Showing posts with label 365 decluttering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 365 decluttering. Show all posts

07 November 2025

Kraft Tea

  Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader


 November 2025 - Toronto ON

Broadview Ave. Toronto

Last Week's Post Forget Me Not Coffee
Last Year's Post "Free Coffee"
Five Years Ago Monday's Walk I wasn't doing weekly recaps back then

SATURDAY

After a sad loss for the Blue Jays last night, it was nice to sleep in until 8:30 having been awake yesterday from 5:30 AM.
We puttered around until the game.

How about that National Anthem sung by Noah Reid from Schitt's Creek!!!!!!!!!!!!
We kept our hopes up but alas....


I wonder what kind of damage control they are going to spin for this?!?!?!?
I can't believe it, TTC The Better Way, my a$$! P.S. GO Transit (Metrolinx) is run by the province (fOrd), Kevin, not the city!!


SUNDAY
I love when the clock falls back and we get an extra hour!! Chores were done. Plants watered.
We hung the new photos, replacing landmarks with pictures of us in those places for the wall.
Berlin Florence Istanbul Honolulu Dublin Frankfurt Stonehenge

I am adding this photo as well, Grand Canyon 1998!


I spent a lot of time cleaning up/filing photos and getting blog posts ready and completing draft posts. I also worked on my July - December Recap, so I am not racing to do it at year end.

MONDAY

Monday's Mural was from Palm Springs when we spent January and February this year, that seems ages ago!!! 

John went golfing. Turkeys on the course.

I put an old rusted cookie sheet and a car vacuum in a paper bag to take down to the garbage on the loading dock. It was awkward to carry. I took H2 newly refurbished elevator (alone) it thudded as I hit ground and then nothing happened..........I'm not sure if we are at ground or somewhere between. I put down the stupid paper bag that falls over and press the call button. I said, "Paul, it's Jackie, I'm stuck in H2" he says "yes, I can see you, give it a sec and it should open". After a minute, it did! 

I went to Longo's, Winners and the $ store. I was annoyed as I found a perfect jacket that was only $30!! But not in my size...
Along the way.

It seems Prince Harry will be here for Remembrance Day. I can't forgive him and her for wearing LA Dodger hats instead of Blue Jays. He is 8th in line to be Monarch of Canada and Toronto is where Meaghan got famous in Suits. Okay, I do have a soft spot for a Ginger!!!
He was here on Thursday for a charity tribute (?) dinner hosted by PMMC and said:
Truth is, all jokes aside, this city (Toronto) will always mean a great deal to me -- You provided me a wife" - Prince Harry




Toronto Raptor in Scotia Arena.


TD Building.

I decided to check out the other Winners with no luck but did find a red Hilfiger that I bought, I'll look some more for the other one.


I thought the bus was 2:45 but it was 2:30 so I missed it which turned out to be a bad deal. I caught the 3:15 and traffic was horrendous. John was stuck in the same traffic due to an accident on the Gardiner. It took me an hour to get home!

I booked our flights, adding on a few days in Tokyo since it was a stopover anyway!!!


TUESDAY
John went out to breakfast and golf, it was a beautiful day.
I spent the morning researching hotels and areas in Tokyo. Many were sold out and prices are ridiculous as we are there on a weekend as well. I finally booked a Hilton so at least I get points.

My BFF and I decided we needed a good old-fashioned chinwag so we met for lunch at Bready's, where we whiled away the afternoon over tea/green juice and croissants. I chose a new one, lime mascarpone, delicious, but oh so messy!




WEDNESDAY
We decided to stay in and do our Tokyo planning and ended up spending the whole day on it.
I also got my six month recap up to date.
Laundry got done, the floors were swiffered, the bed got changed.

THURSDAY
More trip planning, mainly Japan as we are doing that on our own. The rest of the trip is on a semi-organized tour.

John got a call that his backpack had been found in Montreal! I hadn't mentioned that it got left on the train last Monday when we came home. We had made a lost report here in Toronto. The woman in Montreal had opened his tablet (old, used mainly for reading) and found his contact info! She put it on a train to Toronto and they called and said they had it! Note to self - always have a business card in a bag! And everything was inside! Glasses, tablet, razor (he had replaced it last week!), 2 phone chargers, and some OTC medication!
Then we went to Uniqlo (Japanese!) and John got a new jacket. I have their app on my phone so we saved $20 being a member!


We had time to kill so wandered around. We found this empanada food stand, we liked how they stamped them.


Just as we were saying that you no longer see the usual old fast food joints in food halls, we found this Burger King.



FRIDAY
It rained in the morning so we delayed our trip to the market to after lunch.
I booked a Tokyo dinner river cruise and worked some more on our itinerary, on a spread sheet of course!

We headed to the market and picked up 4 steaks, one for tonight and next Friday, and the other two for when we get back. We also got bread and potatoes. I'll buy as we need for the next two weeks. I also want to meal plan Christmas since we only get home on the 22nd.
At the Market, a new deli place, it had a great selection.



