Thursday Blues

   Luckily I am not a pessimistic person or today would have stressed me to the limit. The weather was against us this morning with on-and-off rain right through the hours we usually spend at the tennis courts on Thursdays. I had a job booked for the afternoon and trundled out to the car with 10 minutes to spare.

   Although the rain had dried up, another disappointment confronted me - no power in the car! I was forced to grab my bike and set off for the school, luckily quite close, but arrived rather hot and sweaty. I was greeted by the Principal whose first words were, "It's a difficult class" - not what a supply teacher wants to hear!
 
   Actually, they weren't so bad, also there were several interruptions which helped the afternoon to pass quickly. Once I got home (exhausted and sweaty again - no idea there were so many hills on that particular road) I called Toyota Roadside Assistance and had the problem fixed within an hour. Now I feel justified in vegging out for the rest of the evening. New episode of BBT at 8:00 p.m. Yippee!!

First Swim

   It wasn't a very lengthy dip but I managed a couple of lengths while breathing heavily, to stop myself from screaming! The water was a chilly 20C (68F) but while that doesn't sound too bad for the air temperature, it's a different story when you are  immersed in it. If I am still keeping my blog next year, it will be interesting to compare the date of the first dip. I don't think I have ever been in earlier than June but may have been in a week or so closer to the beginning of the month. I had just finished cutting the grass and felt quite hot and sticky and the water looked so appealing.

  James and I spent the morning at the park, he climbing, running, rolling and jumping, and me watching and helping when his adventures veered towards the dangerous. We had a picnic on top of the "mountain" while the boys and girls had recess at the school, then we went down to their playground after they went back to class. This is a special treat for James as he is not usually allowed to visit that playground. We finished the morning at the splash pad where he got quite soaked and needed a complete change of clothes. On Friday I will certainly take a towel and his swimsuit and my camera - he was hilarious, dodging the different sprays and fountains!

Garden Blooms

Peonies

   My garden is all about pink today. Not the wishy-washy pink of the bleeding hearts but more of a deep cerise, quite vibrant and bright. The wigelia and fuschia will be around for a while but the peonies, unfortunately, only last a few days. As you can see they are already drooping and in danger of shedding all their petals! The rain of the last few days really brought them on in a rush.

   I have another peony bush but the blooms are a much more muted pink and don't have such heavy heads so seem to stay longer. They are still in bud but should open next week.


Wigelia

Fuschia

Easy Pickled Onions

   I can't remember where I found this recipe but have a feeling it was from Stefano Faita's cooking show. James and I watch it on the days he's with me - for some reason he loves the show (although when asked he often says he wouldn't eat any of the recipes) and I must admit Stefano is an amusing character. His approach to cooking is quite casual and he does produce healthy, interesting dishes, and makes it look super easy.

   I love pickled onions and have tried several recipes with mixed success. However, this one is so easy, and the end result so tasty, that they don't stay around long. Instead of leaving the onions whole, they are finely sliced and suitable for spreading on barbecued meats as a condiment. Although the recipe recommends using them within 1 week, I have eaten them after a longer time and they are still good. Instead of the suggested seasonings, I substitute about 1 tsp. of pickling spices.

Pickled Red Onions

1 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp. peppercorns
2 large red onions, thinly sliced

Bring vinegar, water, sugar and seasonings to a boil. Add red onions and remove from heat. Let cool and keep in fridge for up to one week.