First complete week in lockdown and we are doing well. The building has ensured that everything, including suite door handles have been sanitized. We are being asked to park our own cars, facilities have been closed, social activities cancelled.
Friday morning 8 AM - heading downtown...looks like a ghost town!
Not many photos getting taken so I am resorting to online sources.
Friday afternoon photo taken by CTV traffic helicopter.
The part of Highway 401 that passes through Toronto is North America's busiest highway, and one of the widest.
Sung to the tune of Toronto's own Barenaked Ladies' If I Had a Million Dollars.
It was a very quiet St. Patrick's Day this year around the world. My cousin, in Dublin, did send me this wonderful video which I somehow cannot upload, so click on the link for an incredible al Capella version of Rocky Road to Dublin.
We've started deep spring cleaning beginning in the kitchen which has resulted in some purging and replacement.
I have never liked our grater, I have had it forever. Watching a show, I saw this bowls with the grater on top.
I found and got these online. Along with the grater I got rid of three mixing bowls that never worked for me.
We all have that cupboard with the plastic storage containers or "Tupperware" that is stained, marked, missing or extra lids. I replaced those misfits with these.
We've been busy shopping online for gluten free products as I was getting low.
Normally I buy my gluten free AP flour at the Bulk Barn or else pick up the Robin Hood brand.
I had seen many bloggers raving about Better Batter so I bought that. I have yet to try it.
I haven't been able to find gluten free bread batter here so I bought this online.
WATCHING
The Sinner - 2 seasons
Really enjoyed the intriguing and disturbing stories and just saw they are producing a season 3!
Really enjoyed the intriguing and disturbing stories and just saw they are producing a season 3!
Triple 9
Interesting bank heists with a good cast - Kate Winslet was amazing.
Interesting bank heists with a good cast - Kate Winslet was amazing.
Secret in Their Eyes
Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman
Money Heist Casa del Papel
Based on a true story of the Madrid Spain robbery of the Royal Mint, it is a Spanish production with voice overs.
Interesting article on filming locations as we had stayed down the street from the real Royal Mint and knew it didn't look like that outside.
Season 1 2017 is made of Part 1 and 2 = 15 episodes.
Season 2 is Part 3 and 4. Part 3 2019 is 8 episodes.
Part 4 also 8 episodes will air April 2020.
Heist movies are a shared interest in our house and this is the BEST one ever!
John also watched Contagion which he said should have been required watching for the Trump circus.
Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman
Money Heist Casa del Papel
Based on a true story of the Madrid Spain robbery of the Royal Mint, it is a Spanish production with voice overs.
Interesting article on filming locations as we had stayed down the street from the real Royal Mint and knew it didn't look like that outside.
Season 1 2017 is made of Part 1 and 2 = 15 episodes.
Season 2 is Part 3 and 4. Part 3 2019 is 8 episodes.
Part 4 also 8 episodes will air April 2020.
Heist movies are a shared interest in our house and this is the BEST one ever!
John also watched Contagion which he said should have been required watching for the Trump circus.
COOKING
We ventured out on Friday morning to Lanzarotta to get fruit and vegetables. They were well stocked and we picked up hardier vegetables that will last.
Cabbage, turnip, cauliflower, as well as peppers, tomatoes, green beans, snow peas, apples, grapefruit, lemons, bananas, gluten free crackers, celery, broccoli, lettuce, kale salad mix, avocados, mango, not sure if I missed something. Not cheap at $55 but any items from the US were really expensive, like 3 times as much as usual.
We are trying to be cautious about how we use our food. All our meat is from the freezer this week.
Breakfasts were pineapple carrot cake, boiled eggs, toast with peanut butter )not me I hate peanut butter), bananas and toast.
Lunches were ham sandwiches, leftover roast beef, hummus, and I made guacamole from the avocados.
We are trying to be cautious about how we use our food. All our meat is from the freezer this week.
Breakfasts were pineapple carrot cake, boiled eggs, toast with peanut butter )not me I hate peanut butter), bananas and toast.
Lunches were ham sandwiches, leftover roast beef, hummus, and I made guacamole from the avocados.
Oven fried chicken and salad
Roast beef potatoes and Brussels sprouts
Leftover roast beef with peppers, onions, mushrooms on rice
Mashed carrots and potatoes, Brussels sprouts and pork chop
Salmon baked in foil with maple syrup, honeyed carrots and roast potatoes.
Pork belly with sauteed mushrooms, onions and peppers.
Pork belly with sauteed mushrooms, onions and peppers.
Since Friday is steak night, but we wanted to make good use of what we had, John grilled the steak and we made lettuce wraps adding the kale mix, red onion, and tomatoes topped with this spicy sauce to which I also added ginger and garlic.
