Finally Lebanon

    After three aborted attempts to sample the food of Lebanon, we finally made it to Paramount restaurant for lunch today. I have to say the food was delicious but now I am feeling rather overstuffed as it was very rich. I think a little goes a long way with Lebanese food.

   Several people ordered the chicken shawarma but I chose the Veggie Lovers option which included hummus, falafels, an eggplant dip, roasted cauliflower and some other pickled and fried vegetables. Also arriving at the table were huge "balloons" of bread to share and use for scooping up the dip. Quite a novel way of eating. The meal ended with halvah brownies.

    Just a bowl of soup and half a sandwich for dinner tonight!

Shrove Tuesday

    Not sure if I got the date right but we celebrated today with a Pancake Breakfast at the Senior's Centre. The weather has been deplorable recently and was raining today (first rain of Spring) so only hardy souls turned up, around 40 or 50. Still, in my opinion, it was worth braving the elements for a tasty meal of pancakes, sausages, orange juice and coffee for $5! And I made some new friends which is always a bonus.

    I just managed to squeeze it in between a grocery shop, charging my car and making it down to Bridge by 12:15. Cards were OK and I had good partners but wasn't in the money this time around. Next week the community centre is busy with children's programs as it is March Break so we plan to relocate to a nearby pub which will be an interesting change.

   The piles of snow are lingering on and the weather seems to fluctuate between icy winds and snow pellets so we are still some way away from Spring-like weather. Maybe today's rain will signal the start of more clement weather. We can but hope!

The Start of the Meltdown

    The Big Melt has begun and I can now get easily into my driveway - I have been hacking away at the snowbank for the last couple of days of mild temperatures and have widened the  gap somewhat. No doubt we will return to below freezing temperatures in a day or two but taking advantage of this opportunity to start clearing the snow was not to be missed. We even had a glimpse of sun today which helped.

   Last week's exercise classes were cancelled due to our instructor being involved in a weather related (ie. icy roads) traffic accident. I don't think she was hurt but may be without a car for the time being. Just hoping she manages to make it to the seniors' centre this week. I have missed my usual workouts especially as it is virtually impossible to go for a decent walk to get in my daily step count. Too many snowbanks to climb over.

   My oven is on the blink - I think it is the heating element, a fairly easy fix, and I have a guy coming to look at it on Thursday. So, no baking for next week's Knitters and Crafters. Tonight's dinner is a low cook affair, just some pan fried garlic shrimp in a salad, one of my fast and easy recipes!

   I have taken a break from reading our next Book Club book (Louise Penny's "State of Terror") to indulge in lighter fare. It's Stanley Tucci's "What I Ate in One Year", lots of interesting recipes and captivating descriptions of food shopping jaunts and meals he has prepared for a huge list of celebrities. He's a bit of a name dropper! Also, all his favourite restaurants around his current home in London and jaunts he goes on around Europe. How the other half lives!

   

A Third Cancellation

   Our visit to the Lebanese restaurant, scheduled for the third time tomorrow, has been postponed yet again! We have had a massive amount of snow over the last two weeks and getting around is still extremely difficult. Plus more is forecast for tomorrow. It's not just the driving but also clambering over snowbanks when crossing the road. Also, parking lots are a sea of slush and puddles. 

    Our next rendezvous is Thursday March 6 which would have been the date of our next RODEO visit anyway. So, that is two months when we haven't been able to continue with our "Eating Around the World" project. So frustrating!

   So, instead of having a pleasant meal with friends, I will be out tomorrow shovelling or snow blowing my driveway. The snowbanks on either side are now well over my head! The only positive is that the effort to heave the snow onto the top of the pile keeps me warm and is an excellent workout. No need for exercise class for now.