This Week

Blueberry Flowers

This week, we've had unusually warm weather, with the temperatures in the 90s, with Tuesday's high being 99F in my area.  That's like summer and of course, both daughter and I loved it.  We don't have central air conditioning and the one window unit that we install in one bedroom has not been put up yet (I usually don't get M to put it up before July).  But we have fans if we need them.  

On Monday, there was a helicopter circling around my neighborhood for several hours and I wondered what was going on.  My first thought was an accident or a fire, especially when I heard some sirens in the background.  But, the helicopter kept circling long after the sound of the sirens faded away.  When daughter went out into the back yard to water the garden after work, a little after 5:30 p.m., she could hear the helicopter megaphone saying something, but, she couldn't quite catch what was being said.  Then, the helicopter flew right over the house and she heard them say, "You need to go back into the house"!  She turned the water off immediately and ran inside and closed all the doors and windows we had kept open!  Maybe there had been an armed robbery or something and they were searching for someone.  That's happened before in my neighborhood and one time, the police were going from house to house, checking the gardens for someone who had killed the owner of a neighborhood restaurant just three blocks from my house.  On that occasion, I had not seen the police officers until I went outside to take my trash cans to the curb and I was told to go inside!  Later in the evening on Monday, the helicopter went away and daughter was able to finish putting water to the garden and take the trash cans out.  We haven't found out what happened to cause the helicopter to circle overhead.

We had peanut butter and bananas for breakfast and I made egg salad sandwiches for lunch; we had more egg salad sandwiches for dinner, too.  I added green Serrano chilies and chives from the garden to the egg salad and it turned out well.  For dessert, I made thin pancakes filled with  grated coconut that had been sweetened with palmyra palm treacle and cinnamon and cooked to make what we call "pani pol" (pani = honey, treacle; pol = coconut).  

On Tuesday, I woke up around 8:00 a.m., which, most of you know is early for me, having gone to bed around 4:00 a.m.  I stayed in bed for a bit, but, I couldn't fall asleep again, so, I got up at 8:30 a.m.  My back was hurting badly enough for me to take a couple of Tylenols which helped.  I did some paperwork, checked the week's grocery ads, and did a little sewing on the quilt top I am piecing.  In the evening, I took a 3 hour nap on the sofa!

I made fried rice for brunch and for dinner, I cooked some fresh rice to have with the chicken and kale daughter had cooked, earlier.

On Wednesday, M tended to the garden and I spent a good part of the day doing the blog post about the stonery!  One of my cousins (Cousin M) is visiting from Australia and she is staying with one of our other cousins (Cousin V) during her stay here.  She called me in the evening and we made arrangements to meet for dinner at cousin V's on Friday evening.

I had leftover fried rice for brunch (daughter had a banana with peanut butter) and we had rice, chicken with kale, and a cucumber salad for dinner.  I had made some faluda with homemade rose syrup instead of tea in the evening and I froze some of it to have as a frozen dessert.  

On Thursday, we had another helicopter circling around my neighborhood in the morning!  This time it was above the intersection at one end of my street.  And this time, both my daughter and I heard the megaphone telling someone to come out of the house with their hands in the air!  Oh, my!  My daughter immediately closed the doors and windows, just to be on the safe side!  

I had my appointment with my tax preparer in the afternoon,  It was supposed to have been a two-hour time slot, but, it actually took us three hours to finish the taxes and I owed taxes after all that!  But, at least, that task is done!

I cooked a boxed mix of macaroni and cheese for a late lunch and I had it with some of the leftover ground beef mixture I had cooked earlier and daughter had her portion with canned tuna and chili sauce stirred into it.  Later, I baked a frozen beef pot pie for dinner; daughter didn't want one and she had a granola bar, instead.

Later in the night, daughter helped me order some items for my quarterly stock up of household items.  Depending on what I am stocking up, I usually buy a 3-6 months supply of things like toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, soap, etc.  My regular stocking up schedule got set aside for a bit when daughter came home last August, bringing all her non-food pantry supplies with her (she was not allowed to pack any food items in the boxes according to the moving company's regulations).  But, it's been over seven months since she came home and it's time to get back to restocking certain items.  For one thing, I do not want to wait until I run out of various items we use all the time and for another, I would prefer to stock up now, before supplies go down and prices go up, due to global events.  I'm not panic buying, but, I am being prepared.  

On Friday, the first of the stock up items I ordered were delivered: OTC pain medications because I am running low on what we have currently, allergy meds to replace the ones that had expired, the new supplement my doctor had prescribed to replace the one I am currently taking, daughter's prescribed supplements, more of the shampoo and conditioner that daughter uses, and a twin pack of solid deodorant as I am coming to the end of the one I am using and that was the last one in my stock!  I put away all the items except daughter's shampoo and hair conditioner which I left for her to put in the cabinet under her bathroom sink.

Friday evening, we were going to dinner with my cousins.  At first, I was planning to buy a cake or some pastries from the bakery as I didn't want to put the oven on to bake anything at home, but, although it was in the mid 90s, it was a little cooler in the house and I had all the ingredients I needed to make my "family favorite" bread pudding.  So, that's what I did, reusing a foil pie pan I had washed and kept.  That way, I didn't have to worry about collecting the dish from my cousin, afterwards and I could claim I had decluttered one item from my kitchen cabinets!  LOL.  I also tidied up one shelf in the kitchen cabinet and was able to move things around a bit to make room for one small kitchen appliance in there that had been stored elsewhere.

M arrived to tend to the garden just before we had to leave, so he watered the garden and locked the gate behind him when he left.  

It was lovely to see cousin M again (she last visited about two years ago) and to spend some time with her and cousin V.  

We had leftover mac and cheese for brunch and rice and curries for dinner at cousin V's.

