Thursday

Today, I called the Sri Lankan store to see if the order my daughter had submitted online was ready for pick up.  The person who answered the phone said the order was ready for pick up, someone had called, but, I hadn't answered the phone.  Well, first of all, they were supposed to email me when it was ready, not call, but, I hadn't received an email.  No one had called and left a message, either (I get so many robocalls that I usually don't pick up the phone unless it is a number I recognize; I expect people to leave me a message on the answering machine, if they really need to let me know they called).  I looked through my list of missed calls and I didn't see a call from the store's phone number, unless someone called from a cell phone number.  Anyway, the order was ready for pick up and I said I'll do so in the afternoon.

Then, I called the Sri Lankan restaurant that is located about six blocks from the store and placed an order for pick up - three stringhopper meals (each containing 10 stringhoppers, coconut sambol, a hard boiled egg in a milk-based gravy, and a choice of fish, chicken, or beef curry; I chose chicken), three individual servings of chocolate biscuit pudding (they didn't have the family sized container), one family sized container of a coconut treacle pudding called vatalappan (also spelled watalappan), and two dozen fish patties (deep fried savory pastries with a fish filling).  I said I will be there around 2:00 p.m. to pick them up.

Next, I called friend R.  I told her I was going to the Sri Lankan store and the restaurant and asked her if she'd like to come along for a ride.  She was happy to.  

Yesterday had been R's birthday and I had called and wished her, but, hadn't gone to see her.  So, today, when I went to pick her up, I gave her the card and gift that I had for her.  

We went to the restaurant, first, and I picked up my order.  R, too, bought an assortment of savory pastries and rolls that were in the display case to take home with her.  It was then that I told her that she was coming home with me to have a late lunch to celebrate her birthday, a day late!  She was so surprised and pleased!  She laughed and asked if I was kidnapping her and I said yes!  Even the restaurant owner was laughing.

Then we went to the Sri Lankan store; I stayed near the doorway and waited for my pick up items to be brought to me, but, R went inside the store to buy a couple of items that she had wanted.  My order included a couple of items she had mentioned she wanted and a few extras I got as treats for her; I was happy to see that what she bought was different from what I had bought for her.  Items I ordered from the Sri Lankan store included several packets of the tea that I like, curry powder, other spices and condiments, frozen grated coconut, cookies to share with R, and savory snacks to share with my daughter.

Afterwards, we came home to my place and had lunch.  My daughter, too, who was working, took her lunch break then and joined us.  After lunch, daughter went back to her room to work and R and I sat in the family room, chatting.  

After daughter finished her work for the day, we dropped R off at her home.  I think she really enjoyed her birthday lunch and outing.  

On the way home, we put gas to the car, as I was down to 1/4 tank.  The last time we put gas to the car was on May 8, when we put $40 worth of gas (then, too, I was down to 1/4 tank of gas).  It was later that night that the sciatica pains started.  Today, too, we put $40 worth of gas (the price of gas has gone up to over $4/gal., even at the cheaper gas station, so $40 bought us less gas, this time).  I hope I won't get any sciatica pains, tonight!  

In the evening, my friend A's daughter stopped by the house with something for my daughter; I sent a jar of zucchini chutney home with her (and a bag of zucchini might have accompanied the jar of chutney, as well!)  LOL.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Having a Sri Lankan grocery store and restaurant, not too far from me
- Being able to give friend R a ride and a surprise birthday lunch
- A safe drive to the store and back
- A pleasant afternoon visiting with R
- Gas being available, even if the price has gone up

Today's joyful activity was celebrating R's birthday with a lunch for her.

Plans for tomorrow include:

- Oncologist appointment in the afternoon
- M's visit to tend to the garden

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

Midweek on Wednesday

This week is turning out to be a busy week!  

On Monday, I did the lab test, spoke on the phone with family and friends, and did a few household tasks.

Yesterday (Tuesday), I did a few more household tasks (brought in the trash cans, dusted the living room, etc.) and checked on the garden.  While I was in the front yard, I saw one of my neighbors across the street sitting in her front yard and I offered her some zucchini; she said she'd love to have some so I gave her several zucchini!  Later, neighbor S called to ask if she could borrow my green yard waste bin because they had cut down an orange tree and had a lot of yard waste to get rid of.  I said yes, of course, and she came over to collect the bin.

