Good deed for the week

I cleared this path at a friend’s home this week. The shrubs had grown over to the fence, and when I started, I had no idea the cobblestones were there. The prunings and clippings filled 10 garbage bags.

This morning I went back and continued around the corner, pruning and clearing the deck area. Four hours and 18 bags of clippings. That’s it for this week.

Just an ordinary Friday with no where to go

I just must report, dear Reader, that I went NO WHERE today. Kept my warm knits on all day. Not quite of the sweatshirt variety, a little nicer, but still warm and comfy. I’m not embarrassed to wear them out to the mailbox, but I won’t go to the grocery store wearing them. I washed my hair but didn’t put on any makeup. Again, no one to see me when I go to collect the mail.

So? What did I do all day? Not much. One load of laundry. Scanned a photo and used it to finish a scrapbook. Designed PowerPoint slides. Made a pasta sauce for a dish I put together later in  the day for dinner. Roasted beets from the CSA box, again for dinner. Did some research on how to make sandwiches for a party on Monday. Had planned to pick them up at a local restaurant, but realized I could make the sandwiches just as easily myself. More Christmas card writing. Then, for a couple of hours this afternoon, I read a new Ann Rule book.

What a pleasurable day. My friend’s house has been emptied and all paperwork, along with keys, have been delivered to the attorney who will sell the house. It was cold and foggy today so I was glad I didn’t have to work in a near empty chilly house, but rather in my warm, cozy home. Tomorrow I will grocery shop for next week when our wonderful granddaughter will be spending a few days with us, and even though I will have to put on my makeup and get dressed, it will be fun to go out and see what good things I can find for us to eat. If the sun comes out and the temperature gets above 50, I may work on raking leaves in the backyard.

Here’s that pasta dish: 

Cleaning up after the wind

Dear Reader, you may have heard about the winds that blew through California this past week. Although filled with sunshine and not too cold, the day was nearly blown off the calendar with these fierce winds. Many of my friends are cleaning up pools (we don’t have one, thank God), sawing up tree limbs, and raking, raking, raking leaves. I did that last one in our backyard when I came home Friday  from working at my friend’s house. It was good to be outside and doing some physical labor.

My poor husband, on the other hand, had this to contend with Friday and part of Saturday:

OUR palm fronds in the NEIGHBOR'S yard

First Saturday in September

Finally got back out to the backyard to rake and clean a bit. With all we’ve been doing, the yards have been neglected. Terry pruned the tree out front yesterday and then mowed and edged. The front is looking pretty good even though the temperatures have been high and we missed a whole week of watering the lawn. The back yard is so well shaded that it can miss a few waterings and be fine.

After making chicken enchiladas today with the chicken breasts I baked on Thursday, I decided a pie was in order. The bounty of fruit is giving out, and none of the pluots left over in the fruit bowl would make a pie. So, I readjusted my thinking and made a chocolate meringue pie. Decadent.

My mother was famous for her chocolate pie, so I rarely attempt to make this dessert as I know it can never be as good as hers. Terry said, however, that this pie was one of the best he has eaten in a long time. My mother has been gone for 10 years, that’s why it’s been awhile since he had chocolate pie!

Pruning, raking, tossing balls

I worked in the backyard this afternoon.

The weather was beautiful this afternoon. The air redolent with the fragrance of all the flowers in bloom. Perfect day to get some yard work done. The neighbor kids saw me and asked for their balls back that had been residing in a hedge of nandinas. The little boy made the comment that he had been waiting for me to come out so he could ask. Guess it was a good thing I finally got out there.