On Saturday, it was about 10 degrees cooler and our daytime high was in the mid-80s.  Daughter picked some sugarsnap peas from the garden and shared them with me.  She continued to sew her dress, learning how to cut bias bindings and sew a facing to a neckline, how to sew darts in order to tailor the garment to fit her measurements, etc.  

I cooked fried diced potatoes, scrambled eggs, and turkey bacon for brunch.  For dinner, I cooked rice and a chicken curry, which we had with kale mallung I had prepared earlier.  

This week, I have been grateful for:

- The lovely warm weather
- Being able to vist my cousins

- M's help with the garden
- Fans and the electricity to run the fans
- Water for the garden

This week's joyful activities have included visiting my cousins, sewing, and spending time in the garden.

How was your week?

While We Wait...

 

New Leaves on the Nectarine Tree

Apparently,  an alert has been issued by a federal government agency that the state of California is likely to be subject to a drone attack.  Well, isn't that just lovely?!  As if waiting for "The Big One" (a major earthquake on the San Andreas earthquake fault line which is overdue according to past geologic activities) and the resulting damage was not enough!  Why California, I wonder?

So, while we wait for this drone attack...

I spent part of Wednesday tending to the garden with M who watered and weeded and checked on the fruit trees.  

And I spent part of Wednesday getting all my tax documents together, downloading certain documents from one website and uploading them to another website and printing out copies with my daughter's assistance as I was getting overwhelmed and stressed and the printer kept having issues.  Life was so much easier when all the pertinent documents were mailed to me!  

On Thursday, I took the folder of tax documents over to the tax accountant's office and handed them over to the receptionist, who said she will scan the documents and hand them to the accountant.  I have an appointment with the tax accountant scheduled for next week, assuming all will be well. 

I also finished mending the triangles quilt.  It has been washed and dried and will go back on daughter's bed as it's one of her favorite quilts.  

And I pulled out one of my "Works In Progress" quilts, to work on it, again.  It is made of hexagons using English paper piecing.  It has been a while since I last worked on it, but, I'd like to finish it this year, again, assuming all goes well.

Friday's plans include sewing, some cooking, and tending to the garden, again, with M. 

How is your week coming along?  What are your plans for Friday?  

No Jury Duty on Wednesday

 

The Mirror is Back Over the Fireplace

On Tuesday, when I called in to find out if I needed to report for jury duty, I was told to report to the court house in person at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.  So, Tuesday night, I went to bed "early" for me, around 1:30 a.m., although I didn't fall asleep right away.

But, I woke up at 9:00 a.m., had a cup of tea, said my morning prayers, and took a shower.  I heard my cell phone ping shortly after I got out of the shower and got dressed.  I thought my daughter was messaging me, so I checked the phone and the automated jury service had sent both a voicemail and a text thanking me for my jury service and telling me that I didn't need to report to the courthouse on July 30, 2025 and that I will not be called for jury service for another 12 months!

I wasn't quite sure if that was accurate or not, so, I called the jury service number and of course, I got the automated messaging system.  I put in my information and was told I had fulfilled my jury service.  There was no number to press to speak to a live person, so, I accepted the fact that I didn't have to report in person.  In any case, I will save the voicemail and text messages, which were sent just after 10:30 a.m.  I'm glad they messaged me then because I had been planning to leave the house at 11:00 a.m. and if they had called me while I was driving, I would not have answered!  

So, I was home when M came to tend to the garden.  He brought me a cutting of a lemon verbena plant to try and grow it.  I put it in water to see if it will root.  

I also asked him to rehang the mirror in the living room.  It was taken down when the walls were painted and the painters forgot to hang it back up and I forgot to tell them to do so.  Then, I wondered if I wanted the mirror up and stayed without putting it up for almost two months.  But, I decided that the mirror sort of completes the fireplace and I wanted it back up.  So, M put in two new nails and hung the mirror up for me.  I'm too short to see myself in the mirror when I stand in front of it, but, I like having the mirror there.

I did more paperwork, on Wednesday, sorting through and filing some and shredding others.  I now have three grocery bags full of shredded paper to be used as mulch in the back garden planting beds.  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Not needing to go in person to report for jury duty
- M for helping me with the garden and hanging the mirror for me
- Water for the garden
- Phone calls, texts, and emails
- Getting some much needed paperwork done

Wednesday's joyful activity was being told I have fulfilled my jury duty service!  LOL.

Plans for Thursday include catching up on a few blogs (I am behind with my blog reading), dusting and vacuuming the main areas of the house, cleaning the kitchen, and doing a load of laundry.

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

On Thursday

Pomegranate Flower

On Thursday, both daughter and I were up early because she was working from home and I wanted to make her a cup of coffee before her early morning meeting.  While daughter did her work, I spent my day doing some paperwork and filing of my own, including going through a few file folders and getting rid of old statements/paid bills, etc.  In addition, I put away a load of laundry and sorted through the drawers where I store my scarves and socks, etc.  

In the afternoon, I took a nap on the sofa in the living room.  

Later, after daughter finished her work for the day, she made a card for her friend's graduation which we will attend on Friday and I cooked dinner.

Brunch was French bread rolls sandwiches with a beef curry filling, followed by fresh mango.  Dinner was baked ham, mashed potatoes, and sauteed garlic green beans, followed by fresh strawberries for dessert.  I had my strawberries with a piece of sponge cake my daughter had brought me.  After dinner, I portioned up the leftover ham and froze most of it.  I kept a small package of sliced ham to have during the week.  Daughter will take one or two small packages of frozen ham back with her and the rest will be incorporated into my meals over the next several months and the ham bone will be made into a soup, later on.  This is the ham I bought on sale just before Easter.  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- Daughter was able to work from home
- Internet services and electricity which enables her to work remotely
- A lovely, sunny day with a high of 75F
- A working oven
- The progress I've made with the paperwork and filing.

Thursday's joyful activity was taking an afternoon nap!

