Stuck

 The hot weather continues with yesterday's high of 31C being the normal. It is a repeat today. 

Instead of sitting around fighting a sugar low, I ate a good breakfast and got to work in the apartment. I decided to sweep the floors with the horrible broom we have. I got a lot of dust and crumbs off the floor. I then grabbed a micro fibre cloth, a swiffer with an almost worn out head on it and washed the floors. I did the living and kitchen areas and they were dirty. I think a lot of the dirt is from dust coming in as we have washed the floors since staying here. With that job done, I had to have a shower. I was dripping in sweat. 

After lunch, I started to pack my bags. I was surprised to see that I will have lots of room in my suitcase going home. I am a bit worried about the small gifts I bought getting broken due to lack of items in my suitcase. I am being careful of what I will put into the back pack as we will be staying overnight in Montreal. I have a bit of a plan on how much I will pack each day so I am ready to leave on Jan. 1 at 3 am. 

We decided to go out for dinner last night. We went to have asado in a more rustic restaurant. We sat near the parrilla (bbq) and got quite warm from the wood burning. We placed our order for appetizers: chorizo sausage, provolone cheese, and charred peppers. I really liked the charred peppers on the sausage. Grandson and I had sour lemonade with mint and ginger in it. It was good. 

For dinner we ordered different steaks. Son and I had the premium steak. 

It is a thin cut steak with the ribs on the edge. It was very good. There were 3 of these on the plate. 

Grandson had filet mignon and it was delicious and more my size of meat to eat. He got a big dish of fries to go with his steak. 

Daughter-in-law had a flank steak that was also very good. Yes we tasted all the steaks. 

I was full after all the steak, sausage, cheese, and peppers I had eaten. Daughter-in-law had cream brule which I had a taste of. Grandson had cheese cake with a three fruit topping which was too sweet for me. He said the cheese cake part was good. 

We came back in Ubers with son and daughter-in-law getting their's first. We got ours a couple of minutes later. We arrived at the apartment first with them a minute after us. We got into the apartment and took the elevator up to the 4th floor. The excitement began.

We were almost at the first floor when the elevator stopped. It wouldn't move. We tried turning it off and then on again. Did not work. Son ran the bell and we could hear the service elevator running. The doorman came and told us not to panic and that he was calling the service people. We stood in that hot little elevator for 30 minutes before they got it to open. Everyone got out and grandson took off up the stairs. Daughter-in-law took the service elevator and son went downstairs to let them know we were okay. I decided to take the stairs and got confused as I didn't know what floor we got out onto. I finally got to our floor following daughter-in-law's voice. Son found out that the elevator decided all of us was too heavy for it. We have ridden in it before but I am sure it was how we were standing in it that caused it to stop. 

At home in Nova Scotia, people are preparing for freezing rain. It is supposed to fall from noon to about 8 pm and then turn to rain as the temperature rises to well above freezing. They are saying the power will be out so people will be scrambling to get things from the grocery stores. The weather has certainly been a challenge this month back home. 

Today I am hoping to sweep and wash some more floors in the apartment. I think we have to go grocery shopping for a few things. I would like to put a few things into the backpack as it is time to start packing it. I know we will be resting as it is going to be hot. 

Until the next time..........................................................

Hotter Than Normal

 Yesterday was hot and sunny. The high got to 32C. This morning it is sunny and 25C. Today is going to be sunny with a high of 29C. 

We were hot from the minute we got up yesterday and it was really uncomfortable. We did manage to do two loads of laundry which seem to take forever to dry. There was no wind which is needed here to dry clothes. 

Uruguay is experiencing hotter than normal temperatures and less rainfall this month. There is concern for risk in the agriculture sector. This means loss of crops and higher food costs. It also impacts water supplies in the country. It was forecasted in October that this could happen. 

The beach continues to be very busy. People seem to last for hours in the sun though they do go into the water to cool off. The elderly don't seem to be on the beach until the evening. People leave at 7 - 8 pm to have dinner. 

Daughter-in-law and I went to the grocery store in the late afternoon. The wind kept us cool as we walked. We didn't rush either way. We also walked one block last night to get grandson some Korean chicken. It was a nice to walk then. While we waited for the chicken to be cooked, we walked up and down one street twice talking. I actually logged in quite a few steps. 

