Rose Stem Cuttings - Updates

Rose Stem Cuttings - 9 Days Later

When M was here on Friday, he asked how the rose stem cuttings were doing and I showed him.

It had been nine days after he took the cuttings and stuck them in some potting soil.  I had tented the pot with a plastic bag, which created a mini greenhouse for the cuttings.

Not only were the cuttings still green, there were the beginnings of leaf buds on almost all of the stems!  M was impressed!

It does not necessarily mean that the stems have developed roots yet.  But, the cuttings seem to be healthy and showing the potential to grow.

I will continue to keep them enclosed in a plastic bag and make sure the soil remains moist.  Hopefully, the leaf buds will form new leaves, at which point, I might be able to check for roots and pot them up. 

It will be exciting to see if the stem cuttings will grow into little rose bushes over time!

What do you think?  Do you think these stem cuttings will root?  Have you grown rose bushes from rooted stem cuttings? 

 
 

Roses and Butterflies on Wednesday

Rose Cuttings

 On Wednesday, M was here and he pruned the rose bushes.  He took some cuttings and set them in a pot with soil to see if they will root.  We spritzed the soil with some water, stood the pot in a bowl to catch any water that might seep out, stuck two chopsticks to act as supports, and covered the whole thing with a plastic bag:

The Covered Rose Cuttings

The chopsticks will hold the bag up and the bag will provide a nice humid environment.  We will now wait and see if anything happens over the next several days weeks. 

Wednesday was another sunny and warm day.  M enjoyed his share of the blueberry muffins and said he couldn't tell that the muffins were made without salt.  Later in the afternoon, during daughter's lunch break, we strolled around the garden for a little bit and admired the flowers and the plants.  She amused herself trying to take a picture of a painted lady butterfly:

Spot the Butterfly?

It's perched on one of the lantana flowers.

Do you see it now?

How about now?

I had a salmon sandwich for brunch and daughter had a bagel with salad and a fried egg.  For dinner, daughter had a burrito from the freezer and I had some spagetti with chicken.  We shared an apple for fruit and I had a cookie, too.  We both had cereal as a snack.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- The lovely weather we are having
- M's help with the garden
- Time to relax and enjoy knitting
- Electricity

- Phone calls from friends

Wednesday's joyful activity was enjoying the garden with daughter.

Plans for Thursday include ordering groceries and knitting.

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

A Photo Bouquet of Garden Roses

 

Pink Rose

Now that Fall is here, the roses are blooming again.  I thought I'd post a photographic bouquet of my garden roses.  This pink rose is one of my favorites.  It has a light fragrance.

Red Rose

The red roses in the front garden are also among my favorites!

Red, Red Rose

It, too, is fragrant.

White Iceberg Rose

This white iceberg rose is a standard and a gift from my gardener friend M who rescued it from the garden of another of his clients who wanted to get rid of it.

More Iceberg Roses

M is disappointed that the lilac colored Neptune rose doesn't seem to be a repeat bloomer, but, it certainly performed well during the summer and I am happy.  

I hope you enjoyed the photographic bouquet of garden roses. 

Rain on Tuesday

Raindrops on Roses

We had rain all Monday night and all morning on Tuesday.  It rained a bit of Tuesday night, too.  Some areas of the county received over 4 inches of rain and there were concerns about mudslides in the burn scar areas where the wild fires were in January.

More Raindrops on Roses

The rain total for my area was about 2.5 inches.  Which is quite a lot of rain from one rain storm considering our annual rainfall is about 15 inches on average.  Some roads and freeways in my area flooded.  As far as I am concerned, though, it rained enough to water the garden, which is a blessing.

Rain-soaked Rose

In the afternoon, when the rain cleared, I went outside to take some pictures of...you guessed it:

Raindrops on Roses

and...

On Ripening Meyer Lemons

and...

Puddles in the Driveway!

I know, most of you are probably wondering what all the fuss is about, but, any rain is a big deal here, in southern California.   

More Puddles

On Tuesday, I was grateful for the rain we received.

Does it rain a lot in your area?  How much rain do you get a year on average?  Do you get as excited as we do when it rains?  