Plans for Friday include attending my late friend A's younger daughter's graduation.  I felt so honored when she invited me.  

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

On Mother's Day Sunday

 

A Bouquet of Roses

On Mother's Day Sunday, the temperature reached a high of 94f, so it was a bit cooler than Saturday.

Daughter and I decided we will celebrate Mother's Day when she is home, next weekend.

I did some tidying, sorted through a pile of paperwork and did some shredding, picked blueberries, watered the back garden, put away the dishes, washed all of Dancer's dishes, and swept and mopped the kitchen floor, finally.  

Brunch was waffles with cranberry sauce and dinner was leftover tacos, lettuce, and watermelon from Saturday's dinner.

On Mother's Day, I was grateful for:

- My mother
- My daughter who made me a mother
- Another sunny and warm day
- Water for the garden
- More fresh blueberries

Sunday's joyful activities included video chatting with my daughter and spending time in the garden.

Monday's To Do List:

- Lab appointment for blood work
- Meal plan
- Water the front garden
- Water the indoor plants
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Paperwork/filing
- Decluttering
- Continue to tidy my bedroom (find space for the sewing supplies)

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

On Friday

Yogurt and Rose Syrup

Friday was a chilly day (for me) with a daytime high of 63F.  My rose jelly didn't set overnight and remained a syrup, but, it is a pretty color and tastes delicious.

I spent most of the afternoon doing some paperwork, dealing with insurance, and making appointments for May.  May will be a busy month as I have two medical appointments (one of which had to be rescheduled) and two appointments for lab work prior to the medical appointments,  as well as my late friend A's daughter's graduation, and a quick visit by daughter who will be coming down to attend the graduation.  

M was here in the evening to tend to the garden and I served him some rose syrup with yogurt for him to try and gave him a jar of the syrup to take home with him.  He liked the rose syrup.  

Brunch was a banana; dinner was the last of the pasta I was given.  Dessert was a bowl of yogurt with rose syrup.

I am currently watching the televised funeral of Pope Francis.  I am not Catholic, but, I respect all religions.

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- Warm clothing on a chilly day
- Getting some paperwork and scheduling done
- M's help with the garden
- Blueberries from the garden
- Television

Friday's joyful activities included video chatting with my daughter, tending to the garden with M, and knitting.

I've no specific plans for Saturday.  We have a chance of rain in the morning, according to the forecast.  I will probably spend a relaxed day, knitting.

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

Rose Syrup

On Monday

 

Sunset on Monday

Monday was overcast and cool with a high of 68F (on Sunday, we were at 80F).  We were under a wind advisory, with gusts of wind up to 40 mph expected, but, I didn't notice any strong wind in my area.  What I noticed were the clouds.  I took the photo above, in the early evening, when I was walking up and down my driveway and sidewalk.  The sun was setting behind some dark clouds.  I thought the clouds held a promise of rain, but, it didn't rain in my area (not sure if it rained somewhere else).  

Monday was a relatively slow day.  I walked for 20 minutes, checked on the garden (didn't water as I was hoping that there might be some rain in those clouds), took the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning, did some paperwork, and cleaned the fridge.  I called a couple of friends to check on them and spoke with my aunt.

We are nearing the end of the month and I am struggling to meet my decluttering goals.  It's not that I don't have things to declutter, it is that I am getting decision fatigue.  It is one thing to say, "I'm going to declutter all the books I am not likely to re-read", but, quite another to actually pull them out of the bookshelves and put them aside to be donated.  Maybe it is time to start decluttering some of the hidden items - the stuff hiding in drawers and cabinets.

On Monday, I am grateful for:

- The wind storm that didn't happen
- Being able to walk for 20 minutes without experiencing pain
- The fruit I am able to pick from the garden
- Phone chats with family and friends
- Electricity to run the appliances

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

Plans for Tuesday include: Watering the garden, more paperwork, and more decluttering.

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

Cooler on Wednesday

Okra Flower

It was cooler on Wednesday, with a high of only 91F.  Quite comfortable, except for a brief period during the late afternoon, 

M was here in the early afternoon to tend to the garden.  He brought me some Indian jasmine flowers from his garden and an eggplant from his vegetable patch.  He watered both front and back and he tidied up the front garden, removing the dead osteospermum plants.  

Before

After

There's more bare ground to be seen, but, it looks tidier, doesn't it?

M will be taking a much deserved week-long break, so he will not be here on Friday or next Wednesday.  I'll be on watering duty!

On Wednesday, I started cleaning and tidying the family room.  I dusted, cleared some of the horizontal surfaces, flattened several boxes to be recycled (what is it with me and boxes?  Why do I want to keep all the boxes in which things are delivered?), put away a load of laundry, and did some paperwork.

The paperwork gave me a headache as there was yet another notification of a data breach and then, there was a letter about a car that I am supposed to have which I don't have and have never had (which prompted a check with one of the credit bureaus that I'm registered with, although I have a freeze on my credit, just to make sure that no one tried to buy a car using my information), a mix-up with a wrong item being delivered instead of what had been ordered, and, finally, a letter urging me to make my funeral arrangements!  Um...

At one point, I had to text my daughter to ask her for help and the poor thing took care of it for me, but, I've been told that I'm not allowed to do paperwork after midnight because her brain is too tired after a full day of work to deal with it!  Oops!  I honestly don't know what I'd do without her to help me!  

I am grateful for:

- A slightly cooler day
- M's help with the garden
- M's gift of flowers and an eggplant
- My daughter and all the help she gives me
- Fans and electricity

Wednesday's joyful activities included gardening with M, watching Olympics coverage, and a bit of sewing.

Plans for Thursday include finishing up the family room and more paperwork (filing).

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

 

Overcast and Chilly Friday

Blueberry Muffins

My internet connection has been off and on all day, but, I am still able to post as and when there is a connection!  Sometimes, the connection re-establishes on its own, but, more often, I have to restart the computer.  

