Tuesday: September 11

It was a Tuesday, then, too, wasn't it?  17 years ago, today.

I took it easy, today, too.  I barely did anything on my to do list!  Instead, I sorted through the donations daughter and I had set aside and bagged up the clothes and footwear.  I have 8 bags of clothes and 2 bags of shoes and boots.  I still need to box up the books and then, I will call for a pick up.  There are more bags of donations in the garage, too.

Cousin P called in the morning and I chatted with her.  Later, I brought the trash cans in from the curb.  And wished my friend E for her birthday.  I met E the second day after I arrived in this country.  She lived in the apartment below mine and one of the deans at the university had urged her to introduce herself to me.  So, she came up and introduced herself to me and we talked until after midnight, that first day!  We've been friends, ever since! 

In the evening, I went to the knitting group.  I shouldn't have bothered.  There were five other ladies and they carried on a very animated conversation in Spanish.  From the few words I could make out, I gathered that they were discussing the child molestation charges brought against the Catholic priests.  I just sat there and knitted while the conversation went on around me.  I felt I should have just stayed at home and watched TV and knitted.  I stayed for 45 minutes, only, and left as soon as I had finished the hat I was knitting. 

Afterwards, I went to the grocery store for milk for me and two bags of cat food for the stray cats.  My half gallon of milk cost $1.99; the cats' food came to $19.69 with tax.  I debated buying eggs, but didn't want to pay $2.49 for them.  I still have three eggs left in the carton, since I didn't bake a cake to take to the knitting group (still too hot to turn on the oven).  Later, when I looked through the grocery ads that came in the mail, today, I was glad I waited.  Eggs will be on sale for $1.49 a dozen, effective tomorrow. 

Later in the evening, I video chatted with daughter.  She sent me two more doodles:

Highlights for Monday and Tuesday

I asked her what she was singing and she said the opening songs to some of her favorite anime shows.  Of course!

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to take it easy
- Cousin P calling to check on me in the morning
- Video chatting with my daughter
- Emails from a friend
- Access to medical care

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Doctor's appointment to go over biopsy results

What else I accomplish tomorrow will depend a lot on the biopsy results, I think. 

Sew on Monday

I woke up to the sound of "Monday, Monday" by The Mamas and The Papas on the clock radio and I thought, how appropriate!  For the first time, in a long time, today felt exactly like a Monday.  I haven't been sleeping well, lately, and last night (or should I say, this morning?) was no different.  I fell asleep after 4:30 a.m. and it wasn't a very restful sleep, either, so I woke up feeling rather tired.  I was glad that I didn't have any appointments or any place I had to go, today.  Even though I had meant to go grocery shopping, I decided to postpone it.

The doctor's office called to confirm Wednesday's appointment and I confirmed it with them.  Aunt C called, too; I had told her about the meditation sessions at them temple and she wants to go with me, the next time I go.  Cousin N and I will work out the logistics - she'll drop aunt off at my house on a Friday morning before she starts teaching piano, I will take aunt to the temple in the evening, aunt will stay the night with me and either cousin will come to pick her up on Saturday evening after she finishes teaching piano, or, I will drop aunt off sometime on Saturday.  But probably not this Friday, since I have my eye appointment and I am not sure if I'd be up to going to the temple, later in the evening.

One of my cousins emailed some pictures of an almsgiving that was held at my oldest half-brother in remembrance of our brother who died a year ago.  Another cousin emailed a link to some photographs taken on 9/11 by a photographer, which included a picture of him as he left the scene, all covered in ashes (he had worked in the first tower of the World Trade Center). 

I put away the laundry from yesterday and took the opportunity to declutter a few more items of clothing from the closet:

Clothes to Donate

3 pairs of pants (brown, wine, and white), 2 red skirts, 2 blouses (purple and white), a black pin striped suit (pants and jacket) and a purple/green plaid suit (belted skirt and jacket).  There are 2 more skirts that I am considering giving away, but I haven't decided on them, yet.

