Still Winter

   A quieter, less hectic day today. Woke up to snow flurries but nothing on the ground. It was -5C this morning (-12C wind chill) and never really changed all day despite some sunny periods.

   Out by 8:45 for fitness class then hung around at the seniors centre until almost 11:00 a.m. Next week is the last week of fitness classes for this session so we plan to go out for lunch after. Then we have a couple of weeks off until the next session in which I am still hoping to get a spot.

   Lunch, a nap, then read for most of the afternoon. I am currently reading a P.D. James book and, although rather dated, it is quite a thriller so I am enjoying it. Karen came over to pick up the kit for the 50-50 draw at the monthly dance tomorrow. She is about 20 minutes from me on foot and dropped in while walking her dog. They stayed to warm up for a while as it was very cold and windy. Saved me a chilly walk anyway!

   I finally got started on my next painting project - the shelf where I keep my plants at the bay window. It gets quite stained from accidental water overflows and needs to be painted every couple of years. I also cleaned the wooden shutters which will keep for another time. They are still in pretty good shape.

   Not much on TV tonight and I just have to heat up leftovers for dinner so probably an early night. The  stewed beans turned out quite well, almost like chili without the meat. It's grocery shopping day tomorrow so I am trying to use up all the perishables. My list has gotten quite long so I hope I have some PC points to cash in!

A New Recipe

   Here`s my day for today. Left for tennis at 9:30, played until 11:45 then a quick change of clothes. Arrived at the senior`s centre at 12:15 for Bridge (played better today, had good hands and made quite a few contracts). Finished at 2:45.

   Picked up a bunch of bananas on the way home so they will be ripe by the weekend. Started dinner and had it cooking by 3:15. It`s a bit of an experiment. I soaked some navy beans overnight and got them simmering for an hour while I had a nap, cooked up some bacon bits , onions and mushrooms, added this and half a can of tomatoes. Flavoured with garlic, mustard, maple syrup, vinegar and brown sugar (it called for molasses but I had run out). In the oven for 2 hours at 275 degrees F. Added the bean water from the simmering and baked for another two hours.

   It`s not going to be ready for a while but when the beans are tender I`ll cook some cabbage as a side dish. It does smell good. Hope it`s palatable.

   The weather was cooler but still pleasant today. I indulged in a hot cross bun when I got home from Bridge. It`s never too early to start celebrating Easter. I like them with butter and loads of honey. Definitely not part of my diet!

Watching My Weight

   Still pretty mild and sunny this morning so I walked to fitness class. It stayed sunny most of the day but was clouding over when I walked home at 3:00 p.m. It's still 10C but the temperature is supposed to drop overnight and we may get some snow flurries. It was extremely windy as I walked home but it seems to have died down now.

   Nattering with the ladies after class I found out that we are to be restricted to one class per day at our centre as there are huge waiting lists for the next session. Since I didn't get into any of my favourite classes anyway this is purely theoretical for me. However, it may mean I will move up the waitlist. The supervisor promised to look and see if she can find me a spot since I volunteer at the centre. That would be great but it may mean jumping the queue. I hope no one finds out!

   I have some backup plans in place in case I am at a loss for activities. I plan to try the RTO Nordic Pole Walking group which is becoming very popular, and I have heard that some of the other community centres (which are not free like ours) still have some places in their fitness classes. Who knew we seniors were such an active lot?

   Salmon and peas for dinner tonight. I weighed myself this morning and was a pound lighter, despite my binging on junk food twice in the past week. That is quite heartening. I would love to get below 140 lbs. but as long as I don't go back to 150 lbs. I am quite satisfied.

Bridge and a Movie

   Very much milder today (12C) but rain for most of the day. This morning I visited Fairview Mall where my oldest grandson told me there was a Lego store. He has asked for Lego for his birthday this weekend. There was such a choice and I have no idea what sets he has - he has lots - that I settled for a gift card. Now he can go and choose his own or put it towards a bigger set. At least he will get something he likes.

   While I was at the Mall I stopped at a bakery café and bought two whole wheat croissants and a delicious spinach and feta pastry for my lunch. I had the pastry before I went to Bridge class (I only had some banana and yogurt for breakfast), really brunch rather than lunch, then had a coffee when I got to the seniors` centre.  

   For once I was on time for Bridge lessons as I didn`t have tennis, and I learned a lot. The session is over until April and I have signed up for the next one. After the lesson we played a few hands. Margaret was my partner and we were mostly successful.

   I took in a movie later in the afternoon - `Hidden Figures`, very good - and was hungry again when it was over so used another of my Burger King coupons, `Buy One, Get One Free` for $5.50. I had a whopper and a veggie burger and certainly won`t be nibbling for the rest of the evening!