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Amazon is having a spring spring right now, just till midnight tonight. Sunday the 25th at midnight. The deals are short term so when they are gone, they are gone, so you gotta get 'em fast. I have put added some of my favourite buys down below. I made a lovely batch of plantable seeded gift tags for Easter. I tinted the water with turmeric for golden yellow paper that I will use to make into gift tags for Easter baskets and my daughter's birthday wrapping. I just tidied my office a couple weeks ago, to get my tax stuff all in order, and so ended up with a whole bin of scrap paper (old bills, inserts, envelopes). Saved them all so to make into more handmade paper and gift tags. I have saved cosmos and alyssum seeds to sprinkle on top of the paper so that they can be planted for a bit of blooms in spring. The gift tag that does double duty. (check out how the turmeric turned the moulds yellow - cool, eh?) Tear paper into small squares and drop them into your jar. I use a very large (64 oz) mason jar for my paper making. I added almost 2 tablespoons of turmeric. Pour hot water into the jar ( I let my kettle come to an almost boil point). Let seep for 12 to 24 hours, or more, then blend in your blender till the paper is mush. The finer your paper mush is, the finer/thinner your paper will be. Pour the mush into a shallow wash bin, add more water, enough to cover your mould . Swish the water so the the paper is suspended throughout the water, place your mold into the water and let the paper bits settle into the tray. Lift your tray up, drain off the excess water. Place on towel to drain some more. Sprinkle seeds on to the 'sheet' of paper while still in the mold. Flip the screen over top of the paper mush. Place on a tea towel or rag. Use a sponge or dishcloth to blot the paper through the screen. Lift the top off of the screen. Dump the sheet of damp paper upside down onto the towel, blot dry. Lift mold and leave the piece of paper to dry on the towel. Some of my sheets took 24 hours to dry. I moved them on to a dry towel once they were firm enough to move without damaging them. Cut, trim, make into whatever you like. The turmeric worked really well, as you can see, kept it's colour really well. I love the deep yellow hue, prefect for Easter. Use more or less to whatever colour you want it to be. I also used an old yellow towel, just in case it does not come out. I mean, it is a dog towel so not a big deal, but still. My hands were yellow for 2 days. Here is a how to video that I really like. Here are the paper making moulds . Gardening Deals Heat mats are the best way to get your seeds to germinate quickly and get off to a great start. This set of 2 is a great deal! You usually pay that for one at the shops. On the gardening groups that I follow, people are really loving this AeroGarden Elite for seed starting. It has heat and light, you then transplant the seedlings into your larger pots and start some more. They also really love these very affordable indoor grow lights. These raised metal garden beds. Or check out this set of two metal raised beds in green for an even better deal. Kitchen Deals Though this non-stick white granite pots & pans set is from a different company that the one we have, it looks very similar in make and the interior non-stick qualities. Hubby (the chef) has a skillet almost exactly like that. He has had it for 3 years now, is super easy to clean up, is non stick for sure, has not peeled or bubbled up anywhere, so is safe to use. He likes it because it is deeper and has a lid for splatters, and is non-stick, of course. We just clean it with a kitchen scrubbie and it is perfect every time. I will say though that the outside bottom and sides will get stained. The Foodsaver Vacuum Sealer is on sale! This food/kitchen scale is on sale, too. A must have in any kitchen, especially if you bake European recipes. Love these glasses with wooden lids to keep the wasps out of your bevies. Comes with straws and cleaners, too. This pretty French Press. My s-i-l loves his, he has it on the boat. A 4 piece set of bamboo pot scrubbers . Natural, safe to use on all pots and pans, look lovely. I love mine! Easter Stuff Ceramic 12 cup egg tray. Three tiered sweets tray. Dutch Oven Spice Jars with Bamboo Lids 30 piece gold flatware set 4 XL Storage Bins with Lids (stackable) *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 : ) This fluffy rug is 5'3 x 6'6 and on for a really great price. Comes in other colours, as well. This is what I would love to put in the grandies' room! Fluffy and soft! This Shark Pet Pro stick vacuum with a hepa filter is the bomb for quick vacuums, stairs, rugs, cars, etc... we have one and love it! This red blender ! and these hobnail glasses. Those are some of the things I caught my eye, things I use, things that I find useful, or some are just things that I really want and am drooling over... like that fluffy rug that I can never have because of the dog hair, hahaha. If you want to check out some of the other deals, just click on one of these links and then go to the left hand side of the screen where it says daily deals. Cleck on that to see if there is a deal on something that you are looking for. That all said and done, I will finally be transplanting my tomatoes this afternoon, the Potting Shed Notes post will come out shortly, plus the how to enter for my lovely giveaway! Happy Shopping ~ Tanja

