Sunday: Visiting a Friend and January Grocery Shopping Week 3

I thought that all that productivity yesterday would have tired me out and enabled me to fall asleep easily, but, I lay awake until 3:00 a.m.!  So, when I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and, again, at 9:00 a.m., I just turned over and went back to sleep and slept till a little after 11:00 a.m.!  At least, I got my eight hours of sleep!  My neighbor T's phone call woke me and she apologized and asked if she was calling too early!  I assured her it wasn't!  She said she was feeling much better after her recent stomach virus and she sounded better, too.  We chatted for a bit and then, I got up and had my coffee and replied to blog comments.

Then, I put away the laundry from yesterday and decluttered my 3 items for the day:

1/21 Decluttering

1 handbag (my aunt C and cousin N gave me a new handbag for my birthday that I am using now)
1 hat  (given by the cancer center, which I no longer need)
1 empty lotion bottle

It was another sunny, "cold" day, but it wasn't windy.  In the afternoon, I called my friend S to confirm that she'll be home if I stop by her place around 3:30 p.m.  When she said yes, I called my favorite Thai food place and ordered some items to take to her - when I was ill, she always brought me food and now, it is my turn to return the compliment as she is having a cough she can't seem to shake off.  She's been to the doctor's, she says, and they've checked and ruled out pneumonia and flu.  But, she's had this cough since before Thanksgiving and I am very concerned for her, especially as her husband smokes.  I also picked a bagful of curry leaves to take to her, along with about 3 or 4 of her dishes that I had from when she brought food for my almsgiving and the tray of New Year's Day breakfast.  

I picked up the food to take to her, along with an order of beef fried rice for myself, and visited her.  She insisted on making me some appa or "hoppers" as they are called in English - a type of pancake made with a fermented batter of rice flour and coconut water and a cup of tea.  Then, she sent me home with two more of the hoppers, a container of fish curry, and some homemade marshmallows!  I froze the container of fish curry she gave, because I still have some of the fish curry I made!

On the way back from my friend's house, I passed by the cemetery where my mother's grave is located and I had the strongest urge to go in, so I did.  At first, I couldn't find my mother's grave!  I stood where it should be and didn't see it!  I even called my daughter to tell her I couldn't locate the grave stone, and then, I spotted a corner of it!  Her grave stone was covered with mud and soil!  I was most upset!  I managed to scrape most of the mud off and washed the grave stone with the half a bottle of water I had in the car.  But I couldn't uncover the vase for flowers that is set in the ground, just below the grave stone.  There were several other grave stones, too, which were in the same state!  I went over to the cemetery/mortuary office to complain; they were just about to close, but I spoke to the receptionist and she took down my name and phone number and said someone will call me.  In any case, I will be going back, next weekend to check on the grave site and I'll do so earlier in the afternoon, before the office closes. 

After that, I went to the drug store to buy a replacement battery for my garage door opener remote, as the remote wasn't working.  But the remote still isn't working, even with the new battery, so it may be that I need a new remote!  The garage door and I have been going through a bit of a comedy routine this whole week!  I press the remote button, nothing happens, I park the car in the driveway with the engine running, I get out and open the side gate, then go into the garage from the side door and open the garage door from inside (the button on the inside is wired, so it works), then I go to the car and the garage door starts to close on its own and I yell at it and run back inside to get it to open, again!  We do this a couple of times, with me shouting at the garage door to stay open, telling it, "Don't you dare close on me! Please don't close!", until it finally decides to stay open long enough to let me get back into the car and drive it in!  Once, it opened on its own, even after I had closed it from inside!  I fully expect to see if wide open when I come home from work, one of these days.  Sigh, I probably need a whole new garage door system!

I also went to the dollar store next door to the drug store to buy some bananas and grapes:

1/21 Groceries

1.94 lb. grapes @ $.99/lb = $1.92
1.82 lb bananas @ $.49/lb = $.89

My total came to $2.81

1/21 Receipt

I don't know if I will shop again before the end of the week, but I doubt it.  I know I said I might buy some other meats to cook because I didn't want to eat what was in the freezer, but I changed my mind.  And I still have enough milk for the week and a whole loaf of bread; I have lettuce, green beans, half a cucumber, several tomatoes, carrots, and 1/4 of a head of cabbage in the fridge, plus cooked green beans in the freezer, and I have mangoes, tangerines, and apples for fruit.  All I really needed were the bananas and some grapes.  

