Productive Sunday

It rained, Sunday morning, but, the rain had ceased by the time I woke up.  I had a relaxed morning, replying to blog comments, etc.  Neighbor T called for our Sunday morning chat and we spoke for a bit.  Then, I chatted with my daughter and discussed our plans for the day.

The pharmacy had texted me saying two of my prescription refills were ready to be picked up, so, in the afternoon, I went to collect them.  Afterwards, I went to the dollar store, next door, and bought some bananas, a box of crackers, a box of microwave popcorn, and a package of toilet paper.  On the way home, I picked up a pizza for lunch (and dinner, too; plus there are leftovers for another couple of meals).

After I came home, I had some pizza and watched some TV.  I tried to sew, but I didn't feel like sewing.  I looked through and decluttered a few magazines, but I felt restless.  So, I decided to do a little more cleaning and organizing in the spare room.  That room has had so many things dumped in there, that I have been referring it to as The Dump!  I usually get overwhelmed when I try to organize it.  I simply don't know where to start!

Today, I started with the drawers where I store part of my fabric stash.  I had pulled out some fabric when I was choosing the backing for my current quilts and I hadn't put them all away.  That was a good place to start.  I put the fabric away and tidied the drawers a little bit, then, put away a couple of quilts that are in progress until I am ready to work on them.  I found a frame for a photograph I wanted to frame and took a minute to put the photograph in the frame.

Next, I wanted to put away some files that were on the bed.  In the process of finding room for them on the desk, I took everything off the desk, dusted the desk, and put everything back on top of the desk - there's a lot to be sorted through (lots of papers), but that is for another day.

As usual, one thing led to another.  When I dusted the desk, I noticed that the window sill was covered with a layer of fine, black, road dust, that had blown in, even though I keep the window closed!  I cleaned the window sill which led to washing the inside of the window and the door to the room!    Finally, I vacuumed the floor and washed the quilt that was on the bed (it is in the dryer as I type this).  By that time, I was tired.  I had spent one and a half hours, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., tidying the spare room.  I think I made good use of my restless energy!

I spent a quiet rest of the evening, feeling well pleased with what I was able to accomplish today.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The prescriptions were refilled without any problems!
- More rain for the garden
- What I was able to accomplish today
- Making progress in the spare room
- Phone calls, emails, and video chats

Monday's To Do List:
- Doctor's appointment (at noon; need to leave the house by 11:00 a.m.)

- Change bed sheets

- Load of laundry (bed sheets/towels)

- Dust living room & dining area

- Clean the fridge

- Take trash cans to the curb for Tuesday trash pick up

How was your Sunday?  Did you have a productive day or was it a day of rest?  What are your plans for Monday?

Saturday's Highlights

Fabric Store Purchase

On Saturday, I drove to the fabric store to buy grey thread.  I took a small piece of the fabric with me and this was the closest shade of grey I could find to match it.  

While I was at the store, I spent a little time walking around and looking at things..  I liked this sign they had in their yarn section:

Sign Above the Yarn Bins

They had broadcloth on sale for $1.99 per yard and I was very tempted to buy some.  They also had some 100% cotton fabric on clearance that had a very pretty floral design in blue and purple that I liked.  But, I managed to resist the temptation to buy any new fabric!  Instead, I purchased only the reel of thread I had gone for.  

However, at the check out counter, the cashier pointed to a bin of notions beside him and said that I could pick any item in there for free!  I took a quick look and chose this packet of ruched elastic:

Freebie!

I am not sure what I'll use it for, but, it was free!  I'm sure I'll find some use for it!  If not, I'll put it in the donations bag.

Lunch was another salad:

Lunch Salad

Dinner was a steak sandwich.

 

In the late afternoon, I watched a movie on TV, "A Passage to India".  It was made in the 1980s, I believe, but this is the first time I've seen it.  I enjoyed watching it.

I took the quilt out to sew on it, but someone else laid claim to it:

"Mummy is making another quilt"

"And I am helping!"

It's been drizzling on and off, all evening.  I won't have to water the garden for another couple of days!

Today, I am grateful for:

- A relaxed day

- The rain we are getting

- A visit to the fabric store (even if I didn't buy any fabric!)

- A good movie on TV

- Chatting with my daughter

I don't have any firm plans for Sunday.  The forecast calls for rain.  I will probably stay home and sew.  

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

Sunny Friday

We had a sunny day, again.

