Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
January 23, 2026 - Toronto ON
TOKYO JAPAN
SATURDAY
Environment Canada reported that 23 centimetres of snow had accumulated at Pearson Airport as of 8 p.m. on Thursday, marking the highest Jan. 15 snowfall total in history, with the previous record of 15.2 centimetres dating back to 1863.
All ready for company.
We had a great time, we must have, as J and I didn't leave until 2:30 AM!
They kindly brought this plant, a chrysanthemum (mums), which I will try to keep as a house plant once the flowers are gone.
SUNDAY
After Saturday's late night, we didn't get up until 11 on Sunday so it wasn't a very productive day.
I made us a Winterlicious reservation at Black and Blue, an upscale (read expense accounts) steak house for January 30, as it is a Friday so it counts as steak night!
MONDAY
I forgot to post this last week.
125 The Queensway refers to this space as seen from our windows. Pic taken this morning.
Green sign - Sobey grocery store, red sign - Shoppers Drug Mart. There is also a $ store, a liquor store and a few other small businesses.
The bounderies around them are not movable.
It felt kinda weird staying in but we didn't need anything.
We just puttered the day away, TV, blogging, reading. I made barley soup from the weekend's roast beef.
I did bake 2 mini batches (6 small and 4 medium) of raisin scones. One batch we had with tea in the afternoon. The other batch I put in the fridge and baked two for breakfast on Tuesday. They taste best right out of the oven.
But I did learn something when researching whether I could freeze them. This is from Serious Eats:
Cut the dough into wedges, but skip toppings like cheese or sugar—the latter will only draw moisture from the scones and turn syrupy and weird over time. Wrap the wedges, whether individually or as a wheel, in a few layers of plastic wrap, then once more in foil to help provide a bit of insulation against odor absorption (one of the biggest problems when freezing anything, from homemade ice cream to cookie dough). Mark the date on the foil with a Sharpie so your scones aren't lost to the sands of time, then freeze and use within two months. When you're ready for fresh scones, just preheat the oven and bake as directed.
Since scones stale rather quickly once they're baked, this trick is especially useful in the short term, allowing you to enjoy freshly baked scones at their prime all weekend long.
TUESDAY
Toronto braces for dangerous cold as mid‑week snow targets the GTA.
That headline made no not feel so bad for deciding to not go anywhere today (or yesterday)!
Yes, we're in hibernation mode!
And around us - Parts of Ontario to be walloped with 40cm of snow!
Thank goodness for our little store downstairs! I picked up a green pepper. Wren, who owns the store with her husband, Paul, said she didn't even go outside. She came underground, they live in the building next door, and said it was freezing even coming through the garage.
Looks like our new neighbours are busy renovating before moving in.
The Librarians of Palace Pier are pleased to announce the first meeting of The Library Circle, a book lovers’ drop-in discussion group for people who cannot commit to a regular book club.
The concept of The Library Circle is simple: come to the meeting with a book you have read recently that you enjoyed. During the meeting, tell the other participants about the book and what you liked about it. Drink tea and eat cookies while you chat about books with other book-loving residents. That’s it! You don’t have to buy or borrow any books, or read anything you wouldn’t normally read.
Our first Circle will be held:
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
Place: The Social Events Room on B1
What to Bring: A book you have read recently that you enjoyed.
RSVP: AAAAA@bell.net so that we know how many cookies to bring. Drop-ins also welcome.
Well, I made an effort and got bundled up but once I hit the loading dock and felt that arctic wind, I decided I didn't need to go out. It was also snowing.
When we were having company on Saturday, John wanted an ice bucket. We used to have a crystal one before we downsized. So I ordered one and it came, we quite like it.
John went out to meet a friend B for lunch at The Judge and Jury. He had chili.
I did some administrivia and filing, now I have to do some shredding.
THURSDAY
I finally updated my 2025 reading list! It was a banner year!
THURSDAY
I programmed the stove to turn on and heat up the oven so that I could throw some scones in to bake around 7 AM. Nothing like freshly baked scones for breakfast.
I spent too much time playing around, doing nothing in the morning. After lunch I went downtown to putter around and pick up a couple of things at Longo's.
From the bus.
Blueberries were a good deal. I wanted the cheeses for a couple of recipes I want to make.
FRIDAY
This is what it was like as a kid!
I headed out to meet a friend for lunch, we had already decided we were staying underground!!
