February Grocery Shopping: Week 1

2/4 Groceries

We had more rain, this morning, but, it stopped raining in the afternoon and there was sunshine!  I decided to take advantage of the sunny afternoon to run some errands.

First, to the pharmacy to see if I could buy my diabetes test strips without a prescription from my doctor, since I am having trouble getting through to her.  The pharmacist was very nice and checked my insurance and noted that they no longer cover the type of machine I have!  I have to get the doctor to prescribe a different type of machine (there were two types listed) and the test strips and lancers that go with it.  Well, I don't think I will have any success getting that message across to her!  However, I do have an appointment coming up with her at the end of this month; I will speak with her, then, and explain the situation.  In the meantime, I asked if I could buy the smallest package of test strips they have for the type of machine I have and I will pay out of pocket for it.  It would cost me about $100 she said.  I said it was OK, I was prepared to do that.  Then, I went to the pick up window and that pharmacist must have felt sorry for me, because she said she will see if she can get me a discount.  She checked and got me a discount and I paid one third of what it would have cost me!  I was so happy!  I know that I sometimes have problems with this pharmacy, but there are some caring people working there.

After that, I decided to go to the dollar store, next door to the pharmacy, to do my grocery shopping!  I wanted to get some salad ingredients because I had finished my cucumber and carrots and only had a small wedge of lettuce left.

I bought:

1 variety pack of 4 small lettuces  = $1.00
1 bag (2lb) carrots = $1.00 (they didn't have smaller bags of whole carrots)
1 bag of 4 cucumbers = $1.00 (that's a lot of cucumbers, but one had to buy a whole bag)
1 container (2lb) of low fat plain yogurt = $1.00
1 box crackers (unsalted tops) = $1.00
Total = $5.00

2/4 Receipt

I feel I need to explain the box of crackers, since I am supposed to be on a low-carb diet.  But, some of my medications, especially the one I take as part of my cancer treatment, cause nausea, and when that happens, I find that saltine-type crackers (I prefer the unsalted tops) help.  It's all a bit of a balancing act, for me.

My February grocery budget is $75.  Plus, I had $5.55 leftover from the January budget.  So, my February grocery budget is $80.00 (I am going to ignore the $.55).

Spent to date:  $5.00
Balance remaining in February grocery budget: $75

I didn't buy any meat or fish, today.  I have roast beef, roast chicken, and cooked salmon steaks in the freezer. 

For lunch, today, I had some of the leftover beef pepper steaks, I had cooked earlier, with sauteed zucchini.  For dinner, I cooked a mackerel curry, using a can of mackerel.  I ate it with rice, lentils, and green beans from the freezer.

On the way home from the pharmacy and dollar store, I stopped by the post office to mail my payments for the gas bill and the water and power bill.  When I got home, I took the trash cans out to the curb for pick up in the morning.  Then, I had a cup of tea, watched the news, and had my dinner.  Later, I watered the indoor plants.  Need to clean the litter box, before I go to bed.

It rained, again, in the evening!  More rain is in the forecast for tomorrow!

Today, I am grateful for:
- Caring pharmacists
- Discounts on my test strips
- Rain for the garden
- Sunshine in the afternoon
- Phone calls from family and friends

How was your Monday? 

Rainy Weekend

It started raining around midnight on Friday night and rained most of Saturday!  The rain ceased for awhile on Saturday afternoon for a bit, but, by evening, it was raining again and it continued to rain all Saturday night.  It rained all Sunday morning too, but it ceased raining a little after noon.  However, more rain is in the forecast!  I am glad we are having all this rain, because the garden is getting a good soaking. 

I didn't attend the funeral on Saturday, due to the weather; I didn't want to risk getting a relapse, just as I am starting to feel better.  Instead, I spent a quiet day at home, blogging, reading, relaxing, and talking with family and friends on the phone.

For dinner, I thawed a piece of previously cooked salmon steak, some curried green beans, dhal (lentil) curry, and rice (about 1/3 cup); but when I went to eat it, I found out that I was fine without the rice, so I pushed most of the rice aside and didn't eat it.

For dessert, I made a compote with the blackberries I had in the fridge; I cooked them in a bit of water and 1 teaspoon of sugar (normally, I would have used at least a couple of tablespoons!). 

Blackberry Compote

As I was eating it, I thought how much better it would taste if served on a piece of sponge cake, or, on a waffle, or with a bit of ice cream , etc.  But, it was quite satisfying on its own, too.  There's another serving in the fridge to be eaten later.