This morning, I tended to some paperwork and medical insurance issues, which were resolved without much of a problem.  I always carry my insurance cards with me and present them when I go to the lab for blood tests, etc., because I don't like to provide the information online when I make my appointments (even though, after all the data breaches, my information is all out there, anyway!)  I usually check in at the lab using their check-in kiosk and that's when I enter the insurance info.  Sometimes, though, the lab tech will ask to see the cards and then I hand them to the lab tech.

But, yesterday, and on the previous occasion (earlier in the month), I had checked in using my phone (a much faster way of doing things, I found).  Checking in over the phone, however, doesn't allow me to submit my insurance info and the lab tech didn't ask for it on the last visit and I forgot to ask her if she needed to see the cards.  Yesterday, however, I remembered and asked her if she needed to see them and then, she said yes. 

Then, I told her that I hadn't submitted the information on the previous visit and asked her if they would use the information they have in the system and she said they didn't retain any information in their system!  So, I wondered how they would handle the billing?  Would they send me a bill instead of billing my insurance?  I tried to call the lab's billing department, yesterday, but, they are located in another time zone and their offices had closed by the time I called them, at 2:30 p.m., my time.

Today, I checked the insurance provider's website to check my latest billing statement to see if there was any indication that they had received the bill from the lab, but, it wasn't there, yet.  Then, I called the lab's billing department again and spoke to a customer service agent, explaining what had happened and will I be billed for the earlier visit when I didn't provide the insurance information?  She was very kind and looked up the file and said, no, they just called my doctor's office and got the insurance info from them!  Oh!  Such a simple solution and here I was getting all stressed about it!  

"Hi, my name is Bless and I am good at making mountains out of molehills!"

LOL! Apparently, I'm not the only one to forget to provide the insurance info, although that was the first time for me, and they have a system in place to handle that!  I was so relieved and happy!  I told the customer service agent I spoke with that she had made my day and I can relax and enjoy the long weekend with that situation resolved.  Big sigh of relief!

Once that was out of the way, I checked on the garden, refilled the garden cats' water bowl (which also doubles as Chicken Little and other garden birds' water bowl, as well as the visiting raccoons who tend to spill any water left in the bowl) and picked more blueberries.  I also accepted another package for friend R. 

Then, I cleaned the kitchen and ran the dishwasher.  

Brunch had been rice and beef curry.  At tea time, I made a batch of blueberry muffins, with freshly picked blueberries.  I reused the liners that I had saved from the tin of Danish butter cookies I had bought for the almsgiving; there were ten liners and that's how many muffins I made!  I tried to call neighbor S to ask if she'd like some muffins, but, she was not home; I think they've gone away for the long weekend.  There are leftovers for dinner, although I am rather full after eating two muffins!  I might have some cheese and crackers for dinner.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Not having to worry about receiving a big bill for the earlier lab work!
- Having medical insurance
- Phone calls, emails, texts, etc. with family and friends
- Internet connections
- Blueberries from the garden 

Today's joyful activities included getting the billing question answered in the best way possible and baking (and eating!) blueberry muffins.

Plans for tomorrow include doing some laundry and cleaning my bedroom.  

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

On Tuesday

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)*  

I found this (dead) moth on my doorstep on Tuesday afternoon and I took a picture of it because it looked so striking and was quite large.  I don't know what kind of moth it is, but, it might be a sphinx moth (apparently, also called a hawk moth), in the family Sphingidae.

*  Bushlady has further identified it as a White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata).  Thank you, Bushlady!

I slept in on Tuesday, then, called aunt C to check on her.  I brought in the empty trash cans (that's when I saw the moth, above), collected the mail, and checked the week's grocery ads.  I also took a picture of the front garden because there were more flowers in bloom:

Front Garden in Early March

I spent the afternoon getting all my tax documents together.  I put the documents into a file folder as they arrive in the mail, but, this year, some documents were available online, only, so I had to print them out (I like to keep paper copies of my documents) and I did that only today.  After I checked everything and double checked to make sure I had everything, I took the folder of documents over to the tax accountant's office and handed them to her.  I have my appointment with her scheduled for later this month, to go over the documents and finalize things.

After I came home, I had some rice and the last of the beef curry for a very late brunch.  Then, I replied to blog comments and watched the evening news and all the election results.  

I went off the meal plan for dinner and had some frozen breaded shrimp that I pan fried.

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to sleep in!
- Chats with my aunt
- Being able to get my taxes done by a tax accountant
- A safe drive to the tax accountant's office and back
- Garden flowers

Today's joyful activity was getting the tax documents off to my tax accountant to deal with!  

There's rain in the forecast for Wednesday.  I'm not sure if M will be able to tend to the garden or not.  I will do the last couple of loads of laundry (sofa dust sheets, etc.), and do some tidying and cleaning.

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

Mostly Cloudy on Sunday

On Gold Mountain by Lisa See

This is the latest library book I've read.  It is the story of the author's family, starting with her great-great grandfather, an herbalist, who was recruited to come to California in 1866 to tend to the Chinese laborers who had been hired to work on the railroad and his youngest son, the author's great-grandfather who came to look for his father and brothers. and ending with the author, her cousins, and their children.  It is the story of one family's dreams, struggles, successes, and failures; and I think the author writes about the various members of the family and their strengths and weaknesses with sympathy and understanding.  I really enjoyed reading it.  

Sunday started out sunny, but, it soon became cloudy.  There was some rain in the forecast, but, it didn't rain in my area.

Once again, I had stayed up practically all night, going to bed at 5:00 a.m. and waking up well after noon.  I woke up once at 10:00 a.m., fed the cats, saw that it was sunny, turned up the heater because the house was cold (thermostat had been set at 60F) and went back to bed, "until the house warms up a bit" and fell asleep.  I woke up, again, at 11:00 a.m., when my cousin texted, but I fell asleep again, and didn't wake up until my daughter called to check on me.  I sounded so sleepy that she told me to go back to sleep and I did!  On the positive side, I got my 8 hours of sleep.  On the negative side, I slept away most of the sunny hours, because it became cloudy soon after I woke up!

