Sunny on Sunday, Too

Mama Cat Found Herself a Sun-Warmed Brick on Which to Nap!

It was another sunny day, on Sunday.  I slept in and spent a relaxed morning, watching some online videos about gardening, frugal living, and money management. 

Later in the afternoon, I walked around the backyard and checked on the plants there, and saw Mama Cat enjoying a nap on a sun-warmed brick!  She had a piece of grass root or something on her, but, I didn't try to remove it because I didn't want to disturb her.  Even so, she got up, soon after I took this picture.  

I did a tiny bit of weeding while I was in the backyard and took some pictures:

The Newly Planted Bed of Aloe Vera

When M divided up the aloe vera plants growing in the planter, he replanted most of them in this area near the side wall.  He planted over two dozen plants there and a few more elsewhere.  Then, he put the rest of the plantlets into this container until we decide what to do with them!  There are at least another two or three dozen of aloe vera plantlets in there!  

Extra Aloe Vera Plantlets!

I might offer some of them to my neighbors and maybe put a "free" sign on the rest and leave them out by the curb.

In the evening, I took another 10 minutes or so walk up and down the driveway.  Then, I did a load of laundry (the dust sheets on the family room sofas) and covered the sofas with the other set of sheets.  I paid some bills that were coming due and scrubbed the toilets.  Later, I video chatted with my daughter.  She had gone to the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco with a friend:

Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco

Brunch had been an egg salad sandwich using the hardboiled Easter egg neighbor S gave me.  For dinner, I had leftover rice with leftover General Tso's chicken.  Some chocolate pudding for dessert. 

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- A sunny day

- Daughter had a fun morning out with her friend
- Online videos
- Being able to pay my bills online
- Working appliances (even if the phone is not working!)

Sunday's joyful activities included being in the garden and enjoying the sunshine.

Plans for Monday include:

- Going to the phone store to see about a new SIM card
- Maybe a quick trip to the dollar store, depending on how crowded it might be

- Watering some of the fruit trees
- Taking the trash cans to the curb

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?  Will you be able to watch the eclipse of the sun where you are?  If so, do you plan to watch it?

 

Sunny Saturday

The Front Garden on a Sunny Saturday Afternoon

Looking down the front garden from the driveway; the pink flowers in the foreground are the geranium plants that M planted in the ground (they had been growing in pots near the front door).

The phone is still not working, although I tried to reset it a couple of times, today.  I must say, however, that it is nice and quiet without all the telemarketers and spam calls!  I called  my aunt to let her know that the home phone was still out and to call me on the cell phone when she wants to call me.  I also called my former neighbor T to let her know, too; she usually calls me on the weekend and does so on my home phone.  Then, I called T's daughter K to give her my cell phone number to call.  I suppose, if the new SIM card doesn't work (once I go and get a new one), I could call everyone and tell them to call me on my cell phone, instead.  

It was a lovely, sunny day, and I walked for a short period of time, up and down my driveway and sidewalk, chatted briefly with one of my neighbors, and admired the flowers! 

Later, I watched some videos online, chatted with my daughter who had gone grocery shopping in the afternoon (she said that there was a small earthquake in her area, this morning), ran the dishwasher, and handwashed another wool sweater I had knitted.  I had leftovers (the last meat pastry) for brunch and for dinner (leftover rice, leftover shrimp curry, leftover eggplant).  Then, I made some chocolate pudding for dessert, to use up the last of the milk before it went sour.  All in all, a nice, relaxed day!

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- The earthquake in daughter's area was small, there was no damage, and daughter is safe
- The sunny day
- Garden flowers
- Chatting on the cell phone with family and friends
- Cell phone and internet services!

Saturday's joyful activity was walking out in the garden, enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, bird song, and the flowers blooming in the front garden.

I don't have any special plans for Sunday.  I hope to have another relaxed day.

How was your Saturday?  Any special plans for Sunday?

The Phone Saga Continues on Friday!

Dracaena Plant

I moved the dracaena plant to this end of the dining table to make room for the plant stands at the other end.  This plant originally had three branches, but, one of them died and the other two were rather spindly looking, except for this side shoot that sprang from one of those side branches.  This side shoot is growing vigorously!  I cut off the dead branch and the other spindly looking side branches; the good branches have been cut into shorter lengths and put in a vase of water, to see if they will grow roots.  If they do, then, I'll pot them up and there will be some baby dracaena plants!  

