On Wednesday

 

Succulents in the Front Garden

Wednesday was sunny with a high of 75F.  Daughter woke up early with a migraine headache.  I woke up with her, but, went back to sleep a little longer as I had had only 3 hours of sleep.

On Wednesday morning, the latest batch of 15 bags/boxes of donations were picked up.  That makes a total of 45 bags/boxes of donations picked up in one month (15 bags on September 22, 15 bags on October 13, and 15 bags on October 22; they will only pick up 15 bags or boxes at a time).  However, they had declined to take three decorative cookie tins, so I brought them in, again.  I will put them in the recycling bin, I guess.  I still have another 6 or 7 bags of items to be donated, but, I'll wait until I have another 5 or 6 bags collected before I schedule another pick up.  Things are definitely leaving this house!  

In the afternoon, I went for my consultation with the oral surgeon.  Daughter had already requested time off to accompany me and she claimed her headache was better, so she went with me.  I think the consultation went well and the oral surgeon was very receptive to my concerns.  He will confer with the prosthodontist and we will take it from there.

We picked up some fried rice from our favorite neighborhood That food place on the way home, although there was plenty of food at home.  We wanted to do our bit to support our local restaurants.  We were sad to see that their menu has shrunk, as a cost cutting measure, I suppose, but, we're glad that they are still in business.  

We enjoyed our fried rice and I did some vacuuming.  Afterwards, I felt tired and took a nap!  Daughter took a nap, too, as her headache, while better, was still lingering.

Daughter and I had a relaxed evening and I caught up on a few blogs.  There was leftover fried rice for dinner, which was nice.  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- Daughter was able to accompany me to the dental appointment even with her headache
- The consultation went well and the oral surgeon was very receptive to my concerns
- A safe drive to the dental office and back
- Being able to pick up some Thai food on the way home
- Donations being picked up

My joyful activity on Wednesday was taking a nap!

Plans for Thursday include a trip to the grocery store to pick up some fruit and vegetables; more vacuuming, and perhaps a load of laundry, as well.  I also need to catch up on another couple of blogs as I've fallen behind with my blog reading and commenting!

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

October Meal Planning: Week 3 Review and Week 4 Options

Salad, Pork Chop, Savory Rice and Green Peas

These were my meal plan options for October Week 3:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice✔; Cold cuts sandwiches✔, Pancakes or Waffles with leftover chicken curry gravy and/or bacon and syrup/blueberry compote; Drop biscuits with butter and chives✔; leftovers from dinners✔

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, sauteed moringa leaves, okra, and tomato chutney✔. Pork chops with rice or pasta and vegetables✔, Baguettes with chicken curry; String-hoppers (indiappa) with chicken curry, dhal, and seeni sambol, Mac & Cheese with tuna pulled pork and salad, Soup (?); Leftovers✔

Snacks/Desserts:  Fruit (pomegranate from the garden, tangerines, a couple of apples)✔, Sri Lankan sweets and snacks✔, Japanese snacks; cake, maybe an apple or peach pie?

On Tuesday, I picked up an order of groceries; on Wednesday, we stopped at the French bakery and picked up a baguette and some snacks from the Japanese store, as well; on Saturday, neighbor S brought us leftovers from her daughter's birthday dinner - a container of pulled pork, several slices of beef tri tip, and a piece of birthday cake!

So, here is how the week's meals worked out:

Monday:

Brunch:  Scrambled egg and toast; orange juice

Dinner:  Leftovers from previous dinners (daughter); cold cuts sandwich (me)

Snacks/Desserts: Tangerines, Sri Lankan sweets, Cuban pastries

Tuesday:

Brunch: I skipped brunch as I wasn't hungry; daughter had leftovers

Dinner:  Chive drop biscuits with butter and/or cold cuts (me); chive biscuits and rice and curries (daughter)

Snacks/Desserts: Chive biscuits, almonds, banana

Wednesday:

Brunch:  Chive biscuits with beef cold cuts (me) or with chicken curry (daughter)

Chive Drop Biscuits with Cold Cuts

Dinner:  Baguette sandwiched with chicken curry

Snacks/Desserts: Japanese snacks; strawberry matcha ice tea (daughter), bananas

Japanese Snacks

Thursday:

Brunch:  Cold cuts sandwiches

Dinner:  Pork chops with boxed wild rice mix cooked with green peas; side salad 

(half way through cooking the rice mix in the rice cooker, I added a handful of frozen green peas and two of the already cooked pork chops into the rice) 