On Friday

 

Roses are Red

These are the red roses in the front garden.  Sometimes, they bloom as individual flowers; sometimes, they bloom in clusters.

And then, we have this color-changing rose;

And Mostly Yellow

Until it Turns Orangey Red!

It's the same flower, it was yellow when it first bloomed and the next day, it was orangey-red!

Friday was another grey, cool day, with a high of only 63F.  I know that might sound quite warm for some, but, for me, that's chilly!  A hot shower warmed me up and I dressed in layers.  

Dancer had an appointment at the vet's clinic for his arthritis injection.  I gave him his sedative before we left, but, he was not happy on the ride to the clinic.  He was very vocal about how he felt and threw up for good measure.  He was very subdued on the ride home, though.  

"I don't like going to the vet's"

After I brought him home, I went to the ethnic grocery store to get my 10 lb. bag of potatoes for $1.99 (in comparison, the supermarket is selling a 5 lb. bag of potatoes for $3.99 and the 10 lb. bag for $4.99).  The bananas I had bought for $0.59/lb. on Tuesday was now priced at $0.89/lb., which is more than the price of bananas ($0.69/lb.) at the supermarket.  Romaine lettuce was on sale for 2/$0.99, so I bought one (they are $1.99 each at the supermarket).  

After I came home, again, I put away my groceries and made myself a chicken sandwich for brunch.  Dancer received a tiny bit of the cooked chicken as a treat for having endured the trauma of a visit to the vet clinic.  It was whisker-licking good, he said.  

In the evening, M arrived to tend to the garden.  He had picked up a couple of bags of mulch for me and I reimbursed him for them.  He mulched some of the fruit trees and watered the garden.

Later, I started to tidy and clean the family room.  I changed the sofa dust sheets, cleared and dusted the coffee table, and vacuumed the area rug.  I still have to do the rest of the room, but, that will be done on Saturday.  

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- Dancer received his injection
- We had a safe drive to the clinic and back

- M's help with the garden
- Bargains at the grocery store
- Phone calls and emails from friends

Friday's joyful activity was spending time in the garden.

Plans for Saturday include tidying the rest of the family room and maybe a visit from friend R?

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

On Monday

The First Blueberries of the Year

On Monday, I picked the first ripe blueberries of the year.  There were only eight of them, but, they were absolutely delicious.  There were another three or four not quite ripe ones that I left on the bushes for M to try when he's here on Wednesday.  The rest of the blueberries won't be ready for another few weeks, I think.

In the morning, I received a text alert warning of an earthquake!  I didn't feel any shaking, however, but, later, I found out that there had been a 5.2 magnitude earthquake in San Diego.  I'm glad it was not a bigger quake, but, it feels like there's been a lot of shaking going on, recently.

I decided to try my oven, again, and to my great joy, it worked!  I was so happy that the oven was working, I decided to go ahead and bake a cake!  It was a boxed mix I had in the pantry and the "best by" date had come and gone, but, I don't pay a lot of attention to the dates.  The directions on the mix called for three eggs, but, I decided that eggs cost too much to use three on a boxed cake mix, so, I added only two and the cake turned out just as well as when I've added three.

I also made a batch of ham and split pea soup.  I had put the split peas to soak overnight, and today, I boiled them, along with the diced ham, some homegrown red stem celery, a can of sliced carrots, and a can of chicken broth (instead of chicken bouillon powder, because I want to use up some canned items I have in my pantry which are well past their "best by" dates.

Later, I called a friend to wish her for the Sri Lankan New Year.  I had made milkrice for brunch on Sunday, to celebrate the occasion.  I was planning to have the leftover milkrice for brunch, but, I decided to have the last bit of leftover turkey soup with a drop biscuit or two, instead.  

I watered the back garden in the evening and took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning.  Then, I vacuumed my bedroom and tidied it up a little bit.  

Dinner was a bowl of the ham and split pea soup with another drop biscuit.  There was cake for dessert.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- The first blueberries of the season
- Receiving the earthquake alert even though the earthquake happened somewhere else
- The oven worked without any problem
- Water for the garden
- Roses blooming

Monday's joyful activity was baking a cake.