I kept the alarm for 9:00 a.m., but, turned it off and slept until 10:00 a.m., because I hadn't gone to sleep until after 2:30 a.m.  I was checking my emails and having my tea when cousin P called and came over with some clothes she had decluttered from her closet!  She said she thought I or my daughter might like the items she was culling out: a multi-colored long skirt (which I know my daughter would like), a long sleeved cream colored top (new, with tags, fits me), a black and white 3/4 sleeved top (again, new, with tags, and fits me), and a silvery, glittery cut-away knit cardigan-like thing.

Skirt

Cream Colored Top

Black & White top

Glittery Cut-away Cardigan

Later in the morning, I called the insurance company and verified that the change of doctors I had requested had been processed, even if it doesn't show up online, yet (it will show up once it goes into effect in June, I was told).  I was also told to continue to use the old insurance card and ignore the one they sent, recently, until I receive the newer card.  I was glad to have that all straightened out.

I considered going out and getting myself a hamburger for lunch, but talked myself into having a salad, instead:

Lunch Salad

In the afternoon, I sewed a little more on the Mountain Climbing quilt, but, I am not quite happy with how this particular section is turning out.  I am sewing a series of "steps" with grey fabric; I didn't have any matching grey thread and I tried to make do with a lighter colored thread that isn't working out.  I think I need to go to the fabric store to buy some matching grey thread, undo this part, and redo it, with matching thread.

Mis-matched "Steps"

Friend M mowed the grass in the backyard, today (there's nothing much to mow in the front!)  I collected more osteospermum seeds and scattered them in other parts of the yard.  We'll see if any of it comes up in the spring!

In the evening, I watched news and some TV while I did some paperwork and filing.  I also cleaned out another file folder - this time, containing 6 years worth of (paid) utility bills!   From 2013 to 2018.  The file now contains only this current year's utility bills.

Dinner was some leftover steak with mostly starchy vegetables (corn and green peas) and cucumber.

Today's joyful activity was sewing.

Today, I am grateful for:
- New clothes from cousin P
- Having my insurance questions answered
- A sunny day
- M mowing the grass for me
- Getting another file folder cleaned out

Friday's To Do List:

- Call the insurance company again - DONE
- More paperwork/filing - DONE

- Do one decluttering/organizing task in the spare room - DONE

- Do one deep cleaning task - DONE

Saturday's To Do List
- Trip to the fabric store for grey thread
- Play with fabric/sew

I did all the scheduled housework, this week, so there's nothing I need to catch-up on, tomorrow.  I think I will spend the day playing with fabric!

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

Mid-May on Thursday

Mid-May, already?!  I feel like the first 15 days of May went by quickly!  After today, there are 15 more days left in the month and then, it will be June!

I woke up to the sound of rain and the phone ringing, this morning.  It was the gastroenterologist's office calling to confirm Monday's appointment.  After that, the alarm went off and daughter texted her usual good morning. It was 9:00 a.m.

I followed my usual morning routine of feeding the cats, having a cup of tea, checking my emails, replying to blog comments, reading and commenting on a few other blogs, etc.  I enjoy this relaxed start to my days.  The rain ceased by 10:00 a.m. and we had a partly cloudy, partly sunny day.  The rain was a blessing because it meant I didn't have to water the garden, today.

In the afternoon, I washed some dishes, mopped the kitchen floor, and vacuumed the rest of the house.  I also did a load of laundry, watered the indoor plants, and did a little paperwork.

The insurance company had sent me my new card, except, it had the name of the doctor they had assigned to me, not the new doctor I had changed to (I guess they mailed out the card before I had made the change).  The letter that accompanied the card said to destroy the old card, but, as far as I know, the change was not effective until June 1.  I hope this is not going to create a problem at the gastroenterologist's office on Monday!  I think another phone call to the insurance company, tomorrow, is in order!  Otherwise, I might need to call the gastroenterologist's office and reschedule the appointment!  Sigh.  I need to stop anticipating problems!

There was another letter from the medical IPA, reminding me that I should have certain wellness checks done and to discuss it with my primary care physician!  Yes, well, hard to do that when the doctor's office cancelled my existing appointment because he's left their system and I am trying to find a new doctor and the change isn't going to be effective till next month!  LOL!  First, let me find a new doctor and get that change reflected in my insurance card!

The mail also brought an invitation from one of my former supervisors to attend his annual chili cookoff, in June!  Something I look forward to attending!

I couldn't settle down to do anything productive after I finished today's housework.  Instead, I finished reading my library book:

Library Book

The book is about Irena Sendler and the efforts to save Jewish children in Poland during World War II.  I found it an interesting read.

Later, I watched news and a TV program (American Experience: The Great War on Public TV).