While putting away the laundry, I noticed that one of my newer blouses had a tiny tear on the sleeve, so I decided to mend it:

The mending is just above my finger nail 

Today, I spent the afternoon and part of the evening, sewing.  I made pillowcases for my daughter, using fabric I had bought for her, several years ago, because she loved the cherry prints, and fabric I had in the stash.  I think I bought the fabric with the intention of making cushion covers for her, so, I had bought only 1/2 yard of each and I believe I used part of one fabric for something else that I made for her.  However, daughter has several cushion covers and doesn't need any more.  She has several pillowcases, as well, but these will replace some of her old ones:

White Cherry Print Pillowcases

I made two pillowcases with the cherry print on one side and plain white fabric on the other side.  Then, I made a third pillowcase with the white fabric, with a border from the strip of cherry print fabric that was leftover.  These pillowcases have an inside flap that will cover the opening once the pillow has been inserted.

Pink Cherry Pillowcases

There was less than 1/2 yard of this pink cherry print.  But I was able to cut three strips of the fabric which I used as borders on pillowcases I sewed with pink fabric that was in the stash (leftover from the mountain quilt).  Even so, I didn't have enough of one color for all three pillowcases, so, two are made with light pink and one with medium pink!  I am left with two strips of the pink fabric for a future patchwork project! 

I have used up two pieces of fabric from the stash (the two cherry prints), most of the two pink fabrics and most of the white fabric, as well!  Pillowcases are good "stash busters"!   I still have an abundance of fabric in my stash, though!

For brunch, today, I boiled two eggs and made egg salad for sandwiches.  Later, I put dried garbanzos (chick peas) to soak and boiled them.  I froze some of the boiled garbanzos and I sauteed the rest with onions, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried chilies:

Garbanzo/Chick Peas

This is a popular snack in Sri Lanka, but I ate a bowl of it for dinner.  I had also put a salmon steak I had cooked and frozen earlier, to thaw, thinking I'll have that for dinner, but I didn't feel like having it.  I will have it, tomorrow, instead.

Later in the evening, I video chatted with daughter and knitted.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being on vacation and being able to take it easy because I felt like it!
- Being able to declutter a few things from the closet
- Being able to mend the tear on my blouse
- The fabric stash!
- A working sewing machine


Monday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop
- Laundry (sofa dust covers)
- Put new dust covers
- Put away the laundry - DONE
- Do dishes - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb - DONE
- Clean the litter box - DONE
- Paperwork/filing
- Call DMV to make an appointment to renew my driver's license
- Sew - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop
- Launder the sofa dust covers
- Put new dust covers on
- Paperwork/filing
- Call the DMV
- Water the new plants
- Tidy the house a bit

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

Rest on Sunday

"Rest on Sunday" says the old rhyme.  I spent a restful morning, having coffee, replying to blog comments, visiting one or two other blogs, playing a game or two of sudoku, etc.

In the afternoon, I decided to do a load of laundry, because, even though I had intended to laundry on Monday, I had enough of lights for a load, I had the time, the weather was good for them to dry quickly, and doing a load of laundry always makes me feel I've been productive!  I actually did two loads of laundry!  The laundry basket is empty now, so, tomorrow, I will wash the sofa dust covers.

Then, I organized my closet.  I generally hang all the same type of garments together - all the blouses together, all the skirts together, etc.  Within each group, the items are arranged by color, with all the white blouses together, all the black blouses together, and so forth.  Recently, however, that order got disrupted as I just put back items without taking the time to sort them by type and color.  The side of the closet to my left when I stand in front of it, has all the formal/evening wear and most of the pairs of pants and skirts; the side to my right has coats, jackets, cardigans, blouses and dresses.  I was able to declutter a few items to put aside for donations.

Later, I did a little sewing and watered the front garden, including the new plants.  They were looking a bit wilted, but, hopefully, they'll perk up after the watering.

My aunt T called in the evening and, later, I called friends A and R to check on them. 