Tomahawk steak. 

A new sandwich place.


Halva, we've never tried it!


We tried a new coffee shop Mofer's, Ethiopian coffee, they have several locations around. This was a good flat white, less milky than some and nice and hot.


Debra at She Who Seeks mentioned she is going to see Margaret Atwood speak in Edmonton. When we walked by Meridian Hall I saw an announcement for her coming to Toronto and thought I might go! But...and anyway we are away.


See the big poppy on the TD building?


It looks like we'll miss this year's Fleurs de Ville Dec 3-7. Click here to see previous displays.
For a second year running, St. Lawrence Market is gearing up to unleash whimsical winter magic on the city with the return of its Winter Market Nov 20 - Dec 22.

We received this notice.
Please be advised that our contractors will begin painting and repairs to the Suite Front Doors and Frames in the common element hallway of the Nth and Nth floors, on Tuesday November 11th at 9:00 a.m. The work is expected to take approximately one (1) day to complete.


COOKING



I went through the freezers to determine what could be used up this week and next.

Saturday ribs and potato salad
Sunday Vietnamese pork meatballs with salad  grilled pineapple and the remaining onion pancakes in the freezer. I did add to the meatballs - Chinese 5 spice, star anise.
Monday coconut shrimp with orange dipping sauce and salad. Loved the dipping sauce - Dijon and marmalade!
Tuesday chips and eggs
Wednesday dumpling chicken soup with the leftover meatballs. We are loving this Asian inspired chicken soup.
Thursday beef bulgogi with peppers (freezer) onions celery rice. Grilled pineapple (freezer) on the side.
Friday steak (new Brown Brothers market) frites 


WATCHING
We tried watching Boston Blue but it was disaster, feeling like a badly written soap opera with worse acting. I'm surprised it got a 6/20 rating. 
Danny Reagan joins Boston PD from NYPD and partners with Detective Lena Peters, the oldest daughter of a notable Boston law enforcement family. It felt like a desperate attempt to mimic the family dynamics of Blue Bloods with a female dominated interracial family.

The Strangers is a 2008 American psychological horror film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. The film follows a couple whose stay at a vacation home is disrupted by three masked intruders who infiltrate the home in the middle of the night. The screenplay was inspired by two real-life events: the multiple-homicide Manson family Tate murders and a series of break-ins that occurred in Bertino's neighborhood as a child.


C.B. Strike The Ink Black Heart  Strike (also known as C. B. Strike internationally) is a British crime drama television programme based on the book series Cormoran Strike by J. K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

I'm watching Under the Bridge, I had read the book but the TV series is very well done. A true story based on the 1997 murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk in Saanich, British Columbia. The show dramatizes the events, focusing on the secret world of the girls accused of the murder through the eyes of author Rebecca Godfrey and a local police officer.

The Woman in Cabin 10, I admit I fell asleep but I had read the book!! John really enjoyed it.

Ballad of a Small Player When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation. Colin Farrell is exceptional.

Sinners  Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Interesting, vampires.

The Naked Gun 2025 this was fun! Following in his father's footsteps, a detective works to solve a murder case and save his police department from closure.

READING

I read The Girls Who Disappeared, another Claire Douglas. I didn't love it as much as her previous book I read.

I started Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurðardóttir. Lilja started her writing career in 2008 when she sent a manuscript of a novel to a competition run by the publishing house Bjartur whose aim was to find the Icelandic Dan Brown.


30 May 2025

Happy Goat Coffee Company

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Ottawa ON

Saturday and it isn't sunny but it's not raining!  Scratch that, it poured mid afternoon. 


We both looked forward to our lazy Saturday, after chores got done. Laundry, vacuum (technically Parnell the robot does that), mail a postcard, book a show,  fill soap containers, clean the kitchen, sorted the freezer, you get the idea.

Sunday
We tried this recipe for gluten free egg noodles and it did not work! I ordered some (expensive) gluten free Italian flour.
I worked on some posts and booked our whales and puffins tour.



John was up and made bangers and eggs for his breakfast and a sandwich to go for lunch as he headed out to meet a friend to go golfing in St. George ON.




I hadn't seen this plaque before, outside Winner's at College Park. I wrote a post about this Eaton's store.

I was waiting for the streetcar to Allan Gardens.





The iconic Palm House at Allan Gardens Conservatory reopened to the public mid May after closing for vital restoration work to preserve the structure's architectural heritage. 
Construction began in October 2022 on the historic conservatory building, one of Toronto's oldest attractions. The Palm House, designed by City of Toronto architect Robert McCallum, opened in 1910 and is the third horticultural pavilion on site.
The Palm House features a wide array of palms, banana plants and other tall specimens. It showcases a variety of palm trees and other tropical plants like cycads, gingers, hibiscus and seasonal exotics. 






They were busy removing the spring flowers.










I walked back to the Bulk Barn and was quicker than the streetcar. I picked up peanuts (NOT Virginia) and popcorn.