January Grocery Budget = $75
Spent to date: $40.14 + $5.58 + $2.81 = 48.53
Balance remaining = $75 - $48.53 = $26.47

Next week, I will need milk, eggs, and more fresh produce.

By the time I came home, it was past 6:30 p.m.  My friend R called as I was making myself a cup of tea and we chatted for awhile.  After that, I cleaned the bathroom and after dinner, I did the dishes.  The rest of the items from my To Do list from yesterday will be carried into next week.

Friend S called me, later in the evening, to thank me again for the food I had brought to her.  I am glad I was able to do that for her.


Sunday's To Do List:

- Laundry - Put away - DONE

- Groceries - DONE

- Declutter - DONE
- Visit friend S (pick curry leaves to take to her) - DONE
- Family room - dust, vacuum
- Kitchen - do dishes (DONE), sink, stove, counters, mop floor,  fridge
- Bathroom - toilet, sink, litter box, floor- DONE

Monday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Take trash cans to the curb
- Family room - dust, vacuum
 - Kitchen - sink, stove, counters, mop floor,  fridge 

Today, I am grateful for:
- I was able to repay my friend S for all her generosity in a small way by taking some food to her in return 
- Friend S making me hoppers and sending some home with me!
- Another sunny day
- Phone calls from neighbor T and friend R
- Chatting with daughter

How was your Sunday?   Are you ready for Monday?  

By the way, daughter sent me her pictures for the past week and I posted them, here. 

Daughter's Week 2

Second installment of Daughter's Week (starting with last Saturday)

Saturday - Grocery Shopping

Sunday, she didn't feel too well

Monday Work Out

 

Karaoke Tuesday

Wednesday she napped

Bake on Thursday

 

Friday she felt unproductive

 

Saturday - Watched Anime

Sunday - House Cleaning

Productive Saturday

Roses for the Mantel

Today has been a beautifully sunny, yet windy day and "cold" by our standards (mid 50s).  I opened the windows to air out the house and put on a sweater (and later, a shawl) because the house was at 60F.  Later in the evening, I turned on the heater!

I slept in and then, woke up to my half-sister's phone call.  She had returned from her cruise last week and was calling to see how I was doing.

After I got up, fed the cats, had my coffee, and replied to blog comments, etc., I made myself a brunch of a scrambled egg (1 egg) and hashbrowns with a glass of orange juice to go with it, as I don't like drinking water after eating eggs!

Then, although I said I wasn't going to make a To Do list, yesterday, I went ahead and did just that!

Weekend To Do List:

- Water and fertilize indoor plants - DONE
- Laundry - DONE (3 loads)
- Living room - dust, vacuum, put pink cushions on sofas, put fresh flowers/greenery - DONE
- Dining room - dust, vacuum - DONE
- Hallway - vacuum - DONE
- Bedroom - dust, vacuum - DONE
- Family room - dust, vacuum - SUNDAY
- Kitchen - put away dishes (DONE), sink, stove, counters, floor (Vacuumed), fridge - SUNDAY
- Bathroom - toilet, sink, litter box, floor - SUNDAY
- Groceries - SUNDAY
- Meal plan/cook - STARTED
- Declutter - DONE
- Call friend A - DONE
- Call friend S - DONE
- Visit friend S (Sunday) 

I had a very productive afternoon - I watered the indoor plants; dusted and vacuumed the living room, dining room, hallway, and my bedroom; vacuumed the kitchen, too; did three loads of laundry and hung everything up to dry (will put away, tomorrow); did some decluttering; called two friends; and picked flowers from the garden for the altar and the living room mantel. 

Paperwhites for the Altar (placed them on the mantel for the picture)

I cooked a fish curry for dinner and there are leftovers for another couple of meals.   Tomorrow night, I am planning to make a cottage pie with some of the ground beef in the freezer and the last two potatoes in the bag for dinner; I'll sneak in some vegetables in the ground beef (onions, celery, tomato, carrots, etc.) and there should be enough leftover for another meal.  I have enough leftover spaghetti sauce for one meal and enough leftover chicken stir fry for another.  I will need to make something else, mid-week, but I don't know what!  Might have to buy something to cook, when I go grocery shopping, tomorrow (as opposed to eating what's in the freezer).