Orange Rose

Plans for Tuesday include going to the grocery store to buy the eggs that are on a one day only sale.  I will probably pick up a few other items, too.

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

Saturday

Orange Rose

Just a quick post on Saturday, before the internet connection goes off again!

I've had a good day.  Cousin V called in the morning to say that cousin M realized that we hadn't taken any pictures of us together on Thursday, when I was there, so please come to lunch again on Monday and we'll take some pictures!  LOL.  I told her that it is not necessary to prepare lunch, but, cousin M leaves on Monday night, so, it will be nice to see her once more before she leaves.

Then, friend R called to let me know that she's having a package delivered to my house and it should arrive sometime during the day (a replacement for a package that was delivered to her apartment and was stolen).  It arrived in the afternoon and I called to let her know.  I said I could bring it to her later in the day, but, she asked me to hold off on bringing it because she's expecting two more packages which will be delivered to my address, next week.  So, I'll wait and take all the packages to her at one time.

I'm expecting some packages to be delivered next week, myself, because I ordered some cat food and a box of laundry detergent powder.

Brunch was a scrambled egg on toast, followed by fresh watermelon.  Dinner was baked breaded shrimp with salad; blueberries for dessert.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another invitation to lunch with cousins
- Roses
- Being able to help friend R by accepting her packages for her
- Emails and phone calls
- Being able to order packages online to be delivered

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

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. 

Pink Roses Are Blooming Again

Starting May

Roses 

On the first of May, I made my usual breakfast of milkrice and picked fresh flowers for the altar and mantlepiece.

M was here to tend to the garden when I went outside to pick some curry leaves for the spicy onion mixture (seeni sambol) that I wanted to make to have with the milkrice.  The curry leaf tree growing closer to the house has grown so tall that I have been having a hard time reaching the leaves to pick them.  So, I went to the back, where another curry leaf tree is growing behind the garage.  That one is quite tall, too, but, there are suckers growing around it, that are within my reach.  As I picked the leaves, I told M that we need to prune the curry leaf tree that is closer to the house because I can't reach the sprigs of leaves and I didn't like having to come to the back to pick curry leaves.  M said he could trim it right then because he had the trimmer with him.  He went to his truck to get the trimmer out and I turned around with my curry leaves to go back to the house, tripped on the uneven pavers lining the path, and fell!  

The Paved Path by the Curry Leaf Tree

It knocked the wind out of me for a minute and I was still trying to get myself up when M came back from the truck.  He offered to help me up, but, I was able to get up by myself.  Considering the fact that I have osteopenia and fell on the paved path, I was fortunate to get away with only a scraped left knee!  

Needless to say, I took it fairly easy the rest of the day.  It was not the best start to the month, but, it could have been so much worse.

M fertilized and watered the garden and trimmed the curry leaf tree.  It's still too high for me, so, I'll ask him to cut down one or two branches down even further.  It'll have to be done in a manner that will not cause the tree to die.

Brunch was milkrice, chicken curry, and seeni sambol; dinner was a microwaved "baked" potato and a scrambled egg, with sliced fresh apples and yogurt.

Today (Thursday), I did a load of laundry (which was hung up to dry, rather than dried in the dryer), made an appointment for Dancer's injections and blood tests and made an appointment for my own blood tests.  I walked up and down the driveway for 15 minutes, or so, and walked around the backyard, checking on things, being very careful not to stumble!  Some of the blueberries were turning color and I picked a handful:

The First Blueberries of the Season

Some of them are still tinged green, but, I find the slightly underripe berries to be tastier than the fully ripe ones, which tend to have a soapy taste to me!  I enjoyed the berries after I had some leftover milkrice (with chicken curry and seeni sambol) as part of my brunch.  

Dinner will be baked breaded shrimp with tomato chutney and a cucumber salad.  

As I start this new month, I am grateful for:

- I didn't break or sprain anything when I fell 

- M was there in case I needed his help to get up 
- Roses and blueberries from the garden
- Being able to set up appointments for Dancer and myself
- Working appliances

My joyful activities have included spending time in the garden and chatting with family and friends.

