Birds and Beans

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

April 2022 - Lake Shore Blvd W Toronto ON

I'm very glad we went grocery shopping relatively early on Easter Saturday. The Longos (Maple Leaf Square) that we go to is located next to the ACC Scotiabank Arena (Raptors playing tonight/Maple Leafs hockey tomorrow).

Game 1 of the Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers playoff series is tonight and 

following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the so-called “Jurassic Park” tailgate area has returned home to Scotiabank Arena. The outdoor space has seen thousands of Raptors fans cheer on the team during playoff runs of the past while watching games in real-time on a massive screen.

This year’s viewing party is a little different in that fans will need to obtain free mobile passes to enter Maple Leaf Square. Each guest can obtain as many as four passes which are available 24 to 48 hours before each confirmed game. Doors open at 3:30 PM for Game 1.

The Skydome Rogers Centre is down the street and the Blue Jays were playing this afternoon. The CN Tower and the Aquarium are next door, so the area was teeming with people.

These photos don't reflect the number of people milling about.

The Toronto FC soccer are playing Philadelphia tonight as well in the same area. Their stadium is just south of here. 

I had promised to bring gluten free cannolis to my cousin for Easter dinner, but when I checked the website I was a day late for Easter orders. On an impulse I messaged the store on Saturday morning while shopping to ask if they had any and she said YES! So we headed there and it was busy! But I got two orders of 8 each and bought most of their stock, two women came in behind me and I knew they were hoping to get some gluten free.

On the way home, solidary flag outside the Polish embassy.

The side wall of Birds and Beans coffee shop pictured above.

I received Easter lilies from John!

A week later they are all open!

Easter Sunday we finally got together with my cousin and her wife. We also got to meet Joey!

She did a raclette. We had talked earlier and asked if we wanted traditional, BBQ or raclette! We decided on raclette and brunch, although it was 8 PM when we finally left!

Monday we went to a local appliance store listed on the Bosch website as carrying the dishwasher we need. We put a deposit on it but due to the supply chain issues it could be 6 months before we get it. Such is life, as least we are now on the waiting list.

And then we had snow! Seriously? It is mid April and after Easter!

Tuesday and we had an email saying the washer/dryer steam kit was on its way to us from LG.

I baked blueberry banana bread and repotted a plant. I also did all the paper shredding that was piling up.

John went to the golf simulator on Tuesday and Thursday.

My favourite (read expensive) butcher shop Sanagan had a chicken quarter special 10 lbs for $40 and I got it delivered.

Wednesday the vacuum was acting up and overheating. Yet another!

We headed out to Hamilton for fish and chips.

Keto Kravings  also carries gluten free products.

Cannabuzz

We love pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and love this name.

Thursday John took the vacuum in to Dyson, the Vacman thinks he can fix it for around $75, we'll see.

Inspired by a blogger (sorry, not sure who it was) who complained about an appliance and received a new one, I sent a note to Crock Pot that my slow cooker (bought December 2020) panel letters were wearing out.

This is the less than satisfactory response I received.

Hey there, Jackie. We are sorry to hear that the control panel letters are wearing off. We are glad to offer to our consumers 1 year limited warranty. Based on the information provided, your product is outside of the designated warranty period. Unfortunately, in this case, I am unable to provide a free-of-charge replacement. I wish I could provide you with more favorable response. Thank you and please stay safe! Karolina CrockPot

We picked up another from the Scotch club, Whisky Drop. It's actually an Irish whiskey.

COOKING

Saturday ham, mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts.

Sunday Easter brunch at my cousin's.

Monday BBQ chicken quarters curry chicken and naan bread (new recipe) not a keeper! 

Tuesday fish chowder slow cooker pork belly (new recipe also not a keeper) and sauteed broccolini tomatoes mushrooms and onions.

Wednesday Chinese salad with hard boiled eggs, ham, cheese, beets

Thursday hamburger patty, mashed potatoes, beans and gravy

Friday steak, broccoli and garlic bread

WATCHING

We saw the first episode of The First Lady an American anthology drama television series created by Aaron Cooley which premiered on Showtime on April 17, 2022. It stars Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Gillian Anderson, among others.

Outer Range is an American supernatural mystery thriller streaming television series created by Brian Watkins for Amazon Prime Video. It stars Josh Brolin in the lead role as a Wyoming rancher. The first season will consist of eight episodes, with two episodes premiering every week starting from its premiere on April 15, 2022.

