Let there be light!

This is a cute video showing the dilemma faced by the incandescent light bulb. The incandescent light bulb casts a warm lovely glow. I read recently that small cracks in the coating of all CFL's emit a harmful light that is damaging to the skin and that you should be sure to put a shade between you and the bulb! This after we were told not to use shades. Arg! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta2ozf_uJJ8

Christmastime!



Max in hats

Peroghy marathon



 

 Winter greens and tree

 These are shots of the BC Provincial museum.

The Old Town section all done up for Christmas

I could live in surroundings like these, so beautiful.

 A visit to Christ Church Cathedral. This stained glass is of The New Jerusalem! Magnificent! On Christmas Eve... Blessings to all! Merry Christmas!

                                              

Looking back, looking ahead

 This years garden was quite a success, with more compost, and also the addition of more flowers and vegetables mixed together. It was a bit unruly, but lush and gorgeous. I cover my newly planted seeds with black plastic nursery trays upturned, to keep the cats from digging them up.

 These foxgloves really took off this year under the shade of the trees.

 This bed was raspberries, sweetpeas, tomatoes, beans, cucumber, parsley, beets, carrots, nasturtiums, and gladiolas in the foreground.

 The front garden is north-facing and planted with more shade loving plants.

 My husband built this bed this year out of driftwood and filled with compost it was very fertile. With peas, arrugula, (which we are still eating in November)lettuce, spinach, pumpkins, cilantro, a volunteer tomato, and all kinds of flowers that my daughter planted from seed in her corner.

So, I saved some seeds for next year. The beans were great and were non GMO, so they will produce true to the original plant, and haven't been tampered with genetically. Looking forward to next years garden, and hope to plant more non-GMO seeds so we can keep harvesting not only good food, but free seeds for the next year!

Thankyou Gypsy YaYa for being my first follower!

Stitchin' and feedin' time

I made this little pin cushion to keep track of my needles,
while my daughter and I have been making Christmas ornaments.

A sure sign that Ozzy and Henry have accepted Max -
they are eating together and even let Max finish off their serving!

A very rich summer

A rich summer on a small budget,

seeing our own yard and the beaches and parks around us,
enjoying each others company, and using our creativity.

It's now two cats in the yard plus one. Max. Adorable, sweet tempered and a real talker. He has something to say about everything. Especially when him want hugs.

We camped on Saltspring Island this summer. It is one of the Gulf Islands. What a magical place.

This is a garden center/campground that we visited. Really beautiful and rustic.

 How would you like a shower in here, under a giant Douglas Fir?

Summer is finally arriving here, after much rain and coolness.
This climbing rose is just three years old and so happy here. Don't
know the name of it though...

 

Henry mid-yawn...

A few shots of what is going on around here, such as
great big blousy delphiniums...

and nice purple petunias with potato vine...

and an angel keepin tabs on everything.

Sir Henry in the greens

Path of thyme

There is a path that leads to nowhere...there is a path that leads everywhere..I follow the path and the path follows me.

Sooke Secret Garden Tour

This is just a sample of the gardens we saw when we went on a recent garden tour. It was fun to see what other people are doing in their gardens - got some ideas for ours, and also appreciated our own garden when we came home.

After several months of somewhat heavy non-fiction reading this winter, I decided to lighten up and get lost in some novels. Just finished a couple of Rebecca Tope, English murder mysteries: A Cotswald Killing and`````uiiiiiiyhuggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg Oh oops, that was Henry walking across the keyboard! Anyhoo, yes the other one was Fear in the Cotswalds. Both good and harmless reads, with images of beautiful England and coziness and gardens etc. So right now I am reading Enchanted April that I picked up at a thrift store. Really enjoying it alot! Saw the movie long ago, and when I'm done reading the book, will rent the movie.
My friend let me know it was the beginning of Lent and what would I be willing to give up for forty days? I considered and said ,"Liver."  no, but seriously, how about watching the news? I have recently given that up most days, unless it is being watched by husband and I'm in the same room. It is so darn depressing, so I put on some nice music and read, or watch a garden show, (Recreating Eden) most mornings. I think it actually does make a difference. If you are trying to stay peaceful and creative yourself, the news is a toxic dumping of fear and negativity that squelches any hopeful or bright or creative feelings. So later on, will make some tea, and set away a few minutes to escape to Enchanted April, set in warm Italy, while here it is cold and rainy February. cheers!

Enchanted April in February

We had our lunch at a place called Santiagos. Mexican food that was soooo good, and its spicy flavour warmed us up on the inside. I thought the decor was worthy of a picture, really happy colours and fun.

Alley in James Bay

A walk through a favorite neighbourhood, James Bay yielded this intriguing alley that has driftwood on one side and a cool mural on the other. There is so much to see in this area, if you love gardens and creative expression in your landscape.