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 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

January 16, 2026 - Toronto ON

Chiang Mai Thailand

SATURDAY SUNDAY

There is something to be said for winter weekend mornings. They unfold more slowly as we can sleep in later, relax with our coffee(s). 

This is definitely our Sundays!

This year, I/we are trying to bake something every weekend so we can have a supply for breakfasts. John is enjoying learning about baking and even flipped through my Learn to Bake by Paul Hollywood. I get him set up, and follow behind him cleaning up, which makes the job go quickly. I also supply the music.

I came across this on FB! And my cousin in England gave it a thumbs up!

I spent more time than I usually would, researching a new manual, hand held juicer. We've had two kinds, the latest one spurts the juice every which way. I settled on this.

I also ordered some flameless candles and dessert plates (I love them) for the dining room.

Amazon reminded me that we needed gluten free saltine crackers, so I bought 5 to get the 5% discount, this should do us for the year. Amazon suggested I bundle them "to save on packaging" for delivery together on Tuesday. When you offer me a discount for doing that, I will.

John settled in for his sports Sunday, although he did bake!

I talked to my friend in the retirement home, she is not in great shape, between her scoliosis and sciatica pain. 

I did a couple of blog posts.

I caught up on reading blogs. I sewed on the button that fell out John's new bamboo shirt the first time I washed it! I stuck on the groom's hat, once again!

 

Both Amazon items arrived at the same time.

The  juicer is going back, it did not come in a manufacturer's box, it looked like it fell off the back of a truck, very rough around the edges and it is too big!! 

Box as per listing and online image - metal looks nothing like this.

John started to feel a little strange, woozy, around 4, I asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, he said no. Then he said his balance was off. I kept checking on him.

He finally said he felt high! I got him settled and noticed he had the tin of Rescue and I asked why? 

He said oh it had spilled and he just took a couple! He had bought them (on the shelf) for his anxiety when travelling. he usually only takes one. Once he realized what he'd done, he thought it was funny, I didn't! I was so stressed out.

MONDAY

I didn't sleep well, and got up at 7 all hyper!!

Call me impressed. The electrician got back to me at 7:45 AM requesting my e-mail for his estimate.

I got the return ready for Amazon. Did a couple of posts. Sorted some more trip photos, I continue to wean out the meaningless ones.

We had all the laundry folded and put away by 10. 

I brought my Uber claim to the office.

We started preparing our dinner menu for company on the weekend.

Goat cheese cranberry tarts and hot Italian sausage (freezer) 

Roast beef (freezer)

Mini lemon cheesecake (cupcakes) with pomegranate seeds and strawberry granita drizzle honey

Yeah, the shuttle bus (from the accident) is back in service.

We popped out hoping to find more of the Quality Street chocolates, but no luck. Did buy some more of the chips at 2 for $2.22.

I took grief from T for not taking better care of my plants! Sorry, plants, I'll try to do better. I had to throw one out.

TUESDAY

We fixed up the bottles on the bar that had lights in them, they needed new batteries. It's amazing what can get done when you put your mind to it.

We moved the robot vacuum, Parnell, into the bedroom.

There were more odds and sods jobs done. 

I went to Rexall for seniors day, but couldn't find my card! I think I left it on the counter in Commerce Court, I'll have to go in there this week.

This sign was on the door to the loading dock.

It was BOGO at Longo's, I got two packs of cherry tomatoes, $5.

I got the charity bags ready for John to take in. He also returned the juicer, got the car washed and picked up white wine for our visitors. He also scored some yogurt on sale at No Frills.

WEDNESDAY

I slept in *sigh*, I hate that.

It's seniors day at Bulk Barn, with prices these days, you have to take advantage of what you can.

We were on the subway and we are coming into Dundas Station when it announces TMU station??? I know TMU is at Dundas - Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson, big scandal etc). But renaming the stop, was news to me. All the signs had been replaced.

Toronto's Dundas Station was officially renamed TMU Station (for Toronto Metropolitan University) in December 2025, a change funded by the university as part of a partnership with the TTC to address historical concerns about the original namesake, Henry Dundas, and to foster transit innovation. The rebranding, which replaced signs and announcements, followed the removal of Henry Dundas's name from other city assets, like Yonge-Dundas Square (now Sankofa Square).

John said he didn't remember visiting the Toronto Police Museum as we walked by.

Interesting, John mentioned he'd never come out from the subway directly to the TB escalator up to Front St. before.

When we got home, John made popcorn and we watched a movie. I brought out my knitting.

The candles and dishes I ordered arrived. Why do they use that awful Styrofoam on the dishes? It sticks to everything!

Watching Jeopardy, and I got one of the river questions Bangkok right, it was the river we did a dinner cruise on.

THURSDAY

And we got our snow storm! It's a Snow Day!

Most schools and businesses closed for the day. Traffic got lighter and lighter.