My daughter sent me more of her planner doodles (she corrected me and said it was a planner, not a journal or an appointment book!):

More Doodles in Japanese and English

Friday's doodle says, "tsukareta", which means "I'm tired", Saturday's doodle says, "nanimo shitakunai", meaning "I don't want to do anything", and Sunday's doodle is about the pizza she made.  Yes, she knows Japanese - that was her minor in undergrad.

She bought refrigerated pizza dough on Saturday and made the pizza with spinach pesto:

Spinach Pesto

Toppings of her choice - pepperoni, mushrooms, onion, spinach, mozzarella, and sausage:

Ready for the Oven

The baked pizza:

Daughter's Pizza

Makes me want pizza!

Later, daughter and I video chatted.  She has started crocheting herself a scarf, so she was crocheting while we chatted and I was knitting one of the red hats for the Heart Association!  We had our own crochet/knitting group going!  She said the library there, too, has a knitting group that meets once a month, for two hours, on a Saturday evening.  She said she made a note of it in her calendar and she's considering going.  It's at the downtown library branch, which is a bus ride away, not in the branch that is across the street from her apartment, which would have been more convenient. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- A relaxed, restful day
- Washing machines
- Being able to air dry the laundry
- Time in which to sew
- Video chatting with my daughter

Sunday's To Do List:
- Organize my closet - DONE
- Load of laundry - DONE
- Sew - DID some
- Water the new plants - DONE

Monday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop
- Laundry (sofa dust covers)
- Put new dust covers
- Put away the laundry
- Do dishes
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Clean the litter box
- Paperwork/filing
- Call DMV to make an appointment to renew my driver's license
- Sew

How was your Sunday?  Did you rest?  Did you do something fun and relaxing?  Or did you work? 

Shop on Saturday

New Fabric and Thread

I slept practically all morning, today!  Even after my daughter called to say good morning, I went back to sleep and slept till almost noon!

Later, in the afternoon, I went to the fabric store to buy the dark pink and blue fabric for the quilts.  I took pieces of fabric with me, to match the color, but, of course, because they are two different types of fabric, the shades are not an exact match.  But, that is OK, because the blue didn't really have to match and the pink for the border can be a slightly different shade than the pink used for the patches.  

I bought four yards of each color, at $1.99/yd.  I wanted to make sure I had enough of the fabric for the quilts and if any is leftover, I can make something else with it!  Pillowcases, maybe.  Or, another quilt!  This is how the stash continues to grow!

I remembered to buy more thread, too, at $2.99 per reel.  But, I was so determined not to look around at the other fabrics that were on sale, to just buy the fabric I needed and nothing more, that I forgot to buy the quilt batting for the Mountain quilt!  Oops!  Oh, well, as I told my friend, it'll be a good excuse to go back to the fabric store!  As if I need an excuse!   

I spent just under $24 on fabric and thread.  

Receipt

I used to have a crafts/hobbies category in my monthly budget, but I eliminated it when I needed to downsize my budget.  I will pay for the fabric and thread from my "miscellaneous" budget, for now.

It was 95F when I left the house, around 2:00 p.m.  It was 101F when I came back, one hour later!  Today's high of 102F was reached shortly after that!

After I came home, I called neighbor T and then, went over to visit her.  I took her one of the bottles of sparkling apple-peach juice I had bought, as I know she likes that brand of sparkling apple juice products.  

Around 4:00 p.m., I took a nap on the sofa and didn't wake up until almost 7:00 p.m.!  Guess I was tired!

My half sister had called and left a message in the morning, so I called her back and we had a nice chat.  Later, I called aunt C and chatted with her.  There were phone calls with daughter throughout the day, and later, we video chatted.  

In the evening, I cleaned my bathroom, watered the indoor plants, and watered the back garden.  I didn't sort through my closet, however, so that's for tomorrow.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Phone call from sister

- Chatting on the phone with aunt C

- Fabric on sale

- Afternoon naps

- Chatting with daughter, throughout the day.