Finally, the long awaited kitchen renovation details that you have been waiting for. I have had so many of you ask about the details, the brands, the colours, the companies. Will try to make sure to address all your questions. When we moved to this house almost 2 years ago, we thought we would be able to handle the kitchen as it was for a little while. To live with it for just a bit before jumping into a renovation. Turns out that it just did not function well for us, we could not make the old kitchen layout work for us, not even in the short term. If you're like hubby and I, you spend hours talking about how to best lay out the new kitchen, where to put what, how to fit in a pantry and more storage... When you know what you want and need, but not how to make it happen. That is when a really good home improvement company comes in. We checked out a few different companies for quotes and ideas. The one we went with ( KCB Cabinets & Renovations in Red Deer ) was such a good fit, from the designer, planner, and the tradesmen.. we highly recommended this company. The kitchen is on the small side, is a u-shape with a small island in the middle. We had to keep the same footprint as there was no place to expand to. See how we got everything we wanted and how we were able to fit it all in. The before... The old kitchen was sorely lacking in storage space. There was no place to put cereal boxes, canned goods, kraft dinner, baking supplies except one corner cabinet. I could only reach the bottom shelf so I had one shelf for everything. The microwave was up too high (for me). See it above the built in oven. The stove top on the island was a hazard! We were forever accidently turning on burners when we put groceries, or whatnot, on the island. It was so dark in there! I was so sad in this room. The lights were directional so did not brighten the kitchen, they shone down onto the countertop and sink. The orange wood soaked up the rest of what little light there was. We really liked the wall oven but needed storage more, and let's face it, I am just used to a range rather than a cooktop. Oh, see that cute little window in the back? That was kind of cool but we could not find a way to keep it in the new design. That also meant repairing the stucco outside. The new kitchen is bright, practical, pretty, and has loads of storage. I am under 5 feet tall so need most of my storage space to be down low. Other than the bottom shelf on the uppers, the rest of the the shelves are out of my reach. The Details... The cabinets are from Columbia (the company, not the country) in a simple shaker style. The uppers are Maple HDF painted BM Cloud White. The lowers and island are Knotty Alder with a black glaze. We put in tons of drawers, they are great for pretty much everything. The lights are all glass so they look a bit more farmhouse-y, and spread light around the room. We also put in pot lights so no more dark cave! These pendant lights came in a set of three from Wayfair so we put two over the island and one in the kitchen nook. I chose black fittings instead of gold as I wanted to mix the metals. This light is similar with a mix of gold and black fittings. The countertops are quartz in a warm white with brown veining, called Casanova. The nook lighting is the same ones that we have over the island. The lights came in a set of three so it all worked out perfectly. The sink and faucet are my most favourite things in the kitchen, maybe my favourite things in the entire house. I have had a farmhouse sink before, but this one with the fluted front is so pretty, and very well thought out. Here is the link to one that is exactly the same. Both bowls (sinks) have a grid to protect the sink and your dishes, and these great basket strainers that catch all the bits. They lift out so you can easily empty them into your compost pail. I love this sink so much, I can't even tell you. It is so pretty and that somehow makes it more enjoyable to do dishes. I am forever wiping it, rinsing it, keeping it looking pretty. It is super easy to keep clean. I use regular dish soap and these scratch free, safe scrubbies . (You can get them from Homesense for a much better price) . For heavy duty cleaning, I used to use Barkeeper's Friend (which works like a hot dang) but I now use the Cleaning Scrub from Mint Cleaning ( use the link and save 10% off your first order ). So much better for both my breathing and the environment : ) This faucet. .. well, what can I say. I love this faucet so much, it is just so beautiful. I knew what I wanted and went looking for it. I think I may have watched a bit too many 'For The Love of Kitchens' episodes (I have seen them all) from Devol Kitchens , but I sure do like British bespoke kitchens. Why this faucet? I love the antique brass colour, the lovely tall gooseneck, the