Snacks/Desserts: Bananas, peanut butter and peach jam on crackers (me), Japanese snacks; Sri Lankan sesame candy

Friday:

Brunch:  Chive biscuits (me); the last guava pastry (daughter); orange juice

Dinner:  Indiappa or string-hoppers, chicken curry, dhal, seeni sambol (from a jar)

I didn't take a picture of the dinner, but, it was the first time I've tried dehydrated "instant" string-hoppers from a box and I was quite impressed.  You immerse the dehydrated string-hoppers in boiling water, leave for 3 minutes, leave to drain for 15 minutes (which was a little too long in my opinion as they were cold by then) and they are ready to eat!  Much easier than making from scratch!

Dehydrated Stringhoppers

Snacks/Desserts:  Cheese crackers, sesame candy, tangerines

Saturday:

Brunch: Cuban pastries (potato balls and meat pies - daughter, at her friend's place); the last chive biscuit with beef cold cuts (me) 

Dinner:  Leftovers from Thursday's dinner; samples of the tri-tip roast beef (delicious) and pulled pork (a bit too sweet for me), both compliments of neighbor S

Snacks/Desserts: Cake (compliments of neighbor S)

Sunday:

Brunch:  Leftovers from Thursday's dinner

Dinner:  Boxed mac and cheese with pulled pork (daughter) or without (me)

Snacks/Desserts: Leftover cake

Well, I went off the plan a few times, especially where the dinners were concerned, but, I am okay with that.  

Moving on to October Week 4 (10/20 - 10/26), here are my meal plan options:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice (Monday - this seems to be a regular Monday brunch, lately); Cold cuts sandwiches; Boiled mung beans;  Pancakes/waffles/French toast; Cereal and milk; leftovers from dinners

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, sauteed green beans, okra, and tomato chutney,  Pulled pork with rice or  potatoes or pasta; Salad;  Stringhoppers with fish curry and seeni sambol; Ramen soup noodles; Leftovers/Planned-overs 

Snacks/Desserts:  Fruit (need to buy more fresh fruit); sauteed apples (apple slices cooked in a bit of butter with sugar and cinnamon); smoothies made with frozen fruit; crackers; granola bars; cereal and milk; maybe bread pudding?

Of course, there's a possibility that I might go off the plan, too.  

Once again, I am grateful I am able to have a variety of food available from which to meal plan and for generous neighbors who share food with me.  

Are you making a meal plan this week?

The Weekend and Beyond

 

The Stumpery

I haven't done any monthly garden posts since May, I believe, partly because the garden is never at its best in the summer and partly because I had other things on my mind.  But, today, I took a picture of the stumpery just to show how it is evolving.  M brought me a couple of additional stumps from trees he's had to trim down and I've added them to the pile.  The succulents are growing well around the stumps and, in my eyes, at least, the stumps are becoming incorporated into the landscape.  

It was warm and sunny over the weekend, with the daytime highs in the low to mid 80s and going down to the low 50s in the night.

I spent a fairly relaxed weekend, taking things easy.

Saturday was the anniversary of my mother's birthday and I missed her.  Daughter had arranged to spend the afternoon with her friend V, so I drove her to V's place, came home, walked for a little bit (my hip was hurting, so I stopped after 15 minutes), watched some videos and the news, and relaxed.  Then, it was time to go to pick up daughter.  Her friend V had bought some pastries from the Cuban bakery/cafe we had gone to, earlier, to have as snacks and she had told daughter to take some of the leftovers home.  So, daughter brought home a meat pie for me, which I enjoyed.

Neighbor S called later in the evening to ask if she could borrow my recycling bin as she had several cardboard boxes to be broken down and recycled.  I said, "Yes", of course and when she came over to take the bin over to her house, she brought us a container of pulled pork, several slices of cooked tri-tip beef, and a piece of cake from her younger daughter's birthday!  I had just been telling my daughter that I was wanting something sweet, when S brought over the cake!  It had a type of fondant icing on the outside which was too sweet for us, but, we enjoyed the cake itself and the frosting between the layers.  

On Sunday, I walked for 20 minutes without any hip pain.  Later, I put away a load of laundry, changed my daughter's bed sheets, watched some online videos, and did a few things around the house.  We had leftovers for brunch and I made some macaroni and cheese for dinner.

This weekend, I was grateful for:

- Sunny and warm days
- Daughter had a fun afternoon with her friend
- Memories of my mother
- Neighbor S blessing us with some delicious food
- Being able to help her by lending her my recycling bin

Joyful activities included visiting for a bit with neighbor S, walks in the sunshine, and spending time with daughter.

