tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51035447035397784802024-03-13T01:46:52.644-07:00Days in My LifeDays In My Life: A diary of my life in retirement - food, books, gardening, travel, grandkids, and other pastimes that fill my days. Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.comBlogger1853125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-37132302853484682592024-03-09T14:59:00.000-08:002024-03-09T14:59:40.088-08:00Another Birthday<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Oldest grandson and this time there was cake. He is now legal drinking age but hasn't tried it yet. I hope he carries on this way for a bit longer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> He and the rest of the family went for lunch to what he described as a "Nerd" restaurant. The food sounded lovely but I passed on it. They did come back to my place for cake and coffee after, so I was part of the celebration and was able to give him his gift. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkA03Ii6jmzGf-VQHSy9lvUms125BVGnMpbDVHhocP21SMMnod32cIcyV8KDx2NN4MOwIsSm-0DznpxZ7wBkfqdEvAK2ozC2qhAC6Dc6_1OQRPqSM3X5u1sdkhM7Z3ZTP78FPRERjJ0gtESLKsslXmOo9tDjEpONG9K9aogGtaUuWc5fCWrAoWQIKgHY/s2592/DSC00034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkA03Ii6jmzGf-VQHSy9lvUms125BVGnMpbDVHhocP21SMMnod32cIcyV8KDx2NN4MOwIsSm-0DznpxZ7wBkfqdEvAK2ozC2qhAC6Dc6_1OQRPqSM3X5u1sdkhM7Z3ZTP78FPRERjJ0gtESLKsslXmOo9tDjEpONG9K9aogGtaUuWc5fCWrAoWQIKgHY/w400-h300/DSC00034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxTjo1FtZk220reta9fghamb01hRT5MDNJ2_Qu-5XwuYwMZhQWKT8xC2ljb9gtO0mCBuYm_-sWzuj0L-qQotOaWdhsPDeZJaXnEYVEOEuvvod2ELT1vhkmJQZJjwFoteVDb7-VfhxWNwVmevDkRlBeO_ZXnE3g-e4D1fLsELp4TWfhSsYDQCmeMqIAeo/s2592/DSC00035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxTjo1FtZk220reta9fghamb01hRT5MDNJ2_Qu-5XwuYwMZhQWKT8xC2ljb9gtO0mCBuYm_-sWzuj0L-qQotOaWdhsPDeZJaXnEYVEOEuvvod2ELT1vhkmJQZJjwFoteVDb7-VfhxWNwVmevDkRlBeO_ZXnE3g-e4D1fLsELp4TWfhSsYDQCmeMqIAeo/w400-h300/DSC00035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS44woOI_lZ0F7MxADZVLRBXalbDQK_tIhE29yM0BlJZvEkEH6qfxPftYiGR5SibqbaaOZbc-Um_2uC46OTFhUhZaBpiuBDD6CHTHT-OqQjlJs7LehiNGVMYT27rZYUvWpZUKiaaZg21X4iHhskGcgzP7GDKdBCDXI5ZZmPE3s40bwaljzvCW3i6mFtk/s2592/DSC00036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS44woOI_lZ0F7MxADZVLRBXalbDQK_tIhE29yM0BlJZvEkEH6qfxPftYiGR5SibqbaaOZbc-Um_2uC46OTFhUhZaBpiuBDD6CHTHT-OqQjlJs7LehiNGVMYT27rZYUvWpZUKiaaZg21X4iHhskGcgzP7GDKdBCDXI5ZZmPE3s40bwaljzvCW3i6mFtk/w400-h300/DSC00036.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He is off to university in September so who knows if we will all be able to celebrate his birthday together in the future. </span></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-26873453729037792782024-03-07T14:46:00.000-08:002024-03-07T14:46:55.784-08:00Breaking the (Weather) Record<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Since my last post when we had our only snow fall in February, it has been decidedly un-wintery here. Yesterday was the warmest March 6 on record, one of many records broken this winter. Today is still wonderfully mild and sunny but not quite as warm. Still had on my light jacket though!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> This morning I was off to Yoga bright and early so got my stretches in and home by 10:30. After some chores I spent an hour in the garden doing the first clean up of the borders. Things are beginning to sprout but it will be some time until we actually see any Spring flowers. No buds on the trees yet either.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> After lunch it was book club and what a lively discussion we had! The book under discussion was "Spare" by Prince Harry. We had to keep reminding each other it was just his side of things but it certainly isn't very complimentary towards the Royals. And then the press, my goodness what a bunch of ne'er-do-wells!! While the majority of the group had some sympathy for Harry and Meghan, the consensus was that baring all was not the smartest thing to do. I'd be interested to hear some views from his homeland. </span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-60850655095784180122024-02-22T16:38:00.000-08:002024-02-22T16:38:11.918-08:00It Was Inevitable<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> We finally got a significant amount of snow - didn`t seem likely that we could go the whole winter without it. But the temperatures have remained higher than normal so most of it is now gone. That doesn`t mean we are done with it for this year. It`s not uncommon to get a big dump in March!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxlHuUABD3T8kRNqBhxZtLTp1NYkYpXr18-ErP0plOHFxw2Afmnhci1FxnvsS9-eUlvNVnenSN_4jdWjLBuQvrhDzM8jX55xBF_HQ8jCepsgpFoJ8IIf_IT6i5f0AXFgUhYFmfnRknHvKyByNCrHiNE3iWE_lCFwezONuwJuya7nYkF6cpn7bGrq_Dpc/s2592/DSC00030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxlHuUABD3T8kRNqBhxZtLTp1NYkYpXr18-ErP0plOHFxw2Afmnhci1FxnvsS9-eUlvNVnenSN_4jdWjLBuQvrhDzM8jX55xBF_HQ8jCepsgpFoJ8IIf_IT6i5f0AXFgUhYFmfnRknHvKyByNCrHiNE3iWE_lCFwezONuwJuya7nYkF6cpn7bGrq_Dpc/w400-h300/DSC00030.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Today was the RODEO lunch as we continue Eating Around the World. Nothing on my plate started with the letter `D` but next month for È` we are going to an Irish (or Eire) pub so that should be fun.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt1O-DZJC_2UzllYMsi0z-QKwuw_14kaoZi1riIy7rTYU2PRmM4B94sMwv7v2Bgux4q8k5m0Ywnf-9nf3w_AfFwAbFHA0elajLverZTQ3zUcPke4i-chnS8c0KxSJfC-5lLSpU2D4FxMtx6t_iL4U0VOxnW1DldYMxWcmDYEso5ADaJjljJc3EtLAPy0/s2592/DSC00032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt1O-DZJC_2UzllYMsi0z-QKwuw_14kaoZi1riIy7rTYU2PRmM4B94sMwv7v2Bgux4q8k5m0Ywnf-9nf3w_AfFwAbFHA0elajLverZTQ3zUcPke4i-chnS8c0KxSJfC-5lLSpU2D4FxMtx6t_iL4U0VOxnW1DldYMxWcmDYEso5ADaJjljJc3EtLAPy0/w400-h300/DSC00032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">That`s my meal in the front right corner, chicken fingers with plum sauce and salad. It was a rather large plate of food but I did manage to finish it! Just soup and a sandwich (actually only a half sandwich) for dinner tonight.</span><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-67963043589490179292024-02-13T18:56:00.000-08:002024-02-13T18:56:58.930-08:00Shrove Tuesday<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Another nice treat from the Executive at the Seniors' Centre today. A complete breakfast of pancakes, sausages, bacon, orange juice and coffee for just $5!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> It was a busy morning for me as it started with Chair Yoga, then a quick trip home (I live fairly close to the Centre) to change, then back for the tasty breakfast with lots of the other seniors. By the time eating and socializing was over, it was time for me to head to Bridge club. I didn't have a very good afternoon, cards-wise, but there was more coffee and cookies on tap so no complaints from me!