lever handles, and that swooping bridge from the faucet to the taps. It comes with a sprayer, too, you just cannot see it in this picture. I'm going to tell you right now that it costs a lot. Like a lot more than I could ever have ever imagined spending on a faucet... but I had to have it. I sat on the purchase for weeks, hoping that it would go down in price. It did not. In fact, I near had a heart attack when it was listed as sold out for a moment! When it showed up again, I ordered it right away. Knew that there was nothing else that I wanted instead, no settling for second best (though I did consider this one for a wee bit). To this day I have zero regrets. I love it to bits. If you do not need yours to be a gooseneck, you can get a lovely traditional spouted one for a bit less. The gooseneck was an absolute must for me. The Tiles - I have had so many questions about where to buy these lovely backsplash tiles. They come in this mix of varying shades of blue, are shiny, a bit wavy, so they have the look and feel of handmade. The tiles are the Fez collection by Tierrasol. Before you ask... while I do not have the link to these exact pretty light blue tinted glass water carafes, these are very close , and they have lids! *Disclaimer. As an affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from the links, I will get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item on your own. Many thanks for your support! The Appliances All of the appliances are (always) ultimately chosen by the mister, who is a professional chef. He loves to do research and chose them, while I do not. He knows what I like and want, shops around at the local appliance stores, and for weeks (and more weeks) on-line, too, so I don't have to bother with any of it. He finds the ones he likes, shows me the contenders, we choose them together. The Range . Finding a stove that we both like was a bit of a challenge, and finding one that we could actually get here in time was the hardest part of that battle. Hubby, the chef, wanted gas. I wanted induction. He got his pick as he cooks way more than I do. I wanted blue, green, or white. We found a blue one. Oh, you guys, it was so very pretty... but was a minimum of 9 to 12 months to get here, and even that was a best guess with a bit of wishful thinking thrown in. We could not order based on a maybe as we needed the measurements to put in the cabinet order. We were ordering in 2022, a good 8 months before we needed it, and you may remember how hard it was to get appliances (and many other things) during and after the pandemic? There were no other blue or green ones that I liked to be found, at least not in our price range, at the time. After weeks of searching on line, we found this 36"Cafe All Gas Commercial Style Range . We would have loved an even bigger one but the kitchen is just not large enough to fit one in. How I would have loved that small extra oven on the side (being the baker in the family). I love the gold knobs and handle. Oh, and the stove has a griddle, too, that we use for pancake making. If you decide to get a large stove, you also need a large, strong hood vent, btw, so factor that into your costs. A regular hood vent will not cut it. The Fridge - While I was less invested in the range, the fridge was a really big deal. I am super fussy about what I want in a fridge. It has to be easy to clean (that meant absolutely no stainless steel) and it has to be practical. My kind of practical - lots of room for vegetables. He found this one, the Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator with a white milk glass front. Perfect in every way. I love the white glass. It is super easy to keep clean, and it just looks clean, eh? You can also get it with pale blue glass, which I also love... but not as much as this milky white. Psst, they had the pink glass on Scott's Vacation House Rules last weekend . There are several door set ups that you can choose. The two upper doors on ours are the fridge (of course) and the two bottom ones are freezers. However, the bottom right door is a flex zone, can be either a fridge or a freezer with the press of a button. Super practical. It has two sizes of ice, cubes and chips. It has a water jug and a water dispenser, with an easy to replace filter. I am not big on water and ice makers in fridges (I worry about all the things that can go wrong) but the mister really wanted it, so... There are two ways to open this door. If you want the water, you open just the panel of the door. If you want open the entire door to access the fridge, you use a handle in the middle of the fridge, one that you cannot see in the photo. It is easier than it sounds, hahaha. I just don't know if I am explaining it well. This fridge is highly recommended (by me). It is well organised, easy to keep clean both inside and out, has all sorts of special features that I love. Pantry - The double doored pantry was the biggest storage that we could fit into the kitchen. Along with the uppers, we now have almost as much space as we need. We did have an extra pantry put into the upstairs laundry room (not a room so much as it