Tennis in the morning at Bond Park - it was my turn to man the board. We had about 45 people, coming and going so the 6 courts were filled from around 9:00 a.m. to 11:30. I managed to get in 4 sets over the course of three hours and it was very pleasant playing - not nearly as hot as last Friday. However, I was pretty beat by the time I got home.
More tennis tonight at Bridlewood House League - some confusion as to the start time, 7:00 p.m. or 8:30. I will bike over at 7:00 and see what's what. If I'm not playing until 8:30, I will come home, have dinner and return then. Otherwise dinner (leftover Butter Chicken from Sunday) will have to wait until I finish playing. I will be on Court #3 (the easy court) so it shouldn't require expending too much energy.
I have just finished cutting the grass in the back yard. Everything is very green what with all the rain we have had recently, and the grass has been growing full blast. No sign of any action in the potato bin but the tomato plants have lots of flowers - should be a good harvest there.
The pool is nice and blue now, thanks to the administrations of the "pool guys". However, the heater needs servicing so there's no way I'll be in the water any time soon - it's a chilly 67F (18C)!
I'm relaxing with the laptop on my knees as I watch the French Open. Roger Federer has just staged a strong comeback against Giles Simon. It was close for a while. Now Serena Williams is demolishing an Italian player, Roberta Vinci. It's really "no contest" so I expect to see her in the final next weekend.
Earlier today, in between rain showers, I picked the first rhubarb of the season. After a rainy month it has grown like crazy so there's lots still there. The stalks are rather skinny but the fruit at this time of year is good for pies and crumbles. Later in the summer I will use it for a relish.
That's garlic poking up through the leaves - not sure if I planted it there in the fall or if it somehow migrated over the winter!
The pie turned out well but I will put it in the freezer for the next time the family are over for a meal. The secret I find, with most fruit pies, is to sprinkle some flour in the pastry case before adding the fruit. That makes for a nice thick filling. I have to admit to using a pastry mix, but really, the mix is just as good, if not better, than I could make myself. My biggest failing, especially with rhubarb is not making it sweet enough, so today I added 2 tablespoons more of sugar than I thought was necessary. We shall see if that turns out to be sweet enough.
Too hot to post today! The temperature went up to 29C but the humidex (how it feels taking the humidity into consideration) was registering 33C.
Tennis in the morning - only played two sets. My face was so red by then (not from the sun, just from exertion) that I knew it was time to quit. Worked in the afternoon - a difficult Grade 1 but it was likely just Friday afternoon syndrome.
Going to the last night of the Fallingbrook group in an hour. We'll dance until 9-ish then have snacks and treats. I'm baking sausage rolls. Considering the hall isn't air conditioned we may quit early!
The temperature has fallen a couple of degrees in the last half hour and it looks like a storm is headed this way - quite a dark sky and the wind has picked up. Yes, it's raining - I'm hoping for a big dump as my swimming pool is still half empty and some rain would help my water bill. I've had the hose running off and on for the last couple of days but it still needs another foot or so.
Sounds like an oxymoron but was surprisingly tasty and easy to prepare. It would be a good substitute for someone who can't eat gluten. I was too hungry to take the time to photograph the end result!
Slice a couple of potatoes (skin on) very thinly. Thinly slice an onion and half a red pepper. A mandolin would give the correct thickness. Mix them with a tbspn. of olive oil, a minced garlic clove and a tbspn. chopped parsley. Pack mixture in a circle on an oiled cookie sheet or a pizza pan. Try to make sure layer is even and not too thin at the edges as they will burn. Bake in 450F oven for 15 mins. or until potatoes are soft and edges are crisp. Top with your preference in pizza toppings (I used mushrooms and some leftover chicken. Cover generously with cheese. I used cheddar and parmesan. Bake another 5 to 8 minutes until cheese is melted. Allow to cool and cut into wedges.
Very hot today - hit 30C this afternoon - and very humid after all the recent rain. I got in an hour of tennis this morning before we all expired from the heat. Since then I have stayed indoors with periodic trips outside to empty the bucket that is collecting the drips from the leaky hose that is filling up the pool. Oh, except for a trip to the community centre for a swim. My pool is still a bit on the green side so I wouldn't want to take a dip in it just yet.
I have just finished cutting the grass in the back yard. Everything is very green what with all the rain we have had recently, and the grass has been growing full blast. No sign of any action in the potato bin but the tomato plants have lots of flowers - should be a good harvest there.
