Still Photo-less on Wednesday!

There's nothing that interesting to photograph, right now! 

It was a relatively quiet day.  I woke up feeling a bit light-headed due to stuffed up sinuses and I decided to take it easy.  I did walk for 15 minutes in the morning, so that was something.

M was here, today, to tend to the garden.  He didn't see anything on the roof, so, I'm not going to worry about it.  He pruned the peach tree, spot watered the garden, and brought in the bin with the Winter Village items from the garage so I can set it up.  

I spent a good portion of the day knitting on the scarf.  I am running short of the red yarn!  I am not sure if I should use the other red yarn that's in the stash (a different brand), buy more of the same brand of red yarn, or try something different!  Maybe I should have made the scarf a little narrower, But, that would mean unpicking the whole thing and redoing it.

Anyway, I got most of the rest of the gifts ordered, today, again with my daughter's help.  I'm just waiting to hear from my cousin about gift ideas for her grandsons.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Feeling better as the day wore on
- A working heater
- M's help with the garden, etc.
- Daughter's help with ordering the gifts
- Online shopping and delivery!

Today's joyful activity was knitting!

Plans for tomorrow include deciding what I want to do about the scarf and setting up the Winter Village.

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

Photo-less Tuesday!

I'm sorry, but, I don't have any new pictures to post, today!  Some bloggers do a Wordless Wednesday; I'm doing a Photo-less Tuesday!

I woke up at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday (after going to sleep around 4:00 a.m.), switched on the gas heater, turned the porch lights off, fed the cats, etc., and...went back to sleep!  When I woke up for the second time, it was almost 11:00 a.m.  But, I managed to get 7 hours of sleep and I guess I need that amount of sleep.

I fed Dancer again (he was carrying on as if he was starving!), had my morning cup of tea, said my morning prayers, brought in the emptied trash bins, walked for 15 minutes, did the housework I had planned on doing, replied to blog comments, and made pancakes for brunch (had them with leftover bacon). 

Then, I settled down to watch some videos and started knitting a scarf to give as a Christmas present.  As usual, there were a couple of false starts while I decided how wide to make it, if I wanted to do a basket weave pattern or not, and so forth.  In the end, I decided on a plain garter stitch.  I'll take a picture of it when I am done.  I'm dipping into my daughter's yarn stash (with her permission) to make this scarf (and the next one that I need to make), since I used up most of my stash (other than the yarn I bought to knit us sweaters).  

In the evening, there was a knock at my door and it was neighbor B, coming to inform me of the funeral arrangements for her husband E (not my new neighbor E!).  She wanted my cell phone number to send me a picture of the leaflet they had prepared with the details; the viewing will be on Sunday and the funeral will be on Monday.  E had been another very helpful neighbor over the years.  

Later, I watched news and some TV programs while knitting and then, I read some blogs and commented.  I'm a bit behind with my blog reading and commenting, but, I'll catch up, soon!  

Dinner was leftovers from Monday's meal.  I still have enough leftovers for another meal, but, need to make more gravy!  

After dinner, I video chatted with my daughter and she helped me choose and order a few gifts for some of the people on my gift list.  I need to text my cousin V to find out what her grandsons are interested in, these days, to get their gifts!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to sleep in!
- Weekly trash collection services
- My daughter sharing her yarn stash with me
- Being able to shop for gifts online (and daughter helping me with that)
- Being able to knit

Today's joyful activity was knitting.

Plans for Wednesday include more housework, tending to the garden with M (I'll have to pick all the green cherry tomatoes, I think, and compost the plants as they are starting to look more dead than alive!), and continuing to knit!  I hope I can finish the scarf!  

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

Juneteenth Monday

Odds and Ends Socks

The 19th of June is known as Juneteenth and marks the day, June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were officially proclaimed free, two and a half years after President Lincoln had issued the emancipation proclamation.  It is a federal holiday in the United States.  

Monday started out cloudy and overcast, but, there was sunshine in the afternoon.

In the morning, I changed the dust sheets on the family room sofas, did a load of laundry, tidied the kitchen a bit, watered some of the plants in the front garden, and scheduled a regular car maintenance service for Tuesday.  

Then, I picked peaches.  The majority of them are still not ripe enough for canning, but, the longer I leave them on the tree, the more are being pecked at by the birds!  My plan is to pick them and leave them to ripen in the house for a couple of days. 

Some of the peaches I picked had some bruised areas.  I cut off the bruised parts, sliced the good portions and stewed them with some lemon juice and sugar.  

In the meantime, I called a couple of friends and offered to bring them some fresh peaches.  Friend N told me I didn't have to bring them to her, she could pick them up on her way home from an appointment on Wednesday afternoon.  I said that was fine.  Then, she called me back almost immediately.  She had mentioned my offer of peaches to her husband and he didn't want to wait until Wednesday!  LOL!  They drove over right away (they don't live that far from me) and I gave them about a dozen peaches and some fresh blueberries.  

Friend S was working late and said she'll ask her husband if he could drive over, later, to collect the peaches.  I said I could bring them over and leave them on her doorstep.  She said her daughter was home to accept them.  I picked a bag of curry leaves, too, to take to her and drove over.  Friend S's daughter was waiting for me by the curbside; I handed her the bag of peaches and she handed me a covered foil container with dinner!  Rice and curries my friend had cooked before she went to work!  How wonderful!  What a blessing!  After I came home, I called friend S to thank her for the dinner.  She brushed it off saying it was just something she had cooked for the family, that if she had known in advance that I was coming, she would have prepared something more!  

