May Meal Planning: Week 4 Review and Week 5

This was the meal plan for Week 4: 

Brunches: Bagels with cream cheese✔, burek (Armenian cheese pastries)✔, scrambled egg and toast✔, leftovers from dinners✔

Dinners:   Soup (it's turned cold, again!)✔, leftover teriyaki chicken ✔with rice and vegetables, canned beef stew, leftovers/made overs✔ 

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit✔, leftover Armenian sweets (trying not to eat too many of those!)✔

In addition, I received gifts of food from neighbor S: Rice, fried fish, fries, salad, Armenian bread, more cake, and strawberries, all of which were incorporated into this week's meals.

Here's how it all worked out:

Monday: 
Brunch: Bagel with cream cheese
Dinner: Instant soup noodles

Tuesday:
Brunch: ??? Might have been a bagel with cream cheese  (can't remember!)
Dinner: Cheese filled puff pastry (burek), blueberries  

Wednesday:
Brunch: Gyoza/potstickers (went off the meal plan!)
Dinner: Teriyaki chicken

Thursday:
Brunch: Scrambled eggs and toast
Dinner: Chicken and vegetables soup, Armenian bread

Friday:
Brunch: S's fried fish and rice
Dinner: Chicken and vegetables soup with Armenian bread; strawberries

Saturday:
Brunch: Bagel and cream cheese
Dinner: Chicken soup with Armenian bread; fried fish and rice with salad; strawberries

Sunday:
Brunch: Cheese filled puff pastry, fries, salad
Dinner: Last of the fried fish and rice, fries, salad

Which brings us to this week, which I am going to consider as May Week 5.  Here's the plan:

Brunches: Mackerel sandwiches, milkrice and mackerel curry, tuna salad sandwiches, leftovers (my brunches are being determined by a finicky cat who has been turning up his nose at both the cans of tuna and the mackerel I opened to tempt him to eat)

Dinners:  Canned beef stew, macaroni & cheese with ham, salad, leftovers/made overs (the canned beef stew and the mac & cheese will give me several servings, each).

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit, crackers with peanut butter or tuna salad, maybe cookies

How about you?  Did you make a meal plan, last week?  If so, did you follow it?  Are you making a meal plan for this week?  What's on your meal plan?  

A Slow Start to the Long Weekend

Rose

Lately, Dancer has been waking me up early in the mornings (around 6:00 a.m.), either demanding to be fed or by throwing up near my bed.  On Saturday, however, he let me sleep in, so much so that, when I woke up, I worried if something had happened to him!  But, no, he walked into my bedroom and greeted me with a stretch before he started meowing for breakfast.  I opened a new can of tuna and he ate some.  I'm glad I stocked up on tuna when it was on sale!

I had my cup of morning tea and spent the rest of the morning saying my prayers, listening to some chanting of blessings, and replying to blog comments.  

In the afternoon, I sewed on the quilt I'm repairing and watched some videos.  Later, I watched the news and knitted a little bit.  But, I felt like I should be doing something different, it being a long holiday weekend and all, but, I didn't know what.  In the end, I just went outside and walked about a bit in the garden.  

A couple of weeks ago, I knocked over a big bottle of coriander seeds and half the bottle spilled out on the kitchen floor.  I swept up the coriander, but, I didn't want to put it back into the bottle and I didn't want to throw it out, either.  So, I scattered some in a pot and scattered the rest under the avocado tree.  The ones under the avocado tree haven't done anything, but, the ones in the pot are growing!

Coriander Seedlings

If they continue to grow, they could be harvested as cilantro leaves.  If I leave the plants to continue growing and they flower and form seed pods, then, I will be able to harvest some coriander seeds!  

Tomato "Early Girl" Plants

The two tomato plants have grown well and have flowers and at least one cluster of baby tomatoes!  They need more sunshine than we've been having, lately, but, I hope we'll get a good crop of tomatoes, this year.  

Speaking of crops, this is Saturday's harvest:

Saturday's Harvest

The single leaf at the top left is one of two lettuce leaves that I picked from one of the bolted lettuce plants; I had already given one of them to Dancer, as he usually likes lettuce leaves, but, today, he didn't want it.  I froze the broccoli side shoots, the pea pods, and the blueberries.  I need to reorganize my freezer, again!  

