was spending time with my daughter.

Friday is supposed to be sunny according to the weather forecast.  Plans for Friday include tending to the garden with M.

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

This Week is Flying By!

 

Tangerines

The tangerine tree that was bought earlier this year has half a dozen fruit ripening!  I picked one on Wednesday and shared it with M and my daughter.  It was very juicy and tangy; I think I will leave the others to ripen a little longer.

This week seems to be flying by!  

On Monday, I did some housework, watered the front garden, took the trash cans to the curb, had a phone chat with my sister, and crocheted on the border of the blanket I am making.

Breakfast was pancakes, some of which we had with leftover turkey curry and the last one with syrup.  For dinner, I cooked a dhal (lentils) curry, sauteed broccoli, and sliced hot dogs sauteed with onions, tomatoes, and spices (crushed red chilies, cloves, cardamoms, curry leaves, etc.) and had them with leftover rice.

On Tuesday, I washed my bed sheets and remade the bed with the same washed and dried sheets, brought in the empty trash cans, did a partial inventory of my freezer, and had a long chat with Aunt C.  In the evening, I tried my hand at doing punch needling with my daughter.  She is pretty good at it, but, I was having a hard time getting the hang of it! My yarn loops would come out when I pulled the punching tool and it's not supposed to do that!  I will give it another go on another day.

Brunch was leftover turkey and pasta casserole, to which I added some diced ham, as well (daughter) and leftover pancakes with dhal (me).  For dinner, I cooked a fresh pot of rice, warmed up a packet of chicken curry I had taken out of the freezer, sauteed some green beans, and reheated the leftover dhal and sauteed hot dogs from Monday's dinner.  

On Wednesday, M was here and he installed the new bulbs in the kitchen light fixture and now, I have light in the kitchen!  Woo hoo!  I also replaced the burnt out bulb in the ceiling fan light fixture in daughter's room, so that room is also brighter than it was.  

I made ham fried rice for brunch and dinner was leftover curries with freshly cooked rice.  I made avocado pudding for dessert.  

In addition, I have been decorating the tree, a little at a time (my spine hurts when I stand for any length of time), ordering some of my holiday gifts and had some of them shipped directly to out of state relatives.  I still have a few more gifts to buy and/or make and my holiday greeting cards to write and mail.  

Some of the gifts are being delivered to the house and someone discovered the box with the kibble: 

"This bag is Dancer's Christmas gift!"

I had to open the box because one of the gifts I had ordered had been packaged with the kibble.

"What do you mean I can't open it now?"

This week, I am grateful for:

- The pleasant weather we've been having
- My daughter's company
- M installing the kitchen light bulbs for me and having a working light in the kitchen
- Being able to order gifts online and have them delivered
- Phone calls and emails from family and friends

Joyful activities have included crafting with my daughter, crocheting, sharing the first tangerine from my new tree, and reading blogs.

Plans for Thursday include finish decorating the Christmas tree and maybe a trip to the fabric store after daughter finishes her work for the day.

How is your week coming along?

On Thursday

 

Pineapple Guava (Feijoa)

On Thursday, I had my follow up lab test at noon.  I should receive the test results sometime next week.

After I came home, I picked these pineapple guava (also known as feijoa) from the tree in the backyard.  Considering the fact that the tree was covered with flowers earlier in the year, there are only a few fruit, but, a few are better than none.  I shared the guavas with my daughter.

Pineapple Guava, Halved

I generally cut the guavas in half and scoop out the insides.  The outer peel is edible, but, it is generally not eaten.

There was a magnitude 7 earthquake in northern California, in the morning, with a tsunami warning issued for parts of Berkeley.  Daughter received the tsunami warning alert; her apartment building is just four blocks out of the tsunami warning area!  We were both glad that she was here, in southern California when the earthquake happened.

In the afternoon, new neighbor E sent over one of his workmen, R, to replace the damaged side door to my garage.  The "new" door is a metal exterior door which E had salvaged from another project.  He said that when he works on renovation projects, people usually don't want the old fixtures and he tries to salvage them instead of tossing them.  In fact, he said he had a salvaged sink and asked me if I needed a sink, but, I don't need a sink.  When I asked him how much he wanted for replacing my garage side door, he brushed it aside!  He said I could pay something to his worker, if I wanted to, and when I asked him about how much I should give, suggested an amount.  But, when I offered that amount to R, R declined to accept it!  I was overwhelmed by the generosity of these people and their kindness.

