Wednesday

Peach Blossom

The peach tree is starting to flower!  

There was a break in the rain, on Wednesday!  It was actually sunny with blue skies and a few white clouds when I woke up!  But, by noon, the clouds had moved in and it rained in the evening.  Later in the evening, I received an emergency alert on my phone about a flood advisory in effect and M texted to ask me if I received a message (I guess he received one, too).  But, the rain has stopped now and I don't think we are in danger of having a flood in our area.  

As usual, I started the day with prayers and meditation, especially for my mother who died 18 years ago, on this day.  

M was here in the morning to tend to the garden and we cleaned up the front garden.  The bark on the eucalyptus tree is peeling off and dropping all over the ground.  I also had M trim some of the euphorbia tirucalli branches that were starting to stick out into the sidewalk and some that were going over the fence to the neighbor's driveway (where the two RVs are parked).  It was hard to reach over the neighbor's gate to get to the branches and sawing the branches caused the gate to rattle and one of the guys who live next door came to see what was going on.  I explained to him that we were trying to keep the plant from going over onto their side and brushing against their RVs and he said it was okay, we didn't have to worry about trimming the branches, that it was fine.   Even so, I told him to feel free to trim any branches that were going over to their side, since we couldn't reach all of them.  

After M left, I replied to blog comments and read a few blogs.  Then, I called my aunt C to check on her (she had an eye appointment on Tuesday) and spoke with her for some time.  

I took it easy for the rest of the day, reading, watching the news, and relaxing.  Later, I video chatted with my daughter.

I had banana nut muffins for breakfast  and dinner was more soup and later, cheese and crackers for a snack.

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- A break in the rain
- M's help with the garden
- The first peach blossoms
- A working heater
- My mother

Wednesday's joyful activities included tending to the garden and reading.  

The forecast for Thursday says mostly cloudy, but, there is no mention of rain.  I plan to order some groceries and do some paperwork.

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

 

On Tuesday

Tuesday's Brunch

On Tuesday, it rained, practically all day, although it slowed to a drizzle from time to time.  I kept the heater on all day.

Cousin V called in the morning with some sad news about a death in our circle of friends and we had a brief chat.  Afterwards, I made a couple of phone calls to offer my condolences to the family.

In the early afternoon, I went to the library to return a book that I couldn't renew online as I had already renewed it a couple of times.  But, I was able to return it and check it out again, which was lovely.  I was happy to see that the intersections that usually flood weren't too badly flooded and I was able to drive through them without any difficulty.

I brought in the emptied trash bins, did a quick check of the garden, and picked a fresh orange.  I ate part of the orange while the rest of my brunch was cooking - I made hash browns with the last potato I had and scrambled an egg.

I was able to preview the grocery ads for this week online and I noticed that there is a good sale on chicken, at $0.99/lb.  I had been waiting for that!  Smoked sausage is also on sale for $2.99 with a digital coupon; I still have one in the freezer, but, this is my new stock up price, so, I'll buy another couple of smoked sausages for the freezer (and cook the one I have, next week).  The prices will be effective from Wednesday, so I will be putting in a grocery order later this week.

I spent the rest of the afternoon replying to all the lovely comments people left on my blog and catching up on a couple of other blogs.  Then, I watched an online video before I watched my usual evening news programs and watched a couple of TV programs.  

Dinner was another serving of my ham and lentil soup, with a piece of buttered toast; home-canned peaches and whipped topping for dessert. 

Later in the evening, I video chatted with my daughter.  She said it had been clear and sunny, in the Bay Area, today, but, there's an 80% chance of rain, on Wednesday! Our forecast for Wednesday says there will be scattered light showers throughout the day.  

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Plentiful rain!
- A safe drive to the library and back
- I was able to re-borrow the book
- The intersections were passable
- Having electricity

Today's joyful activity was reading.

Plans for tomorrow include M tending to the garden (provided it doesn't rain too hard), cleaning my bedroom, and maybe doing a load of laundry.

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

Another Rainy Monday and Maybe a Meal Plan?

Mama Cat

Guess what?  We had more rain, today!  According to the news, we have received as much rain in a twenty-four hour period, as we would have normally received in six months!  That is a lot of rain for us!

My aunt C called in the morning for a chat and she said their den roof is leaking.  Of course, nothing can be done to repair it until the rains stop!  I spoke with friend R, too, as she lives just a few blocks south of an evacuation warning area.  She said the streets near her apartment building are flooded, but, she is okay.  

It rained steadily all day, but, during a period when it had slowed down to a drizzle, I took the trash cans out to the curb and collected the mail from the mail box.

I also gave Mama Cat a new box in which to shelter.  Her old box was sodden and so was the old sweatshirt I had put down in it as her blanket.  I covered the outside of her new box with foil to try and make it a little more water resistant and gave her a new blanket.  I am using my old sweatshirts and sweatpants, that were too worn to donate, but, I didn't want to just throw, to make blankets for Mama Cat. 

Mama Cat in her new box

By the way, the side door to the garage is left ajar for her to seek shelter in the garage if she wants to do so (even if that lets some of the rain beat in), but, so far, she seems to prefer being in her box.  It's her way of asserting her feral status, I suppose, even if she will consent to sleep in a box I prepare for her.  Today, she was visited by Chicken Little who had a lot to say for itself and made such a noise that I went to see if it was being attacked, but, no, it was probably complaining that I didn't prepare a box for it!  I also noticed a new calico cat, but, it ran away before I could get my phone to take a picture!

