April Showers bring May Flowers

 Showers yesterday afternoon, and it was quite cool.  The forecast is indicating warmer temps but, again showers for almost every day this week.

We did not have a lot of rain, however, the grass is looking better already, so with additional moisture this week, we will be cutting it soon.

As I have mentioned in the past this kind of weather does nothing for my energy levels, so a very laid back day yesterday, I did get quite a bit of sewing done.   Hubby had an eye appointment and needed to do some errands so he was busy doing that.

Early morning grocery run again today, did not need a lot of things this week, as we had in the past stocked up on a lot of the specials of things we use on a regular basis.  Mostly fresh veg, fruit, milk, eggs and juice were needed today.

Each week we purchase a couple of lottery tickets, not big winners, but for the past couple of months we have won a bit of pocket change and some free tickets.  Waiting for the big one, but that is not likely to happen I am not lucky at all.  Do you buy lottery tickets.

Dinner tonight is our usual chicken, so not much preparation needs to be done today. 

Picnic Time

Yesterday was a lovely day, so nice in fact we decided to have a picnic lunch outside on the patio.  The sun was quite hot and we got a little burnt during the time we sat eating.  Today, lunch in the house,  We did have sunshine earlier, however, it has now clouded over and we could get some showers apparently.  Actually, we could do with some, as the ground is getting quite dry.

I did finished cleaning out two more cupboards yesterday, and now have a couple more things that are going to new owners in the near future.  The only cupboards needing some cleaning now are the two with food in them, then I can say the kitchen has had a good tidy and clean. 

I have been waiting two week for our vaccination to be fully effective, before I went to the hair salon to have my hair cut, just an extra precaution I was taking.  I would still be wearing a mask as everyone else would be in the salon. The two week time period will be on Wednesday this week, however, as of Saturday, this past weekend, we are now in lockdown again and a lot of retail stores, including salons are now closed until the end of April.   I cannot imagine what my hair will look like after three or more weeks before I get it cut.   It could result in a new hair style.

The roast of beef I cooked yesterday was so tender, we enjoyed it very much.  There is enough left over for dinner tonight,  as well as the riced cauliflower,  another veg and a salad and dinner is taken care of.  There is one piece of carrot cake left so along with some ice cream I think dessert is also decided.  

Not sure what I am going to do today,  I would love to get out in the garden again, but not much point doing anything at the present.  There are some small branches to be picked up, so that is first and foremost before those showers arrived.

Happy Easter memories

HAPPY EASTER

Today is beautiful, sunny, and getting warmer as I write.  What I mean by warmer, is temps near 10*C. hopefully, it will be even nicer during the afternoon. 

My daughter #1, will be putting out chocolate Easter eggs for her grands today, which bring back a memory of when I did it for my grands years ago.  It was a day like today, pleasantly warm, sun shining, and I started to hide the little eggs all over the garden.  They all arrived early a frost with a low temIt had melted all of the chocolate, so you can imagine the mess these little ones were in.  The eggs, or I should say blobs of chocolate were placed in the freezer, but only after some of the grands faces were all covered with this gooey brown chocolate.  They thought it was great fun,  the parents, not so much.  

Oh! I am on a roll with memories today, when the girls got a little older I purchased small straw hats, flowers, little birds, butterflies etc. from the dollar store, gave them some glue and they made their own Easter bonnets.  They had a lot of fun and they all looked great.

We went to daughter #2 for dinner last night, we were reluctant to go, however, after discussing it between ourselves and her, we felt we could go with no problem.  We had a lovely meal, and conversation, face to face conversation, it was so nice to do that.   My grand daughter 23 years, is volunteering with an assistant, doing research for a paper they are writing.  She is doing this until the first of May when she starts working on her Masters.  The youngest grand daughter, 18 years is getting anxious to start her first year of aviation training.  She is currently updating her safety requirements on line.  

Today, we are going to dev a socially distance visit Hubby's daughter in law,  it was her birthday yesterday,  

I went for a half hour walk yesterday even though the wind was cold, it felt good to be able to get out and not freeze to death.  I will do the same again after lunch.

Dinner tonight, roast beef, veg, salad dessert, I brought home a couple of pieces of the carrot cake from dinner last night, so that is desert all taken care of.

Have a lovely day, today, doing what ever your plans are.

Better day

 There is no wind today, but the clouds are back, sun trying to peek through every one in awhile.

Well, the cake pops were a hit, the carrot cake turned out beautifully, will put the icing on today.

Jumped on the scales as we do every Saturday morning,  do scales lie, I am sure they do,  where did that high number come from?  Too many cake pops?  Or is it because of me not going for my walks?  I suspect a bit of both.  So... today, as my hip is feeling so much better, I will go for a walk,  the ground is dry so I will go through the field today.  All the morning dog walkers have come and gone, just hope they have picked up where their dogs relieved themselves.  So many of them do not pick up after their dogs, so will need to watch where I place my feet.

Dinner last night was a disaster.   I buy a thin crust frozen pizza from the grocery store, the ones you get from the pizza take outs have just too much crust for our tastes.  The one  we like is a spinach and cheese, just take it out of the box, place on rack in  toaster oven and cook for 15 minutes.  It always is perfect, except for the one we had last night.   It seemed to be cooking on one side more than the other so decided to turn it around on the rack.  Mistake,   It slid right off the rack, under the elements, cheese stuck to everything.  Using two egg lifters it came out in a mangled mess.  More cheese added and it was edible but then needed to clean the oven.  The saving grace for dinner was the salad and cake pops.   