Today, I am grateful for:
- A lovely, sunny day
- Getting some house cleaning done
- Fresh flowers from the garden
- Chatting with friends
- Video chatting with daughter

Plans for tomorrow include finishing up my Weekend To Do list!

How was your Saturday?  What have you planned for Sunday? 



 

Quiet Friday

Today, I went to the office in the morning and had a very productive day.  I finished what I had wanted to get done by the end of the day and even started on stuff I had planned to do on Monday, so it was a productive day.

I ate leftover chicken stir-fry with rice for lunch with a tangerine for my dessert and some dried cranberries for a snack.  I also bought myself an almond croissant to have with my evening tea and then, I wasn't hungry for dinner!

After I came home from work, I relaxed.  My aunt C called almost as soon as I walked in the door and I chatted with her for about 45 minutes.  She had much to tell me because we haven't spoken since Wednesday!  LOL.

After that, I spoke with my daughter on the phone and later, we video chatted, too. 

In between, I watched the news, exchanged emails with a friend, and read blogs.  We were supposed to get some rain, today, but it didn't rain.  It was cloudy and overcast, but no rain.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A safe commute to the office and back
- A productive day at the office
- A relaxed evening at home
- Conversations with my aunt
- Video chatting with my daughter

Plans for the weekend include doing some grocery shopping, a load or two of laundry, and some house cleaning.  But no To Do list as such. 

How was your Friday?  Do you have plans for the weekend?

 

Thursday: "In the Eye of the Storm"

 Last night, I made a conscious effort to get ready for bed early and was in bed by 11:00 p.m.  I didn't fall asleep immediately, but, I think I fell asleep before 1:00 a.m., which is good!  I had some disturbing dreams about my mother who had gone to get me some ice cream and was gone for so long that I went in search of her and found that she had forgotten about me and that was followed by another dream where I was combing my hair and if was falling off in handfuls and my mother was trying to curl it for me and the entire curl was coming off!  In my dream, I was very upset that I was losing my hair again, for a second time!  So, not a very restful sleep, but I was able to get up at 7:30 a.m. and feel well enough.  I went to the office and had a very productive day, so that was good.

During my afternoon walk, I went past another public arts display, located a few feet away from the Wishing Bells, I had posted about, earlier.  Actually, I took some pictures on that day, but I went back today and took a few more.  It is a tribute to the police dispatch (911, which is the number to dial to report an emergency) service.   It is called "In the Eye of the Storm":

Plaque

Text from the plaque: "To symbolize the processes and human dimensions of the 911 system, this public art program is comprised of the following elements: Origins/Dilemmas-caller location codes and police incident codes inscribed on the plaza; The Vortex-a seemingly chaotic array of elliptical columns with dark polished surfaces to reflect the city in malevolent manner; The Connection-a glass cylinder, with inscriptions suggesting the interface between an operator and community resources via technology; Outcomes-words inscribed on the outer wall, which suggest the police department's role as a community resource. The interactive space in The Connection symbolizes that fragile moment when the person in distress calls the 911 system, to make an empathic yet anonymous connection. People on either side of the panel can talk to each other and cooperatively interact and revolve the panel, but not see each other."

The Art Work

One side of the panel inside the glass cylinder

Other side of the panel

Looking out from inside the glass cylinder - there's writing on the glass, both outside and inside the cylinder

One of the Caller location codes/Police incident codes inscribed on the plaza area

Another inscription

Walking among the columns and being inside the glass cylinder made me feel slightly disorientated and a tension.  I felt relieved to walk past the Wishing Bells, after that, and hear the sound of the bells as the wind blew through them.

After I came home in the evening, I watched the news and a couple of programs on TV (NOVA, Secrets of the Dead).  In between, I cooked dinner - chicken stir-fry and rice:

Chicken Stir Fry

I sliced up the teriyaki chicken tenders that I had taken out of the freezer, yesterday, and added onions, carrots, broccoli, celery, and cashews to it.  Trying to get my vegetables in my diet!

Dinner

I'll take some of the leftovers for my lunch, tomorrow.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Not feeling so tired
- A safe drive to the office and back
- A productive day at the office
- Having 911 services available
- The technology that enables me to chat with my daughter, exchange emails with friends, and blog!

