Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
13 March 2026 - Toronto ON
SATURDAY
A very foggy rainy morning again. We decided mani-pedis could wait until Monday.
I prepped the lamb shanks and got them into the slow cooker. I froze individual portions of the tomato paste that I opened.
I made a gluten free lemon olive oil cake because we had enjoyed the one we tried at lunch a couple of weeks ago. It turned out really well!
SUNDAY
I HATE losing an hour! I reset the stove and microwave clocks.
We got up and one of the pictures in the kitchen had fallen off the wall, the nail gave way and the frame split, no glass broken!
Of course my elderly friend forgot to change her clocks so she was late calling me, therefore, saying she can't talk for long, as she needed to get her bagel!!
John made lunch. Then we settled into our usual Sunday. Reading. watching. I worked on my embroidery while watching a series on Netflix.
And going down random rabbit holes, so I decided to add some of those reading rabbit holes below in the reading section! Those rabbit holes also lead to new recipes and adding numerous books to my wish list which leads to more rabbit holes!
MONDAY
An absolute spring like day! We went for mani-pedis, John for a pedi.
I bit the bullet and paid for an ADBlock, I've been using the free version for years to good avail, however, lately, some sites override it and I'm tired of 50 Wal*Mart ads popping up and distracting from what I want to read!
Then home for another delicious tomato sandwich before we headed out to Winners, Farm Boy and Bulk Barn. I found more lamb shanks.
For a friend who is obsessed with Peeps.
I had a $5 off over $20 coupon at BB.
We had an Amazon delivery. I bought more, probably too many, reusable freezer bags. I have had the ones we use constantly for at least 5 years, they are still in good shape. I think I have thrown one out, that was torn.
It's about time we replaced the sink stopper. And we received the "buckles" for John's ball cap.
I saw this on a cooking show so I had to order one.
OXO Good Grips Easy-Clean Bladed Meat Tenderizer, White
TUESDAY
I debated going to the Gardiner Museum, depending if it rained, it didn't, so I did.
I've featured the Museum subway station before, in a series on TTC subway stops, but I took some more photos.
I can't remember the last time I was here, they have renovated and it looks so much brighter!
These were fun and so realistic.
This belongs to the museum but I never tire looking at it.
This is new (to me).
I came mainly for 1 exhibit that will be leaving soon, sorry, it really wasn't my cup of tea.
Linda Rotua Sormin: Uncertain Ground is the culmination of over 20 years of remarkable exploration and innovation, bringing together clay, sculpture, video, sound, hand-cut watercolour painting, and digital fabrication in a multi-sensory environment where roosters, tigers, dragons, and sacred texts serve as portals into ancient knowledge.
Anyhoo, when I entered the gallery, I was asked for my ticket, never happened before. Then I was told I had to leave my bag, eye roll, not to touch anything, another eye roll. I was the only other person in the room. As I walked around, four people came in, two were clearly museum curators with two women. THEY didn't have to leave their bags, think I... They stood talking for a while.
Then they left. I was very tempted to ask why THEY didn't have to check their bags, but I bit my tongue.
As I got my coat from the cloakroom, the museum curators were grinning widely as they bid goodbyes to the two women. Suddenly the penny dropped, and I hurried out as a suited gentleman held the door open for the two women.
It was Diana Fox Carney and a friend, she is PM Carney's wife!! The suited man (RCMP), spoke into his lapel to call their car which magically appeared.
Worth the museum price of admission!
Then I got off the subway at St. Andrew's and picked up my stuff from the tailor's.
John's favourite (torn) jeans are now shorts and I got the handle sewn back on to a bag.
WEDNESDAY
Someone turned 21 today!
Too rainy and dreary to do what I had in mind, we also skipped going out to lunch. Instead we ventured out after lunch to the $ store, the pharmacy (where I was overcharged, necessitating a return visit on Thursday), and Longo's as we stock up when we find things on sale.
A miserable day, but we tried Starbuck's new spring menu.
THURSDAY
Kyle, the electrician, came and showed us where the switch was for our new lights. This was new to him also.
Track lighting with adjustable Kelvin (color temperature) allows you to switch between warm, neutral, and cool white light to suit different moods or tasks. Modern systems, such as 3CCT or tunable white LED kits, typically allow you to select from 2700K to 6500K, with 3000K–4000K being popular for residential applications.
We didn't bother going out. We did chores, laundry, all the usual stuff that can keep us busy. I baked an Irish soda bread.
John switched out the light bulbs. We need another bulb for the closet, we hate the yellow tone.
FRIDAY
Well, winter came back with a vengeance, on this Friday the 13th, the second in a row and we have another in November.
I did get ready to go out, but decided I didn't really "have" to.
From the office - I don't think we are impacted.
Dear Residents,
Please be advised that commencing Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, the Corporation’s plumbing contractors will begin the scheduled cleaning of the Kitchen drain stacks.
The work will take place between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
In order to complete this work, the contractors will require access to certain suites that contain plumbing cleanout access points. The work will begin on the second floor and progress upward through the building.
The Management Office will provide advance written notice to the specific suites that require entry at the time their riser section is scheduled for cleaning. If you do not receive a notice of entry, this means that access to your suite is not required for the plumbing riser serving your area.
I made a gluten free coconut chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache.
John's new golf shoes arrived, he is like a kid at Christmas!
COOKING
I enjoy watching UK The Professionals during the Skills tests phase - Bangers and Mash and monk fish with a vegetable ragu.
Stuff I need to use up (been in the fridge/freezer too long)
"Found" an open yogurt container in the fridge, it had gotten pushed back. Used in the olive oil cake and ....
Frozen avocado
Lemon olive oil cake leftovers went into freezer as it got quite dry. Will try another recipe next time. I'll use it in a trifle.