It was past 6:00 p.m. when I got home and instead of having my usual evening cup of tea, I had an early dinner!  There was rice, fish curry, Thai eggplant curry, and sauteed water spinach.  It was all so delicious!  Friend S is a good cook and her curries are truly a taste of home.  There's more leftover for tomorrow.  Then, I had some of the stewed peaches with yogurt for dessert.

After dinner, I cleaned the litter box and took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning.  And I finished knitting another pair of socks with leftover wool from previous knitting projects (the blue wool from the last sweater and the multicolored yarn from an earlier pair of socks).  

The neighbors took down their tents, today.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Peaches to share with friends
- Friend S sending dinner home with me!
- A new pair of socks
- A safe drive to friend S's and back
- Phone calls with family and friends; emails from friends

Today's joyful activity was sharing the bounty from my garden with friends.

The big plan for tomorrow is taking the car for a service.  Everything else depends on how long that takes!  

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

Ending May

Blurry Orange Rose

On Tuesday, I went to my doctor's appointment.  Thank you for all the crossed fingers and good vibes and well wishes on the lab tests!  The majority of the results were good!  The doctor wants me to do one additional follow up blood test and she also recommended physical therapy for the pain I feel when I walk (she didn't think it was sciatica!).  I need to check with my insurance to see if it is covered.  Otherwise, she said to come back in 6 months unless I need to see her before that.  

I had a safe drive to the clinic and back.  After I came home, I had a scrambled egg with bacon and toast for brunch.  Dancer let me know that he likes bacon and enjoyed the small piece I gave him (and asked for more!)  In the evening, I cooked rice and a mackerel curry and made a cucumber salad for dinner, with some peach chutney, as well.  Went off the meal plan, of course, but, that's OK.  :)

Lettuce Flowers

The lettuce has bolted and flowered!  The bees seem to like them!

Today, Wednesday, was another cool, overcast day!  However, I had a productive day, tidying the house and cleaning the family room. 

Gardener M was here this morning and I gave him one of the ripening peaches from the tree (he has helped me so much with the peach tree that I told him that half the peaches were his!) 

He helped me bring in the four 30 lb. bags of kitty litter that had been delivered, two weeks ago (the delivery person stacked them by the front door and said he wasn't allowed to bring them inside; I persuaded him to push them just inside the door and I pushed them further into the living room and they stayed in the living room until today).  Today, M took them out of the boxes and stacked them in the bathroom for me and helped me to break down the boxes and put them in the recycling bin.  I also got rid of four smaller cardboard boxes in which smaller items had been delivered.  I have a tendency to hold onto small boxes, thinking I could reuse them for storage; instead, they just clutter up the room!  

In the afternoon, I tidied and vacuumed the family room and made room for the new filing cabinet.  I also called neighbor T to check on her and to let her know that I returned the back door key to her daughter and had chosen the file cabinet.  She already knew about the file cabinet!  I suppose her daughter told her.  T was happy I will be taking the file cabinet and urged me to take anything else I liked.  I told her I will attend the yard sale and check things out!

Later in the evening, neighbor S called to say that they were in the process of clearing out her mother-in-law's house (a separate dwelling unit at the back of their house) and invited me to come over to see if there was anything I wanted!  I really didn't want anything, but, it seemed rude to refuse.  Besides, S's sister-in-law was also there and I had not yet condoled with her over the death of her mother.  So, I picked a few peaches that were just starting to ripen and took them over, rather than going empty handed.  The peaches were very appreciated, as they knew they were from my tree; I told them they weren't fully ripe, yet, but they cut them and ate them, anyway.

They had spread all the kitchenware and dishes on tables in their carport and were calling friends and family to take what they wanted!  I picked a whisk (I have a whisk, but, sometimes, it's nice to have two), a set of four small bowls (I'm always looking for small bowls), and a flat bed sheet to use as a backing for my latest quilt.  I declined dinner sets, coffee mugs, crystal bowls, and a wall clock, but, one of S's nieces gave me two new burgundy and gold brocade table covers/bed spreads from Armenia, saying grandmother would have liked me to have them.  How could I refuse?  

I had a small peach and a slice of peanut butter toast for brunch, today.  I wasn't hungry for the second slice of toast, so I had that with some mackerel curry at tea time, along with a cup of tea.  Dinner was leftovers (rice, mackerel curry, cucumber salad, peach chutney, and broccoli leaf mallung):

Wednesday Dinner

Manderines for dessert.

I am grateful for:

- A relatively good doctor's appointment on Tuesday
- A safe drive there and back
- Dancer's vet called back and there are treatment options available
- M helping me with the garden and in the house as needed
- Neighbor S inviting me to pick what I want of her late MIL's household items
- Peaches to share with M and S
- Working appliances

- Emails and phone calls 

Joyful activities have included eating freshly picked peaches and sharing them with friends, video chatting with my daughter, knitting myself a new pair of socks with leftover yarn:

New Wool Socks

Plans for Thursday include making milkrice for brunch, cleaning the kitchen, and vacuuming my bedroom.

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

Another Finished Project

New Sweater - Front

This is the sweater I've been knitting in the evenings, usually while watching the evening news.  I'd repair the triangles quilt in the afternoons when there was plenty of daylight to sew by and knit in the evenings for an hour or so.

