Bringing the Outdoors Inside

    The garden is bare but there are still some flowers (now indoors) to brighten up a frosty Fall morning.

Thirteen Thousand Steps!

    We were locked out at tennis today - damaged padlock replaced overnight but we didn't get the notification in time and didn't know who to contact so we walked instead. Later (after coffee and a snack) I had another long walk and have kept the step counter in my pocket ever since. I was quite surprised and pleased by the total. My daily average is around 4,500 so that is a big jump! Seemingly 13,182 steps translates into 6.8 kms. I was sore by the time I got home and needed a nap after lunch.

   I was invited for a meal at a Chef's house last weekend. The meal was fabulous, several small plates - just wish I had taken photos as each one looked so inviting. He used to own a restaurant but now just cooks for small groups in his home in a very professional looking kitchen.    

    The meal started with potato and coconut milk soup. Next came a seafood sampler featuring scallop, shrimp and calamari, all seriously tasty. Then a spinach, fennel and mandarin salad. Finally, pork belly and greens. Each course was small but full of flavour. There was a caramelized apple in cream on a pastry crust for dessert but by that time I was so stuffed I just nibbled at it. There were lots of special touches such as basil oil and a roasted artichoke slice on the soup. I would highly recommend the whole meal!

   Frost is forecast for tonight so I mulched my tender plants this afternoon and picked the last of the parsley which was very abundant this year. Some of it will be a topping on my fish tonight and I will make pesto with the rest to save in the freezer.  Also brought in my rosemary plant to use over the winter. Time to batten down the hatches!

   

   

Feels Like Winter is Approaching

 So cold - not ready for this wintery weather yet! Tomorrow we had planned to play tennis (won't be long until it is over) but the morning temperature is forecast to be 2C! Stay tuned to see if we make it onto the courts. It should warm up a bit on the weekend so we may get a good game on Sunday.

   Yesterday was busy - I was out early to set up at our first monthly Retired Women Teachers lunch, but I didn't stay as I was also booked for a lunch and Travelogue (Myanmar which was formally Burma) at another location. It was very well done with a beautiful slide show and video presentation following a light lunch.

   Today was a bit quieter - my Fitness class at 10:15 a.m. at the Seniors Centre, then serving coffee and snacks in the kitchen. Luckily I took a book to read as I didn't have many customers. Since lockdown the management have had trouble staffing the kitchen and it's often closed so I think people have got out of the habit of eating there or even staying after class for a coffee and cookie. It's the best deal in town as the coffee and cookie is $1 and a hot pie (with ketchup if you want it) is $1.50! They occasionally have burgers and salad for $5 but I missed the last barbecue. They do treat their Seniors well!

   I had my tennis friends over for brunch last Sunday, counterclockwise from the right, Susan, Kathy, Cathy and Frank (Cathy's husband, AKA Francine when he plays with the ladies). I served way too much food so have been eating leftovers ever since!

Cathy brought the devilled eggs. We also had apple pie with ice cream and coconut tarts from Cathy and Susan for "afters".

Two New Dances

    Just to be clear, these are Scottish Country dances (similar to folk dances), quite different from the highly technical and competitive Scottish Highland dancing. They are danced in three orfour couple sets and, in fact some are quite well known such as Virginia Reel and Strip the Willow. Here are two we learned this week. Enjoy!