I froze the leftover sauce from the lamb shanks for soup.
Saturday
L - leftover loaded potato fried with an egg - delicious
D - slow cooker lamb shanks in stout, mashed potatoes, carrots, onions, Brussels sprouts
Sunday
L - French toast with (frozen) raspberry coulis
D - ham and au gratin potatoes and broccolini
Monday
L - tomato sandwiches
Tuesday
L - tuna salad
D - leftover ham and au gratin
Wednesday
L - tomato sandwiches
D - leftover steak fajitas
Thursday
L - salad with hard boiled eggs
D - fish chowder and Irish soda bread with scallion greens, rosemary and cheese
Friday
L - me hard boiled egg and John had the leftover fish chowder
D John Chef - steak and poutine with chimichurri
NEW RECIPES ADDED TO MY RECIPE BOX
WATCHING
The Secret Agent (Portuguese: O Agente Secreto) is a 2025 historical political thriller film. It follows Armando (Wagner Moura), a former professor caught in the political turmoil in the midst of the Brazilian military dictatorship, attempting to flee persecution and resist an authoritarian regime. It is in Portuguese with subtitles, which we don't mind, however it was boring.
One Battle After Another When their enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.
BEST MOVIES - We still have to see F1 (Prime/Apple $20), Hamnet (don't want to) (Prime $15), Sentimental Value (Prime $0), Marty Supreme (Prime $20).
Nope, not paying!
So we started Marshals instead. Marshals is an American neo-Western and police procedural television series. The series serves as both a spin-off and sequel to Yellowstone (2018–2024) and is the fourth television series in the Yellowstone franchise.
We watched The Judge, we're pretty sure we saw this a few years ago, but still enjoyed it.
City of Shadows 2025 Spanish series. A burned body appears on Barcelona's iconic Gaudí building. Suspended police inspector Milo Malart returns to duty, partnering with deputy inspector Rebeca Garrido to solve the mysterious crime. I think we really enjoyed seeing the various Gaudi sites as we've been to Barcelona a couple of times.
The Big Fake (Italian: Il falsario, lit. 'The forger') is a 2025 Italian crime drama film. Rome, 1970s. When Toni arrives in the city with the dream of becoming a great artist. But his hunger for life, destiny and perhaps even History will lead him to become the greatest of all forgers.
Monster of Florence (Italian: il Mostro di Firenze) a serial killer strikes terror in Italy by targeting couples parked in lovers lanes, authorities explore a case from 1968 that may be key to identifying The Monster of Florence.
Squad 36 (French) Transferred to the Anti-Crime Brigade, a senior officer probes the deaths of two ex-colleagues and disappearance of another, exposing a bitter feud within the police force.
I started a series Vladimir. A woman's life spirals as she develops an obsession with her alluring co-worker. Her determination to make her fantasies real leads to dark, humorous, and complicated situations. John Slattery is in it, so that makes it fun! Filmed in Toronto.
BTW I hate her frumpy clothes, ruffles and bows.
I also found The Hotel Inspector season 21!! So far I've watched the first three episodes.
READING
I finished The Wonder Years and was a little disappointed as it seemed to just peter off.
I read The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan and really enjoyed it.
In the aftermath of Ireland's financial collapse, dangerous tensions surface in an Irish town. As violence flares, the characters face a battle between public persona and inner desires. Through a chorus of unique voices, each struggling to tell their own kind of truth, a single authentic tale unfolds.
I started Time of Death by Mark Billingham, whom I always enjoy.
MAGAZINES
I enjoyed Flight of the Snowbirds
How to SURVIVE the Post-Pandemic WORKPLACE
White-Collar Workers Are Not Okay
Across Canada, AI has been transforming white-collar work, not with robot overlords or mass replacements but with a quiet creep: streamlining tasks, reshaping expectations and slowing hiring. In response, managers have subtly stretched job descriptions, demanding more from each AI-assisted employee.
Layoffs and job attrition are hard to pin specifically on AI. Companies don’t attribute layoffs to AI, even though it’s a growing factor in the hiring slowdown, especially in the tech sector. In April of 2025, Shopify adopted an AI-first hiring policy, forcing managers to prove AI couldn’t do a job before approving a new hire. IBM has replaced roughly 200 HR jobs with automation. Amazon has cut more than 41,000 workers since 2022, in part due to AI streamlining the work of employees. And in 2025, Microsoft poured billions into AI, even as it laid off 15,000 people.
THE NEW OFFICE RULES
AI Has Entered the Cubicle
I picked up the latest LCBO Food and Drink and flipped through it. If you wish, you can find it online here along with back issues. This is the travel issue, so they are lots of recipes from around the world, along with beer and wine pairings. Sorry, no American wines or beer, we don't have them on our shelves.
ONLINE
Podcast A podcast by women. For women. About everything. @StandardIssue
Robin Snyder WTF is going on with politics?
I F***** Love Australia - Facts lead to knowledge. Opinions lead to ignorance. We swear a lot. Not affiliated with any political party.
Felicity Cloake (born 1982 or 1983 is an English food and travel writer. Her books include The A-Z of Eating: A Flavour Map for the Adventurous Cook (2016), Completely Perfect (2018), One More Croissant for the Road (2019), and Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey (2022). She writes for The Guardian and the New Statesman.
‘How to cook the perfect x’ series is such a brilliant national resource. She road tests multiple existing recipes for what works or doesn’t so you don’t have to.
Some interesting book recommendations found online for International Women's Day.
HarperCollins Canada is excited to announce the publication of HarperCollins Canadian Classics, a curated collection commemorating some of the most iconic and diverse voices that have shaped Canadian literature throughout the decades.
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