New Sweater - Back

The yarn I used is 100% wool (Patons Classic Wool Worsted).  I had purchased five 3.5 oz/100 g balls in a color named "Softened Pansy" (although the color in the photos above appears a little bluer than it is).  I added color blocks in a dark grey wool (also Patons Classic Wool Worsted) that I had leftover from a previous sweater I had knitted, to the front, partly because I wanted a little visual interest and partly because I have another solid blue sweater and I didn't want two solid blue sweaters (although the other solid blue sweater has a central cable).  At first, I was just going to do blue on one side and the grey on the other side, but, then, I changed my mind and decided to go with color blocks, instead!  They are off-centered and of unequal lengths on purpose.  I am short and chunky; I'd like to think the unequal color blocks provide a bit of an optical illusion of a longer torso!  LOL.  I finished sewing the sweater together, yesterday.

One thing I learned this winter, when I was wearing 3 or more layers on top to keep warm, was that things got a bit tight around the armholes and that would pull the uppermost garment across my shoulders at the back of my neck, which felt uncomfortable to me.   So, I made this sweater sized a bit larger to comfortably wear over a long sleeved top.  I decided on a turtle neck for added warmth.  This sweater is designed for next winter, when I anticipate even higher heating bills!  

It Fits!

For anyone who is interested, I used UK size 10 needles for the ribbing and UK size 8 needles for the rest of it.  The UK size 10 needles and a pair of UK size 12 needles were my very first pairs of knitting needles, bought in 1965 when I was in 4th grade because we had to learn either crocheting or knitting for  our weekly Handicrafts class and I chose knitting.  I knitted a scarf in green and yellow, I remember, which were my House colors at school.  At first, I was knitting it in stockinette stitch (knit on one side, purl on the other), but, then, one of my cousins showed me how to do a basket weave pattern and I unpicked what I had done up to that time and reknitted the scarf.  I don't know what happened to the scarf, but, I kept my knitting needles!  They are still some of my favorite knitting needles!

Knitting Needles: No. 10 Above; No. 12 Below

They are both slightly bent (especially the thinner, No. 12 ones), but, I'm keeping them because they are special to me.  

Speaking of heating bills, I received my April natural gas bill (covering the period of March 22 to April 20).  The initial bill tracker notice email, received March 31 stated that, 9 days into the billing period, my bill was $47.88 and my projected bill was estimated to be $155.63.  The next bill tracker notice, received April 7, stated that 16 days into the billing period, my bill was $85.69 and the projected bill was $151.47.  The third bill tracker notice, received April 14, stated that 23 days had elapsed and my bill was $92.52 and the projected bill was $118.12.  The bill was received on April 21 and the actual bill is $108.10.  I am happy with that bill amount.  It has been warm during these past few days and I have not needed to have the big heater on (I've used the electric space heater in the evenings, when I've felt cold).  I don't anticipate it getting cold enough again to need the heater on until fall, so, my May bill should be much less (my stove, water heater, clothes dryer all work on natural gas, even though I don't use the dryer all that much, especially in the summer).  I will still budget the same amount each month and build up a reserve for the higher winter bills.

Today, I am grateful for:

- A new sweater to wear when the weather turns cold
- Learning to knit 
- My yarn stash and collection of knitting needles
- Getting the gas bill down
- The warmer weather.

 Today's joyful activity was modeling my new sweater!  LOL!

Wednesday's Update

 

Zucchini Plants

It's just over one month since I first had this sciatic nerve pain (first felt on May 8).  I've now had over a week of being pain free, but, today, I've felt a few twinges, which makes me feel a bit anxious.  

Nevertheless, I took a very brief stroll in the garden when M was here.  He watered the front and back garden and cleared the bed where we had planted the broccoli, peas, and some wildflowers since the broccoli had bolted, the pea vines had died, and the wildflowers had gone to seed (although he left the moringa plant in place - it didn't do well over the winter and seems more dead than alive, but, we are hopeful it might revive).  He also picked the first green beans and ... more zucchini!  Including one that had been hiding from us and has grown almost too big!

Green Beans and Zucchini Harvest

This One Escaped Earlier Harvests!

We also found out that the neighbor's rabbit seems to have eaten the sweet potato vines I planted!  Bad Bun-Bun!  Hopefully, the sweet potato vine will grow again!   

In the afternoon, I finished tidying up the sweater I was making for my daughter:

New Sweater

It has not been blocked, yet, but I had my daughter try it on and she's pleased with it.  I have enough yarn left to knit a pair of socks or maybe some hats for the cancer center.  

Afterwards, I started repairing one of my old quilts; it's one I had repaired earlier, too.  As mentioned in that post, the quilt is something I made back in the early 1980s using fabric leftover from various other projects.  It's been used and washed many times and the fabric is worn and tearing in many places and, in some places, the fabric is completely worn away and the lining fabric is showing:

Torn Fabric

Worn Away Completely

I told my daughter it's almost not worth repairing, but, she insisted that it's worth repairing it because it's her favorite quilt! Repairing this quilt will be an ongoing project! It'll be a patched patchwork quilt!

Today, I am grateful for:

- A mostly pain-free day

- Another walk in the garden
- M tending to the garden
- More zucchini and the first green beans
- Phone calls from family and friends

Today's joyful activities included another walk in the garden and finishing the sweater.