S brought us a couple of pastries her daughter had made - one with a spinach and cheese filling and the other with a ham and cheese filling.  I was just about to make my curry puffs, but, daughter was hungry and she ate half of each pastry for a snack.

Which turned out to be a good thing.  Because, a few minutes later, around 7:30 p.m., I got a phone call from a tearful Aunt C:  "Bless, can you come over, our cat has died; N asked me to call you".  I could hear cousin N sobbing in the background.  Their cat was like N's child; she called him her son.  He had been ill and she had spent the entire day on Monday at the vet's clinic with him.  The vet had said she couldn't do anything more for him, but, neither N nor Aunt C wanted to put him to sleep.  Of course, I said I'll come!  Daughter cancelled her piano lesson that was scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m., I put the curry puff makings in the fridge, and we left within 15 minutes of getting the phone call.  I drove there (the farthest distance I have driven since the sciatica pain) and daughter drove us back.

When we got there (about a 30 minutes drive), Cousin's husband had taken her and the cat to a place where they will cremate him and return the remains in an urn to them.  Daughter and I stayed with aunt and her son who had also come to be with her (the cat had originally been his) until N and her husband came back.  We stayed for some time, trying to console N, but, she was inconsolable.  Eventually, we left so she could rest a little.  On the way home, we bought some hamburgers and fries for a very late dinner - it was nearly midnight when we got home.  I called Aunt C, today, to check on her and N; aunt said they are both devastated, but, she is trying to be strong for N.  

Today, I called friend R in the morning because I couldn't call her last night.  Then, I made another appointment for another blood test for next week (I've a follow up appointment with the primary care doctor on July 23).  I didn't want to ask if they would do both blood tests during the same visit, when I was there this Monday, because I didn't want to confuse the technician and 

Then, I finally made the curry puffs!  Third time lucky!  LOL.  I ran short of the ground beef and grated zucchini filling for the last two pieces of puff pastry, so, I made two mini peach tarts with them!   

Later in the morning, M watered the garden.  He found only one zucchini to pick, today!  We also picked a second Asian pear that the birds had started pecking and I shared it with him and daughter, after cutting off the part that the birds had pecked.  I also shared some of the curry puffs with M.  

M had a solution to the birds pecking the Asian pears:

Bird Deterrent

He asked if I had any parchment paper and a stapler.  Yes, to both.  He then made little covers for the ripening fruits:

Parchment Cover Close Up

This is the first year for this little tree and we were not expecting any fruit, this year, but it is having 8 fruits!  It is a 4-in-1 tree, with four different varieties grafted onto the root stock, partly because Asian pears need cross-pollination in order to bear fruit.  This year, we are able to cover the fruits individually; next year, depending on how the tree does, we might have to try something different!     

There is a watermelon vine and some cosmos seedlings growing at the base of the Asian pear tree.  Not sure if we'll get any watermelon, but, we shall see!

In the afternoon, I tidied the living room a bit more, dusted the dining area, and cleaned one of the bathrooms.  

In the evening, "A", the piano tuner arrived to tend to the piano.  The last time the piano was tuned was in January of 2020.  I was to have it tuned in January of this year, but, with Covid raging and us not being vaccinated at the time, everything was put on hold, wasn't it?  As a result, the tuning was over due and it took him one and a half hours to tune it!  Even so, he only charged me his regular fee (I was fully expecting him to charge me more).  But, he has been tuning this piano since we bought it, 23 years ago and I've referred him to several others, as well; I guess I received a repeat customer discount!  Also, not only has the piano been tuned, another four zucchini have left the house!  LOL.  A told me he can't say no to the offer of homegrown produce!  

Later in the evening, I called my friend A to see how she is doing as she had to have a procedure done, yesterday.  She is home now, and recovering, she said.  

I also ran the dishwasher and washed the pans by hand.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- I was able to be there for Aunt C and cousin N, yesterday
- M watering the garden and making covers for the Asian pears
- Being able to have the piano tuned
- Being able to do a few more household tasks, drive to aunt's etc.
- Friend A is recovering well

Today's joyful activities included baking the curry puffs and the peach tarts.  My daughter really enjoyed the peach tarts.