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I needed a nap by the time I finally got home and a light dinner of avocado salad and broiled shrimp. So tasty!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-70754968711984338122024-02-09T18:44:00.000-08:002024-02-09T18:44:41.859-08:00Yoga<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> With the tennis courts locked until Spring, I have found a new activity to take the place of my thrice weekly tennis game. Last year I signed up for a ten-week Yoga class and this year I have added Chair Yoga to my weekly fitness schedule. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I find the regular (mat) yoga quite challenging, especially the balance moves, although I do feel quite a benefit from challenging myself to at least attempt most of the moves. I even managed a shoulder stand this year!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Chair Yoga isn't only a sedentary class although we do start sitting. After upper body work we move to behind our chair to work on the lower body. The chair provides support if needed and everyone works at their own level. The benefit I get from the exercises are feeling every part of my body stretched and toned and my inner calmness. It's an opportunity to rid myself of worries and stress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Both classes are held at the Seniors centre and after today's class we were treated to an early St. Valentines treat - a surprise cake and coffee courtesy of the Executive. Much appreciated by all in attendance!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-4995979483709333432024-01-28T15:01:00.000-08:002024-01-28T15:01:17.398-08:00Continuing To Eat Around the World<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The past week was not particularly busy but I did finally get to the Chair Yoga class last Tuesday. I was happy to find we didn't spend the whole hour sitting in a chair but used it for balance on several of the movements. This is good as the balance moves are the ones I have the most difficulty with in the regular Yoga class on Thursdays.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The RODEO ladies met for lunch on Friday at Prague Restaurant as we have got to the letter "C" for Czeck. I really wanted to go for Chinese but I was outvoted. There were many schnitzels and goulashes on the menu but I settled for a Caesar Salad as I was craving something green. It was excellent. Next month for "D" we are going to a steakhouse since there are no Danish restaurants around here and no one could think of another country starting with "D". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I finally finished the puzzle which was my Christmas present from oldest grandson. He did warn me it was tricky so I am happy to have it completed. The hardest part was that the picture was wrong!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jxkhSIYAlb0WQeLJOh9zeIK2MFJGb1wvWvDvevX-IziCtoM0pZg4392SjC9CTFZqo_q2q4sSD3PLAXEC728ACdk9gz3k4WQ2Bwas_li5bm0r0ng160XRrDe5AIP_D_KZObeKH4FtjbRXkHHuS0LHIbiYlO4sojhev7tM5MCsfXhlMd8EdyhR3rwBAvM/s2592/DSC00028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jxkhSIYAlb0WQeLJOh9zeIK2MFJGb1wvWvDvevX-IziCtoM0pZg4392SjC9CTFZqo_q2q4sSD3PLAXEC728ACdk9gz3k4WQ2Bwas_li5bm0r0ng160XRrDe5AIP_D_KZObeKH4FtjbRXkHHuS0LHIbiYlO4sojhev7tM5MCsfXhlMd8EdyhR3rwBAvM/w400-h300/DSC00028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-58369166159863523632024-01-20T16:22:00.000-08:002024-01-20T16:22:09.134-08:00A Special Day<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was a big birthday for the youngest grandson yesterday and it was celebrated in style with a steak BBQ despite the frigid temperatures. No birthday cake but (his request) creme brulee for afters. It was delicious!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD47z5qaskq5zpiXj2EPA02LRidszwSK_OMpSdrs5eLaUmknAb5HhxicyVcYbEY3b_YgDgw7pJSGcWOCwVljApgCI_U6GxbpCTJ2fiCv6uBZbu9yOKdHC0TX2YDVpyrPOAaKfrQG9-kSqsUjuvluBFkh8WOuX-i2gZO4YdbEnipc2wY7r2JM1EEzWpAPc/s2592/DSC00026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD47z5qaskq5zpiXj2EPA02LRidszwSK_OMpSdrs5eLaUmknAb5HhxicyVcYbEY3b_YgDgw7pJSGcWOCwVljApgCI_U6GxbpCTJ2fiCv6uBZbu9yOKdHC0TX2YDVpyrPOAaKfrQG9-kSqsUjuvluBFkh8WOuX-i2gZO4YdbEnipc2wY7r2JM1EEzWpAPc/w300-h400/DSC00026.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Can't believe he is 14! And I don't think he has stopped growing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-45172427771585734922024-01-16T14:56:00.000-08:002024-01-16T14:56:15.055-08:00Waiting To Be Read<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Books have been piling up on my bedside table and I got two more at the RWTO lunch today - just 50 cents each, can't beat that! It's a fundraiser for the women's shelter we support. I didn't donate any books today but probably will have some next month so I don't mind paying for them.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDJqGsO97fxkEwCCktOYrLSJUS5CFPAGMGsGCYkgWLwxad4gqjmPLz5S5mlmyCJHDT943PbDKR0oXJRJZsiF2wFG4ThBXQPW7K2U6jRe2VARmlTeIif-I8sjQ6pxm33knnzAt1vcOKHdG8CnCJE9HsGUYftgG9Mu6utipGUbs-FdFT21n1mu5872vtxI/s2592/DSC00025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDJqGsO97fxkEwCCktOYrLSJUS5CFPAGMGsGCYkgWLwxad4gqjmPLz5S5mlmyCJHDT943PbDKR0oXJRJZsiF2wFG4ThBXQPW7K2U6jRe2VARmlTeIif-I8sjQ6pxm33knnzAt1vcOKHdG8CnCJE9HsGUYftgG9Mu6utipGUbs-FdFT21n1mu5872vtxI/w400-h300/DSC00025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I'm reading the Camilla Lackberg book at the moment but can't wait to get stuck into the others! Since our library system has been sabotaged (a cyber attack several months ago) and I can't get my holds, I have been scrambling to find stuff I like. One is historical fiction and the other new one is by a favourite author, Elizabeth George, so I'm sure I will like it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The lunch out today was a little underwhelming as it was cottage pie (well, I can make that myself!) but with a tasty salad and rhubarb pie with ice cream for dessert, it was enjoyable enough. Plus, the friendly company made for a pleasant outing. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> The weather was very disagreeable, slippery roads, falling snow and icy underfoot, not to mention minus 10C, but almost everyone showed up. I think most people just want to get out and see some familiar faces!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-41658626090981006962024-01-11T14:55:00.000-08:002024-01-11T14:55:24.863-08:00Spoke Too Soon!