BLUE

 One Word Sunday

September 2022 -   Twillingate Newfoundland

Mizzica

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Sunday Post

April 2023 - Toronto ON

MIZZICA - expressing awe, wonder, or disbelief in something.

It was a cold and dreary weekend, but we weren't going anywhere! I did some baking, otherwise, we just entertained ourselves.

But it wasn't a nice weekend if you wanted to see the cherry blossoms at their peak.

Monday John used the golf simulator. After lunch, we went downtown to The Bay. He needed a sports jacket since he got rid of all his suits. He came home with not one but three. There were major sales and I happened to ask if it was seniors' day the salesman said tomorrow, but then he cancelled the transaction and redid it with the 15% seniors' discount. Nice!

Two Calvin Klein and one Ted Baker.

We stopped into Rexall because John had yet to receive his Covid certificate update from last week's booster. Fixed!

I returned the leggings that I had bought and didn't like.

Monday Mural was from last week's trip to Commerce Court.

Tuesday John took the car in for the damaged fender, which happened in September when we were in Newfoundland.

RCMP officer, chatting with John.

It turned out to be a fifteen-minute job and no charge!!! How's that for service?!?!

I went for a haircut and then did some shopping - four shirts!

Wednesday we both headed out for manicures and pedicures the sun was shining, and it felt warm. But it soon became overcast and cold.

There was only one person working when we got there, she was expecting the owner and her husband shortly, however, it was getting late so I asked her to do John instead as he needed to get back first... The owner then arrived and they both worked on John!

John then headed off to golf. I hemmed and hawed about what I wanted to do, but by then it was looking like rain, so I just went to Longo's to pick up some groceries.

Thursday I met my BFF for lunch and a chin wag! We decided we wanted to find a lobster roll since our other spot had closed. We found a perfect one at Buster's Sea Cove in Commerce Court food court.

For $22 it came with two sides, we chose fries and coleslaw. We'll be back! They have a lot of other seafood choices.

Friday we packed up and left early afternoon for a funeral out of town. We drove to Brockville (4 hours) and stayed at the Hampton Inn for the evening as the funeral is at 10AM Saturday in Cornwall (1 hour).

On the way.

This was a new Hampton Inn that was very nice.

COOKING

Saturday I baked lemon sour cream cranberry cake.

Dinner - ham, mashed potatoes, and broccoli (big bag from Costco).

Sunday - leftover steak sandwiches with peppers, onions, and cheese.

Monday chicken a la orange with broccoli 

Tuesday spaghetti with homemade meat sauce

Wednesday salmon, lemon garlic roasted red potatoes, and broccoli, yes, we are going to finish this Costco bag.

Thursday gluten-free pizza

I found this frozen pizza dough at Longo's. EPIC FAIL we couldn't get it to stick together even after adding more water. We threw it out and used some frozen focaccia we had.

Friday cheeses and crackers in the hotel.

WATCHING

Other than our favourite recorded shows we continued with Empire.

READING

I read and finished The Things We Cannot Say, I'll just say it was tear-jerker! Not my usual kind of read, and I did skim some of it, but wanted to know the ending.

I started Echoland, June 1940. France is teetering on the brink of collapse. British troops are desperately fleeing Dunkirk. Germany is winning the war. Its next target is Britain . . . and Ireland. In neutral Dublin, opinions are divided.

I also started The Couple at the Table by Sophie Hannah, whom I normally enjoy. But the beginning was so convoluted that I was so confused. It got back on an even keel, but really, why would I care about these entitled people with a plot that was a little crazy.

Weekend Roundup

 Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler

1. Starts with "Q"
2. A Favorite
3. QUINTET - Tom's choice

Starts with Q

QUIDI VIDI beer is made from icebergs in Newfoundland

FAVOURITE

QUEEN - Grand Falls-Windsor Newfoundland

QUINTET

QUINTET of famous Canadian women. 

Famous 5, petitioners in the groundbreaking Persons Case, a case brought before the Supreme Court of Canada in 1927 and later decided by the Judicial Council of Britain's Privy Council (1929), Canada's highest court at the time, that legally recognized women as “persons” under British common law.

My Recipe Box - Lemon Cranberry Sour Cream Bread

 April 2023 - Toronto ON

This is a great cake for breakfast or afternoon tea.

EQUIPMENT

standard 10-12 cup bundt cake OR a loaf pan

INGREDIENTS
DRY INGREDIENTS

2 cups (or 250 grams) gluten-free flour OR all-purpose
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

WET INGREDIENTS

2 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cups (or 157 grams) granulated sugar
3/4 cup (180 grams) full-fat yogurt OR sour cream
zest from 1 or 2 lemons
1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh squeezed lemon juice, zest your lemon before juicing!
3/4 cup (175 ml) vegetable oil OR melted butter

OPTIONAL

Berries - cranberries, blueberries, raspberries

Nuts

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350F
Butter and flour a standard 9-inch bundt pan OR loaf pan.
Whisk together the dry ingredients and set aside.
Beat the eggs for 2 minutes until pale and thick. Gradually beat in the sugar.

Blend in the rest of the wet ingredients and mix well.
Fold in the dry ingredients and mix just until completely blended.

Add optional ingredients.
Turn the batter into the pan, if using gluten-free flour, let it sit for 10 minutes for the flour to absorb the liquid.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until just beginning to turn golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without wet batter clinging to it. 
Let the cake cool on a rack for 10 minutes before turning it out. I like to flip it over so the rough edge faces up. Let cool completely OPTIONAL before dusting with sugar OR cream.

