Staying Close to Home

    I seem to have lost most of my readers - maybe my life is too dull to make it worthwhile to comment! No matter, I will soldier on.

   Cool and cloudy today but as I had no plans it didn't matter. Actually, I did work up a sweat working in the garden this afternoon so went for a quick dip in the pool. Too chilly to sit outside to dry off, though.

   I walked up to the mall to check out a new library book and shop at Metro. The strike that had closed it for the last week or three is finally over but the staff didn't seem to be quite back to normal. The guy on the fish counter told me he had trouble getting to work on time but he gave me a lovely marinated salmon fillet which I will have for dinner tonight.

Looks like I may get some more zucchini if the weather stays warm!

The results of all my labour. Still a bit more to clear but getting there. 

Tuesday to Thursday

    The heat continued through Tuesday and Wednesday - 30C, felt like 38C! At the tennis courts on Tuesday I only managed one set but spent some time socializing. Bridge in the afternoon was in air-conditioned comfort and, for the first time in three years, we played without masks, such a relief for me but a few kept theirs on. Some of us brought our school bells as it was the first day back to school, and we rang them to celebrate NOT having to be at work and in support of our still working colleagues! For dinner I had a leftover hamburger and some of Judy's salads.

   Wednesday continued hot and, even though it is air-conditioned, the seniors' centre was pretty steamy for the fitness class. I only worked in the kitchen for two hours as most of the afternoon classes are over and was home in time for a late lunch - tomatoes again! Dinner was a sausage casserole I made on the weekend plus the last of Judy's salads!

The bean salad was augmented with (guess what) tomatoes, of course. I had the last of the wine we opened on Monday. So all leftovers consumed and on to something fresh tomorrow. 

   Thursday was considerably cooler, more seasonal which was quite a relief and made for more comfortable sleeping. Although I use the A/C when it is very hot, it never seems to cool the upstairs too well. I had a Zoom meeting in the morning and Book club in the afternoon. We had an extremely lively discussion of this month's book, "Mad Honey" by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylen. Highly recommended!

Hi Jinks in the Pool

    On the Monday holiday the family came over for a swim as it was so hot. Judy brought dinner so, while the kids cavorted in the pool, Dave barbecued hamburgers. There was quite a feast, potato salad, bean salad, and corn as well as the burgers. I sneaked some leftovers for my dinner next day!

   They stayed in the pool well into the evening as it was still so warm but eventually everyone had had enough so it was time to dry off and it was time to head home. The kids and Judy were back to school the next day so had some organizing to do. I was just happy to have the house to myself again although having this lively bunch here is always fun.

Labour Day

    Monday was a federal holiday and marks the end of summer here. It was blisteringly hot - 30C + and very humid. Many people head out of town for a last blast at the cottage or by a lake but for me it started off with the tennis social. I arrived early to help set up and once that was done headed for an empty court. I only lasted 40 minutes due to the heat and spent the next hour in the air-conditioned club house. I always know when it's time to quite as my face turns beet red!

   There were about 80 people in attendance and we were served a lovely lunch around noon, jerk chicken, Jamaican patties and green salad, followed by watermelon and chocolate brownies. It was very filling (plus I was expecting another big meal later that evening) so I took the patty and the brownie home with me. The patty was especially tasty, not too spicy, and I will definitely try it again.

   I had turned on the pool heater before I left in the morning and the water was nicely warm by the time I got home. All I needed before the family arrived was a short nap so with that I will close and relate the rest of the day another time. It is still very hot three days later but we are promised some cooler temperatures by the end of the week, thank goodness.