Tuesday I had intended to go out early, however, we got caught up on the King's Speech from the Throne.
Mark Carney is a man who is respected globally which will serve him well as PM! 
He's also pretty damn smart and strategic for bringing King Charles III to deliver the throne speech. 🇨🇦🍁



After lunch we lost our desire to go out and instead watched the latest three MasterChef Australia episodes.
I also bought tickets for The Sound of Our Nation at the Canadian Stage Company on June 14. We haven't been there in ages!




Wednesday John's golf was rained out again (last week also). I did some decluttering in the middle room (2 pillows, decorative umbrella (I bought in California and did nothing with), glass battery candle - all went to T). We threw out 2 covers for headsets, and a couple of posters.
I only went to Longo's for some items on special and chicken quarters for dinner. I was going to make fish coconut lime soup if John had been golfing and the weather was better.
I've never seen this before.


John booked golf for Friday.


Thursday we got this note:
Dear Residents, 
Effective today, a combination lock is installed on the entrance gate to the tennis court. This measure is being implemented due to repeated incidents of non-residents from neighbouring condominiums accessing and using the court without authorization.

John bottled his wine and then we went to St. Lawrence Market and picked up steaks, ground lamb, and some vegetables. I also picked up those sweet drops that I had mentioned a few weeks ago.

Some interesting fish options.


We went to Balzac's on Market St. for a white flat.

Friday John golfed at Remington. I went to the Reference Library to see their display of old Toronto postcards.










Longo's lies, the price tag says "product of Mexico" but the boxes say "Product of USA.". I sent them a note.


I bought some balsamic vinegar, not the usual one, this was twice the price for half the size. But we don't use it a lot and shouldn't skimp on some things.


My birth certificate arrived!


COOKING



I usually have a loose menu plan for the week ahead. However, not really for this week. 
I do enjoy those days when I have no idea what to have for dinner and then a plan comes together.
Instead we had four new recipes that we enjoyed and are adding to our rotation. I have already added the fried chicken and Mexican pulled pork to My Recipe Box.

On Monday I felt I had to do something with the pork butt we bought on sale at Longo's with plans to make slow cooked Mexican pulled pork. I had thought to use pork chops to make the pork schnitzel but then cut two pork slices from the butt instead. Pork butt is also on the cheaper cut.
 On Tuesday, I realized we had our last package of chicken thighs, looked at Pinterest and decided to try the paprikash, which led me to the one lone sausage in the freezer which I added.
I don't often buy chicken quarters, I don't know why, as they are a relatively inexpensive meal. Five chicken quarters were $10 so that would be five dinners for us. Then on Thursday I still had no ideas until we were at the market and I saw three pounds of ground lamb for $20 nd made koftas/kaftas.


Saturday roast beef, potatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts 
Sunday leftover beef, green peppers onions stir fry with rice (since the noodles didn't work out)
Monday pork schnitzel with Dijon gravy(NEW/ADDED) mashed cauliflower/sprouts potatoes and fennel. Delicious!!! Perfect pork schnitzel GF!
Tuesday chicken Paprikash(NEW) I added a hot Italian sausage that was languishing in the freezer.
Wednesday oven fried GF chicken quarters (NEW/ADDED) and salad 
Thursday lamb koftas (NEW) with tomatoes, tzatziki, salad and flatbread
Friday steak baked potato asparagus (roasted with balsamic vinegar and parmesan) and chimichurri


WATCHING

Fred and Rose West A British Horror Story 2025. There have been so many versions of this true story but it is always interesting. Recently discovered police recordings and first-person accounts tell the story of Fred and Rose West, two of the UK's most prolific murderers.

Mobland is a British crime drama television series. The series stars Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, a fixer for the Harrigan crime family led by Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and Maeve Harrigan (Helen Mirren). Guy Ritchie, Anthony Byrne, Daniel Syrkin, and Lawrence Gough serve as directors for the first season.
Ratings IMDb 8.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes 74%

The Continental In 1970s New York, a young Winston Scott recruits a team to confront a vast conspiracy sparked by his brother's attack on the hotel-for-assassins The Continental.

Hard Home  A mother who is deeply saddened lures her daughter's killer into her smart home in order to take revenge, and gets involved in a distorted game where life and death are at stake.


READING

The Bee Sting is such a good long read, after a string of DNFs. I was immediately absorbed by this extraordinary story about the derailing of a once prosperous Irish family. 

List of 20 websites where you can download unlimited books for free:

1. Planet eBook
2. Free-eBooks. net
3. ManyBooks 
4. Librivox 
5. Internet Archive 
6. BookBub 
7. Open Library
8. BookBoon 
9. Feedbooks 
10. Smashwords 
11. Project Gutenberg
12. Google Books 
13. PDFBooksWorld 
14. FreeTechBooks 
15. Bookyards 
16. GetFreeBooks 
17. eBookLobby 
18. FreeComputerBooks 
19. LibriVox 
20. ManyBooks




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