I checked on the peaches, too, but, they are not ripe enough to pick, yet.  Which is fine with me as it gives me a little more time to prepare!  I have the canning jars already, but, might want to get some fresh vinegar and ginger, garlic, etc., for chutney making, with my next grocery order.

In the evening, I called and spoke with friend R and emailed a couple of friends.  Later, I video chatted with my daughter.  She had gone grocery shopping in the afternoon and had found some good deals on produce.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Dancer let me sleep in and he ate a bit of kibble from a newly opened bag
- Access to the internet
- The garden and all the lovely plants growing in it
- What I am able to harvest from the garden
- The electric space heater

Today's joyful activity was picking blueberries and a few vegetables from the garden.

Brunch had been the last bagel, toasted, spread with cream cheese.  Dinner was a small bowl of my homemade chicken and vegetable soup with the last piece of Armenian bread, followed by a piece of fried fish, rice, and salad, and the last of the fresh strawberries for dessert.

No special plans for Sunday; it's supposed to be another cooler and cloudy day.  I'll finish cleaning my kitchen (it was the cleaning area of the week) and probably continue with the quilt repairs and knitting.

How was your Saturday?  Any special plans for Sunday?

 

A Visit to the Vet Clinic on Friday

Welcome Sign

Today, I took Dancer for his appointment with the vet.  Getting him into the carrier was not too difficult.  I had put his "lovey" (the fuzzy, white knitted scarf that he likes to drag around) into the carrier, first, along with a towel to line the bottom of the carrier, and I guess it's been so long since his last visit, he'd forgotten what happens when he goes into the carrier.  But, he protested loudly once he was in the car and all the way to the clinic.  He was quite vocal in the clinic too, but, eventually quietened down.

We were early, but, we were allowed to wait in the waiting room.  Several of the staff members there were masked and some of the other pet owners wore masks, too.  Others, including one staff member who was coughing into her jacket, were unmasked.  The vet was masked and so was I.  

Dancer was weighed and he weighed in at 8 lbs., he has lost 7 lbs., almost half his previous weight of 15 lbs.  Poor kitty!  I mentioned my concerns (off his kibble, not eating much, throwing up, etc.) and the vet checked him all over.  His teeth seemed fine, he has some plaque, but, no tooth decay, there were no obvious nodules or tumors, his ears looked ok, etc., but, he seems to have arthritis in his hind legs (which I had suspected since he no longer jumps up onto things, but, pulls himself up with his front legs).  Then, he was taken to the back, where they drew blood and given an injection for the arthritis.  They will do a comprehensive blood test panel and urinalysis and call me with the results, next week.  He is due for some vaccines, too, but, the vet said they could be given on a subsequent visit, since he's an indoor cat and doesn't come into contact with other animals. 

The appointment was at 1:00 p.m. and we were home by 2:00 p.m.  I gave him some tuna and had my own meal.  Neighbor S gave me more food, late last night (she had more visitors, yesterday, some of whom parked in my driveway), practically begging me to take some of the extra food because her fridges were full and she didn't want the food to go to waste.  Put that way, it seemed rude to decline!  I was given rice, fried fish, fries, salad, strawberries, Armenian bread, and cake!  I froze the cake for a later date.  I had already made and had some chicken and vegetable soup for my dinner, last night, so, I put all the food that S had given me in the fridge.  Today, I ate some of the fried fish and rice after I came home from the vet's appointment.  

Then, both Dancer and I took an afternoon nap!

Later in the evening, Dancer consented to eat a little bit of his kibble, but, tuna was still his preference.  I had some of my soup with some of the Armenian bread to accompany it and strawberries for dessert.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Access to vet services for Dancer
- He has no immediately noticeable ailments
- A safe drive there and back
- More food from neighbor S
- Phone calls and emails from friends

Today's joyful activity was getting Dancer's check up completed!

"Get me out of here!"

Plans for tomorrow will include some much neglected housework!  

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

Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt (SPSH) 2023

 Mary-Lou at Patio Postcards has posted the list of prompts for the Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt (SPSH).  I have copied and pasted her post and the list; if anyone wishes to participate, please let her know.

