Strawberry Fields Forever

   Out of the house early to pick strawberries. I forgot it was a holiday and the strawberry farm was crawling with people carrying baskets and buckets - also lots of kids. But I was there early enough to get my bucket filled and out of there in half-an-hour. The strawberries were plentiful and humongous!

   Luckily the grocery stores were open despite it being a holiday so, after several attempts, I did find one that had some of my favourite brand of pectin left. I also needed sugar and a couple of lemons so that went on my grocery list too.

    After bridge I got all the ingredients for jam ready and scalded some jars. The strawberries were so big it didn't take long to prepare the fruit. Once I got the mixture boiling away a problem that I'd never experienced before developed, the mixture was about to boil over! I was using the same pan as usual and the same quantities so I have no idea why it occurred. However, I managed to control it by removing the pan intermittently from the heat. Once it had cooled down a bit I got the jars filled and sealed - first batch done!

   Still can't load photos here but I have put one on Facebook.

Ants In My Pants!

   It started out nice and sunny - and not nearly as humid - but it is looking quite black again so we may be in for some more rain. The temperature has dropped 5 degrees in the last hour which is rather ominous!

    The tennis courts were busy this morning and we had to resort to the "timing" system, to many players disgust but otherwise they do tend to hog the courts. We had a ladies foursome for our first stint - Betty and I were in the lead when we had to give up the court, then got back on with a different foursome when Cathy and I were ignominiously defeated 6-0 by Kathy and Tamara! I was exhausted by then and barely staggered home.

   I went out later in the afternoon to work in the garden, but I was defeated by a swarm of tiny ants which were crawling all over me and biting me. I went to another part of the garden to pull weeds but quickly lost interest as I was scratching from the ant bites. It was nice enough to sit reading in the shade - more my style!

  

Confederation Day

   Today, here in Canada, we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Normally July 1st. is just Canada Day but this is a special one. There are tons of special events today - at my tennis club we had a BBQ with two large cakes in the shape of the Canadian flag - and tonight there will be lots of firework displays. I plan to stay home and watch it on TV. I'm not a big fan of crowds plus the weather is a bit iffy.

   It was extremely hot and humid at tennis and I only played two sets. Gayle and I won the first set, and Cathy and I won the second. But that was it for me! After lunch I headed home for a swim (8 laps today, but they are pretty short), a nap and a bit of gardening. It rained lightly for a few minutes but not enough to freshen the plants.

   After the big lunch, sausage in buns, Greek salad and potato salad, I just needed a light dinner so had a bowl of soup and salmon croquettes. I made my own tartar sauce and, along with a slice of lemon, that was enough.

Finally Summer!

   Although it started out rainy, the day improved immensely and we had a sunny, warm afternoon, up to 27C. The grandkids were over for the morning (they are on summer vacation but Judy had to attend a meeting) and James got into the pool up to his waist - I had bet him a quarter he couldn't, it was only 72F, but he did it!

    After they went home I did some gardening and then had a dip myself. It was very refreshing. and not nearly as chilly as I expected. I only did four lengths but it's early days yet. I will soon work up to more. I sat out in the sun to dry off for nearly an hour and finished my current library book. It was one I had read before, "The Fruit of the Lemon" by Andrea Levy, but an easy enjoyable read for a summer afternoon. Next book will be more of a struggle - a rather dark mystery which has been on the best seller list for several weeks - but I will persevere with it. It's called "Into the Water" and is by Paula Hawkins who wrote "The Girl On the Train" which I thoroughly enjoyed.

   I picked some rhubarb yesterday and made a rhubarb loaf this afternoon. It turned out very well - nice and moist and not too sweet - I kept a slice to have with my tea tonight but sliced the rest and put it in the freezer for next time I need a treat. I also stewed some rhubarb to have with ice cream for dessert tonight.  Yum!!