For our tennis game today we decided to wear our national colours, red and white. It was a perfect day for tennis, then home for a BBQ and swim with the family.
A diary of my life in retirement - food, books, gardening, travel, grandkids, and other pastimes that fill my days.
Thursday, 1 July 2021
Tuesday, 29 June 2021
Getting On With Business
Very hot on the tennis courts this morning but we played for an hour and a half. A very welcome thunder storm and rain this afternoon but, although it cooled off for a while, it is still up in the high 20's.
Car acting wonky yesterday so booked it in at the dealership. Sod's Law, everything was working fine today! So, after checking it for an hour they sent me home - no charge, thankfully.
Made a pizza from scratch for dinner today (dough in the bread machine). Can't wait to try it. It looks juicy and delicious!
That's today's batch of jam at the back of the stove - strawberry rhubarb. |
Monday, 28 June 2021
Strawberry Fields Forever
Our local strawberry picking farm had a drop in time for Seniors this morning so I was on the road just before 7:00 a.m. There was a surprising number of people there ahead of me but I got a good row and was finished picking by 8:00. It's about half an hour out in the country.
Home for breakfast and a relaxing swim then got stuck into jam making. I got one load done but decided to call it a day as I had a spill and the stove is a right mess! I have never had the jam overflow before but I managed to get most of it in jars. I will do another batch tomorrow.
I had a surprise visitor while swimming this morning. There was a splash behind me as I was climbing out of the pool and there was a tiny red squirrel swimming like mad toward me. I gave him a helping hand to get out and he scurried away under the bushes. I don't know which of us was more surprised - I've no idea how he fell in.
Sunday, 27 June 2021
Hot!
A heat wave has engulfed our part of the country although I hear it is worse out west. Today it is still 30C at 6:30 in the evening. The AC has clicked on for just the second time this summer - I keep it set at 25C - as I manage the heat in the house by closing windows and drapes first thing in the morning then opening everything up at night. Tonight I may not do that if it remains hot.
We had an early (8:00 a.m.) game of tennis this morning but I only lasted until shortly after 9:00 as it was very humid. The others kept playing for another few minutes by which time they were pretty well done too. Home and straight into the pool! It's amazing how even a quick dip brings down your body temperature.
I attempted a bit of gardening when it became overcast later in the afternoon and followed that up with another dip, but mainly I spent the afternoon reading in the shade. We could really do with a shower or two although that will probably just add to the humidity. It will probably continue this way for the rest of the week.