Sunny on Wednesday

Dancer Checks Out the Christmas Tree

It was a sunny day, today.  In the morning, the temperature was 36F at M's house, which is a couple of miles from my house and he said there was frost on the roofs in his neighborhood.  It was a little warmer by the time I woke up, but, it was still crisp and cold.  Our high today was 55F.  

M was able to fix the cover on top of the vent pipe, this morning, but, he found that there was a hole in the pipe, itself.  I might have to replace that pipe - I'll add it to that ever growing list of home repairs I have to do!  

I finished crocheting the blanket, today, and washed and dried it.  Then, I hung up the wreaths and did a bit of decorating.  I didn't put the Winter Village up, yet, though.  I need to clear off the counter on the pass through between the kitchen and the family room to set up the Village, there.  The house is looking very messy, again, with the bins of holiday decorations out and piles of gifts waiting to be wrapped, etc.  I discovered that I didn't have as many medium sized gift bags as I had thought and had to order a few, as well as more tissue paper!  They should be delivered on Friday, along with a gift that I ordered.  

Later, in the evening, I cooked a dhal (lentils) curry and curried green beans to go with leftover rice and chicken curry from yesterday for our dinner.  After dinner, I put away the leftovers, did the dishes, cleaned the litter box, etc., and chatted a bit with friend R.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny day to dry out from the rain
- M tending to the garden and fixing the vent cover
- I was able to finish crocheting the blanket in good time
- Being able to order gift wrapping supplies online and having them delivered
- Cards arriving in the mail, each bearing a holiday wish from a friend or family member.

Today's joyful activity was finishing the blanket!

Plans for tomorrow include tidying the house and writing cards!

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

Rain on Tuesday!

It rained all night, Monday, and rained most of the day on Tuesday!  Gentle rain for the most part, with occasional showers.  But, there must have been some winds in the night or early morning hours because I found that the cover over the water heater vent pipe had blown off and fallen on the driveway!  I picked it up and, hopefully, M can place it back on the vent pipe!  I was worried that the water heater flame might have gone off, but, there is hot water on tap, so, I am assuming it is OK.  The rain ceased in the afternoon and we had a couple of hours of beautiful sunshine before the sun set.  Tonight's temperature, as I write this, is 39F (3.88 C).  That is cold in my books!

I went outside a couple of times, in between rain showers, to retrieve the trash bins, once they had been emptied, and to collect the mail.  Holiday greeting cards are starting to come in and I'm displaying them on the living room mantelpiece for now.  Each card is a reminder that I haven't got my cards in the mail, yet!

Cousin V called me, today, and we chatted for a bit.  Later, I called friend A and checked on her and called friend R to chat with her.  

I had leftover ham and noodle casserole for lunch and cooked a chicken curry and a fresh pot of rice for dinner.  My daughter made a cucumber salad to have with the rice and chicken curry.  Afterwards, I washed the day's dishes.  

But, once again, the major activity of the day was crocheting the border on the blanket I am making.   It's almost finished, but, I still want to crochet one more border row.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Rain for the garden
- Not losing power due to the rain
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Hot water on tap
- A working heater

Today's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for tomorrow include M's visit to tend to the garden, finishing the blanket, and maybe setting up the Winter Village!

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

Monday

 

Ham and Egg Noodles Casserole

I made a ham and egg noodles casserole over the weekend - boiled half the bag of egg noodles, stirred in a can of cream of celery soup, a can of mixed vegetables (which needed using up), and some ham that I had in the freezer and thawed.  I put it all in an 8" x 8" baking dish, sprinkled some pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika and baked it at 350F for about 30 minutes.  Daughter and I had some of it for our dinner on Saturday and I served a portion for neighbor T (daughter took it over and left it by T's front door).  Neighbor T had called and said she had fallen, earlier in the week; she was OK, she said, but a bit sore and achy.  

Today (Monday), I had a long chat with cousin P.  She has sold her house and is in the process of getting rid of her household items, in preparation for moving out (she's moving out of state and will not take anything with her other than a few personal items).  She is a bit overwhelmed with the task of emptying out her house after being there for over 30 years!  She had asked me, earlier, if I wanted anything from her house and I had told her no, that I had plenty of things to get rid of, myself.  She asked me, again, today, too; in particular, if I wanted two religious statues that her husband had.  Again, I declined.  