is a hallway) for the extra canned goods, cereal boxes, paper towels, and the like. The Microwave - is in the island. It is a drawer type so you can just place your food or drink in there. Great for us shorties and safe for kids, too. I've read some comments online saying that they would not like a drawer microwave as it is so low, but not one person has ever mentioned that when using ours (and my nephew is over 6 feet tall). It is just like any other kitchen drawer... cutlery, tea towels, etc. It is a called a Sharp 24" microwave drawer oven. Also super easy to keep clean! The Dishwasher - we decided that we had to have a panel front dishwasher as nothing else would really look good with the other appliances. So we went with this Asko 50 series dishwasher. Besides looking good, it has all the bells and whistles (even has a light that comes on when you open it up), and does a really great job at cleaning the dishes. Is far better than the Bosch's we had at the last two houses. This counter top cupboard is one of my favourite features of this kitchen. I would have put in more had the kitchen been a bit larger. As a shortie, I can reach several of the shelves, hah, and the drawer in the bottom is great for my tea collection. The cabinet holds things like vases, pretty bowls, saucers that I use under plants or candles. All the nice little things that I use around the house to make it homey. I have been unable to find the name of these drawer pulls in my file, but they work so well with our design. I can ask the designer if someone is wanting to know, just let me know. They're simple, antique gold, and have a great hand feel. Best of all, no grooves to have to keep clean. Are you sensing a theme? Simple and clean is what I like! The layout for the appliances remained almost the same, besides the oven situation. The sink and dishwasher are in the same place, the fridge just moved over a couple of feet this way, to fit in the pantry. They had no hood fan (eek!) so we had that put in. That little off-center window is gone. There are no corner cabinets in our u-shaped kitchen. We chose to eliminate them altogether, despite all the newfangled gadgets and options we were shown. I told the designer that I am far too broken to be crawling around on the floor, trying to reach things that fell off the lazy susan into the far, dark corners... and also to keep them clean. I like simple, it is easier and makes far more sense (to me). Our kitchen and bathroom reno is a finalist for best renovation of the year in the Central Alberta region excellence in housing awards (BILDCA), which is pretty awesome and exciting. We totally love our new kitchen but is nice to know that others do, too! Bath update coming up soon. That turned out super well, too. I will get the professional pictures that were taken of the kitchen and bath reno in just a few weeks time, after the winners are announced, so will share those then. Regardless of the outcome, we really are the winners every single day as we get to enjoy this lovely kitchen on the daily! ~ Tanja

The gardens sure did explode with growth during our heat wave. Today is a cooler day, perfect for cleaning the house without dropping from heat exhaustion! I've also pulled out the sourdough so that I can bake something before the heat returns tomorrow. When I came back from my trip to Saskatchewan, I went around and gave the dahlias a drink of liquid seaweed. They were looking pretty sad and peaky. I both watered them with it and sprayed it on the foliage. Kelp or seaweed spray can be used as a foliar feed on anything and everything, from flowers to foods. My lettuce bed is looking so good. On the left, I have baby butterheads , then a row of baby romaine lettuce, plus a bit of loose leaf thrown in for good variety. I have been harvesting from this bed for the past 2 months. I had to pull out a couple of heads that had bolted, but the rest are still doing great. I have a couple of new rows coming in a different bed, too, so hope to have lettuce for most of the summer. The lettuces are all from Renee's Garden Seeds. On to this week's Sunday Bits. I have a bit less links for you this week as I usually start looking for great links at the start of the week, putting it together for you on the Sat and Sunday. However, we were away most of the week, so is a bit of a shorter one for you this time. Hope you enjoy as there may be fewer links but they are better than ever. I cannot tell you about how the trip went yet as I believe in omens, and jinxes, and all that sort of thing. Do not want to mess with the outcome ; ) Yes, I know I am a bit strange, and odd duck. Though, I prefer to be called unique, or quirky even ; ) What are braconid wasps, and why you want them in your garden. You really, really do. Hence all this alyssum ; ) These long lasting perennials for your flower bed, or your pollinator strip. Designing a garden from scratch . What to consider, where to start, how to go about it. Attracting pollinators to your garden. These 5 common clematis diseases, and how to prevent them. Some Sweet Summer Deals.... Portable Fan Mesh Tote Bag Jute Rug Industrial Style Bar Cart for your home or patio (also great for your bbq and buffets) Hobnail drinking glasses *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support, I sure do appreciate it. Recipes This recipe for quick and easy pickled red onions is made with maple syrup! Lemon Thyme Olive Oil Cake. I made an olive oil cake about a month ago. Love the density of these cakes, along with the fresh taste. These easy unleaded drinks for every occasion. The sangria, lemonade look yummy, but that orange spritzer is my favourite. Hope you all made it through the heatwave alright, found yourself a cool place to sit a spell. Take Good Care, Be Well ~ Tanja