Monday was another sunny and warm (high of 82F) day.  I did a short walk, did a load of laundry, and made several phone calls and scheduled appointments to have the gas furnace checked, to take Dancer in for his monthly arthritis injection, for a blood test for me, and filled out some medical information forms to be sent to the oral surgeon prior to my appointment with him on Wednesday.  

My friend R had another package delivered to my house and she called and came over to pick it up on Monday afternoon, around 4:00 p.m.  We sat and chatted until daughter finished her work for the day.  Then, we drove friend R back to her apartment, stopping at the post office on the way so daughter could mail a package and stopping at the library on our way back home to return our library books.  

Afterwards, daughter took the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday morning and I watered the back garden.  I also spoke with my cousin V and exchanged emails with a friend.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- Another sunny and warm day
- Being able to help friend R by accepting her packages for her
- Water for the garden

- Working appliances
- Daughter's help with filling out various forms online

Monday's joyful activities included walking in the garden, visiting with friend R, and chatting with cousin V.

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

Fungi

October Grocery Shopping - First Half of the Month

 

Receipt (9/30/25)

I've grocery shopped four times, so far, this month.  The first shopping trip was to the Armenian grocery store to take advantage of their one day only sale of pork chops for $1.99/lb.  Although I shopped on September 30, I'm counting it as part of my October grocery spending.  

I bought:

Strawberries, 2 lbs. @ $1.50 = $3.00
Tangerines, 1.55 lb. @ $0.78/lb. = $1.22
Lettuce @ 2/$0.99 = $0.50
8 pork chops @ $1.99/lb. = $7.13

Total = $11.85

The next shopping trip was an order and pick up from the regular supermarket on October 1.  I was planning to take advantage of daughter's coffee being on sale as part of a "buy 5 or more, get $1 off each item" deal.  I actually ordered 6 packages of coffee, 2 each from three different varieties, but, the store claimed that they couldn't find two of the coffee packages I ordered (and they didn't offer substitutes), so, I didn't receive the discount.  I was not very happy about that, but, that was my fault for not shopping in person.

I bought:

Kroger® Half and Half Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$5.49

Starbucks Breakfast Blend Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee, 12 oz$15.98

2 x $7.99 $12.79 each

Starbucks House Blend Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee, 12 oz$15.98

2 x $7.99 $12.79 each

Bag Fee$0.20

2 x $0.10 each

I spent a total of $37.65 for groceries and the bag fee.

In addition to groceries, I also bought two pairs of reusable latex gloves, store brand, for $2.79 a pair; which came to $5.58 + $0.54 sales tax.   

I did another order and pick up on October 5; I bought:

7UP Lemon Lime Caffeine-Free Soda Bottles, 6 pk / 16.9 fl oz$8.97

3 x $2.99 $6.99 each

CA Redem Val$1.86

Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Chicken Thighs, 1 pk$10.96

5.51 lbs x $1.98 $2.99 each (approx.)

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$1.70

2.47 lbs x $0.68 each (approx.)

Kroger® 100% Orange Juice From Concentrate Pulp Free, 1/2 gal$2.99

1 x $2.99 $4.49 each

Kroger® Thai Inspirations Premium Coconut Milk, 13.5 fl oz$5.97

3 x $1.99 each

Ralphs® Vitamin D Whole Milk Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Sparkling Water, 17 fl oz$10.00

10 x $1.00 $1.67 each

Bag Fee$0.10

1 x $0.10 each

I spent $47.54 which includes $1.86 sales taxes (on the sodas) as well as deposit fees and a bag fee.

And finally, on October 14, I did another grocery order and pick up!  I bought:

Broccoli Crowns, 1 ct$2.21

1.11 lbs x $1.99 each (approx.)

Cucumber, 1 ct$0.99

1 x $0.99 each

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$0.74

1.07 lbs x $0.69 each (approx.)

Fresh Green Beans - Bag, 1 lb$3.44

1.38 lbs x $2.49 each (approx.)

