Too Cool to Swim

   What a change in the weather! Only 16C this morning and, despite sunny spots, it never got much further than the low 20`s. I had my jacket on while shopping and I wasn`t the only one. It felt more like fall. Luckily I hadn`t opened all the windows last night so the house is still comfortably warm. It was good weather for gardening but I hope it warms up again..

Another border tidied - fragrant phlox, sedum and bleeding heart

    I had a busy afternoon after picking up the `Food and Drink` magazine at the LCBO. I found a great marinade for chicken (actually cooked the chicken in it, too) and a new recipe for sugar cookies. They turned out really well but I have stored them in the freezer so I`m not tempted to pig out on them.

Mine looked almost as good although I didn`t ice them.

Chicken breasts in the lime juice, yogurt and turmeric marinade.

First Tomatoes

   I picked the first cherry tomatoes today to have with my lunch. There are several (still green) on the other plants so I should have a good crop this year. I hope they don't all ripen at the same time!

 I had an early start this morning - around 7:45 - as I was in charge of the board (and coffee and cake) at tennis this morning. It went quite well and I did manage one set. My rhubarb cake was popular - none left! The only bad note was the roadworks on Don Mills on the way home. It was down to one lane and moving rather slowly, so it was almost 1:00 p.m. before I got home, a long morning! I think I will take Leslie Street next time.

   Although the morning was mostly sunny and warm, the afternoon was cooler and overcast so I got some weeding done. Then a quick trip up to the mall to pick up library books and milk. I will do the rest of the grocery shopping tomorrow.

   I made my own tartar sauce to have with a piece of fish left over from yesterday, and wrapped it in a spinach wrap with half a roasted red pepper that was needing eaten up. It was a tasty combination. Now the fridge is really bare. Breakfast tomorrow will have to be a banana smoothie; lucky I picked up the milk!

One of the plants on my deck has finally flowered!

Finally Some Rain

    We had a violent thunderstorm over night but it didn't keep me awake despite flashes of lightning. I dozed off thinking how badly the grass and garden needed rain. Another shower this morning around 7:30 so no tennis, although I took a walk over to the courts to see just how wet they were - definitely too wet to play. It was sprinkling as I walked over but that was the last of it.

    I spent the morning doing a few chores - the dust bunnies under my bed were the first to go - and intermittently watching the tennis from Hamburg. No big names playing but some interesting matches. Just before lunch I cut the back grass - it really didn't need much of a cut as it has largely gone dormant with the hot weather, but it does look neater now. I also pulled some weeds which had loosened up as a result of the rain.

   I had an early lunch (cauliflower soup and half an apple) and set off for my Zumba class on foot as it was still quite cool. It was quite a workout but I stayed for a coffee and cookies after. However, coming home all sweaty and tired, it was much warmer and by the time I got home I needed a rest. I was met at the door by the guy who was here to replace my gas meter (I wasn't expecting him today but knew it was to happen soon). He needed to get into the house to start up the furnace and water heater again. Immediately after he left I realized that he hadn't started up the pool heater, but he was just next door so came back to get that done.

My shiny new gas meter - free of charge from the gas company

    Finally I was able to take a nap (after a cooling swim) and felt quite refreshed after that. The rest of the afternoon was spent reading and now it's time to fix fried fish and peas for dinner.

The Heat Continues

   A scorcher today, 35C at one point this afternoon. I spent most of the day at the senior's centre which is nicely air conditioned, but even the short drive home had me sweating so it was straight into the pool (which, incidentally, is 82F). Since then I have been entrenched indoors, enjoying the cool.

    I had an innovative dinner last night - left over chicken, roasted red peppers and half an avocado in a spinach wrap - super easy and delicious. Some mayo spread on the wrap kept it quite moist and juicy. Tonight I made a dip with the rest of the avocado and some salsa and will grill a salmon fillet and fry some mushrooms later. That should be tasty. I also have to make cauliflower soup for tomorrow's lunch but that shouldn't take too long. Today my lunch was just half an apple and some sliced cucumber and red pepper.  Of course, being behind the counter at the coffee bar gave me free access to coffee and cookies and I have to admit I did indulge!