I spent most of the day putting the blanket together.  I joined all the squares and started to crochet the border.  I should finish it, tomorrow.  I will post pictures after I have given the blanket to my friend.

In between joining the squares and starting on the border, I caught up on my blog reading, took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning, and checked on the garden.  The passionfruit plant had fallen over, pot and all; I think it was too top heavy for the pot it is planted in!  I put the whole plant, pot and all, inside another, bigger pot and wedged that pot in a corner, to keep it in place!   Later in the evening, I chatted with friend R. 

The forecast has been telling us a major storm is on its way!  It has already dumped a lot of rain and snow in northern California and in the mountains.  It started to rain here, in southern California later in the evening.  So far, we've had a gentle rain.  But, heavier rain is expected tomorrow (Tuesday).  We need the rain, but, not so much that we get a month's worth of rain in one day, as that will cause flash floods and mud slides, especially in the areas damaged by recent wild fires.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Rain for the garden
- A working heater
- Time to crochet
- Weekly trash pick up
- Chatting with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for tomorrow include finishing the blanket, washing, and drying it; finishing another couple of gifts, and, hopefully, getting some holiday cards written and in the mail!

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

The Tree is Up!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

My daughter put up the Christmas tree (a pre-lit artificial one that, nevertheless, sheds its needles just like a real tree would!) and decorated it, yesterday (Saturday)!  This is the first time she decorated this tree by herself (in previous years, I've been the one decorating it).  This year, my job was limited to vacuuming, before we moved the second sofa away from its usual position in front of the window to make room for the tree, after the sofa was moved to clean the area that used to be under the sofa, after the tree was set up to remove all the needles that dropped, and again, after the decorations were hung up because there were still more needles!  Did I mention that this tree dropped its needles just like a real tree?  Daughter claimed that putting up and decorating the tree was a workout!  LOL!  We didn't put the topper, yet, because it is in a bin that we haven't opened, yet.  

We took the opportunity to declutter 3 ornaments that were broken, which I decided not to try and hot glue back together!  

The reason why I didn't join in the decorating of the tree (which is also the reason why I am so behind with reading and commenting on blogs) is the blanket that I am crocheting for my friend!  You see, originally, the plan had been to visit my friend next weekend, which would have given me all of next week to finish the blanket.  But, yesterday morning, my friend's daughter texted asking if we could visit this coming Monday, instead!  Yikes!  I still had to crochet 5 more squares and then, sew them together and do a border around!  So, I spent the majority of the day, yesterday, crocheting!  I also thought of a couple of alternative gifts to give my friend, in case I couldn't finish the blanket!

Eventually, however, after some texting back and forth since my daughter has work on Monday and we would be able to visit only much later in the evening, it was decided that next weekend would be better, after all!  Whew!  Big sigh of relief, especially as I found out that the black yarn I was planning on using for the border would not be enough!  So, we put in an order for new yarn, to be picked up, this afternoon!  I didn't feel guilty about buying more yarn because I needed it for this specific project!  I bought two skeins of black for me and a skein of white for my daughter, as she had come to the end of her white yarn.

Daughter and I also put in an order for groceries, as well.  

Where is Dancer?

"Here I am!"

Today, Sunday, I put up a couple of Christmas decorations and ran the dishwasher.  

Later, daughter and I ran a few errands in the afternoon.  First, we went to the craft store to pick up the order of yarn - they had curbside pick up, which was very convenient.  Then, we stopped by a favorite Chinese fast food place (in the same shopping complex) which has a drive through to pick up some lunch. 

Then, we drove to another store (a department store) to return something that daughter had ordered online as it was the wrong size.  I stayed in the car, but, she had to go in to the store.  However, she received a $5 coupon to be redeemed in store only, valid from today until the 20th, just for going to the store in person!  I guess the stores are really wanting people to shop in person!  Daughter said the store was fairly crowded, but, that is to be expected on a Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks before Christmas!  She wore her mask and was there for less than 10 minutes.

From there, we went to the grocery store (again, in the same shopping complex as the department store) to pick up the groceries.   We had to wait less than 10 minutes for the store clerk to bring the groceries to the car, but, she apologized for the wait and gave us a $10 discount!  Wow!  We are not complaining!  That discount paid for the deli pizza ($5) we had ordered as part of the groceries and the jar of almond butter ($4.79)!  I will do a post about the groceries, later.

