Day by Day with Camille

 Yesterday was the first day to sign up for the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Thomasville Public Library, and so I did. There are weekly prize drawings, scavenger hunts in the library for additional prizes, free movies, free craft classes, and book clubs. There will be a kickoff party for all of the summer reading programs (adult and children) on June 15.  While I was there, I also went to the library's current book sale, which runs through June 15. I found a Great Courses class on Suspense and Mystery Fiction Writing for $3! 

 From 9:15pm on May 24 until 1:33pm on May 25, my power was out in my residence. It appeared as though it was out throughout my entire neighborhood, as well.  Around 11 am, I went to the nearest grocery store for some bottled water and tea, and a bag of ice, and it was closed during to the power outtage. Some stoplights were out in town, and several other businesses did not have power.  It got really hot in our house as the day went on, so I opened the windows, and spent time under a patio umbrella outside with my dog, Ellie. 

  https://twitter.com/StormoftheSouth/status/1771629271892557990?s=19 Buyer beware! Do NOT let a Wal-Mart employee tell you they activated your Straight Talk phone and assigned it a number! It is not true! Hopefully no one else will be out money and without a phone like I am. 

 This morning, I finished the final cooking of a batch of mixed citrus perl that I am making into candied fruit peel. once it cooled, I drained the sugar syrup liquid off and put it into a container. It is wonderful for flavoring teas and cocktails, as we!! As sparking water. Then I placed the peel on a tray covered in wax paper to dry, and covered it with granulated sugar.  Around 11:30 this morning, I started cooking some homemade Cuban black bean soup. I had soaked the dried beans in water overnight in preparation.  I spent this rainy day inside, enjoying the company of my animal family: my terrier dog, Ellie, and my two birds, my grey cockatiel, Ric, and my blue crowned conure, Earl. Such pleasant time! For dessert tonight, I made lemon pudding with fresh blueberries and banana in it, rimmed with miniature vanilla wafers. I used the banana peel from the banana to start some banana water, which is very good for green houseplants. I made an interesting gin and tonic with some of the

 I made blueberry lemon bread with lemon glaze this morning.  Next, I bagged two pans of dried, candied citrus peel(mostly clementine, but with a little lime and tangerine added).  I went to the Thomasville USPS for Global and First Class holiday stamps. Then, I stopped by the Thomasville Public Library for the souvenir book sale that they are having during November. Bought two had back books for 50 cents each. I picked up a Bookpage magazine, an Avon holiday catalog, and an events calendar for November and December.  Now, I am enjoying a cup of warm jasmine green tea with citrus sugar water that I saved from making the candied citrus peel. 

 Yesterday I made my own version of spiced sugar. I started with one cup of white sugar; the spices were added to suit my own taste. To the sugar, I added the following ground spices: cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger. I stirred them until they were thoroughly mixed, and sealed them in a glass jar. They will be wonderful for cooking/baking with, as well as to add to a cup of warm black tea. Enjoy!