Plans for tomorrow include tidying the kitchen and putting gas to the car.

How is your week coming along?

Monday

Red Rose

Today, I went for a fasting blood test in the morning.  The drive there and back went well and the appointment went well, too, with only a 10 minute wait. My appointment was at 9:30 a.m. and I was home by 10:30 a.m.  I had a cup of tea after I came home and rested a bit.

In the afternoon, aunt C called and we had a long chat.  She was mostly venting about something that had happened and I provided a sympathetic ear.  There might have been three additional phone calls from her during the course of the afternoon and evening!  LOL.  I didn't mind.  To misquote John Milton, "They also serve who only stand and listen"!  

Later in the evening, I took the trash bins to the curb for pick up in the morning, cleaned the litter box, did the dishes, checked the mail, and cooked a pot of rice.  I had planned to make curry puffs for tonight's dinner, and even went as far as taking some of the packages of frozen puff pastry out from the freezer.  Then, I saw all the leftovers in the fridge, changed my mind, and put the pastry back in the freezer (it hadn't had enough time to thaw, so it was fine to put back in the freezer).  

Lunch had been salad followed by some fried rice I had made with leftover rice and sausage from the weekend.  Dinner was the freshly cooked rice with leftover beef curry, green beans, beets, zucchini salad, and zucchini chutney.  We finished the beef curry, green beans, and the zucchini salad, tonight.  I will make the curry puffs for tomorrow's dinner.  

Later in the evening, I spoke with cousin N, friend A, and with friend R.

Today, I am grateful for:

- A safe drive to and from the blood test
- Health insurance
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Weekly trash collection services
- What I was able to accomplish

Today's joyful activity was chatting with family and friends.

Plans for tomorrow include some filing and maybe dusting the living room.  

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

Grocery Shopping on Sunday

Today, in the afternoon, I went to pick up the groceries we had ordered online, yesterday. 

One of the items I had ordered were a box of frozen mini juice popsicles.  I received a text in the morning saying they were out of stock, but, would I like a box of the mini fruit and ice cream popsicles as a substitution instead.  I went ahead and authorized the substitution as we like the ice cream popsicles as much, if not more, than the juice ones (juice popsicles are lower in calories, though).

When I went to pick up the groceries, the store employee brought out the groceries verified the substitution with me.  They now carry tablets with them and they are supposed to click on the order verification (which generates the receipt).  However, today, the store employee's tablet was not working; she apologized and told me that she would have to complete the transaction once she returns to the store.  I was fine with that.  She asked me if I knew how much my order total had been and I said I didn't remember the exact amount (because we had made a couple of last minute changes last night) but, it was $40 something.  She thanked me and said she will deduct $10 from my total for any inconvenience her tablet being down would have caused!  I was amazed because I didn't think I was inconvenienced in any way!  But, what great customer service!

She then loaded the groceries in my car and I came home, smiling all the way!  Daughter helped me bring the groceries in and put them away.  

Today, I bought:

2+ lb. bananas (4 bananas) @ $.65/lb = $1.32
18 oz. container blueberries =$2.99
1 mini seedless watermelon = $3.99
2+ lb. red cherries @ $1.99/lb = $4.26
1/2 gal. half&half = $3.99
1 box (12 count) mini fruit & ice cream bars = $4.99
1 lettuce = $1.49
1 jar (12 oz) Dijon mustard (store brand) = $1.49
1 jar (10 oz) sweet pickle relish (store brand) = $1.69
1x5lb bag all purpose flour = $1.99
1 loaf sandwich bread = $1.50
6 frozen burritos @ $.49 = $2.94
4x6 pack lemon lime soda = $10.00 + $1.20 deposit + $1.06 tax*

Total = $44.90

Less $10 for "inconvenience" due to store employee's tablet not working

Total paid = $34.90!

*The soda was $4.99 for one 6 pack, but, $2.50 with purchase of 4; I decided to go ahead and buy 4!  If anyone is having a party, I am ready with the soda!  LOL.  