I had my "morning" cup of tea in the early afternoon, said my prayers, replied to blog comments, conveyed the birthday wishes to my daughter (she says, "Thank you"), did another load of laundry (blankets and a quilt from my daughter's bed - Dancer has been sleeping on them and his fur is all over them!), and I cooked the packet of ground beef I had bought earlier in the week:

Cooked Ground Beef with Vegetables

To 1 lb. of ground beef, I added, from the freezer, a grated zucchini, some homegrown onion , a little celery, some bell pepper, a small amount of broccoli, and some tomato; all the vegetables, other than the grated zucchini, were ground in the mini food processor my daughter had given me one Christmas, thus saving myself a lot of chopping by hand.  I added a little seasoning - garlic powder, ground black pepper, salt, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce,  I would have added grated carrots, too, if I had any fresh carrots, but, I don't have any fresh carrots and I didn't want to add a can of sliced carrots.  

Breakfast, eaten around 3:00 p.m. had been a banana.  So, around 6:30 p.m., after I had cooked the ground beef mixture, I took out a small package of pasta sauce I had in the freezer and warmed it up in the microwave.  Then, I cooked a small amount of angel hair pasta, added it to the pasta sauce, added some ground beef to it, and had that for my lunch/dinner (or "linner").  I kept some of the ground beef in the fridge to use during the week (maybe to make a small cottage pie or turn into a keema curry) and froze the rest.  

For dessert, I made vanilla pudding, using one cup milk, about a quarter cup of sugar, a tablespoon of cornstarch, and a little vanilla essence.  I also added some small raisins (currants) to the pudding, something I remember from my childhood.  I forgot to take a picture, but, it was delicious!  I ate some for dessert and some for a snack, later.

After dinner, I sat down and did some paperwork, sorting through all the voting information and ads for the upcoming Primary elections, filling out my sample ballot and then, the actual ballot which I will drop off at the official ballot box at the library, tomorrow.  I preferred to vote in person and did so until March 2020, just before the first Covid lockdown took place.  I have not voted in person since then.  I will also return two of my library books at the same time.  

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to sleep in!
- Working appliances
- Libraries
- Being able to participate in elections and vote
- Having the option to vote by mail, drop off ballots, or vote in person

Sunday's joyful activity was ... sleeping in!  LOL.  

Plans for Monday include dropping off my ballot and visiting the library to return books.

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

Another Vaccine on Monday

I had my Covid booster vaccine, today.  My appointment was at 2:00 p.m. and I wanted to get a few things done in the morning, before I left for the appointment, just in case I didn't feel too good, afterwards.  The first thing I did was change my bed sheets; I put flannel sheets since the nights are getting cooler.  Then, I did a load of laundry (the old sheets) and hung everything up to dry.  I also put away two previous loads of laundry.  In between, I fed the cats, said my prayers, and spoke with my daughter, who is still experiencing some side effects (lingering headache and fatigue) and took a day off from work.  

Then, I went to the pharmacy to get my vaccine.  There were no delays or any problems with getting the vaccine.  I was not required to wait for 15 minutes afterwards, either.  For the first time since I started getting Covid vaccines, I didn't have my usual side effect of wanting to shop!  Before I received the vaccine, I had thought that I might go to the dollar store, next door, to buy some fruits and a calendar, but, I didn't feel like shopping, today!  Besides, I was feeling hungry, so, I just came home directly afterwards!  

After I came home, I had scrambled eggs for brunch.  

Then, since I was still feeling okay, I decided to pay some bills that were coming due, including my property taxes, and do some paperwork,  With it being Medicare open enrollment period, I am being inundated with brochures and letters from various healthcare plans.  I've been collecting them in a basket for the past couple of weeks and the basket was getting rather full, so, I went through all the literature and put the majority of it in the recycling bin!  I did some filing, but, I have another file folder of statements to be filed, maybe tomorrow.

Then, I called my ophthalmologist's office to confirm an upcoming appointment.  I knew I had an appointment during the week of Thanksgiving, but, I had misplaced the appointment card (I have a suspicion that it got "decluttered" when I was cleaning out my desk, earlier!) and didn't know the exact date and time.  The date and time have been confirmed and the location, too (they have at least three locations and I have been to all of them, so I wanted to be sure which location I was supposed to go to for this appointment).

Then, I took the trash cans to the curb and saw neighbor S, back from her vacation.  I waved to her and we chatted across the street for a few minutes.  She said she had a lovely vacation and she has some small treats from her travels that she will bring me another day.  I offered her some soup and she declined.

By that time, the sun was setting and I closed the drapes, watched the news, replied to blog comments, visited a few other blogs, had a cup of tea, and requested another book through the library.  I also called friend R and chatted with her for a bit.

It is night time, now, and I am still feeling okay.  I am feeling cold, but, that's not unusual; I often feel cold in the evenings.  I'm wearing layers, but, not feeling cold enough to put on the electric space heater.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to receive the latest Covid booster vaccine
- Having healthcare insurance that covers vaccines, etc.
- Not experiencing any discomfort from the vaccine, so far
- A safe drive to the pharmacy and back
- What I was able to accomplish

My joyful activity for the day was crossing off several items from my To Do List!

Plans for tomorrow (Tuesday) will depend on how I feel.  If I am having any side effects, I plan to take it easy and do only the basics (bring in the emptied trash cans, feed the cats, give Dancer his medicines, clean Dancer's litter box, etc.)  If I feel okay, then, I might do the rest of the filing, call and make an appointment for the car service (I received a reminder that it was time for another routine service), book my next blood test appointment, etc.

