Well, the correct term is necessity is the mother of invention, but in this case it’s a toaster. See there are two kitchen boxes left to be unpacked, and I seem to have lost my necessary unpacking energy. Could be the mounds of cardboard, and newsprint that seems to multiply as soon as we turn our backs.
I had a toasted sesame seed bagels on my mind, and a craving that drove me, until I went out and bought some to appease it. At 200 calories each, these are treats, toasted and slathered with butter they are memorable, and nothing that a few hours of unpacking won’t work off.
There wasn’t a toaster to be found, not anywhere, so that drove me to look through the last two boxes, the ones that I have been avoiding all week. Well they are the last two in the kitchen… there’s still boxes in the garage, and I think that they are multiplying also.
The boxes got unpacked, the toaster is found, and I had my toasted bagel treat, life is good. Obviously I am motivated by the thoughts of food, except I really can’t get too enthusiastic about unpacking those boxes in the garage. Cheesecake anyone? PS: These are all shots of “Next Door Kitty” Allie, he was Boot’s kitty nightmare, but such a sweetie to us.
Spring! It’s undeniably happening around here, there are signs everywhere. Flashes of pink, shots of green, streaks of sunlight. Today it’s more rain, but we know that March would go out like a lion. And April is coming in with a passion. Speaks Everywhere I go, there is another sign, the super hot pink Magnolias near the veggie store are bursting with secrets, looking like pink elephant popcorn on a stick. The Boo is spooked by the merest whisper of wind, and runs with his tail up, pure joy in his motions. And yes, he is slightly lighter in his step, the diet is working. Silence That’s why sometimes it’s good to just be still for a moment. And let spring speak to you. Do you hear it?
I did something today that I really hate doing, and I don’t like myself for having to do it. I threw out what was once perfectly good food, because I let it sit in the fridge too long. It was a week old, it had to go, but I missed so many opportunities to save it, and that’s what I don’t like about myself. So I am starting a Reduce food wastage challenge or “Refuse” for short, and I encourage you to join in. We can all check back in a week, and see if we managed to reduce the amount of food we waste. And take a moment to join in on the poll on my sidebar, it’s anonymous, no one is going to know who you are, so make your answers count.
Everywhere you look it’s all about being thrifty, saving money, doing without, reducing our impact on the environment, and cutting back on the amount of food that we throw away. According to information on the internet, over 40% of food is thrown out daily, being of a frugal mindset, that is staggering. Forty percent daily, how much do you throw out? Be honest with yourself, be truthful. And please, don’t be sanctimonious about this, I am being as honest as possible, and I expect you to also. Not all of us have dogs, and chickens, or hogs to feed this food to. There is no way every last crumb is being eaten before it’s spoilt, in any household, anyone who is telling you that, isn’t telling the entire truth.
There are hundreds of blogs out there telling you how to use up that last bit of cereal in the box, or those wasted veggie peels that can be made into soup stock. But how many of us actually manage to do this? And how much time do they have to spend trying to accomplish this? I follow the two days, two hour rule on food. Never keep leftovers for longer then two days without using them up, or freezing them, and never leave food out on the counter for longer then two hours. Due to my severe allergies, I can’t eat any food that might contain mould spores, and old leftover food might be a culprit.
Sometimes food gets ignored, forgotten, and just plain, “I can’t face eating left overs any more.” That last slice of too salty pizza, those few spoonful's of soup that are left over, it’s not a lot of food, it’s just that it is food, and it’s getting thrown out. So for those of us that don’t have dogs, or chickens to eat the leftovers, what do you do? How do you feel about having to throw out the food? If you have any ideas or tips on how to use up leftovers leave us a hints?
And if you are a food waster, will you take up the challenge, and try to limit your food wastage for a week? I am curious and wondering just how I will do. Let’s talk about it again in a week, say we meet here April the 5th. I will tell you how I did, and you can tell me. And just out of curiosity, did you notice that all the photos represent edible plants?[But always check with a expert before ingesting any wild mushrooms, I don’t know if that one is edible or not.]
The first real warm days: There is something almost sublime about those first “real” days of spring. Not the ones that are declared spring by the calendar, or the weather forecaster, but the first “real” ones. The ones that gently slip your coat from your shoulders, and ease out the tension caused by all the winter cold. The days when you can feel the sun on your skin. That forgotten sensation, and scent of warmth that cannot be duplicated. Those days when you start to recall with more then just far gone nostalgia, glimpses of summer picnics, leaves, green, and the texture of grass under your feet. Winter Coats: Days when you look at your winter coat hanging in the closet, and choose a lighter version, because you know for sure that you are not taking a chance when you do that. But because you know that today, the winter coat will be too warm to wear, and soon it will be packed away. Days when the very air is warmed by more then your breath, when the bird song carries further. When the promise of spring is not broken, but fulfilled. Those are the first real days of spring. Live them, and enjoy them. Because when they finally come to you, you fully deserve them.
