April Showers etc.

   It has rained pretty much all day today and the garden has had a good soaking - puddles everywhere! The temperature has actually dropped through the day, starting at 9C and now just 7C. We may have a few cool days coming. There are some flower heads on the daffodils so the rain has truly brought out the flowers, and it's not may yet.

   Tennis this morning (great fun - we were all on our game!). We only had time for two sets and had to stop the second one at 6-6 as we were too tired to play a tie-break. I almost dozed off during Bridge class but did learn a new thing or two. Dianne was there too, so we have decided to try what we learned when we play next Monday.

   I  was passing the Garden Centre yesterday and dropped in to pick up some pansies. They will go in a planter on the porch on the next nice day. That way I can bring them in if frost threatens. They are pretty hardy so that shouldn't be a problem. I am already anticipating what new plants and veg I will buy this year - can't wait! 

   It's rather a rather dreary evening so I have the fire lit and it's warm and cozy in here. An evening in front of the TV is called for!

A Perfect Day

    A late start today - I stayed up until midnight last night, watching "D.I. Banks" on PBS - so I puttered around until almost 11:00 a.m. before I got my act together. 

   Another beautiful Spring day - it officially reached 14C this afternoon but I swear it was warmer than that in my back yard! I cleared some borders, cut back two lavender plants and managed to dig up a climbing rose that stopped flowering a couple of years ago. It was a real bugger to get out. I am thinking of replacing it with a clematis plant but I have not been very successful with previous purchases. Will have to consult the staff at the garden centre.

   After all that hard work I sat in the sun for a while but it clouded over later in the afternoon so I came inside to read. My current boob, "Commonwealth" by Anne Patchett, really has me hooked. It's a family drama stretching over a couple of generations of two families whose lives are intertwined. I will be sorry when it is finished.

   Chicken thighs in a tomato and cheese sauce tonight - it's smelling delicious, cooking away in the oven. I have made a salad with the leftover quinoa to which I have added red peppers, cucumber, walnuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese (yum!) with a homemade dressing. I'm ready for my meal.

Saving on My Food Bill

   Much nicer today - even some sun this afternoon! I think it got up to about 10C which is a move in the right direction. I hung out my washing this morning and it is now dry and back inside. Fresh sheets on my bed tonight!

   I had a nice surprise at the grocery store today as I had racked up $20 in PC Points so, some free groceries. I use my PC card for almost everything and it's surprising how quickly the points accumulate. I paid for my upcoming trip with the card and that got me quite a bunch. Also, by loading offers to my card on things I usually buy got me another 2,000 points today ($2).

    Finally feeling more like myself today - I had a long(ish) walk this afternoon through the park to make sure the tennis courts were open. People were actually playing but some of the wind screens still need to go up. Perhaps I will be playing outdoors this week after all.

    My favourite, salmon, for dinner tonight and I think I will break my "no carb" rule and make some quinoa. Haven't had that in ages. If there's any left over it will be a quinoa salad tomorrow. Red peppers were on "special" today and I bought two, so maybe I could make quinoa stuffed peppers. Lots of choices!

End of March

   The snow has gone but not much of an improvement in the weather - raining on and off all day and only 5C for a while this afternoon. An indoor day today.

   Tried my step class video this morning and barely made it through to the end. Haven't done much else all day and had a long nap this afternoon. I think I may still be recuperating from the stomach flu although it doesn't usually take me so long to bounce back. I am desperate to get outside and be doing things in the garden. I think that would do the trick. Surely April will bring us some nicer weather!

   I made a batch of sugar cookies this afternoon to replenish the cookie stash in the freezer. I daren't keep them in a cupboard or they would be gone in no time. It was almost a disaster as they weren't quite done when the timer went off and I meant to give them 5 more minutes, then got distracted. They are a little too brown and crisper than I like, but still edible. Phew!

   Fish for dinner tonight and now I feel bloated which is another reason I don't think I am back to normal. Hope it stays down!