<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Well, the boots have certainly had a workout this week as we have had a couple of days of wet, slushy snow. It has stayed mild (for Ontario) but is set to be frigid next week, so everything will freeze solid. I cleared the driveway just in case although it was mostly melting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> This is how I spent this morning - staring at a screen. It was the bi-monthly (hope that means every other month) meeting of the RTO District Executive and I'm glad it was decided to hold it over Zoom. I wouldn't have wanted to be driving today.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJALgsOOUB-0GYbcelxVLQvsfBuLsuRrtYry3fT73J6oBF7DI05oFlCOAFFVfIpYwBwqkeySzJ67Z-sSy6A2Xy5hIlrt7iUE4swk0y763wnPFFsYzyL2RGOqjesoJSMAjobZpcgqkJTzeINqVifHUPUsbt5BPPt72mwB5WHnhlQyTNE4TOpUV38_EzLE/s2592/DSC00024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJALgsOOUB-0GYbcelxVLQvsfBuLsuRrtYry3fT73J6oBF7DI05oFlCOAFFVfIpYwBwqkeySzJ67Z-sSy6A2Xy5hIlrt7iUE4swk0y763wnPFFsYzyL2RGOqjesoJSMAjobZpcgqkJTzeINqVifHUPUsbt5BPPt72mwB5WHnhlQyTNE4TOpUV38_EzLE/w400-h300/DSC00024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was rather a tedious meeting (2 1/2 hours) and, despite being asked to be brief with reports, certain members proceeded to go into too much detail. The reports are circulated prior to the meeting and we have all supposedly read them. Then there were the inevitable questions! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I needed some fresh air after the meeting so walked down to the plaza to check the mailbox. And that's about it for today!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-2523432250129533802024-01-05T18:53:00.000-08:002024-01-05T18:53:16.015-08:00The Weather<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> It continues to be cold but still a bit above seasonal averages. And, unbelievably, we have gotten well into the New Year without significant snowfall! You may wonder why I am so jubilant to have none of the white stuff but that is because last winter's heavy soggy snow was almost impossible to move and leaving it lying would have resulted in the possibility of not being able to leave my house until Spring!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> So far this winter I have only had to get my winter boots on once (long may that continue). I have managed my daily walks in just my joggers and I notice all my fellow walkers are similarly attired. I don't really mind having to wrap up well before setting out and usually work up some heat if I walk briskly. One can always strip off a layer or two when necessary! </span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-90153461781699623942024-01-04T08:39:00.000-08:002024-01-04T08:39:08.748-08:00No Heat Again!<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I woke up to a very chilly house again this morning. It's less than a month since I last had to call the repair guys so let's hope this time it is well and truly fixed. The techie (female again) arrived with her manager so perhaps between the two of them they will be able to diagnose and fix the problem. It's no fun being chilled to the bone when you step out of bed in the morning but the sun is out for the first time in what seems like ages. No snow yet!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Anyhoo (no that's not a typo, that how it's pronounced here, in a jokey way), time for an end of year update as I have been so busy clearing up the debris from Christmas and getting rid of all the year's cobwebs last week that I have been neglecting my blob. Christmas Day went off well with a lovely meal and fun and games <i>chez moi</i>. As usual I cooked a capon as I'm not much of a turkey fan but we like to have a bird. There was very little in the way of leftovers but I did get two more meals eked out with some fresh veg. By Wednesday there was just stuffing left but I managed to make a meal of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZCi7NTVXZFnqxAXHiaYyT9jR7noIT_sl2g7pdllHuitCYBVT6xycQQk8M6cp-d9SLb8crT_05kKhtLjEnhhM-JwtSxgMpoqkiPibSy8ZL_u-IE4rCK7MSBy4pHiivNOxhIfqoHGILR3QSSnda0gumlaELi-A6-9jmUp4hBwcYzBGCHPCErW5p50FF6w/s2592/DSC00023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZCi7NTVXZFnqxAXHiaYyT9jR7noIT_sl2g7pdllHuitCYBVT6xycQQk8M6cp-d9SLb8crT_05kKhtLjEnhhM-JwtSxgMpoqkiPibSy8ZL_u-IE4rCK7MSBy4pHiivNOxhIfqoHGILR3QSSnda0gumlaELi-A6-9jmUp4hBwcYzBGCHPCErW5p50FF6w/w400-h300/DSC00023.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Just six of us this year but lovely to have the three generations all together. I should have got a photo of us wearing our party hats but at least youngest grandson deigned to remove his baseball cap.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLZnOXxn0l4NKL1PhPgTMTXb-8o2J4Ww4sLfzr5EqyxU7TAz523zrKeSK4gH-Kb8GgnJ_G9N5L6PNVkhlwwrP2Tn6eDH-9HJamFmcVRIhyphenhyphenqhaD3QO69WZWtWssHiqbIIO9G6wVeP6w0QH2p6MdzdSRURWK65qZELX7cFbRvqGHoTCb4CNoE0jmJ_YVqA/s2592/DSC00022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLZnOXxn0l4NKL1PhPgTMTXb-8o2J4Ww4sLfzr5EqyxU7TAz523zrKeSK4gH-Kb8GgnJ_G9N5L6PNVkhlwwrP2Tn6eDH-9HJamFmcVRIhyphenhyphenqhaD3QO69WZWtWssHiqbIIO9G6wVeP6w0QH2p6MdzdSRURWK65qZELX7cFbRvqGHoTCb4CNoE0jmJ_YVqA/w400-h300/DSC00022.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The festive table before the meal. Blogger loaded the photos backwards again. Next time I will load from back to front just to confuse things!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> This week is still holidays but, fortunately, my Bridge group met on Tuesday and today is Book Club. Next week the Seniors' Centre will be back in business and the fitness classes start up again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The heat has just come back on, hallelujah!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-7472309920407331362023-12-22T14:53:00.000-08:002023-12-22T14:53:48.570-08:00Winter Solstice<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The last of the early dark evenings although I doubt we will notice any difference for a few weeks. Strangely, we are having quite unseasonally warm weather here and will definitely not be having a white Christmas. Freezing rain overnight which will make my early morning shop tomorrow for the last of the Christmas meal essentials tricky.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> We had one last fitness class this morning and Alison had chosen Christmas music for us to work out to. It was way faster than her usual CD so we had a rather brisk workout! Since that will be it until January it was good to get the blood coursing and the muscles active. I will work out at home for the next two weeks but less enthusiastically than with the group. In January I am adding Yoga to my timetable. Can`t wait to get started on that!