Breakfast had been two pancakes with spicy onion relish (seeni sambol).  Lunch was a salad and a banana.  I had some cheese and crackers in my tea in the evening.  Dinner was the last of the chicken drumsticks I had baked with plum sauce, along with some corn and sauteed zucchini.  A piece of the chocolate cheesecake for dessert.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The rain to water the garden
- The sunshine, afterwards
- The invitation that arrived in the mail, today
- What I was able to achieve in terms of housework
- Library books and interesting programs to watch on TV


Thursday's To Do List:
- Finish the vacuuming - DONE
- Water the indoor plants - DONE
- Paperwork/filing - DID SOME
- Tidy the kitchen, a bit - DONE (mopped the floor, washed the kitchen rug)

Friday's To Do List:

- Call the insurance company again
- More paperwork/filing

- Do one decluttering/organizing task in the spare room

- Do one deep cleaning task

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

Family Time on Wednesday

I woke up to a rather loud "Meow" this morning!  Dancer, with his face close to mine, urging me to wake up and refill his kibbles bowl, because he had eaten it all!  Never mind that there is a second, full bowl near his water dish; the other one was empty!  LOL!  Luckily for him, it was quite late in the morning and time that I got up, anyway.

I fed him and the garden cats, had a cup of tea, replied to blog comments, etc.  It was another dull, grey day, but it was dry.

After brunch (chicken soup followed by a banana), I decided that it was a good day to visit Aunt T.  I called cousin P to let her know, because she had said she'll go with me, and asked her if she was free in the afternoon to visit Aunt T and she said yes.  Then, I called cousin V (Aunt T's daughter) to find out if Aunt T will be free or if she had any afternoon appointments; cousin V said her mother was free this afternoon, that her upcoming doctor's appointment was tomorrow.

Cousin P came over, just before 3:00 p.m. and we set out to visit Aunt.  We got to the assisted living home around 3:30 p.m., and they were just sitting down to have dinner!  So, cousin P and I sat outside in the patio area and chatted while aunt finished her dinner.  Afterwards, we sat and chatted with aunt for about 45 minutes, after which we left.  Aunt wanted us to stay longer, but, I was ready for a cup of tea and something to eat, by then.

On the way home, however, I stopped at a grocery store to buy a bottle of cooking oil.  I used up all the oil I had, last night, when I was preparing something for dinner and I needed more oil to cook the beef steaks I had bought, to make for tonight's dinner.  Cousin P stayed in the car while I ran into the store and bought the oil; it cost $1.99.

I had tea when I came home, with some cheese and crackers.  Then, I watched news, finished the dusting, and started vacuuming.  I vacuumed the living room, dining area, kitchen, and hallway.  I will vacuum the family room and my bedroom, tomorrow.  Later, I hand watered some of the plants in the garden and cooked the steaks I had bought, for dinner.  I also renewed my library book, online, because I haven't finished reading it.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to visit Aunt T
- Cousin P accompanying me
- The car getting a bit of a run
- Being able to renew the library book, online
- What I was able to accomplish today


Thursday's To Do List:
- Finish the vacuuming
- Water the indoor plants
- Paperwork/filing
- Tidy the kitchen, a bit

It is supposed to rain, tomorrow, according to our forecast.  I hope so, because that would mean I won't have to water the garden! 

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

Grocery Shopping and Errands on Tuesday

5/14 Groceries

I spent a quiet, relaxed morning, today.  Then, in the afternoon, I ran errands and did some grocery shopping.  First, I went to the pet supplies store and bought two 30 lb. buckets of kitty litter refill and a 6 months supply of flea prevention medication.

After that, I went to the Armenian grocery store and bought:

Store 1
1+ lbs. beef steak (3 pieces) @$2.99/lb = $4.62
Onions @ $.25/lb = $.55
Tomatoes @ $.69/lb = $1.75
2 Zucchini @ $.39/lb = $.28
3 Persian cucumbers @ 3lb/$1 = $.21
1 lettuce = $.50
4 apples @ $.49/lb = $.67
3 bananas @ $.49/lb = $.48
1 frozen chocolate cheesecake (!) = $6.49
Total = $15.55

I had been eyeing that cheesecake for the past several weeks, every time I went grocery shopping at this store!  Today, I gave into temptation and bought it!  I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't resist it any longer!

Then, I went to the regular grocery store to take advantage of their weekly specials (strawberries and eggs), it being the last day for this week's specials.  I also needed to buy cat food.

I bought:

Store 2:
2 lb. strawberries = $1.99
1 doz. eggs = $1.49
1/2 gal. milk = $1.99
Total = $5.47

In addition, I bought two 16 lb. bags of cat food, at $10.49 each, but that is not part of my grocery budget.

