Monday

 

Garden Flowers

Another lovely, warm day, today, with a high of 89F.  Needless to say, I was happy!  

Today, I dusted the living room and the dining area.  Then, I picked a bouquet of flowers from the garden - yellow roses, paperwhites, yellow chrysanthemums, a few sprigs of rosemary, and some asparagus fern fronds to add a bit of greenery - for the altars and the living room mantel.  I love being able to pick flowers from the garden and bring them indoors to enjoy; I just have to make sure to keep them out of Dancer's reach.  

I also picked two more feijoa (pineapple guavas) and a pomegranate.  

I had my piano lesson this afternoon and it went well.  I received an A+ for both 'O Sole Mio' and 'The Entertainer'.  'Amazing Grace' still needs more practice.  I also received two new songs to learn: 'Greensleeves' and 'Joy to the World'.  

Later, I took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning.  As I was placing them in position, cousin P and her daughter, who were driving by, pulled up to greet me.  They were on their way to the grocery store and asked if I needed anything.  So, I asked for a loaf of bread and some bananas, which they brought to me, a bit later.  Of course, they wouldn't accept any money for the items, but, I will be baking something to give them, later this week.

Today, the two bags of kitty litter my daughter ordered for me were delivered, just as I opened the last of the bags I bought, earlier.  I am now waiting for the bags of cat food we ordered.

In the evening, I watched some TV, including news and the semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars, spoke with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another warm, summer-like day

- Cousin and her daughter picking up some groceries for me

- A good piano lesson

- Deliveries of kitty litter, etc.

- Flowers from the garden

November Flowers

Today's joyful activity was picking flowers from the garden.

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

Sunday

Today was both sunny and warm with the daytime temperature being in the mid-80s!  My kind of weather!  I spent a relaxed morning, replying to blog comments and strolling around the back yard.  I also placed some edging bricks around the second moringa plant.  M planted a ring of irises around it and, last Friday, planted more flower seeds and a row of rainbow chard, as well!  The edging bricks won't keep the garden cats away, but, I am planning to put up another fence around it, later.  

In the afternoon, I practiced the piano, sewed on buttons to a cardigan I had knitted (not a new cardigan, but I had removed the old buttons for some reason and never got around to replacing them), and finished knitting the scarf I had been making. 

Afterwards, I watered the garden, both back and front.  It was when I was watering the back garden when I heard a bird singing and looked round to see a mockingbird perched on the calamondin tree.  It then flew into the schefflera plant growing at the base of the calamondin tree, that I had just watered:

Schefflera Plant (with a hidden mockingbird)

It was hopping from branch to branch, stretching out its wings, etc.  It took me a few minutes to realize what it was doing - it was shaking the branches and taking a bath in the water that was dripping from the leaves!  Once I realized that, I aimed the garden hose to the top of the calamondin tree and caused it to "rain" on the schefflera plant and the mockingbird and, oh, how that bird enjoyed its bath!  For at least five minutes, I held the hose aimed at the calamondin tree and watched the mockingbird as it showered!  Eventually, it flew up onto the calamondin tree and I stopped watering.  

Calamondin Tree (with a very blurry mockingbird)

I couldn't take a good picture of it as it was continuing to preen its feathers and flitting about to catch the water drops.  It's a good thing that Snowball wasn't up on her usual perch in the calamondin tree!  

Several years ago, there used to be a hummingbird that would flit in and out of the water stream when I'd water the garden.  I used to have a bird bath in the backyard, at one time, before there were the garden cats.  

Later in the evening, I watched news and some TV programs, chatted with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny, warm day

- The time spent in the garden

- Water for the garden and the birds

- Being able to watch the mockingbird enjoy its bath

- Video chatting with my daughter

Today's joyful activity was providing the water for the mockingbird and watching it enjoy itself.  It really was a moment of sheer joy.

Plans for Monday include a piano lesson in the afternoon and doing laundry.

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

 

Saturday

 

"Leftovers" Curry Puffs

Saturday has been a fairly productive day.  I went to bed at 3:30 a.m. and woke up once a little after 10:00 a.m., but, went back to bed and slept till 11:30 a.m.  On the plus side, I got my eight hours of sleep.  On the minus side, it was already noon by the time I had my "morning" cup of tea!  

I spent the early part of the afternoon replying to blog comments and commenting on other blogs.  Then, I had leftover waffles and seeni sambol for brunch.  Later in the afternoon, I practiced the piano and, with my daughter's help, ordered dry cat food and kitty litter to be delivered.  We also put in an order of groceries and treats from the Sri Lankan store for curbside pick up.  Some items for me, some items for her to take back with her whenever she next comes home (for the Christmas/New Year holidays, hopefully), some treats to share with friends, and a couple of items to give as holiday gifts.  The store emailed an order confirmation and they will email me when the order is ready for pick up.   

In the evening, I discovered that Dancer had had an accident in the bathroom, so I cleaned up the mess, swept and mopped the bathroom floor, and did a load of laundry (bath mats, etc.)