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Here`s my favourite Christmas tune from the movie, `Love Actually`.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5S7i8HB-zNc" width="320" youtube-src-id="5S7i8HB-zNc"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-63980530194085512982023-12-21T16:38:00.000-08:002023-12-21T16:38:54.352-08:00Finally Getting the Christmas Spirit<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> T</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">oday was the Probus Christmas party and 40 of us went to a Greek restaurant, `Flogo Estoria`, for a convivial meal. I had Spanakopita and others at my table had Moussaka, Souvlaki and Greek Salad, all delicious! One of the best parts was that my meal wasn`t too filling as I have definitely been overeating this month. Even this week I ate out two other times (both on Tuesday, unfortunately), a pot luck lunch at the Bridge group and Swiss Chalet for the `Festive Special` dinner with the family.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> For the pot luck lunch I made sausage rolls but as Covid has hit that group recently, the turnout was a bit reduced and I actually brought some rolls home. I'll have them over the next few days with salads. I`m ever mindful that there`s a big meal coming up soon!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Earlier this evening I started to dress the Christmas tree and the fireplace mantel. I had to steal some greenery from my neighbour since my Blue Spruce which I normally use has long since died and been removed. The branches were slightly overhanging the fence so, technically, on my property! I don`t think she`ll notice.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf7vcJwHWcSvi8Iohs-FR3sLEQjCWRL9ZEx9dQawbaFJLs9QRQMXJAzWp1POP5-AKTyHAcI4n2x3uPiel1om7b6hP2HloGzs3JfLB5xWpxeBPaAVocu7K3SBADe6A4nMAWhhzer-fxVyipyLqiI_C73SR0X6o5Y_2WM46mxiTWu4WF3otYQ3DODipvjU/s2592/DSC00017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf7vcJwHWcSvi8Iohs-FR3sLEQjCWRL9ZEx9dQawbaFJLs9QRQMXJAzWp1POP5-AKTyHAcI4n2x3uPiel1om7b6hP2HloGzs3JfLB5xWpxeBPaAVocu7K3SBADe6A4nMAWhhzer-fxVyipyLqiI_C73SR0X6o5Y_2WM46mxiTWu4WF3otYQ3DODipvjU/w400-h300/DSC00017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUigVNkpdHpEkb1svfEc0UB_hifSTYa1u7B63kvtXDy2QErMzZe8VTyCZU_XoQe0PRo93cK3BFpNjUT65TI1hjOMLzUKzsHPwzP2eCFu567_0je3fhXiJtczpQPU4zQUk1Ls9Zm-uInLb7kvSYWMlqe2aAz9ZRtiPnSshV_RcoKCYDWVFsgZTN1rq_BI/s2592/DSC00019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUigVNkpdHpEkb1svfEc0UB_hifSTYa1u7B63kvtXDy2QErMzZe8VTyCZU_XoQe0PRo93cK3BFpNjUT65TI1hjOMLzUKzsHPwzP2eCFu567_0je3fhXiJtczpQPU4zQUk1Ls9Zm-uInLb7kvSYWMlqe2aAz9ZRtiPnSshV_RcoKCYDWVFsgZTN1rq_BI/w400-h300/DSC00019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-53332785892055759822023-12-13T14:17:00.000-08:002023-12-13T14:17:15.684-08:00No Heat!<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I woke up this morning to a rather chilly house - just 13C and outside is hovering on zero so it's likely to get even colder. It is rather uncomfortable "chez moi" at the moment.</span></p><p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The technician is here tinkering with the furnace but doesn't seem to be having much success although I did hear it run for a few moments. So she (yes it's a young woman!) must be making some progress. The furnace is in the basement right under my office and I can hear her on her phone, probably asking for advice from her supervisor. I don't relish another cold night!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I have the gas fire on in the family room so at least I have a little heat. And I have an electric blanket which will keep me comfortable in bed. However, I would much rather just be able to have the furnace keeping me cozy in any room in the house!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-57835803813440199682023-12-09T15:22:00.000-08:002023-12-09T15:22:45.851-08:00Another Outing<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I don't usually eat out a lot, maybe once a month if that, but it seems to be never ending at this time of year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Friday was the Seniors Christmas Party at the Mandarin Buffet restaurant for which I had been able to snag a ticket last week. I don't know how many people belong to the seniors centre but they sold 120 tickets in a matter of hours and many people were left out, unfortunately.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The Mandarin is not a cheap place to eat giving that it is unlimited food but the cost was quite heavily subsidized by the Executive at the Centre, so we only paid $15. I have to be very careful not to overindulge at this type of eatery as my eyes are always bigger than my stomach (as my mother used to tell me). After the meal there were lucky prizes (I didn't win anything) and a sing-a-long of Christmas carols. All very jolly but by then I was so full all I wanted was to go home for a nap. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> For some reason Blogger loaded my photos from back to front, but you get the idea - four trips the food counters. Does that count as exercise?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2lK6dw444Ijw5baas5gkPAY5CoAO_7HepYxNNOpgI0RCJNhAkteviyXLwz4zhxPKNIMtqC9leBxilVlYTLVAUimaqWPfYUOZFZinGrGlrK5gLXaiya6gABCHeKLX9eJzUzlSk1GFWTrAgB6lH9orKJQIsMVWZX8GO7r7NzzqoftoqMgfBzmWVIbDisA/s2592/DSC00016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2lK6dw444Ijw5baas5gkPAY5CoAO_7HepYxNNOpgI0RCJNhAkteviyXLwz4zhxPKNIMtqC9leBxilVlYTLVAUimaqWPfYUOZFZinGrGlrK5gLXaiya6gABCHeKLX9eJzUzlSk1GFWTrAgB6lH9orKJQIsMVWZX8GO7r7NzzqoftoqMgfBzmWVIbDisA/w400-h300/DSC00016.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My friend Carol was the only one at our table who won a prize.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSORtQ0fqS-TPu7jqSKpSptn4JquZCX5w0UGlVM1z0iH9NHEvzafh2jmbqeNlt99w9ung-ueXGvNqu98donmxWQR0bR7-yljyCmF2EtP9IqsCzZD86_gQbazW26P5v-3TE0rXlE73xqeLrL1N8uBJ72bf_9z-U03zRI3bKE5BhfZWowtl0SOq13VmSYE/s2592/DSC00015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSORtQ0fqS-TPu7jqSKpSptn4JquZCX5w0UGlVM1z0iH9NHEvzafh2jmbqeNlt99w9ung-ueXGvNqu98donmxWQR0bR7-yljyCmF2EtP9IqsCzZD86_gQbazW26P5v-3TE0rXlE73xqeLrL1N8uBJ72bf_9z-U03zRI3bKE5BhfZWowtl0SOq13VmSYE/w400-h300/DSC00015.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This was the judging for the "Ugly Christmas Sweater" competition which was the theme of the party.