Plans for tomorrow include more quilt repairs!

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

  

Saturday

Another good day!  I am starting to feel rather hopeful!  I walked a bit more around the house, today, during the day.  The rest of the time, I stayed in bed, read blogs, watched a few YouTube videos, chatted with family and friends on the phone, and knitted.  I finished knitting one sleeve on the sweater I am knitting for my daughter and started on the second sleeve.  

Today, my daughter's friend A stopped by to pick up the peaches and zucchini we had offered her.  Since she, too, is fully vaccinated as of May, I told daughter to invite her in if A had the time and they spent the next three plus hours chatting (and enjoying some of the peach pie)!  They've been friends since 7th grade and A has asked my daughter to be her maid of honor (her wedding was postponed due to Covid).  I think A will be coming over again, next Saturday, too!  I'm glad my daughter is getting to spend some time with someone she considers one of her best friends.

Later in the evening, daughter took two more zucchini to neighbor S.  S had called to find out how I was and I asked her if she'd like more zucchini; she said she'd love some.  She said she layers zucchini slices with cooked, seasoned ground beef and bakes it - might be something to try, one day!

Daughter also took a bag of peaches and zucchini to her friend P's parents who live close to our home.  They were very happy to receive the fresh produce.  It was P who gave her a ride home last December.

That takes care of most of the zucchini we harvested this week; we cooked part of one for dinner today and there are two more left in the fridge.  I am waiting until we harvest more zucchini to call my friend S to ask if she'd like some!  

Today, I saw Bun-Bun, the neighbor's white rabbit, near the back sliding glass door, eating the cat food!  I tried to take a picture, but, Bun-Bun saw me and hopped away!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another good day
- Daughter's friend was able to visit her
- Being able to share the garden produce with friends and neighbors
- Phone chats with family and friends
- My daughter being home

Today's joyful activity was knitting.

No firm plans for tomorrow; but, I hope to do more knitting.

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

Saturday Update

It's been three weeks for today since I felt this sciatica pain!  I can hardly believe it!

I felt a little better, today.  I still can't stand for long, but, I was able to make myself a cup of tea in the morning while daughter slept in and I managed to get myself a few snacks from time to time.  I also managed to scrub the toilet in the afternoon!  I felt such a sense of accomplishment! I never thought I could get so excited about cleaning the toilet!  LOL.

I couldn't quite manage to make the evening tea by myself, however.  I put the water to boil, but, daughter had to pour the boiling water and keep the tea to steep for me.  Then, I went back to the kitchen to add the sugar and milk.  Baby steps!

I spent most of the afternoon knitting.  I finished knitting the front of the sweater I am making for my daughter and started on the first sleeve.  I might not be able to do housework or gardening, but, I can take this time of enforced rest to knit!  I will still be accomplishing something!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Feeling a little better
- The little tasks I was able to accomplish
- Access to the internet
- Phone calls and emails with family and friends
- My daughter's help

Today's joyful activity was...scrubbing the toilet!  Yes!  Really!  LOL!  It made me feel so good to be able to do that one small household task!  Followed closely by knitting, of course.

No plans for tomorrow as I am taking things one day at a time.  Hopefully, hopefully, I will continue to feel better, please.  Most probably I will continue with the knitting.

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for the rest of this long weekend?

Friday

Knitted Hats

Today, I had my oncologist appointment in the early afternoon.  I took the eight hats I had knitted since my last visit, which had been in October to give the cancer center to be given to anyone who might want one.  The appointment went well.  The lab results were mostly good and the cancer indicators were within normal range.  Most importantly, the recent mammogram and ultrasound results were normal!  I was so happy to hear that!  An answered prayer!  I had been worried when I was told a repeat mammogram was required.  I received my injection for osteoporosis (given every 6 months) and my next appointment, which will be in April.  

When I came home, the letter from the radiology clinic with the mammogram results was in the mail box!

I had eaten a frozen burrito for brunch before I left for my appointment.  After I came home, I had a bowl of the Thai Green Curry soup.  Later, I had some cheese and crackers with my evening cup of tea.

In the evening, M came to tend to the garden.  We are expecting some rain over the next couple of days and he moved some potted plants to where they could get rained on and did some tidying.  Clouds have been gathering all day, but, so far (typing this at 11:20 p.m.), no rain, yet.

Daughter prepared Hawaiian Chicken for dinner, tonight:

Hawaiian Chicken with Vegetables

I added some sliced carrots, broccoli stems, and canned pineapple chunks to the sauce and prepared a cucumber salad to go with it.  We had it served over rice:

My Dinner

Dinner was delicious!  I really like the sauce daughter prepared for the chicken - she mixed it up as a marinade and kept the chicken to marinate overnight; once cooked, the marinade turned into the sauce.  

I had some of the canned pineapple chunks for dessert.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Good mammogram and blood test results

- A safe drive to the clinic and back

- Health insurance

- Daughter cooking dinner

- M tending to the garden

- Answered prayers

Today's joyful activity was donating the knitted hats to the cancer clinic.

Plans for tomorrow include doing a load of laundry and some paperwork.

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

Friday: Sweaters, Radishes, and Meals Unplanned

New Sweater

Today, I wove in the ends of yarn on the new sweater.  I tried it on, last night, and it fitted well (the mock cable rib up the center of the front provides some needed elasticity!).  Below is a picture which shows the mock cable rib a little better, but the shade of the wool is more purple in this picture (the actual color is better seen in the picture above).

