We also saw "Ides of March" last night. Powerful performances by all the principals. I've read a bit about all the "behind-the-scenes" politicking that the electorate never sees and this movie seems to depict that quite accurately. I really liked it (I'm also a great admirer of George Clooney as an actor and as "eye candy", and now also as a director) and DH didn't.

We are going to go see the Noel Coward play "Private Lives" today. Starring Kim Catrall (Sex and the City) and Paul Gross (Due South). I've been looking forward to this and I'm sure I'll enjoy it immensely. I get to dress up a bit too - always nice - but I can't upstage DH who is very casual so I'm going to take some time to put the outfit together.

In exercise news DH and I did a massive paddle yesterday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the water was really calm. We were out there for 3 hours. I managed to enter an almost meditative state where I was conscious of everything around me and felt like a part of the boat, water and sky. My chattering mind shut up. I'm not describing it well but it was really relaxing.

In food news I was reading the can of pumpkin this morning and found that the calorie count was much higher than I anticipated (DH did the grocery shopping yesterday so I couldn't check until he brought it home). It's 225 cals per cup/250 ml. Probably lower than the ground turkey I usually use in this type of chili but not significantly so. We'll see how it tastes. I do need some more vegetarian options for dinners.

Good Sunday all! I'm off to lift weights for the first time in 2 weeks (no availability during the dog sit) and I'm quite looking forward to it!

Dagmar

I do use a full can of pumpkin and aslo use ground turkey. My recipe makes a massive amount of chili so I don't think I am getting too many calories from the pumpkin. It freezes well so I have many meals from it.

The bread pudding was good, however I'll have to find my old recipe--it was much, much better as it called for regular onions rather than green onions and butternut squash as well as a different cheese (Fontina over cheddar if I remember correctly).

DH and I spent a couple hours this morning working on cleaning off our back patio and furniture getting everything ready for fall outdoor dining and perhaps a party or two (Thanksgiving is usually outside here). I also washed the dog--not in my normal fashion, though. DH hadn't brought out the hose yet so I sent Chico into the pool for a swim, lathered him up once he was out, and then sent him back in for a good rinse. I had to get in partially to make sure all the suds were off. The pool equipment will have to do a little extra duty cleaning up all the fur!

No other big plans today other than making up a batch of gallo pinto for dinner. It's actually the staple breakfast fare in Costa Rica, but I think it'll make a good dinner with some sausage and eggs.

Dagmar, are you sure DH didn't accidentally pick up pumpkin pie mix instead of plain pumpkin? Plain canned pumpkin has 40 cals/half cup. Pumpkin pie mix has sugar and other stuff added in already. I buy Libby's brand, which supplies most of the US with its canned pumpkin (why do I know that? oh, the research I did about the pumpkin shortage... I am such a dork.) Their cans of the two look pretty similar and are easy to confuse:
http://www.verybestbaking.com/Libbys/Products.aspx

The can says 100% "Dickinson" pumpkin. Not even any water added. The chili was pretty good - we just ate it - but a little underspiced. I couldn't find any hot chiles at the grocery - must be a popular Thanksgiving recipe this year that calls for chiles.

Pea soup tomorrow, with the Easter ham bone which I froze. Very easy recipe but a long, long cook time. Good thing I'm doing yard work and can check on the soup whenever necessary.

So we saw "Private Lives" this afternoon. I was totally blown away by Kim Catrall. She is an excellent stage actress and she sings and dances pretty well too! Who knew ? Good show too and the set for the second act (an art deco apartment) was amazing!

I'm going to go and finish "The Help" now. It's getting to that point where I don't want to put the book down and I want DH out the door so I can go on a reading orgy. That and watch the "Good Wife" too.

Both my "big screen" and "little screen" boyfriends (George Clooney and Chris Noth respectively) in two days. And Paul Gross too - pretty darn sexy bunch!

Good evening all!

TGIAHT (it's a holiday tomorrow)

Dagmar