Plans for Friday include some crocheting, housework, and gardening with M in the evening. 

How is your week going?  What are your plans for Friday? 

Roses on Thursday

The Roses Are in Bloom!

We are having another lovely, warm, sunny day with a high of 83F.  But, tomorrow's high will only be 69F and there's rain in the forecast for Saturday (and maybe Sunday, too) and cooler weather for the following week.  It seems that the roses in the back garden have decided to make the most of the sunny and warm weather and bloom all at once!  Makes me want to sing, "Everything's Coming Up Roses", even if I don't have a voice like Ethel Merman (but, then, she had a voice that was one of a kind, didn't she?)  

The First Yellow Rose

My new neighbors next door are painting the outside of their house and doing more renovations.  I woke up once to the sound of their drilling as they took off their window security bars to paint the walls, but, I went back to sleep and slept through the noise!  The next time I woke up was when Dancer asked for breakfast.  It was 9:30 a.m.

Pink Rose  (blooming through the osteospermum)

The last rose is looking a bit distressed; we might have to thin out some of the osteospermum plants to give the rose bush more air and sunlight.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The roses blooming in the garden
- Another sunny and warm day
- Being able to open the windows and doors to let the warm air in
- The scent of jasmine from the vine outside the door
- Working phones!

Today's joyful activity was walking in the garden, admiring the roses and other flowers.

Brunch was French toast; dinner will be spaghetti with meat sauce (I made the sauce last night for dinner; need to cook more pasta for tonight's dinner)

How is your Thursday coming along?

Starting May

Roses from the Garden

On Sunday, I picked some roses from the garden, for the altar and the living room mantelpiece.  Then, as usual, I made milkrice for brunch, along with a fish curry, and some seeni sambol from a jar:

Milkrice, Seeni Sambol, Fish Curry

With that auspicious beginning, the month is sure to be a good one, right?  LOL!

My half-sister called in the morning to check on me and we chatted for a little bit.  Then, neighbor T called for our weekly chat.  They both wanted to know how I was doing now that my daughter has gone back after her long, extended visit.  I assured them that we are both managing quite well.  I think we slipped back into our regular, me-down-here and she-up-there lives quite easily.

I had woken up feeling rather tired, so, I took it easy for the most part, responding to blog comments, visiting and commenting on other blogs, watching some videos online, etc.  Later, I cleaned the litter box, put water to the back garden, did the dishes, etc.  There is a new flower on the passionfruit vine:

Passionfruit Flower

Passionfruit Flower

Hopefully, there will be some fruits, later.  If not, the flowers are pretty and the leaves are very nutritious!  They are often made into a mallung (shredded and cooked with grated coconut).  With our new watering restrictions going into effect this summer, I've read that some farmers in California will no longer grow certain vegetables and fruits to conserve water, which will, no doubt, have an impact on what will be available in the grocery stores and prices.  So, if I can grow more plants that do double and triple duty (edible flowers and leaves as well as the fruits), then, all the better!  For now, there will be broccoli leaves and chard leaves for leafy greens and later, there might be passionfruit leaves (provided the vine grows well enough to harvest some leaves from time to time).

Speaking of food, my daughter did her cooking for the week, on Sunday evening:

Daughter's Meal Prep

Rosé pasta with sauce made with gochujang and milk, glass noodles stir fried with mushrooms, broccoli, and peas with some black bean paste, steamed broccoli and peapods, and chicken curry.  With some cooked rice, it gives her three dinner possibilities for the week, she said.  She is planning to have salads for lunches.  

Which reminds me, I need to do a meal plan for the week, myself!  LOL.

Today, Monday, I was woken up rather early by a certain kitty demanding breakfast!  Of course, once his tummy was full, he went back to bed and has slept practically all morning and early afternoon.  He will wake up around 3:30 p.m. (it's 3:00 p.m. as I type this) and demand his afternoon tea!  

I had leftover milkrice for brunch, today, and have done two loads of laundry.  Still to do: put away the dried laundry, take the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning, do a meal plan for the week, and some housework (dusting, etc.)