While at the grocery store, I noticed that the Christmas decorations have not been put away. Papa Noel is gone from the Christmas tree. Last night I noticed some of the people still have their outdoor lights up. I did a bit of googling and found out they keep them up until after Three Kings Day (Jan. 6) which is known as Children's Day. On Jan. 5, the children put out their shoes with hay and water for the camels. This is when the children receive their gifts though they do get some on Christmas Eve. 

I am still having issues with my allergies and have them somewhat under control with medication. It has been a big pain having them as they leave me coughing like crazy. I also am having issues from having a tooth extracted almost 2 months ago. I had a small tooth fragment work its way loose through my gum and now I have something larger poking through my gum. I will be calling the dentist on Jan 5 to see if she can see me before my appointment on Jan 20. I feel as uncomfortable as a baby who is teething. I am trying not to complain about them and keep on moving even if I don't want to. 

I am not sure what is happening today. I have started to sort my clothes to pack them. I do want to sweep the main floor area this morning and do know we need to grocery shop. With it being so hot until we leave, I know we will be not be out and about a lot. We will be spending more time inside keeping hydrated. With no a/c, we are trying to keep cool with 2 fans. 

Until the next time................................................................

Too Hot To Move

 Yesterday was warm and fairly humid. The high got to 28C.  This morning (9 am) it is 30C. Today is going to be mainly sunny with a high of 31C. 

We went to the grocery store fairly early and when we arrived I noticed all the Christmas decorations were taken down and the small amount of decorations for sale were put away. There was lots of their fruit cake for sale but I saw that in November so I think it is sold year round. 

We spent a lot of time resting yesterday. I, for one, was tired for being up late and around a lot of people. I did have a rest but couldn't sleep. I did sleep better last night even if I went to bed late. I had a bit more deep sleep than I have been getting for the past while. 

The weather for our last days is brutal. There has been warmer temperatures and less moisture than they usually have. You can tell as the leaves and flowers on the trees and bushes are wilting. There has been less wind to help cool everything off though when the breeze does come up, you enjoy it. 

People are on holidays at the moment. The beaches are full until well after dark (8:30 pm). The stores are open and business is as usual. It is like being at home in the summer. 

I am still fighting allergies and I worry that the congestion from the allergies will turn into an infection. Most of the allergies are from pollen and dust but I do think I am reacting to the blanket on the bed. 

I am looking forward to going home. I am craving cold weather and hot chicken noodle soup. You wouldn't think you would miss it but it creeps up on you slowly and boom, you want it badly.

We are taking it easy while it is hot. I am going to start packing my belongings and be ready to go. I am also going to try and rest up as New Year's Eve will be noisy and we leave for the airport around 3 am on Jan 1. Our first flight has pods so I am hoping to sleep some on the flight. Our 2nd flight is seats so I will be resting rather than sleeping. We arrive in Montreal at midnight and leave just after lunch on Jan. 2nd for home. 

While I am resting I am planning a few things here so I can be ready for 2026. 

    I have a quilt planned for son-in-law. It is laid out on the cutting table ready for me to starch and cut. 

    I have all the patterns for the Edwardian wardrobe for the dolls. I will be starting with a coat. 

    I am continuing on with Sewing With Cinnamon this year. I wasn't going to until Cinnamon announced that this year we will be doing the updated Design Academy course. 

    I am wanting to walk 3 times a week and do yoga 4 times a week. I will be doing most of my snow shovelling for extra exercise. 

    I want to cook more healthy and different foods using some websites I was introduced to. 

There could be more added to the list. 

Until the next time..................................................................

Asado For Christmas

 Yesterday was a sunny day with a high of 26C. This morning it is sunny and 22C. Today is going to be sunny and hot with a high of 30C. 

Yesterday morning was quiet as family went with grandson while he did his training on the beach. While they were there quite a few black Mercedes vans were parked and tourists were walking about. They figure a cruise ship was docked and people were exploring the city. 

Once home, we opened our gifts which was fun. Family gave me a new iPad which is waiting for me at home. I will be giving them money so they can have a new bbq made which will burn wood. 

We were back to son's friend's apartment for lunch. The day time view off the roof top deck is amazing. 

Way off in the horizon is a line up of tankers. They are anchored waiting to load or unload or waiting for their next assignment. 

