Snow!

    It has been snowing all day here and, although at first it wasn't accumulating on the ground, now there are a good two inches of the stuff. I finally ventured out to clean off my car and put it in the garage as I definitely wasn't going anywhere any time soon. I do have to go out tomorrow, just hope the snow has started to melt by then. It's just too early for this kind of weather!

   Last Thursday the ladies who are eating their way around the world had a lovely lunch at a Russian place. It was called "Stroganoff" and that was what several of us had. My version was dumplings in a mushroom sauce which I had with a bowl of tasty soup - lots of meat and pickles in it. Other popular items were veal fillets stuffed with vegetables, and borscht. All very filling and another interesting outing. Next month is "S" so we are headed to a Spanish Tapas bar where we will have shared plates of tapas. I hope there are lots with fishy fillings as that was what I usually chose when in Spain on vacation.

   Dinner tonight is a warming bowl of Butter chicken with naan so that will keep the cold out. It was really easy (and inexpensive) to make with a little curry powder and, of course, a generous knob of butter!

Crafts and Gardening

   I am struggling to see while writing this as I have misplaced my reading glasses and one leg fell off my spare pair so they are balanced precariously on my nose. Have not appreciated how much my eyesight has deteriorated with age! Tomorrow I will have to shop at the dollar store for a replacement pair. Luckily they aren't too expensive there.

   Retired teachers' lunch today and very nice (if simple) it was. A salad, ham, roasted veggies and scalloped potatoes, with a very decadent chocolate and cream dessert with coffee for afters. It was also our annual craft show and, although I didn't buy anything (trying to de-clutter) it was fun to walk around and admire all the talented crafts that some of our members have undertaken.

   As the weather still remains quite mild and pleasant, I have been able to clear out most of the beds prior to winter. I still need to cut back some bushes but that can wait until all the other chores are done. Today I dug up most of the ever-spreading mint and some chive plants that threatened to overtake one bed. Next month that's where I'll plant the over wintering garlic. and let it sleep until Spring.

Thanksgiving and More

    This is Thanksgiving weekend here (not to be confused with the American Thanksgiving which, I believe, is in November) and the weather cooperated beautifully!

    I had already had one Thanksgiving meal with my friend Susan last Saturday, Swiss Chalet rotisserie chicken instead of turkey and all the trimmings. Yesterday was the "proper" meal at my daughter's house - pumpkin soup followed by a whole turkey cooked on the barbecue by son-in-law, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and a couple of interesting salads (kale and quinoa and mango), plus my roast potatoes and more roasted veggies. Oldest grandson made a pumpkin pie and there was also apple crumble but I don't know who made that. As you can imagine I was pretty stuffed by the final course and had to leave early for a nap before I dozed off and disgraced myself. It was a full house, both grandmas, one uncle as well as the resident parents, the two students home for the weekend and youngest grandson. Much jollity ensued!

   Today was a much cooler and overcast day but nevertheless, more fun at the tennis club with some light exercise on the courts followed by a pot luck lunch. The food was plentiful (especially desserts, why is that?) and I wanted to try everything. I even brought some home and I am sure there will be leftovers on tap tomorrow for our last day before the courts close for the season. 

   It may take me a few days to work off all that overeating but, fortunately, no meals out are planned until next Tuesday so I should have recovered by then. My goal for the next few days is to just eat sparingly and only when I am hungry!

   

Ringing in the Changes

     I didn't go to tennis today as it had rained overnight and the courts would have been quite wet. it was a shame as next week is the end of the season at the outdoor club. After our last day on October 14th, the bubble goes up and it is converted into an indoor (more expensive) club. The $120 I pay for the summer season is a real bargain. In the afternoon I played Bridge and, although I didn't come up with enough points to win back some money, I played well with the cards I got and was quite satisfied.

   My friend Susan and I took advantage of Swiss Chalet's Thanksgiving special meal on Saturday and it was delicious! As well as rotisserie chicken (I like the dark meat), Caesar salad, stuffing and cranberry sauce, there was a choice of pies. I chose lemon meringue instead of the traditional pumpkin pie. Susan had coconut cream which would have been my second choice. This is the only time I will eat out this week which is quite a relief after all the overeating in September. I will have another Thanksgiving meal with the family next Monday which is the Thanksgiving holiday.

   This week also marks the start of the Fall fitness classes at the Seniors' Centre. I did register for two classes but only got on the waitlist for both. The classes are free so very popular and fill up online within minutes. I just wasn't fast enough this time. I will go anyway and hope someone doesn't show up. 

   Nothing else on the agenda for the next few days so I will continue working in the garden, getting it ready for its winter slumber.