Busy in the Kitchen

   Gorgeous day today with the temperature in the double digits by the afternoon. The morning was sunny, although breezy, but it clouded over in the afternoon. I took a walk around the garden and saw lots of shoots pushing up but the shaded areas are still very wet so I wasn't tempted to start preparing the beds. Amazing for February!

   After dealing with the laundry this morning I went up to Bridlewood Mall for a couple of things I forgot to pick up yesterday. There's another restaurant opening up there soon. That will make 5, not counting the bubble tea shop and  the juice bar. I don't know how they will all survive as they never seem very busy, although I'm usually not there at meal times.

   After lunch I put a loaf in the bread maker and later I made a beef stew with loads of vegetables, including my favourite - brussell sprouts! It cooked away in the oven for 4 hours and came out quite delicious. Lots of leftovers for the rest of the week. I will slice the loaf later on and test a slice with jam, then store the slices in the freezer. That should last me a couple of weeks.

A Day At Home

    Much milder today, starting at -4C and sunny this morning. By noon it had clouded over but got up to 5C, so feeling a bit more like the coming of Spring.

   Just the usual Saturday chores - a load of laundry washed and hung to dry, grocery shopping and, on the way home, a stop at the drug store to pick up my prescription. Since then it has been a relaxing day, including a nap.

   I had an interesting meal this evening. I baked some chicken drumsticks in a sticky sauce, took the meat off the bones and wrapped them in tacos with lettuce and half an avocado. It was delicious and filling and so easy! I had bought the avocado in the morning ($1.29, ridiculous price!) and had a feeling it was a little over ripe and about to spoil. I had to trim a few soft spots but, other than that, it was perfect. By tomorrow it would have been spoiled, this has happened to me often. It's so hard to tell what they are like inside.

   I have the fire on tonight even though it's not very cold. It just looks more cheerful. I have a good book on the go, "The Hired Girl", and some good shows on TV, so I will be cozy and entertained!

  

A New "Do"

   Minus 10C when I got up this morning and, although it was sunny, I don't think we made it above zero all day. Presently it's -6C so winter is still hanging around.

   I managed to get myself organized enough to get out for the 9:00 a.m. fitness class despite having a veritable mountain of dirty dishes to sort in the kitchen sink. I had a good workout but didn't hang around very long after - just enough to gulp down a coffee and munch on a cookie - I had to be at the hairdresser by 10:30. She gave me a nice short cut and thinned my hair so I should be good for a few weeks.

   Back for Progressive Bridge by 11:45 and got a spot at the last table. No free soup this week as the staff are "working to rule" pending the renewal of their contract. So no perks in the meantime. I had some good hands and some not so good but, overall, I don't think I played too badly.

   Just a light supper tonight - I just wasn't hungry as I ate the last piece of yesterday's falafel sandwich when I got home from Bridge. So I just baked an egg on toasted cheese with some mushrooms that needed eating up. I need to clear the fridge ready for grocery shopping tomorrow.

A Great Meal Out

   After a quick breakfast of half a banana with peanut butter and some yogurt (my favourite go-to breakfast of the moment) and a quick swipe at the snow on the driveway, I was at my Yoga class by 9:00 a.m. I am getting better at the stretches but the balance postures are really beyond me. I am wondering whether or not to sign up again next session. I do enjoy the meditation portions of the class.

 It was quite chilly with a cold wind when I set out this morning and it started to snow again before class was over. Home for coffee and toast while reading the paper and then a quick change before going out for lunch with the RODEO ladies. We were at Lara's Restaurant today which serves predominately Middle Eastern food. I had a Falafel sandwich with a Fatoush salad. It was full of tasty stuff (pickled turnip, no less) and interesting spices. The servings were huge and I brought home at least half of the meal. I had the rest for dinner tonight and, in fact, there's still some of the sandwich left for a late night snack. And all that for only $9.50! I will certainly go there again!

   Very stuffed at the moment so I think I will eat lightly tomorrow. Lots of good shows on TV tonight, perfect when you can't move from the sofa, and the fire's on to keep me cozy as the temperature drops. I'll be up until 11:00 watching "Shetland". Good times!