Afterwards, I relaxed watching a documentary, "Fidler: Miracle of Miracles", about the story of the Broadway musical and movie, "Fidler on the Roof".

Then, I decided to bake something for dinner.  Going by the maxim, "Waste not, want not" and the belief that anything baked in a pastry tastes good, I decided to make "leftovers curry puffs"!   There was a piece of baked chicken thigh languishing in the fridge, along with a third or so of a can of corned beef, and some potato curry.  I cut up the meat from the chicken thigh, mixed in the corned beef, mashed the potato in the curry and added that to the meat mixture, and mixed in some chili powder.  I thawed some frozen puff pastry squares, heaped a big spoonful of the mixture in the middle of the pastry squares and folded them over to make turnovers.  I brushed the tops with some milk and baked them in a 350F oven for about 25 minutes until they puffed up and turned golden brown.  A few of them didn't seal properly (too much filling!), but, that's OK.  I am not entering a baking competition to worry about how they look!  I had one curry puff while still hot from the oven for my dinner and it tasted very good!  The spices from the potato curry and the added chili powder blended the flavors nicely; it was a good way to use up leftovers!

While the curry puffs baked, I did the dishes and swept the kitchen.  Then, it was time to video chat with my daughter and write an email to a friend.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter's help with ordering groceries, cat supplies, etc.

- Being able to order Sri Lankan treats!

- Frozen puff pastry dough

- Being able to transform leftovers into something tasty

- Public TV programs

Today's joyful activities included watching an interesting TV show, ordering some treats from the Sri Lankan store, and baking.

How was your Saturday?  What are some of your favorite ways to transform leftovers?    

Friday...the Thirteenth!

Birthday Treats: Tres Leches Cake and Creme Brulee

I went to bed very late, last night.  Or, should I say, very early this morning?  Even then, I stayed up in bed and did a crossword puzzle before I turned off the light and settled down to actually sleep.   The bedside clock might have said 4:30 a.m.  But, I slept well until 10:00 a.m., which was when a certain kitty cat came to see if there was any breakfast to be had in this house!  LOL.  Even though I had given him some tuna before I went to bed!  He was having none of my "But I fed you before I went to sleep; that was your breakfast" reasoning.  That, he insisted, was a late night snack; breakfast is eaten after one wakes up from sleeping!  I really couldn't argue with his logic!  He received more tuna for his breakfast while I had a cup of tea.  

The morning was spent responding to blog comments, reading and commenting on other blogs, replying to emails, and so forth.  Later, I made more seeni sambol (spicy, sweet onion relish) to have with some stringhoppers for brunch.  I seem to be on a seeni sambol kick, lately!

In the afternoon, I called the podiatrist's office and asked to reschedule my appointment for a routine check up that was set for next week, Wednesday.  The receptionist asked for the reason for rescheduling and I said I didn't feel comfortable going out due to the increase in Covid cases, given the fact that I was in the high risk category.    She suggested that we just cancelled this appointment (instead of rescheduling it) and then, I call to set up a new appointment when I felt comfortable doing so.  I think that was a good suggestion!  My last check up was two months ago and I think I can go for another couple of months, at least, before I schedule another check up.  In the meantime, I will do regular self-checks to make sure there are no wounds, etc.  

I practiced the piano and did a few things around the house, afterwards.  The bathrooms were scrubbed, the litter box was cleaned, a little paperwork was done, and I chatted on the phone with aunt T.

Fridays are usually the days when gardener friend M tends to the garden.  Today, he brought me two treats for my birthday!  A tres leches cake and a creme brulee from a pastry shop!  I tasted both and both are delicious!  After he mowed the garden, I made us a cup of tea and we chatted a bit, seated the proper distance apart; he seated outside on the steps and I inside, by the door (it was a bit too chilly for me to be seated outside!)

Later, I watched news, made waffles for dinner (had it with fish curry), chatted with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- M bringing me some yummy birthday treats!

- Phone calls with family and friends

- Seedlings growing in my mini vegetable plot (snow peas are germinating!)

- Being able to do a small favor for a friend

- A working heater

Today's joyful activity was having a cup of tea and chatting for a bit with M.

Plans for tomorrow include watering the front garden and knitting.

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

Thursday

I woke up to a series of texts from one of my cousins, this morning.  At first, I thought she was texting me because something happened to her mother, but, no, cousin had taken her mother to the eye doctor for a regular check up and, as she was not allowed in the waiting room, she was waiting in her car and, I suppose, bored!  LOL.  It's a good thing I am fond of my cousin!

Anyway, I got up and had my tea, checked emails and blog comments, etc., and planned my day.  Paperwork was on the top of my list of tasks for today.

The medical insurance company had sent me two prescription insurance cards.  They had identical numbers (member I.D. number, group number, Rx I.D. number, etc.) but, the order in which the numbers were listed were a little different.  On one card, the group number was listed before the Rx I.D. number and in the other card, the Rx I.D. number was listed before the group number.  I wasn't sure if they had made a mistake and sent me two cards or if one was sent in error (both cards arrived on the same day with identical letters informing that my new card was enclosed).  So, I called the number provided on the back of the card; customer service didn't know why I received two cards, and basically, I was told to use whichever one I wanted to.  

