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!

Surprise Visitors

    I was greeted by this sight when I opened the blinds in my bedroom this morning.

   I suspect it's a family on its way south and taking a break - no food in this patch of water which is probably why they didn't hang around long. However, one of them left me a nasty deposit on the pool deck. Not in the water fortunately as far as I could tell!

   The bees are loving my sedum patch - there were dozens of them buzzing back and forth while I was weeding the border. They were so busy they paid absolutely no attention to me, for which I was very grateful. I have had two wasp stings in the last few days, not fun!

Never a Dull Moment

 Today wasn't supposed to be busy but, as happens, things came up to keep me on my toes.

   First off, even before breakfast, I got some ironing done and worked out with my Step video for almost an hour. I have been using this same tape once or twice a week for nigh on twenty years and it still works as does my ancient VCR! I am very glad I hung on to it after I got my DVD player. 

   It's a pretty complete workout with an aerobic section, upper and lower body "sculpting", abdominals and weights. I usually add a couple of stretches at the end to give me a better cool down.

   By the time I had cleaned up after breakfast and fielded a couple of phone calls it was almost time to get ready for my Bridge game so I packed a light lunch to eat at the break. We had some very interesting hands today but my partner and I were on the losing end in all but one rubber. Luckily no money was on the line and we had a few laughs.

   I had a call from a previous colleague who has just recently retired and we have arranged to attend the New Retirees Brunch together, this month. I will be giving a presentation on some of the activities I am involved with so we will drive there together. It will be great to catch up with her and get all the gossip!

     After all that excitement, a quiet evening in front of the TV is called for. Surely I will be able to find something worth watching.

Not Much on the Agenda

    The day started with meeting up with my three tennis friends at the courts. We played almost the whole two hours we had booked except for breaks to chat and catch our breath. Three sets, rotating partners after each set so we all played at least once with each other.

   I was home by 11:00 a.m. and had a quick swim followed by the rest of my breakfast - coffee and toast. The rest of the morning was spent working through the Sunday newspapers. I did a bit of gardening before lunch, just cutting back the raspberry stalks, and got another bin filled. Unfortunately, this exposed a number of stubborn weeds which I will have to tackle at some point! I got a loaf started in the bread machine after lunch then headed up for a nap.

    Later I picked the very last rhubarb stalks and made a jar of chutney with them and some mango. By then the bread was ready. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the men's final at the U.S. Open. Not a particularly close match as it as it was a "best of five match" and was over after three sets. 

   Dinner was a casserole from the freezer but I had some tomato bruschetta first (still trying to use up those pesky tomatoes). Then I made a Greek salad to accompany the casserole, easy, tasty and healthy!