Saturday's To Do List:

- Go to the fabric store - DONE
- Visit T - DONE
- Clean my bathroom - DONE
- Organize my closet
- Water the houseplants - DONE
- Water the back garden - DONE

Sunday's To Do List:
- Organize my closet
- Sew
- Water the new plants

How was your day?  Do you have a crafts/hobbies budget? 

Clean on Friday

According to the rhyme, it's "Clean on Friday".  Since I dusted and vacuumed on Thursday, I decided to mop the floors, today.  I started with the kitchen, then, after I rinsed off the mop head and wrung it out, I decided to damp mop the hardwood floors - living room, dining area, hallway, my bedroom, daughter's room, family room, and the laundry closet, too, which is vinyl flooring, not hardwood - using just water, because the floor cleaner might dull the finish on the wood floors.  Usually, I just vacuum these floors, but, there is a very find dust that comes in when the windows are open and, I feel that the occasional going over with a damp mop is helpful.  It hasn't been done in a long time, as I just haven't had the energy to do so.  But, I told myself that before I do any playing with fabric, etc., today, I had to do at least one big cleaning project!  I still need to clean my bathroom (the other bathroom is OK, as it hasn't been used since daughter left and I cleaned it then).  Will do it tomorrow, as I ran out of energy, today!

I also, finally, called the dentist's office and made an appointment for next week, to go in and have a check up/get my teeth cleaned.  We can discuss what else needs to be done (I need two crowns) before my retirement goes into effect and my insurance changes in October and before I start taking prescription strength calcium treatments to help with my bone density.

There were two more emails from HR at work, regarding my pending retirement - some forms they couldn't locate (because I never filed them since I was not required to do so!); I did offer to come in and file them if they need me to, but they said it should be fine.

Then, I pulled out my "Mountain Climbing" quilt top (remember that?) to see what else needed to be done to it.  Apparently, I have done more than I thought I had!  I thought I had to finish the piecing at the top and bottom, but I have already finished them!  All that needs to be done is put in the final border and the reason that has not been done is, I ran short of the fabric!  I want to put a dark pink border to set it off and all I have is the medium pink fabric.  Well, I kept the medium pink fabric to see how it looks and I wasn't very satisfied.  My daughter, however, prefers the medium pink to the dark pink.  What do you think?

Medium Pink and Dark Pink, Side by Side

I believe I have just enough of the medium pink to do a border right round:

Medium Pink Border

But only a small strip of the dark pink, but it sets off the quilt better, I think:

Dark Pink Border

I don't want to reveal too much of the quilt at this point; not until I've got the border completed.  The three shades of pink fabric had been bought on a 75% off sale, for $1/yard (broadcloth; regular price $3.99), as an "I could always use this for a nightdress or quilt" fabric.  Since I was more likely to use the medium pink for a nightdress, I bought 3 yards of that and 1 yard or so of the other two colors.  I don't know if I should wait until there is another similar sale (usually after Thanksgiving or Christmas) and wait to finish the quilt, or pay the regular price and buy two yards of the darker pink and finish the quilt sooner!

I checked the fabric store's website and they are apparently having an end-of summer door buster sale on quilt cotton solids (reg. price $5.99, on sale for $1.99), which is supposed to end on Saturday.  Quilt cotton is better than regular broadcloth, I believe.  Considering the entire quilt top was pieced using what I had in my stash and I will use fabric in the stash for the backing, I haven't bought anything specifically for this quilt, yet (although I do plan to buy the batting for it), I think buying a couple of yards of fabric for the border at $1.99 per yard might be OK, don't you?

In the afternoon, I paid my gas bill and went to the post office to mail it (I wanted to make sure it was date stamped, today).  After that, I went to the dollar store to buy plants.  I bought another oregano plant and five blue salvia plants.  I decided not to get any tomatoes or chili plants, after all, as it would be hard to keep them protected from the garden cats.  M planted them for me, in the front garden.  I forgot to take pictures, but maybe I'll take some, tomorrow.  I hope they will grow.  It was 93F, today, and tomorrow is supposed to be 102F.  Not the best temperatures for newly transplanted plants! 

