On the Go

   Just a quick note as it is long past my bedtime. I got home from dance group at 9:45 and have been dithering around for the last hour.

   I got my teeth cleaned and polished this morning with a new hygienist and she is much more efficient than the last one who was too chatty. I knew all about her family before I got out of the chair. There was a Pancake Breakfast at the Senior's Centre earlier in the morning - two huge pancakes, bacon and sausages with orange juice and coffee all for $5, very tasty but I couldn't even finish the second pancake and didn't need any lunch. I only had half an apple in the middle of the afternoon while playing Bridge with Marie, Diane and Pinky.

    Dinner tonight was a couple of different salads - potato and mixed cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, brussell sprouts, kale, broccoli and chicory) with a tasty poppy seed dressing. Sounds very healthy, doesn't it!

   Only 8C today with rain this evening and a cold wind. Will go and soak my aching bones in a hot bath with Epsom Salts before I hit the sack - I cut the back grass this afternoon after Bridge and before the rain - plus my feet are sore from dancing. It's now 11:45 - it was a busy day!

Another New Recipe

   I am just off to make a Blue Cheese dressing for my salad before I eat all the blue cheese. It was a special treat as I used $30 worth of PC points to buy my groceries yesterday. There's nothing like free food!

   I got my tax return in the mail today and - glory be  - I am actually getting a refund! This hasn't happened since I stopped working but CRA made me pay instalments last year and I guess they overestimated my income. I only hope my calculations were correct but that remains to be seen.

   I tried tennis this morning but it was very chilly - less that 10C - so I only stayed for half-an hour. I made some bread after I got home and will sample it after dinner. It looks good. Dinner is a salmon steak (also courtesy of the PC points)  with potato salad, peas and some greens with the blue cheese dressing. Should be very tasty!

In the Garden

   Rainy overnight and still damp this morning but not cold. The sun came out later - it got up to 16C - but also a north wind which I hadn't anticipated. I had only worn a light jacket to walk to Bridge this afternoon and was quite chilled by the time I got home. However, the sun has warmed up the house so no need for the fire tonight.

    I sat outside (well wrapped up) after Bridge and even did a bit of weeding but only half filled the bucket before I'd had enough. I spotted a couple of dandelions on the front lawn so that will be my next job as they will soon come up thick and fast. Also the grass already needs cutting! I had hoped to postpone it until May.

   This may have been my last Friday Fitness class as it is cancelled next week for the Senior's Executive meeting and after that I will be going to Kaffeeklatsch at the tennis courts on Fridays. I feel badly about missing it but there will be someone on the waiting list who will be glad to take my place.

    I picked up a pasta dinner at the free giveaway this afternoon (also a couple of soups) and had it with a big salad for dinner tonight. It was very filling and there are still some noodles left for tomorrow. You can't beat free food! 

A New Recipe

    I had a brainwave today and googled an easy tapenade recipe as I had some  olives left over from yesterday's dinner. As well as the olives it had a few smoked oysters (the recipe called for anchovies but I had the oysters from yesterday too so used them), capers, lemon juice and olive oil. Thirty seconds in the food processor and I had a delicious dip to nibble on with tostitos and a glass of wine.

    Yesterday's dinner was Portuguese chicken and potatoes. I used the Piri-piri sauce I brought home from Portugal (a little too much as it turned out - it was quite spicy). Piri-piri chicken is a dish that originated in the Algarve and I had it a couple of times while I was there.

   I got my shingles shot this morning - at the pharmacy by 8:45 to pick it up and straight to the doctor's office for the jab. Then it was the Probus meeting, rather a tedious presentation of a trip around the world but the photos were good. After a quick lunch it was Zumba class and I am finally getting the hang of the routines. I was quite sweaty when it finished and it went by fast!

    I have the fire on tonight as it was a bit chilly in the house. Rainy and cool today and just up to 17C. I think we are in for a few rainy days - April showers!