We Have New Watering Bags!

New Watering Bags!

Woo hoo!  On Friday, the City came through and replaced the missing watering bags!  They didn't fill the bags with water, as they did the previous time, but, at least they replaced the bags!  

A bag for the Australian Willow

Both trees have their water bags in place, again!

And one for the Flowering Pear

Any guesses how long these will stay in place?

Another look from the opposite end

I don't know when they replaced the bags.  I left the house shortly before noon, on Friday, to go to my blood test appointment, and I was a bit distracted when I left because the tire pressure light was on!  I didn't have a visibly flat tire and I didn't have time to stop and get the tire pressure checked before my appointment, so, I was worrying about making it to the lab and back, safely.  The blood test went well and I drove straight to the tire service center afterwards.  A nice young man checked the tire pressures and added some air to the tires that required it.  There was no charge, but, I gave him something and told him to have a cup of coffee.  If the light comes back on, then, I'll take the car back to them, as that would mean there is a puncture somewhere.  

As I drove back to my house, I noticed that almost all the side streets have newly planted street trees with their own green water bags intact.  Then, when I turned into my drive way, I noticed that I have new water bags!  How lovely! 

M didn't notice the new bags when he came to tend to the garden, today, until I showed them to him.  He didn't have to water the garden because we had rain on Thursday and the garden got a good watering.  Instead, he did some tidying and pruning, cutting back an asparagus fern that was trying to take over the back garden! 

On Friday, I am grateful for:

- The City replaced the watering bags!
- I had a safe drive to the lab and back
- Access to medical care and health insurance
- Helpful service people at the tire service center
- M's help with the garden

Friday's joyful activity was tending to the garden with M.

Magnolia Doltsopa aka Michelia Doltsopa

On Wednesday, M brought me a branch of flowers from one of his trees - it is a type of magnolia and he said the whole tree is covered with these fragrant flowers.  They have since started to wilt, but, aren't they just lovely?

Monthly Balanced Life Goals - February

I didn't make any monthly balanced life goals in January, for the first time in a long time.  I made some goals for December and then, the end of the month turned busy and the beginning of January was busy, too, and I didn't do my usual monthly review.  Then, I wondered if I even needed to continue with setting monthly balanced life goals and doing reviews.  But, I decided that I do need to have some stated goals to give a little structure to my daily life.

My overall goal is to live a life that feels well balanced to me.  To that end, I have identified several areas of importance to me on which to focus.  I try to evaluate each area on a monthly basis, rating my satisfaction in that area of my life from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied.  Ideally, all the areas get equal and high rating, but, lower satisfaction ratings indicate that these areas need more work.

Since I didn't set any goals for January, here are my goals for February: 

Spiritual (10):   The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life.
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being more giving
- Offer special prayers to my mother on what would be the 18th anniversary of her death

I held an almsgiving on January 3 and, as a result, I started off the year feeling very satisfied with this area of my life.  I hope to continue to maintain that feeling in February, too. 

Daughter (10):  The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her.

- Continue to keep in daily contact via phone calls, texts, and video chats

Daughter was home for Christmas and New Year and, once again, I started off the year feeling very satisfied with this area of my life.  I've raised her to be independent, but, it warms my heart when she calls me to ask me for advise as to what she should do or asks for my opinion!  I hope to continue to have a close relationship with her.  

Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies (10):  The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.

- Engage in daily joyful activities

- Engage in leisure activities
- Do crafts and pursue hobbies

I plan to continue to engage in fun, relaxing activities including reading (especially since I've started to borrow more books from the library, recently) and crafting.

Finances (10):  The goal is financial security.

- Continue budgeting and spending mindfully, with purpose

Actually, I prefer to call my budget a spending plan and it is based on my net retirement income, which is fixed.  I have always lived within my means and I plan to continue to spend mindfully and live within my means. 

Garden (9.5):  The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant.

- Maintaining (water, fertilize, and weed); M will continue to visit twice a week

The garden is doing well.  The pine tree at the back and the eucalyptus tree in the front were both pruned, recently, and the City has planted two new trees in the parkway which has completed the landscaping of that long neglected area!  M continues to bring me rescued plants and cuttings to add to the garden, as well, which I appreciate very much.  Going forward, I want to add a tangerine tree to my collection of fruit trees, this spring, and landscape the front garden a little more.  

Family/Friends/Community (9.5):  The goal is to have a close connection with family and friends and be involved with my community.