Later in the evening, I attended the meditation session at the temple.  I took the cookies I had bought, earlier, to serve during the break; someone else brought juice, and there was bottled water, too, for whoever wanted any.  The meditation session was very relaxing and I almost fell asleep!  Afterwards, there was a good discussion, as well. 

After I came home, I decided to make coconut flat bread (or "pol roti") for dinner:

Pol Roti or Coconut Flat Bread

I keep a package of frozen, grated coconut on hand to make these whenever I feel like it.  I broke off a small piece of the frozen grated coconut (maybe 1/4 to 1/3 cup) and thawed it in the microwave.  Then, I added some flour (I didn't measure, maybe 1/2 to 2/3 cups) and salt and enough water to make a dough.  It needs to be soft, but not sticky.  I had to add another table spoon or so of flour to get the right consistency.  I divided the dough into three balls, which I patted out flat between my palms.  Then, I cooked them on a lightly oiled frying pan, over medium heat, for about five minutes on each side.  I ate 1 1/2 of the flat bread with fish curry for dinner.  I'll have the other 1 1/2 tomorrow, for breakfast.

Later, after dinner, I video chatted with daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter is feeling much better
- Getting the floors mopped
- The fabric store is having a sale
- M planted the new plants for me
- A meditative evening and good discussion, afterwards.


Friday's To Do List:
- Call the dentist! - DONE!  Appointment set for next week!
- Post office to mail bill payment - DONE
- Dollar store for plants - DONE
- Mop floors - DONE
- Visit neighbor T
- Meditation session - DONE

The only item still left undone is visiting neighbor T; I hope to do that over the weekend.

Saturday's To Do List:
- Go to the fabric store
- Visit T
- Clean my bathroom
- Organize my closet
- Water the houseplants
- Water the back garden

How was your Friday?  What shade of pink would you choose for the quilt border?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Vacuum on Thursday

No churning on Thursdays, here!  Instead, there was dusting and vacuuming.  And lots of playing with fabric and quilt block settings.  I was trying out different placements on different colored backgrounds, using fabric I had in the stash.  The red fabric is the biggest piece of fabric I have, with sufficient for the sashing and borders.  The green is the next largest fabric.  The blue is the smallest piece, since it is what is leftover from the baby quilt I made for my cousin's grandson. The piece I have won't be enough, if I choose the blue fabric.

In Rows

Then, I tried the blocks on point:

On Point

Then I tried something a little different - larger squares:

Larger Squares in Rows

The larger squares are composed of four smaller squares.

Larger Squares  On Point 

 
My daughter also suggested a combination of big and small squares, but I didn't  try that out, yet. 

I had been hoping the red fabric would work out, but, I think it doesn't set off the blocks the way I had hoped it would.   Neither does the green.  Wrong shade of green, I think.  The blue fabric seems best, but I will need to buy more of it.  Of course, I could do a really scrappy quilt and have different colored sashing!

So, my questions are: which background? Rows or on point? Big squares or small?

Oh, and my daughter sent me her journal doodles for this week:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Today, she felt better and went to the office.  One of her former supervisors asked her if she'd like to have a leather jacket that the former supervisor was giving away; daughter said it fitted her just fine and she was happy to receive it.

Thursday

There was an email from the Personnel Department at work, informing me that they had received the retirement papers I had filed and asking confirmation on something.  It is a sign that they are working on the application, so I was happy to send a reply in response.

In the evening, I called cousin P and friend R to chat with them.  And video chatted with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter is feeling better
- She received a free leather jacket
- They are working on my retirement papers
- Being able to play with fabric
- Getting a few things crossed off my to do list!

Thursday's To Do List:
- Dollar store for more plants!
- Call to make the dental appointment
- Put away the laundry - DONE
- Finish dusting - DONE
- Vacuum - DONE
- Pay the gas bill
- Filing 
- Closet
- Visit neighbor T

Friday's To Do List:
- Call the dentist!
- Post office to mail bill payment
- Dollar store for plants
- Visit neighbor T
- Meditation session

How was your Thursday?  Which color fabric would you choose for the quilt background and which arrangement of squares?

