Sunday Bits #71 (marinated sandwich, early spring bloomers, Easter)
- Mar 24, 2024
- 8 min read
It has been a busy week so my timeline is all out of whack. We had to drive to the north end of Edmonton for a dr's appointment the other day... busy on the way there and rush hour(s) on the way back. No time for stopping or much of anything fun. Would really have loved to stop in at some garden centres!
We did, however, quickly pop into Ikea as it is handily accessible to the highway. I wanted to pick up some of their lovely terracotta pots. Super reasonably priced, they come with the saucers included! I am nowhere near organised enough yet to know what I need yet for summer so I just picked up three to get started. Summer is starting to arrive at Ikea, if you are wondering. Much of the outdoor furniture is out, though not yet the fun bits and bobs.
The garden series is delayed because of all the goings on but I promise that the next one is coming down the pike real soon, and the pretty giveaway is almost ready!
Garden Tips and Tricks Bits
This is a question I am asked all the time... how to get rid of your grass, lawn. Read about it here. My son made a mulch lawn like they show in the article. His yard is small, has a huge cedar tree in it that creates shade and sucks up all the nutrients, plus 2 large rambunctious dogs. In other words, his lawn was always sparse and the yard was a muddy mess. We had a look at this lawn when we visited in January, during the rainy season on the west coast, and his yard looks so good! If you are thinking of doing it... do it, it is worth it, you will be so glad you did.
What herbs and flowers to grow to make your own salves and soaps, comes with a healing salve recipe, too.
These early blooming flowers to add to your yard for colour in early spring, and food for the bees, too.
This great article about different kinds of dwarf tomatoes. I am growing a few micro dwarf types as 'indoor' tomatoes and some of the tree type out in the garden.
How to grow sugar snap peas. Great read, good advice.
This was a wonderful read about inspired container design. I have shared David Mattern's veggie garden ideas in the past, I really like his ideas. This container flower gardening podcast/article is so good! Think outside the box, do something fun!
Everything you ever wanted to know about catmint. I love growing catmint. It is pretty, airy, and hardy. It does not get as big here in Alberta as it did in BC from what I have heard, but maybe that it is a good thing?
When to mulch. This is actually very important. I have often heard that folks mulch with straw in early spring, when they plant their seedlings, to help supress weeds and retain moisture. The problem with that is that if it is still rainy season, your seedlings will soon be covered in mould or powdery mildew as they are staying too wet. Or, if you mulch when the soil is still cool in spring, the soil will take much longer to warm up and your seedlings/flowers will be stunted from the cooler temps.
How to grow creeping thyme. I love, love, love creeping thyme. I was super excited to find a whole corner of wooly and creeping thyme in this new yard when we arrived. Sadly, the following spring only about 10% of the thyme was still alive. I have no idea if it was the dogs that killed it off, the hard winter, the spring floods, or a bit of everything. I tried saving the rest of it last fall but that area was flooded for a couple of days during the last thaw so really not sure if any has survived. Crossing fingers though.
Reducing weeds with solarization. This might be the way to go for the person who was asking about garden pathways....
The best fertilisers for growing more blueberries. Growing blueberries on the west coast is easy breezy. The soil is acidic, does not need acidifying, the temps are moderate. Growing blueberries here on the prairies, with our alkaline soil and below 40's winter weather is a whole other thing. It takes dedication and they still might not thrive.
I have had blueberries bushes here (back in Bon Accord) that survived but never thrived, but that was with no pampering or additional care. I tend to have a do or die attitude. However, this time I thought I would give them my best shot.
1 - I dug a hole in the autumn, dumped in a small cube of peat moss, mixed it up a bit with the surrounding soil, raked it smooth, let it sit all winter.
2 - In spring, I planted my 2 bushes into the peat bed, about 2.5 feet apart. They were deep watered once a week to get the roots growing and establish the bushes.
These blueberry bushes were planted right beside the deck, in a sheltered and sunny location, so we can shovel snow on top to insulate from the cold weather. I also topped them with some straw in late fall to (hopefully) prevent tip kill.
3. Will let you know how they fare this summer, year 2. I will use one of the following ferts to feed them, or just feed with manure and use the sulfur to acidify the soil. Totally organic, not to worry. The one thing you want to keep in mind is to not get aluminum sulfate, as the aluminum can build up in the soil, you may be ingesting it.