My accomplishments today include going to the office, going for a walk, experiencing a public art display, exchanging emails with a friend, cooking dinner, and doing dishes.

How was your day, today?

Me-Day on Wednesday

I woke up feeling really tired this morning.  I don't know why, except that I didn't get a lot of sleep, last night.  I turned off the first three alarms (my clock radio alarm snooze button is a lovely feature!) and finally, woke up at 8:00 a.m.  Well, that's not too bad, is it?  Except, I am supposed to be at the office by 8:00 a.m. (although, they let me come in late as they know I make up the time later in the evening, at home, or during the weekends).  I probably could have pushed myself to have gone in and got through the day, but, instead, I decided to take  Me-day and called in to take the day off.  Having done that, I went back to bed and slept till almost noon!  It was 11:45 a.m. when I woke up and I stayed in bed for another 5 minutes, or so, cuddling a Dancer who was sleeping next to me.  I guess I really was tired!

Then, I had a cup of coffee, emailed my daughter about a couple of things, responded to blog comments, read and commented on other blogs and rested and relaxed.  One of my friends emailed me and I replied to her email.  She said it should be fine to freeze the squash, so, I labelled the lunch I had packed yesterday to take to the office today, and froze it so it could be a dinner on one of those nights when I don't feel like cooking (or don't want what I have in the fridge, etc.)

But I did have some other leftover pasta with some of the spaghetti sauce I had made yesterday, for my lunch today, so I am still following my so-called meal plan!  I had the last of the bananas for dessert.  There is more spaghetti and sauce to take for my lunch tomorrow; I just have to make a salad to take with it, as I need to use up all those heads of lettuce I bought! I also took out a packet of frozen cooked chicken breast tenders to thaw - I had added teriyaki sauce to them when I cooked them; if I slice them up and add some veggies to it, it'll make a good stir-fry to have with rice for tomorrow's dinner.

When I took out the chicken breasts, I also did a quick sort through of the freezer - I have cooked ground beef, another packet of cooked teriyaki chicken tenders, sausage meat, a packet of bacon, two fish steaks, a packet of cooked shrimp curry, 5 frozen turkey pot pies, and a bag full of leftover roast chicken bones to make soup, plus a packet or two of cooked garbanzo beans, some cooked vegetables, several bags of frozen diced onions and celery, and other bits and pieces.  I think I am good for the rest of this month! 

I was also given a salami as part of a food basket gift and neither my daughter nor I really cared for it as it was.  It is not something I normally buy to eat but I don't want to just toss it, either, as that would be a waste of food.  I called my cousin to ask if she would like to have it (her husband had spent several years in Italy so I thought she might say he'll eat it), but she said she didn't care for it, either.  I've read a couple of recipes online which says to add salami to pasta with olive oil, garlic, and green onions.  I suppose I could try that.    Have you cooked with salami?  Do you have any recipes to share? 

In the evening, I washed the dishes and watered the back garden.  It got too dark too early to water the front!  Then, I spent some time chatting with my cousin - she had spoken to our mothers' (her mother and mine were sisters) cousin in Australia, who is 87 years old and keeping well, so she updated me about this relative and about our other cousin who has gone to Sri Lanka for a visit.  Cousin keeps in touch with everyone and I get updated when I talk to her. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to call in and take a day off because I was tired
- Being able to sleep in and rest
- Being able to have a Me-day when I needed it
- A full freezer
- Chatting with my cousin

How was your Wednesday?  Do you, too, take a Me-day at times?

Dancer says, Hi

Tuesday: Doctor's Appointment and More Bargains

Tuesday morning,  I went to my doctor's appointment.  The blood test results were all good, I was told.  I mentioned the fact that I didn't get my inhaler refill and the PA called it in right away.  I am to continue to monitor my pressure and blood sugar levels at home and bring the log to my next appointment, which will be for the pre-ops, in two weeks' time. 

I had gone fasting to the appointment, because they do additional blood checks when I go in.  After I came home, I ate a banana and then, the rest of the leftovers from Saturday night's dinner.

In the afternoon, I relaxed, replied to blog comments, and read a few blogs.  I am behind with my reading and commenting, but I will try to catch up in the next couple of days.