Me On A Tuesday & A 2023 SPSH List

 As in previous years, the Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt/Search (SPSH) will run from June 1st to September 30th.  We'll have a couple of check ins throughout the summer so we can keep encouraging one another.  First check in will be Monday July 10th.

Just let me know in the comments if you want to participate. 

All photos should be taken by you or some one in your family. And as always, this is meant to be a fun activity, so if you only get one or two items on the list, great!  If you get all the items on the list, fantastic!

This year's list is a little shorter than previous years & most of the items can be found on or off your home patch. I think that the selections have an option of being easy or difficult.

2023 Summer Scavenger Hunt / Search Ideas

1. A Plant/Tree With Thorn(s)

2. A  Wordless Directional Sign

3. Something Netted or Webbed

4. Something Berry Berry Delicious

5. A Bridge

6. A School

7. Something That Dangles

8. Some Shadows

9. A Crack or Pothole in The Road or Sidewalk

10. A White Flower(s)

11. Extraordinary Water 

12. Summer Tools

13. A Sold or For Sale Sign (not necessarily a house)

14. Something That Rolls

Alternate A: Your Favourite Summer Taste

Alternate B: Your Choice

More Cooler Weather on Wednesday

 

Bauhinia Flowers

Another relatively cool day, with a high of 66F/19C and cloudy.  There had been some light rain in the morning and it was still drizzling when I left for my lab appointment.  

The lab appointment went well.  I was greeted with a hug by one of the staff members and had my blood drawn by another friendly staff member (who wasn't wearing a mask).  

After I came home, I put on more clothes to feel warm and when that was not sufficient, I put the gas heater on, with the thermostat set at 70F, once again.  Then, I turned the heater off.  

By the way, I received my May natural gas bill, today.  It covers the period of April 19 to May 18.  My baseline allowance for this period (it seems to vary from billing period to billing period) was 17 therms; I had used 16 therms (in comparison, during the equivalent period in 2022, I had used 33 therms).   The gas company's original estimate for the May bill was $52.62;  my actual bill is for $29.61.  I'm happy with that bill amount and hopefully, the bill will remain around that amount during the summer months.

I had been fasting for the blood tests, so, after I came home, I cooked some frozen gyoza for brunch.  I had planned to have a scrambled egg and toast, but, I was wanting something different.  I will have the scrambled egg and toast tomorrow.

M arrived around that time and tended to the garden.  He brought me a morning glory seedling to plant in the front garden, going up one of the trellises.  I hope the plant will grow; I like morning glories.  

In the afternoon, I took a nap on the sofa. Afterwards, I watched the evening news and knitted until my fingers started to cramp.  Some days, I can knit for a good hour or so; other days, only for about 30 minutes before my fingers cramp.  

I've had a relaxed evening.  I watched a couple of programs on TV, played sudoku games, called and chatted with friend R, and will video chat with my daughter a bit later.  Dinner was the leftover teriyaki chicken.  I was going to make soup, but, I'll probably do that, tomorrow.

Today, I'm grateful for:

- The lab test appointment went well
- Friendly staff at the lab
- A safe drive there and back
- M helping with the garden
- A low gas bill

Today's joyful activity was relaxing!  

Plans for tomorrow include some housework and cooking.

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

"Cold" on Tuesday

Raindrops on Rose Leaves

Yes, I know, "cold" is a relative term.  We were promised a high of 70F, but, it only reached 66F and it drizzled a bit in the morning and the day has been cloudy.  After bundling up in layers (sweatshirt and sweater, socks, scarves, and fingerless mitts) and still feeling cold, I switched on the gas heater, with the thermostat set at 70F.  Once the house warmed up, I switched the heater off.  I have the electric space heater on, right now.

Today, I called the vet clinic and booked an appointment for Dancer.  I think he's got another tooth that is bothering him as he's been off his dry food.  In any case, he's overdue for a check up. I took the first available appointment, which is for Friday afternoon.  Getting him into his carrier and taking him in is going to be quite a song and dance, as he does not like being in the carrier and the car ride.  Then, at the other end, he refuses to come out from his carrier and can't wait to get back into it!  Oh, and he screams his displeasure, all the way there and back!