July grocery shopping totals so far:

July 3:  $36.18 (for groceries only)
July 11: $34.90

Daughter had started doing the laundry when I came home from the grocery store, which was nice.  She also asked if I wanted her to cook for the week, but, I said I can cook.  Since I didn't buy any meat this week, I will cook with what I have in the freezer (chicken, ground beef, smoked sausage, one salmon fillet).  I probably should make a meal plan, but, for now, I put out a 1 lb. packet of ground beef to thaw and browned it to make the filling for curry puffs.  Except, I didn't make the curry puffs, yet, and actually, daughter had to finish browning the meat as I got tired after cooking a beetroot curry and watering the garden!  There are leftovers from earlier in the week for dinner (rice, beef curry, green beans, etc.) and the beetroot curry that I made, today.  I will make the curry puffs tomorrow.

The highlight of the day was watering the back garden by myself!  I also picked two ripe tomatoes and a handful of green beans.  Then, I noticed that a bird has been pecking one of the Asian pears on our new Asian pear tree (which has a total of 8 fruit growing on it!).  The fruit wasn't quite ripe, but, I picked it, anyway!  We cut off the part that had been pecked and daughter and I shared the rest.  It was quite sweet, even if it wasn't quite ripe.  We'll have to figure out a way to keep the birds off our tree!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to order groceries online and curbside pick up
- Getting $10 off my grocery total for my "inconvenience"!
- Daughter doing the laundry
- Being able to water the garden
- The first Asian pear from our tree

Today's joyful activity was watering the garden and harvesting what I could!

Tomorrow, I have a lab test in the morning, for routine blood work before my appointment with the oncologist, later in the week.  In fact, it will be a busy week:

Monday - lab test/blood work
Wednesday - M to do the garden; piano tuner to tend to the piano
Friday - Doctor's appointment; M to do the garden

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for the week?

Saturday's Blessings

Another rather relaxed day for me.  

Daughter's friend A had been invited to have lunch with us, today, and then, they were going to watch some anime videos together.  In the morning, daughter did a little tidying up.  I helped by taking the trash and the recycling to the big bins outside.  Then, I picked a couple of lemons and a sprig or two of curry leaves from the garden.  I used some of the lemon to season the zucchini salad I made to go with our lunch - sliced zucchini (I used two small ones), marinated in lemon juice, a little salt, and freshly ground pepper.  Daughter put a pot of rice to cook; there was beef curry, green beans, leftover sausages from last night's dinner, the zucchini salad, and zucchini chutney to go with the rice for lunch.  Zucchini brownies with ice cream for dessert!  LOL.  Both daughter and I delighted in telling A that all the vegetables came from the garden!

A brought us a box full of food stuff that she had been given by a family member, saying she had more at home and didn't have storage space in her studio apartment for it all!  Apparently her family member  volunteers at a community food distribution center and the volunteers are given any food that remains at the end of the day.  

Some of What A Brought Us

There were two jars of peanut butter, a bag of instant mashed potato flakes, two 2lb. packages of rice, three 2lb. bags of pinto beans, a 2lb. bag of navy beans, two 2lb. bags of brown split peas and two of green split peas.  Also included (but not pictured as daughter had already started to put things away), a 2 lb. bag of unsalted dry roasted almonds, a 2 lb. bag of raw natural almonds, and a bag of raisins!   Such a blessing!  Daughter will take some of it back with her and I have already asked friend R if she'd like some of it.  

A was persuaded to take 6 zucchini with her in return!  LOL!  Daughter also gave her some curry leaves to take with her as she wants to try making a curry.

In the evening, daughter and I put in another order for groceries.  We needed more bread, half and half, fresh fruits, another bag of flour, and a few other items.  I will pick up the order tomorrow afternoon.  

Later, I swept my bathroom and cleaned the litter box.  Cleaning the litter box has never been my favorite thing to do, yet, I am glad that I am now capable of doing this task, too.  

Today, I am grateful for:
- A blessing us with her generosity
- Daughter being able to have her friend over for a visit
- Being able to order groceries online
- Fans and the electricity to run them
- Feeling well enough to resume doing a few more household tasks

Today's joyful activities included reading and relaxing.

Plans for tomorrow include picking up the groceries.  