I also showed E some other repairs I wanted done inside the house and asked him to give me an estimate.  I have a 101 things I want done, but, I only showed him three of those things - a repair to the kitchen ceiling, some tiles that had come loose in the bathroom, and a door that came off one of the cabinets under the sink in that same bathroom.  My daughter fixed the door, when it first came off, but, it came off, again, last week, and the hinge itself needs replacing.  

2024 was going to be the year when I worked on house repairs, but, it looks like 2025 might be the year in which to do them.

Later in the evening, I ordered some groceries and more household supplies, such as Dancer's dry food, dishwashing detergent, and toilet bowl cleaner.  Quite a number of items at the grocery store, including store brand bread, bagels, iceberg and romaine lettuce, and Dancer's dry food, were for available for delivery only, this week, and not for pick up.

I had leftover French toast for brunch and daughter finished the remaining half of her burrito from the previous day.  We had leftover turkey and pasta casserole for our dinner, followed by mandarins and a small piece of pecan pie, each.

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- Access to medical care and the availability of diagnostic tests
- Helpful, kind, and generous neighbors
- Receiving a replacement side door to the garage
- Fresh fruit from the garden
- Daughter was down here when the earthquake hit northern California in the morning!  

Thursday's joyful activity was spending time in the garden picking guavas.

Plans for Friday include picking up my groceries and maybe setting up the Christmas tree with M's help.

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

On Thursday

 

Chocolates from Neighbor S

Neighbor S called and brought over some chocolates a friend of hers from church had made with organic dark chocolate and pistachio filling.  They were delicious.  

I have been waking up when my daughter does in the mornings to make her coffee and I did so on Thursday morning, too.  But, unlike on other days, I fell asleep again, twice!  I must have been tired.

But, in the afternoon, I was quite productive.  I made Dancer's appointment to get his injection and made a phone call to the auto insurance people to get an updated copy of a document.  Checked on the garden and took some pictures.  

Lemons on the Little Lemon Tree

The lemons on the little lemon tree (a sucker plant from one of the other lemon trees) are starting to ripen!  As you can see, the tree is barely as tall as the tomato cage M placed to support it.

Then, I ran the dishwasher and cleaned the kitchen, a little bit.  Earlier in the day, I had cut open a pomegranate and there were spots of pomegranate juice splattered all over the place.  So, I took almost everything off the counter where I had cut the pomegranate, wiped down the front of the microwave, the fronts of the cabinets above the microwave, and the wall behind with a damp dishcloth and wiped down the counter, too.  I am someone who struggles to keep the counters cleared, but, this is how it looked after I took everything off and I think this is my dream kitchen counter!

My Dream Kitchen Counter

  

But, it is not my reality.  My kitchen is rather small and I have things I use on a daily basis which are stored on the counter.  So, after I cleaned the counter and the sink and cleaned the crumbs from the toaster, things were put back:

Back to Normal Kitchen Counter

I used to have the coffee maker on the counter, next to the microwave,  But, my daughter doesn't use it these days.  She uses a  Vietnamese coffee filter called a phin filter, instead.  I didn't want to get rid of the coffee maker, however, because it will be useful for making up to 6 cups of coffee at a time when company comes.  Today, I was able to make room in one of the upper cabinets for the coffee maker, so that's one less item stored on the counter!  So, I have the toaster and the microwave on this counter, now, along with a platter holding my daughter's medications and supplements, another glass platter holding some bottles of condiments and the cup holding cutlery and chopsticks, etc.  Not shown is the mess that is the other counter, along the other wall!  Some of which will migrate over to this counter, no doubt!  LOL.   

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- Another sunny and warm day
- Being able to nap

- A gift of chocolates from neighbor S
- Time spent in the garden
- What I was able to accomplish 

Thursday's joyful activity was spending time with my daughter.

Plans for Friday include a fasting blood test at noon and M tending to the garden in the evening.  Maybe I'll try to clear the rest of the kitchen counters on Friday.

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