Another Look

My daughter has spent the day in meetings, emerging from her room just once to have some lunch.  She warmed up leftover rice, teriyaki chicken, and steamed vegetables for her lunch.  I took the opportunity to practice the piano.

Today, when M came to tend to the garden, we harvested two of the radishes - I had been waiting until he came to see how well the radishes, at least, were growing:

Radishes in my Mini Vegetable Plot!

First Harvest!

We are going to leave the rest in the ground to grow a little bigger.  There are about 6 more radish plants left!  My daughter will probably eat the radishes as they are, in a salad or something.  I washed the leaves well, chopped them up, and sauteed them:

Sauteed Radish Leaves

They wilted down to almost nothing, but, there is enough for my daughter and I to have with our dinner.

Speaking of dinner,  I am afraid that I haven't made or followed any kind of meal plan, this week!  Here's a quick recap of what we've had:

Thursday (12/31):  On New Year's Eve, daughter made some Korean food, which we had for several meals and I baked some American style biscuits (not cookies) using refrigerated dough and we had them with our meals. 

Friday (1/1/21):  On New Year's Day, I made milk rice for breakfast, friend S sent us a tray of special treats on New Year's Day, as well, and neighbor S and family brought baba ganoush and salmon for dinner, which provided us with some leftovers that we enjoyed over a couple of days.

Saturday: we had leftovers for our meals.

Sunday: I boiled mung beans for our brunch, daughter had leftover rice and curries for her dinner and I had a scrambled egg on toast.

Monday: We had leftover mung beans for brunch, parathas and chicken curry for tea, and daughter cooked teriyaki chicken, steamed broccoli and snap peas, and rice for dinner.

Tuesday: I made waffles for brunch, and we had leftovers from Monday night's teriyaki chicken and vegetables for dinner.

Wednesday: I had leftover waffles for brunch, I think my daughter had a frozen burrito; I had a cup of noodles soup for dinner and daughter had leftovers from previous meals.

Thursday: Daughter had the last of the leftover fish cutlets for breakfast and I had some toast and cheese.  Later, I cooked rice, smoked sausage, and warmed up some previously cooked and frozen sauteed green beans for lunch and we had the leftovers for dinner.

Which brings us to today!  Daughter had leftovers for her lunch.  I had a slice of toast with leftover seeni sambol.   Later, I made some turkey meat balls and made a curry with them, sauteed some shredded cabbage, made a dhal (lentils) curry, the sauteed radish leaves, and cooked a fresh pot of rice.  We had the rice and curries for dinner.  I also cooked four homemade hamburger patties, as well, for an alternative dish.  I am hoping that what I cooked today will take us through the weekend and I can make a meal plan to follow next week!  I am also planning to order some groceries this weekend and pick it up on Monday.

I watched a couple of programs on TV in the evening and chatted with friend R.  I didn't go by to see her, today, but, hope to do so, tomorrow.

Today, I am grateful for:

- My new, wool sweater

- Radishes from the garden

- M watering the front garden for me

- Listening to daughter play the piano

- Working appliances

Today's joyful activity was harvesting the radishes!  LOL!

Plans for tomorrow include taking down the Christmas decorations and visiting friend R.

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

June Gloom on Friday

I woke up this morning after only three hours of sleep with an upset stomach.  I tried to go back to sleep, but, couldn't fall asleep, so got up and had a cup of tea.  I am not quite sure what I ate to upset my stomach, but, I've resorted to having plain saltine crackers to try to settle my tummy.

It is a cloudy, overcast day with cooler temperatures (high of 68F).  It's what we call June Gloom.  I am back to being bundled up in wool socks, a sweater, and a wool cardigan!

But, I went outside to walk for a few minutes and to check on the plants.  The peaches are looking good, but, they all feel rather firm to the touch.  I think I might pick them this weekend or early next week.  I want them ripe, but, not overripe!

The tips of the tomato plant got withered from the high temperatures, earlier in the week:

Withered tomato top

I was hoping that the surrounding four o'clock plants would shelter the tomato plant, but, I guess the tomato plant was more sensitive to the heat.  However, guess what I found?

Baby Tomatoes!

I found the beginnings of some baby tomatoes!  That is so exciting!

I thought I might be able to take a nap in the afternoon, but, I didn't nap.  I practiced the piano, collected some osteospermum seeds to scatter in the side yard, and knitted.  I was inspired by a pair of fingerless gloves that Nil had crocheted.  I chose to knit mine, although they are more like fingerless mittens than gloves:

Fingerless Gloves/Mittens

I used leftover 100% wool from one of my sweaters to make the fingerless gloves.  I used worsted wool, U.S. #3 needles, and cast on 30 stitches.  My hand usually get very cold, in the winter; I hope the fingerless gloves will keep my hands warm.  My daughter would like a pair, herself, so I will make some for her, too.

Later in the evening, M came over to tend to the garden.  He cleaned up the bed of crocosmia that had started to dry up and transplanted the two moringa plants in bigger pots. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Plain saltine crackers
- M  helping with the garden
- The yarn stash
- Phone calls from Aunt C and friend R
- Video chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was knitting.

Plans for tomorrow include catching up on the things I didn't do today!

