Eating Well for Less

    Another cool-ish day (just 26C) but quite humid. We were on the courts for almost two hours but part of that was taken up with arguing with another member because we weren't abiding by the COVID rules. No doubles allowed!!

   Yesterday's dinner required half a can of artichoke hearts (Mediterranean chicken and it was delicious) so, today, I came up with a way to use up the rest of the can. It was also delicious and I scoffed the lot on toasted crostini slices. As well as the artichokes, it had garlic, mayo, lemon juice and a generous amount of grated parmesan. Then baked for 20 minutes. Two good meals from just one can.

Sunny but Cool

    The pool was only 74F this morning but I had a couple of dips anyway - once after tennis (so nice to play in comfortable temperatures) and again after gardening. Cathy invited us over for coffee after tennis and we didn't get home until almost lunch time. A lovely way to spend the morning.

   Since coming home I have been having dizzy spells today (every time I bend over to pull up a weed) but managed to clip the tomatoes of all their excess branches. Only a few tomatoes so far, green and rather small, but hopefully they will grow a bit more as they ripen. I managed to fill two bins of garden refuse for pickup tomorrow.

   I finished my latest Anne Cleves book today - now what will I read? Luckily a still have a couple of DVDs to watch and will check out my bookshelf for something worth rereading. Time to fix dinner and see what's on TV tonight.

    A couple of hawks entertained us at the tennis courts this morning and Susan caught them on camera.

Mix of Clouds, Showers and Sun

   Some plants have survived the heat wave with frequent applications of water.

Echinacea just beginning to flower.

Two different basils still plentiful despite yesterday's clipping.

Phlox, day lilies and Bee Balm in a shady part of the garden.

Change in the Weather

   An overcast morning and much cooler. We had rain on and off most of the morning but really not enough to bring back the lawn and the wilting plants. But it is such a relief after the intense heat of the last week! I have all the windows open to catch whatever breeze happens to be passing.

   A quiet day for me - just one trip to the library to pick up an Anne Cleves book. So grateful that the library is once again up and running although we have to order online and pickup at the curb. Now I have some DVDs to watch if there's nothing on TV. Tonight it is the first season of a series recommended to me, "Marcella", and it looks pretty good. 

    I made a batch of pesto this afternoon, not sure what I will use it for but it will keep for a while in the fridge. I used the garlic scapes I trimmed recently and lots of basil (my basil is growing like crazy this year!). A crushed garlic clove, my best olive oil and some parmesan cheese completed the recipe. It does smell wonderfully aromatic!