MORE TOPPING IDEAS

Add lemon syrup ~ If you’d like to add extra lemon flavor, plus moisture to this cake, made lemon syrup to pour over the warm cake: heat 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice and 1/3 cup sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool. After you have removed the cake from the pan, poke holes all over the top with a skewer. Spoon the syrup over the top, letting it sink into the holes.
Add a lemon glaze ~ Mix 1 cup of confectioner’s sugar with enough fresh lemon juice to make a spreadable glaze. Drizzle or spread over the cooled cake.
You can use milk, cream, or buttermilk in place of the yogurt.

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural

April 2023 - Toronto ON

I found these in Commerce Court last week.

The "Melinda Corridor" of Commerce Court leading to the King Subway station has been transformed through art. Art Walk at Commerce Court celebrates aspects of "Urban Life" through vibrant bold images that are sure to inspire and delight passersby.

Getting To Know You #8 - Samara Shuter
Following my very first body of work The Introduction came my next series of paintings, Getting to Know You, a slightly more realistic and graphic-novel-esque portrayal of the Bay St. bombers.
This entire creation was made to elaborate on form over function - experimenting with all kinds of new styles and materials and entering the world of large-scale artwork, and I haven't looked back - only painting bigger and more detailed ever since."

Colourful

  One Word Sunday

Bonavista, Newfoundland

Weekend Roundup

 Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler

1. Starts with "P"
2. A Favorite
3. PINK - Tom's choice

Starts with P

PIZZA PREDATTORIA - Orlando Florida

PLETHORA PASTAS PENNE PARMESAN

Farm Boy Kipling St. Toronto

PINK - PIES

Toronto ON

Cupán Tae

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Sunday Post

April 2023 - Toronto ON

Galway Ireland  *

* Cafe is now closed.  

We had incredible summer-like weather all weekend (and last week) but all good things must come to an end.

I sat outside on the patio on Saturday to read while John went for a walk.

On Sunday I had a shout-out for last week's One Word Sunday at Travel with Intent for the word YELLOW.

Thanks to everyone who shared some yellow last week.
Special thanks go to David for his natural yellows, and Jackie for showing us the yellow fields of Ireland.

And then

Monday turned out to be a surprisingly productive day.

John used the golf simulator. 

Then he got a call that the new fridge would be delivered on Tuesday between noon and 4 PM.

We emptied it out and unplugged it.

I got a call from the blinds guy regarding one that is fraying. He said they are under warranty (I never even thought of that). I explained the problem and sent him photos. He mentioned that he has changed suppliers and may not have the same material in stock, which I understand. He will come by and pick it up.

Then I finally tracked down the kitchen contractor, I thought he was ignoring me (so not like him) but he had gone on vacation and came back and the whole family got sick, he was just back at work. That's fine we'll schedule the painting at some point.

Tuesday he went for his spring booster (was booked for Wednesday but it interfered with his golf) at Commerce Court.

The guys did a spider treatment on the balconies.

The new fridge was delivered! Of course, now the doors have to be flipped. John did a great job getting it balanced.

Wednesday John golfed in the cold, but he was bundled up. His golf GPS is worse for wear, it is over 10 years old, so he bought a new one.

I got my booster, also at Commerce Court. I caught the 9:30 bus and came home at 2. I went to The Shoe Company and bought 2 pairs of shoes to replace some that had seen better days. Then to Winners, then decided to go to The Bay as it has been ages.

Commerce Court -   Overboard Rethinking the things we cast away.

Popcorn in The Bay.

I tried on the pants I bought and they are going back, too long, too baggy. They are to the floor on me.

From there I stopped at McD's for a McCrispy, meh, I like the McChicken better. 

Thursday John took an Amazon return to Purolator, the car in for an appointment for the bumper and a Costco run.

Friday John used the golf simulator. I went to College Park, for the first time in a long time. Bought a couple of tops in Winners, picked up some groceries in Metro, and grabbed a KFC slider for lunch.

John had a Happy hour Zoom meeting with his son.

Royal Bank lobby had a "save the bees" display.

COOKING

Meals are being planned based on what we have in the freezer as we wait for our new fridge. We want to replace the freezer so we will try not to add anything.

Saturday pulled pork using frozen pork button bones and frozen buns.

I made a small lemon cheesecake, and against my instincts, I did bake the crust before adding the cheesecake filling. Normally any recipes I use don't pre-bake the crust, resulting in a burnt horrible taste. I threw it out.

Sunday chicken wings (freezer) and fries (John picked up potatoes at Rabba)

Monday hamburger patties (frozen) mashed potatoes and corn. I also made chicken soup for lunch from a frozen chicken quarter that needed to be used up.

Tuesday ham and broccoli quiche and salad (using what we had). Easter ham was frozen and broccoli hanging around.

Wednesday ham and kale salad (I picked up in Longo's).

Thursday spaghetti with homemade meat sauce ordered Swiss Chalet chicken

Friday steak broccoli and garlic bread...

WATCHING

We tried, we really did try, but we cannot get into Succession. So we continue with Empire. We also caught up on our recorded shows, Next Level Chef, Weakest Link, Lucky Hank, and True Lies.

READING

I read Two and Two: McSorley's, My Dad and Me, I enjoyed it but it reminded me of a similar book.

I finally got around to finishing Love You to Death, my library copy had expired, and I had to wait for another copy. I really enjoyed it, although I did think the ending was a little far-fetched.

I started Lyrebird - nope, did not like it.

I am enjoying The Personal Assistant, "exploring the dark side of the digital world when a mommy-blogger’s assistant goes missing".