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFZKkakwEF0BIQW9n-88lShLEO94Otou90JcHiiozyW3XglPAMY6J6_OPX5CPIluBtcaIK5Vwfd67LM6VQlQ9YvhB55vZi9f1KSaPVclQAOcBG_HDpC9PHuDOkQB6FVbmEwLavEScJyPliMMCLSY4BDAxts5aNoKEoqNa0tJPp3RuI0auQzElwkXXNgE/s2592/DSC00014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFZKkakwEF0BIQW9n-88lShLEO94Otou90JcHiiozyW3XglPAMY6J6_OPX5CPIluBtcaIK5Vwfd67LM6VQlQ9YvhB55vZi9f1KSaPVclQAOcBG_HDpC9PHuDOkQB6FVbmEwLavEScJyPliMMCLSY4BDAxts5aNoKEoqNa0tJPp3RuI0auQzElwkXXNgE/w400-h300/DSC00014.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Delicious desserts but by that time I was too stuffed. I just had a creme caramel and chocolate ice cream cake.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlpgT4vy6cwo-AKgFkX7UE4ug9Nhq_r5Uhh4AEh9Jldq9CTiDCOOdEJ_r67FnTA8e9HOD9WppoORulFrmbK8uunt4SHcSYODX7lUWDAZHfx9Sw7wR7aBNtzEgU4XpZCWRpHMWrIAij7RFiU726gSr5e-rs7-j4eUOevTJkLJBZ7RRAsrjhvQlo7SOVr8/s2592/DSC00013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlpgT4vy6cwo-AKgFkX7UE4ug9Nhq_r5Uhh4AEh9Jldq9CTiDCOOdEJ_r67FnTA8e9HOD9WppoORulFrmbK8uunt4SHcSYODX7lUWDAZHfx9Sw7wR7aBNtzEgU4XpZCWRpHMWrIAij7RFiU726gSr5e-rs7-j4eUOevTJkLJBZ7RRAsrjhvQlo7SOVr8/w400-h300/DSC00013.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The salad bar - I just went for the seafood and a Caesar salad.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPORjfQT5yRDASdyRh63l9Qk7J-3VGY9UM96fg0EjANf69pOuRSXbODQHVWbogYx20ZQlS-YWtYcgzyg5vVHB4XRaC0vuaVY_WbA3B0Zt-ouKeDme2ZhCLwbniKHTIYnnci9gRTKv-uE5Hk5oL1JKaL8EHDReGH2jDmi45u3GM82OBl157kTK6Yie0LMU/s2592/DSC00012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPORjfQT5yRDASdyRh63l9Qk7J-3VGY9UM96fg0EjANf69pOuRSXbODQHVWbogYx20ZQlS-YWtYcgzyg5vVHB4XRaC0vuaVY_WbA3B0Zt-ouKeDme2ZhCLwbniKHTIYnnci9gRTKv-uE5Hk5oL1JKaL8EHDReGH2jDmi45u3GM82OBl157kTK6Yie0LMU/w400-h300/DSC00012.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The hot tables - so many choices. My favourite was sweet and sour battered fish. I'm afraid I chose too many non-healthy items!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHH6_6L9JjLox2I_sZk9Ccm4ct1fzr_5nF0_h6OUsq5ACgjwHZxSTmnGe5x_mqF5Nn_yWkZMJx0ZvmIvI7EjDyBVYBERyA1aE5lOyLYQDV6-zLJu6-ZZmZRGBMb28vYO04XNt5R2gA8i4G8BsRdlCcYSA2H0oQuxx_JZJ4a8q7on0iK2i0SxBh5tguCc/s2592/DSC00011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHH6_6L9JjLox2I_sZk9Ccm4ct1fzr_5nF0_h6OUsq5ACgjwHZxSTmnGe5x_mqF5Nn_yWkZMJx0ZvmIvI7EjDyBVYBERyA1aE5lOyLYQDV6-zLJu6-ZZmZRGBMb28vYO04XNt5R2gA8i4G8BsRdlCcYSA2H0oQuxx_JZJ4a8q7on0iK2i0SxBh5tguCc/w400-h300/DSC00011.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The sushi bar - I went there first and tried one of each type but forgot to get any of the hot wasabi mustard. Next time!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Needless to say I didn't eat again until very late in the evening and only to prevent waking up hungry in the middle of the night. It was just a bowl of soup and a small sandwich. Today I feel able to eat normally again.</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-61536635986477430092023-12-07T15:00:00.000-08:002023-12-07T15:00:58.639-08:00'Tis the Season..... for over-eating!<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> A couple of busy days this week. On Tuesday the ladies who lunch (AKA RODEO - Retired Old Dames Eating Out ) had their pre-Christmas outing to Gerhard's Cafe for afternoon tea. Except for having to wait until 2:00 p.m. (I skipped lunch) which is seemingly the appropriate time for afternoon tea, it was a lovely treat, served in a very decadent fashion with all the trimmings. Some of the group even went home with additional purchases of Christmas stollen and gingerbread cookies. The cafe is truly a haven of delicious treats!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRtGVC60b7_3KCsyPFlJP-fq8lwowCoChZvc6PDoEQPkHSIbx5kg-FfrEQ2LDmrFrNHcmZDuGapq9GwIqeCICqgmMyrVuqRF9FyDcckcP3eahuFTc4nO2W11e86axT-BlGDv7ryHPwqLbobtC8cuo_vL1t2Fjta7UvvohuQY5gUomu3_MSCeku-UqkXw/s2592/DSC00004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRtGVC60b7_3KCsyPFlJP-fq8lwowCoChZvc6PDoEQPkHSIbx5kg-FfrEQ2LDmrFrNHcmZDuGapq9GwIqeCICqgmMyrVuqRF9FyDcckcP3eahuFTc4nO2W11e86axT-BlGDv7ryHPwqLbobtC8cuo_vL1t2Fjta7UvvohuQY5gUomu3_MSCeku-UqkXw/w400-h300/DSC00004.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Christmas crackers and paper hats as we are into December.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZCP7jELd2uB97_O9pPeI19K2p2KaId-83ZZtwGr5ptcHao7EynKrmMbzsJaOo278l1ixEL2qxfriNt9sG-WmGBXaRHcu-R3xqAZ3AXjbrV393ZShvmd6bGbpILZ4hiyU9m4r98-ub7iUpY3hnBmX7M-KbesmiqKUNly_sV7mxzOKCqS9KBizsF4i8yw/s2592/DSC00005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZCP7jELd2uB97_O9pPeI19K2p2KaId-83ZZtwGr5ptcHao7EynKrmMbzsJaOo278l1ixEL2qxfriNt9sG-WmGBXaRHcu-R3xqAZ3AXjbrV393ZShvmd6bGbpILZ4hiyU9m4r98-ub7iUpY3hnBmX7M-KbesmiqKUNly_sV7mxzOKCqS9KBizsF4i8yw/w400-h300/DSC00005.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I chose Earl Grey tea and drank a gallon of it as the pot was frequently replenished.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2xg9ljD0sK23wy8zahTAv7qDpnqa0twrFcxa2zM3rou9tCymMSBYni5FT7ZW4ZcYXzPoAVYynSU06j0kTZtswESr60kqkr5YW2wiBH_w42Mas1EDqv4y-LWoh4NcmGHZKaigarBzJId6SJl_BX6GdxF6dHGHBki_zr1dUkkEE5mXwbDcC1H3EkdKBIk/s2592/DSC00006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2xg9ljD0sK23wy8zahTAv7qDpnqa0twrFcxa2zM3rou9tCymMSBYni5FT7ZW4ZcYXzPoAVYynSU06j0kTZtswESr60kqkr5YW2wiBH_w42Mas1EDqv4y-LWoh4NcmGHZKaigarBzJId6SJl_BX6GdxF6dHGHBki_zr1dUkkEE5mXwbDcC1H3EkdKBIk/w400-h300/DSC00006.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We each got a mammoth slice of this chocolate cake which was truly decadent!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm8QrnyEhb5WaHodFeTWdTTrzYkwi0fO1q3UZqAsEYXl7YCu0odlIr094tbI80UByP03DFhdSvw3oC1LhUwERkAI0TOfJBkSBWRFaRIaRoRkVzhW1ceF7ESwPTe1XkIBLqd_cyVznV5IP0Hk_Y-vjdm7qv3Kr6P0E5QzVIn9Enkd4JUd438daVk_Quv8/s2592/DSC00007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm8QrnyEhb5WaHodFeTWdTTrzYkwi0fO1q3UZqAsEYXl7YCu0odlIr094tbI80UByP03DFhdSvw3oC1LhUwERkAI0TOfJBkSBWRFaRIaRoRkVzhW1ceF7ESwPTe1XkIBLqd_cyVznV5IP0Hk_Y-vjdm7qv3Kr6P0E5QzVIn9Enkd4JUd438daVk_Quv8/w400-h300/DSC00007.