I will post my meal plan as a separate post.

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

All Cleared on Sunday

The Cleared Desk

Another hot day, here in Southern California, with a high of 95F.  The air quality was still poor and I kept the windows closed, but, I didn't need to put the air purifiers on.  In the late evening, however, I opened a couple of windows to get some fresh air in.  

I slept in, this morning, but, in the afternoon, I pushed myself to get the rest of the files organized and the filing done.  There were about 20 files left to go through and organize.  By the time I finished doing that, there were 12 empty file folders!  Some items were consolidated, but, a lot was recycled.  One small box of files was taken to the garage for storage.  Then, I cleaned the top of the desk, one more time and cleaned the desk lamp.  At the far end, near the wall, there is a container with my collection of all occasion greeting cards and return address labels, etc.  I would like to find another storage spot for it, but, for now, the top of the desk seems to be the best place for it.  Now, I need to keep the desk surface looking like this!  That is going to be a challenge!

The one thing I didn't have was a proper chair for the desk.  I had been using a metal folding chair, but, it wasn't very suitable as a desk chair because it was a bit too low for someone who is as short as I am.  I had been wanting to buy a desk chair, but, I don't want it to look too much like an office set up.  So, instead, I brought in one of the chairs from the main dining table.  The main dining table seats eight and there are two arm chairs at either end and six side chairs.  I don't have many sit down dinners for eight people at the present time and the chair can be moved to the dining table if needed.  In the meantime, it provides a comfortable chair at the correct height for me to sit in when writing one of those greeting cards!  LOL!

I also sorted through one of the drawers in my bedside table/night stand, and tossed out more expired medications (even though I was taken off them or the dosage was changed, I kept them thinking I might need to go back on them, but, I haven't needed to and they've now expired).  

I didn't make a lot of progress on the closet organizing, but, I will work on that next week.  Next week's cleaning area is the whole house, but, I want to concentrate on the closet and the kitchen.

In the evening, I put water to the back garden.  Even though M watered it on Friday, after two days of 90+F temperatures, the garden was parched!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another warm day
- Better air quality
- A productive day
- Water for the garden
- Making progress on the file organizing

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

Plans for Monday include calling the plumber about the leaky water heater, cleaning the fridge, making a meal plan, taking the trash cans to the curb, organizing the closet, and some card making.  

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

For my friends in Canada, Happy Thanksgiving, tomorrow!

One Week Into October

 

Decluttered Book

Already one week into October!  It was another hot day, today, with a very high pollen count and poor air quality which affected me.  I had to close all the windows, take my asthma inhaler, and put on the air purifiers.  I had two of them running in the family room where I was and that helped. 

My new can opener arrived today, along with the two boxes of laundry detergent I ordered.  I took a photo of the can opener, but, my phone is not letting me email the photo to myself to download (? upload?) to my computer.  I have not used the can opener, yet, though, but, hopefully, it will work well.

I spent most of the day, today, trying to sort out the stuff I had on my desk.  The desk drawers are quite well organized; it's the top that has items piled on it.  I removed everything I had on my desk, dusted the desk again, moved a few things around to see if that made any difference, and then, sat down to sort through files!

Paperwork/file organizing takes me a long time as I tend to overthink and over complicate the process.  I keep telling myself, "Progress, not perfection" as I sort through the papers, but, it is not enough for me to have a year's worth of statements in one file; they have to be in chronological order, as well.  At least I no longer two hole punch the papers and attach to the file folder with one of those metal clasps!  LOL.

As I finish with each file, I am moving it to the new file cabinet.  I have two brown grocery sacks full of paper to be recycled and the shredder container is almost full, as well.  I still have a few more file folders to sort through, but, that will be set aside for tomorrow, as I am tired of doing paperwork, today.  

I took breaks from the file sorting when my aunt C called me in the afternoon and when my friend R called me in the evening.  

Since I have a goal of decluttering 31 items in October and tend to do better when I am being accountable, here, I've decided I will list each week's decluttering at the end of the week.

October Decluttering, Week 1:

1 book (pictured above; to be donated)
1 unsolicited gift catalog
10 brochures/annual healthcare coverage handbooks for previous years
- old greeting cards and letters (this was hard; some of the letters were from family and friends who are no longer alive)
- old photographs 
5 containers of expired medications that I stopped taking due to changes in prescriptions

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another warm, sunny day
- Air purifiers and the paper shredder
- Electricity to run them
- Phone chats with family and friends
- What I was able to accomplish today

Today's joyful activity was tending to a job I had been putting off for too long!

Plans for tomorrow include continuing with the paperwork/file organizing.  The end is near!  

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

Hot on Friday

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly in the Lantana

I took this photo a couple of days ago, when I was outside, walking in the front garden - a Giant Swallowtail butterfly was enjoying the lantana flowers.  Actually, I took more than one photo!

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Enjoying the Lantana Flowers

Almost Difficult to See it

Blending in with the Flowers

We went up to 97F, today, and needless to say, I was very happy!  LOL.

I did some paperwork, today, paying bills and filing.  I am trying to stay on top of the paperwork.  Ideally, it should be done on a daily basis, but, a weekly "desk day" might work out well, too, when it comes to the filing. 

I also scheduled a safety check on the gas appliances, taking the first available day, which is October 30th.  I've also noticed that there seems to be a small leak in the water heater, so, I need to call the plumbers on Monday.  There's always something when it comes to home maintenance, isn't there?

Gardener friend M was here this evening; he cut down a few more branches from the bottlebrush tree and watered the garden.  I served him a bowl of my stir-fried noodles and he enjoyed it.  