Neighbor S called in the late afternoon to say her daughter N had made some desserts and would I like to have some.  You know me, I can't say no to desserts!  A little while later, N brought me some treats:

Desserts Compliments of Neighbors S and N

There were two pieces of a gelatin dessert, two pieces of homemade baklava (made by a member of the extended family) and a frangipane blondie that N had made.  I froze some of the baklava and the blondie for my daughter to try on her next visit home.  

Speaking of daughter, she has had two back to back migraines in the past few days.  I wonder if they are triggered by the weather?  

I vacuumed the family room, today, and washed a few wool knitted items by hand.  I also did a little self care/pampering and gave myself a pedicure, soaking my feet and applying some foot lotion that was a New Year's gift.  I didn't apply any nail polish, though, as I wanted to put on a pair of wool socks before my feet got cold!

Brunch was two of the banana muffins I baked earlier.  Dinner was a bowl of my ham and split peas soup with a slice of buttered toast.

Which brings me to meal planning!  I haven't been meal planning lately.  I've been finishing up leftovers and making a few easy meals as and when I felt like it.  Which works out well when there is just one person to please.  I do want to have some meals planned, though, so that I don't stand in front of the fridge or freezer and wonder what to make for brunch or dinner.  

So, here's my meal plan options for this week, based on what I have on hand:

Brunches: The last two banana muffins; leftover ham and split pea soup; scrambled egg with bacon and toast or hash browns, uppuma(Indian style cream of wheat). deli meat sandwich, waffles or pancakes

Dinners: Ham and split pea soup with toast or drop biscuits; sauteed chicken (from the freezer) with pasta and vegetables (snowpeas and broccoli, perhaps, also from the freezer); rice, beef curry (from the freezer), dhal, and eggplant; leftovers.

Snacks: Homemade yogurt, fruit, cookies, crackers and peanut butter, nuts, cereal

Let's see how that works out! 

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- More rain for the garden
- A good non-leaky roof
- Still having electricity, phone, and internet services
- Working appliances
- Neighbors S and N sharing treats with me

Monday's joyful activity was giving myself a pedicure.  

Well, it was still Monday when I started writing this blog post and now, it is Tuesday!  

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

Rainy Sunday

Colorful Frozen Vegetables

It rained fairly steadily all day, Sunday, although, it would slow to a drizzle from time to time.  There were strong winds, too, and I was very glad that I had pruned the eucalyptus tree, earlier.  There is an evacuation warning in effect for an area a bit north of me, but that area has hilly terrain and subject to landslides.  My area will probably have flooded intersections from all the rain we've received; in fact, the National Weather Service just issued a flash flood watch warning for my area, but, we won't experience any landslides.

I had a productive day.  I vacuumed the living room, dining area, kitchen, and hallway, cleaned the bathroom, and washed the insides of the living room and dining room windows.

Former neighbor T called shortly after that and I had a nice chat with her.

Afterwards, I made a pot of ham and split pea soup.  I used a ham bone I had in the freezer and green split peas I had in the pantry.  I diced some red onions, celery, bell pepper, and some tomato (all from the freezer) and added a can of sliced carrots, plus some minced garlic and a bay leaf.

Ham and Split Pea Soup

I had a bowl of it for a late lunch and another bowl, with a piece of toast, for dinner, followed by some home canned peaches and whipped topping for dessert.

I offered some of the soup to neighbor S, but, she declined my offer.  I might try freezing a serving or two for later, but, if the weather continues to be wet and cold, a bowl of soup makes a nice, warming meal.

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- The rain to water the garden
- A good roof over my head!
- Working appliances
- A well stocked freezer and pantry
- Having electricity, phone, and internet services

Sunday's joyful activities included exchanging texts with cousin N.

Plans for Monday include paying bills and cleaning the kitchen.  

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

 

Rainy Weekend

 

Blinchiki 

My lovely neighbor S had given me a bag of five frozen blinchiki - crepes filled with a ground meat mixture - some time ago and I decided to have them for brunch, earlier in the week.  I sauted them in a little oil and ate three of them for brunch and the other two later in the day as a tea time snack.  

We are having a rainy weekend!  Saturday was mostly cloudy during the day time and the rain started late evening.  It rained steadily for several hours although it seems to have ceased now (writing this at 2:30 a.m.)  According to the forecast, there will be rain on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, then a break from the rain on Wednesday, and more rain on Thursday and Friday!  Some areas are already under an evacuation order due to the possibility of mudslides.  The weather forecasters are talking about atmospheric rivers and the "pineapple express" (a stream of moisture laden tropical air from the mid-Pacific).  I am hoping the rain will water the garden for me!

I haven't been putting on the big gas heater, recently, using only the small electric space heater to keep me warm, and so, when I woke up on Saturday morning, the thermostat registered 54F inside the house!  To me, that's cold!  So, I switched on the gas heater and set it at 65F.  Still later, however, I turned it up to 70F.  I'll turn it down to 60F when I go to sleep.  

I spent a fairly relaxed day on Saturday.  I dusted the main rooms, did a little paperwork, watched some online videos and a TV program, darned some wool socks I had knitted (some of the socks I had darned earlier have started to tear, again!), read blogs, and read one of my library books.  I had leftover milkrice and mackerel curry for brunch and fried breaded butterflied shrimp for dinner.  

I am grateful for:

- Rain for the garden
- A working heater
- Scented candles
- Generous neighbors
- Library books

Saturday's joyful activity was reading.

Plans for Sunday include more reading and maybe some bill paying and filing.

How is your weekend coming along?  What is the weather like where you are?

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?