Some Gifts and Freebies

     Nobody doesn't like getting something for free and this month one of our coffee chains has a promotion on that is always very popular. It's called "Roll Up the Rim". The coffee chain is Tim Hortons or "Timmies" if you are local. The idea is that certain of their paper cups hide a surprise under the rim which you roll up once you have finished your beverage.

   We get a 12-cup container for refreshments at our knitting group and this week I managed to snag two cups that offered a free coffee. So, today I got a large decaf cappucino, more than I usually buy, and it was delicious. I dutifully rolled up the rim of that cup and found I had won a donut - the Timmies donuts are seriously yummy. So, on Thursday, along with my second winning coffee I will have a sour cream glazed donut, my favourite. Not a bad haul considering I didn't have to pay for the initial coffee!

   It was oldest grandson's 19th birthday on the weekend and he received a rather unusual gift from his mother. Next year he is moving out of residence into a shared apartment so she gave him a miniature crockpot which will be just right for easy meal preparation once he is living on his own. It just holds enough for one meal and she will stock him up with frozen meals to pop in the crockpot before he leaves for his classes and it will be ready when he gets home from school. I think it's a brilliant idea and much more economical than take out. He is not a bad cook but pre-planning and shopping for groceries is not his forte. At least we know he will now be able to have a nutritious, healthy meal.

Finally Lebanon

    After three aborted attempts to sample the food of Lebanon, we finally made it to Paramount restaurant for lunch today. I have to say the food was delicious but now I am feeling rather overstuffed as it was very rich. I think a little goes a long way with Lebanese food.

   Several people ordered the chicken shawarma but I chose the Veggie Lovers option which included hummus, falafels, an eggplant dip, roasted cauliflower and some other pickled and fried vegetables. Also arriving at the table were huge "balloons" of bread to share and use for scooping up the dip. Quite a novel way of eating. The meal ended with halvah brownies.

    Just a bowl of soup and half a sandwich for dinner tonight!

Shrove Tuesday

    Not sure if I got the date right but we celebrated today with a Pancake Breakfast at the Senior's Centre. The weather has been deplorable recently and was raining today (first rain of Spring) so only hardy souls turned up, around 40 or 50. Still, in my opinion, it was worth braving the elements for a tasty meal of pancakes, sausages, orange juice and coffee for $5! And I made some new friends which is always a bonus.

    I just managed to squeeze it in between a grocery shop, charging my car and making it down to Bridge by 12:15. Cards were OK and I had good partners but wasn't in the money this time around. Next week the community centre is busy with children's programs as it is March Break so we plan to relocate to a nearby pub which will be an interesting change.

   The piles of snow are lingering on and the weather seems to fluctuate between icy winds and snow pellets so we are still some way away from Spring-like weather. Maybe today's rain will signal the start of more clement weather. We can but hope!

The Start of the Meltdown

    The Big Melt has begun and I can now get easily into my driveway - I have been hacking away at the snowbank for the last couple of days of mild temperatures and have widened the  gap somewhat. No doubt we will return to below freezing temperatures in a day or two but taking advantage of this opportunity to start clearing the snow was not to be missed. We even had a glimpse of sun today which helped.

   Last week's exercise classes were cancelled due to our instructor being involved in a weather related (ie. icy roads) traffic accident. I don't think she was hurt but may be without a car for the time being. Just hoping she manages to make it to the seniors' centre this week. I have missed my usual workouts especially as it is virtually impossible to go for a decent walk to get in my daily step count. Too many snowbanks to climb over.

   My oven is on the blink - I think it is the heating element, a fairly easy fix, and I have a guy coming to look at it on Thursday. So, no baking for next week's Knitters and Crafters. Tonight's dinner is a low cook affair, just some pan fried garlic shrimp in a salad, one of my fast and easy recipes!

   I have taken a break from reading our next Book Club book (Louise Penny's "State of Terror") to indulge in lighter fare. It's Stanley Tucci's "What I Ate in One Year", lots of interesting recipes and captivating descriptions of food shopping jaunts and meals he has prepared for a huge list of celebrities. He's a bit of a name dropper! Also, all his favourite restaurants around his current home in London and jaunts he goes on around Europe. How the other half lives!