I have been harvesting, stir-frying and consuming the bolted butter lettuces from my vegetable patch. I am still okay. 😛
Category Archives: Simplify
Switch To Laptop
Temperatures will be rising and hit 25° to 30° in the coming days. The horror!
This morning, I placed the laptop on the dining table and will be using that when it becomes unbearable to remain upstairs.
Minimalistic Packing
In the last couple of days, I filled the travel backpack with things I thought I will need for a 9-day trip. I then closed the bag and carried it around for a bit, testing the bag’s weight and feel. For several times now, I kept removing things. At this point, D was surprised by how little I have. To stop myself from worrying, I have a mental image of what I shall wear repeatedly.
Unknown factors like the crazy weather can throw all this in the air. That is why I am bringing my bank cards along. 😉
External Shades
Today, D and I were supposed to go to Brussels so that I may pick up my renewed passport. I postponed the trip after finding out that there will be an international farmers’ protest at the capital. We rather not risk it.
So instead of a trip to Brussels, we mowed the lawn and brought the grass clippings to the parents. After the short visit, D and I went to order and purchase external shades for our four roof windows.
The summers are getting brutal, so hopefully these screens will help in keeping some of the heat away.
Infrequent Mowing
The last time D mowed the lawn, with our new lawnmower, was two weeks ago. We did not participate in Maai Mei Niet this year, but we do practice infrequent mowing the best we can.
Who the heck in their right minds want uniformed manicured grass carpets deprived of blooms and insects?! Boring…
This is what part of our backyard looks like today, and I just love it!
Backup Card
This morning, I applied for a card that will serve as an alternative payment means. It is sensible to set up alternatives – especially in terms of finances. I have also moved some funds about so that I am optimizing the benefits of my different accounts.
In the afternoon, I took a brief stroll to the grocery store to buy some discounted food items. Walking is good gentle exercise, and the freezer is my friend.
Chilly Thursday & Friday
Despite the unpleasant cold wind, yesterday was a sunny and dry day. So, I took a walk to the weekly farmer’s market to buy eierkoeken and a rotisserie chicken. I also went to the ATM to get some cash. While walking home, I stopped by the bakery to buy a loaf of bread.
In the afternoon, I took the time to clean the water filter and de-calcified the coffee machine.
Today is a rainy and gloomy Friday. So, I baked a mixed fruit galette, using up the store-bought dough, and all the frozen fruit from last summer. I then harvested the outer leaves of the lettuces that are growing indoors, because they are getting a bit too unruly.
Later in the day, I rewarded myself with a mug of frothy matcha latte.
Luxury To Postpone
For the past couple of months, Monday afternoons were spent taking a short walk to the baker for bread and to the local store for some light grocery shopping.
This afternoon, wind gusts went up to 80km/h, making all sudden outbursts of rain – horizontal! No thanks to that. I am staying put.
It is a luxury to have a filled pantry, fridge and freezer. It is a luxury to be able to call off a planned routine and adapt to the Belgian weather.
Easter Lunch
Yesterday, D and I did our weekend errands of swinging by the library, visiting the parents, and grocery shopping together.
Because it was an Easter weekend and the beginning of a two-week school holiday, the grocery store was busy and packed full of people. Our grocery shopping for Easter lunch went on smoothly without any issues. The crowd was mainly made up of families who were running an errand together, there were no dramas, and checked out was efficient and uncomplicated.
This Easter Sunday, D and I have invited the parents over for lunch. Because my objective was to set a trend of no-fuss gatherings, we have prepared our food and drinks accordingly. We started with a simple drink of bubbly rosé (free with a coupon), accompanied by some warm appetizers (store-bought). Lunch was a small variety of meats which we grilled ourselves, home-made croquettes by the parents, and a big bowl of salad I put together in the morning.
After lunch, we had coffee, cookies and watched De Ronde on TV.
A simple get-together of minimum effort… 😉