I made a small start on the bedroom closet clearing/organizing, today, but, didn't finish it.  I also made a start on the desk that I have in the bedroom.  I know that popular wisdom states that one should not have desks and other items in a bedroom, that the bedroom should be devoted only for sleeping, but, I have always had a desk in my room from the time I was a small child, old enough to go to school.  I didn't grow up doing homework at the kitchen table or the dining table.  I did my homework at the study table in my room.  Having a desk in the bedroom doesn't bother me.  But, keeping the desk surface cleared and set up for paperwork, such as bill paying, is an ongoing challenge.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny and almost hot day!

- M's help with the garden
- Being able to pay my bills
- Making progress with the organizing, decluttering, cleaning, etc.
- A productive day

Today's joyful activity was tending to the garden with M.

Plans for tomorrow include continuing to work on my bedroom.

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

Feeling Better

Another Male Squash Flower

I've felt better, yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday).  The pain in the hip seems to have subsided, although my daughter insists that I continue to take it easy and not get a set-back.  So, I've been doing baby steps, making my lists and breaking down various tasks to small, manageable pieces.  

On Monday, I changed the dust sheets on the family room sofa and did two loads of laundry.  Then, I started clearing the main dining table, although I didn't finish it.  Later, I accidentally knocked over a cup of tea and there was tea all over the kitchen counter, dripping down the cabinet fronts and pooling on the floor, so, I found myself cleaning at least that section of the kitchen!  Still later, I cleaned the litter box, wiped down the toilet, and swept the bathroom; I also cleaned the floor around the litter box with a disinfectant wipe (was not going to attempt to mop, yet).  I also sorted through a plastic shoe box of items and put them all away where they belonged.  I tend to use storage boxes to contain things like pens and sewing supplies when I am working on a project and don't always put things away once the project is completed.  

Today, I cleared the dining table and put a different table cloth on it.  Then, I did another load of laundry, including the table cloth I had on the dining table.  I took the trash can and the recycling bin to the curb for pick up in the morning (trash collection is delayed by one day, this week, because Monday was a holiday), froze the last batch of tomatoes, did some paperwork, and paid a bill.  I've more paperwork to do and more bills to pay (they are not due yet), but, that can be done tomorrow.

I spoke with former neighbor T, on Monday afternoon, and we chatted for a bit.  But, I didn't tell her about the workers renovating her former home, because I thought that would upset her.  The workers were busy both yesterday and today.  I'm not sure what they are doing, but, there's a lot of hammering and drilling and sawing going on!

I am grateful for:

- The pain in my hip has subsided
- Baby stepping my way through household tasks
- Working appliances
- Keeping in touch with friends and neighbors
- Pleasant weather

Joyful activities have included exchanging emails and chatting with friends.

Plans for tomorrow (Wednesday) include M tending to the garden, more paperwork, and sorting through the box of food storage containers; I'm not quite sure how it happened, but, they seem to have multiplied while I was not looking!

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

Friday

 

The Back Garden in May

It was another overcast, cloudy, and chilly morning, but, the afternoon was sunny and it was warm in the sunshine when I did my walk.  I wore my new sweater, today, and I am glad I didn't have to wait until this winter to wear it.

Once again, I spent the afternoon repairing the quilt and watching a few videos.  I also cleaned the bathrooms and finished sorting through the rest of the box of files I had brought in from the garage.  I decluttered most of the contents (old tax documents) and what is left fit into one file folder.  I know that we are supposed to keep only 7 years worth of tax documents, but, I prefer to keep certain documents for much longer.

M was here to tend to the garden in the evening.  He didn't need to water the garden because we had rain on Thursday.  But, he planted out some succulents that were pulled out when we planted the jacaranda plant in the front garden.  

The Newly Planted Jacaranda Plant

Another Photo of the Jacaranda Plant

Brunch had been a scrambled egg on toast and dinner was spaghetti with the last of the pasta sauce.  Snacks included cheese and crackers at tea time, grapes, and wafers for dessert.

Today, I am grateful for:

- The afternoon sunshine
- The electric space heater (and electricity)
- Hot water on tap
- M's help with the garden
- My new, warm sweater

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

I'm staying up, tonight, to watch the Coronation; I imagine I'll sleep in, tomorrow!

Rain on Thursday

Roses

We had rain early this morning and the garden got watered, which was a blessing.  It was rather chilly in the morning, with the temperature inside the house being below 60F.  I was all bundled up in multiple layers with a scarf and wool socks, a blanket over me while I said my morning prayers, and still feeling cold.  So, I switched on the main gas heater until the house warmed up and then, turned it off.  I stayed in the living room while the heater was on to get the full benefit of the warmth and Dancer did, too, first being on his rug in front of the heater:

Getting Warm in Front of the Heater

And then, moving up on to the chair with the comfy pillow:

A Good Spot to Nap

In the morning, I called the primary care doctor's office and confirmed my appointment and then, scheduled my lab test for that appointment.  Then, replied to blog comments.  After brunch (the last of the sardines on toast), I walked for 20 minutes.  It was sunny and warm in the sunshine (today's high was 59F).  

In the afternoon, I did a load of laundry and spoke on the phone with my half-sister.  Afterwards, I did a little more quilt repairing.  Dancer helped, as usual!  Since I sew on the quilt repairs in the living room, the coffee table was looking cluttered with the pieces of fabric, the pin cushion, the pair of scissors, etc., once I finished sewing for the day.  So I took one of my decorative bowls and decided to use that to contain everything:

Sewing Paraphernalia Contained

The stuff is still sitting out on the coffee table, but, just having everything contained seems to make it visually less cluttered to me.

Later in the evening, I watched news, tidied the table in the family room (haven't cleared it yet - have some stacks of files I'm sorting through), sorted some paperwork (going through really old tax files and decluttered the contents of six file folders - this was a box of old files I brought in from the garage to sort through; have about 4 more files to go through and shred), cooked dinner (rice and vegetable stir fry to go with teriyaki chicken from the freezer), did the dishes, wiped down the stove top and counters, swept and mopped the kitchen floor, cleaned the litter box and swept the bathroom floor.  After which, I was too tired to clean my bedroom!

