Doctor's Appointments and Earthquakes on Friday

A Bowl of Crocheted Flowers

My daughter crocheted a birthday gift for one of her friends, following a pattern she found online.  At first glance, it looks like a bowl of crocheted flowers.  But, if you take the flowers out of the crocheted bowl and open them out, they become: 

Coasters!

She also crocheted a key chain coin purse:

Key Chain Coin Purse

Friday was mostly sunny.  I left the house just before noon to go to my appointment with the oncology nurse practitioner and got to the clinic (in downtown Los Angeles) 15 minutes before my appointed time.  I had to wait for another half an hour or so before I was actually seen, but, that was okay.  I had taken a book with me to read and I spent the time reading.  I had a good check up and the blood test results were mostly good.  Then, I had to wait a little longer before I received my injection.

I was in the examination room when I felt the shaking; apparently, there was a 4.6 earthquake a few miles north of Malibu!  Fortunately, no damage from the earthquake, according to the news.

It was about 3:00 p.m. when I left the clinic (parking cost $12).  On the way home, I stopped at a small Armenian grocery store and bakery to buy a loaf of their bread:

Bakery Bread

They only had one loaf of bread left and I was happy to pay $3 for it.  Their bread reminds me of the type of bread we used to have in Sri Lanka when I was growing up.  It was just after 4:00 p.m. when I got home.  There were messages from one of my cousins and from my aunt, sent after the earthquake, asking me if I was OK (aunt had called three times!)  So, I called them back to reassure them that I was OK and had been at a doctor's appointment.  

By then, I was hungry!  I hadn't eaten anything all day (I had a cup of tea before I left in the morning and, although I took some cookies with me for a snack, I didn't eat them).  So, I cut myself a couple of slices of the bread and had a slice with some deli meats/cold cuts I had in the fridge.  I had the other slice with some dhal that I warmed up.  Bread and dhal is comfort food for me!

M arrived to tend to the garden shortly after that and he divided up and repotted the red aloe plant.  We decided to wait until the aloe vera plant flowered to divide and repot it.

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- A good appointment with the oncology nurse practitioner
- Mostly good blood test results
- Access to medical care and having health insurance
- A safe drive to the clinic and back
- M's help with the garden
- It was a small earthquake and there was no damage from it

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

Plans for tomorrow include reading and doing some laundry.

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

Out of Stock!

"No Tuna!"

What do you do when you put in an order for groceries and the store contacts you to say that they need to cancel your order  because they "ran into issues at our end"?  Because that is just what happened today (Thursday)!

The last time I bought groceries was on January 15, a little over three weeks ago.  I was out of fresh milk (had been for some time) and yesterday, I finished my loaf of bread (although I have a collection of the bread ends/crusts/heels, or whatever you call them).  Chicken was on sale at my stock up price of $0.99/lb. and there were other sale items to be had with digital coupons, etc., so I thought this week would be a good week to order groceries!

This morning, I put together a list of groceries: bread, milk, chicken, smoked sausage, canned tuna, bananas, refrigerated crescent rolls dough to try a recipe that was in the store's own online magazine, the box of free cereal to redeem the latest "best customer" coupon they sent me, a carton of ice cream, a can of ready to serve soup to make sure I had at least one item over 5 items required to qualify for the $1 off per item (still smarting from the time I ordered exactly 5 items and they said they were out of one of the items and charged me the full price on the other items without offering a substitute), and two gallon sized bottles of water to restock my emergency supplies.  Shortly after I submitted the order, I received a text from Ricky, who often brings my groceries to my car, stating that the store was out of several items I had ordered, too many to offer substitutions, and his manager had suggested cancelling my order!  Sigh.  I texted back to confirm that there would be no charge and said to go ahead and cancel the order.  Then, I received the email confirmation that the order was cancelled due to "issues at our end".  

I suppose I should have anticipated problems.  For one thing, this weekend there is the Superbowl and people are probably having Superbowl parties and things are probably flying off the shelves.  For another thing, we've had rain storm after rain storm and people probably stocked up on groceries in anticipation of the storms and the rain probably disrupted supplies from reaching the grocery stores due to flooded roads and other hazards.  It doesn't take a pandemic to deplete store shelves, especially if one lives in an area where one experiences earthquakes and major storms.  

Which is why I never let my pantry and freezer get down below a certain level and always keep my emergency supplies well stocked.  I might be out of fresh milk, but, I have frozen milk and canned milk.  I might be out of bread, but, I do have flour and yeast (although the yeast is expired!) and I can make roti.  

Maybe the situation would not have arisen if I had shopped in person.  I would have been able to make some substitutes for the items I wanted.  However, if they were out of milk or bread or the chicken that was on sale, then, shopping in person wouldn't have helped!  

I will try ordering more groceries on Monday - the sale prices will still be in effect until Tuesday.  If I wait until Monday, it would have been four weeks since I last bought groceries!  Or, maybe I'll change the pick up location to another store and have better luck, although I like my local store.  

It was a sunny morning, but, it started to rain, again, in the evening.  After I tried to order groceries and failed, I replied to blog comments (thank you, everyone, who reads and comments; I really appreciate it), read and commented on a few other blogs, vacuumed the living room and dining area, paid some bills, ran the dishwasher, and had a nice video chat with my stepfather's sister.  Aunt S is in her early 90s and experiencing some health issues, but, she is as sharp as a tack!  Later, I video chatted with my daughter.

Brunch on Thursday was pancakes with the last of the mackerel curry gravy and dhal, followed by one with pancake syrup!  For dinner, I had:

Thursday Dinner: Chicken and Rice

Sauteed chicken thighs (from the freezer) reheated and green peas (from the freezer) added to it, served with rice cooked in some of the broth from the ham and split peas soup.  I usually cook rice in plain water, but, occasionally, especially if I have extra soup on hand, I like to cook it in some of the soup broth.  There are leftovers for tomorrow (Friday) and probably for Saturday, as well!  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:
- The sunshine during the day
- The rain in the evening
- Being able to video chat
- Being able to pay bills online
- Having a well-stocked freezer and pantry!

Thursday's joyful activities included video chatting with my step-aunt.

On Friday, I have an appointment with the oncology nurse practitioner for a routine check up, to go over the mammogram results, and to get my bone density injection.  Later in the evening, M will be here to tend to the garden.  

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

What would you do if the grocery store needs to cancel your order due to insufficient stock?  Or you go to the store and the shelves are bare of the items you want?  Do you have a stock pile of sufficient food to get you through for at least a few days if not a week or two? 

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?