Some of my favourite things are on big sale! Check out all the sales, stock up on your favourites. Those sheets, you guys, get them for every bed, in all the colours. They are seriously the best sheets that I have ever slept on. Soft, well made, pretty, and cool on these hot nights! Swedish dish cloths Good Protein Superfood Shake - gluten free, vegan, soy free. Tide Washing Machine Cleaner - front or top load. 4 pack of Mrs Meyer's Basil Scented Multi-spray . You all know that I have to wash my rugs often due to the dogs, so I use the Tide Washing Machine Cleaner once a month to keep things from getting stinky! Works so well and the whole laundry room smells fresh afterwards. The Swedish Cloths and Mrs Meyers cleaners make cleaning the kitchen and bathroom a breeze. (Mint is still my favourite but Mrs Meyers is a close second and this is a steal of a deal!) The protein powder because my daughter says it is a must! Comes in many yummy flavours. Garden Pistachio Green Raised Metal Bed https://amzn.to/3Y7nZBX S triped Beach or Patio Umbrella Solar Fountain https://amzn.to/4d7Y8hP That pistachio coloured bed in on for $70 less than I paid for it! Super good deal! The umbrella is pretty close to what we have 2 of on our patio. I like to think that it adds a little bit of something something. Kitchen & House Hold Appliances Our Place Wonder Oven and Air Fryer Shark Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker Bissel Little Green Proheat Portable Carpet Cleaner Bissel Power Clean for Pets Carpet Cleaner BlueAir Air Purifiers Spoonlemon soda and selzer water maker These are all items that I have, or family members have, or that are on my wish list. You all know how much I want that ice cream maker, hahaha. the carpet cleaners work like a hot damn for cleaning up dog or cat puke, plus other dirt and stains. The Soda Maker is pretty and awesome. Oh, and you all know about me and the allergies, need that air purifier. It makes a huge difference. These sheets are by far the best sheets I have ever used. Highly recommended. Super well made, breathable and cooling, deep pocket sheets. Fashion for Women Cotton button down shirt . Cotton Linen Button Down Dress Green corduroy tote bag. Corduroy Hobo Bag Floral Tote/Grocery Bag Reebok Running Shoes for Women Smart Watch Cool, comfortable, stylish. *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support, I sure do appreciate it. Techie Stuff Beats Wireless Bluetooth Headphones , for working out/calls. Amazon Fire7 Kid's Tablet - My grandies have this, great for travel! Amazon Fire 10 Tablet Necessities of life if you travel, have room mates, need to block out sound... And lastly, this super cute label maker for labelling your jars and bins in the pantry or bathroom, seed packets, flower and seed pots in spring, but best of all... your canned and dried harvest! Check out the different kinds of labels that you can make. Hope you enjoy poking through some of these prime day deals ~ Tanja

Today is the last day of the deals! Things are all priced so well! Here are all the things that I could think of to help you, the kids, and your pets stay cool during this heat wave. Stay safe, you guys. Stay cool. Drink lots of water. Take care of your pets, too. Fans are Life Savers! Pedestal Fan Oscillating Fan - we had one of these at the cohousing unit and it was a life saver. Desk Fan Camping fan - with light and usb recharging power bank *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support, I sure do appreciate it. Ceiling Fans We have fans everywhere. Palm Leaf Ceiling Fan Fandolier - ( we have this one in the sitting room!) Boho Fandolier - these are so great for small rooms or bedrooms. My daughter loves boho. Our ceiling fans are the best thing to keep us and the dogs comfortable, especially at night. Whew! Cooling Bedding! Cooling, breathable sheets - in 43 colours. Cooling bamboo mattress topper - extra thick, noiseless, hypoallergenic Quilted cooling mattress topper - pillow top, works for all mattresses up to 21 inches deep. A/C's Portable air conditioner for bedroom or living room. Swamp Cooler - for fast cooling Window Air Conditioner - with timer. Pets! And let's not forget the pets. They love these cooling gel mats! My dogs refuse to go into the cool basement. We had a rancher before so they are afraid of these stairs inside the house. I never said they were the brightest ; ) Gel Dog Cooling Mat - 35 x 20 - or this x large one at 35 x 55 Gel Dog Cooling Mat - 40" x 