- Regular phone calls and emails, etc., to keep in touch with family and friends
- The occasional in person visits as and when I feel comfortable with doing so

- Participate in the blogging community and the online organizing community

The holiday season was a good time to reconnect with family and friends as we exchanged cards, phone calls, and gifts.  In January, I held the almsgiving, visited family members, and a couple of friends.  They were mostly masked visits, but, lunch with my sister and with a cousin (in their homes as I am still not going to restaurants) meant taking off my mask. 

In February, I plan to attend one family gathering in person, as one of my cousins will host a birthday party for her grandson.  I plan to wear my mask during the visit, but, it will be nice to see a few members of the extended family.

Health, Self-Care & Well Being (8.75):  The goal is good health.

- Focus on continuing to improve my health through diet, hydration, adequate sleep, etc.
- Attend my medical appointments
- Continue to take my medications as prescribed

- Continue to take necessary precautions against viral infections

I have a blood test and an appointment with my oncology nurse practitioner in February, during which I will receive my bone strengthening injection.  Other than that, I need to focus on life style changes.

House (8.5):  The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming.

- Clean - Clean the house as needed 
- Organized - Continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - Keep "erasing the evidence"; implement daily and weekly cleaning schedules
- Decluttered - Continue with the decluttering process

The house has been put back to normal after the holidays and I've been doing some deep cleaning.  I had some decluttering goals and the items decluttered included a few (very few) holiday decorations, a couple of clothing items, some containers and other small items.  I read a book about decluttering and decluttering blocks which was helpful. My goal for February is to continue to deep clean the house, declutter, and organize.  

Time Management (8.0): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.

- Spend time purposefully, mindfully

- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me

- Procrastinate less

I have chosen "Prompt" as my word of the year in an attempt to keep time management at the forefront!  It has been a bit of a struggle as I don't always do things in a prompt manner, but, I am trying!  I would like to continue to procrastinate less in February and to do things promptly!

Those are my goals for February for a balanced life.

What are your goals for February?

January Monthly Photo Challenge - Beginning with P

 Eileen at A Bracelet of Days is hosting the Monthly Photo Challenges again and January's theme is "Beginning with P".

These are my selections:

Presents

Piano Keys

Planner

Passionfruit on the Vine

Pineapple Plant

(Utility) Pole and Pine Tree

Plentiful

Pomegranates

And, last but not least:

Purrfect Pet Peacefully Posing

Thank you, Eileen, for hosting the monthly photo challenge.

Sunny Tuesday

Jade Plant Flowers

It was another mostly sunny day and warm.  I walked for a little bit (15 minutes), checked on the garden and the parkway trees (still there!) and took this close up of the flowers on the jade plant.  Aren't they pretty?

I had some really bad pain in my right hand, last night, at the base of the thumb and wrist.  I think it was due to playing too many online games!  Did I take something for the pain as any sensible person would have?  Of course not!

This morning, the hand was still painful and slightly swollen.  I tried to do everything from brushing my teeth to responding to blog comments to opening a can of tuna for Dancer with my left hand.  When you are right handed and try to do things with your left hand, things take twice as long and seems twice as difficult to do!  I iced my hand throughout the day and now, the pain has subsided quite a bit.  I also took some OTC pain medication after dinner.

But, I took it easy today and didn't do any cleaning.

Brunch was the last leftover waffle with katta sambol.  Followed by pomegranate for fruit.  I had some cream crackers with my evening cup of tea.  Dinner was a ham sandwich.  Mini peanut butter cups for dessert!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another sunny and warm day
- My hand feels better after resting, icing, and the Tylenol
- Being able to take it easy
- Kind blog comments
- Phone calls and emails from friends

Today's joyful activity was video chatting with my daughter.

Plans for tomorrow includes tending to the garden with M.  We might plant the rest of the succulents plants he rescued and brought me.  Depending on how my hand is, I might or might not do some cleaning.

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

 

Sunny Monday

Catching a Few Rays

A sunny and warm day with a high of 78F.  But, it was cold inside the house, which warmed up to only 67F, even though I had opened some windows and the front door in an attempt to get the warm air in.  As I told my friend, I was bundled up inside the house and removed my cardigan to go outside!  Like the lizard in the photo, I sat outside to bask in the sun and get warmed up!

I watered the front garden and made sure to water the two street trees.  

