Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
3 April 2026 - Toronto ON
Saturday/Sunday
Not much happened this weekend we did this and that.
We were supposed to get together with my cousin and family, but she had a cold so we postponed that.
I did blog posts, reading. John worked out.
I didn't even have my weekly chat with my friend, because she is back in the hospital.
Don't get me wrong, we did plenty of various things and were not bored by any means!
I frittered Sunday afternoon away, watching shows I like, on my laptop, sitting with Eeyore!
My room doesn't look like this anymore! This was 2023. Eeyore doesn't look as shiny anymore.
I did back up some photo files.
I came across this but haven't investigated.
John took the car in for an oil change and removal of his winter tires. I snuck out to get him a birthday present.
I then went out later to College Park and picked this up on my way home.
John went for a walk, people were out in shorts and t-shirts!
This time it was a very foggy view!!
APRIL - The "Opening" Month: Derived from the Latin word aperire ("to open") and associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the month represents the opening of flowers and trees, signifying new life. Yes, I took 4 years of Latin!
I then wondered (as one does) about the difference between au gratin and scalloped potatoes after a conversation with my BFF.
A present.
TUESDAY
I contemplated letting our cleaning lady go today. T has worked for us for 3 years. Another client who had hired her at the same time as us, let her go 2 years ago for the same reasons as us. So we have been patient!!
We really liked her and have been extremely supportive of her. She has a 16 and 4 yo. I wouldn't mind if she had to cancel, but instead she always waits until she should be here to tell me she is sick/car problems/sick kid/no baby sitter/on a video call/family visiting etc.
The week of spring break was almost the last straw.
March 31, today, At 11 (she should have been here at 10)... Baby has fever, she had a cold, baby sitter late, she would come later. 1 PM could she come late afternoon.
I did make her an offer that basically said if she could do a trial for 2 months with committed dates and stick to them she could come back. But she declined as she didn't want to make a commitment she couldn't keep she didn't want to let me down again.
She is a good, honest person but has some family issues. So we agreed she'll let me know when she feels she can commit.
But she didn't want me to find someone else and then have to let that person go. I said no, I'm going to try an agency.
It is John's birthday today!! We went to Canoe and had a lovely time!! Fred was our server again. he had served us when we went in February.
John loved his snow crab salad - buttermilk, preserved lemon, quinoa, grilled bread
My choice was also delicious beef tartare - smoked heart, rosemary custard, crispy sunchokes ✅
Sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) are versatile root vegetables with a sweet, nutty, artichoke-like flavor, best enjoyed roasted, mashed, or raw in salads. They can be prepared similarly to potatoes, often without peeling, but should be scrubbed well. Common methods include roasting at for 20-30 minutes, sautéing, or frying into thin chips.
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We chose mains that were unusual for us, they were fine but not our favourites. I usually order fish and this was a big portion of meat. John's lamb was more rare than he prefers.
My veal schnitzel - creamed kale, vermouth, bitter greens, parmigiano-reggiano
John's lamb sirloin - braised shoulder, charred rapini, broccoli purée, white port jus
This was divine and we shared blackberry meringue - wild ginger, honey sponge, buttermilk
Fred gave us complimentary glasses of port with our dessert. Graham's Blend No 12.
John got our income taxes submitted. We had a couple of family video calls.
WEDNESDAY APRIL
This was so true, after 21 the other day we were back into our winter coats!!
APRIL - The "Opening" Month: Derived from the Latin word aperire ("to open") and associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the month represents the opening of flowers and trees, signifying new life. Yes, I took 4 years of Latin!
BMO is ready for FIFA.
Even though it was cold and grey we hopped onto the subway and bus (streetcar tracks being worked on) for a quick visit to Allan Gardens ahead of the Easter crowds. I was here last year and they had a pink bird!!
John hasn't been here in years!
John made us flat whites when we got home.
THURSDAY
Throwback Thursday - Oahu Hawaii 2009
Another miserable cold day. I simply went to Longo's for mostly vegetables as everything is closed tomorrow. John took some golf clubs in have the shafts replaced and then used the golf simulator.
I spent time investigating cleaning agencies, I decided to get quotes on a deep spring clean.
The first company, New Century, I had used once in the past, came back with a quote of $251.20 which includes 13.5% HST. And an additional $20 for use of their vacuum. I went with them.
