Better Late Than Never!

This past winter I had an "amaryllis problem"!

After growing four amaryllis bulbs outdoors all summer long, I took them out of the soil and stored them in a paper bag for about 6 weeks. Then I planted one in a pot of soil that I had prepared. Nothing happened.

A few weeks later, I did the same thing to a second bulb... I watered the soil from time to time... but nothing seemed to happen. There was no growth...  (All this occurred last October and November.)

My plan had been to plant the bulbs several weeks apart, in order to have a longer blooming season.

When no growth occurred, I wondered if the bulbs weren't growing because the basement had been too warm... Did they need a few days of REALLY cold weather? With this in mind, I put the bag with the two remaining bulbs into the car... where they froze. When I took them out, they were mushy and rotten...

The two potted bulbs continued to sit on a sunny shelf in my sewing room and I continued to water them from time to time...

Now - four months later - to my total amazement - they have both developed leaves... and flower buds!

What's happened ?!

I have no idea!! (But better late than never!)

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. 

I don't usually give much thought to awareness days - unless I find them amusing: like Popcorn Day (January 19) or Coffee Day (October 1).

But last year I happened upon a display celebrating Women's Day at the mall where I often walk. 

I started to think about the strong women in my family tree: My two grandmothers - who both became widows with young children when they were still in their twenties. Both were tasked with  supporting their families on their family farms.

Then there was my mother, who broke out of the family mold, going to university and becoming a teacher. Daring to dream... She was the first in her family to finish high school and the first to get a university degree. That changed, not only her life, but mine as well.

These are the women in my life whom I need to celebrate and appreciate!

New Idea!

Anne - the artist who inspired my daily pictorial diary of weather and nature sightings - is mixing it up a bit on her monthly calendar! Last month had a totally different look. Gone was the circular pie she started with - see photo above..

In February, her hand-illuatrated calendar focused on DOGS she saw on her daily walks.

So beautiful! 

I wonder what March has in store!

Looking Back on February

In January, I started to make a pictorial diary - of weather, nature - and things I did.

That month I was preoccupied with how cold it was and how many days it snowed. On rare sunny days, I brightened up the picture by adding a large yellow sun.

In February, there are more days with sunshine! (23 out of 28 days!)

In the centre of my circular graph, where I note the temperature, some pink appeared in February - indicating above freezing temperatures: 1+ to 10+ degrees.

As I begin my March pictorial log, I'm looking forward to adding more warm weather, more wildlife ... and maybe even a few spring flowers!

Giving It Up For Lent

Today is the beginning of Lent, the 40 days before Easter, a period of time when many Christians give up a guilty pleasure for 40 days. A kind of fast from something they normally enjoy.

I've never succeeded in completing this discipline for all 40 days - but this year I hope I will.

I plan to give up reading Apple News - or watching CNN - or Fox - or any news program that focuses on people's unkindness to each other.

I am so tired of nastiness.

As my daughter says, People need to make an extra effort to be nice and kind these days, when there is so much anger and negativity in the world already.

I totally agree!

Blocking My Knit Shawl

My new knit shawl is finally finished - though I keep finding loose threads that need to be woven in.

The edges were curling, so I decided to wash it and "block it" by pinning it face-down to a heavy quilt that I lay in the dining room table. 

I hope it lies flat once it dries.

Too Much Drama!!

Terry loves following the weather news online. It's the first thing he turns to in the morning - and the last thing he checks at night.

I think it determines how well he sleeps: Will the ROOF BLOW OFF IN THE NIGHT? Will the BASEMENT FLOOD?! 

So much drama!!

For me - the simple TEMPERATURE predictions I used to listen to in the morning as I headed out to work were best. They were general guidelines - perhaps 80% accurate... No big deal!

I don't need all the drama! All I need to know is WHICH COAT and/or BOOTS to wear? ... (Or as some say: "Is it sweater weather?")

Keep it simple. Less is more. Be surprised! It's weather - it changes all the time!

Permission!!

I used to make "coupons" to give family members as gifts... "Good for a 5-minute back rub" or "Good for 1 DQ visit - treat of your choice"... or something similar. Sometimes I'd even staple together a small "pack" of coupons.

"What goes around, comes around" - I guess!

I recently got this "permission slip" from my daughter for my birthday... It is especially useful now that winter is here.

Yes! Thank you!! Will do!!

(The only problem is that the lights and the thermostat are TERRY'S pet peeves!! And she's not around to pay those bills!)

New Hope - For My Amaryllis Bulbs

I had pretty much given up hope that my amaryllis bulbs would grow at all this year - and, frustratingly, I didn't know why.

Over the years I had accumulated several bulbs. All grew leaves when I repotted them every winter - until this year. 

Last fall, I re-potted them before Christmas, hoping they might bloom in December. I watered them - and waited... but there was no sign of growth. Was I watering them too little? Too much? Did they have too much sun? Or not enough? Finally I basically gave up!

Then, just a few days ago, I went upstairs to my "neglected plant shelf" - where I put plants that don't need a lot of care... 

BOTH were growing leaves - that were the same size - even though I had planted them in soil a month apart! 

I really don't understand what has happened - except that they are both following their "biological clock" - growing when they're good and ready!

Now I'll just have to wait and see of they develop flowers!