Called friend R and chatted with her for a bit, too, and, of course, video chatted with my daughter.

Today's decluttering was six years worth of tax papers and instruction booklets, etc.

Today, I am grateful for:

- The morning rain
- Sunshine in the afternoon
- A working heater
- Being able to have my medications delivered by mail
- Phone calls and emails with friends and family

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

Plans for Friday include:

- Dust and vacuum my bedroom
- Clean the bathroom
- Continue to declutter the files
- Tend to the garden with M

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

Midweek on Wednesday

Loquats

M brought me some loquats from another client's tree; apparently her tree is laden with the fruit and he was asked to help himself to some.  He shared some of it with me, with a request that I saved the seeds.  Each fruit has one or two glossy brown seeds in the middle.  We will try planting them.  

After sleeping till almost noon, yesterday, I couldn't fall asleep until after 3:30 a.m., this morning.  Then, I woke up around 6:00 a.m., again!  For some reason, I thought it was much later, but, the clock said 6:00 a.m.   But, this time, I was able to go back to sleep for another couple of hours.  Even so, I woke up before the alarm went off.

It was cold this morning!  Well, maybe not cold for some people, but, it was in the low 50s (F) outside and not that much warmer inside, either.  I was tempted to switch on the gas heater, but, I huddled in front of the electric space heater, instead.  Today's high was only 61F and there's rain in the forecast for later tonight and early tomorrow morning.  

In the morning, I called the cancer clinic to reschedule my appointment and set up my lab test appointment.  Tomorrow, I need to call the primary care physician's office to confirm the appointment with them.

M was here to tend to the garden, later this morning.  He brought his chain saw and pruned one of the branches of the curry leaf tree and one of the feijoa (pineapple guava) trees in the side yard towards the front.  The feijoa tree had several branches that had died, but, there was some new growth at the bottom; we cut it down to where the new growth is and hopefully, the tree will grow well.

I spent the afternoon doing paperwork.  I had got behind on sorting through and filing, etc.  I cleared the top of the side table and processed all the mail that had accumulated there.  I decluttered a few items, too.  I still need to clear the table, but, that's for tomorrow.  There are some more files to sort through and shred.

I sewed a little more on the quilt I'm repairing, but, Dancer plopped himself down on the quilt and went to sleep, so, I stopped sewing and replied to blog comments, instead!  And watched the evening news.

I didn't walk today because my back was hurting.  I walked a bit in the garden, instead, and picked more snow pea pods.  

Later in the evening, I spoke with friend R and will video chat with my daughter in a bit.

Today, I am grateful for:
- M's help with the garden
- M sharing loquats with me
- The electric space heater and electricity to run it
- Daughter felt well enough to work today
- Being able to reschedule my medical appointments

Today's joyful activity was tending to the garden with M.

Thursday's To Do List:

- Call the doctor's office to confirm appointment
- Schedule the lab work for that appointment

- Paperwork/clear the table

- Clean the kitchen/sweep & mop the floor

- Load of laundry

- Dust/vacuum my bedroom

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

Still Sunny

Persimmon Tree is Leafing Out

Monday was a lovely, sunny and warm (highs in the upper 60Fs) day.  I had my appointment with the tax preparer at 1:00 p.m. and it went very well.  I am glad that the taxes were done and filed in good time.  I took some of the banana muffins I had baked and gave them to the tax preparer; she was very happy to receive them.  She called me, today, and thanked me, again, for the muffins, saying she shared them with her husband.

I noticed a bit of a pain at the back of my right leg when I drove to the tax preparer's office and it persisted for a good portion of the afternoon.  Ever since I had my sciatica pains, summer before last, I get worried when I have any leg pains!  I think I was dehydrated and maybe low on potassium, as well (my blood tests have indicated that I have low potassium levels).  I made it a point to drink some water and kept a heating pad on my leg and the pain went away.  Then, I watered the newly planted loquat seedlings, picked more snow peas, cleaned the litter box, took the trash can to the end of the drive way, and cooked dinner.  By then, the leg pain was back!  I drank more water, ate dinner, ate some raisins, and had some cereal with milk before I went to bed.  Both raisins and milk are high in potassium.  Brunch had been sauteed garbanzo beans and a banana muffin; dinner had been rice and smoked sausage stir-fry.  

Neighbor T called in the afternoon and I chatted with her for a bit and, later, I called friend R to check on her.

I have not had any leg pains, today, and I am trying to drink plenty of water!

Today was another sunny and warm day.  I brought the trash cans in, picked more snow peas (I am able to pick about 6 or 7 snow pea pods almost daily), brought in the mail, and checked the grocery ads (not planning to buy groceries this week, either, because I spent all my March grocery budget, but, I like to see what the deals are).  In the afternoon, I watched some online videos and continued to repair the quilt.  Later, I watched some news and a couple of TV programs.

Brunch had been the last banana muffin.  Dinner was a three course meal!  A garden salad with lettuce from the garden, followed by sausage stir-fry over rice, and canned pineapple chunks for dessert!  

Friend R called me in the evening to see how I was doing and I video chatted with my daughter.

Today was the anniversary of my father's birthday.  I debated making a cake in his memory, but, I didn't.  Instead, I remembered him with a prayer.

My Father and I

I am grateful for:

- Sunny days
- The taxes were completed and filed
- Garden produce
- Memories and old photographs
- The leg pain seems to have subsided

Joyful activities have included chatting with family and friends, picking and eating garden produce, and being able to share some of the banana muffins.  

We have rain in the forecast for later tonight/early tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.  If the rain ceases later in the morning, M will be able to tend to the garden.  We will have to wait and see.  Plans for tomorrow include tending to the garden with M (weather permitting), doing a bit of tidying, and housework.

How is your week coming along?  What are your plans for Wednesday?