I love to collect recipes, simple, delicious, healthy recipes for food that I might make someday and lovely sugar and fat laden recipes for deserts that I know I will never make, ever… well maybe? But Pinterest you are causing me problems, your gorgeous photos, and mouth-watering deserts, are making me fat. After all if I can’t immediately whip up a batch of lemon meringue cupcakes with marzipan frosting at 10:00 at night, I have to have something to make up for it don’t I? So that half empty bag of stale potato chips is the switch.
Or at 6:30 in the morning when I come across a photo of waffles, and whipping cream with dew fresh raspberries trickled down the side, swimming in a puddle of raspberry coulis, and I know that I am never going to pull that one off in this lifetime, what do I want to eat? Well it isn’t my boring plain rice cereal, and yogurt that’s for sure.
Here I sit at my computer with a ever growing pile of printed out recipes, beef and barley soup, chipotle glazed chicken with sweet potatoes… quinoa salad with dried blueberries, lime, cilantro, and crème fraiche.
Some I make, and they are delish, some I just drool over, but still I collect them and each day the pile grows higher. Pinterest you are costing me a fortune in printer toner, and paper, quit it!
No don’t… I haven’t the heart to stop you, keep those recipes coming.
The cashier hands me my change, I grab my grocery bags, and breathing shallowly, start to navigate the narrow aisle out the door to freedom, and fresh air. Unfortunately walking in front of me is the woman who is causing me grief unknowingly. Her perfume is wafting everywhere, my face is burning, and it makes me upset how one person can affect so many without knowing it. It’s all about scents, and sensibility if you have environmental allergies, and perfume is a big offender. The cleaning solutions aisle, air fresheners, perfume, they all ignite a problem in those of us with those kind of allergies. It’s everywhere, and it stinks.
Most people hardly think they would be a problem when they sprayed on that perfume, cologne, or aftershave which is horrific for those of us trapped in a elevator with the over indulgers. A few weeks ago a resident of my parents apartment building insisted on spraying the elevator with Febreeze to cover up the strong smell of a 3rd floor smoker. So bad that for a week I had to take the stairs, instead of the elevator. Eventually they stopped, but the smell still lingers… and it burns my skin.
Going into a public washroom with it’s fake air fresheners can trigger a problem, walking into a heavily scented retail store, candles, potpourri, all culprits. And the worst, is the woman or man who decides to douse themselves in scent before leaving the house. Even in the doctors office waiting room there is difficulty, makes me wonder if anyone considers those sitting around them anymore. Stuck in the room for ages, with all those conflicting aromas is torture, and I have been forced to go outside in many cases in order to weather the storm.
Maybe the next time you are standing in the line up you could forgo the heavy perfumes. My nose, and my allergic body would really thank you. I love perfume, unfortunately it really bothers me, as does any highly scented, or toxic smell. But I do appreciate those who use a light hand in applying their scents in public.
Do you have any problems with other people wearing too much scent? Or is it just those of us with chemical sensitivities?
It’s hardly earth shattering, but oh it was so good to do, and it smelled totally wonderfully breath catching freshened with spring scented air. Yes, I’ve turned into a fresh air frugalista, and started to use that clothesline that the former owners left us. You can’t beat the cost, FREE a few minutes of fresh air to hang the laundry, and a few hours of watching it gently twirl out there in the backyard and the laundry is air dried and fragrant, ready to be gathered up and inhaled. Makes me wonder why more of us don’t do this, think of the electricity and money we would save. The weather was more suited to the young, or those who thought to insulate themselves properly when I went out to hang up the laundry. Nippy, as in nip it in the bud if you thought the disappearing snow would hasten the spring like temperatures. I have forgotten how cold, wet fingers can get while they hang up clothes fresh from the washer, but it was worth it. The afternoon was sunny, and delightful, still with underlying cool, but a slight breeze.