Then, I called the number listed on the letter and they didn't know why I received two cards, either.  But, my main question to them was if the pharmacy I currently use is in their network and I was assured that it was.  I had called the pharmacy to let them know I had a new card and was told to bring it in to update their records, but, I was reluctant to go in person because the new Covid case numbers here are on the uptick, with the daily new cases being above 2,000 for the past several days in just my county.  So, when I spoke with the customer service person at the number listed on the letter and asked her if it would be possible to have them forward the information tot he pharmacy, she was really nice and connected me to a representative who looked up the information and said the pharmacy seems to already have my new information because they processed a couple of refills for me since the new coverage went into effect!  That's good to know.  I suppose I will take the new card in person to the pharmacy, eventually, but, I can wait until the new Covid numbers go down a bit.

Then, I paid the bill that Medicare had sent me for my insurance premiums and got that taken care of!  I chose to pay it online and I was a bit nervous doing so (I am easily intimidated by online payment procedures, etc.), but, I took a deep breath, said an affirmation:  "I am an intelligent woman, I am fully capable of setting up an account and paying a bill online", and I did it!  LOL.  It's a new expense for me and I will have to include that in my budget for next year.  According to the letter I received from Medicare, they don't yet know the premium amounts for January and February of 2021; the bill they sent me is based on the current premiums and, once they know how much the premiums will increase in the new year, they will bill me for the difference!  I suppose I will have to pad the amount I budget for the premiums, until I know what they will actually be!

Once all that was taken care of, I relaxed, walked a bit in the garden, did the dishes/ran the dishwasher, and cleaned the stove top, including under the burners (cleaning the kitchen is on my Thursday's cleaning schedule).  

After that, I watched news and knitted, a bit.  Friend R called and I chatted with her and, later, video chatted with my daughter.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The pharmacy I use is in the network and seems to have all the current insurance info on file

- I don't have to go to the pharmacy in person and can continue to shelter at home

- Nice, helpful customer service people

- Being able to pay the insurance premium bill online!

- Keeping in touch with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was knitting.

Friday's To Do List:

- Clean the bathrooms 

- Do some filing/file organizing

- Start the car

- Garden with M

Tomorrow is Friday...the 13th!  Are you superstitious?

Wednesday's Blessings

Today, November 11, is Veterans' Day, here, in the United States; it was originally called Armistice Day and is called Remembrance Day in other parts of the world.  It marks the official ending of World War 1, when the document to end the war was signed, "at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month".  When I was a child, it was also referred to as Poppy Day, because of the red paper poppies worn to commemorate the day.

The eleventh day of the eleventh month is also my birthday, although I wasn't born at the eleventh hour.  It has always been a special day for me.

I spent the day, quietly, surrounded by well wishes from family and friends, including many blog friends, who called, texted, emailed, or left comments on the blog (or even wished me on their own blog!)  I feel blessed to be alive, relatively well,  and remembered and wished by so many.

I gave myself the day off from doing any housework, today!  I cooked milk rice in the morning for brunch (ate it with leftover fish curry), played online games, watched news in the evening, had a baked potato for dinner, and am snacking on apple slices with peanut butter as a healthier alternative to birthday cake!

Today, I am grateful for:

- The veterans and their families

- Being alive and in relative good health to celebrate my 65th birthday 

- Being wished by my daughter at midnight

- Waking up to so many well wishes from family and friends, both near and far

-  All the many blessings I've received on my journey thus far

Today's joyful activity was chatting with the many well wishers who called.  

Plans for tomorrow include doing dishes, some tidying up, and starting the car!

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

Tuesday

Tuesday was a quiet day.  It was sunny and, in the afternoon, at least, warm.  I opened the windows to air out the house, brought the trash cans in, watered the garden both front and back, cleaned the litter box, took the recycling out to the bin, and practiced the piano.  I went over some of the old songs that I had learned, previously, in order not to forget them, and I practiced my current songs.  I also picked a couple of pineapple guavas and a pomegranate.  

Brunch was stringhoppers with potato curry and seeni sambol.  In the evening, instead of having my usual cup of tea, I had macaroni and cheese!  Later, I ate an apple.  But, a little after midnight, I got hungry again and had two slices of toast with more of the seeni sambol!  

I watched the news in the evening, put away a few things (this week's room for cleaning is the family room), spoke on the phone with aunt C and with friend R, and, later, video chatted with my daughter.  

All in all, it was a relaxed day.

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Being alive

- Health insurance (yes, received the new cards in the mail!)

- Fruit from the garden

- Phone calls and emails from friends and family

- Video chatting with my daughter

Tuesday's joyful activity was video chatting with my daughter.  She has the day off from work, tomorrow, so we stayed up and chatted a bit longer than usual.  

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