The sun is behind the houses (7:00 p.m.) but it's still over 30C! It's supposed to cool off slightly overnight which is just as well as tomorrow I plan to play tennis. I didn't play as usual on Sunday as it was just too hot after the grandkids departed.
Just a few chores this morning and a walk down to the drug store to mail some letters. Then over to the Senior's Centre for bridge. We had a substitute as Pinkie wasn't well and we also need a spare for her on Thursday. It is tricky in the summer as so many people are out of town, escaping the heat. However, we had some good hands and I won the one contract I played. I had two swims today, one after my walk and another when I got home from bridge.
Canada continues to do well at the Pan Am Games, just behind the US in the total medal count. I haven't been watching too much on TV - better things to do - but have been following events in the newspaper. There has been an amazing response to ticket sales and it looks like being a bonanza for the event and local businesses. Now they are talking of making a bid for a future Olympic Games since all the facilities are already constructed and have passed the test.
Just leftovers for dinner tonight but tomorrow, if it's cooler, I plan to cook a stew in the slow cooker with lots of vegetables. I will throw in several garlic cloves since I have such an abundance of them.
Monday, 20 July 2015
Sunday, 19 July 2015
Overnight Giests
We have had a couple of very hot days and - wouldn't you know it? - my air conditioner was on the blink. It was just pushing out warm air, not comfortable at all! Luckily I was able to get a technician out today and he had it fixed in quick sticks. So now I am cool and humidity free.
Elliot, Natalie and James came over yesterday for a sleep-over and they had great fun in the pool both yesterday and this morning (8:00 a.m., would you believe?). They also picked lots of raspberries (when will they end?) and made individual pizzas. I find they always eat better when they have a hand in preparing the food although they all have good appetites. We had rather a sticky night - Elliot slept in the basement which was slightly cooler - but they let me sleep until 6:15. Leftover pizza for breakfast and then they departed around 10:00 a.m. I have had a restful day since then, just a little gardening, twice in the pool and getting on with my current book.
Dinner tonight is a baked basa fillet (Sami's recipe, lime juice and onions) and a broccoli and cauliflower casserole. I made a batch of cauliflower soup for lunch but it will now go in the freezer for later in the year when the cauliflowers are too expensive. I also dug up my garlic this afternoon - got 8 big fat bulbs which are now drying out in the garage. They smell so much better that the store bought bulb I am currently using. Raspberries for dessert (again!). And that was my day!
Elliot, Natalie and James came over yesterday for a sleep-over and they had great fun in the pool both yesterday and this morning (8:00 a.m., would you believe?). They also picked lots of raspberries (when will they end?) and made individual pizzas. I find they always eat better when they have a hand in preparing the food although they all have good appetites. We had rather a sticky night - Elliot slept in the basement which was slightly cooler - but they let me sleep until 6:15. Leftover pizza for breakfast and then they departed around 10:00 a.m. I have had a restful day since then, just a little gardening, twice in the pool and getting on with my current book.
Dinner tonight is a baked basa fillet (Sami's recipe, lime juice and onions) and a broccoli and cauliflower casserole. I made a batch of cauliflower soup for lunch but it will now go in the freezer for later in the year when the cauliflowers are too expensive. I also dug up my garlic this afternoon - got 8 big fat bulbs which are now drying out in the garage. They smell so much better that the store bought bulb I am currently using. Raspberries for dessert (again!). And that was my day!
Friday, 17 July 2015
Approaching 5,000 Visits.
I only need a few more people to visit my blog and I will reach 5,000. When I started the blog I never dreamed I would have so many visitors! Now, if only some would comment about my ramblings, then I would know I was on the right track.
Luckily I set off early (7:50) for tennis this morning as the weather was very iffy and finally the rain came down in earnest around 10:45. By that time I had had two sets and we were on our second pot of coffee. I was running things today and Tony asked me to increase the caffeine content of the second pot - he is a serious coffee drinker. Seemingly the first pot tasted like decaf to him. As that's what I normally drink, I didn't notice the difference. My rhubarb bread went down well and was all gone before we closed up shop.