Dancer, being as curious as ever, came to check it out!

"What you eating, Mummy?"

Much later in the night, I began to crave a salad!  I hadn't felt like eating a salad in several days, so I decided to have a salad as a late night snack!

Late Night Snack

That finished the cucumber I had bought and most of the bag of carrots (I have one carrot left), and much of the lettuce, too. 

Plans for the rest of the afternoon include watching the Superbowl, as I enjoy watching American football, especially since our hometown team is playing (Go L.A. Rams!) and knitting.

This weekend, I am grateful for:
- The rain we have been getting
- A good roof above my head!
- A warm home
- Recovering from the cold and cough
- Phone calls from family and friends

How is your weekend coming along? 

Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt - January

The WPSH January link up has been posted by Eileen at A Bracelet of Days.  Here are the photos I took in January:


#9:  Peel/peeling

#9 Peel/Peeling: Pomegranate Peels 

This was the last pomegranate of the season from my tree.   I selected it over the photo of the tangerine peels for my final selection.

#11 Dressed for the Season:

#11 Dressed for the Season: Snowpeople dressed for the season

We don't have much of a winter where I live, but these snowpeople on my tree (a gift from a friend, one year), were ready for the weather in their scarves, hats, and earmuffs!  Looks like one of them enjoyed a few too many cookies and eggnog, as he seems to have popped a button!

#12 Glitter 

#12 Glitter - A glitter covered apple

There were many glittery ornaments on my tree and I took a few photos of them, but, I decided that this glitter covered "golden apple" was my final choice. 

#17 Orange

#17 Orange - oranges on the tree

The oranges are growing on the tree in my back yard.  My daughter claims that they are the best oranges she has ever eaten.  Certainly, they are the freshest oranges one can have, since I pick them just before we eat them!

I am looking forward to taking more photos in February. 

Prayer Request

I know that several of my blog readers actively pray for others.

I have a request of you for prayers for good health and recovery for a friend's young grandchild, "V", who has been diagnosed with a type of leukemia and is undergoing treatment.

My friend emailed me and asked me to include her grandchild in my list of people for whom I pray.  I  assured her that I will and asked her permission to put out a request for prayers on my blog, too.

I know that the prayers of many helped me with my own recovery from cancer.  May our collective prayers help V, V's parents, and my friend, too.

Thank you.

2019 Mile Long To Do List - February

This is the 2019 Mile Long To Do List, that is being carried forward to February.  Having an objective of accomplishing X items from the list worked well for me in January, so I am going to take that same approach in February, as well.  But, it is a shorter month, so I will reduce the number of items I'd like to cross off the list to 10.

Mile Long To Do List:

• Primary care doctor's appointment (2/25)
• Embroider 2 T-shirts
• Mail 1 package
• Dig out spare room/The Dump 
• Paperwork/File/Shred
• Pay monthly bills
• Attend monthly rosary gathering if possible
• Call to have the outside cats spayed/neutered
• Call for estimates on house repairs (various)
• Replace toilet flush valve in bathroom #1
• Check shower hot water flow in bathroom #1
• Replace ceiling heater unit in bathroom #1
• Fix under sink cabinet door in bathroom #2
• Get a plumber to fix drainage in bathtub (bathroom #2)
• Replace garage door opener system
• Replace the side garage door
• Clean out the garage!
• Clean out the shed
• Polish brassware
• Polish silverware
• Buy paint for the front door
• Paint front door
• Declutter
• Clean chandelier in dining room
• Clean the second light fixture in family room
• Sew new bedroom curtains
• Sew quilts
• Clean vertical blinds - family room sliding glass door
• Clean sliding glass door, including tracks
• Buy new sofa slip covers - IKEA 

Well, some of the items on the list might have to be broken down a bit further (declutter a specific area, perhaps), but I shall see how it goes.

Is anyone else making a Mile Long To Do List for February?

Mile Long To Do List - January Update

The list I posted in early January was a list of projects to be worked on in 2019, with one or two new items added (schedule donations pick up, for one).  I wasn't planning to do it all in January.  In fact, I wrote (at the time) that I didn't expect it to be done anytime soon!  The important thing was to get started on the list.  However, I stated that I would like to see at least 15 items crossed off the list, by the end of January.  I am happy to say that I managed to cross off 16 items from the list and at least started on another couple!  Yay!

