Too Much To Do

   Horribly busy day - just like being back at work - and I am completely washed out despite having a nap this afternoon. Here's how it went.

   I had an early start for the RWTO meeting this morning. I needed to get to "The Estates" by 9:00 a.m. to get the name tags set out and the books trolleyed in from the car (two trips) before the meeting started at 9:30. I had help with the name tags but, unfortunately, it took longer to explain what to do than if I had just done it myself! What complicated it was the number of guests and the people who hadn't sent in their cheques and were to pay at the door.

   The meeting was rather long and dragged out but we did get done a bit before lunch. Lunch was delicious - I got an extra serving of salad which was followed by a very tender roast beef and perfectly cooked veggies. I left some of the mashed potatoes but just had to eat the bun with the salad, it was so great for sopping up the dressing!

   By 2:30 the speaker was done and I had to pack everything up and cart it back to the car. That was the final straw as it was beginning to rain. The rain was pretty heavy on the drive home but that should get rid of the last of the snow and clean things up. I did see a couple of sprouts in my vegetable patch after the weekend's sun and warmth - probably the garlic - but I don't think the grass will need cutting any time soon!

   Just a light meal tonight. I think it will be a BLT but with roasted red pepper instead of tomato which taste awful in the winter so I never buy them, but I also have a hard boiled egg which will give me some protein. Early to bed tonight, methinks!

More Sun and Warmth

   The sun has just gone down after another day of wall-to-wall blue sky and double digit temperatures. I got my share of Vitamin D today, for sure, didn't even need a coat. I did some garden tidying where the snow has melted and ate a snack outside around noon - the first of the year.

   I made sugar cookies this afternoon as I was all out of anything sweet to eat with my cup of tea. My only other endeavour today was to empty the cupboard in the laundry room that I plan to paint - mostly throwing out junk that has accumulated over the last 20 years. Hard to believe I have been here that long. It has been the receptacle for all my painting projects so the used cans will either go down into the basement or get recycled. It feels good to freshen things up! I will sand and paint the cupboard tomorrow as I have a free day - it's a Provincial holiday, Family Day.

   Fish on the menu tonight and I am going to cook the rest of the brussell sprouts with bacon to round out the meal. I should be able to find a good recipe on the internet.

Busy in the Kitchen

   Trying to force myself to get up and finish making the pickled beets. I bought the beets a week ago and they have sat in the fridge since then. Boiled them this afternoon but that's as far as I got.

Something beginning to flower.

   It has been a beautiful sunny, warm day and the snow has melted considerably. I sat outside this afternoon for quite a while pretending I was in Florida or the Algarve. I think I have got a bit of colour as my face (the only part exposed) feels quite hot. I also went for a long walk but came home with wet feet as it was quite wet and muddy underfoot. No need for gloves or a hat - first time this winter! Unfortunately the sun shining in has revealed all the dust accumulated over the winter. Guess what I will be doing tomorrow!

   Chicken casserole again (30% off chicken thighs at the store today) but this time with brussell sprouts in it - one of my favourite vegetables but I've never tried cooking them this way.

Pickled beets - done!

  

TGIF

   I have been very lax with my blog posts this week - my only excuse, I have been out most evenings. Today's weather had a hint of Spring to it but we are still under a foot of snow so nothing is growing yet. The temperature is forecast to be all positive for the weekend which should help with the snow melt.

   Yesterday evening I was out "ushering" at Markham Theatre for a production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" - quite hilarious, I had never seen it before and it was very well done. The ushering duties were very light and I was able to watch the whole thing. A quieter day today - just Fitness class in the morning, a visit to the bank to make a deposit (I do most of my banking online) and a walk while the sun was shining.

   The afternoon was taken up with organizing the name tags for next week's RWTO lunch. Susan read me the names over the phone (about 96) which saved me making a trip to her house and I had the tags done by 4:30, all set for next Tuesday.

   I defrosted a piece of fish and some frozen spinach today which were transformed into a spinach dip which I served with naan and red pepper slices for dipping, and a delicious baked fish dish. I also roasted the rest of the red peppers before they got too soft and will use them in sandwiches next week.

   That's about it for another day!