It rained off and on all afternoon but seems to have dried up now. I had to run out in between showers to pick some more rhubarb so I could bake another cake for the freezer. There is enough rhubarb for a few more cakes or pies and maybe even a batch of jam, probably the result of so much rain recently.
I am going to try a new recipe for dinner - Sticky Ginger Chicken with Rice. The stickiness comes from a marmalade and honey glaze and it has apricots in it as well as garlic, onions and peppers. It sounds delicious and quite easy to make. We'll see!
Luckily I set off early (7:50) for tennis this morning as the weather was very iffy and finally the rain came down in earnest around 10:45. By that time I had had two sets and we were on our second pot of coffee. I was running things today and Tony asked me to increase the caffeine content of the second pot - he is a serious coffee drinker. Seemingly the first pot tasted like decaf to him. As that's what I normally drink, I didn't notice the difference. My rhubarb bread went down well and was all gone before we closed up shop.
It rained off and on all afternoon but seems to have dried up now. I had to run out in between showers to pick some more rhubarb so I could bake another cake for the freezer. There is enough rhubarb for a few more cakes or pies and maybe even a batch of jam, probably the result of so much rain recently.
I am going to try a new recipe for dinner - Sticky Ginger Chicken with Rice. The stickiness comes from a marmalade and honey glaze and it has apricots in it as well as garlic, onions and peppers. It sounds delicious and quite easy to make. We'll see!
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Out All Day
One of these days when I hardly get any chores done but, who's checking. My time is my own do with whatever I want. A 9:30 departure for the PROBUS meeting which turned out to be very entertaining. After the announcements I was introduced as a new member and was welcomed by many during the coffee break. Very pleasant!
The speaker today gave us an interesting overview of the Franklin Expedition to the Arctic during the 19th century and his opinion of what transpired to cause the ultimate loss of life of all the seamen. Apart from the fact that the ships were frozen in the ice for 17 months, the culprit may have been lead in the tinned food they brought along. He also explored the notion that some of the seamen may have resorted to cannibalism as their food ran out, rather a gruesome idea.
I went straight from the meeting to Anne's for an al fresco lunch of sandwiches, fruit, tarts and tea, along with several of her other friends from dancing groups. She gave us a tour of her huge and well maintained garden, surely a lot of work! I know how much time my tiny back yard requires just to keep ahead of the weeds, so I can only imagine how much time she has to spend on hers
After leaving Anne's I headed for Rona as I had a coupon for extra Air Miles and was on the lookout for a hibachi. They didn't have exactly what I had in mind but I found a portable propane powered grill that should be adequate for my needs. I still have to put it together and buy the correct size of propane cylinder. I don't think it has the correct connection for the one I used with my old (and now deceased) BBQ. I will get Judy to have a look at it the next time she is over.
A nice easy dinner tonight as I am not overly hungry, just salad and some ham. No dessert as I rather overdid the sweet stuff at Anne's. It was so tempting!
The speaker today gave us an interesting overview of the Franklin Expedition to the Arctic during the 19th century and his opinion of what transpired to cause the ultimate loss of life of all the seamen. Apart from the fact that the ships were frozen in the ice for 17 months, the culprit may have been lead in the tinned food they brought along. He also explored the notion that some of the seamen may have resorted to cannibalism as their food ran out, rather a gruesome idea.
I went straight from the meeting to Anne's for an al fresco lunch of sandwiches, fruit, tarts and tea, along with several of her other friends from dancing groups. She gave us a tour of her huge and well maintained garden, surely a lot of work! I know how much time my tiny back yard requires just to keep ahead of the weeds, so I can only imagine how much time she has to spend on hers
After leaving Anne's I headed for Rona as I had a coupon for extra Air Miles and was on the lookout for a hibachi. They didn't have exactly what I had in mind but I found a portable propane powered grill that should be adequate for my needs. I still have to put it together and buy the correct size of propane cylinder. I don't think it has the correct connection for the one I used with my old (and now deceased) BBQ. I will get Judy to have a look at it the next time she is over.
A nice easy dinner tonight as I am not overly hungry, just salad and some ham. No dessert as I rather overdid the sweet stuff at Anne's. It was so tempting!
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