It has been a beautiful day - still quite warm but with a bit of a breeze. I had a swim this afternoon (the pool is now clear) and got quite cool after, even though I was sitting in the sun. Perfect weather for being outdoors. I spent the afternoon reading my current book, "After I'm Gone" by Laura Lippman.
A diary of my life in retirement - food, books, gardening, travel, grandkids, and other pastimes that fill my days.
Saturday, 27 July 2019
Bounty From the Garden
Two gigantic zucchinis, not from my garden, one from Judy and one from a friend. But what to do with them? The friend has promised to send me a recipe for a chocolate zucchini cake (she gave me a sample and it was very tasty) and Judy made lunch yesterday with grated zucchini, eggs and cheese baked in individual ramekins which was also very good. Maybe some muffins - I will have to Google a recipe.
Friday, 26 July 2019
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
Fresh From the Garden
It was quite hot today when I was walking to and from the senior's centre but now, at 8:00 p.m., it is a very pleasant 24C. The pool is still cloudy but I will give it a backwash tomorrow and hopefully that will clear it up. It is looking a much better colour.
My first pickings from my tomato plants!
My first pickings from my tomato plants!
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The two large ones are from a plant called "chocolate sprinkles". I will have them on a salad tonight so hope they are tasty. I have found an interesting product at my local grocery store - "living lettuce". It comes with the roots attached and is several different varieties of lettuce grown together. I keep it in the fridge with the roots in a small bowl of water and, although it doesn't keep growing, it stays fresher longer.
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Tuesday, 23 July 2019
Swimming Pool Woes
The pool guy came on Monday and now the pool is blue-ish but still murky. I can't see the bottom even at the shallow end. My regular chemical check was today and they put in more shock ("super shock" they called it) and told me what to do if it's still not clear by tomorrow. I hope I don't have to make another call as each one costs me! Also, it was quite hot today and I would have loved a swim after tennis and again after some gardening, but it is still too soon to go back in.
A good morning at tennis. It was quite busy but I still managed two sets (they are short sets - just 8 games). I could have played more but it was getting quite hot and I had had enough of socializing over coffee between play.
I have finished my current book, "The Huntress" by Kate Quinn which I enjoyed very much. She also wrote "The Alice Network" which we read at book club recently. I have now started "Recursion" by Blake Crouch and so far am reserving judgement on it. It came highly recommended so we shall see.
A good morning at tennis. It was quite busy but I still managed two sets (they are short sets - just 8 games). I could have played more but it was getting quite hot and I had had enough of socializing over coffee between play.
I have finished my current book, "The Huntress" by Kate Quinn which I enjoyed very much. She also wrote "The Alice Network" which we read at book club recently. I have now started "Recursion" by Blake Crouch and so far am reserving judgement on it. It came highly recommended so we shall see.
The gecko came out while I was typing - probably curious about this intruder in its sanctuary! It is almost always hiding in its cave.
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Sunday, 21 July 2019
An Easy Fix and a Nasty Mishap
Daughter is cooking dinner here tonight (well, only fair as there are five of them and only one of me) but when turning on the BBQ found a hole in the hose i.e. leaking gas. So had to turn on the oven. SIL ordered a new hose online. It will be delivered here on Tuesday. Sorted!
In other news, the pool is green again! I have phoned the pool guys (who are supposed to make sure this doesn't happen) so hope someone will come out tomorrow and sort it. It has been incredibly hot here for the last few days, but, even though, surely this could have been anticipated and avoided. I am not a happy camper!
In other news, the pool is green again! I have phoned the pool guys (who are supposed to make sure this doesn't happen) so hope someone will come out tomorrow and sort it. It has been incredibly hot here for the last few days, but, even though, surely this could have been anticipated and avoided. I am not a happy camper!
Friday, 19 July 2019
What to Eat?
Trying to decide what to have for dinner tonight. The family departed for their weekend at the trailer around lunch time and I hadn't made any plans for dinner.
There's nothing in the freezer I fancy but have lots of veggies to use up before shopping tomorrow so it will probably be some sort of vegetable fry up. After a glass of wine it is really hard to work up any enthusiasm for cooking, especially when it's so hot (32C today).
Holly the cat is being very well behaved today after trying to destroy my jigsaw puzzle yesterday. She obviously knows which side her bread is buttered on as I will be feeding her for the next couple of days!
There's nothing in the freezer I fancy but have lots of veggies to use up before shopping tomorrow so it will probably be some sort of vegetable fry up. After a glass of wine it is really hard to work up any enthusiasm for cooking, especially when it's so hot (32C today).
Holly the cat is being very well behaved today after trying to destroy my jigsaw puzzle yesterday. She obviously knows which side her bread is buttered on as I will be feeding her for the next couple of days!
Wednesday, 17 July 2019
The Summer Runs
Not feeling 100% today - runny tummy and loss of appetite. I just had yogurt for breakfast and a hard-boiled egg for lunch. I will eat a normal (but light) dinner and see how I feel tomorrow.
