Soledad's Journal

... that is what I currently am. I got up an hour earlier than usual, so that I could do part of the grocery shopping (since I'm trying to avoid moving too heavy stuff in regard of my poor eye). I did my Mum duty afterward and we had our usual late breakfast before I set off again to meet Erna.

It was a lovely meeting. We sat in a café for about an hour, had overpriced coffee with overpriced custard slice (the latter was well worth the price, the former... not so much) and just talked. We've known each other for 31 years by now, worked in the same school for 24 of those years until my retirement and even sat next to each other in the staff room for over a decade. We've always got on splendidly, as she's also a crafter and generally a very lovely person.

After our get-together I went to the Telekom shop and put some money on my phone; then I visited the craft shop and really, really restrained myself. I only bought a few patterned felt sheets, which I might need later, and two pretty little jars with white-and-red checkered lids, which wasn't really necessary, but I simply couldn't resist. Besides, more jam-making is coming up in the not too distant future, so that's my excuse and I stick to it! *g*

By the time I got home it was already 29 degrees outside again; which is moderate, compared with the heat we had in recent weeks, but still too much for my comfort. So, for starters I just collapsed for an hour or so; then I dismantled the cauliflower I had bought in the morning and cooked it for the Strudel tomorrow. (Sorry, noadvertising!) I also made a Tütensuppe, utilizing the boiling water.

Then I tried to take a nap but was too tired to actually sleep. So I got up after half an hour or so and called my friend Evie. We had a nice, long chat; it might be possible that she'll come and visit us next week, or the week after. It depends on grandparent duties. So, all in all, it was a nice day, even though exhausting.

I've finished the apricot-and-rosemary ones and made a batch of chili-and-cherry ones just for us. The peachy apricots turned out great, you can take a look here.

No cooking was necessary beyond some scrambled eggs, which we ate with the leftover Karottengemüse, so I could rest a bit afterwards. No sleep; for some reason I can't take a proper nap during the day at the moment, but I did lie down and close my eyes and ponder over my recent writing project, so it was an hour well used. *g*

Very little writing happened today, but at least I did make some progress. I might actually finish this chapter in a day or two. Oh, and we watched quite a lot of telly; one has to watch one's favourite shows when they are actually shown, right?

... of all that eye-related anxiety was that I slept an hour longer in the morning than in the days of murderous heat. The fact that temperatures peaked at balmy 27 degrees today helped, of course. We're trying to enjoy the relief before the next heat wave hits.

Unfortunately, these abrupt changes in temperature aren't very good for Mum's joints; she's now in constant pain, the poor thing, and adamantly refuses to take any painkillers. On the one hand it is good that she doesn't want to become addicted to them. On the other hand, a bit of pain relief from time to time would do her good. Alas, neither I nor the PT lady can persuade her to do so.

I put the mild weather to good use. First, I wrote a page and a half for Chapter 14 of Sleeping Dragons 5. The finishing of the chapter seems within reach. *knocks on wood* Then I finished sewing together the little pillow cases for the cherry pit pillows. They are now ready for the decorative stitching, all twelve of them. But I'm going to sew together the seven remaining lavender sachets first. Those won't get any decorative stitching, so sewing them together means that they will be ready to filling, whenever I manage to get my hands on some lavender.

I also did some cooking today as it wasn't too hot for making Topfenknödel. After our fashionably late lunch we took out the garbage - that is about the length Mum can currently go: from our door down the corridor to the garbage chute and back. But at least it is some walking. We must try to keep up her condition at least to a very low level.

After that, I slept an hour and a half; then I typed up what I had written today, and now I'll play some Solitaire before we'd watch "The Repair Shop" together.

Still absorbing yesterday's new. Reflecting about my chances, which are not numerous. Trying to figure out how I might live the rest of my life with the sword of Damocles hanging over my head on a silk thread. It is not easy, to put it mildly; but I have to play with the cards that have been handed to me. *sigh*

We had laundry day. I finished mini-Teddy #10 and sew together #s 11 and 12. They'll be stuffed and equipped with their little Santa hats and knitted scarves tomorrow. Life must go on.

I cooked lunch. Nothing fancy, just Topfenknödel. We only ate half of it. Mum's really upset, the poor thing, and when she's upset she can't eat much. So I won't have to cook tomorrow as we'll have the leftovers.

I talked to my friend Evie. She is great when it comes to moral support, but on the other hand, I did the same for her repeatedly in the past. Things like that can bring people really close.

H. called afterwards. Sent a few pictures about little Emma saying good-bye to kindergarten; that's always a festive occasion. That girl starts school in September - where has the time gone? It is strange that H. is the only family that still keeps in regular touch, even though she and my cousin divorced ten years ago.

Aka Christmas Teddies #2 and 3.

https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/341640321755343621/

They've been finished two days ago but I never came around to take a photo. They've turned out cute enough, though, if I say so myself. *g*

Other than that, I made the lime-pear-ginger jam today. The taste is fantastic, I just hope it will set properly, given enough time. If not, the customers just will have to eat it with a spoon. Or we will, if they don't sell. I know we'll enjoy it, to pancakes or to Topfenknödel.