You can tell it’s spring that’s coming along, there are kids playing in the driveways, sounds of laughter and skateboards, warbles of birdsong caught on a sunbeam. Neighbours are stirring from their winter dens, rakes are taken out of hibernation, and hello’s are exchanged. I haven’t hung up laundry on a line since I was very young… but I have not forgotten how to do it. Sheets doubled over so they don’t hang on the grass, and always allocate 3 of the new eco friendly bamboo clothespins per sheet. Socks doubled up, two per pin, shirts hung upside down, pants from the waistband, it’s all coming back to me now. And skivvies, well nothing would convince me to hang them outside, not for all the fresh air in the world, it’s inside with those babies.
The scent, the glorious fresh air, no chemical in the world can duplicate the smell of line dried laundry scent. I’ve missed that for so many years, we haven’t had a laundry line for decades. It’s spring, it’s sunny, it’s warming up soon. We’re hoping that all of the snow will disappear from the lawn, and my husband can finish raking those last little snow covered patches it certainly needs a good working over. We took 38 black plastic bags of yard waste to the dump, during their yard waste recycling period, it was originally a big bump in the backyard, but fir needles and branches will take forever to breakdown, and we have yet to build a proper composter. Some day soon I hope to have some sort of system that will accommodate our yard waste.
I’ve planted my hardier bulbs in pots for now, some dahlia, a fern, a peony, two colors of bleeding heart. Of course I need some containers around the house for color. They go outside during the sunny days, and perch inside the garage on the potting bench situated in the window on snowy days. Happy Sunday.
It’s not every day that someone gets to ask her husband this question, “it’s done when it catches on fire… right? I couldn’t resist asking if the chicken thighs I was barbequing were supposed to be on fire. After all they were burning away like little chicken lanterns.
A few of the things on our list of dreams we had before we moved up here was having a house of our own, a cat, and a BBQ. We had the cat, we now have the house, and a few days ago we got the BBQ. We were not allowed to have BBQ’s in our condo down in White Rock, and now I understand why. Seduced by smoking wafts of delicious scents, and perfectly grilled food cooked for us by friends we figured how hard could it be to cook on a grill, after all if they could do it so could we.
It’s not that hard, but you do have to pay attention, and maybe the heat was a little too high. How did I determine that? The smoke billowing across the backyard, and the flames that were trying desperately to escape through the lid.
I guess that you can’t juggle trying to cook dinner in the kitchen, and a BBQ out on the deck, since my chicken seemed to catch on fire rather quickly. Good thing I looked up when I did, and guess who’s getting a fire extinguisher?
Flare up’s are so pretty when the sun is going down, kind of like having your very own mini lanterns, or those fire pits that are all the rage out here. Regardless of how charbroiled, every blackened morsel of our first BBQ’d chicken was absolutely delicious.
I had great plans when we moved in here in February, they involved raised beds, fences, walkways, a pond, and structures galore. A cat play area for Bootsie, a herb garden just behind the kitchen door, and trellis to hide us from the neighbours. There I was out pacing off the garden beds in the snow, and trying to discover what lay under all of that white stuff.
I couldn’t wait, I had itchy green thumbs, plans were made, books were consulted, images were saved on Pinterest. I stockpiled bulbs, and seeds, purchasing them during the minus zero weather, and snow storms of the early months of pre spring. I stalked the roadside peering into bushes for signs of winter releasing it’s grip, and allowing buds to form. And then one day I looked out into the back yard, and realized that the sun had come around the side of the house, and it was sunny there instead of the shade I had thought we would have all summer.
That was the day I decided not to plan my garden for our new home… yet. That was the day I decided to wait for a full year, to see if the sun crept into crevices, turned corners, or if the wind howled through bushes. To see where the smoke from the BBQ winds it’s way down through the patio, because we won’t be sitting there. To find out if there are wasps, and mosquitoes that would hang out by a pond, and where the perfect place to hear the birds sing is. To find out where our natural pathways take us through the garden, those shortcuts that everyone would be taking whether or not there was a trail available.
Here is a list of reasons why I am waiting. 1. It’s overwhelming: With so many other projects to be done, I just can’t concentrate on planning a worthwhile garden this summer. We need to paint inside, make some changes, and just get settled. 2. I have a different climate: Planting up here is completely different then our last home, it’s drier, colder, and hotter. Xeriscaping gardening is the way to go. This winter was apparently a very easy one, with little snow, but it is lingering. What will a harsher winter do to all of my plants? Where will we pile all of the snow, will it be on the garden beds I might plan out. 3. It’s very expensive: Soil, gravel, structures, all of these cost money, a lot of money. We just moved, we need a chance to store up some allocated funds so that the job can be done properly. 4. I only want to make major changes once: If I take my time to plan and think this through we can always fine tune small details later, but if we make a mistake and place a bed in the wrong place, it’s a lot of work to change it. 5: I need to know where the sun hits, and for how long it stays: It’s only March, and already the sun is filling the entire back yard, but will it continue all summer?