The phone was working just fine this morning.  In the afternoon, I was on the phone with one of the monks at the temple when the call dropped and then, I couldn't call him back!  I checked the black phone box and, yes, the network status light was a solid red.  Later, I tried to reset the phone.  I unplugged it and plugged it back - no luck.  I turned it off and on again, and still, the red light was still there.  Finally, I pressed the reset button with a paper clip and that worked!  I had phone service, again!  My daughter called a little after 5:00 p.m. and there was no problem.  Friend R called around 8:00 p.m., and I was able to chat with her.  Later, however, after dinner, I checked on the phone and the red light is back!  My daughter thinks it might be the SIM card, so, I will be going to the phone store to see if I could get a new SIM card for it and see if that works.  If not, I guess I will be getting a new phone system!

It rained on Thursday night/early Friday morning, but, there was not rain during the day on Friday.  It was cloudy and cool though.

I spent a relaxed day.

I did some laundry, including washing one of my wool sweaters by hand (it is now laid out flat on a towel to dry).

I had a brief phone call with my cousin who moved to Florida - she has dementia and is almost non-verbal right now, but, her daughter called to say that my cousin had mentioned my name and when asked if she wanted to talk to me, had indicated yes.

I had a phone call (the one that got dropped) with one of the monks at the temple - he had emailed me a speech he needs to make in English at a funeral and asked if I could read it over and make any edits as needed to correct the grammar, etc.  I made the edits and sent it back to him; I consider it a blessing to be able to assist them in this way.

Later in the evening, M was here to tend to the garden.  He planted two geraniums I had growing in pots in the front garden and divided and planted some of the aloe vera plants in the ground, too.  There are dozens of baby aloe vera plants!

I watched news in the evening and later, chatted on the phone with friend R.  The phone was still working; it went off sometime after that phone call.  Still later, I video chatted with my daughter.

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to talk with my cousin
- Being able to help the monks at the temple
- The phone working at least part of the day!
- Other working appliances
- M's help with the garden

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

Plans for Saturday include more laundry and maybe some baking (I've some overripe bananas that need to be turned into banana bread or muffins).

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

 

Rain on Thursday!

Raindrops on Blueberry Leaves

There was rain in the forecast for Friday (there still is rain on the forecast for Friday), but, it rained on Thursday, too!  The morning was mostly cloudy with the sun trying to shine through breaks in the clouds, but the rain clouds moved in during the late afternoon.

I was woken up by the sound of the phone ringing and, although it was identified as "suspected spam" and I didn't pick it up, I was happy to know that the phone was still working!  LOL.  

In the afternoon, the pharmacy called to let me know that Dancer's medication was ready for pick up.  So, I drove to the pharmacy to pick up the medication and then, went to the doughnut shop next to the pharmacy and bought myself a treat!

Yum!

I enjoyed my doughnut and a cup of tea after I came home and then, watched the evening news.  It was then that I heard the rain and went outside to take a photo or two, with this month's monthly photo challenge theme of "weather" in mind!  

One of the news items in the local news today was the announcement that my favorite dollar store will be closing!  All their stores in the four states in which they are currently located will be closed and liquidation sales will start as of Friday!  I was sad to hear that as I like shopping there and they have good bargains.  I'm glad that I was able to shop there when my daughter was here.  Daughter suggested that I go back and stock up on a few more of the items I regularly buy from them, but, I don't know if I will.  I feel so sorry for the store employees who will be out of a job, very soon.  

On Thursday, I was grateful for:

- The availability of medications for Dancer
- Friendly pharmacy staff
- A safe drive to the pharmacy and back
- Rain for the garden
- Working appliances and equipment!

Thursday's joyful activity was eating a doughnut!  LOL!

Plans for Friday include paying bills and tending to the garden, provided it doesn't rain so hard that M will not be able to garden!  We had planned to divide and repot the aloe vera plant, but, it can wait until next week.  

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

Phone Saga Part 2 on Wednesday

Wireless Phone Device "Black Box"

This is the wireless phone device that plugs into the wall outlet and my home phone charging base connects to this box and gets plugged into the outlet, as well.  You can see that the phone service indicator light is red.  Yesterday, the battery charge light was also red and blinking.  None of the phone signal strength lights are lit.  This is how the phone device looked this morning.  I tried to reset it, again, this morning, but, the phone service indicator light remained red.