But they responded in writing with a complete quote and followed up with a phone call.
MaidsForCondos $265. The only difference between their basic and deep is wiping baseboards and they do the laundry room emptying lint!
ItsGLO came in at $400!!
Hausly came in at $512!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MasterMaid sent a TEXT saying let's schedule without any quote!
FRIDAY - HOLIDAY GOOD FRIDAY
Nothing is open today so we planned on a day of chores and baking. Baking didn't happen.
I was going to strip the bed and realized it was more than 2 years (recommended) since we replaced them, so I placed an Amazon order.
Well, that was fun!
It is 21 C today so I had the balcony door open. John went out for a walk, but came back to get water. The impact of the open balcony door and front door caused a wind tunnel that knocked over all thing standing plants and the floor lamp!! What a mess, John cleaned it all up!!
AROUND HERE
ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION UPDATE – PARKING SHUTTLE ELEVATOR RETURNED TO SERVICE
It must be spring - our window cleaning and spider treatment starts this week!
COOKING
I order cappuccinos and lattes interchangeably, but the latte that we had a couple of weeks ago was so good that I actually wondered what the difference was.
I then wondered (as one does) about the difference between au gratin and scalloped potatoes after a conversation with my BFF.
The key difference between these two similar dishes is the presence of cheese. Scalloped potatoes consist of thinly sliced potatoes layered in a casserole dish and baked with heavy cream or milk (or a combination of the two). Potatoes au gratin, on the other hand, has grated cheese sprinkled between the layers, resulting in a cheesy, more decadent dish.
MENU
Saturday
L - Dumplings
D - chips, eggs John's request and he cooked.
Sunday
L - sausages for breakfast
D - ham, au gratin potatoes and mashed turnips/carrots
Monday
L - ham sandwiches
D - curry with fries
Tuesday JOHN'S BIRTHDAY
L - Canoe
D - popcorn
Wednesday
L - scrambled eggs
D - beef bulgogi with sticky rice. I added cabbage and celery and more gochujang.
Thursday
L - leftover curry and rice
D - cod fish fillets with chili lime sauce definitely not a keeper!! Roast potatoes and leftover veggies
Friday
L - bacon tomato sandwiches
D - steak parmesan balsamic asparagus garlic toast - delicious, we said we would have paid for this!
WATCHING
We finished Peaky Blinders. And watched the movie as well, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
What can I say, it tied up loose ends, as it should, but that was about it, it would be impossible to top the series.
We caught up on Marshalls and Law and Order Toronto.
We rewatched the Montreal Irish Mafia Kings of Coke.
An oldie but goodie - Presumed Innocent
We are watching the last two seasons of The Cleaning Lady. Unfortunately it's beginning to feel like a Mexican soap opera, a telenovela. And that kid, Luca, is so whiney! Plus their kitchen is so cluttered!
John watched a documentary Fukushima A Nuclear Story.
I watched the latest two episodes of season 21 The Hotel Inspector, a guilty pleasure and I have a girl crush on the host!
Great British Bake Off season 16 is on CBC Gem!!
I always assumed a flapjack was like an American pancake, but the ones they made looked nothing like that. Instead they looked like this. Now I have to find golden syrup!
READING
Liberty Street is set in Toronto, so I can picture every one of the locations.
I came across a blog that had two interesting book recommendations. Harvee44@HarveeReads.
You have to read Jinjer's post this week! It's too wordy and complicated for me to recap here, but it is so fascinating!!
Oh, Jinjer! What am I going to do to you!!! I was reading posts at Sunday Salon on a Sunday morning, as one does! Then I got to you and I read this post, took my current book and built a rabbit hole list, which led to a blog post!! I am now polishing the post, while researching more stuff to add to the RH list! And might even lead to an outing this week!!
So I did the rabbit hole exercise that Jinjer suggested. I wrote a post on the book I was reading Liberty Street.
I did my list.
At one point I had 15 tabs open on my screen!
And that post led to another post this week!!
I finished The Marriage Pact, she also wrote The Wonder Test that I read a while ago. I enjoyed the first 80% but then things happened that made me question some actions. The ending, I'm not so sure.
I started Adrenaline, a fast paced spy thriller. The main character is a bit one dimensional, but a fun quick read.
I read a true crime story in McLean's magazine. Russell Williams’ final victim: his wife.
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