September Grocery Shopping - Week 1

9/5 Groceries

I went grocery shopping at the dollar store, yesterday.  I bought:

1 box of cookies = $1.00
2 cans of coconut milk @$1 = $2.00
1 can pineapple chunks in juice = $.1.00
2 twin-packs crescent rolls dough, @$1 = $2.00
4 containers of yogurt @$.50 = $2.00
1 bag potato chips = $2.49
Grapes @$.99/lb = $1.62
Total = $12.11

The cookies are to take to the temple on Friday when I attend the meditation class.

The coconut milk is to have on hand, since I am down to my last can of coconut milk (although I still have half a box of the coconut milk powder).   The canned coconut milk used to be cheaper at the Armenian store (only $.89), but, the last time I went, the price had gone up to $1.09!  So, I figured I'll buy these cans from the dollar store, instead.

The pineapple chunks are to add to the stir fry I want to make, with the smoked sausage half I have in the freezer.  Of course, I can make the stir fry without the pineapple, but I like them in the stir fry.

The crescent roll dough was an impulse buy!  But, at that price, I thought they were a bargain.  They had the single cans, too, for the same price as the twin packs!  They had only two of the twin packs and I bought both!  They don't expire till sometime in October.  I already baked two of the cans, last night!

Bargain Buy!

The yogurt will be for snacks or desserts and an extra source of much needed calcium for me.

The grapes because I finished the grapes I had and they are one of my favorite fruits.

The potato chips are an indulgence!  I've been having a craving for them and, actually, they are the main reason why I went to the dollar store in the first place!

9/5 Receipt

In addition to the groceries, I bought three herb plants, at $1.00 each, which brought up my bill to $15.11.  They were much cheaper here than at the garden center and, since they considered them as "vegetables & herbs", there was no sales tax on them!  I will go back and buy their tomato and chili plants, as well.  But the cost of the plants will come from my gardening budget, not the grocery budget.

Herb Plants

My September grocery budget is $100.  This is for one person for one month and it doesn't include pet food or toiletries such as soap and shampoo or household products such as paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, etc.  This is just for food for one person, although, occasionally, I share with my daughter!

While yesterday's grocery shopping was the first grocery shopping trip in September, I had bought two bottles of apple-peach sparkling juice and a can of peach pie filling in late August, which came to $3.20 and which I said will come from the September grocery budget.  So that is included in this week's grocery spending.

September grocery budget = $100
Spent to date = $3.20 (on 8/29) and $12.11 (on 9/5) = $15.31
Balance remaining = $100 - $15.31 = $84.69

As for meal planning, I have plenty of options for this week: a beef steak, half a smoked sausage, and a piece of cooked salmon steak in the freezer, and most of the vegetables I bought last week (head of cauliflower, green beans, and tomatoes, onions) plus carrots, radishes, a cassava root, and part of a head of celery, in the fridge!  I still have leftover mackerel curry and okra, too; enough for one more meal, at least.  There are a few (5) eggs, as well, although I will use up 3 of them if I make a cake to take to the knitting group on Tuesday (I can boil the remaining two for egg salad sandwiches and buy more eggs, next week).    Next week, I will need to buy milk, maybe eggs, and more fruit.

However, I might make a trip to the Armenian store, as they have advertised tilapia fillets for $1.99/lb.  I think this is a good price for the fillets (whole tilapia are often on sale for $.99/lb).  My Armenian neighbor's mother made a wonderful bread crumb crusted fried tilapia fillet dinner, one time, and sent over to me when I was undergoing treatments and I'd like to try to make it, myself.  So, I might go and buy some tilapia fillets, as well, before the sale ends next Tuesday.

What is your grocery budget for September?  Do you include non-food/household items in your grocery budget, or is it for food, only?  Have you gone grocery shopping in September, yet?