Nordic Pole Walking

    Yesterday was so cold! And it was the day for me to join the Pole Walking group. It was -12C in the morning (-20 wind chill) and barely warmed up all day. We were all bundled up in ski suits (or in one case a fur coat), hats scarves and thermal mittens. I managed the hour walk no bother but was still cold when we finished - no chance of me working up a sweat in those temperatures. I will try it again before investing in the poles, hopefully on a warmer day.

   Today is a bit warmer, in fact got up to 5C this afternoon. I went to the Probus meeting this morning for the coffee and the conviviality. The presentation was on dental implants which I hope I never have to get. The speaker managed to make the topic fairly interesting. He was quite funny.

   This afternoon I did a bit of garden cleanup and now have three bins ready to get picked up next garbage day. Then I sat outside in the sun with my book for half-an-hour. So nice to feel the sun on your face!

   Time to fix dinner. I have bacon and spinach defrosting for a quiche and will also put onion, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, eggs and lots of cheese in it. Doesn't that sound yummy? There will be pickled beetroot on the side.

   Still can't load pictures so you will just have to visualize it.

Fashion Show

   I thought I had loads of time to get to the RWTO lunch today and set off just before 10:30. I was there in quick sticks but was met by a bunch of restless old dames desperate for me to lay out the name tags so they could get to their tables! Unbelievable. Once I had placated them I ducked out to Tim Horton's for a coffee and stayed there until the dust had cleared and I had calmed down. Seemingly (no one told me this), there is a mad rush to get seats at the tables with all their friends on the day of the Fashion Show lunch. There were 140 for lunch as many members bring guests.

   Lunch was not great - a Caesar salad followed by a very mediocre lasagna and, thankfully, lots of properly cooked vegetables. A lot of the lasagna went back to the kitchen uneaten. I left about 1/3 of mine. Dessert and coffee were fine.

   The fashion show was well done - some of the members were the models. It was mostly Spring and Summer outfits in gorgeous fabrics and colours, all Canadian made. I particularly liked one outfit, a jacket and top, and decided to buy both. They will do nicely for my vacation in June but I will have to buy a pair of pants to wear with them (and maybe some jewellery). If I can figure out why I can't load photos any more, I will post a picture of my new outfit.

   Won't need much dinner, just soup and a sandwich probably.

Still Above Zero

    The temperature has stayed in positive numbers all day and is still 4C at 10p.m. Maybe we have turned the corner. I am starting to think about buying some pansies from my porch planter. They are pretty hardy and could survive a light frost.

  I walked to and back from the senior's centre for Bridge and it was quite pleasant although not sunny. I started off with great cards and made a slew of contracts before the luck turned.

  

Out in the Garden

     Gorgeous day today, I think Spring is very close. It was full on sun and definitely well above zero. The snow went quite quickly, especially in sunny spots. After the morning chores I pottered in the garden for a bit then sat enjoying the sun. After lunch and a nap I went for quite a long walk and sat outside reading the paper for almost an hour.

    There was tennis on TV this afternoon - the Final from Indian Wells. It was 34C there! My favourite, Roger Federer, won. It's been a while since he had such a good tournament.

    Funny thing - I found some garlic cloves which I had left hanging in the garage to dry last fall - they had survived the winter and were sprouting! Into the ground quick sticks and I will be watching their progress closely.

    I had a very healthy dinner tonight - fish with a mustard and chutney topping and broccoli casserole, all done in the oven in half-an-hour. Very easy and tasty!