#256 - Cuttings and Curry

Up at the crack of seven again.

I took the sleep aids a little too late in the evening, apparently. Robyn’s alarm jolted me out of a deep sleep and got my heart pumping. I could have stayed in bed for another two hours easily, but I did feel good and rested. I felt light as a feather getting out of bed, and most of the back and muscle pains I’d been experiencing had disappeared overnight.

A good sign that my body was in a good resting state and healing itself.

It was already getting warm outside and there was still high humidity. But the temperature was pleasant enough while we waited on the platform for the all-stops train to arrive. We could have run for an early train, but we were in no rush to get there and who wants to get all sweaty at seven in the morning on the way to work.

We found seats on the lower level and had to put up with a person beside me and directly across from Robyn with a very wet and constant cough. Across the aisle a Latino women spoke the whole time in Spanish at ear deafening levels. I fished out my noise cancelling earbuds and enter a sweet soundless nirvana. I closed my eyes and let it all wash over me.

Off the train, we made a beeline for Au Pain Dore Café. I wanted to treat myself to a grilled veggie sandwich as well as introduce Robyn to them. Once there, she eyed a bacon, avocado, and egg croissant that called to her. Bacon and avocado. You can really go wrong with that combination.

Sandwiches in hand, we walked at a calm pace to the studio in an effort to keep our body temperatures down.

On my desk was a thankyou note from our departing president. It was a classy touch to add to her departure. I got straight to work since we had a deadline to meet and lots to keep us busy.

Lunch arrived in no time, and we took it in the cafeteria with some of our colleagues. Last night’s leftover vegetables made up our lunch as well as a jumbo boiled egg each. And boy were these eggs huge. I feel sorry for the chickens that laid those eggs. They were bigger than duck eggs and approaching ostrich territory.

But they tasted just fine. Love me a boiled egg.

Then it was back to work, where I was able to listen to some music while I worked. I always get more done in those situations.

Robyn begged me to leave at five, so I gave in and packed up my stuff even though I was on a roll. No sooner had we left the studio that we got caught in a downpour. I whipped out my umbrella just in time, only to see that Robyn had left hers at home. We walked on under mthe shared umbrella each getting a little wet on one side.

We stopped under an overhang for a few minutes until it calmed a little and then after walking for a few minutes it basically stopped raining all together. If we had left the studio five minutes later, we would have missed all that rain. And it was raining cats and dogs.

We stopped at the St. Lawerence Market to get some pomegranate seeds. I also grabbed an Olli Pop beverage as well. I’d heard about them before but had never had one. Their claim to fames is that their sodas have lots of fiber in them and are low in sugar. It tasted good, I got the vanilla strawberry one and could see myself having one again. The only problem is the cost. One can cost almost five dollars. The average can of cola is about fifty cents.

I think they have a pricing problem.

I don’t expect them to last as a company for very long at those prices.

Back home, I dropped Robyn off and then headed out to Sobey’s to grab some ingredients for another batch of makhani sauce. I needed tinned tomatoes and dill weed fronds.

I picked up all the fixings to make hamburgers for dinner, but kiddo #1 had the oven on and loaded with breaded chicken and veggies. I was both happy and surprised to see dinner readied by one of the kids. I felt like I was living in a dream.

I started the makhani sauce around seven and finished it just at nine, including some of the clean up. I also roasted the tandoori chicken to put into the sauce. We will take this with us to the cottage as our contribution to meals. Can’t wait for at least one of our suppers.

I was bagged after commuting, working, shopping and cooking! We watched the last two episodes of “The Burroughs,” and I enjoyed it. What a lovely show. It hit all the right buttons.

And then I was kicked out of the room to do some writing before bed. But first, I needed to pack up the now cooled makhani sauce and take my sleep aids.

I transferred the sauce to a Ziplock freezer bag inside a large bowl and left it in the fridge. Next a made up a glass if cherry juice and used it to swallow the magnesium glycinate horse pills. Two kiwis later and I was all set.

Then I remember that I hadn’t checked on the cutting I made of the lemony lace plant. I took a peek, taking off the plastic cover to find the plant looked healthy. It looked moist enough and when I gave it a little poke with my finger the stem felt more secure than when I first put it in. this should mean there is some rooting happening, which is exactly what we wanted to see.

With any luck I’ll have a new little version of the plant to add to my garden. I would have loved to just buy one, but I couldn’t find one in my area this year.

My rose cutting from last year is doing well too. This is it’s first full season in the ground and it has started to get bigger already, although it is still very small.

All in all, the plants seem to be doing well this year. And this year’s additions have really made it feel completer and more intentional looking.

I get to work from home tomorrow and I intend to sleep in until at least 8:45. It’s felt like a full day, and I am ready to get some hard-earned sleep!

Night all!