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!