We hunkered down and enjoyed. We hung a couple of pictures, rearranged some plants, picked up the balcony plants that had fallen over.

Our dinner nook. 

I made strawberry limoncello granita!

By noon the shuttle bus had been cancelled. The plows were out in full force.

1 PM

City of Toronto - While the Major Snowstorm Condition is in effect for Toronto, residents are encouraged to use public transit and leave vehicles at home. 

Vehicles parked on snow routes will be towed at the owner’s expense until the declaration has been lifted. 

We are slowly completing our trip posts. I started on our Japan recap.

FRIDAY

I prepped as much as I could for dinner tomorrow. 

I even brought out my sewing machine to get it set up to make some pillow shams. John did a great job threading it for me, but then the bobbin got twisted. I'll get back to them.

John did a grocery run to Metro for odds and ends. He did pick up pork chops for a good price, 4 decent sized for $6, that's two meals for us.  Butter was also on special so he grabbed some.

We actually didn't really stop all day. In fact, I was in the kitchen for so long, I didn't even realize we got more snow.

John was reading my blog and said I guess we won't be going to the States in the future (we definitely have no plans!!!) because of my anti-U$ posts! 

Winterlicious starts this week, we need to pick a couple of spots. Here's a sample of 25 on the list, several of these I would love to try.

And talking about restaurants, British cuisine is having a moment in Toronto and where to find it.

Irish style Chinese food?????

COOKING

I came across this old post about ice cream and thought it was a fun read.

I am working hard on not wasting food! I was going to cook a frozen roast beef on the weekend, but Friday's steak was so big we used the rest on Saturday. The roast beef will be for company on Saturday, perfect!

We are still trying to eat out of the fridge/freezer/pantry. We had sausages for lunch on Sunday. The chicken was in the freezer for the divan. 

I used up another frozen soup stock, this time beef, for lunches.

John baked blueberry breakfast crumb cake and it was good! We had it for breakfast with yogurt all week.

Saturday leftover steak quesadillas. John really enjoyed the leftover steak this way.

Sunday chicken divan - to use the broccolini John bought and finish the naan bread

Monday leftover chicken divan

Tuesday hamburger patties, mashed potatoes and beans

Wednesday pork schnitzel (2 pork chops freezer) potato salad beans 

Thursday liver (freezer) fried onions and mashed potatoes

Friday crying tiger steak roast potatoes. John is experimenting. It was very good, the sauce would be great on ceviche. Neither of us thought the marinade added any value.

I thought this lemon drop sounded interesting so I went looking for a recipe. 

WATCHING

John and I finished MasterChef Australia 2021 together. I bought the winner, Justin Narayan's cookbook, because we watched and enjoyed him. Justin and Pete were just a joy to see their friendship.

 I'm catching up on My Kitchen Rules Australia season 15.

This City is Ours is a British crime drama television series. Set in Liverpool, in May 2025, it was renewed for a second series. The series centres around Liverpudlian crime boss Ronnie Phelan, whose desire to retire from criminal life, after one last major drug deal, triggers an intense power struggle between his long-time right-hand man, Michael Kavanagh, and Phelan's impetuous son Jamie.

We watched Rogue City 2020 Caught in the cross hairs of police corruption and Marseille's warring gangs, a loyal cop must protect his squad by taking matters into his own hands. This was very good!

One Battle after Another  2025 When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

She walks in Darkness  2025  young Spanish civil guard goes undercover within ETA, the Basque separatist group, spending over a decade locating their hideouts in the South of France. This was really interesting and I now want to read more about the Basque.

We watched the latest season of Landman.

I watched Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story 2025. Unravel the case of Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, whose child abuse arrest with parenting Youtuber Ruby Franke exposed a twisted tale of manipulation.

Vanished at Sea Amy Bradley Story March 24, 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley, 23, is enjoying a family cruise vacation when Amy suddenly vanishes without a trace. This twist-filled 3-part documentary mystery explores the theories, and a family's desperate search for the truth.

The Carmen Family Deaths A fishing trip ends in tragedy when Linda Carman vanishes at sea leaving her son Nathan adrift for days. His rescue stirs up questions about his grandfather's murder and ignites a battle over inheritance that leads to shocking revelations.

READING

I subscribed to BookPage, thanks, Tina! I have been so busy unsubscribing from various newsletters, I am excited for a new one.

I read The Red Letter, my first by Daniel G. Miller, not that I particularly cared about the characters, too trite. But it dealt with the Catholic Church so I always enjoy seeing the hypocrisy and misogyny blossoming there. 

I finally get to read a Freida McFadden, our library has only had her audio books, and I don't have the patience for them. The Perfect Son WOW I never saw that coming!

I finished another Freida, The Locked Door, was okay, another twisted end.

I started One by One, and am really enjoying it!

John is reading Hidden Order by Brad Thor. Sadly, the bad guys are Americans but the topic is very much aligned with today's challenges: The Federal Reserve and FBI management.

Now this is scary!!