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1euWYs2s21Z7YIOssLu-MGT494c9auyKxCU38qK0uBv753jAEG7x4v2jDommCtkHFp2Ux9FcGbo2tQOu-Q02LTbknecxCelfo0ofto4ZvsteIopGxGOs31gcKinc_-5n9g1QmFY2DHnHSJIONXDyVCJzjeIwZ9o_bO5qZo3UbagqIhyphenhyphenLi5SD-BplTSno/s2592/DSC00008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1euWYs2s21Z7YIOssLu-MGT494c9auyKxCU38qK0uBv753jAEG7x4v2jDommCtkHFp2Ux9FcGbo2tQOu-Q02LTbknecxCelfo0ofto4ZvsteIopGxGOs31gcKinc_-5n9g1QmFY2DHnHSJIONXDyVCJzjeIwZ9o_bO5qZo3UbagqIhyphenhyphenLi5SD-BplTSno/w400-h300/DSC00008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvsihcJL4lSgL2n5vtYevPfXsKuJDGEKRIqVAT-cuGvksgpNOg2zF3gQkq44LJu8oylztxR3In_3c-__28_Ro2ytmobTgBFKNdG57RUJsPaUaf7WeVxlxfv8FzkpS_gNoswCaixrZL7Ch-teVHTV_dl109VZNBFRds943JnIDJngDxgOWsOAjT5Pxe28/s2592/DSC00009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvsihcJL4lSgL2n5vtYevPfXsKuJDGEKRIqVAT-cuGvksgpNOg2zF3gQkq44LJu8oylztxR3In_3c-__28_Ro2ytmobTgBFKNdG57RUJsPaUaf7WeVxlxfv8FzkpS_gNoswCaixrZL7Ch-teVHTV_dl109VZNBFRds943JnIDJngDxgOWsOAjT5Pxe28/w400-h300/DSC00009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s9l5lGK_TfctI1OTDZikYjmbKVJAia8bS4A8WKTu6ZpM1mgp3awWXR4RYoyrXVWIkYIEeHnDKDUW2p-Lf79IZs00R1PQi8inWPbrl1t2iniXOqogKMeIByBcVu2b9wDLXfdeoteWAy0afwT7TXN4K9KND-4rZLZCU1I1edV2DEYGpYXihxSFdwd0hlk/s2592/DSC00010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s9l5lGK_TfctI1OTDZikYjmbKVJAia8bS4A8WKTu6ZpM1mgp3awWXR4RYoyrXVWIkYIEeHnDKDUW2p-Lf79IZs00R1PQi8inWPbrl1t2iniXOqogKMeIByBcVu2b9wDLXfdeoteWAy0afwT7TXN4K9KND-4rZLZCU1I1edV2DEYGpYXihxSFdwd0hlk/w400-h300/DSC00010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> I managed to refrain from buying anything else but was truly tempted. However, I have all my Christmas baking in the freezer to nibble on for the rest of the month.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Today was Book Club and Clara and I were presenting the book and supplying the refreshments. We did go a bit overboard on the food but, what the hey! It's almost Christmas. The book, "The Hidden Child" by Louise Fein, was well received and proved very popular - lots of meaningful discussion. Tomorrow brings another special event but more on that later. I will need the weekend to recover from all the excessive eating!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-2947938460805058772023-11-27T15:38:00.000-08:002023-11-27T15:38:42.415-08:00On the Go <p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> A snow squall this morning but no accumulation on the ground which is still not frozen. However, it is a sign of what's in store for us soon. Some years we can get through December without snow which is a definite bonus!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I had an early start as the tickets for the Seniors Christmas lunch at the Mandarin buffet restaurant went on sale this morning. I was there by 8:30 as I had another place to be later and managed to snag one of the first tickets. They sell out really fast as they are subsidized by the Executive of the Centre and are a really good deal. More on that later. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Then it was off to Hava Java for coffee and a muffin. We had a good turnout and much good conversation. We won't be meeting again until January as people are so busy or on vacation in December so there were lots of Christmas wishes despite still being November.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> On my way back I stopped at the other community centre to pick up an application for the room we use for the Knitters group. Our current rental agreement runs out next month so, hopefully, we will get the room from January to June of next year. We just use it once a month but it has lots of cupboard space to stow our supplies in between meetings. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Next stop was back to the seniors centre (and, yes, the tickets were almost all gone as we suspected) for an afternoon of Bridge. My partner and I had terrible cards (or played really badly) as the other pair won all three rubbers. Luckily no money changed hands!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-51778649000461686782023-11-24T15:08:00.000-08:002023-11-24T15:08:07.896-08:00Too Much of a Good Thing<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Fitness class was cancelled again today as Alison went on a two week vacation without giving the coordinator time to find a replacement. Also my Wednesday class was cancelled as Brenda was sick so only my home workouts this week. They are quite good, cover cardio, abdominals and upper and lower body toning but are rather boring! I'd much rather workout in a class.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> This was all rather unfortunate as I had a week of overeating. Tuesday was the worst as it was the Christmas lunch at the country club - turkey, stuffing etc. followed by gooey squares and coffee. All delicious but I had to be careful as I was going out in the evening for granddaughter's 16th birthday party. I tried to eat the minimum at both events but it was all so delicious! Just too bad to have two meals scheduled for the same day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Thursday was the RODEO "Eating Around the World" outing. This month it was the letter B and we ate at a Turkish restaurant for The Balkans. I just had an appetizer but that was followed by yummy Turkish Delight with rosewater and pistachios. Next time will be January and for the letter C it will either be China or Czeck, I voted for dim sum at a Chinese place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> One nice thing was the entertainment at the Tuesday lunch - the Enchanted Flutes, a group of musicians who, as always, were spectacular! We were singing along and dancing in the aisles - I was anyway. That's one way to work off a big meal!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-63443517193272133982023-11-19T15:13:00.000-08:002023-11-19T15:13:50.366-08:00Mix-it-up Sunday<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I stopped by the bulk food store the other day and stocked up on all the supplies I needed for the Christmas plum pudding. So today was the day to go into action!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> It wasn't a big job and getting in there with my hands made it go faster. But now it's done and dusted and, once it cools off, will be stored in a dry place to mature until Christmas Day. Then I will steam it again for an hour and we will all enjoy its rich goodness!'</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcSAY15E70UMQyiQREEfTSLu6L86BwO9XX66LXACevBeKbZri2dQCPrhCaQ21lrhM2kmlBV0T_c27B0IDvO4ZAz-crdTzFjCEz5bLfkSAwlm3tiNNaFc_gJmnXPZtTLY0d2u7achUaEH6t9M8Zl4QQt_fC86Jv4FxSVlve6c_cDXO6lTAzhjPvD4BU-c/s2592/DSC09996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcSAY15E70UMQyiQREEfTSLu6L86BwO9XX66LXACevBeKbZri2dQCPrhCaQ21lrhM2kmlBV0T_c27B0IDvO4ZAz-crdTzFjCEz5bLfkSAwlm3tiNNaFc_gJmnXPZtTLY0d2u7achUaEH6t9M8Zl4QQt_fC86Jv4FxSVlve6c_cDXO6lTAzhjPvD4BU-c/w400-h300/DSC09996.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiw6hthXbyLtWpBPonRThxpkvIwqr2ugb3cQbxt6W8QrvvJSiNssnfOESwvN7ycY-ZmETMy7wL9qIPhGJ0wAmXGP9UzJpO_CFdHxHIUF1wxG5JVxI74LHjrRM3UE1L6zMGkE6-M8WOpkd0nJ0rvFlh-6FacAYmYNi12FqeK-X_KZz7V-7lSc60zIJBdU/s2592/DSC09997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiw6hthXbyLtWpBPonRThxpkvIwqr2ugb3cQbxt6W8QrvvJSiNssnfOESwvN7ycY-ZmETMy7wL9qIPhGJ0wAmXGP9UzJpO_CFdHxHIUF1wxG5JVxI74LHjrRM3UE1L6zMGkE6-M8WOpkd0nJ0rvFlh-6FacAYmYNi12FqeK-X_KZz7V-7lSc60zIJBdU/w400-h300/DSC09997.