Quiet day for catching up on blogs

Today was Em's first full day at work since I've been here so I took advantage of the time alone to catch up on some blogging, but not before sneaking out the front door to snag some photos of the street.

The first one was taken from Em's front porch looking down the street toward the left. Hers is the only house on the block that has fences. I just wonder how people know where to mow and tend their gardens when there are no set boundaries.

Standing on the front porch, breathing in the fresh winter air, enjoying the sunshine and bare trees reminded me of winter in the colder parts of Victoria -- places like Bendigo and Daylesford. These are my favourite parts of the state where the winter is real a and the views are not of concrete and brick.

The railway line runs right past Em's front door. It's a freight line and trains run sporadically, maybe once a week and usually of an evening.

The house next door is vacant... just ready for me to move into. Oh, how amazing that would be!! There's just that whole problem of residency and getting a job. Surely there's a demand for FOI Officers in the US!? *ponders*

The garden bench is just begging to be sat upon with a laptop and books, but it was a touch too cold for me to give that a try today.

Back inside I went to put a load of washing through the washer and dryer and to start on blogging.

Em came home at lunch and we had grilled fish with vegetables and grilled eggplant.

We then took a quick jaunt along the railway line so I could get a photo or two.

Em then went back to work and I returned to blogging, sorting my photos and emailing (though I didn't get a great deal of that done).

We had dinner when Em got home at 5:30, after I'd been outside photographing the sunset. I swear, I'll take a photo of anything that moves, and lots of things that don't!

This is Em's house from right down the backyard, taken after the sun has set.

If you squint, you can see Lucky standing by the back door. She's dark brown and in shadows though so no lost points if you can't see her.


After dinner (rice and chicken with veggies, salad and bread), we headed to Price Chopper for groceries. And ohmygosh, the food! *slobbers and drools* It's a lucky thing I'd had dinner already, otherwise it could have gotten ugly. *wink*

I was so overwhelmed that my brain shut down. Thankfully Em remembered my new favourite thing and snagged it for me. Check out these babies!!
Cucumber chips marinated in vinegar. Oh sweet Lord, where have these been all my life!? *lips licks*

At LA airport the other morning I'd bought a tub of oatmeal for lunch/breakfast/dinner... who knew really, my time clock didn't have a clue! *laughs*

A Canadian couple sat beside me and noticed my oatmeal and asked where I'd bought it. I said Starbucks and they got some for themselves. After that we got chatting and they recommended I try Irish Steel Cut oats, imported from Ireland. I'd never heard of such a thing and so I quizzed them further and gained enough information to be able to find them myself. I then promptly forgot, until last night I saw the packet on the shelf.
They're made in County Kildare, Ireland (www.mccanns.ie). I'm sure I have relatives that came from there... or maybe it was County Clare. Hmmm... Chris would know. Anyway, I snagged the pack so we could give it a try.

We then went to the bean aisle to get beans for a recipe for the party tomorrow night, and I stopped in my tracks and drool hit the floor. Guh! Check this out:
That's it, I'm moving to America!! :-D

After leaving slips of drool on the supermarket floor, we headed to the gym where I signed up for a year's membership. I've been assured that I can cancel that in 6 weeks time and get a refund for the difference. I now have a gym card! Does that make me a local!?
We worked out at the gym for over an hour. I was tired, but geez I felt great! We went home and I snacked on a cracker and my new favourite food (bread and butter chips... though I have no idea why they're called that.)

I went to bed exhausted and happy. For a day where we couldn't go out sightseeing, it sure was a busy day!