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Posts Tagged ‘spring’

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Warning Signs

In Food For Thought, Our Earthly Paradise on January 22, 2017 at 10:36 pm

As women around the world banded together to send a collective message to the new U.S. president about equal rights and freedoms, there were other signs from Mother Earth that didn’t go unnoticed – by me at least.

In three seemingly unrelated stories (there could be more) – large numbers of animals were found dead: Dolphins washed ashore in the U.K., and dead pelicans and false killer whales were discovered along the Florida coast. Sad news indeed. And no real answers on why. Innocent animals are always the first casualties, but no one appears to be sounding the alarm. Please tell me I’m wrong. There must be something in the water…We’re poisoning our beautiful world and this is just another resounding reminder of the true cost of our complacency.

This weekend, it was incredibly warm in Toronto and while I was out walking with a friend and her dog we spotted several robins on a lawn. Yes, robins – in January. To me, these birds are always the first sign of spring. Alarming and concerning. This is Canada after all, the true north, in winter.

 

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Perfect Pansies

In Food, Glorious Food, In the Garden on May 7, 2016 at 11:08 am

What’s not to love about these tiny, perfect pansies just harvested from the garden? This year, we found a bumper crop growing in different clumps in the back garden, so it seemed like a great time for a gathering.

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Many people enjoy them fresh in salads and desserts. You can even buy them crystallized to use as pretty decorations on fancy cakes or sandwich loafs. Although you usually need to go to a specialty store to find them…they tend to be expensive, and since most are done with whipped egg whites and sugar – they aren’t vegan. Why not make your own?

Our bunnies love to eat fresh herbs so I thought I’d give them one each to try. No surprise when neither hesitated for a moment — it was just grab and gobble them down. It’s so easy to simply wash and dry them on a baking sheet for later use.

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Follow the White Rabbit?

In Animal Kingdom, Food For Thought on March 30, 2016 at 3:15 pm

Late! Are you late? For a very important date? Running here, running there…yet never getting anywhere?

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Enough of that madness…it’s time to escape from the rabbit hole! As tempting as it may seem, now that Easter has passed, there’s no need to chase that bunny. While the cold of winter’s last gasps may have you wanting to curl up in your cave and continue the hibernation…spring is already here.

You might not feel up to spring cleaning or power washing the terrace (particularly if it’s still covered in snow or ice) but it’s a great time to get organized. Start with one small task at a time: sort your seeds, plan your garden planters, check out some clips on proper pruning.

And there’s always the paperwork…finish the taxes, shred some old files, clear out computer files (shed or basement, too). The time has come to leave the den behind, dust off the winter cobwebs and emerge face first in the sunshine.

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Spring Forward

In Easy Elegance on March 22, 2016 at 1:13 pm

OK, it’s officially spring and I’ve already reset my clocks (what a pain) and even seen my first robin. Sure there have been some beautiful sunny days — just don’t forget your winter coat as you step outside! Where did that warm weather go that we had a week or so ago?

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Now, I don’t know about you but I am so ready for the change of season. Forget the February blahs…this is March madness already! Time for a little refreshing pick me up – aka some inexpensive retail therapy. In my mind, nothing screams spring quiet like tulips but there were slim pickings in that section – hey, what can you expect from a corner store? A quick scan of their offerings and these bright yellow mums caught my eye. Yes, I know chrysanthemums are more of a fall flower but they were fresh and I thought the great colour would take me through to Easter.

Once home with my flowers, I happily discovered they would easily divide into two bunches, which is great since I always like pairs. Found some pretty, matching containers, ditched the plastic container in the recycling, repotted the plants, and topped the soil with moss stolen from my Christmas arrangements. Voilà – simple, spring tables cape. Paired with white accents like the tablecloth and milk glass, they read fresh, spring vibe. (I’ll add the chocolate eggs and bunnies later.) Now if only the temperature would cooperate…

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Spring has Finally Sprung!

In Animal Kingdom on May 23, 2014 at 10:05 am

Spring has Finally Sprung!

Once again, the wings of one of our gargoyle lanterns have welcomed and provided shelter to a new family of robins who have made their nest there this spring. What appears to be a tiny nest in which only one adult robin can fit — is actually home to four baby chicks!

They certainly are a hungry bunch — mom and dad work day and night delivering fresh worms to their growing babies.

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It’s a Beautiful Day!

In In the Garden on May 2, 2013 at 10:44 am
The garden bursting back to like. Can't wait to get my hands dirty with all the work that awaits!

The garden is bursting back to life. Can’t wait to get my hands dirty with all the work that awaits!