Whoop-te-doo!

 

Just the first dose. We have to wait four months for the second one!

Books

     The other day I (roughly) calculated I have read 150 books during lockdown. I wish I had kept a list but never thought it would go on so long. Who knew what we were in for!

   Anyway, here are my current two. 

    This one I may have written about before as it is my own copy. I was between library books last week so picked it up. I love the Commisario Guido Brunetti stories as they are replete with descriptions of beautiful Venetian vistas and wonderful food (his wife, Paola, is a remarkable cook). The plots are never complicated so don't tax the brain, which I also like.

   This one from the library (don't remember why I ordered it, someone must have recommended it) is a bit of a challenge. It's a multi-generational story with themes of classism and racism intertwined with family dramas. One of the reviewers described it as "epic and sweeping without ever leaving behind the personal and profound" I don't know if I entirely agree and I find some of the characters rather disagreeable in their complacency. 'Nuff said!

    It has been damp and dreary today but I did manage a short walk between showers - also much colder.  Still haven't had to cut the grass but the rain may bring that along pretty soon!

Signs of Life

    Things are finally starting to bloom in my garden. Actually this is quite early for here - we often don't see anything until April. 

   I'm not sure what these little blue flowers are but they come up faithfully each Spring.

    Today we had a high of 19C but it is going to be cooler tomorrow - back to single digits - and next week we are expecting overnight frost. Still too early to start planting!

Exciting News!

 Yippee!! The tennis courts are open. Susan and I played singles for almost an hour this morning - first time ever in March!

A Tricky Puzzle

   This is my most recent jigsaw puzzle - it has taken me forever, mainly because it didn't have a border. And all the pieces were irregular shapes. I only stuck with it because oldest grandson was able to complete it (couldn't let him outsmart me!).

    It has been a gorgeous day and I have spent quite a bit of time outdoors, wallowing in a surprisingly strong sun. Tomorrow I must get started on sprucing up the garden but, for today, it was lovely just to relax!

A New Book

    Finished the second "Atticus Pund" book by Anthony Horowitz today and started this one:

I have just read the first couple of chapters but already it has grabbed me.

   Today wasn't particularly cold but I didn't feel like a walk so took the car up to the library. I did this early as I had two Zoom meetings today.

  The first was a Probus Club meeting with a very entertaining speaker. Her subject was "Royal Scandals, Scoundrels and Betrayals". Did you know that Princess Diana's 4X great-grandmother was an Indian servant? Lots of other juicy anecdotes. Over 40 people joined the meeting.

     The second was a welcome meeting for new retirees who have joined RTO. Only one person signed up but, nevertheless, we all talked of the activities we run and hope to start up again in the Fall. It was just nice to see old friends and catch up somewhat.

A Typical Day

    All go here today. Workout first thing this morning, then a stroll down to the drug store to mail a letter. Met a friend but didn't stop to chat too long. It was quite cold so didn't stay out too long, but it was sunny.

    After lunch and a nap I had a visit from another friend to pick up some knitting materials. She was thrilled to get some fresh supplies and stayed for a short chat, both masked, but it's the first person, other than daughter, who has been in the house in ages. She is getting her shot on Wednesday, lucky thing.

   In a fit of energy I opened a can of paint and did some touch up work that has been bothering me for a while. After that was cleaned up it was time for dinner (leftovers) and an evening of TV. I am binge watching "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", it's hilarious! So that's my day and one more day closer to getting my shot.

Crazy Weather

    It has been very windy for the last couple of days, mostly sunny but with a short but heavy downpour yesterday. But the crazy part of the weather has been the temperatures. 

    After several days of plus numbers, yesterday reached an unseasonable  high of 18C and it was still mild overnight. Early this morning it was still in positive numbers, reaching a more seasonal high of 8C. But overnight the temperature is set to fall to -8C. That's a range of 26 degrees in just 36 hours!

   Yesterday I wore just a sweater for my walk and sat outside for quite a while. Today I wore a spring jacket but it was too windy to sit outside but I was able to potter in the garden. Tomorrow it will be back to the winter coat, hat and gloves. With any luck the wind will have died down and the sun will shine so it will be bearable. It's hard for one's body to adjust to these fluctuations!