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF1l6QY35rdSjNnlywD7KNc9xRp6Fsfzmo4GneXsv1moNYoOV-IFfEA-WKjA5t7ITKaXH-z67x8tUNUF77rWv-Uj4MEeDq2sx1YkxMJuzvkPaj8PHYmJYHjZYo9a5-IMgu3uk3o5oh9KFr5El-Pj2CLhkYS9ImeH_zU-XNORg6T86U2sCONjLuUCTGJ8/s2592/DSC09998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF1l6QY35rdSjNnlywD7KNc9xRp6Fsfzmo4GneXsv1moNYoOV-IFfEA-WKjA5t7ITKaXH-z67x8tUNUF77rWv-Uj4MEeDq2sx1YkxMJuzvkPaj8PHYmJYHjZYo9a5-IMgu3uk3o5oh9KFr5El-Pj2CLhkYS9ImeH_zU-XNORg6T86U2sCONjLuUCTGJ8/w400-h300/DSC09998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9lmCQDA4jnHnglstbbYtg3dfG-JzLa-Kd8f4RQTbIqVG7D40ScC_xxst1gH8R_gdSsvrw24mw60N36xfnbKMw2kWqLt3WgTjjZn-Y83Z9AZgtcgLPij_otJKmR0Fl4-vAFxHbzqgGgI0l5jG-aOkJGWt4jrRHKBJMT4YVQLpfmGehSMK7i9zoIJIghg/s2592/DSC09999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9lmCQDA4jnHnglstbbYtg3dfG-JzLa-Kd8f4RQTbIqVG7D40ScC_xxst1gH8R_gdSsvrw24mw60N36xfnbKMw2kWqLt3WgTjjZn-Y83Z9AZgtcgLPij_otJKmR0Fl4-vAFxHbzqgGgI0l5jG-aOkJGWt4jrRHKBJMT4YVQLpfmGehSMK7i9zoIJIghg/w400-h300/DSC09999.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The finished product. It weighs 3 and a half pounds!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-77936011578313075822023-11-16T15:08:00.000-08:002023-11-16T15:08:28.655-08:00Free Books and a Cheap Meal - what's not to like?<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> With the runup to Christmas my calendar is filling up fast. I am endeavoring to limit myself to one meal out a week, not just to avoid overeating but also with the cost of eating out. This week has been good as I just went to the "Festive Special" with two of my Bridge friends at the Seniors Centre on Tuesday. The meal was catered by Swiss Chalet (our local chicken franchise), followed by entertainment by the Line Dancers. We got the meal for just $10, subsidized by the Centre Executive. It was a sold out event as it was such a good deal!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Today was the November Probus meeting and I found the speaker this week rather disappointing, partially because she didn't use the microphone properly and I missed a lot of her presentation. However, it was still nice to be out and socializing with friends and acquaintances. I found a couple of interesting books on the book exchange table (I had brought in four books I was done with) one of which was long-listed for this year's Giller Prize. Can't wait to get started on it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> In the afternoon I had a long walk as the weather was cooperating and I had my hat and gloves off by the time I got home. Lovely blue skies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-43647092351204506362023-11-11T15:10:00.000-08:002023-11-11T15:10:22.675-08:00One More Job Done<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Got the gas technician in the other day to light the pilot light on my gas fire. No idea why it went out but it is tricky to reignite. He had it done very quickly, cleaned up the fireplace and had everything back to normal in no time. I was very pleased and now I am cosy in the family room. Saves heating the whole house in the evenings when I am watching TV. Yippee!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-76684242150620594832023-11-06T14:43:00.001-08:002023-11-06T14:43:56.526-08:00Frost on the Pumpkin<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Yes, we've had frost a couple of nights but no snow so far. I have a lot to catch up on as it is ages since my last post. I just don't seem to have any enthusiasm for getting my thoughts down!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The weather has been pretty miserable - today we had thunder and lightning - but I have been plugging away at getting the garden ready for winter. I put compost on some of my more delicate perennials, mostly roses, but also the clematis. Hope they all survive! The grass has had its last cut so it only means raking up all the leaves and composting them. Today we had strong winds and heavy rain so that should bring down most of the leaves. I don't usually start raking until they are all down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Hallowe'en went by pretty well unnoticed on my street as we have very few families with kids. I didn't even bother carving and lighting a pumpkin, and only had one ring of my doorbell (I didn't answer it, Scrooge that I am!). We had a meeting of the RTO Executive on Thursday at the local Community Centre but it didn't even get started as we had to evacuate for a fire in the electrical room. Luckily I live fairly close by so we decamped to my living room and managed to get through the agenda by noon. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Book club that afternoon was a very lively discussion (aren't they always?) of "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennet. Clara and I are presenting the next book in December, "The Hidden Child" (more on that later) so we had better come up with some good questions!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> This Monday's meeting of the Knitters and Crafters had to be cancelled due to the aforementioned fire (we meet in the same building) and I also missed my Bridge game as I had got a substitute to play for me so I could go for lunch with the Crafting ladies! Best laid plans, and all that!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-37477856666571126762023-10-29T17:03:00.000-07:002023-10-29T17:03:06.563-07:00Stay-at-home Sunday<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Tennis is pretty much over for the year. We had planned to play this morning but it was cold (5C) and damp so common sense prevailed and we stayed home. The nets will come down in a couple of days and that will be it until late April or early May. I had quite a long walk this afternoon once it had dried up, but I was well bundled up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I bought another humungous cauliflower this week and, since I am still eating (from the freezer) the soup I made with the last one, I decided to make a casserole with lots of cheese and a crunchy topping instead. Inevitably there was some tomato added! It was yummy and will last me several days.