I brought the trash cans in, did the dusting and cleaning  I didn't do yesterday, watered the indoor plants, cleaned the litter box, took the kitchen composting to the compost heap in the garden, checked on the garden, picked more blueberries, and ate them all!

Neighbor S called to offer me more food, but, I declined as I still have some of the food items she gave me.  Neighbor T called and we chatted a bit.  She asked me if I'd like to have any of her records and CDs; she told me to go over to her house and choose whatever items I might like to have!  I thanked her, but, I have enough of my own stuff that I am trying to declutter, myself.  However, if I did want anything that she has and is getting rid of (her daughter said they had rented a storage space for the household items they are still deciding what to do with), I will wait until they have their yard/garage sale and then, buy the item!  Friend R called, too, and we chatted a bit. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Whatever precipitation we had this morning
- Neighbor S offering me more food (even if I didn't accept the offer, this time)
- Neighbor T offering me anything I wanted from her house (again, I declined the offer!  People are too generous!)
- More blueberries from the garden
- Working heaters

Tomorrow, I have more lab work to do for my appointment with my primary care physician on Tuesday.  I printed out the code the lab issued with my appointment confirmation to help with checking in.  Last week, I couldn't open up my email from them on my phone to access the code when I was at the lab.  Of course, now that I printed it out, my phone will probably allow me to open the email without any problem!  LOL!

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

May Weekly Meal Plans: Week 3 Review and Week 4

This was my meal plan for Week 3 and the changes are in blue:

Brunches: Leftover sauteed garbanzo beans✔(for dinner, instead, as part of some fried rice), leftover waffles with peach jam/curry✔, scrambled eggs ✔(for dinner, instead) or omelet, mini cheese pizza (from the freezer), salad with the last of the lettuce from the garden, muffins (if I bake some), bagels (if I buy some!)✔ 

Dinners: Lavash (Armenian flat bread) with a scrambled egg and katta sambol✔; chicken curry, rice, vegetables,  chutney, cucumber slices, etc.✔; teriyaki chicken (from the freezer)✔, rice, stir fried vegetables; macaroni and cheese with tuna, leftovers (made into fried rice ), pizza

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit✔, leftover Armenian sweets✔, Korean red beans and rice cake, stewed apples✔, crackers and cheese or tuna salad or peanut butter.

Here's how it all worked out:

Monday:
Brunch: Waffle, half with chicken curry, half with homemade peach jam; blueberries
Dinner: Lavash (Armenian flat bread) with a scrambled egg and katta sambol
Snacks: Armenian sweets

Tuesday:
Brunch: Waffle with peach jam
Dinner: Rice, chicken curry, last of the vegetable stir fry, cucumber slices
Snacks: Tangerines, Armenian sweets

Wednesday:
Brunch: Waffle (plain, by itself), glass of chocolate milk
Dinner: Fried rice (leftover rice, leftover garbanzo beans, leftover chicken curry, broccoli, egg)
Snacks: Macadamia nut chocolate

Thursday:
Brunch: Bagel with cream cheese (I went grocery shopping!)
Dinner: Gyoza (pot stickers)
Snacks: Banana

Friday:
Brunch: Bagel with cream cheese
Dinner: Pizza (2 slices; compliments of neighbor S)
Snacks  Banana, blueberries, cheese filled puff pastry

Saturday:
Brunch: Bagel with cream cheese
Dinner: Cold teriyaki chicken with ketchup (electricity was out)
Snacks: Banana, Armenian sweets

Sunday:
Brunch: Bagel with cream cheese
Dinner:  Breakfast for dinner: toast, scrambled egg, bacon
Snacks: Apple slices

On to Week 4!  

Brunches: Bagels with cream cheese, burek (Armenian cheese pastries), scrambled egg and toast, leftovers from dinners

Dinners:   Soup (it's turned cold, again!), leftover teriyaki chicken with rice and vegetables, canned beef stew, leftovers/made overs 

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit, leftover Armenian sweets (trying not to eat too many of those!)

How about you?  Did you make a meal plan, last week?  If so, did you follow it?  Are you making a meal plan for this week?  What's on your meal plan?