    The reason for all this changeability is the wind direction. Normally we get winds from the west or north west. Since Wednesday the winds have turned around to the south so we started to get balmy breezes coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. That really warmed things up. Starting today the wind has returned to its normal direction and it feels like air is being pushed down from the Arctic. Who knows what the rest of the month will bring but at least all the snow is gone. That's not to say we won't have another snow storm but at least the ground is no longer frozen so it won't hang around too long. Still a long way from planting time!

Ramblings

 Two Zoom meetings today - this afternoon with Bridge friends and this evening with the family, both local and across the country - the wonders of technology! It is oldest grandson's 15th birthday and, even though we can't be together in person, we will celebrate together this milestone as a family. Judy dropped off a giant cupcake which I had to promise not to eat until we were all together.

   More excitement!! Ahmet, my handyman, came today to fix holes in my roof caused, he thinks, by squirrels. I'm just glad it wasn't the dreaded raccoons as I first thought, as they are big and make a huge mess! The holes have been there since early winter (he spotted them while cleaning my gutters) but it was too dangerous for him to get up on the roof. However, mission accomplished and just in time before the Spring rains.

     It has been a gorgeous day and I ate my lunch outside for the first time this year. Later I had a walk and, after, sat on the back patio until the sun went down behind the trees. It felt so good!

Getting Geared Up

    Sunny today but still cold ( high of -2C) it's supposed to warm up later this week. I had a really long walk today, almost an hour, and sat outside until I got chilled. Things are looking up!

   On my walk I noticed that the tennis courts are nearly snow-free. It will still be a while until we get to play as the gates are still padlocked by the city. I will keep an eye on things and get my tennis group organized as soon as the nets are up. Can't wait!

    You can just see a rim of snow along the shaded side. It will be gone by the end of the week, I hope!

Gadgets

    I'm sure everyone has a cupboard full of useless gadgets bought or acquired in a fit of weakness. I have two slow cookers, one bought when the family still lived at home, and now too big for one person meals, and another smaller one perfect for cooking just for myself. I keep the bigger one for just one reason - I use it to heat up a big batch of apple cider to serve with Christmas lunch for the grandkids. Of course, I didn't need it this year as that event didn't happen.

   Here are two of my most useless gadgets:

    Have you guessed what this is? It is, in fact, an avocado slicer and pit remover. I have to confess to buying this myself (It seemed a good idea at the time). I also bought one for daughter and DIL but I'm sure neither of them has used it either. The pit remover is useless - easier just to whack the pit with a knife and remove it that way. The slicer is much messier than using a knife so it has sat in a drawer and will remain there until it is recycled to an unsuspecting buyer in a charity shop.

     This gadget is supposed to slice, dice, spiral and chop vegetables and fruit. I have yet to get it to work on anything, although daughter says it is useful on zucchini. I don't like zucchini! It was a gift from her as she never uses it - 'nuff said!

    Still very cold here so I have not "cast a clout" and won't until at least the end of the month. The wind was bitter on my walk to the mall and I was so glad to get home again. Not even any sun to warm my face!

A Lion or a Lamb?

    March definitely came in like a lion here yesterday - snow squalls, high winds - and today has stayed sunny but very cold. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, according to folk lore, the month goes out like a lamb with some mild, balmy weather? We can only hope!

   Our neighbouring region of York started booking appointments for shots to the over 80's today and there were pictures on the news of the seniors standing in long lines in the frigid weather. Not good planning on someone's part! At least by the time my turn comes the weather will, in all likelihood, have improved or I will be very reluctant to make an appointment.

   I managed a walk this morning and on my way back, ran into a friend whom I haven't seen in some time. We stopped and chatted for a while, getting caught up on this and that (we used to work together), but by the time we had exhausted our conversation, I was chilled to the bone. It was pleasant enough out today with the sun shining as long as I was moving but I quickly cooled down while standing. It took a hot bowl of soup and half an hour in bed with my book to warm me up!

This, That and the Other

    Snow flurries and gale force winds today so I have stayed indoors except for a quick trip to the bulk food store - I needed bread machine flour to make a loaf otherwise I wouldn't have ventured out!

   A new book to tell you about - "Moonflower Murders" by Anthony Horowitz. I was interested to read that, as well as having written seven other murder mysteries, the author is also a screenwriter, having created "Midsomer Murders" and "Foyle's War" - a talented and prolific writer indeed!

I often mention my family and thought you might like to see them for yourself. This photo is a few years out of date but is my favourite one with daughter, SIL and Grandkids.