Picking Strawberries

   A blistering day - 33C with the humidex registering 39C - but I decided it was my last chance to go strawberry picking!
  
   The first problem was that my favourite farm had gone out of business (they had decided it was more profitable to sell to a developer than to stay in the farming business) so I had to find a new spot. After searching online I found a couple of places fairly close by but spent almost an hour driving around to check them out. It was very hot in the strawberry fields so I only picked about two thirds of my usual crop but have enough to make a batch of jam and a couple of pies, as well as just eating them fresh with loads of cream!

    Two dips in the pool today but since then have been hiding out indoors with the A/C on. I did manage two sets of tennis this morning but faded fast as the heat increased, as did everyone else. We were done by 10:30. More heat tomorrow!

Pizza Party

   Not my favourite meal but when it's free I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. The event at the tennis club was postponed from Saturday when it was rained out. 

Now I am stuffed and happy I don't have to fix any dinner tonight. Also it was a chance to socialize with some folks I hadn't seen in a while. It's amazing how the offer of free food brings people (and not just me) out of the woodwork!

Gorgeous day after a rainy weekend -sunny and low 20's, very pleasant.

Celebrating Lives Well Lived

   I have to attend two "Celebrations of Life" this week, one for a friend who died after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage, and another who was the victim of a vicious attack. If you live in the Toronto area you probably heard of it - he was pushed into the path of an approaching subway train. I know him from my tennis club and all who knew him are quite devastated by the news. He was quite a special person and didn't deserve this fate. So, it will be a sad week for me and many others.

Tonight's Treat

Treated myself to a glass of wine (Black Tower, I haven't had that in ages) and an aperitif of cream cheese, smoked salmon and avocado slices. Do I still need dinner? Well, yes, but much later.

    And there's my current library book, if you haven't tried Donna Leon you really must - a window into life of a Venetian Commisario and his family, good mysteries and oodles of food descriptions. His wife is a stellar cook of Italian staples.