No dinner prep for me tonight,  we are having a roast of beef tomorrow,  (cauliflower masked as potatoes,) broccoli, gravy, salad.  Going to try skipping dessert.  In all the years at home when I was child Mum always had dessert, and I carried on doing the same for my family and still do it now.  But, maybe it is time for a change.   

The sun is shining a little more often, so I am now going out for my walk.  

Have a lovely day.

Another....Beautiful Day & Lockdown/Stay at Home

 The only good thing I can report so far today, is the weather, it is absolutely gorgeous, the sun is bright and warm, blue sky with not a cloud in sight.   Better take advantage of it because we are to have thunderstorm tonight and tomorrow, then cooler wetter days for a while.

We are also now as of midnight last night, once again, in lockdown and we have been advised to only go out for necessary purchases.  Only essential services are allowed to open albeit with restrictions on the number of people inside the store, and on line ordering and curb side pickup in bein encouraged.  Big box stores are only allowed to sell food, meds and cleaning supplies the rest of the store is cordoned off.  There were long line ups yesterday after the stay home order was issued.   People stocking up on items, so they could avoid the lineups that will be taking place in the coming days.   No toilet paper again! who knows.

I am going to persuade Hubby to take a couple of hours off doing things this afternoon so that we can take advantage of the weather and put the top down on the convertible and go for a ride.  The trees should be showing a bit more green than they were the last time we went out.  I know this is against everything I said in the above paragraph, but we will not be around anyone.  It might be out last chance for a week or so.

On my walk yesterday afternoon, I saw seven deer grazing in the field I was going through, they did not seem to be worried about me going through.  

Not much happening on the estate today, Hubby is putting out the garden hoses, they shouldn't freeze now.  I will get him to cook dinner tonight , steak on the BBQ.   Along with some mushrooms and a salad.  I will also make some turnovers, with fruit inside for dessert, as I have some puff pastry that needs using.

 

Daffodils

 We have a lovely sunny day, not a cloud in the sky but it is cold.  No snow, thank goodness, we had several flurries yesterday, however, it did not lay.  

A couple of days ago I was talking to my neighbour and told her the daffodils in her garden were looking very pretty this year.  Yesterday when the weather was so bad, she called and told me to go over and pick a bunch to bring in the house, as they would be whipped to shreds by the wind.  She has two different shades of yellow and they look lovely in the living room,  thank you M.B.

Baking a carrot cake today, it is currently in the oven and smelling nice.  I will let it cool and tomorrow add the cream cheese icing.  I am taking it to my youngest daughter's, she has invited us for dinner.  We were hesitant, but have decided to go.  Our Province in now under lock down, for the month of April.  Not much has changed for us, but stores must restrict the number of people going in even more than they were. Restaurants can only do delivery, pick up or drive through, no in house dining, not even on a patio,  Salons, gyms etc are now closed.   

Not much happening around the house today,  Hubby is working on the slats for his daughter's garden bench.  The iron legs and arms are in good shape, however, the wooden seat and back has been out in the weather much too long.   He is hoping there will be lumber in the stores soon as he wants to start making her shed.  At this point in time it does not look promising. 

Dinner tonight is pizza and a large salad,  not sure what we will have for dessert.  I have some banana bread that should have been eaten a couple of weeks ago, so I am defrosting it, and going to make cake pops with it.  Never made them before so an experiment.  I hate throwing food out that is perfectly good to eat but just looks a little dry, so thought I would try this.  Wish me luck.

Not funny

April 1st. April Fools Day.   If Mother Nature is pulling a joke on us today, I am not laughing.  We woke to beautiful sunshine, -3*C and windy.  Within an hour the sky had turned black and it looked as if we were going to be getting the snow which was predicted.  Now, however, it looks as if that cloud went north of us, so we are in the clear at the moment.   Our weather is very changeable in the Spring so we can expect almost anything.

Yesterday, I decided to clean out the kitchen cupboards, so Hubby suggested we purge some of the contents.  When I moved here, I brought a lot of things with me, at the time I just could not get rid of any of it.  Hubby had lots too, but it has got to be a little too much, so yesterday was the day.  At the present time I have a couple of boxes of dishes etc. on the dining room table waiting for family to claim some of it.  My youngest grand daughter needs some pieces for when she goes to University in September and another grand daughter is setting up an apartment with her boy friend so some of has been spoken for the rest will go to the charity shop.  Honestly who needs three toasters.  There is one more cupboard that will be done today and then the kitchen will be take care of.  Next on the list is the dining room.  Then I will take a break of cleaning out, until we are able to get these things taken to their new owners.  Plus it will give my poor legs a rest, climbing up and down a step stool all day, is hard on my legs, which I must admit have not been doing much exercise recently.

My birthday book quote:

APRIL

She who from April dates her years,

Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears,

For vain repentance flow; this stone,

Emblem of innocence is known.

Birthstone: Diamond.

Dinner tonight,  Pulled pork, veg and salad.  Dessert is yet to be decided.