So although it might seem that my plans are put on hold indefinitely they are not. I will still continue to garden, plan, and observe. I will just take my time, and the wait will be worth it,
Yesterday was the first official morning of spring. Spring wanted to celebrate, so she threw a party, but snow-one came. There was over a inch of beautiful fluffy white stuff covering the ground, the skies were dark, and gloomy. It certainly wasn’t very spring like weather at all, and we were disappointed.
But that was the morning, and by afternoon the snow was gone, spring was happy, the skies were gloriously bright and sunny. Even when we went for a walk the wind was kind, the birds were chirping, and the skies were bright and blue.
That spring, she sure knows how to celebrate with style.
And the best part? The snow encouraged a entire flock of tiny quail to run around our front yard, and search for food.
They ran right past my office window, what a change from the newspaper guy walking by. Talk about adorable, but I didn’t get a photo, maybe next time.
This is Allie, next door kitty from where we used to live. Farewell winter, you nasty snow breathing beast, hello gentle spring. Goodbye harsh winds, and frost covered bare branches.
How are you new green grass, soft breezes and sunshine?
Days of daffodils, fields of crocus and new calves.
Spring hides in the curve of the crocus, it quivers in the branches of the pussy willows as they move in the cool breeze. It lurks in the dried parchment husks covering the daffodils before they bloom. Spring is released from the trumpets of the narcissi's as they open and immediately flits to the cherry blossoms to bestow a kiss. Spring wades through the blue grape muscari, drinking nectar from their rounded cups. Spring waits for the perfect moment, and when the lilac first blooms it alights and set off a galaxy of fragrance. Spring dances in the sunlight’s diamonds, water drops that coat the grass. Catches a ride on the furry paws of the cats as they go on their morning rambles. Spring dances in the flowers that bend towards the light. Spring celebrates life.
Bootsie had a rather harrowing experience yesterday afternoon, and now he’s quietly licking his paws, but he’s fine. It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun fooled us into thinking that the snow might disappear in the near future, the birds were chirping, and the dog walkers were doing laps in the neighbourhood. Our front yard for the Boo, is full of exciting trees, shrubs, scents, and birds, the only thing is it’s not fenced, so he is only out there when we are right there with him. The back yard is just plain lawn, no trees, no shrubs, no where to hide. Most of the time he is content to just explore around the house, but there are moments when he decides to take off immediately. And you think I would learn from the last few times, but no…
So there I was again, wandering the neighbours yard, can of cat food in hand, banging the spoon on the tin, I even knocked on the neighbours door. No answer, their garage door was wide open, the large black dog who poops on my lawn was no where to be seen. She is a nice dog, but she does like to bark at the Boo whenever she see’s him, even if Boo is safe in our backyard. This went on for a half hour, I knew in my heart that Bootsie is fine, he wasn’t lost, he just likes to hang out like a teenager, and he would return when he decided it was time. When we lived in the condo, he was always outside, and it’s a adjustment for him now that he is indoors more often. My husband began to help me call him, we wandered around our front lawn, constantly checking the neighbours backyard for the dog, and for the Boo. Suddenly there was a loud woof, and the big black dog bounded out the back door. Unfortunately Bootsie was in the neighbours back yard trapped between the chain link fence that separates our properties.
Bootsie ran as fast as he could towards the fence, and freedom but couldn’t climb because it was chain link, so he decided to escape up the large fir tree that was there. I was in the front yard and it took me a minute or so to get over the fence, during which time I ripped my only good pair of yoga pants. The dog woofed, and barked very pleased with this new, chase the cat game. Bootsie 8 feet up the tree, and starting to climb higher, furious, and terrified, meowed, and I managed to grab him just before he went any higher. I am over 6 feet tall, and that day I really appreciated my height.
Poor baby, his claws are all bleeding, his pride is hurt, and I am sure that he is sore today. After all he has never climbed more then three feet up a tree, and hung on for so long. So this time there was a happy ending to Bootsie’s most un-excellent adventure, and I guess we need to start a Bootsie land in the fenced backyard for him as soon as we can.
All of these images were taken circa Summer 2008/2009
This post started off with my wanting to share some old photos of my last garden at the condo. How when we finally get some spring my new garden is going to have some big boots to fill in order to have color, and texture of the old one.