Salvador from the Mexico City phone service center called me this morning and apologized for not calling me back on Tuesday evening.  He asked if I had a chance to discuss things with my daughter and if I had decided what I wanted to do.  I asked him a couple of questions about the basic services offered as part of the new landline and then, told him and I wanted to go to the phone store in the afternoon to see if they had a newer device.  He told me that, even if I get a newer device, the phone company no longer services these devices.  But, he said, maybe I could buy a new SIM card and insert that and see if that helps.  I thanked him and he said he will call me back later.

Today being Wednesday, it was gardener M's day to tend to the garden in the morning, so my plan was to be here when M arrived, then, drop a few things off at friend R's place, and then, go to the phone store.  M arrived in the late morning as usual, and we spent some time chatting, as usual, and he cut the grass in the back garden (he actually had to use his lawn mower, as opposed to the weed whacker!)  He also brought me a variegated succulent cutting which he potted up before he left.

After he left, I had some leftover milkrice with friend S's chicken curry for brunch.  Then, I gathered all the clothes I was taking to friend R (some of the clothes that my cousin had given us, which my daughter and I decided we didn't want; R will pick what she wants and then, probably send the rest to Sri Lanka for her daughters and granddaughter to select what they want and give away the rest).  I also took her some pastries I had kept aside to give her and a pair of compression socks I had bought for her to try.  

Then, I gathered the file folder with all the phone related literature I wanted to take to the phone store (the user manual for the phone device, etc.) and unplugged the device to take it with me (so they could insert the SIM card for me).  Of course, all the various indicator lights went off when I unplugged the device, but, then, the backup battery kicked in, I heard a familiar beep that the phone makes after power goes off and comes back on, and the lights lit up, again, including the service indicator light and signal strength lights!  I quickly plugged the device back into the outlet and the lights stayed on!

All Green Lights All the Way!

Oh, my goodness!  I picked up the phone and there was a dial tone!  I called my aunt to see if I could make a call and yes!  I could make a call!  I could access my voicemail!  I had my phone service back on!  The first call I received was a telemarketer, and I let it go to voicemail, but, I was receiving calls!  I hadn't even gone to the phone store to see about a new SIM card!  I was so happy!  

I decided that I didn't need to go to the phone store, after all!  I am not sure how long the service connection will work, but, I will not worry about replacing the phone service until it goes off again!  And if it goes off again, then, I'll know to go through the different steps I took to reset the phone and if it still doesn't work, then, I'll go to the store to see about a new SIM card!  And that's what I told Salvador when he called me back in the evening to see if I bought a new SIM card!  I told him that the phone was working now and I didn't need to buy a new SIM card.  He then said that maybe there had been a service outage in my area, even though there was no indication of it on the website.  Yes, my daughter had already checked to see if there was a service outage in my area and the website hadn't said anything.  But, it could just be that they hadn't updated their website.  

I thanked Salvador for his assistance and told him that I will give him a good review if I receive a survey from the phone company about my recent experience with their customer service.  He seemed very pleased about that!  I was very happy that I decided to wait and not cancel my current home phone service and get a new landline or cell phone line at a higher rate than what I am currently paying.  If I continue to have problems with the services, I'll consider making a change, later.  But, right now, I have a working home phone!  

In the afternoon, I took the clothes and other items to friend R and dropped them off (it was a curbside visit and I had my mask on).  Then, I came home and relaxed.  

I had a call from Dancer's pharmacy regarding the change in his medication and I was told that the medication should be ready tomorrow (Thursday) and they will call me when it was ready for pick up.  As I told my friend, I might treat myself to a doughnut when I go to pick up the medication; I feel like I could do with a treat after all the stress about the phone!  All evening, I've been checking the phone device to make sure that the lights were still on!  LOL.  

On Wednesday, I also gave Dancer his flea prevention medication (I usually give it to him on the 1st of the month, but, I had other things on my mind with the phone being out of order).  

Dinner was some leftover chicken croquettes from the Cuban bakery; daughter was going to take them back with her, but, she changed her mind and took only the chicken empanadas.  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Having my home phone service back on again!
- I didn't have to change any of the phone services!
- M tending to the garden and bringing me another cutting of a plant for my garden
- A safe drive to friend R's and back
- Working appliances!  Did I mention my phone is working again?