Kroger® 100% Pure Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz$4.29

1 x $4.29 $4.49 each

Kroger® Classic Garden Salad Bag, 12 oz$2.49

1 x $2.49 each

Kroger® Starlight Mint Peppermint Candy, 8 oz$2.00

1 x $2.00 each

Pearl Milling Company Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix Buttermilk, 32 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 $5.29 each

Ralphs® Vitamin D Whole Milk Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Western Hearth® Old Fashioned White Bread, 24 oz$3.29

1 x $3.29 each

Bag Fee$0.30

3 x $0.10 each

I had also ordered a 1/2 gallon of half and half for daughter's coffee and the store texted that they were unable to fulfill that particular order and did not offer a substitute.  I tried to call the store's "click and pick up" department, but, couldn't get through to a person.  So, when I went to pick up the items, I mentioned it to the store clerk who brought out the groceries to me and asked if I could get a quart of half and half since they were out of the half gallon and he went back to the store and brought me two of the quart sized containers (which added up to half gallon, of course).  I tried to pay for them, separately, but, he waived aside the payment.  So, I received the half and half free of charge, which more than made up for not getting the multi-buy discount on the coffee, earlier in the month!  As I mentioned to one of my friends, you win some and you lose some and it all evens out in the end!

I spent $24.73 on groceries, on this shopping trip.  In addition, I bought some antacid tablets and some cat food for Dancer, which I don't include as part of my grocery budget.

In addition to groceries, I've purchased some snacks and treats, including two baguettes ($3.99 each) from a French bakery, while out and about with daughter, but, I am going to consider those as "eating out/getting food to go" treats and not part of the grocery budget.  Which might be cheating, because I do count snacks as part of my grocery spending if I buy them at the grocery store.  But, my budget, my rules!  LOL.

My October grocery budget (for food only) = $250

Spent to date:  $11.85 + $37.65 + $47.54 + $24.73 =  $121.77

Balance left = $128.23

I think I am at a good point with my grocery spending for this month, with half the month over and just under half my grocery budget spent.  

What do you think?

After the Rain

 

Whiskers on Kittens

In my previous post, I showed some pictures of raindrops on roses and Angela asked, "But where are the whiskers on kittens?" and Dancer was happy to oblige (thank you, Daughter, for taking the picture).  

After Tuesday's rain, Wednesday turned out to be a bright and sunny day.  I put gas to the car in the early afternoon.  Later, M was here to tend to the garden.  He didn't need to water the garden after the previous day's rain, so he weeded and tidied the place a bit. 

Later in the afternoon, daughter and I went for a follow-up visit with the prosthodontist and he went over what he thought would be the best plan of action for me.  Daughter asked some good questions and summarized the treatment plan that was out lined and I think the prosthodontist was impressed by her, because he asked her if she would like a job working at the dental clinic!  LOL.  She declined the offer, saying she already had a job she enjoyed very much.  We are still going to wait until I have my appointment with the oral surgeon, scheduled for next week, before we make a decision, but, I made an appointment to have my teeth cleaned by the dental hygienist.  Not something I am looking forward to!

On the way home, we stopped at a nearby outdoor mall to browse around in the Japanese imports store, a favorite of daughter's.  She got a few things including some snacks.  Then, we stopped at the French bakery to pick up a baguette, which we had, sandwiched with chicken curry, for dinner.

Today (Thursday) was another sunny day.  I did several loads of laundry, including my bed sheets, did a short walk, caught up on a couple of blogs, watched the news, and relaxed.

After the rain, I am grateful for:

- Sunny days
- Daughter going with me to the dental appointments
- M's help with the garden
- Being able to shop with my daughter
- Working appliances

and, of course, whiskers on kittens!  LOL.

Rain on Tuesday

Raindrops on Roses

We had rain all Monday night and all morning on Tuesday.  It rained a bit of Tuesday night, too.  Some areas of the county received over 4 inches of rain and there were concerns about mudslides in the burn scar areas where the wild fires were in January.

More Raindrops on Roses

The rain total for my area was about 2.5 inches.  Which is quite a lot of rain from one rain storm considering our annual rainfall is about 15 inches on average.  Some roads and freeways in my area flooded.  As far as I am concerned, though, it rained enough to water the garden, which is a blessing.

Rain-soaked Rose

In the afternoon, when the rain cleared, I went outside to take some pictures of...you guessed it:

Raindrops on Roses

and...

On Ripening Meyer Lemons

and...

Puddles in the Driveway!

I know, most of you are probably wondering what all the fuss is about, but, any rain is a big deal here, in southern California.   

More Puddles

On Tuesday, I was grateful for the rain we received.

Does it rain a lot in your area?  How much rain do you get a year on average?  Do you get as excited as we do when it rains?  