But as I went through my archives looking for some of my garden images I realized that there was a huge shift in my style of photography as soon as I got my DSLR a few years ago.
I moved quickly from living large, wide angle shots that the little point and shoots could do so easily, to macro, or close-up shots that the DSLR specializes in.
The ability to clearly capture the tiniest detail is fascinating to me, and a good 100 mm macro was soon on my list.
While the DSLR did change the way I see, the way I shoot, and it did make me a much better photographer, it’s a journey, most of life is. But I do regret not taking the little point and shoot out once in a while for a joy ride, it would have been interesting to see what I could have come up with at the same time.
After all what is a camera but a tool to capture what, and how we see. And now I see differently. And I would have liked to be able to more clearly document that.
I don’t know why you read blogs, but I read them like books, I read them for inspiration, for enjoyment, and for the sheer pleasure of drifting away into another persons world. For the joy of friendship, those whom I have connected with and are no longer considered just a fellow blogger, but a friend. Some make me laugh, some make me cry, and others make me think, wish, dream, hope, and create. There is nothing like the thrill of a new [to me] blogger that seems to speak to my heart. Be it a decorating/crafter blogger, a photographic blogger, a travelling blogger, or a gardening blogger, when I find one that is inspiring me it’s almost like having a little crush. Reading their first few posts gives me a thrill almost like drinking the first glass of lemonade on a hot summers day. Or maybe it’s like meeting a new friend, one that you just know is destined to become an important part of your life. It’s simply sublime when I open each new post, and feel a connection, a deep interest in their blog. That’s what I mean by a blogger crush’s. Reading the archives, getting a feel for who they are, it’s all good. If you are curious whom I read, take a look at my sidebar, I am sure that you will find some new fav’s yourself. There are blogs from all walks of life, some are new, some are old friends, all are cherished. And…if you are a reg, and you don’t see your name on the sidebar, let me know. For some reason some of the blogs are not showing up.Big whoops on my part.Jane
You guys… make me feel so much better about this ummmm… ”noise” that emanates from our kitchen occasionally. I just finished reading all of the comments, and they certainly do run the gamut from icy fingers to total level headedness.
The best part, no one laughed at me, and no one poked fun at me while they were leaving a comment. Yes, I did hide outside in full view of the neighbours, in my housecoat, and yes, admittedly I was a little fearful. [There were some family members that rolled their eyes at my story, “what are you scared of, and why would you go outside when you heard something?]
But the bloggers were so supportive, and it’s nice to know that other people have had some um… discomfort in the dark also. Thanks to everyone who left me a comment, I have some pondering to do, this house doesn’t have a bad vibe to it at all… but maybe it could use some good words, and good thoughts.
The Boo’s behaviour is more quizzical then fearful, he doesn't seem to have any fearful thoughts in his head other then “my tummy is hungry… again, when is dinner, lunch, breakfast.” So if that’s any indication… shrugging. And thanks to Lori for that wonderful [I should have thought about it myself] suggestion, I’ve got that special flashlight, that acts as a night light, and recharges it’s self so it’s always ready when needed. That’s going to be a real help for the next time the power goes out.
So think good thoughts for my house, the noise hasn’t really happened again since the beginning of the week. I am wondering if it is a nail in a floor joist in the kitchen, moving with the temperature fluctuations. Yes undoubtedly that is what it has to be, at least for now, until I hear it again in the middle of the night. But then should the power go out, I will have my special nightlight/flashlight to chase away the shadows. And all of your good common sense comments to make me feel brave. Thanks,PS, we are all wondering, do you, or don’t you? Believe in ghosts that is?Would love to hear your opinions in your comments.
Sit in chair and look out of window at mess left after winter storm sigh…
Sigh some more, read another seed catalogue.
Think about cleaning up garden, think about sore muscles, and sore back…think about cleaning up garden another time.
Think about article you read on stretching, get out of chair and stretch, sit down again quickly… you’ve hurt your back.
Look for garden gloves carelessly thrown in cupboard last fall, realize that you have many, many singles, and no matching pairs.
Know that Martha Stewart would have them all organized according to size, and color.
Realize that you are not Martha Stewart, go outside with one lime glove, and one hot pink glove, who cares what the neighbours think.
Vow to be more organized with garden gloves next fall.
Look for gardening tools carelessly thrown in cupboard last fall, fail to find anything even closely resembling a garden tool.
Vow to be more organized with garden tools next fall.