Today, I am grateful for:

- The start of a new month
- Garden flowers
- Washing machines and working appliances
- Calls from family and friends
- Water - for drinking, for washing, for growing a garden - a most precious resource

Today's planned joyful activity is crocheting.

What are your plans for May?

Sunday Roses

Iceberg Roses

Sunday was a very productive day, but, it is past 2:30 a.m. on Monday, and I think I'd better wait until later in the day to write about it.  In the meantime, these roses are growing in the back garden.

Hope you've had a lovely Sunday and are enjoying a good start to your Monday.

After the Rain

Iceberg Roses

After the rain, the garden plants are happy!

Rosa "Dr. Huey" (Root stock rose)

I didn't notice the bug on the pink rose bud, below, when I took the picture:

Pink Rose Bud and Bug!

The succulents growing along the side wall in the front garden are happy, too!

Succulents

And the pomegranate tree is full of buds!

Pomegranate Flower Buds

The self-seeded phacelia plants are flowering, too!  

Phacelia

Yesterday (Tuesday) was a mostly sunny day, after Monday's rain. I didn't have to report in person for jury duty, so I got to relax at home.  I brought in the trash cans, checked on the garden, did a load of laundry, wrote my blog post about the decluttering (thank you, everyone for your very kind comments on that), ran the dishwasher, decluttered another file of my mother's old bank statements, watched news, spoke with friends and a cousin, and cooked dinner:

Glazed Chicken, Salsa Rice, and Vegetables

I pan sauteed the second tray of chicken thighs that I had bought, with some sliced onions and tomatoes, teriyaki sauce and a couple of spoons of a jar of ginger marmalade that I had received as a Christmas gift.  I also sauteed some carrots and broccoli go to with the chicken and cooked a pot of rice.  There was half a jar of hot salsa languishing in the fridge, so I added a couple of spoons of the salsa to the rice when I was cooking it, and gave a really nice flavor to the rice!  It's a good way to use up some leftover salsa!

I didn't make a specific meal plan, this week, but, we will be having chicken in one form or another!  LOL.

I didn't have to report for jury duty, today (Wednesday), either!  So, I slept in, then, got busy in the garage!  I had almost come to the end of my cleaning when M arrived to tend to the garden.  But, first, he got roped into helping me a bit in the garage!  He wiped down a shelf that was too high for me to clean without standing on a chair, checked and washed the patio umbrella, tossed a partially used box of joint compound for sheet rock (left over from the family room addition nearly 25 years ago!), moved the box with the Christmas tree from where it was stored on the floor in a corner to the top of one of the metal shelving units (I'm trying to have fewer things being stored on the floor), and finally escaped to do some weeding in the garden!  LOL.  

I had thought I was done with decluttering in the garage, but, I found a lot more stuff to declutter, today:

3 more boxes
- Party favor bags
1 wooden expandable bracket
1 fabric protection care kit
2 round wooden boxes
3 metal bookends
1 book
3 vinyl records
1 binder
1 vinyl table cover
1 metal piece from the old water heater vent pipe
- assorted nails, nuts and bolts, etc. 
- partial box of joint compound
1 candle holder
1 package with 10 mini plastic food containers

Then, there was this:

"Fossil"

When my daughter was in 2nd grade, she learned about fossils and made a "fossil" in class.  I showed it to her and she had no recollection of making it.  She told me to toss it, but, I kept it in one of the planters in the garden.  

And there were these two items, too:

University Flag and Button

I received these two items during my orientation session at the university, August 1974!  Blog readers from Wisconsin might be amused to see them.  Yes, I've kept them all these years, but, I tossed them, today.

I relaxed in the afternoon and later, I shredded my way through another couple of file folders of papers.  My daughter ordered a cross-cut shredder for me, today.  I think I am going to need it!

Later in the evening, I called to check if I need to report for jury duty, tomorrow.  The good news is: not only don't I have to go in tomorrow (a state holiday - Cesar Chavez Day), I have been deemed to have completed my jury service for this time around!  Hurray!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Garden flowers (and vegetables, too!)
- M helping me in both the garage and the garden
- More decluttering
- Memories
- I was able to complete my jury service without having to go to the courthouse in person!  