October Meal Planning: Week 2 Review and Week 3 Plan

Pastries and Cakes from the Cuban Bakery/Cafe

These were my October Week 2 Options:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs (with lunu miris), bacon, toast, orange juice✔; Uppuma (Indian style cream of wheat/semolina, cooked with curry leaves, dried red chilies, roasted peanuts, etc.)✔;  Toast with peanut butter and bananas✔; Cold cuts sandwiches✔, Pancakes or Waffles with bacon and syrup/blueberry compote; Pastries from the Cuban bakery; leftovers from dinners

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, dhal curry, ala thel dala (spicy sauteed potatoes), okra, cucumber salad, tomato chutney (Monday's dinner)✔. Pork chops with rice or potatoes, and vegetables✔, Mac & Cheese with tuna and salad, Leftovers✔

Snacks/Desserts:  Fruit✔, Sri Lankan sweets and snacks✔, Pastries maybe another bread pudding?

And here's how that worked out:

Monday:

Brunch:  Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast  

Monday Brunch

Dinner:  Rice, chicken curry, dhal, spicy sauteed potatoes, cucumber salad, tomato chutney

Snacks/Desserts:  Sri Lankan sweets and snacks; bananas

Tuesday:

Brunch:  Uppuma (Indian style cream of wheat/semolina)

Uppuma

Dinner:  Leftovers - rice, chicken curry, dhal, spicy sauteed potatoes, okra, cucumber salad, chutney

Snacks/Desserts:  Sri Lankan sweets and snack mix; bananas

Wednesday:

Brunch: Toast, peanut butter, bananas

Dinner:  Beef pot pie (frozen meal) with extra green peas and carrots (me); leftover porkchop and rice, with green peas and carrots (daughter)

Wednesday Dinner

Snacks/Desserts:  Sri Lankan sweets and snacks

Thursday:

Brunch:  Cold cuts sandwiches

Dinner:  Rice, chicken curry, dhal, etc. (leftovers from Monday's dinner)

Snacks/Desserts:  Assorted Sri Lankan sweets and snacks; bananas

Friday:

Brunch: Assorted pastries from the Cuban bakery/cafe 

Dinner:  Mor of the assorted pastries from the Cuban bakery/cafe

Snacks/Desserts: Cakes from the Cuban bakery 

Saturday:

Brunch:  Leftover pastries from the Cuban bakery

Dinner:  Freshly cooked rice, sauteed okra, made-over carrots (I sauteed the leftover boiled carrots from Wednesday with seeni sambol mix and sesame seeds), with leftover chicken curry, dhal, and sauteed potatoes, plus tomato chutney

Snacks/Desserts:  Cake from the Cuban bakery; toast

Sunday:

Breakfast:  Pastries from the Cuban bakery

Lunch: Cold cuts sandwiches

Dinner:  Pork chops with green peas and onions, spicy baked potato wedges

Sunday Dinner

Snacks/Desserts:  Strawberries, cake, lemon puff biscuits, etc.

Well, all in all, I stayed mostly on the plan, just going off the plan a bit with the pastries and cakes daughter bought from the Cuban bakery/cafe.    I am quite pleased with how that turned out.

On to Week 3, which has already started.

I cooked a big pot of chicken curry on Monday night and there are some cooked pork chops as well, for a change from the chicken curry.  I am planning to make another big batch of moringa curry, as well, and there might be another picking of okra before the week ends, so there will be more sauteed okra.

It's not exactly batch cooking, but, I'm going back to cooking two main entrees for the week and a couple of vegetable curries that can be kept in the fridge and warmed up as needed.  My daughter is fine with leftovers and often, it is I who gets tired of having the same thing and when that happens, I will cook something else or make a sandwich or have something on toast.  

I am making this week's meal plan based on what I have on hand, BUT, I do need to buy milk, half and half, bread, and some additional fresh fruits and vegetables (just placed the order and will pick up this evening).

Here are my meal plan options for October Week 3:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice; Cold cuts sandwiches, Pancakes or Waffles with leftover chicken curry gravy and/or bacon and syrup/blueberry compote; Drop biscuits with butter and chives; leftovers from dinners

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, sauteed moringa leaves, okra, and tomato chutney. Pork chops with rice or pasta and vegetables, Mac & Cheese with tuna and salad, Soup (?); Leftovers

Snacks/Desserts:  Fruit (pomegranate from the garden, tangerines, a couple of apples), Sri Lankan sweets and snacks, maybe an apple or peach pie?

As always, I am grateful that I am able to enjoy a variety of food.

Will you be meal planning this week?  If so, what is on your meal plan?