Pineapple carrot cake breakfast bread, a new recipe, was not considered a success. It is quite dry and heavy. BUT instead of a cream cheese icing it had Greek yogurt mixed with maple syrup and some pineapple juice to serve with it which was delicious. I would use this mix on fruit.
Gluten free flatbread to try
READING
Maybe we should all read The Eyes of Darkness, written in 1981, Koontz’s novel predicts the arrival of a fatal virus in 2020.
I finished Someone We Know and enjoyed it.
I started two books, one on my phone and one on my tablet. Enjoying both.
John is reading Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill.
LINKING UP WITH
Beth hosts Weekend Cooking where you can post anything food related.
Thank you, thank you for the link to the Rocky Road -- that was an awesome version. My only shopping regret was not buying extra yeast. I probably have enough, but hoarder mode is hard to escape! We're all hunkering down. The only good from COVID19 is I'm hoping this will be the Donald's downfall.
ReplyDeleteI watched The Money Heist and really enjoyed it! Was does lockdown mean? It looks like you are going out?
ReplyDeleteWe are not in lockdown yet in Florida.. our beaches are closed, restaurants are take out only, and stores are closed. Pharmacy and food are open.
You asked me about lockdown, everything in Toronto is closed. People are asked to socially distance themselves and stay home. Restaurants and bars are closed. You can get take out. Starbucks intend to closed their cafes.
DeleteWe aren't in lockdown yet, so we can go to the shops as necessary so I am trying not to eat from the freezer yet, until we do get to the point where we have to!
ReplyDeleteThis social isolating been adventure.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see Secret in Their Eyes, the American version, but did see the original Spanish one and it was really, really good. I highly encourage you to see it, even if just for fun to compare and contrast the two. Glad to see you are doing well up there in Toronto. Here in northcentral Pennsylvania, we're surviving too, not a lockdown yet, but going there soon, I think.
ReplyDeleteI've been surprised to see that prices have not gone up dramatically. We are mostly unable to find paper products and waters and dairy but everything has been fairly available. I may try the call in grocery program at Wal-Mart tomorrow. We've been asked to stay away from group activities which is so difficult here as spring is the loveliest time to be out and about in Texas. We are doing what we have been told.
ReplyDeleteI bet this is hard for you, too, as you love to roam your beautiful city.
When my husband went to the store the other day the only prepackaged meat left was gluten-free sausages (he didn’t get them). We were actually able to get just about everything this past weekend, except for flour, which is annoying.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week, be well!
What a strange old world we are living in. I am also using the opportunity for a clear out. Enjoy using your new kitchen stuff. #AllSeasons
ReplyDeleteIt's the same over here Jackie! Like you, I'm making the most of cleaning the house and reading more! Even opened up an account with audible. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Jackie. Glad you are doing well and being well cared for in your building. You are eating well and being productive! We're eating well; I could do better on the productivity scale! I think next week I'll hunker down to more mundane but necessary chores. Keep well!
ReplyDeleteWe're also on shelter in place. I've driven my car once this entire week. On a normal week, it's multiple times a day. My weekly update
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will be reading The Eyes of Darkness nor watching Contagion. Good to hear you are doing well. We will pretty much be at home from today with only going out for shopping. I did have a haircut today and the city was dead. Extra building cleaning happening here too.
ReplyDeleteOhio got the shelter in place order yesterday, but most things were shut down before that any way. We have workers at our house today, which I'm not crazy about, but the work needs done. I've read a lot of Koontz, but not that one. I'll have to look for it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I gotto try that Better Batter mix, since Hubs had to change his diet -thanks, that helps me. This is the first time in our lives we have restrictions in our diet! For a "short" post, you posted still enough things to get "lost" in. It is not a book, but I heard that on google/youtube there seems to be a report made around 2010 from the Rockefeller foundation (it seems that Bill Gates also has some things to say there) of what would happen in a pandemic. It was eerie what the one who gave bullet points about that report read. He thought it was worth some thoughts, because he has a big church, and started asking "Do you know someone who has the virus?" Nada. He also is well connected internationally, and asked his international friends the same. They did not personally know someone either.So, he was wondering if there is really a pandemic. Also, a very strange thing, already last year they ere at 19 places building centers for pandemics!
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, wrote you an email last week to ask you permission - did you read it? Like to go ahead with that post. Thanks, and just want to say it's really okay to have shorter posts for All Seasons:):) Have a great week, Jackie.
I didn't get an email, even checked my spam. Will go make the same comment on your blog to be sure you get this message.
DeleteI haven’t seen The Money Heist but I have been buying more movies for a bit if evening entertainment. Reading more - the book Educated is great, a nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteI’m excited to hear another Cormoran Strike Novel will be published this year.
We are home now all the time but trying to wait before hitting the freezer storage too much. Stay safe!