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Lovely Outing with Friends to Garden Centre

Yesterday was a lovely, sunny day and I spent it with Cecilia and Venetia. We first went to a nursery near Venetia’s place, called Vivero Mario. As you can see from these photos, it’s a big place

Next time I go I’ll take some photos of the actual plants!!

This well was one of several pieces decorated with broken tile mozaic. I did some of this years ago, and this made me think I’ll make a note for next winter to do it again!

I bought some saucers for my pots and a couple of hangers. Unfortunately those didn’t work on my railing, so I’ll have to get a bit creative on how to hang them. I bought some white miniature roses (which I love), some purple petunias and — wait for it — a cherry tomato plant! It actually has one tiny little green tomato on it now, so I have great hopes. There were a couple of other things I’d like, but I couldn’t carry them, so I think I’ll go back next week.

We went to lunch after the nursery, and then Cecilia left us for another appointment while Venetia and I came back here to my place. I had five very old geraniums on my bedroom window ledge, which I think hadn’t been repotted in … well maybe ever. The pots were so rotted they were held together by soil that was as hard as concrete. I’m surprised the poor things hadn’t given up.

But Venetia repotted them all and gave them some nice new soil, and told them they would feel much better now. They certainly looked better — I think I heard them singing last night!

It’s too sunny to take balcony photos right now as there are too many shadows, but I’ll do some later and again next time I go to Mario’s.

If my brother Bruce is reading this, he will be shaking his head in amazement, as I’ve always said he got the gardening gene from my Mum and I wasn’t interested in gardening. And now, here I am talking about plants and repotting like an old hand — I feel a new enthusiasm coming on!

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The final result

Here’s the red table as it looks now. Painting it with spray paint was an adventure. I did it in the little passage from my kitchen to my laundry room, because there’s a big window there I could open. I taped a plastic drop sheet on the walls and underfoot and I thought I had it covered. Hah! I underestimated the distance that fine mist from the aerosol would travel, and I ended up with a pale pink blush all over the kitchen floor! I had to swab the whole deck. Not to mention my own hands and feet — I had to buy a new pair of slippers.

Next morning I realized the legs needed a second coat (the table legs, not mine!) but I was reluctant to spray more. So had the brilliant (!) idea to cover a plastic cup with a plastic bag, punch a hole in it and spray enough paint in it to dip a brush. Sounded good in theory, but whatever is in that can melted the plastic cup! Having gone thus far, I just ploughed on and painted the legs, dripping paint on the laundry room floor as well as my hands.

I then left my apartment and went straight to the paint shop on the corner, my hands covered in red paint so that I looked as if I’d just committed a dastardly crime. When the guy asked how he could help me, I just help up my hands and said, “Do you have anything for this?” Fortunately, he did, and now all is well.

Note to self: no more painting furniture. Actually, no more painting. Next time, call in a professional!

I think it was worth it though, don’t you?

 

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New Project

I bought a small table on the weekend to go between my two armchairs, both inside and when I go out on the balcony. I need something to put my glass of wine one! I like the funky legs on this one.

I’ve been binge watching some old interior design shows on YouTube, particularly two Canadian ones, Sarah Richardson’s series and Colin & Justin’s Home Heist.

Just as when I watched the originals on telly in Canada, my head is now full of ideas I’d like to do in my apartment.

I realized that my lovely red couch is definitely the focal point of the living room, but there’s no more red to balance it and pull the room together. So …. this morning bought this:

I’ll post another photo of the table when it’s red!

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French Toast Fiesta!

A couple of weeks ago, one of my friends posted a photo on Whatsapp of a delicious, healthy lunch she had made, and then someone else posted another healthy dish. So I admitted a bit sheepishly that I was having French toast!

Much to my surprise, several of them said they loved French toast and they hadn’t had it for years. I’m not quite sure how this happened, but before I knew it I had agreed to have them over here for a French toast brunch!

Today was the day. There were six of us altogether, so we could kind of socially distance, and it was lots of fun.

I served it Canadian style, with blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream. I had just a little bit of genuine Quebec maple syrup left from the bottle I brought from Canada, so that made it doubly special. We were going to have mimosas with the toast, but as it turned out, they all eschewed the orange juice in favour of straight champagne! Here are some happy photos, thanks as always to Venetia.

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Happy Dance Today!

After over seven months without gas or hot water, both came on today — I’m doing a happy dance!

I didn’t even know it had happened. I was washing some strawberries and suddenly the water warmed up. I rushed around all the other taps in the apartment and lo and behold there was hot water in them all.

My landlady had an electric shower installed for me way back in January when it happened, so at least I had a hot shower, but everything else was cold. She is sending an electrician on Monday to take it out and put my lovely rain shower back in. I’m so excited!

It’s amazing how we adapt to things, but it’s lovely when they return to normal. A friend said to me that Buenos Aires is always teaching us ways to be grateful, and maybe that’s true.

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My New Book — Published on a Whim!

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but every Friday since lockdown began I’ve met online with four friends and fellow writers. We take turns at bringing prompts, from which we all have ten minutes to write a story. We do one fiction and one non-fiction exercise every week. It’s fun, mentally stimulating and one good thing that’s come out of the pandemic.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I was browsing on Amazon for something completely different, when I came upon a book of writing prompts. I realized this is exactly what we do on Friday nights, and it’s a great way to get rid of writer’s block or just do some writing practice. So, on the spur of the moment, I decided to write my own prompt book — and here it is!

It’s available in both print and ebook forms on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk. If you are a writer, please check it out. If you know a writer, I’d appreciate your telling them about my book.

And now, back to some serious writing!

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At Last!

Cafes are allowed to serve outside starting this week — hallelujah! Venetia and I ventured out to La Biela for the first time in almost six months.

I went with Venetia and Lina on Monday, but forgot to take a photo. Today it was just Venetia and me. It was only 12 degrees, so only the tough — or desperate — were out! It wasn’t totally deserted though, and a few of the tables were occupied.

We had our winter coats on, and sat outside to have red wine. Such a treat after all this time. Spring weather is promised for the end of next week, so let’s hope we can do more of this.

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I Just Wanted to Buy Some Yarn!

Yesterday I decided to buy some yarn to do some more knitting. I finally gave in and subscribed to Netflix, but I don’t like just watching movies as an activity all by itself, so knitting at the same time is a good option for me.

There is a whole yarn “district” in Buenos Aires, consisting of about a dozen yarn shops almost side by side on one street called Scalabrini Ortiz. It’s in a different barrio, and since we’re not allowed to take the bus unless going to work in an essential service, I took a taxi there and back.

Check out the lineup I had to wait in! This was for my favourite store, but it was the same at all the others. I know there has been a surge in crafts, including knitting and crochet, while people are locked in, so I guess that accounts for it. I just didn’t expect it!

Anyway, I got some nice pink and white cottons to make summer tops, so it was worthwhile.

On a slightly different but related topic, the news yesterday was that the lockdown would be extended until September 20, but with some lessening in Buenos Aires city. For me, the most exciting thing is that restaurants and cafes can now serve outside — yayyy!! Some of my friends have already agreed to meet at La Biela on Monday afternoon, and I think it will be the first of many — masks or no masks, it’s a step in the right direction. Gracias a Dios!