Passer By is a 2004 British television film broadcast. Stars James Nesbitt (Bloody Sunday / Bofur in The Hobbit) whom I love.

A definite moral dilemma. 

We started season 5 of Queen of the South.

READING

Thanks to Tina, I borrowed Chowderland from the library.

Each recipe also offers salad, side, or dessert pairings that are also found in this book, so the book is kind of a one-stop-shop for all your soup eating needs.

Tina has a copy of the Vineyard chicken and corn chowder on her blog.  

I like the idea of a day after Thanksgiving chowder!

I didn't know you could use evaporated milk in a chowder!

How about mussel chowder with light curry

Click here for an article with a few of her recipes.

This recipe is practically a duplicate from her book - Bermuda fish chowder.

I read Buried - The gripping first book in a brand-new thriller series by the Queen of Crime Drama, Lynda La Plante. I can't say I am a fan of this new protagonist DC Jack Warr. I enjoyed the book but it is really a continuation of the 25 million pound train robbery series with Harry and Dolly Rawlins. I'm not sure if you could follow this book if you didn't know the history. 

I devoured The Good Son - opening sentence:

“I was picking my son up at the prison gates when I spotted the mother of the girl he had murdered.” What an opener for Jacquelyn Mitchard’s new book, The Good Son!

While I did get a little bored with the mother's overprotectiveness and did figure out the plot well before the mother, it was still a great read about domestic drama, life after jail and guilt.

I started The Banker's Wife it appeals to me because it is about computer crime, money laundering and politics. Is it well written and constructed, not really. 

This Way to Coffee

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

Hearth and Soul Link Party

September 2021 - Port Stanley ON

November 2021

As of last week Ontario lifted capacity limits in places where proof of vaccination is required including food and drink establishments, indoor areas of sports and recreation facilities, gaming establishments and indoor meeting and event spaces as well as some outdoor settings. City staff are reviewing for what impact it may have on City facilities and activities, including recreation and community centres.

This does not make me happy, I have been very happy not being in crowded places especially in a restaurant. I know it's important for these businesses.

Another rainy Saturday but we were warm and cozy. 

After getting up early on Sunday we spent the day lazing around.

Finally I am tied with John on our year-to-date puzzle average!!

Monday John golfed (it was cold). I was going out but started puttering around doing laundry and such and never did.

Tuesday John booked the golf simulator and I took another pair of pants to be shortened, it's terrible to be short, buy petite pants and still have to pay to get them shortened! 

Then I spent some time in the grocery store at Manulife Centre and finally found a decent sized tamarind. I also bought a jar of hoisin for when I'm too lazy to make it.

Also made a stop in Eataly. I can never find the same things when I go back.

Wednesday John had golf with a frost delay! He took these.

I went to get a haircut on King St.

Then to the Eaton Centre to pick something up for a friend's birthday, prowled the $ store at the Bay Centre, it is a great one. 

Stepped out at Dundas Square.

New benches painted by muralist Hello Kirsten.

Läderach, Swiss chocolatier, new store and only Canadian location in the Eaton Centre.

Really??? Do we need Christmas stuff this early?

A new selfie spot in the Eaton Centre.

Thursday and John cancelled his golf simulator saying he needed a break from golf. We managed to sleep in and lazed around for the morning. Then we headed out on the streetcar along Queen St. West in bright sunshine which quickly disappeared. Our only stop was at the pop up Irish Scottish store to stock up.

My loot!

Friday I headed out my a 10 AM manicure pedicure, right in the neighbourhood.

Gorgeous morning! Bottom of our street, it ends as Lake Ontario.

Our building, in the middle of the photo peeking up behind the tree.

I came back home, had lunch and headed to Longo's for vegetables for the weekend.

Now that the office towers are opening up I cut through the Telus House building (where my cousin works) for the first time in 18 months! Telus House is part of the PATH system so that you can get about without enduring the weather and horrible drivers. I can get off our bus go downstairs at 123 Front St. and go underground for miles, up to the Eaton Centre or south to Harbourfront, I can do all of the financial district as well. I can also board the TTC subway.

There is a photography mural by Michael Awad on display in the lobby.