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

Curfew Lifted on Thursday

I haven't been very productive these last couple of days.  I've been glued to the TV, watching all the news coverage of the things that have been happening.  They have been emotional days and, at times, I've had to turn off the TV for my own emotional well being.

Yesterday, I did a little housework in between watching TV.  It was a hot day, with our high going up to 98F.  I watered the garden, both front and back, because some of the plants, including my tomato plant, were withering due to the heat!  Later in the evening, I practiced the piano.

New Hat

I also finished knitting another hat.  That is the end of the blue yarn from my sweater!  I now have five hats knitted to donate.

Today, has been a little cooler.  I watched the coverage of the funeral of George Floyd and the protests.  Our curfew was lifted, today, which is a good sign, I think.  I hope that there won't be a need for it to be put into effect, again.

Today, I am grateful for:
- More peaches from the tree (which is still standing upright!)
- Television
- Intact window screens which enable me to open them
- Freshly cooked rice
- Leftovers

Today's joyful activity was picking fresh peaches from the tree.

Friday's To Do List:

- Clean the bathrooms 

- Do one deep cleaning task (kitchen)

- Vacuum

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

Daughter's Shelf Unit

Propped Up on Sunday

Propped Up Peach Tree

Standing Straight, Again!

The peach tree has been propped up!  I had managed to get it somewhat off the ground using the small step ladder (just two steps!) by myself, earlier in the morning.  My efforts caused three peaches to fall off, but, I picked them up to eat them, later.  Then, in the afternoon, M came over with a long piece of wood that he had to use as a stake and we tied the tree to it, using strips of fabric.  But, we doubted if the piece of wood would be strong enough to support the tree.  Then, I suggested we used three of the slats that had broken off the dilapidated garden bench that I have!  There were three pieces that had broken off and we propped them up in place using cinder blocks and a paving slab!  Hopefully, they will hold the tree up, at least long enough for the fruit to ripen!  Another three peaches fell off during our efforts, but, I gave M a couple of the riper ones.  I ate one of the less ripe ones with a mixture of salt and chili powder!

M brought me some gardenias from his garden:

Gardenias

Aren't they lovely?  They have such a lovely scent, too.

He also brought me a new houseplant:

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum "Valentine")

He said he bought it for someone who saw his plant like that and wanted one, too, but, changed her mind, later, and gave it back to him!  He asked me if I'd like to have it and I said yes!  It is supposed to be super easy to grow, doesn't need a lot of care, and is a good air purifier!    However, it is highly toxic to cats!  I put it on top of the tall shelving unit in the family room, next to the pothos plants (which are also toxic to cats) to keep it out of Dancer's reach.

Between trying to prop up the peach tree and watching the on-going TV news coverage of today's protests in my city and adjoining cities, I didn't accomplish much, today!  However, I updated my monthly balanced life goals and posted that, took some of the zucchini muffins I baked last night to neighbor S to share with her, chatted on the phone with neighbor T, aunt C, and friend R (and daughter, too, of course), and sewed up my newest hat:

Stripey Hat

There was just enough of the mustard yellow for this hat!  The yarn was leftover from one of my daughter's crochet projects.  She does "amigurumi", which is a type of Japanese crocheting of small stuffed items.  The blue, of course, is leftover from my sweater.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The peach tree didn't break or get uprooted
- M was available to help prop it up
- Gifts of flowers and a new houseplant
- Being able to share the muffins with neighbor S
- The garden in which to walk about during this time of sheltering at home

Today's joyful activity was propping up the peach tree!

I am not quite sure where this month went!  But, we start a new month, tomorrow! I hope it will be a better month for all of us! 

Monday's To Do List:

- Water the front garden
- Change bed sheets

- Load of laundry (bed sheets/towels)

- Dust living room & dining area

- Clean the fridge

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

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

Thursday

The First Peach - Top

The First Peach - Bottom

This morning, when I went out to water the back garden, I saw that a peach had fallen from the tree.  It was about two inches in diameter, slightly misshapen, and, although it had a nice color, it was still quite hard and under-ripe.  Not quite sure how or why it fell.  I had a choice to make - do I keep it to ripen in a brown paper bag or do I eat it as it was?  In the end, I decided to eat it as it was, because eating under-ripe fruit is nothing new to me.  In fact, eating under-ripe, sour fruit with a mixture of salt and chili powder used to be a treat when I was a child!  The peach was crunchy, a little sour and a little sweet.  In fact, it was just right!  I am considering this as the first peach of the season because all the other peaches that were thinned out or had fallen were too small and immature to be considered edible.

I spent a quiet day, today.  Barb's news about her daughter Whitney's passing made me feel pensive. I'm coming up on the five year anniversary of my own cancer diagnosis and the possibility of it returning is something I think of quite often.

I made a couple of changes to my meal plan, today, and had tuna salad sandwiches for brunch, instead of the French toast, because Susan had mentioned tuna salad sandwiches in her comment on my meal plan post and that made me want tuna salad!  Later, for dinner, instead of making coconut roti, I had frozen parathas with fish curry, as it was easier and quicker!  I think I can make a whole week's worth of meals, now, based on the meals I planned to make and didn't!  LOL.  

I did a few house keeping tasks, watered the few indoor plants, cooked a fish curry, etc., and watched news.  I also finished knitting another hat:

Hat No. 3

Today, I am grateful for:

- The first peach from the tree

- The rest of the peaches remaining on the tree!

