This Week on Tuesday 4

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, a meme hosted by Annie of Cottage by the Sea, in memory of her good friend, Toni Taddeo. This meme is for Tuesdays though I usually post a day or two ahead of time.

Let's talk about your week okay?

1. Is anything interesting on TV this week?  What will you be watching?

I haven't heard of anything interesting on television. I don't really watch regular programming other than the occasional newscast, newsmagazine and Y & R, the long-running soap I've been watching since I was a teenager.

2. Any books on your horizon right now? What will you be reading?

Yes, I have several books 'on the go' right now. I've started back to reading after 2 months of hardly turning a page whilst recovering from a bout of shingles. If any of you have had shingles you know it is exhausting and also painful. It's a pity I had to deal with this because I had it on my 'to do' list to get a vaccine.  However I've read that a vaccine doesn't guarantee you won't get it and some people seem to get it several times. No one in my family has ever had it so I'm not sure why I did.

Currently reading

Currently in my reading pile

Salad with canned salmon and eggs

3. What's been on the menu lately?  

Any new recipes caught your eye?

I have no plans for new recipes this week.  I made an Asian inspired Udon noodle soup dish last night.  Unfortunately it wasn't as good as usual because I was also busy with an in home appointment and not paying quite enough attention to the soup.

Usually I don't spend that much time in the kitchen when the weather gets warmer because it's simply too hot. It's the season for more salads and fresh fruits, etc. Tonight however I plan to make rice pilaf, baked chicken breasts and a side dish of vegetables or salad. 

4. Who will you spend time with this week?

Big haul to the thrift store. More to come.

I have no plans with friends this week and DH is very busy for the foreseeable future.  I'm still busy trying to catch up to things left undone over the past few months, whilst I've been convalescing. I'm also in the thick of decluttering and making small upgrades. This week and next week there's lot of researching and shopping or possible shopping for light fixtures, fireplace mantle, microwave, more garden plants, fittings for the bathtubs, caulking materials and various tools needed for the different jobs.  My brother is my handyman so I'll be spending a lot of time with him this week and next week.  This week I also have an appointment with my dental hygienist who is always fun to talk to since he loves gardening, photography and travel. A friend I haven't seen in ages is also wanting to get together soon to celebrate my birthday which was last month. So we're both researching a few places to go and enjoy next week. It will be great to see her again.

Thank you for stopping by. I'd love to hear your plans for the week!

Plans

Hi friends,

I hope you have all been doing well the past week or so that I have been away. Some of you know I am away at mom's trying to help her. I cook, do some light cleaning and shopping as needed. The real reason I am here is to help her sort her personal belongings and try to figure out what to give away, what to keep and what to pack as mom needs to move soon.

She lives in an apartment building that is difficult for wheelchair accessibility. She has lived in this difficult situation for some time now and has been after me to help but with work and sickness, I haven't had the kind of time that is really required. Now I am finally a bit "free" to assist her for more than a few days.

I haven't actually gotten started on the real sorting as there has been so much day to day stuff to get caught up on. The things that most of us can do ourselves; pay bills, buy daily food needs, cook, do dishes, wash floors, shop for household and personal items. These are the things that we often are not too fond of doing but when you can no longer do them, you surely wish you could!

Today (Saturday), we were supposed to start on mom's bedroom by putting away and sorting clothing but we were a bit lazy. Instead, we listened to some old George Jones tunes, I made some head cheese sandwiches and salad for lunch, simmered a chicken rice soup in the slow cooker for dinner & made a dark chocolate cake with chocolate frosting in the microwave (mom has no kitchen oven), cleaned and chopped red peppers, celery, carrots & turnips for juicing tomorrow and washed oodles of dishes.

Late tonight, after scanning the local paper for apartment rentals & making enquiries for senior care attendant services, I started dusting a seldom used bookcase. Oh my! There was so much dust and mom has so many allergies, especially to dust. I set about wiping down the shelves and all the books. It is now almost 3:00 a.m and I think it is more than past time for sleep. I will leave you with a few pictures of the "dust bunny free" books.

In a day or two, we plan to clean and sort all the clothing in the master bedroom and then begin sorting all the books and videos in the living room and kitchen. At the same time, I must try to find out what housing options are available and I also have some coming business of my own in Vancouver and meetings here where mom lives to sort out my niece's housing needs.

In all of these things, I trust and lean on the Lord God, the maker of Heaven and Earth. Otherwise, I would worry and fret. The plans of loved ones are riding a lot on my shoulders and I can plan and execute to the best of my ability. But most importantly, I must not forget to pray and lean on God in all things; for direction, wisdom and guidance. It has also been a great help to get the prayers of friends and supporters when times are particularly challenging. I am grateful for those that always to stand with me in prayer. They are a true treasure.

For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11