Shortly after we arrived, the host and his girlfriend's father started the fire in the parrilla (bbq). The sign on the parrilla is appropriate. 

The sign translates to "The best bbq is eaten here".

The fire was started using wood in the separate firebox and it wasn't a small fire. 

It is angled so only the red hot coals fall into the bottom of the box. They are scraped out for heating the grill. 

The first hot coals were used to cook provolone cheese. 

The cheese is cooked until it is melted and has a brown skin on it. 

The cheese is removed from the heat and then rolled in the pan twice before put onto a wooden cutting board and cut into bite size pieces. The grease runs off the cheese into the groove on the board. 

It was so delicious and it disappeared in about 5 minutes. Another batch was made the same way. 

As more coals were ready they were raked out under the grill and the first item to go on were chorizo sausages. They are cooked slow. 

When the sausage is cooked, it is cut into thin slices and put on a board. You can eat it as is or on a bun. 

Both the cheese and herb sausage were delicious. While we ate that, more sausages were put on the grill to cook. While they were cooking, more wood was added to the fire box. They also threw a whole bag of bbq briquettes into the fire (bag and all). 

You can see the first of the beef just being placed onto the grill. It is slowly moved towards the end of the grill with the coals under it. 

The sausages were cut up and served. There was a bbq sausage (a bit spicy) and blood sausage. 

We sat and visited while the steak cooked as it is cooked very slowly. When done, it was cut across the grain into bite size pieces. 

This board had a deeper grove (gutter) for the meat juices and a circle cut out in the end closer to me. It had parrilla salt in it. You dip your meat into the salt before eating it. One of the steaks was salted with a different flavour of parrilla salt before it was cooked. 

After eating, the ladies danced on the deck. They were having fun. There was also a lot of singing. Before you knew it, dessert was being served. First it was ice cream bars (the best we've eaten). Then it was dulce de leche mousse. Very sweet to eat. 

There was chocolate to go with it. 

And a dulce de leche sponge cake that I didn't get a picture of as it disappeared quickly. At this point I was full and feeling a sugar high. 

Grandson and I came home about 5 pm and son and daughter-in-law arrived home around 7:30 pm. 

Today will be a trip to the grocery store for food and then we will probably rest. We are tired from two full days of going and eating. It is also going to be hot today which slows us down a lot. 

Until the next time..............................................................

Fireworks At Midnight

 Fireworks at midnight in Uruguay. The sky was lit up with them for about 15 minutes. 

This is just a clip of what it was like across the sky in Montevideo. 

Christmas Eve In Uruguay

Merry Christmas 

Yesterday was hot and somewhat humid. The high got to 30C. This morning it is windy and 24C. The humidity is much lower this morning. Today will be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 25C. A break before it turns hot again.

Yesterday was a day of resting and getting things ready for the evening at a friend of son's apartment. We did walk across the street to get pop and then a quick trip to the grocery store for bread. Everything closes early on Christmas Eve and opens late (if then) on Christmas Day. Life is back to normal on Dec. 26 as they do not celebrate Boxing Day. 

Lunch yesterday was hamburgers (smash burgers) and mine came with the order number blackened as it was near the fire. 

The burgers rate up there as the best I have eaten. It will be hard to eat burgers when we get home. 

We left the apartment for our evening out at 8:30 pm. I ordered an Uber and he dropped me. Daughter-in-law ordered one and we were successful. Son and grandson ordered one and were about 2 minutes behind us. 

Traffic was heavy; bumper to bumper all the way. The apartment we went to is in a quieter area but the street was busy. All the buildings are between 4 and 5 stories high and new. It is in an expensive area of Montevideo. We went up to the roof top deck which was beautiful. We met all the people and then more as they came. Language was a bit of a barrier but we managed. One of the ladies had lived in Toronto for 2 years and had enough English that we could communicate with my poor Spanish and Google Translate. 

Everyone brought food and it was good. I had to try most everything as it was their food. My favourite was the dates stuffed with a creamy goat cheese. 

There were little sandwiches, buns, sandwich meats, cheese, pork, devilled eggs, and this center piece which was full of cheese and olives or maraschino cherries.

Daughter-in-law made bruschetta and skewers with tomatoes, bocconcini, and basil. The people loved both of them and ate the bruschetta on the baguette, soft buns, and pork. They were "thumbs up" dishes. 