- Bird song in the garden
- Chatting with my daughter
- A quiet sort of day

Today's joyful activity was enjoying the first peach!

Plans for tomorrow include vacuuming, which I should have done yesterday, but, didn't!

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

Tuesday

Cantaloupe Flower

I have two flowers on my cantaloupe plants!  I am so excited!  From what I could tell, they are both male flowers and the plant usually has more male flowers than female flowers to increase their chances of pollination, but, I am hoping that we might get some female flowers, too, eventually!

Second Cantaloupe Flower

I am not even sure if the plants should be flowering this early, because they are still baby plants, themselves!  But, yay!  I've cantaloupe flowers! 

Today was a hot day, so I watered the back garden in the morning.  My utilities bill came in the mail, today, and it includes charges for water, as well as electricity, sewer service, and solid waste collection.  It is for April and May usages and it came to just below $300, which is what I budget for the utilities bill!  I haven't checked the break down, how much for water, how much for electricity, etc., and our summer water rates haven't gone into effect, yet.  I know I'll get a much bigger bill, next time!  But, that is the price of trying to grow a lush garden in an arid place!

Buddleia Flower Spike

I noticed that there are a couple of other flower spikes starting to form on the buddleia plant and I am looking forward to seeing a bush covered with flowers, eventually.

In the afternoon, I chatted with cousin P, did some (very little) housekeeping, and read.  Later, I watched news and knitted.  I had started another hat, yesterday, and today, I finished it:

Red Knitted Hat (sorry, it's a bit blurry)

I looked through my yarn bin, yesterday, and discovered, to my surprise, that I didn't have quite as much leftover yarn that is suitable for these types of hats as I thought I had!  I have yarn that I had bought for specific projects and leftover wool (not suitable for these hats as they need to be machine washable and wool will felt if washed in a washing machine - ask me how I know!  LOL!).  But, my daughter said I could use any of her yarn that she had bought for her craft projects.  So, maybe I'll raid her yarn stash, next! 

In the evening, I attended this month's rosary prayer gathering, online.  It was nice to see everyone and, after the prayers were said, we stayed online and chatted a bit.  Later, I called friend R and chatted with her. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Flowers on plants in my garden
- Water for the garden
- Being able to attend the monthly prayer gathering online
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activities included attending the monthly prayer gathering and chatting with family and friends.

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

Sunday

Sunday lived up to its name and was a sunny day!

I spent a relaxed morning.  Neighbor T called to check on me and we chatted for a little bit.  Later in the afternoon, I did a load of laundry and hung everything up, inside the house, to dry.  In the evening, I watered the back garden.

Tomato Flowers!

There are flowers on the tomato plant!

The cantaloupe plants, the ones I didn't transplant, are growing, too:

Cantaloupe Plants

They are still fairly small, but...some look like they might be forming flowers!

Cantaloupe Flower Bud!

The real test for these plants will be later next week, when we are supposed to have a mini heatwave!

I also watched some news in the evening and a couple of other programs on TV and knitted.  Three hours of TV watching and this is the end result:

Knitted Hat

I used leftover yarn from two sweaters, but they are both the same type of yarn.  I think it might have looked better if I had started the hat with the darker blue, but, I am not going to redo the whole thing.  This used up all the lighter blue yarn, but, there is a little bit more of the darker blue yarn.  One hat ready to be taken to the cancer center on my next visit.  I hope to have a dozen or so hats made by then.

In the meantime, my daughter has been busy making stuff, too:

Cardboard Shelving Unit

She is using the boxes her grocery deliveries came in!  She plans to paint the shelves and store her DVDs and things.  I was reminded how, when we first came to this country and didn't have money for furniture, we covered cardboard boxes with fabric and used them as tables and for storage.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A sunny day
- Calls from neighbor and friends
- Working appliances
- Water for the garden
- Video chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was knitting.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and a holiday.  My plans for the day include watering the front garden and maybe some sewing. 

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

Friday and Saturday

Third Pair of Socks

Guess what I finished knitting, today?  Yes, the third pair of socks from the leftover sweater yarn!  I shouldn't have any reason to complain of cold feet, next winter! 

Friday was a relaxed day.  I spent the morning writing my blog post, responding to comments, etc.  I received another delivery; this time the 20 lbs. of sugar I had ordered.  Now, I have enough sugar to make jam, later this summer, when the peaches ripen and if I should have another crop of pineapple guava (feijoa), later on.   In the afternoon, I watched some TV and, later, I watched news, knitted, watered the front garden, did the dishes, etc., and video chatted with my daughter.

Today, Saturday, I watered the peach tree, etc., in the morning and did some weeding.  I read a bit in the afternoon and tried to take a nap, but, didn't fall asleep.  So, after about 30 minutes, I gave up trying to nap!  Instead, I cleaned the litter box and swept the bathroom, watched news, and finished knitting my third pair of socks.  Then, I started the car and, while it was running, I did a little more weeding and watered some of the other plants.

Neighbor T called and asked me if I would like to have an unopened container of potato salad; she said her daughter went grocery shopping for her, yesterday (I had seen her daughter's car pull in to her drive way when I was out watering, on Friday) and bought her two containers of potato salad, but, she said that she couldn't eat both and she would have to throw away the second container if I didn't want it!  I can't imagine anyone wanting to toss food, especially these days!  So, I told her I would be happy to have the potato salad.  She kept it out on her front door step and I put on my face mask and collected the container of potato salad.  It had a "use by" date of June 12 and I told her she could keep it in her fridge and nothing would happen to it, but, she was adamant that she couldn't eat that much of potato salad!  I had some of it for my dinner, tonight, and enjoyed it.  One way or another, my neighbors are making sure I am fed!  LOL!