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pvmVL-_8ObU5CsdcmWluZjmnFI0nEXxTp4Sgsi-0Wj9G0bmCyWj8p__rasb9gajEiWmDFuI1JeOBxvnRdDF9n-UMYvOqF5EnWVniG35i2Yy7Q5me1QXziRhpNyJJaqaEl1p186ELPPnipIUE3gB0uDd5F_K7mwM6PTiVwDyeI-zo4eiM3o-AZYpI1qw/s2592/DSC09993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pvmVL-_8ObU5CsdcmWluZjmnFI0nEXxTp4Sgsi-0Wj9G0bmCyWj8p__rasb9gajEiWmDFuI1JeOBxvnRdDF9n-UMYvOqF5EnWVniG35i2Yy7Q5me1QXziRhpNyJJaqaEl1p186ELPPnipIUE3gB0uDd5F_K7mwM6PTiVwDyeI-zo4eiM3o-AZYpI1qw/w400-h300/DSC09993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5uzTp4-0estnEF3i9DoCGIFbGnOw0LIxrDt_yxOPKa5X3XPg69s82tQXX08Z0-UrbYusTHxjYjzD7ey542iZy6M49Ah8unxA7PdX710C5JYa5eE3UU5wxP6cdbDgHEoPTz6HG5uStxXH38bPx41sZqOxq8khMgJtbYJhnYsZgumqkmZQsx9EF-Tgxgw/s2592/DSC09994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5uzTp4-0estnEF3i9DoCGIFbGnOw0LIxrDt_yxOPKa5X3XPg69s82tQXX08Z0-UrbYusTHxjYjzD7ey542iZy6M49Ah8unxA7PdX710C5JYa5eE3UU5wxP6cdbDgHEoPTz6HG5uStxXH38bPx41sZqOxq8khMgJtbYJhnYsZgumqkmZQsx9EF-Tgxgw/w400-h300/DSC09994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Another puzzle finished - this one has been on the go for nearly a month but I was determined not to give up. Now it can go back to the friend I borrowed it from. She did warn me it would take a while.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOXYELfXNsp2kRJZrYT80Sr_dJT8_8y5UwBIBGA437P6RHeAZrdeJ-zHXnNqwHhuyUMGJh_-RPUuu5GzhEYcxEgqK9IYEL_w3uwMYE98NyvW87zhmfG0c_fnPK-jACb5qMHlIoxx3uklcSsJRVJkxYkLkmj1LHsks-0hXsMoxKQnOnYP3zWEoN4IeSGc/s2592/DSC09992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOXYELfXNsp2kRJZrYT80Sr_dJT8_8y5UwBIBGA437P6RHeAZrdeJ-zHXnNqwHhuyUMGJh_-RPUuu5GzhEYcxEgqK9IYEL_w3uwMYE98NyvW87zhmfG0c_fnPK-jACb5qMHlIoxx3uklcSsJRVJkxYkLkmj1LHsks-0hXsMoxKQnOnYP3zWEoN4IeSGc/w400-h300/DSC09992.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> And, finally, a late blooming hibiscus flower on the plant I brought indoors for the winter. There are two more buds almost ready to open.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Cg8yPsOXlLF1EAbfmnegcD04eIUDnvIJO83KoyxzjtXzM1-n2AFoUQlnB2DKwSmD9Tb4hWJw_Zd_nf62gURiC1nyXPyKdfLy7Q1zWo1TsQ7_5_SRgOzo13hXKhKYWt0NFUoXpUczjOVCxZDX8LzNgnfJouv5tK27qAFPW6IvIP8-ADUs0zr0AT1F4Qk/s2592/DSC09995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Cg8yPsOXlLF1EAbfmnegcD04eIUDnvIJO83KoyxzjtXzM1-n2AFoUQlnB2DKwSmD9Tb4hWJw_Zd_nf62gURiC1nyXPyKdfLy7Q1zWo1TsQ7_5_SRgOzo13hXKhKYWt0NFUoXpUczjOVCxZDX8LzNgnfJouv5tK27qAFPW6IvIP8-ADUs0zr0AT1F4Qk/w400-h300/DSC09995.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-77316941042816243352023-10-28T15:10:00.000-07:002023-10-28T15:10:00.212-07:00Just a Few Jottings<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Got my shots this week - Covid last Monday and 'flu on Friday - no side effects. So I am set for all the winter coughs and sneezes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> On Thursday I attended my first R.O.D.E.O. lunch of the year (Retired Old Dames Eating Out). This is a group from our Probus club and we are eating "around the world". Norma had made up passports for us to record each meal and thoughts on the different restaurants. This week it was A for Afghanistan and she found a local restaurant with food from that country. It's called Naan Kabob and I had a Paneer wrap and a delicious mango smoothie. Next month we are visiting The Balkans, can't wait to see what she comes up with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Exercise class was cancelled on Friday (Alison had twisted her ankle) so I went for a long walk instead and managed 5,000 steps. It was surprisingly mild, in fact a record was set for Oct. 28th - 23C!</span></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103544703539778480.post-612743821299337062023-10-23T15:56:00.001-07:002023-10-23T15:56:38.006-07:00A Fristy Frosty Morning<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The nasturtiums in my header photo had to go yesterday as frost was forecast last night and, yes, there was frost on the pumpkin this morning. I was out early for a dental appointment and didn't leave any time to scrape the ice off the car windows - nearly made myself late! </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After the dentist I was due for my Covid shot but I had been hoping to also get the 'flu shot. That's booked for next Monday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> Tennis on Sunday was brutally cold but we soldiered on and managed two sets. The wind screens had been taken down and the wind was pretty strong. The sun finally appeared and I was actually beginning to warm up by the time we stopped but I never did manage to take off any layers. We must have looked a fright in our winter jackets, hats and gloves. Just two more days, Thursday and Sunday and that will be it until April. Boo Hoo!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> The leaves have finally started to turn and, no doubt, will be littering the lawns and sidewalks soon. But I did manage to grab a few shots at the park on Sunday.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XsPZezIx9mkrfzK3kr0FucokB6hX7cFLV2ECHUFyICs-Nyx4A3mmV7ApPFnTTfcYt4PsAOqe0gUup-6eJ7Sw2E2dSjAvJcNSz3jp_Vkcn3z-Ps6OUPq3RSfLPMxp8z7KCbu48j7jqppkJU9Aka1PMHBOt9xFI8CSrZC6VflCCyfcOL5RUvg2Z8PWQWE/s2592/DSC09991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XsPZezIx9mkrfzK3kr0FucokB6hX7cFLV2ECHUFyICs-Nyx4A3mmV7ApPFnTTfcYt4PsAOqe0gUup-6eJ7Sw2E2dSjAvJcNSz3jp_Vkcn3z-Ps6OUPq3RSfLPMxp8z7KCbu48j7jqppkJU9Aka1PMHBOt9xFI8CSrZC6VflCCyfcOL5RUvg2Z8PWQWE/w400-h300/DSC09991.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;">This bush is actually in my back yard. I think it's called "Burning Bush" for obvious reasons!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rCq_uyOSh8-WcSvScjdZRlwSiiv_tNcTpAZyKdwLlyDt3DsJRwtYWbwHoqHwpb4odVLQwxO-MwPoJhJx4SG97wb058pJqhcxOBbB-WXd9tE3Y8v3GxlvUz_NSCW2CHUHF6_yudToDJtkk8zk7LnwjkxyI7nVsH4-2YDcYsTOwI3UI5Os3C70cwFERmg/s2592/DSC09988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rCq_uyOSh8-WcSvScjdZRlwSiiv_tNcTpAZyKdwLlyDt3DsJRwtYWbwHoqHwpb4odVLQwxO-MwPoJhJx4SG97wb058pJqhcxOBbB-WXd9tE3Y8v3GxlvUz_NSCW2CHUHF6_yudToDJtkk8zk7LnwjkxyI7nVsH4-2YDcYsTOwI3UI5Os3C70cwFERmg/w400-h300/DSC09988.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuGy3QqrpfSYHQEFeAuNyGZmza7YR3IfP6uQSn52IxyGRs_4Htq1k3z4alALAkXc3piovId0kx3K5WNNgrCOlpCwiyRav9zfwbJIN6KHUV9QV1z2Dpjmn7XP_VAtaWU4S6b6jFV-kL6gkQ0BApwzwavoeKji1fXChTdiTb5h6CrRzOh_RgeWZYJ-4A6w/s2592/DSC09987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuGy3QqrpfSYHQEFeAuNyGZmza7YR3IfP6uQSn52IxyGRs_4Htq1k3z4alALAkXc3piovId0kx3K5WNNgrCOlpCwiyRav9zfwbJIN6KHUV9QV1z2Dpjmn7XP_VAtaWU4S6b6jFV-kL6gkQ0BApwzwavoeKji1fXChTdiTb5h6CrRzOh_RgeWZYJ-4A6w/w400-h300/DSC09987.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fsZJK7kyJ80nnONOfj_PQBGlEiMunTYFSp7o6fIJQXxWQlojjBb9c6MAcsZAvyOa07cTs7OHz4YEnT0trEio7kxZnnwsTEMBtOwJWFAdnyUmUhPrR-W9nfMDr6RCw9ZLMo1VG7ZtGcM7pR4kq0u20I-9bj0-INiAC2p6BAHqjMdQU9SFwnU-wDdvyQg/s2592/DSC09986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fsZJK7kyJ80nnONOfj_PQBGlEiMunTYFSp7o6fIJQXxWQlojjBb9c6MAcsZAvyOa07cTs7OHz4YEnT0trEio7kxZnnwsTEMBtOwJWFAdnyUmUhPrR-W9nfMDr6RCw9ZLMo1VG7ZtGcM7pR4kq0u20I-9bj0-INiAC2p6BAHqjMdQU9SFwnU-wDdvyQg/w400-h300/DSC09986.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224823051315463861noreply@blogger.com6