Monday

Monday morning and back to work again. The snow we were threatened with yesterday had turned to rain last night here in Redford, but I heard some places further north got clobbered.

I went home at lunch in put a beef rump roast in the round slow cooker (on top of the usual: carrots, Yukon Gold potatoes, a few mushrooms and some onions). I seasoned the roast with just salt and pepper and topped it with rings of a fresh-cut yellow onion. I turned it on low, but planned to check on it when I got home and adjust the temperature, if necessary. I also need to add some thyme and rosemary (Hey! At least I remembered the bay leaf.) as I was a little rushed.

On the way home, I stopped at Murray's Auto store and bought two tail light bulbs. Jake told me that he noticed both of them were not working (Yikes!). When I got home I checked on the roast, added the herbs (plus some oregano) and turned the slow cooker up to "High" (it's a big hunk of meat and was still raw in the middle). It will be a late night supper, I'm thinking...

Then I got my toque and went back out in the garage to put in the tail light bulbs. It took a while to figure out how to get them out, but the nice part was the tail lamps were visibly different from the stop lamps and turn lamps. So, I didn't have to go through the hassle of figuring which bulb was dead.

I got it installed, tested and buttoned back up by 6:30 PM. Back inside, I changed clothes and went to check on the tile job. Lookin' good! Bottom tiles are all hardened and none of them seem to have moved. I used my level to draw some lines horizontally and vertically so I can check during the job and not get too far off plumb.

Yes, I did think about the mortar possibly (probably) hardening as I stood there. But, it's after 7:00 PM and I'm chilled, tired and getting hungry. So, I decided to take a chance and open the mortar tomorrow night when I hopefully have more time to use it.

So I got a blanket, warmed up some of Sunday's coffee, got my book and hit the couch. I read until 8:15 and then started the rest of dinner. I saut�ed two small, finely diced onions in oil and butter. Then I took out the roast and the veggies. I strained the au jus and let it sit while I made my roux (by adding two tablespoons of flour to the onions and cooking off the flour taste while stirring). Then I added the au jus and brought it to a boil, still stirring, turned it off and tasted my gravy. It needed a little more salt and a whole lot more black pepper.

Then I cut the meat and plated some with some vegetables. I put a little gravy on the meat and potatoes and some butter on the carrots. For plain old "comfort food" it was very good! I went back to reading for a bit while everything cooled down and then put the leftovers away. I washed my skillet and knife, put the plate and fork in the dishwasher and filled the slow cooker crock with hot water and dish soap for its overnight soak.

I went back to the couch and book until I started getting drowsy (about 10:00 PM) and then I went to bed.