Putting the garden to bed

   Although the weather has been pretty dreary for the last few days, I have managed (in between rain showers) to get the last few garden chores done. Yesterday I planted the overwintering garlic cloves, nice and deep so the squirrels don't dig them up, turned off the outside tap and put away the hose and watering can. All the hanging baskets are indoors and we shall see which survive until Spring. The only task remaining is to cover the roses with compost. My compost bin is almost full and it will be good to dig out some of the finished compost to make room for the leaves which are already falling off the trees.

   Today I trimmed some evergreens but they should really be cut right down as they have outgrown their location, and then some! Not  a job I am keen to tackle right now. I would rather be indoors with a good book which is what I am currently doing. Dinner tonight is leftover ribs which I barbecued yesterday. They were delicious and there's enough for two more meals. No dessert tonight as I pigged out on chocolate cookies last night and went to bed feeling very guilty (and stuffed).

    I am very disappointed that the "Outlander" series is over. It seemed as if it had only just begun. I think there were only 5 or 6 episodes. Seemingly we have to wait until next April for the second season.

A colourful bush in my back yard.

 

As well as brilliant leaves it has lots of berries.

Getting Chilly

   A few glimpses of sun yesterday but, other than that, it has been dull and rainy for the past few days. Today is decidedly cooler but I have got all the outdoor plants inside in case of frost tonight. I dug up my huge poinsettia and have got it in the house. It will be interesting to see if it survives the transplant! It is now three years old.

   Yesterday was the end of tennis at Bellbury and it almost didn't happen as the day started out rainy. However, ever the optimists, we dried the courts with just a few sprinkles coming down and managed to start play by 9:45. There was only a small group so we played pretty continuously until about 11:15 when I left to meet Judy for lunch. The others stayed for an impromptu pot luck lunch, organized by Jasmine in her usually competent manner. I sneaked a devilled egg and a samosa before I left! I will see them all again next May.

   Judy is celebrating her birthday this weekend so I treated her to a lunch of sushi and teriyaki at a local Japanese place. I hadn't been there before and was quite happy with the meal - more than enough food (including miso soup and ice cream) and only $10 each. After all that food a small dinner of leftovers tided me over well enough and it's also leftovers (chicken and sweet potato) again tonight with the addition of a cauliflower and broccoli casserole which I have just in time rescued from the oven. I have had a very lazy day and am looking forward to some good TV tonight.

A Day At Home

   I had thought of golfing today but woke up to overcast skies and wet underfoot, so decided not to chance it. It drizzled on and off all morning and is still threatening a heavier downpour this evening. The temperature is still mild for mid October, 17C.

   I managed to keep busy - got a loaf in the bread machine first thing, finally vacuumed the family room (the carpet looks so much better, I had been thinking it needed cleaning but I may put that off for a while) and took my bike down to the drug store for a prescription refill in between rain showers.

    When I got back I made a huge pot of Winter Minestrone soup from Giada's cookbook. I used Swiss chard and parsley from the garden, beans and lots of vegetables but had no pancetta, a key ingredient in her recipe. It didn't seem to affect the taste - it was quite yummy. The secret ingredient was a rind of parmesan cheese which definitely rounded out the flavour. I had it for lunch with a toasted tomato and cheese croissant.

    Tonight I am braising a shoulder lamb chop in tomatoes left over from preparing the soup. I will also add the rest of the beans - that's the problem in cooking for one, everything comes in too large containers. So I have to organize meals around using everything up. I will also add some mushrooms later and have it with the rest of the quinoa I cooked earlier this week. Still have some of the almond apple cake to finish too!
  

Thanksgiving

   Lunch at Judy and Dave's today. All in attendance including Lucy the dog. Natalie is seriously attached to her and can't wait to dog-sit her sometime soon.

   First was roasted pumpkin soup, very delicious. Then came the turkey with stuffing, pumpkin risotto, two kinds of potatoes (roasted and cheesy), brussell sprouts with bacon, goat cheese salad, cranberry sauce and gravy. By the time I had sampled a little of everything I was seriously stuffed! And there was more, pumpkin pie and Judy's speciality, pumpkin cheesecake, with whipped cream optional. I managed to hold off on only having a small slice of cheesecake and no pie but it was hard.

    While we ate we went around the table sharing what we were thankful for. After we had  digested all the great food we took Lucy for a walk around the block, all except James who was on his bike and about half a mile ahead of us. Luckily Uncle Steve was up to the challenge of corralling him in, so he never quite got out of sight.

   Came home for a nap, after getting restocked with Girl Guide cookies - no more food for me today!

Table set ready for the meal.

 

Plates loaded and ready to eat.

 

Dishing out dessert - the cheesecake was the best ever (in my humble opinion.).