We figured we could pretend it wasn't freezing out and had lobster rolls!
John wrote another trip post, so there is only one left for me!!
Coming home.
COOKING
Saturday's roast beef became beef barley soup for lunch, with the addition of the vegetable scraps in the freezer.
SATURDAY Gorgonzola cranberry tarts and hot Italian sausage (freezer). The beauty of these tarts is that they are great, hot from the oven, room temperature and even cold from the fridge.
Roast beef (freezer) mashed turnips and carrots, roast potatoes, broccolini. I tried a new gravy sauce (why???) and it was awful, I didn't serve it.
Mini lemon cheesecake (cupcakes) with pomegranate seeds and strawberry granita drizzle honey.
SUNDAY leftovers with fresh Yorkshire pudding. I think these were the best I ever made!
MONDAY ham (freezer) leftover carrots and turnips mashed potatoes.
TUESDAY steak quesadillas (Friday leftovers)
WEDNESDAY ham colcannon
THURSDAY lamb shepherd's pie
FRIDAY steak and poutine
Saturday chili
Sunday
BREAD CAPUTO to use it up
ribs
ham
chili
soup
cabbage rolls
Chicken parm
Bulgogi
WATCHING
We finished Landman, the last episode was good, teasing us with next season. But so much time was wasted this season, on the stupid, silly antics of his ex-wife and daughter. However, the last episode does tone down both of them.
We enjoyed the addition of Sam Elliott as his father.
Who says you learn nothing watching TV? I watched the lawyer taking a shower and using shower aromatherapy pods??? Never heard of them, neither had she! I ordered some this week, they came, and John tried them out and they passed muster.
The Wire in the Blood we watched one episode but found it slow/ I did enjoy the books years ago.
The Rip 2026 A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.
I had read an interview this week that made me think of both The Rip and His and Hers, and many of these mini-series that are popping up.
Matt Damon says Netflix wants movies to restate 'the plot three or four times in the dialogue' to account for viewers using their phones.
Watching at home is a very different experience (from going to the theatre), Damon said. “You’re watching in a room, the lights are on, other shit’s going on, the kids are running around, the dogs are running around, whatever it is. It’s just a very different level of attention that you’re willing, or that you’re able to give to it.”
Damon then explained how that shift is now affecting how movies are made.
“For instance, Netflix — the standard way to make an action movie, that we learned, was you usually have three set pieces. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third — and the big one with all the explosions and you spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That’s your kind of finale.”
The Departed actor added, “Now, [Netflix is] like, ‘Can we get a big one in the first five minutes?’ We want people to stay tuned in. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”
His and Hers 2026 A journalist investigating a murder in her hometown clashes with a suspicious detective. There are two sides to every story, and someone is lying. Based on a novel by Alice Feeney, whom I like.
Think mean girls. It was entertaining but it could have been better with such a good cast.
Ratings seem to show a big disconnect. I would put my rating as half way between both.
IMDb 7.2/10 Roger Ebert 1.5/4
Adolescence has great consistent ratings! IMDb 8/10 Rotten Tomatoes 97% Roger Ebert 4/4
Adolescence is a 2025 psychological crime drama television series created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini. It centres on a 13-year-old schoolboy, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. Each of its episodes was shot in one continuous take.
Am I the only one who is annoyed by videos (not ads) popping up when I'm trying READ an article? I want to read the news, not have an announcer popping up in the right corner in a video.
READING
You'd think with all this hunkering down, I would have gotten more reading in!
I did finish One by One by McFadden, and although it threw another interesting twist, I'm done with for now. It was tedious and redundant.
I started The Next Ship Home and it is slightly interesting and I'm hoping it picks up. It wasn't a bad read, but it just tapered off and finished just when it was getting interesting. I wanted more history of women of that time entering the work force. It was interesting how first and second immigrant generations looked down on new immigrants to America, when everyone just wants the same thing.
However, I was surprised when the good-hearted anarchist brother mentioned Emma Goodman
Emma Goodman
Hot Thai Kitchen was the better cookbook. She also has a Youtube series called Hot Thai Kitchen.
2025 - 149
2024 - 115
2023 - 114
2022 - 107
2021 - 121
2020 - 76
2019 - 87
2018 - 87
2017 - 86
2016 - 89
2015 - 85
2014 - 101
2013 - 73
2012 - 95
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