Almost Sweater Weather

Cooler Than Normal

I felt a bit chilly this morning!  The temperature in the family room was not quite 72F!  We were in the triple digits not too long ago!  I dressed in a pair of sweatpants, a long sleeved blouse, and socks!  It was a cloudy, overcast morning, but, it was sunny in the afternoon with a daytime high of 76F, which was below what our normal temperature would have been (84F).  

Today, I changed my bed sheets and did a load of laundry.  Later, I tidied the kitchen, did the dishes, and scrubbed the stove top.  I took the last of the Asian pears over to neighbor S to give to her mother (S had mentioned her mother had enjoyed the ones I had taken over to them, earlier), chatted on the phone with aunt C, friend R, and later, video chatted with my daughter.  I had a bowl of soup for brunch and cooked rice and a chicken curry for dinner, along with some moringa curry I had prepared, earlier.  

I also sewed the last of the patchwork blocks I needed to add to the sides of the quilt top.  Tomorrow, I plan to sew them into rows and sew to the quilt top.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Warm clothes!
- Working appliances
- Being able to share the Asian pears with S and her mother
- Phone chats with family and friends
- Being able to video chat with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was more sewing!

Plans for tomorrow include more sewing!  

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

More Sewing on Friday

I've spent another very relaxing day, sewing, on Friday.  I've used up almost all of the tiny scraps of fabric I had collected in a gallon sized plastic bag!  I need to make three more crumb pieced squares and that will give me enough for the two sides of the quilt.  I checked my fabric stash and I have enough solid colored fabric for the borders and something I plan to use for the backing.  

In the evening, M came to tend to the garden.  He watered and tidied the garden for me.  I served him a bowl of the soup I had made and gave him a container of it to take home, too.  

Not a lot of housework not done, today, but, I cleaned the litter box and did some paperwork.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- M tending to the garden for me
- Time to sew
- A working sewing machine and iron
- Electricity to run them
- Cooler temperatures

Today's joyful activity was sewing!

Plans for tomorrow include more sewing and maybe some laundry.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Mid-Way Through September

 

Mirabilis/Four O'Clocks

We are already mid-way through this month!  The days are going by too fast for me!

Cousin P called me, yesterday; her daughter had her baby on Sunday.  Cousin's daughter sent me some photos and Baby Boy looks cute, of course.  

I had a relaxed day, yesterday.  M tended to the garden in the morning and I did a little paperwork, cleaned the litter box, watched the news and some TV programs, and sewed!  I measured the quilt top and decided that I could add another row of crumb pieced squares on either side to make the top a little wider.  

Late last night/early this morning, around 2:45 a.m., my daughter texted me to tell me that they had just had a small earthquake, measuring 2.9, in Berkeley.  Apparently, it was the third earthquake in and around the Bay Area this week!  It wasn't a big earthquake, but, Berkeley sits right on top of an earthquake fault and this was another reminder that we live on shaky grounds!  

I had another relaxed day, today, too, sewing. I am actually making a dent in my pile of scrap fabric!  The only problem is, I don't have much to write about, as a result!  The weather has been partly cloudy with daytime highs in the mid-80s.  I've enjoyed the cooler temperatures.

I'm grateful for:
- Cousin's daughter had a safe delivery and a healthy baby
- This morning's earthquake was small and didn't cause any damage
- Time to sew
- Keeping in touch with family and friends
- M tending to the garden for me

Joyful activities have been playing with fabric!

Plans for tomorrow include more sewing and tending to the garden with M.

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

Scrap Basket Quilt Top Update

Scrap Basket Quilt

I have been sewing on the scrap basket quilt top!  I added the cat blocks I had sewn earlier (in May) and I had just enough of the grey fabric I had used for the second border to frame the cat blocks, too!  The blue in the cat blocks is the same blue as the third border - yes, the quilt top is scrappy, but, I'm trying to tie things together, a little bit!

The only problem was I had seven cat blocks (actually, there are eight, but, the eighth one is a little different, with the cat sitting up and taller, but, I didn't get the proportions right on it, so I am not using it on the quilt top) and I didn't feel like making another cat block.  After playing around with the different layouts, I decided to have a row of four cats on the top and arrange the other three in a row at the bottom, with some solid blue fabric on either side to even it out:

Bottom Row of Cats

I had made six cats with the same fabric and one cat with a white floral fabric (my original plan had been to make a whole quilt top with cat blocks, using different fabrics for the cats, but, I changed my mind!).  The cat blocks were made back in May, but, I think of Snowball when I see the white cat!

