Monday, January 6, 2014
I neglected to go out yesterday evening to clear some snow off my driveway - that was a mistake! This morning it was covered by a hard, impenetrable layer of ice which resisted all my efforts to remove it. I will just have to keep driving over it until it crumbles into submission. It wasn't too cold first thing this morning (James and I were out chipping and shovelling for half an hour) but the temperature has dropped considerably over the course of the day and is now around -9C. The wind is strong and bitter. I am glad to be staying in tonight - dance group has been cancelled because of the tricky conditions underfoot..
Still eating leftovers from the freezer but the end is in sight. Last of the trifle tonight and just a small piece of capon to heat up with gravy - fresh vegetables on the side.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Getting Organized
Spent an hour this morning typing out the "cribs" for the dances we will be doing at Tuesday's demo. I should know the dances as we had a practice last Sunday, but it's better to have a copy with you for momentary lapses of memory. I will run through them again on Tuesday morning before I leave.
We have a new set of dances for the other 5 demos (a different group) but we have another week to practice them. Only two are familiar so I hope everyone shows up for the practice! It only takes one person to throw off the whole set.
The monthly dance yesterday afternoon was well attended, the band was in good form, and there was a nice spread for the tea break. I had left a beef stew cooking in the crock pot but really didn't need it as I had stuffed on sandwiches and other treats around 3:00 p.m. I ate some anyway but have loads left for dinner tonight. Still eating Christmas cake and mince pies but everything else from Christmas is gone, thankfully. Not much else on the agenda today other than a couple of light housework chores. Roll on 9:00 p.m. - the next episode of "Downton Abbey"!
We have a new set of dances for the other 5 demos (a different group) but we have another week to practice them. Only two are familiar so I hope everyone shows up for the practice! It only takes one person to throw off the whole set.
The monthly dance yesterday afternoon was well attended, the band was in good form, and there was a nice spread for the tea break. I had left a beef stew cooking in the crock pot but really didn't need it as I had stuffed on sandwiches and other treats around 3:00 p.m. I ate some anyway but have loads left for dinner tonight. Still eating Christmas cake and mince pies but everything else from Christmas is gone, thankfully. Not much else on the agenda today other than a couple of light housework chores. Roll on 9:00 p.m. - the next episode of "Downton Abbey"!
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Weather Extremes
Quite the week, weather wise. Extremely cold for a couple of days, temperatures in the minus twenties with a wind chill over -30C. Other spots in Canada even colder.
Had car trouble on Tuesday and Wednesday. The car wouldn't start when I went out on Tuesday (an interior light had been left on and with the cold, the battery had drained) Got Toyota Roadside Assistance (a free service for Toyota owners, yaaay) to boost it on Wednesday morning and it started fine that day. But by Wednesday night it was flat again! I had to take the bus to my SC dance group - we were learning new dances for the demos so I had to be there. Two waits for buses and a long slippery walk to the hall - not a pleasant experience. Makes you realize how convenient a car is. The mechanic came Thursday morning (still free, thankfully) and noticed a door was slightly ajar so that seems to have been the problem as the interior light would have been on again all day.
Stayed in and painted the spice cupboard on Thursday. It only took half-an-hour so I went to a movie while the paint dried. "The Hunger Games", I have read all three books in the series and this was the second one. It was "O.K.", in other words, not my usual choice of movie but passed a couple of hours pleasantly enough.
Temperatures are milder today and we are even getting some rain. Can't bear to think what conditions will be like when it drops down below zero tonight!
Had car trouble on Tuesday and Wednesday. The car wouldn't start when I went out on Tuesday (an interior light had been left on and with the cold, the battery had drained) Got Toyota Roadside Assistance (a free service for Toyota owners, yaaay) to boost it on Wednesday morning and it started fine that day. But by Wednesday night it was flat again! I had to take the bus to my SC dance group - we were learning new dances for the demos so I had to be there. Two waits for buses and a long slippery walk to the hall - not a pleasant experience. Makes you realize how convenient a car is. The mechanic came Thursday morning (still free, thankfully) and noticed a door was slightly ajar so that seems to have been the problem as the interior light would have been on again all day.
Stayed in and painted the spice cupboard on Thursday. It only took half-an-hour so I went to a movie while the paint dried. "The Hunger Games", I have read all three books in the series and this was the second one. It was "O.K.", in other words, not my usual choice of movie but passed a couple of hours pleasantly enough.
Temperatures are milder today and we are even getting some rain. Can't bear to think what conditions will be like when it drops down below zero tonight!
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Last day of Vacation
If I were still a working stiff, this would be the last day before returning to work. As it is, my only work is to be up and dressed before James arrives at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. I wasn't expecting this to be a busy day but things seemed to build up as the day went on.
I had stayed up late watching "Inspector Morse" last night so was a late riser this morning. A quick breakfast and some ironing then I was out to shovel off the snow that fell last night. There were only a few centimetres so it wasn't a big job and the temperature was hovering around zero so I wasn't even cold by the time I was finished.
While outdoors I had left some beets cooking away and my next job was to peel, slice and bottle them in a vinegar/water solution. Now I am well stocked for the next month or two. I love them with all sorts of dishes, kedgeree, pies, frittatas, in fact anything that needs the addition of a little colour and spice.
An early lunch, a quick nap and I was off to the demo team practice at Broadlands Community Centre. Keith was in fine form and took us through the dances we will be doing at the Robbie Burns demos this month. Most of them were familiar but he threw in a couple of new ones, just to keep us on our toes and get our brains working.
Freezing rain and more snow are forecast overnight; I jut hope Judy has no trouble getting here in the morning. My car is in the garage, just in case. Meanwhile I am tucking in to some smoked salmon and cream cheese on baguette slices with a beer to wash them down. Better start thinking about fixing dinner (if I'm still hungry after this treat!)
I had stayed up late watching "Inspector Morse" last night so was a late riser this morning. A quick breakfast and some ironing then I was out to shovel off the snow that fell last night. There were only a few centimetres so it wasn't a big job and the temperature was hovering around zero so I wasn't even cold by the time I was finished.
While outdoors I had left some beets cooking away and my next job was to peel, slice and bottle them in a vinegar/water solution. Now I am well stocked for the next month or two. I love them with all sorts of dishes, kedgeree, pies, frittatas, in fact anything that needs the addition of a little colour and spice.
An early lunch, a quick nap and I was off to the demo team practice at Broadlands Community Centre. Keith was in fine form and took us through the dances we will be doing at the Robbie Burns demos this month. Most of them were familiar but he threw in a couple of new ones, just to keep us on our toes and get our brains working.
Freezing rain and more snow are forecast overnight; I jut hope Judy has no trouble getting here in the morning. My car is in the garage, just in case. Meanwhile I am tucking in to some smoked salmon and cream cheese on baguette slices with a beer to wash them down. Better start thinking about fixing dinner (if I'm still hungry after this treat!)
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