I am grateful for:
- Another pair of socks
- Potato salad from neighbor T
- The car started without any problems
- A delivery of sugar
- Being able to stock up

Joyful activities have included knitting, gardening, and watching TV

Plans for tomorrow include sewing more fabric face masks, as I've been asked for a few more. 

How is your weekend coming along?

If One Pair is Good...

New Pair of Socks

Then, two pairs should be better, right?  LOL!  I knitted myself another pair of socks with the same leftover yarn!  I varied the cuffs a little bit, just to be able to tell the two pairs apart.  One pair might become a gift, however, as a friend has been saying that her feet get cold, easily, these days.

I am feeling like the days are starting to zip by, again!

Sunday was the retreat.

Monday I wrote my blog post about it, which took me almost as long as the retreat!  LOL.  Neighbor T called for our weekly chat (we've moved the day from Sunday to Monday), I rested and knitted, and spoke with neighbor S to thank her for the Armenian pizza and get the recipe from her.  Later in the afternoon, her husband brought me some groceries and. in the evening, I put water to the garden, put away some laundry, and spoke on the phone with friend R.

Tuesday, I overwatered one of the indoor plants which is kept on top of one of the shelving units in the family room.  The water dripped down the front of the shelving unit, splashing all over the stereo (yes, I have one of those 4-in-1 things that has a radio, CD player, cassette player, and a record player/turn table!) and on to the scrapbook albums!  It was a mad dash to pull the albums out, grab a kitchen towel to absorb the still dripping water from the edge of the plate the planter is on, and wipe the water off the shelves and items on the shelf and wipe up the floor!  The scrapbook albums are still sitting out on the floor to dry!

Later in the evening, I spot watered some of the fruit trees.  The poor peach tree has been dropping leaves and, at first, I thought that I might not have watered it enough (although, I read that it can drop leaves if it has been watered too much, too!)  But, on closer look, it seems to have developed baterial leaf spot, apparently caused by a bacteria known as Xanthomonas pruni.  Sometimes, brown spots on leaves can be caused by a lack of nitrogen, as well, but, the location of the spots on the leaves seem to indicate that they are bacterial spots.  That is a bit distressing, but, I shall wait until M is able to take a look at it on Friday, before deciding what to do about it.  In the meantime, the little peaches seem to be growing well enough.  Hopefully, they will be able to ripen without being too impacted by the leaf drop.

On Wednesday, my biggest accomplishment was reorganizing the pantry cabinets and putting away the cans and boxes of groceries I bought, last week.  Yes, they had been sitting out on the small table in the family room all this time!  I didn't want to put them away any old how, so, I waited until I was ready to spend an afternoon putting things away, properly, updating my inventory list at the same time.  I think I should type up my inventory list in the computer because my handwritten list is getting a bit messy with things crossed out and items added in!

I had a long chat with cousin P in the morning; she called to ask me a question about how long to keep some paperwork and brought me up to date on all the family news!  In the evening, I watered the orange tree and the peach tree, again.  Afterwards, I walked for 20 minutes in the driveway.  For dinner, I had pasta with spaghetti sauce

Today, Thursday, I woke up fairly early to the unmistakable sound of Dancer regurgitating!  Poor kitty.  I cleaned it up and had my morning tea.  Then, I spent some time in the garden, checking on the peach tree. doing a bit of weeding, and just walking around, admiring the flowers and listening to the birds singing.  In the early evening, I watched news and finished knitting my new pair of socks.  Afterwards, I watered the front garden and did a little more weeding.  The side yard (that M cleared a couple of weeks ago) continues in the front, as well, but, he was not able to weed that area (a much smaller space).  Today, after I watered the garden, I got in there and pulled weeds.  I have been trying to get the osteospermum to grow there and, today, I found a few plants growing among the weeds!  The other osteospermum plants are setting seeds now, so I might collect another handful of seeds and scatter them in the side yard to see if they will germinate.

Today, I received a delivery of cat food and cans of tuna I had ordered.  I was on the lookout for the delivery person and when I saw him bringing the rather heavy box (I had ordered two 22 lb. bags of cat food), I opened the door and asked if he could leave it just inside the door for me, instead of on the step outside.  He was kind enough to do so and I was able to push it further inside.  I have sprayed the outside of the box and will leave it there for a couple of days before opening it.

For dinner, I made an easy version of rice pilaf with some of the roast chicken - cooked the rice in a little chicken stock made with chicken bouillon powder, cut up chicken, onions, and frozen green peas in the rice cooker.  I added a little ground pepper, as well.   I had it with a simple cucumber salad.

Every day, this week, I've had something for which to be grateful, whether I listed them or not.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Dancer seems to be OK
- Deliveries of items I ordered
- Delivery person obliging me by leaving the package inside the door, rather than leaving it outside the door
- Water for the garden
- Chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was finishing knitting another pair of socks.

Friday's To Do List:

- Clean the bathrooms 

- Do one deep cleaning task

- Have M check out the peach tree
- Start the car

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