Crafts and Gardening

   I am struggling to see while writing this as I have misplaced my reading glasses and one leg fell off my spare pair so they are balanced precariously on my nose. Have not appreciated how much my eyesight has deteriorated with age! Tomorrow I will have to shop at the dollar store for a replacement pair. Luckily they aren't too expensive there.

   Retired teachers' lunch today and very nice (if simple) it was. A salad, ham, roasted veggies and scalloped potatoes, with a very decadent chocolate and cream dessert with coffee for afters. It was also our annual craft show and, although I didn't buy anything (trying to de-clutter) it was fun to walk around and admire all the talented crafts that some of our members have undertaken.

   As the weather still remains quite mild and pleasant, I have been able to clear out most of the beds prior to winter. I still need to cut back some bushes but that can wait until all the other chores are done. Today I dug up most of the ever-spreading mint and some chive plants that threatened to overtake one bed. Next month that's where I'll plant the over wintering garlic. and let it sleep until Spring.

Thanksgiving and More

    This is Thanksgiving weekend here (not to be confused with the American Thanksgiving which, I believe, is in November) and the weather cooperated beautifully!

    I had already had one Thanksgiving meal with my friend Susan last Saturday, Swiss Chalet rotisserie chicken instead of turkey and all the trimmings. Yesterday was the "proper" meal at my daughter's house - pumpkin soup followed by a whole turkey cooked on the barbecue by son-in-law, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and a couple of interesting salads (kale and quinoa and mango), plus my roast potatoes and more roasted veggies. Oldest grandson made a pumpkin pie and there was also apple crumble but I don't know who made that. As you can imagine I was pretty stuffed by the final course and had to leave early for a nap before I dozed off and disgraced myself. It was a full house, both grandmas, one uncle as well as the resident parents, the two students home for the weekend and youngest grandson. Much jollity ensued!

   Today was a much cooler and overcast day but nevertheless, more fun at the tennis club with some light exercise on the courts followed by a pot luck lunch. The food was plentiful (especially desserts, why is that?) and I wanted to try everything. I even brought some home and I am sure there will be leftovers on tap tomorrow for our last day before the courts close for the season. 

   It may take me a few days to work off all that overeating but, fortunately, no meals out are planned until next Tuesday so I should have recovered by then. My goal for the next few days is to just eat sparingly and only when I am hungry!

   

Ringing in the Changes

     I didn't go to tennis today as it had rained overnight and the courts would have been quite wet. it was a shame as next week is the end of the season at the outdoor club. After our last day on October 14th, the bubble goes up and it is converted into an indoor (more expensive) club. The $120 I pay for the summer season is a real bargain. In the afternoon I played Bridge and, although I didn't come up with enough points to win back some money, I played well with the cards I got and was quite satisfied.

   My friend Susan and I took advantage of Swiss Chalet's Thanksgiving special meal on Saturday and it was delicious! As well as rotisserie chicken (I like the dark meat), Caesar salad, stuffing and cranberry sauce, there was a choice of pies. I chose lemon meringue instead of the traditional pumpkin pie. Susan had coconut cream which would have been my second choice. This is the only time I will eat out this week which is quite a relief after all the overeating in September. I will have another Thanksgiving meal with the family next Monday which is the Thanksgiving holiday.

   This week also marks the start of the Fall fitness classes at the Seniors' Centre. I did register for two classes but only got on the waitlist for both. The classes are free so very popular and fill up online within minutes. I just wasn't fast enough this time. I will go anyway and hope someone doesn't show up. 

   Nothing else on the agenda for the next few days so I will continue working in the garden, getting it ready for its winter slumber. 

 

The Next Installment

    The eating out continues. Weeks can go by when I only eat at home but, for some reason September has been an orgy of over-eating! In fact I forgot to mention that the "Eating Around the World" group, having reached "P", ate at a Philippine restaurant, "Casa Manila", at the beginning of the month. It was one of the better venues we have experienced.  I had their national dish, spicy chicken with rice, and very nice it was too.

   In the last week of September there were two volunteer appreciation events; at one I received my 10 years of service pin and a certificate and at the other, after a very nice meal of beef skewers, salads and cake, the staff at the Seniors' Centre gave us another certificate and prizes. All very much appreciated.

   Now that we are into October it all starts over again with the letter "Q" which in this case meant BBQ at "Northern Smokes". I don't think I've ever had smoked meat which in my case was a Havarti Brisket sandwich with dill pickles and caramelized onions. The huge slice of meat was very tender and indeed did have a smoky flavour but it was more meat than I would normally eat in a week so I have had to eat sparingly today with a light piece of fish for dinner!

    The weather was ideal for tennis today - we only have a few more days left - and we were still in our summer attire as the sun was shining brightly with no discernable wind. I'll be sad when it is over until next Spring.