Today's joyful activity was more decluttering!

Plans for tomorrow include doing a bit of housework and maybe baking something.  

How was your day, today?  What are your plans for tomorrow?

Saturday

 

Pink Roses

The pink roses are flowering!  

Today, I picked up the groceries at noon.  By the time I came home, my daughter had left to help her friend with preparations for his Hollywood themed birthday party (being held outdoors and she will be fully masked the whole time; although our county's new case numbers have been below 1,000 for several days, now we are not sure if that is because fewer people are testing or there is less spread!)

I put away the groceries and then spent about an hour or so in the garage!  Today, I spent a lot of time trying to clean two shelves at the bottom of the metal shelving units.  Something had spilled and made quite a mess and the shelves were filthy!  I will be posting some pictures of the garage, soon, but, not yet.  

Eventually, it got too hot to be in the garage, so, I came in to the house, cooled off a bit, had something to eat, ran the dishwasher, and replied to blog comments.  Then, I wrote up my March grocery shopping  part 3 post, watches some cooking shows and the news, called my half-sister to wish her for her birthday, etc.

I received the phone call in the evening, informing me of friend A's mother's death.  A's daughter had texted the news to my daughter who then called me to let me know.  I called A and spoke with both her and her daughter.  Her mother's passing was peaceful.  Unfortunately, she passed away before her sons could come from Australia.  A said one brother was arriving tomorrow, the other sometime next week.  Afterwards, I called one of my cousins and friend R to give them the news (they both know A).  

I haven't done much after that.  I had leftovers for dinner and have been going through a box of files, shredding the old bank statements (cutting them with a pair of scissors, actually), while I wait for my daughter to come home.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Roses blooming in the garden
- Family and friends
- Sunny days and the promise of rain in the forecast
- Memories
- What I was able to accomplish, today

Today's joyful activity was admiring the roses in the garden.

Plans for tomorrow include cooking and taking the food to friend A and, later in the evening, calling to find out if I need to report for jury duty on Monday!

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

Rainy Monday and January Grocery Shopping Part 2

 

Yellow Rose

As the weather forecast promised, we had scattered showers of rain, today!  I was very grateful for the rain, but, equally grateful for a long enough gap between rain showers in the early afternoon, during which I picked up my groceries!  My favorite grocery worker, Jennifer, wasn't there, today; it was the other grocery worker, a young man, who simply loads the groceries into the trunk and waves at me when he's done.  I received all the groceries I ordered, nothing was unavailable and no substitutions.  I was very grateful for that, as I had been hearing about supply chain issues and empty store shelves.  

Today's groceries included:

3 packages salmon fillet (3+ lb) @ $7.99/lb (reg. price $9.99/lb.) = $28.69 (splurge/stock up item!)
1 bone in pork roast @ $1.98/lb (reg. price $3.99/lb.) = $11.00
2 lb. butter @ $1.97 (reg. price $3.69) = $3.94
1 doz. eggs (reg. price $3.79) = $2.49
1/2 gal. half and half (reg. price $4.79) = $3.99
1 yogurt (32 oz.; reg. price $3.49) = $2.49
6 cans coconut milk @ $1.50 (reg. price $3.49) = $9.00 (stock up item)
2 lb. red lentils @ $2.29/lb. = $4.58
10 lb. bag long grain rice = $5.79 (stock up item)
1 loaf multi-grain bread = $1.99
2 jars peanut butter, 16 oz. each, @ $1.99 = $3.98
3 apples @ $.99/lb.(reg. price $1.99/lb) = $1.57
6 bananas @ $.65/lb. = $1.56
2 lb. carrots = $1.99

Total = $83.06

My January grocery budget is $200.  So far, I have spent $23.12 (1/8/22) + $83.06 = $106.18

Today's art class was postponed due to bad weather and intermittent internet connections at the location from which the class was to be conducted and postponed until Wednesday, which was fine with me.

Instead of painting, I tidied the kitchen, cleaned out the fridge drawers, and scrubbed the top of the fridge/freezer!  