There were some firework displays during the evening and while it was slow, I took this picture. 

Each of us was given a small gift of a rosario de dedo which is a finger rosary. It has 10 beads (decade) on it. 

Just before midnight, champagne glasses came out along with some special wine. Everyone had a glass and at midnight they toasted and hugged each other wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. At midnight, the fireworks started and the sky was lit up with thousands of fireworks going off. 

Grandson and I left after the fireworks as we were both tired. The drive home was quiet; barely any traffic. When son and daughter-in-law came home at 2:30 am it was bumper to bumper. 

I will had a great time on Christmas Eve and we were saying it is the first Christmas we have had wearing t-shirts and capris. In most homes, the children opened their presents after the fireworks as Pappa Noel delivered them during the fireworks. 

Today we are getting ready to go back over to the same place for lunch which is probably going to be beef cooked on a wood fire. This lunch traditionally lasts 3-5 hours. It will be another experience for us. 

Until the next time.................................................................

Oh The Humidity!

 Yesterday was sunny and humid. The high got to 27C and the humidity dropped from 90% to 74%. This morning it is sunny and 24C. Today is going to be sunny and humid with a high of 29C.

We had to stay in the apartment until the workers arrived to fix the window shutter in my room. The tape that you raise and lower it was worn out and shredded in half. The workers said it was old and caused by the shutter being big and heavy. You do get a work out lifting it up. Once they left, we swept the bedroom floor and I washed it on my hands and knees. The floor was dirty as were the baseboards. The floor is shiny and one shade lighter. It is probably because the house has sat empty for a month or two and that room may not have been used by the last people.

Daughter-in-law went out after that and walked about 6 blocks from here. On her way back she stopped at a small shop that carries fresh fruit and vegetables that are delivered locally. She bought the nicest looking grape tomatoes, cucumber, and lettuce for our dinner. When she got back, the sweat was running off her it was so humid. 

After a quick lunch, we headed out to the grocery store to get some things. We took the "old lady cart" with us. We walked along the street as far as we could to feel the coolish breeze off the water. Going up the street was okay about 3/4 of the way and then there was no breeze. The last half block was the worst. Inside the store, we wandered around getting items we needed and enjoyed the a/c. 

While shopping I noticed a lady had what looked like a small ham in her cart. It was topped with a pineapple and a cherry. It may have been a roast of beef as people here eat beef on Christmas Day. I didn't see anything like it in the meat department so wonder if the butcher dressed it up when she bought her meat. 

We walked slowly home along the street to catch the breeze. When we got to the apartment, the doorman signalled to us to go to the garage door so we could walk up a ramp rather than the stairs. We took the service elevator up to the apartment. We put everything away and daughter-in-law had a nap. 

Son and grandson went shopping also. They walked to one mall and looked around in the stores. They said it was busy in there. The got an Uber and went to a new mall and shopped some more. They then came home using Uber. I don't blame them when walking 3 blocks is exhausting and 6 blocks dehydrates you. Son is like me and feels the heat. 

I am slowly getting my ideas together for 2026. I am going to have a bit of a life change which will include more walking indoors at the arena. My SI joint and hip have responded well to walking here. I may only walk 4-5 laps and do a few minutes on the stationary bike but I need to do that. On the days I don't walk, I want to start doing yoga again. And the days I can't do either, I know I will be out shovelling snow. 

I also want to do more cooking trying new recipes. I have new recipes I want to try. I need to try to cook every other day like I did when I got Chef's Plate. This will mean menu planning and shopping a couple of times a week. 

I want to sew a variety of things this year. Quilts, the doll's Edwardian wardrobe, and a couple of purses. I have decided to enrol back into Sewing With Cinnamon as the preview for 2026 looks interesting. They are taking a new approach of teaching Design Academy and there will be wide variety of projects to work on. I want to continue knitting socks and some doll clothes as I need to use up the yarn I have in the stash. I know I will buy some fabric this year but I am okay with that. I am not going to stress over sewing up the stash as I will just give it away. 

Today we have to make appetizers for dinner at a friend of family's. We will be celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with them. I will be napping both days as I know I will be short on sleep. I do not do late nights very well. It is part of my sleep disorder. 

Until the next time..............................................................