Ladies Who Lunch

    Today was the monthly lunch for the Retired Women Teachers Organization I belong to and a good time was had by all. This is as much an excuse to get together as an actual dining experience!

   We met at the local country club and had the dining room to ourselves. Normally there are curling leagues going on but they haven't started yet for the winter session. There is usually a speaker or other entertainment but today there was just a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. I managed to score a box of truffles!

   However, since this was the first lunch since the summer break, there was lots to catch up on with new and old friends. Salad, BBQ chicken and rhubarb pie with ice cream was served so no need for a meal tonight. I will just have my go-to snack of a BLT (still trying to keep up with the mountain of tomatoes).

It's just gone 6:00 p.m. and the sun is already behind the houses to the west of me. The nights are really drawing in!

Wasps!

    The wasps have been particularly annoying this year. There must be a nest somewhere in my back yard as they arrive literally seconds after I go outside with food.

   I have had to retreat indoors with my lunch on several occasions. Yesterday one landed in my glass of wine and I didn't notice until I had taken a swig. Luckily I felt it before it stung me. I fished it out with my finger and it staggered around for a bit, then eventually flew off. None the worse for its dunking obviously. Also, obviously, I finished the glass of wine. Waste not, want not again!

Never a Dull Moment on My Street

    Another sunny mild day, temps in the low 20's. A huge white stretch limo was parked outside my house this morning. I ran to get my camera but by the time I found it and got myself decent to go outside, it was gone. I think there may have been a wedding on my street but not anyone I know. Great excitement!

   I walked up to the mall later in the morning (5,000 steps) to pick up the next Book Club book from the library. It's "The Wish" by Nicholas Sparks. I see he has had several of his books made into movies, the most memorable being "The Notebook", a real tear jerker.

   On the way home snapped this perennial in all its Autumn glory. No idea what it is but I'm sure someone will enlighten me.

   The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. This afternoon I baked a zucchini loaf, the zucchinis just keep coming! I will use the rest to make zucchini fritters for dinner.

Trying To Be Economical

    Brilliant blue sky today but only 12C when I set out for the tennis club this morning. We had one night recently where the overnight temperature was in single digits! I had been hoping for some summery weather this month but it is really veering towards Fall. I have been busy tidying up the garden and cutting back perennials but now the bins and the composter are pretty much full so I can relax until the next garden refuse pickup on Wednesday.

 Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

   I tried this recipe the other day - the photo is from a magazine but mine looked remarkably like it. I had to substitute a few ingredients but it only took 15 minutes to put together and most of that time was baking the sweet potato in the microwave. I already had something to stuff it with and topped it with grated cheese and chopped green onions. The bonus was that everything in it was needing used up so it felt like a free meal! Today I had a basa fillet with mashed parsnip and peas. The parsnip also needed using up and the fish and peas were from the freezer so, waste not, want not again!