Lunch had been leftover chicken stir fry (there is at least another serving left); dinner was salmon, with Brussels sprouts and corn (daughter had leftover quinoa instead of the corn).  I had a banana and some blueberries for snacks; daughter finished the rest of the pineapple.  

I am not doing too well with meal planning at the moment, but, there is leftover salmon for tomorrow's dinner.  I'll just have to cook a couple of additional vegetables for sides - I've some spinach and kale that need to be used up before they spoil.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The rain for the garden
- Contactless grocery pick up
- Receiving all the groceries I ordered
- A safe drive to the store and back
- Chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was watching the rain fall!  

Plans for tomorrow include mending the new sheet that had a tear in it.

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

Long Weekend

Double Colored Rose

We are having a three day weekend, here, in the U.S. with Monday being a holiday to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Daughter and I are relaxing and enjoying the long weekend.

On Saturday, it drizzled a little bit!  Not enough to wet the ground, but, just enough to show a few damp spots on the cemented areas in the back!  I checked on the garden, a bit later, and took a couple of photos, but, didn't pick anything.  The rose I photographed and showed on Tuesday's post has opened up!

Saturday morning, I cut up the fresh pineapple I had bought, earlier, as it had ripened.  We had fresh pineapple for breakfast and I put the pineapple top in a jar of water to see if it will root.  I've been able to root a few others, earlier, but, so far, I've not had any luck getting the rooted tops to actually grow when planted!  I also removed some of the pineapple seeds (they are tiny brown/black seeds, about the size of sesame seeds, located just below the skin) to put in water to see if I can get them to sprout.  If they do grow, I'll let you know!

Later, I put away the last of the Christmas holiday items - the table cloths, crocheted blanket, cushion covers, etc., which I don't like to store in the garage and store in a suitcase in my closet, instead.  Then, I vacuumed the family room and put the furniture back in place, with the two sofas placed in an L-shape, once more. 

Aunt C called in the afternoon and I had a long chat with her.     

Friend A's younger daughter dropped off the empty food containers (although I had told her I didn't need them back!), in the afternoon, along with a package of fresh salmon fillets!  That was such a lovely thing to do!  Even with our custom of not returning containers empty,  a package of salmon fillets was too much!  That's what I told A, when I called her to thank her, but, she laughed it off, saying it was a small gift in return for all the food my daughter had prepared for them.  I froze some of it and cooked two pieces for our dinner, along with some stir fried vegetables.  Afterwards, I did another load of dishes.  

Today, it was sunny and bright in the morning, but, the clouds moved in later.  We have rain ("scattered showers") in the forecast for tomorrow!

It has been a relaxed, restful day.  Daughter has had a stiff shoulder for the past couple of days, so, she's taking it easy and doing a paint-by-numbers kit that she had received. I chatted with cousin P, friend R, and with neighbor T.

Later, I pulled out the big bin in which I kept my yarn stash and sorted through that!  The good news is, I don't have much of a yarn stash, any more!  I have one leftover ball of blue 100% wool and half a ball of grey 100% wool, along with a few other smaller quantities of 100% wool, some small quantities of acrylic yarn, and two unused balls and three partially used balls of novelty yarn ("eye lash" yarn, and a ruffly yarn).  There was, also, a partial cone of a very thin fuzzy yarn that someone had given me several years ago, which I haven't used and I am not likely to use; I decluttered that, today (put aside to donate).  

I cooked a chicken stir fry for dinner, with shirataki noodles.  Later, daughter placed an order for groceries to be picked up, tomorrow.  Not sure how many of the items we ordered will be available, however, as we are hearing more about empty store shelves on the news.  I will pick up the groceries, tomorrow, and depending on what we get, I will meal plan for next week. 

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- The gift of salmon fillets from friend A and family
- Pretty roses in the garden
- Phone chats with family and friends
- Relaxed days and long weekends
- A working heater/furnace

This weekend's joy full activities have included chatting with family and friends and strolling around the garden, checking on the plants.

Plans for tomorrow include picking up the groceries and attending the online painting class I signed up for!  

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