Hot, Wet and Humid

   Right now it's raining fit to beat the band so I have had to resort to indoor activities. I did get some tennis this morning but it was very hot (29C) and humid, so I quit around 10:30. I was so lethargic on the courts and there was a huge crowd so leaving early was a no-brainer. I was planning to cut the grass but now it is too wet. Too bad!

   Came home to watch Wimbledon - the Ladies' quarter finals - so now they are down to 4 and will play the semis on Thursday and the Final on Saturday. There is no one I am particularly rooting for and It's likely Serena Williams is going to take the title. She lost the first set to Vica (Victoria Azarenka) today but came on like gangbusters when push came to shove.

   If the rain lets up I will make a quick run to Metro and the library (I have a $5 off coupon for cheesecake!) as there is a book I need for Reading Club waiting for me. Until then I plan to play on Duolingo - I'm practising my French in case I decide to spend a month in France next year. I am toying with the idea and saving my pennies! According to the program I'm 24% proficient in French (I doubt it!). However, it's getting darker and I just heard some thunder so I may be stuck at home.

   Leftover chicken and kale for dinner tonight and I will cook some oven roast potatoes. I have an avocado that needs eaten and a red pepper to roast so there may be a salad on the table too.

* Update:5:30 p.m. The rain has stopped, the temperature has dropped to a comfortable 24C, the garden is well watered and the pool is filled. I am back from the store with the aforementioned cheesecake. Quite the bargain, almost 1/3 off the regular price. I have stowed it in the freezer for the next time I have company and so I will not be tempted to eat it all myself!

  

Four varieties, so everyone should get their favourite.

The Greek Vote

   Very depressing news about the Greeks voting no to austerity. I can't see how they will survive on their own as it seems likely they will have to leave the European Union, lose the Euro and revert to the drachma. Thank goodness things are relatively stable here. although I am sure the TSX will take a beating in the next few days.

   Well, enough of that. My life continues in a stable manner, except for a big bill from the pool guys which arrived today. This is on top of the bill for opening the pool and seems to be mostly chemicals. I will have to query it to make sure it is legit.

   Still one lone Canadian in the Wimbledon tournament. I watched Pospisil's match this morning from start to finish and he competed so well, coming back from 2 sets down to take the match - quite a thriller! Serena and Venus Williams played each other and Serena won, not surprisingly. I didn't see the match but I'm sure there will be a full report in the paper tomorrow.

    Marie, Pinky and I played bridge this afternoon with a new friend who was my partner. Unfortunately she kept telling me how badly I bid and played, which left me feeling a bit disgruntled. Admittedly she was quite a superior player compared to the rest of us, but I would prefer her not to be so critical. I did tell her that I was a relative newcomer to the game before we started and it's not as if we were playing for money or even keeping score! 

   In the pool twice this afternoon, once after I got home from bridge and once after a stint of gardening. It is quite steamy hot today and the water has reached 77F. I hope it cools off a bit tonight. Fish in a curry sauce, kale and potatoes for dinner and still more raspberries!

Keeping Busy

   I have done virtually nothing since coming home from tennis around 11:00 this morning. Kathy, Susan, Iona and I played three hard sets, changing partners each time, and it was getting very hot by the time we stopped. There were exactly 12 people at the courts so we didn't have to give up our court for the whole time we played. What a bonus!

   I had two dips in the pool - the water is up to 24 C (75F) and very refreshing - one after I came home from tennis and another after watering the vegetables. Then I felt refreshed enough to dig up some weeds so, gradually, I am getting the garden in shape. It helped that I was still in my wet swimsuit.

   I have a new recipe for dinner tonight - Oven Fried Chicken Breasts. They are dipped in buttermilk and then coated with a breadcrumb, flour and spices mixture. Then baked until cooked through. I also made some more scones this afternoon, to use up the buttermilk. More raspberries for dessert! I need to get the grandkids over to help me pick the rest before the birds get them.

I couldn't resist - I had a $1 off coupon - and it's delicious in this hot weather!

A nice tidy border.

Lots of green tomatoes. Soon they will be ready to pick.

A Visitor

  Friday was busy - tennis until noon and I came home quite exhausted but had to get on with weeding as it is getting out of hand. I have been picking a bowlful of raspberries most days for dessert.

    Today was a more peaceful day with some tennis on TV this morning (the lone remaining Canadian at Wimbledon, Vasek Pospicil, won his match so is through to the round of 16), a quick run to the grocery store to replenish my larder, and then a quiet afternoon. I had to stay indoors as I was waiting for the maintenance man to give my furnace and air conditioner their annual checkup. He was supposed to come last Friday but didn't appear (or I was in the backyard with the grandkids) so I had to rebook him. He finally arrived about 3: 45 and was done by 4:15 so I was able to spend some time by (and in) the pool while the sun was still around.

   I treated myself to some smoked salmon, which was "on special" and have just eaten most of it on crackers with cream cheese and a glass of sherry. I will be cooking a basa fillet in a little bit (still wondering if it will be fried or poached) and I should get out for more raspberries. They are coming thick and fast and I may have to freeze some for later. I made a rhubarb loaf while waiting for the furnace man so a slice of that would be nice with the berries. It is such a treat to not have to buy fresh berries although they are a bit cheaper at this time of the year.

Sweet peas are just coming into bloom. These are self-seeding and sprout each year in a couple of spots.