I also called my neighbor T to check on her; she said she was feeling a little better.  I asked if she needed anything from the stores, but she said she was OK as her daughter had shopped for her, yesterday.

The pharmacy texted me in the early evening to say that my prescription was ready for pick up.  So, I went and picked it up and decided to do a little bit of shopping while I was there:

1/16 Groceries

The cereal is one of daughter's favorites and she had asked me if we had any when she was home over the holidays (no, I didn't have any).  It was on sale for $1.99 each.  The crackers are one of my favorites and it was on sale for $1.88. 

The total came to $5.86.  But, I had a $5 coupon, so, I paid only $.86:

1/16 Receipt

On the way home from the pharmacy, I stopped to put gas to the car.  My tank was less than half-full (but more than a quarter); I filled it up and it cost $29.09.  These days, I usually spend about $30 a week for gas, but I budget $50 per week, just to be on the safe side.  

After I came home and had a cup of coffee, I started to write out a meal plan, which was one of the things on my To Do list for today, but didn't finish it.  I find meal planning to be a bit stressful!


I have the hardest time meal planning!  I might be able to write up a meal plan for a couple of days, but then, I run out of ideas for the rest of the week!  Or, I can write up something, but whether I'll actually make what I wrote out is another matter, entirely!  And yet, I see some people making weekly menu plans and actually making those meals and I feel I should try, too.

But, more than dinners, what I need to plan are my lunches to take to the office.  Ideally, leftovers from dinner can be the next day's lunches, but it doesn't always work out that way for me. 

Last week, I took leftover pasta with shrimp curry one day, soup and a roast beef cold cuts sandwich one day, and just roast beef cold cuts sandwiches the other 3 days and was tired of sandwiches by Friday!  I also took two types of fruits, every day, orange juice on some days, and crackers a couple of days, in addition to lunch.    On Friday, when I didn't feel like having my sandwich (I ate 3/4 of it, though), I treated myself to a small bag of potato chips!

This week, Monday was a holiday - I had leftovers from Saturday's dinner for my lunch.  Today, I ate a banana and the rest of the leftovers from Saturday's dinner for lunch.

I made spaghetti with meat sauce for tonight's dinner and there will be leftovers for tomorrow's lunch:
 

Tuesday's Dinner

The ground beef had been browned and frozen; I added some sausage meat that I had precooked and frozen, as well, and half a diced onion, some diced celery, and a grated carrot to the ground beef and half a can of pasta sauce (the rest of the can of pasta sauce was poured into a baggie and frozen).  Then, I cut up some zucchini and yellow patty pan squash and sauted that in a bit of butter for a side.  Grapes for dessert.

I packed some of the leftover spaghetti and sauce and the rest of the squash to take to the office tomorrow for my lunch:

Wednesday's Lunch

It almost looks like one of those ready-made frozen dinners, doesn't it?  Wonder how the squash will be if I were to freeze and reheat it another day? 
 
There's more pasta and meat sauce left; I might have it for Thursday's lunch as well, but I don't think I'll want it for tomorrow's dinner.  So, I need to think of something to cook for tomorrow's dinner - maybe rice and a fish curry?  With green beans, perhaps?  Or broccoli?  Then, I could take leftovers from that for Friday's lunch.  I have 1 banana left for tomorrow, tangerines and apples and mangoes for fruit, cheese crackers for snacks.  Friday night's dinner might be leftover spaghetti or a scrambled egg on toast!  OK, so that's the meal planning done for the week! 

In the evening, my friend R called and we chatted for a bit.  Later, daughter and I video chatted.

Today,  I am grateful for:
- A good visit with the doctor
- My inhaler was refilled
- The pharmacy filled it without any mishaps
- More bargains!
- A productive day

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Doctor's appointment - DONE
- Bring the trash cans in - DONE
- Put gas to the car - DONE
- Put away the laundry - DONE
- Put away the dried dishes - DONE
- Do more dishes
- Clear the kitchen counters
- Cook/meal plan for the week's lunches and dinners - STARTED

How was your Tuesday?  Do you meal plan on a weekly basis?   Do you prepare a different dish each day or do you eat leftovers the next day?  Have you frozen cooked squash (zucchini and patty pan)?