Update

The last couple of days have been quiet and lovely. We went back into the city to pick up more material for my mom and I managed to get some lining material for my next project too and some fusible fleece.

I have run each day and I think I might be getting better at hills🤣. Saturday I set out for the same route that was 9km last time I was here but it turned out to be just 7.7 this time. Is this place loosing road or did I take a wrong turn??

I have spent a lot of time knitting and have finished a pair of socks for my mom.

These are plain vanilla socks with a German short row heel in Sugar Bush Blaze in the Baked Plum colourway. I tried to do some yarn management so that they would match, but didn’t quite get it right. It’s close enough though.

I have also gotten a hat made for my dad or at least I think I have. He needs to try it on again so I can see if I have knit it long enough. I have to say he wears his toques weird. It appears Charles Bronson is his fashion inspiration.🤣

Last night we had a lovely dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousin. Their place is right on the water so it is always a pleasure to visit on their deck. Of course there was more food than I normally eat in a week. I feel like I’ve gained ten pounds and will have to give up eating when I get home. I could probably go without eating for a good week after this time!

We are about to head out for an adventure so I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.

Have fun!

AJ

A Visiting Weekend

Sorry for going off the grid. I made a lightning trip to visit my brother and his family for my niece’s 12th birthday.

Friday after school I picked up teaching resources my SIL had bought and then drive across the city to take the ferry over to the island. I got a lovely evening with the family and in the morning I took my niece shopping for her present. I have started doing a shopping trip with the kids so they will get what they want. I don’t want to be the aunt who gives gifts they laugh at. I love that at 12, my niece still chose to buy playmobile. I really liked the cupcake shop, but she went for the playground and a few figurines.

My niece did indulge me and check out a knitting store with me, but I was very good and bought nothing!

I got to enjoy the family birthday lunch and a look at the open house next door, and then headed up the island for a quick trip to see my parent’s new property and then took the ferry home. It was a very busy 24 hours!

Today:

Exercise:

Since I was going to be home after all, I arranged to run Crystal Falls with Dennis this morning. This is his favourite run, but even he admits it’s not as much fun now. It used to be a single track, technical trail with lots of obstacles, water features, mud, puddles and not well known. Now it has been pedestrianized. It was still nice and cool and fun, but it also doesn’t seem as long!

I also got in a short walk this afternoon to finish off my Squad Easy mission.

Shopping:

After a leisurely cup of tea, I did do my shopping. It really gets to me that two little bags of groceries cost me $50! I’m thinking I should try a few different grocery stores out and see if any are cheaper.

Cooking:

I did get a second batch of strawberry-rhubarb jam made today. I used a different recipe from Pinterest and am happier as it is not as sweet. However, to use this recipe, I feel like you need to know how to can.

I still have rhubarb left and so am thinking of trying rhubarb oat crisp ice cream as it is a flavour at a local gourmet ice cream shop. I’m going to have to do some research first though.

I also made a fruit salad for my breakfasts this week and am just thinking I should go cook up some different proteins to go in my salads this week.

Reading:

After a lovely nap, I finished up the book I had been reading on the ferries. Bride of New France tells the journey of Laure who comes from an orphanage in France to the new world. She is sent to marry and have children to strengthen France’s control in Canada. It was an interesting read and definitely drew me in, though I do wish it had ended happier. I suppose that just means it’s realistic🤣

Movie:

In order to get over the book, I have been watching Summer in the Vineyard while casting on my new cardigan. So far, it’s been cute, but it definitely won’t be a favourite as it relies on lack of communication for its drama and that is a pet peeve of mine!

Eating:

Amazingly, I was good on my trip and so have been trying to keep it going.

Breakfast- coconut chips on my way to the run

Lunch- shrimp ring

Snack- mini scone, grapes

Dinner- tilapia mixed with everything but the bagel seasoning and a little mayo spread on cucumber slices

Well I’d better go get that protein cooked.

Have fun!

AJ

Everyone Came Home

It was a day of visiting as not only my parents have come home this week, but also my closest friend:)

Exercise:

This morning I just walked for an hour with Brenda because I realized I had to run this evening. I have kicked myself for this as it would have been a good stretch to run double in a day, especially if I want to try another half marathon distance run! Oh well, I’ll have to keep this goal in mind better!

I did get out for a run this evening and managed 6.5km in gorgeous sunshine. It was a great day for a run and I felt good and strong, yay🎉🎊

Visiting:

After a quick run through the grocery store for some veggies and fruit, I went up to see my friend and her husband and two sons as they just arrived home from six months in Mexico. It was a successful trip as they got lots of family time with members who can’t come to Canada. It sure is nice to have her home though!!!