This weekend, I sewed a panel of crumb pieced blocks to the two sides of the quilt top.  I had made about 12 such crumb blocks, each measuring 8.5" by 8.5" some time ago (I mentioned doing so in a blog post in October, 2021 and again, in May of this year).  I made them when I wanted to relax during some "mindless sewing" as I called it, without any idea of what I was going to do with them!  I needed 10 such crumb blocks for each side of this quilt, so, I had to make eight additional ones and I made the last one on Sunday.  Then, I sewed the blocks together to make two long strips and attached them to either side of the quilt top to make it wider.

Side Panel of Crumb Pieced Blocks

The next step is to decide if I should add a crumb pieced panel to the top and bottom of the quilt (just above and just below the cat blocks), or if a border should be enough, and how wide a border I should add.  I debated adding a scrappy border and decided against it.  I think a solid colored border is needed to set it off!  I also need to see if I have enough solid colored fabric in my stash for that! 

What do you think?

September Days and a Lentil Recipe

 

S's Mother's Herbed Lentils

Our heat wave broke after Friday's rain and the days have been cooler in comparison.  "Cooler" is all relative, of course.  On Sunday, our high was 90F; on Monday, it was 88F.  Of course, I am loving it!  This is well within my comfort zone!

Sunday marked the 21st anniversary of 9/11.  It's hard to believe that so much time has passed; it's one of those days when I can recall exactly where I was (at the office) and what I was doing when I heard the news (on the phone) and what I did afterwards (our office closed and we were told to go home; I drove home and flew the flag, then, went and picked up my daughter from school).  I spent a good part of the day watching TV programs relating to that event.  

On Monday, I spent some time sewing on the patchwork quilt top I am making,  There is progress on that and I will do an update post, soon.  

I also spoke on the phone with neighbor T who is still in the assisted living center; she is hoping to be able to come home, soon, because she is concerned about how much it costs to be at the assisted living center.  

There has been more food being passed back and forth in the neighborhood, as well!  On Sunday, neighbor S called to ask if I'd like some savory pastry her mother had made, with a lentil filling.  I love pastry, so, of course, I said, I'd love to try some. When she brought me the lentil filled pastries, I gave her a plate of thin pancakes filled with a sprinkling of sugar and lemon juice that I had just made!

Puff Pastry Rolls with Lentil Filling

Sunday evening, I warmed up the lentil pastries and they were delicious.  There was a different flavor to them than what I'm used to.  I could tell that they had some sort of herb, but, I couldn't identify it.  I asked S what herbs her mother had used and she said it was dill.  Then, she  brought me more of the pastries and a plate of the lentils that her mother had made!   And, she called me a little later with her mother's recipe.  I asked her if I might post the recipe on my blog and she said it would be fine.  S's mother's name is L.

L's Lentil Recipe:

1 cup dry lentils
2 cups water
Cilantro
Dill
Salt, black pepper
Haleb pepper (a type of chili pepper, might be similar to Aleppo pepper, according to an online search)

Cook the lentils in the water with salt, black pepper, and haleb pepper, until the lentils are soft; towards the very end of the cooking, about 5 minutes before it is done, add the chopped cilantro and dill.  

S said that it was not necessary to drain any leftover cooking water and I assume it will get absorbed into the lentils as the dish cools.  S didn't mention adding any onions, but, I suppose one could add some finely chopped onions during the cooking, too.  I have not made this recipe, yet; it will be something to try, though.  

I am grateful for:

- Neighbor S and her mother's generosity
- New recipes to try
- Cooler days
- Chats with family and friends
- Television coverage of world events

Joyful activities have included being treated to some delicious food and playing with fabric!

Do you like lentils?  Do you think you might try this recipe?  Do you have a favorite lentil recipe?

After the Rain

.

Lantana Bushes on Wednesday

Lantana Bush on Saturday

Friday's rain brought quite a lot of rain to some parts of southern California and caused flash floods, rock slides, etc.  But, in my area, we had mostly drizzle and light showers which brought about 0.25 inches of rain.  A quarter of an inch of rain is not a lot, but, it is more than what we received in all of July and August!  The garden appreciated the rain!

It also broke our heatwave which brought us 10 days of triple digit temperatures!    We had much cooler temperatures, today, with a daytime high of only 85F!  It was 80F inside my house and I almost felt cold when I woke up!  LOL.  I took a warm shower instead of a cold one and it felt good!

After I checked the weather forecast this morning, I called friend A, shortly after 9:30 a.m., to let her know that the forecast only called for light scattered showers and I would be able to visit her in the afternoon if she still wanted me to.  She said she will check with her daughters what their plans were - the original purpose of the visit was to be with her and keep her company while her daughters went out for the afternoon - and call me back.  She called me back at 1:00 p.m. to say that her daughters had decided not to go out, after all, so she didn't need me to come and keep her company.

Afterwards, I did two loads of laundry and hung everything up to dry, cleaned the litter box, swept the bathroom, and swept and mopped the kitchen.  