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

Not As Productive on Friday

Today was not nearly as productive as yesterday!  I didn't feel quite as energetic and decided to take it relatively easy.  I still did a few household tasks, spoke with neighbor E, cousin P, and friend R, and picked a few more zucchini with M (we picked 10 zucchini today).  I grated one zucchini and froze the  grated zucchini (3 cups) for later.  I need to make a little more room in the freezer for additional packets of grated zucchini - they will come in useful later in the year when there won't be as many fresh zucchini on hand!

We also picked four ripe tomatoes and a handful of green beans.  The green beans aren't doing as well as the zucchini, which is sad because I like green beans more than I like zucchini!  The tomatoes were used in tonight's dinner - sausages cooked with onions and the tomatoes; daughter had rice with it and I had a tortilla.

It looks like daughter might be able to stay down here for a few more weeks!  She received an email from her office that the renovations in the building they are moving into aren't completed yet and they will not be able to move in at the beginning of August as planned.  The new move in date has been postponed to September and daughter will stay with me until the end of August!  We are both very happy about it!  It gives us a little more time to be together and gives me a little extra time to recover before having to be on my own.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Another pain free day
- Daughter gets to extend her stay for a few more weeks!
- Phone calls and emails with family, friends, and neighbors
- M helping with the garden
- More zucchini!

Today's joyful activity was walking in the garden and harvesting more vegetables.

Plans for tomorrow include more relaxing and either some sewing or tidying my bedroom (or both!). 

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Productive Thursday

I have had a productive day, today.  I woke up once, around 5:00 a.m., feeling hungry; I ate breakfast - tortillas, beef curry, and strawberries - and then went back to sleep and slept until 9:30 a.m.!  When I woke up for the second time, I had my morning cup of tea.

I started off the day boiling the mung beans I had kept to soak overnight.  Daughter and I enjoyed the boiled mung beans for brunch and she had the rest of it as a snack in the evening.

Afterwards, I made some phone calls: to my half-sister, two of my cousins, friend A, and the piano tuner (an appointment has been made for next week Wednesday to have the piano tuned).  Item no. 1 on my day's To Do list completed!

Then, I did some paperwork.  There was a small pile of mail waiting to be processed.  It has all been done, except for one form to be filled out and mailed back (will tend to that, tomorrow).  Renewed my car registration, too.  Item no. 2 on the To Do list completed!

In the early evening, I sewed a pillowcase for my daughter.  When she was a little girl, my mother had made her a long, round "bolster" pillow.  Later, I renewed it for her, but the pillowcases I had sewn then are starting to tear, she said.  So, today, I sewed a new pillowcase for her to take back with her, using fabric I had in my stash.  Item no. 3 on the To Do list completed! 

I had kept 4 zucchini in a bag in the mailbox, with a note to the letter carrier; later, when I checked to see if there was any mail, the bag with the zucchini had been taken.  Four zucchini have left the house!  LOL.  That was item no. 4 on my To Do list!

Later, I made more zucchini roti for dinner.  That took care of 2 small zucchini.  A total of six zucchini out of the vegetable bin! I'm trying to make room in the fridge for the ones M picked yesterday and any he might find tomorrow!  LOL.  Making roti wasn't on my written To Do list, but, it was on my mental To Do list!

After dinner, I ran a load of dishes in the dishwasher and washed a few items by hand.  Item no. 5 on the To Do list, completed.

Then, I swept the bathroom and cleaned the litter box with the new long handled scooper we had bought.  I used to sit on a low stool to clean the litter box with the regular scooper, but, my daughter thought that getting up from the low stool might trigger my sciatica pain; thus, the long handled scooper.  Today, I used it while standing up, but, I think I might try sitting on a folding chair, next time.  That was item no. 6 on my To Do list, but, my daughter had to finish the cleaning of the litter box for me as I couldn't quite get the corners scooped properly with the long handled scooper.

  

Finally, I called friend R, texted cousin N, and emailed a friend.  

I am very happy with what I was able to accomplish, today!  I even decluttered a couple of small items!

Today, I am grateful for:

- A productive day 
- Keeping in touch with family and friends
- Improved health
- The fabric stash
- Working appliances

Today's joyful activity was chatting on the phone with family and friends.

Plans for tomorrow include filling out that one form and M tending to the garden.  

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