As a study of how people navigate through a city and interact with it, Michael Awad’s Entire City Project records the physical infrastructure of Toronto and the urban experience of living in it. Awad’s image is stretched and expanded to reach life-size, showing a warped panorama of hectic commuters moving in all directions outside of Union Station. While the distortions may seem odd, they certainly lend a sense of urgency and energy to the piece.

I have never really been able to get a good photo of the sparkling lights in the lobby. It is known as Pixel Matrix, a collaboration with the multimedia artist David Rokeby, is like being inside a gigantic shifting Lite-Brite.

What a surprise as I left the Telus building into Maple Leaf Square to see the 

sculpture Humanity Movement by Masai Ujiri was moved here from outside Union Station on Front St.

I was heading to Longo's where I like to shop. It is in the middle of the photo where that white truck is parked. On my right is Telus House and my left is Scotiabank Arena.

The Raptors had a basketball game tonight. Now that sporting venues are allowed to be at full capacity this was the sign to get into Scotiabank Arena.

The clocks fall back this coming weekend.

WATCHING

I watched a 3 part BBC series Capital and wish there was more. It is based on a novel by John Lancaster. This article in The Guardian sums it up perfectly.

The story is primarily told through three families: an upper class couple with two young children, a middle eastern family that owns the small neighborhood market, and an elderly widow, Petunia. Also important to the plot are Petunia’s daughter and adult grandson, a local contractor, and a meter maid from Africa, who is working in England illegally.

The diversity among class and race is obvious and intentional.

I also watched ITV Flesh and Blood on Prime.

I started The Forsyte Saga from 2002-2003. Fun seeing Damian Lewis in this.

I am also keeping up with the weekly episodes of The Great Canadian Bake Off and A Suitable Boy.

I generally watch my shows on my laptop in the kitchen as I prepare dinners with my knitting so I need shows that don't require my full attention as I chop and stir, empty/load dishwasher, run noisy appliances and knit!

We've lost interest 4400 after a couple of episodes. It is convoluted, boring and just plain awful acting.

The Lost Symbol is losing me as well, a pity since the book was good.

We started a BBC series The Suspects, a police procedural.

COOKING

Saturday BBQ chicken quarters roast potatoes carrots, waiting to go into the oven.

Sunday ham, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts

Monday chili and soda bread

Tuesday roast pork, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and carrots

Wednesday shrimps a la diabla with salad. First time using this recipe and it was good. I used one jalapeno and it wasn't hot enough for us so we added hot sauce and that made the difference.

Thursday rogan josh lamb curry This turned out really well, the sauce was delicious it just wasn't as hot curry flavour as we like. I am going to borrow The Curry Guy's cookbook from the library again, I won't buy it at $50!!

Friday steak and loaded baked potato but I used spinach instead as the broccolini I had looked like it was way passed its prime and I had just bought the spinach!!! This was lauded as my best loaded baked yet by both of us as it had such a great crispy skin. I didn't wrap the potatoes in foil as I usually do and I tossed the potatoes in salt and butter before baking.

READING

I read The 57 Bus, a true story of two teenagers and the crime that changed their lives. Blew me away!

The 57 Bus is narrative nonfiction that tells the true story of an agender teen, Sasha, who rode the 57 bus home every day. One day, on that bus, three teen boys are being obnoxious jerks and Richard takes a lighter to Sasha’s skirts and seems surprised when it goes up in flames. The remainder of the story discusses Sasha’s recovery and the court case surrounding Richard. It’s a remarkable story about identity, choices, consequences and, in the end, forgiveness.

Next up continued on the issue of rising hate crimes, this time in the UK where there is a big problem of growing white supremacy groups, which is totally appalling to me.

Dead Souls by Angela Marsons, she has an uncanny way of showing us the horrors of daily racism that non-white, non-straight people endure everyday.

Weekend Roundup

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

1. Starts with "S"
2. A Favorite
3.SILVER - chosen by Tom

Starts with "S"

SCULPTURE STARLIGHT SPOTLIGHT SEARCHLIGHT

Toronto ON

FAVOURITE

SILVER SWING Queen St. W Toronto ON

SILVER

SILVER lining - driving from Dublin to Ballyvaughan Ireland 2005

Déjà Brew

A catchall for leftover beer, coffee, food, motels and whatever catches my fancy!

SCULPTURE SILVER SODA can

Toronto ON