seems like a strange Easter… even more so than last year, for some reason…
I hadn’t put out any decorations, but this morning I dug out the Easter box and put out the sign, bunnies and bag that I got last year;-)…
I made everything for tonight’s supper yesterday, as well as packaging some ham and potatoes for a friend and my grandson… really happy to cook for others… this morning I finished up the ham and pea soup…
I set the obelisk into the pot on the deck, put cushions out, and spent the afternoon in the garden, reading and watching the birds…
had a lovely visit with my grandson when he came to pick up his dinner… a friend dropped off some delicious pickerel for my supper, when she picked up her ham and potatoes…
still didn’t feel like Easter, but all in all, a lovely day…
anyone who follows me knows that I am trying to keep my diabetes in check with diet and exercise only…
when I started I absolutely gave up any type of sugar… that was hard, and also included potatoes, one of my favourite foods, lol…
over the years I have loosened up my diet to include some of the things that had been removed… always done in consultation with my doctor, so that my life was less focussed on the fear of my A1C number…
at my last appointment, my number had gone up to the edge of needing meds…
so, I cut back all sugar once again, which meant that I wasn’t having any chocolate;-(…
I was excited a few days ago to learn about Happy Mail for Chocolate Lovers (through Patreon)… it is a monthly subscription that will send me an envelope of goodies each month… all chocolate-themed, but no actual chocolate…
a great way to soothe my chocolate craving, without any of the sugar content, and provide support for an artist…
there is even an app for Patreon so I can see any items going up about Happy Mail for Chocolate Lovers (also on Instagram @happymailforchocolatelovers).
looking forward to see what will be in my first envelope;-)…
yesterday I got my appointment for my COVID vaccination… woohoo… was thrilled as the age limit has been going down very slowly… arranged for my grandson to drive me there and back when the day arrives…
so, for a treat, I ordered from my favourite Vietnamese restaurant – Pho Hoang… we used to go there after our aquasize class… in the before time…
the food always arrives quickly and is delicious…
I usually try to order enough for a couple of meals, so got my favourite shrimp summer rolls with the steak and brisket pho… ate the rolls with some of the pho broth…
I also ordered some rolled ice cream, although I only ate a third of it with my dinner… it was delicious;-)…
had a big bowl of pho today… and maybe finished the ice cream;-)…
my grandson brought McDonald’s breakfast over when he came to pick up his youngest brother’s birthday present…
he sat by the door and I sat on the far couch… it was nice to have a meal and visit… don’t think that has happened since the summer in the garden… then he was off for the rest his day…
a bit later I went out and filled feeders while topping up the hot tub… lots of running up and down the stairs in the process, lol…
yesterday we had an online chocolate tasting in the afternoon… it was the gift I gave my four buddies for Christmas…
before it started I spent time preparing my space for the call… moved most of my orchids into the pass through and put fabric behind it so the light wouldn’t cause a problem… looked great;-)…
everyone received a package in the mail with a beautiful handmade pouch holding four chocolate bars… three were the same for everyone, and one was different for each of us…
besides information on how to taste, choose and buy chocolate, forms to use to describe tasting information on each bar, there were little treats included as well… a chocolate flavoured tea, hot chocolate, a cocoa bean and cocoa nibs…
we had a lovely time, learned a huge amount about cacao, its origins and how it is made into the chocolate that we enjoy… we were able to ask questions throughout and shared what we thought of each bar…
one of us couldn’t get their camera to work, but was able to see us, even if we couldn’t see them… there was a lot of laughter and delicious chocolate eating, uh, tasting, happening…
what a great treat… as much a gift for me as my buddies…
on New Year’s morning I was walking on the treadmill and happened to turn on the front camera to see if any birds were at the feeder…
there was a man standing there, so I ran upstairs to see what was going on…
it was a young friend with a gift in his hand… he said he was looking for coal… I had him step back, and put out a gift bag I had put coal and a scone into… anticipating that my middle grandson was coming over…
then he stepped over the threshold and put down the gift and gift bag and stepped back outside…
my daughter had sent a number of items to her friends and they had packaged them up and delivered them to my door…
for years we have done first-footing… this was by far the fanciest package, lol…
there was tea, charcoal shampoo, chocolate covered fruit, a Christmas cracker, little bottles of alcohol, sourdough chocolate, a delicious fresh banana chocolate chip muffin, an adorable tin with a cute gingerbread person in it and a fresh orange… and of course the chunk of coal;-)…