Our errands took us all of one and a half hours!  We came home and had some of the Chinese food for brunch.  I thought I'll do this blog post before I get busy with crocheting the blanket!  I want to try and finish it by tomorrow!  

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- Daughter being home for the holidays, setting up the tree and decorating it

- Being able to order stuff online and pick up curbside
- Unexpected discounts and coupons
- A safe drive to the shops and back
- More time to finish my gifts!

This weekend's joys included seeing the Christmas tree up and decorated and crocheting!

How is your weekend coming along?  Do you decorate for Christmas?  If so, have you started?

Sunny Friday

It was sunny and clear, today, after yesterday's rain.  It was a bit cool, but, the air smelled so fresh!  I bundled up and walked up and down my driveway for a few minutes, and then, realized I didn't have my cell phone with me (to call anyone in case I fell!), so went indoors and decided to prepare brunch!  Leftovers to the rescue, once again, disguised as fried rice!  The last sausage from the package I cooked the other day (the package contained five sausages) cut up into small pieces, leftover rice, leftover green peas, an egg, and a pinch of chili powder: it made a very filling meal and very economical, too!   

M tended to the garden in the early evening.  He bought me a six pack of broccoli seedlings, a pack of beetroot seedlings, and a passionfruit vine!  The passionfruit cuttings that neighbor S's daughter N gave me didn't root and turned moldy!  I had to toss them!  But, M informed me that he had seen passionfruit plants for sale and asked me if he should buy me one and I said yes, please, and I will reimburse him.  The passionfruit plant cost $20 and with the other seedlings, the bill came to $26.01.  The passionfruit vine will remain in its pot for now and we will plant it in the spring.  Hopefully, there will be passionfruit for eating, next year!

M also brought me a pot of rose flavored yogurt to try!  He said he had been at the market, today, and someone was offering samples of a new brand of French yogurt for shoppers to try.  He said he tried a couple of different ones, including orange blossom flavored, which he found to be too perfume-y, and he thought the rose flavored one was good.  When he told that to the person handing out the samples, she had given him several small pots of the rose flavored yogurt, free of charge, because, apparently, he was the only one who was even willing to try them!  He knew that I use rose flavoring for some of my food (he remembers that I made rose petal jelly back when I had all those rose bushes) and offered me one of the pots (a reusable blue painted terracotta pot!).  I tried it and I thought it tasted very good.  My daughter, who doesn't like yogurt, tried it, too, and said it was OK.  LOL.  I looked up the brand online and apparently, the grocery store is selling them for $4.49 each!  I am glad I was given the opportunity to try it, but, I will not buy them for that price!

I spent the rest of the evening crocheting and watching some programs on TV.

I had planned to cook a ham and noodle casserole for dinner, but, I didn't feel like cooking tonight.  Instead, I made ham sandwiches for dinner!  With fresh pears for dessert.  I will make the casserole with the rest of the packet of ham for dinner, tomorrow.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The sunny day
- M buying the passionfruit plant and vegetable seedlings for me
- M planting the seedlings and tidying the garden
- M bringing me a new yogurt to try
- A working heater

Today's joyful activity was crocheting.  

Plans for the weekend include ordering and picking up some groceries and maybe making a cake!

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?  Have you ever tried rose flavored yogurt?  Do you think you might try some, if offered a sample?  

Rainy Thursday

Another rainy day!  More drizzle than rain, but, enough moisture to wet the ground and I'm happy!  

Cousin V texted me in the morning to say that they were leaving San Diego earlier than planned due to the rain and should be home by 3:30 p.m., if I want to come over with the gifts.  I texted her back and said that I had already dropped the gifts off at cousin R's house, last night.  I hope R took the gifts over to V's house, in the evening!