Aaaaand I got hold of IT guy today. Hopefully, my PC misery will be solved somewhen next week. *fingers crossed*

... by a solid forty minutes, which - naturally - turned my morning schedule upside down. Still, I managed to prepare the laundry as well as to do a few more small but necessary things, so I'm not complaining.

I've also finished mini scarf #10 and started #11. Only one more to do, and then I can continue with stitching the faces of the teddies. After which the assembling will come... eventually.

I've made the Topfenknödel for lunch, and we had the half-filled jar of B+B strawberry jam from yesterday with it. Well... part of the jam anyway. The rest will serve as breakfast tomorrow and/or the day after.

But the best part is that I finally came up with the last paragraph for the next chapter of Sleeping Dragons - The Old Terror. After, oh, five or seven years or whatnot. Chapter 12 is now available on both my AO3 page and on otherworlds_lib. In case nobody remembers, it is the 5th "episode" of my Torchwood alternate 2nd season.

So, all in all it was a really good day.

... and that in various areas.

First (and most important) of all, my neighbour made an appearance. As a result, I - hopefully will my antivirus programme in time, as well as a new hard drive, as the old one is getting a bit tired. *fingers crossed*

Crafting-wise I've finished mini scarf #8 and started #9. I've also finished the 4th and last pot holder. I still have to sew on the hangings, but that will be roughly 10 minutes per pot holder; that much because the fabric is incredibly hard. My fingers are still hurting and cramping occasionally from this particular task. But I have four new - well, recycled - pot holders, and considering how often I set these things on fire, that is a good thing.

Cooking was relatively easy today: we had crepes. Mum made the batter and I fried the pancakes. We had them with home-made blueberry jam and leftover soup. Now I have to think of something to cook tomorrow, especially as I'll also have to do the grocery shopping. And here I had once thought that when I retire I'd have time for things...

Today I cooked for two days in advance and prepared the main ingredient for the third day. I call that progress. My cauliflower cream soup turned out great: thick enough for a spoon to stand straight in it. My Geschnezeltes was excellent as well. So, no cooking tomorrow and very little cooking on the day after. *happy dance*

I repurposed an old towel; one that was made of such a hard fabric that we used it as bathroom rug. It was frayed on the edges, so I cut it in four pieces and am in the process of turning them into pot holders.

I also went to vote. We'll see how the elections end. A great many people went, too; almost 80 percent, which isn't usual. Apparently, getting the results can take as long as a week. My hopes are low to nonexistent. :(

In the early evening I talked to H. on the phone. The poor thing caught some bug from the grandkiddies over Easter and is now down with a really bad cold. I hope she'll recover, soon, now that the holidays are over and the kids safely back to school and kindergarten, respectively.

This definitely wasn't my day. I had to cook for two days because we're supposed to have visitors tomorrow - I believe it when I see them - and I don't want to be exhausted when they arrive. I also finished that Easter cake for them, which I wouldn't have made at all otherwise; my filling hasn't exactly turned out the way I wanted it to but it looks reasonably pretty. I'll take a photo tomorrow before it gets cut because afterwards it would be an unholy mess: too hard sponge, too soft filling - a bit not good. At least everything tastes yummy.

Dreamwidth has also developed a glitch. I've tried to import my journal two times within a week - no luck. I hope they'll iron out the glitch, soon. I've started hand-copying my LJ entries, but it's boring, time consuming and annoying.

I was so exhausted from all that cooking and baking that I was practically useless for the rest of the day. The only positive thing was that H. gave us a call. The grandkids were making lots of noise in the background; I think she's dead on her feet by now, too.

And I had hoped Wednesday would be calm and relaxing. *insert sarcasm*

It started with the fact that I got some free pears at school yesterday, when I went to choir practice. Pears are ridiculously expensive in the shops nowadays, so I jumped at the chance and today I made pear&ginger jam. It was a real burner at last year's fair, and jam does not expire quickly, especially if you add enough sugar and leave the jars in dry damp (yes, I know it sounds stupid - it means to wrap them into a blanket and let them cool down slowly over two days or so) properly. So, now I have four lovely little jars of delicious pear jam. I added a few cubes of crystalized ginger and a few cloves to each jar before filling in the jam, so they look really pretty.

Then my young cousin showed up unexpectedly, bringing an external speaker for our telly, which Mum can put on the coffee table and actually hear what is being said in the programme. We gave it a trial run and it worked well; of course, this means we'll have to switch the speaker on every time, as it goes into sleeping mode fairly quickly. Still, it was nice of Danny.

After he left and I was finished with my jam, I took out Mum for a walk. We added another short stretch to our path, reaching the first bench on our way to the corner café. If the weather remains nice, we might be able to reach the café in two or three days. *fingers crossed*

Ugh, I just see I forgot to mention the crafting part, which was the very first thing I did in the morning. I made little bunnies out of large pom-poms and put them into the hand-woven little paper baskets that have been waiting for half a year or so to be used for something. I'll add little chocolate eggs tomorrow, assuming I find any at Lidl, and they'll be perfect little gifts for friends. A photo will be coming up as soon as the eggsies are added, I promise.

And just now I've typed up a whole page's worth of hand-written stuff. So I consider this day full of accomplishments.