Not Much on the Agenda

    The day started with meeting up with my three tennis friends at the courts. We played almost the whole two hours we had booked except for breaks to chat and catch our breath. Three sets, rotating partners after each set so we all played at least once with each other.

   I was home by 11:00 a.m. and had a quick swim followed by the rest of my breakfast - coffee and toast. The rest of the morning was spent working through the Sunday newspapers. I did a bit of gardening before lunch, just cutting back the raspberry stalks, and got another bin filled. Unfortunately, this exposed a number of stubborn weeds which I will have to tackle at some point! I got a loaf started in the bread machine after lunch then headed up for a nap.

    Later I picked the very last rhubarb stalks and made a jar of chutney with them and some mango. By then the bread was ready. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the men's final at the U.S. Open. Not a particularly close match as it as it was a "best of five match" and was over after three sets. 

   Dinner was a casserole from the freezer but I had some tomato bruschetta first (still trying to use up those pesky tomatoes). Then I made a Greek salad to accompany the casserole, easy, tasty and healthy!

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.