Mile Long To Do List:

• Schedule Dancer's check up - DONE; scheduled for 1/3
• Take Dancer in for tooth extraction - DONE
• Primary care doctor's appointment (1/11) - DONE 
• Gastroenterologist's appointment (1/14)  - DONE 
• Follow up gastroenterologist visit (1/28/19) - DONE 
• Radiation oncologist appointment (1/17); rescheduled for 1/30 - DONE
• Call dentist's office to reschedule appointment
• Trim the pine tree at the back - DONE 1/9
• Mail packages - mailed 1 (1/4)
• Dig out spare room/The Dump 
• Paperwork/File/Shred
• Pay monthly bills
• Take down the Christmas decorations and tree
• Call and schedule a car service - DONE 1/3
• Take car in for service - scheduled for 1/8 - DONE
• Attend monthly rosary gathering (1/26) - DONE
• Call to have the outside cats spayed/neutered
• Make a list of house repairs needed
• Call for estimates on house repairs (various)
• Replace toilet flush valve in bathroom #1
• Check shower hot water flow in bathroom #1
• Replace ceiling heater unit in bathroom #1
• Fix under sink cabinet door in bathroom #2
• Get a plumber to fix drainage in bathtub (bathroom #2)
• Replace garage door opener system
• Replace the side garage door
• Clean out the garage!
• Clean out the shed
• Plant a winter vegetable garden - DONE 1/4
• Plant a new peach tree - DONE 1/11
• Polish brassware
• Polish silverware
• Buy paint for the front door
• Paint front door
• Declutter - STARTED; closet done
• Clean chandelier in dining room
• Clean light fixtures (2) in family room - DID 1
• Sew new bedroom curtains
• Sew quilts
• Clean vertical blinds - family room sliding glass door
• Clean sliding glass door, including tracks
• Buy new sofa slip covers - IKEA 
• Call and schedule donations pick up - DONE 1/29

The rest of the items will be carried forward to February, along with one or two new items.

Did you make a Mile Long To Do List?  Were you able to get a few things cross off it?  

Thunder and Lightning!

I woke up to the sound of thunder, yesterday (Thursday)!  At first, I didn't realize what it was.  The whole house was shaking and I thought it was a very heavy truck going down the road in front of my house!  Then, I heard the sound of the rain falling, and I realized it was thunder I was hearing!  Thunder storms are quite rare for us, and yesterday's storm was quite spectacular!  Two planes taking off from the Los Angeles International Airport were struck by lightning and had to turn back, they said on the news, and several public beaches were closed due to the risk of being hit by lightning!  Of course, the rain, which lasted till early afternoon, caused mudslides in some of the areas that burned, last year. 

I was glad it rained, because the garden got watered, nicely.

The rain ceased in the early afternoon.  I went to the library to return the book I had borrowed and I borrowed some magazines.  Several intersections were flooded, but they were still passable.  I hate driving through flooded intersections as I am afraid the water will get into the car engine and cause it to stall.  Later, I watched some news on TV, knitted on the front of the grey sweater (decided to do the same all-over pattern I did for the back), and did a load of laundry.

Breakfast had been a scrambled egg and a piece of papaya, lunch was soup, dinner was a roast beef sandwich.  But, something didn't sit too well with me and I felt a bit queasy.  So, I ate a few crackers and drank a little lemon-lime soda to settle my stomach. 

This morning, I am feeling a little better, although I've lost my voice!  But, I think I am finally on the mend. 

Today is the birth anniversary of my maternal grandmother.  I wrote about her, here.  Two of my cousins, also, celebrate their birthdays, today.  I called one of them and croaked my well wishes to her as best I could.  The other cousin doesn't communicate with me for some reason that is unknown to me; so I texted his sister and asked her to wish him for me!  His mother called me back and assured me that she will convey my wishes to him. 

I am planning to take it relatively easy, today.  M will be coming later this afternoon to attend to the garden; I shall ask him to mow the grass in the back, unless he says it is too wet.  In that case, I suppose he could do some weeding and tidying up.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Feeling better
- The rain we had, since it watered my garden
- The safe drive to the library and back, yesterday
- Being able to stay home and rest
- Memories of my grandmother

Friday's To Do List:
- The dishes
- Change my bed sheets
- Load of laundry
- Give Dancer his flea meds

I can't believe we are already in February!  Today, is the viewing for the aunt who passed away, but I am not going.  Tomorrow is the funeral and burial.  However, another major storm front is expected, tomorrow, and I am debating whether to go or not.  One of my cousins has offered me a ride, but I don't think I will go if it is raining heavily.  I don't want to risk having my cold worsen.  I'll wait and see how the weather is and how I feel, tomorrow. 

What are your plans for this weekend?