Okay People, I know my blogging has been sporadic.

I haven't posted about what's coming up in my garden.

I haven't posted about what's happening in my greenhouse.

I haven't posted about my field trip to Marlene's greenhouse.

ACK!!

So today I'm cheating a bit because I'm working frantically in the greenhouse to prepare it for the cold snap due to come through tomorrow.( Our forecaster even used the dreaded 'S' word!)

So. . .

How am I cheating?

I'm linking you to my friend Ev's blog where today's post talks about the dream we share.

Check it out. . . http://achaoticlifestyle.blogspot.com/

Frankly, she said it better than I could have. . .

Thanks Ev!

A Bike Ride

So I rode my bike to work (the bus) this morning.
I must confess, if my friend Ev had not been so disappointed that I hadn't done it yesterday I probably wouldn't have done it today either!
Since I assured her that today was the day, I took courage in hand, dressed in flannel pants, turtle neck, winter coat and gloves and strode confidently into the garage.
That confidence faltered a bit as I attempted to place the helmet on my head.
It didn't fit over my toque!
As I have badgered Crystal for years over the foolishness of riding without a helmet, that was not an option for me!
Toqueless I buckled up my helmet and rolled out to the front sidewalk.
After a wobbly start I began to peddle.
A quarter of the way there my hips started complaining.
I switched to a lower gear.
Half way there my thighs chimed in as well.
I switched to a lower gear.
Three quarters of the way there I questioned my sanity as I biked up a mild slope, lungs burning.
There were no lower gears left.
I couldn't stop for a rest or I would be late.
You can't be late when you drive a school bus!
Thankfully the last quarter was mostly downhill. (okay down slope)
I arrived at my bus with legs quivering, lungs burning, but, I had arrived!
Whoo Hoo!
That was a very long 15 minutes.
But I am going to do it again tomorrow.
Right now though, I think I'm going to take a little nap. . .

China Revisited or. . . Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Can you believe this stuff is food?

And labeled as Canadian sashimi no less!

Ugh.

For My Sisters

In January I received a utility bill that nearly gave me a heart attack it was so large.

Granted we had had a very long cold spell, but we had also just put in a new furnace. As I began to talk to other people I discovered that I was not alone. I started looking up old bills trying to figure out what could have caused this. I mean I knew the cost of utilities had risen but this was ridiculous!

I started looking for ways to reduce our consumption .

The furnace was turned down.

No one was allowed to let the water just run anymore.

I suggested we might all start taking navy showers. (Turn the shower on, get wet, turn the shower off, soap and shampoo, turn the water on, rinse, turn the water off)

That did not go over well at all! I was already getting many complaints about the heat.

I considered turning off the fridge ( GreenPa http://littlebloginthebigwoods.blogspot.com/ assures me it's possible.)

All in all I went overboard. ( which will come as no surprise to those who know me. . .)

After Henry calmed me down I decided to take a more moderate approach.

On of the first steps was to relearn how to ride a bike as it would only be a 10 minute ride to work, which would allow me to leave the truck at home.

The only problem I had was the fact that I hadn't been on a bike in over 30 years!

I didn't want to buy a bike without knowing if I would actually be able to ride one.

Jesse suggested trying out the bike he had used as a kid. Below you will find a small video of my first ride.

Why did I title this post For My Sisters?

Well I thought they might both enjoy a good chuckle.

Tamara, Lisa, if you want another laugh you can check out this last video. Jesse's not the steadiest cameraman, but he sure had fun doing it!

Stay tuned for details on the bike I finally bought. Jesse says it's totally me. . .

Living In The Greenhouse

I know, I know, I have been doing a terrible job of posting regularly!

Winter was very long and very cold this year causing one of the worst cases of the winter blues I've had in ages.

Spring sprang suddenly and beautifully which lead me to live in the greenhouse for the last little while.

However. . .

Winter is making a last gasp it seems, as we are now under a heavy snowfall warning for tonight and since the temperatures may possibly go down to -8C, I brought all my plants back inside for the next few days.

One step forward, one step back.

Ah well, we do live on the prairies and no one really thought winter was totally finished with us yet.

We will have to wait and see what the rest of the week will bring

Wordless Wednesday

It is Spring!

The sun is shining, I'm in my t-shirt and jeans and. . .

I'm in the greenhouse!

Bliss.

Spring???

It's starting to look as though spring is on the way.

Most of the front garden is melted, although there is still a mound of snow around the roses.

I didn't have to wear a toque on my morning drive (although I did wear my flannel lined jeans!) and it is forecast to go up to 10C and the sun is shining.
I'm going to be in the greenhouse today, transplanting all the little plants that are beginning to outgrow their pots.

I'm also going to plant up the pansies I bought at the hardware store and set the out on the front step on nice days.

Now I'm off to get Jesse out of bed once and for all.

He slept in and missed the bus to school so he will be doing a lot of work for me today!

To bad the ground is still frozen.

I have a lot of digging to do before I put in my new raspberry patch. . . .