Three Quarters of a Century

   Today is my birthday, quite a milestone, so I have been lazy and spoiled. Steve came over this morning and took me out for brunch - I had Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, delicious! Then he did a few chores around the house, checked the tire pressure in my car, brought in my outdoor furniture and disposed of my old desktop computer - what a relic that is! I much prefer my laptop.

   In the afternoon I had a big long nap, finished my current book (must remember to go to the library tomorrow as there are now two books waiting for me), and tidied up a bit of the garden. I am still picking tomatoes although they are taking longer to ripen with the shorter hours of sun. I also picked up some groceries and drove down to see if the farmer was still selling corn. He said he will be there for another couple of weeks so I will stop off again. His corn is the freshest - just picked yesterday. I don't know why anyone buys it at the grocery store.

      There's not much growing in the garden except this one rose.

The last rose - isn't it a beauty!

Busy in the Kitchen

   Very chilly this morning and it only got up to 12C. We managed a couple of sets of tennis before the rain started around 9:45. As there were quite a few of us and lots of coffee, we stayed around chatting until 10:30. Eva had brought pastries and home made plum cake which was very good. Home by 11:00 and it was still raining so I made a pot of minestrone soup for lunch. 

    By the time I had finished reading the newspaper it was lunch time and the soup was ready. I followed that with a nap then set out for the mall to have my hair cut. Just as I left there was a clap of thunder and the heavens opened. It was torrential but the gardens really needed it. I had to wait in the car until it eased up a bit before I could sprint to the entrance, luckily it's an indoor mall. By the time I was ready to come home, the sun was out.

   Before I left for the hair appointment I got the bread machine started and wound up with a funny, squat loaf. I have been experimenting with the yeast as the last two loaves have hit the roof of the breadmaker and then collapsed. So less yeast today. But, unlike today, it was very hot on the other days so I think that was part of the problem. Next time I will try to find a happy medium.

    Roast chicken for dinner with corn and broccoli. All in all, a very productive and busy day!

The loaf, easy to slice but rather dense.

The soup, that should do quite a few lunches!

Two Treats

   Much cooler today - only got up to 18C - with a north wind. I walked to the mall (about 20 mins.) to get my library book - it's good! - and cashed in $10 worth of Air Miles at Metro. I love free food! That is the only time I shop at Metro as it is more expensive than No Frills.

   Speaking of free food - I had a trip to Bulk Barn yesterday to use a $3 off coupon and, of course, spent more than I needed to use the coupon, probably the strategy behind the offer! But cashews were on special so that's my treat.

   My new library book is "Harbour Street" by Ann Cleves (I wonder if she is a descendant of the wife of Henry VIII with the same name) and this book and others have been made into a TV series which I have enjoyed in the past. The main character is DI Vera Stanhope, an unprepossessing but astute policewoman who is very good at solving murders.

   Lunch with the Probus ladies today. We went to Watt's Restaurant and I had a very good bacon and tomato quiche with salad. So just soup and a tomato sandwich for dinner (and the aforementioned cashews!).

A Break From the Heat

     Another record set yesterday but today is considerably cooler. It got up to 27C this afternoon but by the time I was walking home from the senior's centre it was clouding over and there were a few spits of rain. I still had to water the garden but it is now down to 21C. I have all the windows open and the house is quite comfortable. No need for air conditioning tonight!

   I finished my current book this afternoon but there is one waiting for me at the library so that will be my first port of call tomorrow. Meanwhile I will start to reread a book we will be discussing at Book Club next month.

   Pottered in the garden for a while but it's not looking great. The hot weather plus my lack of enthusiasm in the heat have meant it has got somewhat out-of-hand. I have basically only been keeping the grass cut and that hasn't been necessary recently. It was very quiet at the coffee bar this afternoon - I only sold 8 cups of coffee and one pie! Hardly worth my while to be there. However, I had no other place I had to be and at least I got to chat with some of the regulars.

    Something with broccoli for dinner tonight as I need some fibre in my diet!