Wednesday's joyful activities included chatting on the home phone with family and friends!  I was even happy to get a couple of "suspected spam" calls (which I didn't answer)!  But, it was joyful to hear the phone ring!  LOL!

Plans for Thursday include picking up Dancer's medication when ready, doing some house cleaning and tidying, and some laundry.  I also need to catch up on some blog reading and commenting, as I am a bit behind on that!

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

The Phone Saga on Tuesday

Eurasian Collared Dove

At first glance, it might look like a mourning dove, but, the dark ring on the neck and the more squared tail reveals that this is an Eurasian Collared Dove.  Apparently as happy to eat the cat kibbles as Chicken Little and Rocky Raccoon!  I don't put out birdseeds to feed the birds, with garden cats around (although Mama Cat tends to ignore the birds for the most part), but, the birds don't seem to mind the lack of birdseeds!

Tuesday didn't go quite as planned.  For one thing, I couldn't fall asleep until 5:00 a.m.  As a result, I changed my plans to get up at 9:00 a.m. to call the phone company and went back to bed until 10:00 a.m.  I had a cup of tea and called the phone company about the home phone.

To give a little background about my home phone:  It used to be that I had a regular landline for the home phone.  Then, I switched to a phone/cable/internet bundle, back in the early 2000s, and I was told that the phone company was replacing wired landlines with fiber optics.  So, we switched to a fiber optics home phone, with a service box that the phone plugged into.  Then, in 2022, that box needed to be replaced and they were no longer doing fiber optics, it was replaced by a wireless phone service and we received a new, smaller, sleeker box to be plugged into an outlet and the phone plugged into that.  I know it was in January 2022 because I have the invoice for the new box.  That is the box that was showing that there was no service signal.  

Anyway, I called the phone company and asked to be transferred to a service agent and after a wait of less than 5 minutes, was connected through to Salvador in Mexico City.  I explained the situation with the phone, what daughter and I tried to do (reset it, plug it to another outlet, etc.) described which lights were green, which lights were either flashing red (battery, indicating that the backup battery was at 20% charge or less) or solid red (service status, indicating that there was no service) and the total lack of signal strength lights.  We went through the routines of unplugging and plugging in the device, turning it on and off, removing the battering and inserting it again, pressing a reset button with a paper clip (as it was inside a small hole), then, when nothing changed, taking the battery out, removing the SIM card, wiping it with a tissue, and replacing the SIM card "exactly how it was placed before" and the battery and pressing the reset button again.  And, hurray!  The battery light changed to green!  Woo hoo! 

But, the service status light remained stubbornly red and there were no signal strength lights.  

After over one hour of being on the phone with Salvador and fiddling with the box, he said that the phone company no longer serviced this model of wireless phone service boxes.  Had I been thinking a little clearer, I might have asked him if they could replace the box with a newer model, but, I didn't ask him that and he didn't mention anything about replacement equipment.  According to him, I had two options.  Cancel the home phone and get a new cell phone line or get a new landline (which would cost double what I am currently paying, of course).   But, wait, I thought I had to switch to wireless phone service because they no longer provided landlines?  Well, apparently they do still provide landlines!  Really?

I found the whole thing to be rather stressful and I no longer like to make quick decisions about such things as which phone service option to pick.  I told Salvador that I wanted to discuss the options with my daughter and he said he'll call me back in the evening, around 7:30 p.m., my time.  I discussed things with my daughter after she got off work and I decided that I would get a landline with the most basic of services at the higher rate (the more comprehensive phone package cost three times as much as what I'm paying now), if I could keep the same phone number.  I use my home phone number for most of my contact information and giving it up and using my cell phone number would mean notifying so many people and businesses, and making changes to documents, etc.  It seems overwhelming.  

However, Salvador didn't call me back in the evening.  So, I am wondering if he would call me back in the morning, instead?  If not, I want to call the phone company again (but, I don't want to go through the whole rigmarole of unplugging, plugging, resetting, etc., of the phone service box!)  Another option might be to go to the phone store and ask if they have a newer, replacement box that they do service and see if that works! Or, switch my cell phone number to the home phone number and use that for all my phone uses?  If not, I'll get the new landline, provided I can keep the same phone number!  

After I got off the phone with Salvador, I had a long chat with my aunt who called me on my cell phone since the home phone is out, brought the trash cans back in, checked the mail, etc., and had a cup of tea.  Then, called Dancer's pharmacy and left a message giving them my cell phone number to call me when the new prescription is ready for pick up, because they won't be able to reach me through my home phone!  