More Animals Running Around

The day after writing the blog post about only seeing black squirrels out and about this winter, I saw a few more animals. The weather was sunny and warm... 

A sudden movement in the backyard hedge caught my eye. A long-tailed chipmunk came running along. 

Later a small red squirrel crossed our bare driveway. I missed photographing both the chipmunk and the red squirrel, as I wasn't ready - and they quickly disappeared ... 

Then, through the window - and screen - I saw a black squirrel with no tail coming across the road. I managed to snap a photo.

(I wonder what happened to the tail.)

 I also noticed large tracks in the snow on top of a garage roof - visible over the fence across the street.

I suspect they were made by a raccoon.

It's a busy world out there, now that the sun is out and the weather is warming up! I wonder if the fact that it's garbage pickup day is also bringing out the neighborhood animals.

Only Black Squirrels

Our neighborhood is home to at least three different types of squirrels - grey ones, black ones, and small, aggressive red ones. In addition, we have two types of chipmunks - long-tailed and short-tailed.

But what puzzles me is - now that winter is here - the only squirrels running around outdoors are black ones! I wonder why...

They do run around in the snow, but I find it easier to take pictures of them when they're resting on the fence.

I wonder if they're able to withstand cold better than the others... though it always amazes me that any of them - birds or animals - can live outside in winter and not freeze.

Almost Done!

It seems as if I've been working on this shawl/cowl for a long while. I must admit I've wondered if it would be ready THIS winter!

I'm glad to see it's (finally) almost done! I'm currently working on the "cord" cast off, which looked like a braid. I find it very pretty when done in two colors.

I'm looking forward to trying it on, once it's off the circular needle.

I'm especially happy that it's ALL made using yarn left over from other projects. I haven't bought any NEW yarn at all.

I may begin another... (I have so much leftover yarn!)

Black History Feast!

Last Sunday, our church celebrated Black History Month with a feast of food from African and Caribbean countries.

It was a real treat!

I really enjoyed two versions of "rum cake"...

That's something I've never made...

There were lots of displays as well. 

So many lovely things!

One of mt favourites was "sea glass" - broken glass dishes - probably from a shipwreck - that have been  reshaped by the movement of the waves.

Makes me want to walk on an ocean beach and hunt for "treasure" again!

After the Storm

A week ago - on the weekend - we had a BLIZZARD.

The following day was sunny but still windy - so Terry decided NOT to use his snowblower. But he did push the snow on the driveway into a large pile. 

Snow and blowing snow were problems all over the city. Our son who works downtown sent me this picture of a car stuck in a snowbank in front of the public library, near where he works.

I used to keep a snow shovel in my car for situations like this...  (Also some chocolate and a candle in case I needed to stay warm in the car for a while.)

When I later asked my son if the car was still stuck, he replied that the driver had taken a shovel out of the trunk and dug the car out of the snow. (We must have read the same book on winter driving!)

Here at home, our neighbor Ken used his ride-on snowblower to clear away the snow Terry had piled up. The strong wind blew some of it back on him...

What can I say?! Winter isn't easy!

Blizzard

Last Sunday much of Ontario was under a severe snowstorm warning.

Here in south-eastern Ontario, we hunkered down for the day. I didn't leave the house.

That doesn’t happen too often! 

As I looked out the window, I couldn't help but hope we were reaching the end of our winter season. After all, it will soon be March! But one never knows!

Feeling Good!

This past week, I've felt... (dare I  say it?!) ... a little more energetic!

All winter, especially since Christmas, I've felt listless, wondering if this is what it's like to be "old"... 

I look at my grandkids - and their parents - So much energy and enthusiasm! 

We were energetic once, too, Terry reminds me. 

Really?!

All winter I've had no desire to go to the gym. Then, the other day, I felt my energy stirring!

Was it the added hours of sunshine, and sunny skies (even if the temperature remains cold)?

We now have two more hours of daylight than we did two months ago.

Is it the new medication my doctor recently prescribed to help lower my blood sugar?

I really don't know... But I am looking forward to moving our clocks forward in early March to give us more natural light in the early evening. Speaking for myself, I don't need it at 4 AM...

If early rustlings of spring are making me feel stronger - bring it on!

Stuck in the Ditch!

After my recent trip to Alberta, I started going through old photos, sharing some with the Kingman School museum. 

I've come across some even older photos as well.

Before she was married, my mother taught school in northern Alberta in the late 1930's to early 1940's.

She usually travelled north from Edmonton by train in the fall, returning to her parents' home again in early July.

But in July, 1941, she and some friends must have had the opportunity to return to Edmonton from Grande Prairie by car.  

Were the roads muddy... or just unclearly marked? In any event, a third of the way through their trip, the car ended up in the ditch! It must have been a frightening experience as the car looks almost on its side.

I don't know who was driving - but hopefully not my mother, as she had no driver's license at the time.

The ditch they got stuck in was near a native community called Driftpile. All these details are written on the back of the photos.

Fortunately, some locals helped them, pulling the car out with a team of horses! 

This is not an adventure my mother ever talked about!

But a few years later, I was in the car when she was learning to drive on country roads near Hay Lakes. The muddy roads were very slippery and I remember the car sliding into a ditch.

A local farmer eventually pulled us out. 

My mother never spoke of that incident afterwards either!