I did manage to go to my exercise class as I was getting a bit of cabin fever, and stayed to work in the kitchen, serving coffee. The hot pies we sell made me a bit nauseous but I managed to make it through my 3-hour shift. Came home and had a nap followed by a swim - it's terribly hot and humid today and will be more of the same for the next few days - supposed to get up to 34C on Saturday!
Forgot to say I did have a coffee and cookie after my exercise class as they are free when I work a shift - can't pass up a freebie!
I did manage to go to my exercise class as I was getting a bit of cabin fever, and stayed to work in the kitchen, serving coffee. The hot pies we sell made me a bit nauseous but I managed to make it through my 3-hour shift. Came home and had a nap followed by a swim - it's terribly hot and humid today and will be more of the same for the next few days - supposed to get up to 34C on Saturday!
Forgot to say I did have a coffee and cookie after my exercise class as they are free when I work a shift - can't pass up a freebie!
Monday, 15 July 2019
Friday, 12 July 2019
Tennis at Wimbledon
Thought I had better get a post in today or my followers (such as you are, not too many I think) in case you think I have "shaken off this mortal coil".
It's been a busy week with the family here and my own usual activities. I won't go over everything but today I was out extremely early to help set up the "Wimbledon Brunch" at the tennis club. It was a great spread (all pot luck) ranging from home baked scones, muffins, croissants and cake to strawberries and cream. Also crackers, cheese, watermelon, cherries, soft drinks and, of course, lots of coffee on tap all morning. We played tennis, watched the Men's semifinal matches, played more tennis and chatted. We had a huge turnout, close to 60 people (as we usually do when there is free food on offer) and tons of food left over. People were going home with almost as much as they brought!
I was home by 12:30, had a swim, a nap and then spent almost an hour getting a new gas tank for the BBQ - several false starts before I finally found the best deal. Tonight I plan to barbecue some chicken souvlaki that I found in the freezer (probably Judy's) and will have it with salad and sweet potato. Then an early night, methinks!
It's been a busy week with the family here and my own usual activities. I won't go over everything but today I was out extremely early to help set up the "Wimbledon Brunch" at the tennis club. It was a great spread (all pot luck) ranging from home baked scones, muffins, croissants and cake to strawberries and cream. Also crackers, cheese, watermelon, cherries, soft drinks and, of course, lots of coffee on tap all morning. We played tennis, watched the Men's semifinal matches, played more tennis and chatted. We had a huge turnout, close to 60 people (as we usually do when there is free food on offer) and tons of food left over. People were going home with almost as much as they brought!
I was home by 12:30, had a swim, a nap and then spent almost an hour getting a new gas tank for the BBQ - several false starts before I finally found the best deal. Tonight I plan to barbecue some chicken souvlaki that I found in the freezer (probably Judy's) and will have it with salad and sweet potato. Then an early night, methinks!
Friday, 5 July 2019
The Heat Continues
My computer has just told me it is 32C here today and I don't dispute that. It was fearfully hot at tennis this morning although we started at 8:00 a.m. People were dropping like flies (not literally which was fortunate as we have several 80- and 90-year olds) and most had drifted off by 10:30. I went home then too for a nice cool swim but grandson had turned on the pool heater, so not as refreshing as usual!
The family are off to the trailer this afternoon so it's just me, Holly and Stripey. The latter has been brought downstairs to the office as the bedroom was just too hot for her. Judy was busy jam making this morning (I did mine yesterday) so we are both now well stocked for the coming year. The strawberries were so large and luscious that it took no time at all to pick them. In fact it took me longer to drive to the strawberry field than it did to fill my bucket! I have quite a few left to snack on or freeze.
The family are off to the trailer this afternoon so it's just me, Holly and Stripey. The latter has been brought downstairs to the office as the bedroom was just too hot for her. Judy was busy jam making this morning (I did mine yesterday) so we are both now well stocked for the coming year. The strawberries were so large and luscious that it took no time at all to pick them. In fact it took me longer to drive to the strawberry field than it did to fill my bucket! I have quite a few left to snack on or freeze.
My well-stocked cupboard. |
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
Summer With a Vengeance
Terribly hot today - I think I may be sleeping in the basement tonight. I walked to and back from the senior's centre and, although it is air conditioned, I came home quite exhausted after my exercise class and kitchen duty. I had a swim when I got home and again after doing some errands. The car was like an oven!
The thermometer in the upper floor of my house is off the scale which means it is over 30C. Downstairs is set to 24C but feels much hotter. It must be the humidity, plus I have the oven on. Maybe not the smartest thing to be cooking today but I had defrosted some chicken thighs.
The lizard is enjoying the heat. I checked with grandson and it is a Leopard Gecko. He gobbled up his meal worm this morning and actually took a stroll around the tank. But Holly and I, not so much. She is sprawled out on a cool surface by the air vent.
The thermometer in the upper floor of my house is off the scale which means it is over 30C. Downstairs is set to 24C but feels much hotter. It must be the humidity, plus I have the oven on. Maybe not the smartest thing to be cooking today but I had defrosted some chicken thighs.
The lizard is enjoying the heat. I checked with grandson and it is a Leopard Gecko. He gobbled up his meal worm this morning and actually took a stroll around the tank. But Holly and I, not so much. She is sprawled out on a cool surface by the air vent.
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