Later, I watched the news and chatted with my daughter.  Then, chatted with friend R.  Somehow, I feel that the day got away from me!

Brunch had been a piece of the raisin bun.  For dinner, I warmed up leftovers from the Easter dinner that neighbor S gave.  

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Having a cell phone!  
- Getting a service agent who talked me through the steps to reset the battery part of the phone box
- Daughter helping me with discussing the various options available for the phone service
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Leftovers!

Tuesday's joyful activity was playing come computer games.

Plans for Wednesday include hopefully talking to Salvador or someone new at the phone company to discuss my options, maybe going to the phone store to see if they can help me, tending to the garden with M, maybe pick up Dancer's medication if ready, and drop off a few things for friend R.  I also want to do some cleaning and tidying.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?  Do you still have a landline or home phone?  Or, do you use your cell phone only? 

On the First Day of April

Surprise Dinner from Friend S

On the first day of April, I made my usual milkrice for breakfast and I cut fresh flowers (red roses and jasmine) to place at the altars and on the mantelpiece next to my mother's picture.

Then, it was time to drive daughter to the airport.  There was a long line of vehicles to get to the airport. with people traveling after spring break and Easter, but, we had left in plenty of time and daughter wasn't late for her flight.  I dropped her off in front of the Departure's building and drove back home.  Later, she texted me to say that her check in luggage was 12 pounds over the weight limit and she had to repack her suitcase, transferring most of the food items I had given her from the suitcase to her carryon luggage (her backpack and purse).  She also said that the TSA agent had asked her if she was going on a camping trip, after inspecting her carry on luggage, because she had so much food with her, but, she had laughed and explained that she was going back to her apartment after visiting her mother and her mother always gives her food to take back.

Daughter had a safe flight and journey to her apartment.  Then, she unpacked her suitcase and put away the food, went to the corner convenience store to buy a small container of half and half for her coffee, and went to chorus practice.

I came home after dropping her off at the airport and realized that my home phone was not working!  It had stopped working, yesterday, but, my daughter was able to reset it and it worked until this afternoon.  She talked me through the steps to reset it again, this evening, but, it is still not working and I think it is due to an equipment malfunction.  I need to call the phone company, later, and put in a service request.

There was also an email from the vet about Dancer's blood test results and apparently, he needs his thyroid medication dosage increased.  She will call it into the pharmacy and wants to see him again in two weeks.

I had planned to visit friend R in the afternoon, but, I spoke with her (at least my cell phone worked!) and we decided to postpone the visit till Wednesday.  

Later in the evening, my Sri Lankan friend S (not neighbor S), and her husband visited and brought me the lovely rice and curry meal pictured above!  There's basmati rice in the covered container, fish curry and dhal in the small plastic bags, coconut sambol, cashew curry, chicken curry, and fried eggplant in the divided container!  As usual, friend S said it was nothing much, just some rice and a few curries!  She asked if she could have some curry leaves and we picked a bag of curry leaves and some lemons for her to take back.

After they left, I took the trash bins out to the front of the driveway to be emptied, tomorrow.  Later, I called and chatted with aunt C (I had called her, earlier, and left a message explaining that my home phone was not working, so she wouldn't worry if she tried to call me and couldn't get through to me).

After dinner, I video chatted with daughter for a bit.  She has to go into the office, tomorrow, so, she'll have an early start to the day.  I, too, want to wake up early so I can call the phone company to book a service call.

Weekly Meal Planning:

I didn't do any meal planning when daughter was here as we were treating ourselves to take out and snacks, etc.  I was planning to go back to meal planning this week, but, with friends bringing me dinner and plenty of assorted leftovers in the fridge, I think my meal plan for the first week in April will be...leftovers!  LOL. 

On the first day of April, I was grateful for:

- The start of a new month
- Daughter had a safe flight and journey back to her apartment
- Cell phones!
- Friend S bringing me dinner
- The vet contacting me with Dancer's blood test results

Joyful activities on April 1st included spending the morning with daughter before she had to leave, making milkrice and picking fresh flowers for the altars, and a visit from friend S and her husband, bringing me dinner!

Plans for Tuesday include calling the phone company to report the home phone malfunction.

How was your first day of April?  What are your plans for Tuesday?