Today, I washed the clothes that cousin R had given us.  I think I need to buy another set of clothes hangers!  In a comment on yesterday's post, June (Live and Learn-Toss and Turn) asked me if I make a note of new stuff coming into the house on my decluttering ledger.  That's a very good question and the answer is, Yes!  I keep track of new items coming in, at least when it comes to my clothing and household items!  I don't keep track of items my daughter receives.  I haven't reached the point of "1 in 1 out", yet, but, maybe I will get to that stage, one of these days.   I haven't added the clothing items I received yesterday, yet, partly because I've forgotten which ones my daughter decided to keep for herself and which ones I chose to keep!  But, once we sort through them, I will make a note of the items added to my closet!  So far, since I posted this post about organizing my clothes closet in August, I have decluttered more items of clothing than I have added (at least 11 more items decluttered than received).  That number will be much reduced by the time I add my share of yesterday's clothes, but, I don't think I'll be adding as many as 11 items!  

Daughter and I had leftover fried rice for brunch and leftover rice and sausages for dinner (I cooked more green peas to have with them).  After dinner, I ran the dishwasher and handwashed my teacups and the pots and pans.  

Aunt C called in the afternoon and I had a long chat with her.  Later, friend R called and we chatted a bit.  

But, the majority of my day was spent crocheting the granny squares for the blanket I am making for my friend for Christmas and watching some videos online while I crocheted.

Today, I am grateful for:

- More rain!
- Working appliances
- Yarn from the stash
- Leftovers!
- Chatting with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was crocheting.

Plans for tomorrow include more crocheting and M's visit to tend to the garden.  

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

Wednesday's Happenings

The First Pea Pod!

A sunny and clear day, today.  The daytime high was in the mid-60s.  

M was here, this morning, and he tended to the garden for me.  We picked the first pea pod from one of the snowpea plants.  Hopefully, it is the first of many!  

Today, I labeled and got the three full jars of jam ready for gifting, cutting out little fabric squares to decorate the lids and tying raffia around them, etc.  And I got out the jars of other jams I had made, earlier.  They have been labeled, already, but, I need to dress them up, a bit for gift giving.

Then, I wrapped up the gifts I bought to give cousin V's two grandsons.  I had wanted to take the gifts with me to the church to hand them to cousin V after the memorial service, but, when I mentioned my plan to her, she said to wait; her daughter and grandsons will be here for a week and I could come by sometime mid-week, spend some time visiting them, and give the gifts then.  But, this morning, cousin V called to say that she was sorry, but, they had been busy and they were planning to go to San Diego (her older daughter lives and works there) today and won't be back until later, tomorrow, and they were all flying out to New York on Friday!  What about the gifts, I asked.  She suggested I took them over to her sister R and R could bring them over, later!

So, I called cousin R in the early evening after she finished her work (she is a Special Education teacher) and explained the situation to her.  She was fine with us coming over later in the evening, around 7:00 p.m.  Daughter drove me, after she got off work.  I took cousin R a jar of zucchini chutney and the bag with the two gifts for V's grandsons.  We visited for a few minutes while R's German Shepherd enjoyed getting a belly rub from my daughter!  Just before we left, R gave my daughter two big bags of clothes she had decluttered!  Some with tags still on!  Such abundance!  What a blessing!  Daughter tried them on after we came home and most of them fit her.  Some of them even fit me!  Which is very surprising because my cousin is much slimmer than I!  They must have been huge on her!  There was only one blouse that didn't fit either of us and I told my friend R that I'll bring it to her - it might fit her (or, if it doesn't, she can send it to her daughters or granddaughter).  I will call cousin R, tomorrow, to tell her that some of her clothes fitted me!  She will be surprised!  

Neighbor S (who is also my piano teacher), called, too, to check on me, this afternoon.  She said she will resume teaching piano after January 11. She asked if I needed any new pieces to learn and I said no, I'll play the ones I have and then, when we resume lessons, we'll see how it goes.   She asked me if I was practicing and I was honest and said, no!  LOL.  I told her I was on holiday, too, since my piano teacher was on holiday!  She laughed.

I made scrambled eggs and toast for brunch, today.  Dinner was rice and Italian sausages, cooked with onions, red bell peppers from the garden, and green peas.  There's rice and sausages leftover for tomorrow, but, I'll have to cook some vegetables to go with them.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- M tending to the garden for me
- The first pea pod of the season
- I was able to visit cousin R and take the boys' gifts to her
- A safe drive there and back
- The abundance of clothes cousin R gave us!

Today's joyful activity was visiting cousin R.

The forecast calls for rain, tomorrow.  Plans for tomorrow include making more holiday gifts.  I started crocheting a blanket which I have to finish by the end of next week!

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