Today's grocery spending came to $15.55 + $5.47 = $21.02

Store 1 Receipt

Store 2 Receipt

My May grocery budget is $75 + $6.40 carried over from April = $81.40

Spent to date: $15.72 + $1.50 + $32.92 +  $21.02 = $71.16
Balance left in the budget = $81.40 - $71.16 = $10.24

I had pancakes with fish curry for brunch, today, before I went grocery shopping.  After I came home, I had a banana and a piece of the cheesecake, along with a cup of tea.  The cheesecake was very delicious, but, I think I need to give a portion of it to my neighbor and freeze the rest of it!  LOL.

I watched some news and a TV program (NOVA on public TV), did the dishes/ran the dishwasher, and wiped the kitchen counters.  Cousin P called and, afterwards, I called friend R to check on her.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A sunny, warm day (afternoon high of 77F)
- Being able to run errands
- The car started without any problems
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Video chatting with my daughter

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the trash cans in - DONE
- Do the dishes - DONE
- Pet supply store for more kitty litter and flea prevention meds - DONE
- Grocery store - DONE
- Dusting - STARTED

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Finish the dusting
- Vacuum
- Tidy my bedroom
- Do an organizing task in the spare room

How was your Tuesday?  How is your May grocery budget coming along?

You Know It's Monday When...

The doctor's office calls you on the morning of your appointment day (after calling and confirming the appointment on Friday) to say that they no longer accept your insurance IPO, and, therefore, the afternoon's appointment won't be covered!  What?

I had received an emailed notice from my insurance saying that the primary care physician I was going to was leaving the system, and they had assigned me to a new doctor, but that was going to be effective only on June 1.  Silly me had assumed (how many times have I told myself, "Never assume anything, Bless") that it meant the current doctor would see me until the end of May.  Apparently, not! 

The person who called me offered to call my insurance and have them switch me over to the new IPO they are under, but that wouldn't work for me because then, I'd need to switch all my specialists, too, including my oncologist, and I am not willing to do that.  In fact, that's the only reason why I chose to keep this insurance company as opposed to switching to the other alternative that was being offered at the time of retirement. 

Instead, I called the insurance company.  The new doctor they had assigned to me is located about 25 miles away!  I asked for a doctor who was closer to me and they emailed me a list of doctors who were closer to me, who were on file with them, and who were accepting new patients.  I picked the doctor who was closest (less than 2 miles away), but, when I called the insurance company back to notify them of my selection, they said they couldn't find him in their system!  Apparently, he wasn't participating in their system, after all!  So, then, I picked someone else, located about 10 miles away.  Online reviews of the doctor either said she was very good or the clinic she worked in was very bad!  Not at all helpful!

I hate having to switch doctors!   I felt all stressed by it, because, how do I know I've picked a good doctor?  And what if she can't see me right away, sometime in June?  What do I do for my prescriptions?  I have enough for the rest of this month, but what happens after that?  Will the pharmacy continue to honor any refills left in the system if the prescribing doctor is no longer enrolled in the insurance program?  I guess I'll cross those bridges when I get to them. At least, I still have medical insurance and there is a list of primary care physicians from which to choose!  Hopefully, it will all work out!  And here I thought everything was going along smoothly!  I guess I was tempting fate by thinking that!  I need to remember what my mother used to say:  "Change is good."  I hate change, but, I suppose things happen for a reason and it is usually for the better. 

I had been planning on driving to downtown and back, this afternoon, to go to the doctor's appointment, which would have given the car a good run, but, since the doctor's appointment was cancelled, I couldn't do that.  Instead, I started the car and let the engine run while I collected more osteospermum seeds from the plants in the front garden to scatter around the backyard.  I don't know if any of them will germinate (the last time I scattered the seeds in the front, along the parkway, a flock of sparrows descended and enjoyed the buffet!), but, hopefully, at least a couple of them will and they will spread in the coming years.  Afterwards, I picked the last four oranges from the tree and ate one.

I took this photo during my evening walk, today, and thought it might be suitable for the Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt, Prompt 3: Repetition:

3. Repetition

The telephone/power poles, repeating every so many feet, stretching down the road. 

With all this excitement about changing primary care physicians, I didn't accomplish much housework, today.  I emptied the waste baskets and the kitchen trash and took the trash can and the yard waste bin to the curb for pick up in the morning.  My biggest accomplishment today was signing up for a new doctor. 

Today's joyful activity was enjoying a freshly picked orange from my tree.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The former doctor's office called me before I left the house
- I still have medical insurance and a list of doctors to choose from
- Helpful customer service people
- Fresh oranges from the tree
- My daughter, who is the voice of reason when I get stressed about something

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the trash cans in
- Do the dishes
- Pet supply store for more kitty litter and flea prevention meds
- Grocery store
- Dusting

How was your Monday?