Then, I walked around the garden to check on the plants.  Most of the clumps of purple fountain grass look dead, but, this one clump shows signs of new growth:

Signs of New Growth in the Fountain Grass

I was also very pleasantly surprised to discover that there was a rose on the red rose bush:

A Small Red Rose

Neighbor S and her mother were seated in S's front garden and we waved at each other before I went back inside.

In the evening, I watched some TV programs, chatted with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter.   

Brunch had been toast with butter and ginger marmalade.  For dinner, I had one of the cup of noodles soups as it was finally cool enough to enjoy some soup!  I ate one of the Asian pears for a snack.  

Today (Saturday), I am grateful for:

- Friday's rain
- The cooler temperatures
- Working appliances
- Phone calls with friends
- Video chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was checking on the garden and seeing signs of new growth after the rain!

How is your weekend coming along?

 

Changes

It seems to be a time for changes, doesn't it?  In my religion, we believe that everything is transient; nothing remains the same, everything is subject to change. 

My mother used to say that change was good.  It was one of her sayings.  When my mother was born in 1920, she was born in what was the British Crown Colony of Ceylon at the time.  She said that her father, who was the first non-Britisher to hold his post, cried when King Edward VIII abdicated.  That abdication led to a lot of changes, didn't it?

Ceylon, by the way, gained its independence in 1948, retaining the position of Governor General, and, like many former British colonies, became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which recognizes the British monarch as its head.  In 1972, Ceylon became the Republic of Sri Lanka and replaced the position of Governor General (who had represented the British Crown) with a President, but, continued to be a member of the Commonwealth.

Yesterday (Thursday), when I heard about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I felt sad at her passing; it marks a change, doesn't it?  May she rest in peace.  May the changes that result from her passing be good.

Yesterday, we had slightly cooler temperatures and I managed to get a few things done, including giving Dancer his flea medications, some paperwork and bill paying, watering a few plants in the front garden with water I had collected in buckets, doing a load of laundry (the sofa dust sheets) before the flex alert went into effect, and making an appointment to take the car in for a service.

Today, Friday, I took the car in for the service.  My appointment was at 10:40 a.m. and this time, I was there for about three hours.  I didn't mind the wait at all since I was waiting in an air conditioned room.  LOL.  Once again, I was about the only person who wore a mask, but, I expected that.  I had taken a sliced apple with me for brunch and midway through my wait, I went outside, stood in an area without any people to eat my apple slices and drink some water, then, put my mask back on and returned to the waiting area.  Today, they checked the engine, did a tune up, and rotated the tires; I was told that I will not need to replace my shock absorbers for another two years, bring the car in again in six months for an oil change, and if I ever want to sell the car, let them know!   LOL!

On the way home, I put gas to the car ($50 worth at $4.95/gal.), then, treated myself to a hamburger and fries from a nearby fast food drive through.  After I came home, I had my hamburger and fries.  Later, I watched news.  We are having a change in the weather as well, with Hurricane Kay, now downgraded to Tropical Storm Kay, moving into southern California!  There was a Flash Flood Alert for some of the counties and this little icon popped up in the corner of my computer:

Weather Change!

It was barely drizzling when M came to tend to the garden and I had him take down the window a/c unit, just in case we get heavier showers (there used to be a time when I could take it down, myself, but, not any more!)  He placed it on the small dining table in the family room, in case I want to put it back up in the window, next week, after the rain is over.  I am not sure if I will need it or not, because the forecast for next week calls for temperatures in the mid-80s, but, if I don't need it, later next week, he will take it to the garage to be stored until next year.  I also asked him to water the garden, just in case it doesn't rain enough to soak the ground.

It has been drizzling on and off all evening.  I'm grateful for the drizzle and I even went outside for a few minutes to feel the rain on my face!  Of course, now it is warm and humid, but, the temperature has come down a bit, outside.  The house is still warm enough to require a fan!  

Friend A called me to ask if I was free to visit her, tomorrow afternoon.  I told her it will depend on how hard it rains, tomorrow, because if it rains enough, the intersections in my neighborhood tend to get flooded!   Some parts of southern California have already had some flash flooding, downed trees, etc., but, so far, we've had drizzle and light showers.  I told A that I will call and let her know in the morning if I can visit her in the afternoon.  

I also spoke with friend R; we check in on a daily basis!

Today, I am grateful for:

- The car was serviced and they didn't say I needed any additional work done!
- Air conditioned waiting areas
- The availability of gas (plus prices have come down from what they had been)
- M helping me with taking down the a/c unit, etc.
- Rain!  The cooler temperatures!   

Today's joyful activity was standing outside, feeling the rain drops on my face!  LOL. 

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