Lovely Gardening Bits
This blank slate becomes an incredibly beautiful garden. The before and after.
This super cute greenhouse (from Costco!).
This greenhouse (Rhino) and lovely garden. I love these garden pics, what a great garden.
This stunning garden party table in the greenhouse. Wow!
This amazing linen crossover garden apron (or for whatever you like). Alternately, this Japanese crossover apron is an actual crossover and is a bit shorter, if you are vertically challenged (as I am)
*As an Amazon affiliate, if you purchase an item from one of these links, I make a teeny bit of money to support my blog. It does not cost you a penny more than it would if you went to the item on your own, without my link. Huge thanks : )
House, Home, & Heart
"I wouldn't say it's a single thing she told me, but the collective amount of knowledge over many years. She has given me everything I need to be a successful person, and I love her so much for it. The one that does stick out is, 'Most people want to be liked, so find what you do like about them and show them what that means to you.' This has allowed me to find the best in people, and then you can compliment them about something they might not even notice."
Love this article with the best advice from mom's. This one above was my personal favourite.
This Scandinavian apartment is perfect.
These lovely blue/green/grey door colours.
This gorgeous kitchen!
How a kitchen designer can be the key to a smooth remodel. We hired a kitchen (and home) renovation company in Red Deer to design and do our kitchen renovation. This was our 3rd time doing this and I cannot imagine just 'winging' it unless it was a very, very basic kitchen and layout. Cathryn at KCB was able to take all my thought and wishes and make them happen, even in our very small kitchen (above). I had many needs. I am old enough, and have done this enough times, that I already know exactly what I do and do not want, so that is helpful when talking to a designer. A designer can pull it together for you, taking best advantage of the space, your budget, and knows all the sources, latest, greatest, newest, best. Highly recommended. If you are wondering where my kitchen post is... still waiting on the professional pictures. Some things are just out of my hands.
These pretty pantry ideas! I am so jelly of anyone who has a walk in pantry. We have a pull out cupboard type, which is lovely, but more space is always wanted.
What do you all do in the mornings? what is your routine? I confess that I get straight into reading and working. This read with 6 morning routines to make you happier and more productive will give you food for thought... I know it did for me. Hmm, start off the day with some yoga maybe? Can I do it? Can I change up my routine? Before coffee?
This easter gift bag is the cutest! Read how to make it here.
Recipes
How to use foods and spices to naturally dye your eggs.
The best ever carrot cake recipe!
This classic, easy to make glazed lemon loaf. You all know how I love to share lemony recipes!
These vegan hot cross buns for Easter! You can use regular milk, if you prefer, nothing says you have to make them vegan ; ) Just looks like a great and easy recipe.
Mini egg chocolate chunk cookies. The grandies will love these!
This marinated vegetable cheese sandwich recipe is perfect. I've mentioned this before but this recipe brings it all back again. I used to buy a marinated eggplant sandwich at a wee bistro (Carrot On The Run) back in Nanaimo years ago. This bistro (closed now for 10 years or more) was attached to the organic grocery store and sold the most unique and tasty meals and desserts. I still dream about that sandwich and try to recreate it. It was similar to this one, even though this particular recipe does not use eggplants. It is because of that sandwich that I grow eggplants each year. I will be making this sandwich as soon as I get one ripe eggplant and zucchini ; )
This creamy chicken avocado pasta salad looks amazing! This may be supper tonight, with crispy tofu instead of chicken, of course.
Did you guys do the sourdough bread thing during the lockdown? I never did as I do not much like the sour taste. I am still intrigued though as it is said to be great for gut health. I keep thinking maybe I can learn to love it. Yes? Is there hope for me? I have heard that you can have change up the level of sourness in your sourdough. I would, of course, prefer to be on the lesser side and so am tempted to jump on that bandwagon now, four years later, to see what I can do... and if I can learn to like it.
Here are a couple of links that I liked and have me wanting to try....
Easter is just a week away, so many things I want to do, make, bake. I absolutely love Easter. My baby girl was born on an Easter Sunday, 34 years ago already, and we then spent the first four years of her life living in Germany, in the Black Forest. The Germans do Easter in a big way so the holiday has remained a special time ever since.
We will all be gathering for dinner next Sunday so there is so much happening at the house this coming up week.
Comments