Kitchen Time:

I did my food prep for today. I made a breakfast trifle with the muffins that kept falling apart last week along with yogurt and berries. I’m excited to have these for breakfast this week. I have apples for recess and a cookie for after school snack. I have discovered I need a little treat or else I go off the deep end at some point. At least now it is planned into the day.

This week I roasted a parsnip, turnip, Onion, eggplant, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, celery, carrots, peppers, and mushrooms with onion, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and mixed in some feta.

I love roasted veggies for lunch and already have a plan for next week- Italian seasoning and hot Italian sausage! It’s a super easy dish to make as you just cut all the veggies, mix with olive oil and seasoning and cook at 350 for 30-45 minutes. It is not a glamorous looking dish, but so yummy.

Knitting:

I am back knitting my sweater that I started last night. I am super happy with it so far and hope that feeling continues. I just noticed the pattern doesn’t have a name so I’m not sure how I’m going to record it on Ravelry.

I ran out this evening to get gas at Costco and the line up was about thirty cars deep! I definitely won’t make that mistake again. Hopefully I can fit it in on Monday or Tuesday night.

Well I definitely need to get some new Hallmark movies as I find myself watching A December Bride tonight. 🙄🤪🤣. It is however taking my mind off my slightly queasy stomach. Everyone around me has the stomach flu so I’m thinking I should be thankful I got the flu shot this year!

Have fun!

AJ

On My Way

This morning came way too soon after being up late doing laundry!

Exercise:

I knew I had to be up and out quickly for my run this morning in order to get everything done. I did a quick loop over to the park, around the park and home. Just thirty minutes, but I know I will appreciate moving when I’m sitting in the car all day!

Trip:

I grabbed Starbucks and was off to meet Brenda. We got away with no problems and stopped only twice on the way up.

It was a super productive road trip for me as I got all the stockinette on my sweater body done on the my ya up. Maybe I will have a few minutes to get the ribbing down tomorrow:)

We got to Brenda’s parent’s place in time for tea and it was great to meet her brothers and sisters because of course I’ve heard about them all on our runs, so now I have faces to go with names:)

We headed over to our friend’s place about five O’clock and only made one wrong turn, pretty good for not having directions🤣

Unfortunately K had trouble at work and so was home late, but R was a great host. We visited for a bit and then headed out to grab pizza. I never knew that Panago Pizza does gluten free and dairy free pizza! It was so good! I’ve looked it up and there is one two blocks from me at home! I will definitely be getting some!

We had a lovely visit and ended the night with a hot tub. I so miss having a hot tub!!! I’m nice and warm and snug so now I’m going to bed!

Have fun!

AJ

Three Bags Full

I missed my daily post yesterday because I didn’t get home until 11pm which is late for me, so I’ll do two today:)

My day started really early with looking after my friend’s son while she went to work from 6:30-10:30 am.  While her son snoozed away until 8:30, the newest addition to their family kept me entertained.

It was straight home afterwards as I had a friend coming to look at all the clothes I was getting rid of to see if she wanted any. I’ve been selling them slowly online, but the day finally came that I was tired of having my spare room stuffed full!  She took three bags full…🎶

After we had a quick tea I went to work on making cinnamon buns. I’ve been craving them and I know two of my other running buddies have too. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to get to bake and yet not have all that baking sitting in my house!  I decided to start with two of my favourite allergy free cookbooks.

The first recipe I made, had a nice feeling dough, but unfortunately the end result was the typical dry, grainy gluten free fare. Definitely not good enough to take to my running buddies (who are gf complainers anyways), in fact not even good enough to bother icing:( They did have a good tasting filling though! I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised as they look just like the photo in the book.

The second recipe I tried had the interesting addition of applesauce to the filling. The dough was definitely stickier and more difficult to deal with, but the upside was that it had raisins. While they rose nicely and showed promise, they also came out dry:( and not worth icing:( 

I was super disappointed as I really wanted cinnamon buns and while both recipes were easy to make and came from books I have been impressed with, neither resembled a “normal” cinnamon bun. I have a couple of more recipe options to try, but I think they will have to wait until I get back from Boston.

It was about this time, I thought of another friend who is similar in size to me. So after stopping to walk a friend’s dog while she was at work, off I went to K’s house with three bags full 🎶 K was hilarious and kept me well entertained trying on the clothes and I was glad she managed to find a garbage bag full that she liked!  Quite a difference from this morning with my other friend!

After that it was come home and fall into bed. I did manage to fit ten rows of my sweater into my day.  Knit one, purl one isn’t exactly exciting though:( It’s really too bad that I’m often attracted to simple sweaters as this is almost as bad as straight stockinette stitch!

I also managed to fit in a weights routine and a walk, but not a run:(

A friend from my walk tonight. He let me get pretty close before he flew off.

Well tomorrow is another day:)

Have fun!

AJ