Still Wintry

    I just looked out the window and it's snowing again! It won't amount to much but is still depressing - it's April after all!

    When I went out this morning the wind was bitter and strong so we aren't done with winter yet. I am dying to get started on the garden but must wait until there is a more definite end to winter. The borders look so shabby I would love to get in and clear them and start digging. The only bonus is no grass to cut.

   To cheer myself up I made a batch of Lemon Ginger marmalade this afternoon. It turned out a treat - three small jars from three lemons and 2 cups of sugar. I feel inspired to do some more as I have a grapefruit on hand and a good recipe for orange grapefruit marmalade. Maybe tomorrow.

   Dinner tonight is chicken in a casserole with cabbage and potatoes. It's my own invention and I will bake it in the oven until the vegetables are brown and crispy. I love one-pot meals! No need for dessert tonight as I have been nibbling on scones and soda bread all day. I have really fallen off the low-carb wagon!

April Fool's Day

     Still cool despite being the first day of April, 10C was the high for the day, but some blinks of sun this afternoon. The wind was quite strong and from the north and we are expecting a few very chilly (and frosty) days this weekend. Spring is still elusive but I spotted some tiny blue flowers in a sunny corner of my garden.

   Nothing much happening here today. I did my step video routine this morning, got a book I had ordered from the library (and season 5 of "Game of Thrones", yaay!) and went to Progressive Bridge this afternoon. That was it!

   Leftover fish pie with pickled beetroot for dinner again tonight, and I will have the topping from the cheesecake cake for dessert. It is actually quite tasty without the stodgy base and I am enjoying it with a bit of cream over the top. My attempt to cut back on carbs went by the wayside today as I had cereal for breakfast and a slice of gingercake with my morning coffee. Since then has been better but I am sure my weight has crept up a bit again.

   

Going Out LIke a Lion

     March came in like a lion and I think we can confirm it is also going out like a lion. Although it wasn't cold today (11C) it was quite miserable - rainy and windy. I even found the garage door blown open this afternoon. So it has been quite miserable today. When will Spring show its face?

    A quiet morning and then Bridge this afternoon with Bonnie, Marilyn and Pauline. I had terrible cards and, although I had a couple of contracts, I went down (badly!) both times. I had planned to eat out with the RODEO group of ladies from Probus, but wasn't able to find someone to take my place so had to cancel the lunch plans.  As it happened, one of the other tables had a couple of no shows and one of them could have taken my place. Well, that's life!

    Delicious dinner tonight. I was getting sick of leftover lamb so took a basa fillet out of the freezer and made a fish pie with lots of vegetables. I had it with my homemade beetroot. I also made some cheese straws with the leftover puff pastry. For lunch I made soup but didn't get a chance to try it as I was out over lunch. I will save it for tomorrow.

After the Festivities

     We have had a few cold but sunny days (yesterday not so much) and I am sitting in the family room with the sun on my back, enjoying its warmth. Outside the temperature is around 5C but in here it is toasty warm. No need for a fire today! I planted some pansies in my porch planter and they seem to have survived a couple of frosty nights so should be good until Spring gets here.

   On Sunday, when the family were over for Easter lunch, we were even sitting outside for a while with no jackets. The sun had some real heat to it. The grandkids had fun hunting for chocolate eggs while the adults indulged in snacks and pre-prandial drinks. Then we repaired to the dining table for our meal. Cabbage soup with sour dough bread (a touch of the Irish left over from St. Patrick's Day), Judy's Greek salad, and roast lamb, mint sauce, gravy and vegetables, mashed potatoes and lemony green beans. I must say everything was delicious. Dessert not so much - it was an experiment but it didn't turn out so well. I won't be making "The English Kitchen's" recipes again! Luckily Judy had brought a tin of Italian puff pastry cookies and Lindort truffles so we didn't go without a little something sweet.

   Monday was also a holiday for some and I spent it clearing and restocking the dishwasher and generally recovering from the hectic day before. Today I had tennis in the morning and Bridge this afternoon so was pretty much on the go all day. A quiet evening is anticipated. I will eat the leftover lamb and veggies and struggle through a slice of the now infamous cake. I think I will just eat the topping and discard the rest - it was like a doorstop! Luckily there was also wine left over so I am feeling quite mellow now.