Asparagus

    My shopping day is now Thursdays as that is when seniors are given priority access to my local No Frills store. Unfortunately the time slot is 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. which means I go before I eat breakfast. This is fatal as I invariably buy things I don't really need. This week it was two different fancy cheeses which were both 50% off. I couldn't decide between them so took both!

   Also this week there was a special on asparagus. I do love asparagus but is is usually so expensive I feel guilty buying it. This week's price was too good to resist. However, now I have to eat asparagus with every meal and tomorrow I will even have it in my breakfast omelet. After that I will be sick of it until next Spring!

The fancy cheeses - one Brie and one Camembert.

The asparagus keeping moist along side a "living lettuce" with its roots still attached, on my kitchen counter.

Doing Some Rereading

   The libraries are still not open and I am running out of reading material. Curb side pick up and drop off is supposed to start next week but you have to book a time, which is a pain. I have moved all my "holds" to a branch that has a curb (my home branch is in a mall so won't be opening) so hopefully I will get some books and videos soon.

   I have several books set in France that I have dug out. I read "The Olive Harvest" by Carol Drinkwater last week and today started "A Good Year" by Peter Mayle. Another book I plan to read again is "French Kisses", by George East, set in Normandy so a bit different from the first two which are set in the south of France. 

I have read most of his books but this is the only one I own. I might try to see if the library has a copy of the film based on it.

Experimenting With Sour Dough

   I made a sour dough starter yesterday intending to try out a new bread recipe today. The book recommended keeping it in a warm spot overnight and the oven with the light on was suggested as a suitable place.

   I went to use it today and it had exploded all over the oven! Well, not all over. The plastic cover had been pushed off, the sides of the jar were coated with dried on dough and there was a large pancake shape on the bottom of the oven. Obviously it needed to be in a bigger container.

   I managed to save about half a cup and added more flour, water and sugar (that, with yeast, is basically all it is) and returned it to the oven in a bigger jar. Luckily I checked it an hour later and it had almost filled the jar again! It seems to have a life of its own.

   Thought I'd better make a loaf in case it kept growing so used half of it and stored the rest in the fridge. That should discourage it from overflowing again. I made a garlic loaf so that at least will be tasty. More tomorrow.

The Merry Month of June

   Another beautiful day, blue skies, a slight breeze and reasonable temperatures. The pool guys were here today for the first chemical check and vacuuming. The pool looks great but, unfortunately, the water is still too cold for swimming. My new pool heater is coming on June 19th and not a day too soon!

   The days are zipping past - can't believe it is June already! My big complaint is that my local library is still not open. I have books and videos waiting for me but since it is in a mall it still must stay closed. Other branches facing onto a street are open for curbside pick ups and returns. I might try to have my "holds" transferred to one of them.

   Good news today - my tax return has been approved and I will get my refund very soon. Of course, they may look at it again once the bulk of returns have been processed but by then I will have spent the money! It will almost cover the cost of the new pool heater.