Later, I cleaned another kitchen cabinet.  I've been washing the doors and shelves of the upper kitchen cabinets,   The two cabinets where I store most of the daily use china and glasses, along with some of the items used less frequently, such as some of the items used for the almsgivings, were done last week.  Over the weekend, I cleaned the single cabinet on one side of the stove (where I store my supply of tea, box of hot cocoa mix, and container of sugar) and the cabinet above the stove (where I store some baking trays, the spice grinder, and a jar of tiny dried shrimp, used as a condiment in our cooking).  On Monday, I cleaned the cabinet on the other side of the stove, where I store the cooking sauces and oils, extra salt, and some canned foods.   

Kitchen Cabinet Cleaned on Monday

I'm taking it slow, doing just one cabinet a day, but, even so, my hand was hurting, today.  I've one more upper cabinet to clean and then, the tall, floor to ceiling cabinet.  I am also taking the opportunity to update my pantry inventory as I clean.  

I had leftover gyoza (from Sunday night's dinner) for breakfast on Monday.  Lunch was leftover coconut roti with mackerel curry.  For dinner, I had fried rice.  

I also made a batch of yogurt using the last bit of the store bought yogurt (leftover from the almsgiving) as the starter.  At least, I kept it to set overnight, in the oven (I warmed up the oven on the lowest setting for a few minutes and then, turned it off).

Later, I video chatted with my daughter.  She finished housesitting, today and went back to her apartment.  She also had her first rehearsal with the University's alumni chorus, today.  She auditioned last week, Sunday, and was accepted as a second soprano. The first rehearsal was supposed to have been on last Monday.  But, on Monday, she received an email saying that the rehearsal was cancelled because someone tested positive for Covid.  It was someone that daughter had been exposed to during the audition, but, fortunately, she had worn her N95 mask to the audition and she tested negative.  She said today's rehearsal went well, although there was a lot of sight reading - her weak point!

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- A sunny, warm day
- Water for the garden
- The parkway trees were still there!
- Daughter had a good chorus rehearsal
- Working appliances

My joyful activity was watering the garden, including the new parkway trees!

Plans for Tuesday include cleaning another kitchen cabinet and maybe a bit of reading.

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

It Didn't Take Long!

The Street Trees on Sunday Morning

Well, it didn't take too long for the second watering bag to disappear!  It was there, late last night, when I checked from the window.  It was gone this morning, when I opened the drapes, around 11:00 a.m.  

At least the trees are still there!

My trees are still the only ones missing their watering bags!  It makes me angry!

 

The Back Garden in January

The Back Yard in January

As threatened promised, here are some pictures of the back yard/garden in January!  M would be mortified to know that I posted a picture of the back yard before he weed whacked the patchy grass!  LOL!

Most of the fruit trees are dormant, of course, but, not the citrus trees.  

Oranges

And, just as in the song,

Lemons

I have three lemon trees and this volunteer lemon plant (a sucker from one of the other lemon trees, but, I'm allowing it to grow):

Volunteer Lemon Plant: January 2024

Here's how it looked back in July 2022:

Volunteer Lemon Plant: July 2022

Then, there is the calamondin tree:

Calamondin Tree

There aren't many fruit on the tree, this year.  It's an old tree as it was fully grown when I bought the house 30+ years ago.  I think the tree needs to be pruned.

Calamondin Fruit

Not too many flowers in the back yard, right now, but there are still some paperwhites in bloom:

Paperwhites

And the crocosmia:

Crocosmia

Another plant that has sent up a flower stalk is the aloe vera plant, which desperately needs to be divided and repotted:

Aloe Vera with Flower Stalk

A rather blurry close up of the Aloe Vera flower stalk
Still in bud

The aloe vera flowers are yellow; they should bloom in mid to late February.

Another aloe plant that also needs to be repotted is the Red Aloe (Aloe cameronii); it's called red aloe because the leaves turn red in the sun:

Red Aloe in January

Here's how it looked last summer:

Red Aloe in June 2023

It has orange flowers.

Yesterday (Friday), we planted the apple plant in the ground:

Apple Plant

It was grown from a seed and I've no idea if it will actually produce any fruit or how they will taste, but, I'm happy to have it grow as a decorative garden tree!  Here's how it looked as a seedling:

Apple Seedling in July 2022

And finally, we have some very confused blueberry bushes!  Their leaves started to turn red for autumn, but, then, they started to flower:

Blueberry Flower Buds

And even set fruit:

Blueberries Forming

I did read that sometimes, blueberries will produce year-round in milder climates, so maybe that's what's happening?

Thank you for visiting the back garden with me.  I hope you enjoyed the tour.