A year and 2 months Later

 It was well over a year ago that our daughter approached us asking if she could have her wedding on our property. Since then, beginning in May which is really when you can begin outdoor projects here in Ontario, we have been going full bore. 

In just a couple of days the wedding will be taking place with about 90 people in attendance. 

Lots of projects, both indoor and out, that were previously thought about or started but not finished were completed in this past year and two months. Many things were not even requested by our daughter, but some were. 

Following are some pictures to show you what it is currently like at our place. The urns and planters are not yet in place. The tent only just arrived today and was put up by the rental company. The “stone arbor “ was built by my husband with our son also giving a hand. 

My world has consisted of planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and mulching. Husband has been constructing, repairing, painting, digging, and even installed a new pool liner. To say we are bone tired is an understatement but we are so pleased to be able to provide a venue for her and her fiancé. 

For any of you with magical weather powers, try and arrange a sunny day for this Saturday, please! 😊

Strawberry Time

 The strawberry moon peaks tomorrow. It is named for the short period of time when wild strawberries are ripe. 

I had ripped out all of my strawberry plants several years ago as they had gotten out of hand and took up more space than I was willing to sacrifice in my vegetable garden. But last year I decided I wanted a little patch again so I planted about 12 plants or maybe 20, can’t recall. 

This was the summer that I could start to harvest and I was very excited. 

Also, the chipmunks and birds were excited and were taking gleeful bites and snips out of my berries. I played around with some old row cover fabric that I had, until the crafty birds just ripped holes and gashes in it and ate the berries anyway. 

So off I went to Dollarama and bought some cheap green plastic netting and two shiny disco balls. The result has been successful!

I’ve been picking quite a few berries since thwarting the wildlife and decided I should make some jam. It’s been quite a while since I’ve made jam due to not growing my own strawberries but it all came together well.

I just have to wait for the jars to seal and set. I think some have already popped and if they don’t I’ll just do a boiling water bath. 

Do any of you still grow berries or buy berries and make jam? It’s a nice summer treat- even on vanilla ice cream! 

Babysitting the Plants

 Last weekend, daughter and I went to the Amish greenhouses about 15 minutes away to purchase the flowers we are going to plant in a number of urns, pots, and window boxes for her wedding this summer. Her colour scheme is white / cream, green, and gold. In her pots and urns there can also be the palest of pinks just to add a little colour. 

Of course, here in Canada, the month of May can still be iffy when it comes to weather and true to form the temperature dipped dangerously low with frost warnings, so I had to bring everything into the mudroom for two nights so we didn't lose any of them to the cold. 

Otherwise, they live on the back porch and I keep them watered and rotated until we can get the big urns, etc. in place and start to plant them. 

Do any of you gardeners have something like this?

This is my bag of old bedsheets that I use only for covering plants (especially tomatoes in the early Autumn, again when there is a danger of frost). I draped the flowers one night when it was quite cold, but had to physically move everything in on the other nights. 

I will take some pictures of the planted urns and pots when that happens. I have reassured my daughter that I will keep everything watered and fertilized so they are all looking good for August. 

Happy Mother's Day

 I couldn't imagine my life without these two. This picture is from a family holiday we took last January. 

When life gets stressful, or down, or I just need a mental reset, I think of how lucky we are as a family. Other people have dealt with illnesses or major difficulties with their children and ours have been healthy, happy, independent, thoughtful, kind, and all around decent human beings. Daughter is currently 30 (just turned!) and son is 26. She is getting married in August and he has a lovely girlfriend.

I'll be going out for brunch with the two of them later today and hopefully the weather will be nice enough that they are going to help me get my vegetable garden ready (weeded, rototilled, rows marked out...). My own mom has been gone now for many years, but husband's mother is currently in a long term care home and he will see her today. She is 87 and physically still quite well (but has dementia). 

Happy mother's day to all of you who have raised and cared for children. May you have a nice meal, outing, or even just a phone call today with your loved ones!

Happy Easter

 Wishing everyone a happy Easter this weekend. We are gathering as an extended family on Sunday at our house. About fourteen of us this year. There will be ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, a creamy corn casserole, chick pea salad and a spring greens salad. I’m baking a lemon layer cake and my daughter is making a cinnamon roll cake. My sister in law is bringing another dessert and my sister is bringing appetizers. 

I don’t think we are expecting a warm spring day, but instead cool and rainy ( perhaps snow). But that’s April. 

Even though our two kids are 26 and 29, I’ll still pick up a few little Easter treats for them ( and their significant others).I asked husband if he wanted anything and he said yes, but just one. Likely something Reese’s Peanut Butter chocolate. Then I asked, and what am I getting? Like most moms, I’ll get my own ( like stuffing your own stocking at Christmas! Haha.)

I am looking forward to getting on with outdoor tasks the first of which will be raking our one acre property. If the weather behaves we will have “ kid” help on the holiday Monday. 

Happy Easter everyone! 🐣

It's a bit COLD

 I thought I would quickly pop back here for an update. We are having another good old fashioned winter again. LOTS of snow in "southwestern Ontario" with lake effect snow coming off of the Great Lakes. At the moment, we are in quite a cold snap. Keep in mind, we are measuring in Celsius.

Yes, that's a going to be a low tonight of -24, feels like -34. If you don't understand, "feels likes" means taking into account the wind chill factor. So even though you might be outside in a balmy -24, with the wind blowing, it's more like -34. Let's just say that the cats don't stay outside very long in this weather. 

Husband and I got away for a week and thoroughly enjoyed the sun whilst at home they were getting a blizzard which closed roads and actually closed schools for a couple of days (usually the busses are cancelled, but schools remain open). Busses get cancelled because the back roads are not able to be cleared in time by the snow ploughs, or the blowing snow is causing white outs that are too dangerous for busses to be travelling in. We really enjoyed the resort we were at (Dominican Republic) and would consider returning there some day. It was 28 degrees there. Lovely. 

Being as it is a sunny morning (a rarity), here are some east-facing and west-facing porch pictures to show you our snow. 

I hope you are warm and contented, wherever you are in the world. 

Don’t wait - Loss

 My oldest brother died yesterday. This was a shock for everyone. He was 72 years old- a character if there ever was one. He hid how much his COPD had advanced and was affecting him. He also had later onset diabetes ( requiring insulin). 

When he started feeling unwell last week he naturally thought it was a cold virus and rested and dealt with it accordingly but it was influenza which rapidly became pneumonia. Within hours he was intubated and in the ICU. Regardless of all the antibiotics and the multiple machines and lines which were helping his body systems to function it was all too much and he died within four days, never coming out of his heavy sedation/ medical coma. 

Don’t wait is what I put in the title of this post. Don’t wait to take care of your health. Don’t wait to get together with family and friends. Don’t wait to take the trip, make the call, hug someone, or prepare or update your will. 

When you think you are having a bad day, ask yourself if you woke up in your own home and breathed on your own. If you did, it’s a good day. 

Thank you for allowing me to share. Please enjoy the holiday season and appreciate your good fortunes.