Using a child’s plastic toy shovel, start to carefully dig the mounds of leaves left by winter storms covering the new shoots of your precious perennials
Give up digging carefully, and use child’s toy rake. Destroy many new shoots of precious perennials. Oh well, plenty more were those came from.
Realize you have just destroyed your $95.00 Peony. The one you never told your husband about yet.
Sit in chair and look out window at messy garden. Sigh.
I would like to clarify that this is not a ghost story, we all realize that there are no such things as ghosts right? Good, now let’s continue, because I just need a reasonable explanation for a odd noise. And I am not scared, I just need a explanation. Our house isn’t that old, probably around 30 years old or so, not that old for a house. It has some normal house noises, just the everyday stuff that you learn to get used to. It’s still a little echo-y because of all the laminate flooring, and we don’t have that much stuff in it. Sound carries in a odd way here, upstairs in our bedroom I can clearly hear what is going on in the rest of the house… and that’s not really a good thing.
I will admit that I am having a bit of a time adjusting to the larger space, after living in the condo for so long, you get used to tuning out the extra noises caused by other owners. It’s pretty black out there, no streetlights… it’s a adjustment. I will get used to it eventually. Some nights there is a very loud short, scraping noise from the kitchen. It sounds just like a chair being dragged over the floor for a few inches, we have heard it from the living room when we are watching TV, and even after we go to bed. It’s distinct, and loud, and very much there, it’s not the furnace, it’s not a door, it’s not a pipe. And yes, my husband hears it also. At first we thought the cat was jumping off the chair onto the floor, and pushing it as he leaped down.
That was a good explanation until the night the Boo, and I woke up together at 2 am, and then I heard the noise from the kitchen. Boo was on the bed, laying on my feet during the noise, so it definitely wasn’t him. Early the other morning it was dark, snowing, and my husband was out, it was pretty nasty weather. I still had the blinds, and the curtains closed, when I heard the noise from the kitchen, I got up to look, there was nothing in the room, no explanation for what is happening. Just a moment after I went back to the office and sat down at the computer, the lights went out in the entire house. Pitch black, and quiet. Not too nice when you are by yourself in a dark room. So… I went and stood outside in my housecoat outside under the eaves, in my bare feet, in the cold, snowing dark morning. Don’t laugh… I just couldn’t stay inside.
No, I mean really, don’t laugh at me. What would you do, this odd noise is happening, it’s dark, we have a unfinished basement, and no one else is home. The office is so dark you can’t see a foot in front of you… of course I left.
I was hoping that my husband would come back that moment, but no such luck. After checking the snow for footprints I went back inside. Now please, give me a reasonable explanation for that noise.
That hint of desperation that was in my voice is gone now February is over, and March is well into it’s self, but we are still snow blinded. A good gardening hint, never buy a house during the time you can’t see the yard for the snow. If you are adventurous, then go ahead and give it a shot. We only saw the yard during the few moments that it took to enter the house the first time, and it was getting dark outside, the next time we viewed the house it had snowed… a lot. And it’s never gone away, so the front, and back yards will be a surprise.
There are areas of the garden that I have heard may contain perennials, but I have yet to see them through the snow. This morning we had another inch, most of it’s gone, now there are just the snow banks left behind. Knowing where the snow banks hang out is a good thing, because I am surely going to be moving some plants when spring rolls around, they are completely hidden all winter. Living under a huge mound of ice, salt, gravel, and heavy snow all winter can’t be good for those poor plants. Straight snow would be a good insulator but the snow banks will have road salt in them.
Oh, and I am planning on building some sort of hedge between the neighbour with the huge poops dog and us. He also delivers the newspaper 3 days a week, and cuts through the garden as a short cut, not once but twice each time, and his dog runs all over my front yard!!! There are plants growing in there, stay out of my garden. So my theory is if there is a prickly hedge between us then I can remain on good terms with him, and his dog won’t be as inclined to come and visit to do his business. Right, I know, maybe a bit of electric fencing added in will act as a incentive?
The other morning he wandered by my office window as I was reading blogs, it was 6:30 am, I had my housecoat, and the light on, the blinds wide open… shocked the heck out of me. There is a running joke here, that one day he is going to see more then he bargained for. I thought we had gotten over the neighbours walking past our windows when we moved from the condo. A well placed hedge, and a small fence might convince him to go the long way around. So here I sit looking out my office window snow blinded, but knowing that some day soon it’s going away. Meanwhile I keep thinking I need to start some seeds, but it’s hard to know when.