25" - or this xx large on at 47"x31.5 Reversible Cooling/Warming Dog Bed in assorted sizes. Elevated Dog Cot The Kids and Pets (Nothing better than Water Play) Sprinkler for kids and pets alike. Sprinkler with Wiggle Tubes for Kids Splash Pad (use on really low for the little kids. Safe and they do not love cold water all over them.) Foldable Kiddie Pool Mushroom Baby Pool Reusable Water Balloons - My daughter said her kids absolutely love these! Bubble Maker - for kids or weddings or parties. My grandies love this, too! Beverages and Cool Treats Hot or Iced Coffee Maker Glass Tumblers with bamboo Lids Frozen Beverage Maker Iced Tea or Coffee Maker Smoothie or Milkshake Maker Cuisinart Ice Cream, Sherbet, Frozen Yogurt Maker (much cheaper than the Ninja Creami) Those are all the things that I can think of today to help you stay cool in this heat wave. Close the curtains, blinds, drapes everywhere. Open windows in the mornings to let in the cool air. Close for the daytime. Open again in evening. Run the furnace fan to help bring that cool air up from the basement. Place a bowl of ice in front of the portable fan. Stay hydrated, wear a hat if working outside. Take a nap in the afternoon, stay out of the sun, if possible. Cook on the Barbeque, use the sun to dry your clothes, try not to use too many electronics or appliances as they heat up the house. Eat out in an air conditioned restaurant ; ) Take Care & Stay Safe ~ Tanja

Raspberries are my most favourite berries, with blueberries coming in as a very close second. Jammed, fresh eating, or baked into desserts, raspberries are my number one. I love the sweet tartness of the berries, plus the fact that anyone in Canada can grow raspberries! No matter where you live! Okay, maybe not on a patio, unless you live in a zone 5 or better and can grow the Raspberry Shortcake shrub raspberry ; ) We do not have a large patch yet... this year we harvested just 3 cups of berries. Next year is going to be amazing though! I made these amazingly yummy raspberry sourdough crumble bars with most of those berries. The family raved about them, they are that good. Here is the link to the original recipe . I have just recently started following Amy, have only made a couple of her recipes... this one was so good that I had to make it and share! All thanks go to her! I made very few changes, really just adding more jam and more berries. Other than that, pretty much the same. I give my measurements in cups rather than grams, as well. Ingredients... Sourdough Shortbread Crust 1/2 cup melted butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup sourdough discard 2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups flour 2 tbsp corn starch Filling 1/2 to 1 cup raspberry jam 20 (or more) fresh raspberries Sourdough Crumb Topping 1 1/4 cups large flake oats (pulse a couple times in food chopper) 1/3 cups brown sugar 1/4 cup sourdough discard 4 tablespoons of butter 1/2 tsp salt How-To Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F Line a 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper Mix together melted butter, sourdough discard, and sugar. Add the vanilla and salt. Mix again. Add flour and cornstarch, mix till soft chunks of dough form. 4. Dump the dough into the lined baking pan. With fingers, press the dough into the corners, making an even layer. Prick holes into the dough with a fork. 5. Bake for 15 minutes, till the edges are lightly browned. 6. Make your crumb topping while the base layer is baking. Pulse the oats a few times in your mini food processor, or blender. Mix oats, brown sugar, butter, sourdough discard, and salt till well blended. Will be sticky and lumpy. 7. Remove the shortbread bottom from the oven. Spread the jam over the top. The original recipe calls for just 1/2 cup, but I used a whole cup. I wanted a liberal layer of my yummy homemade jam. 8. Sprinkle fresh raspberries on top of the jam, and drop the crumb topping in and around the berries. 9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. It took mine 25 minutes for the crumble topping to brown. 10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely, about 1/2 hour. Almond Glaze Topping 3/4 cup icing sugar 4 teaspoons heavy cream 1 tsp almond extract While the squares are cooling, make the glaze, if using. Mix the three ingredients together. This make a whole lot of glaze, I only used about half of it, even though I drizzled twice.... once after cooling, once just before serving. 11. Lift the parchment paper to remove the squares from the pan. Slice into squares. 12. Drizzle the almond glaze over top. I usually do not add the extra sweetness, but really enjoyed the glaze on these tangy bars. I made these squares about an hour before my daughter in law arrived to stay overnight with us, before continuing on her drive east the next day. The bars had just enough time to bake and cool before we were ready to dig in. She got here at 8 pm so after giving her the grand tour of our 'new' house, we settled in for a good chat with charcuterie board nibblies (much too late to eat anything heavy), a lovely French rose', and finished the evening with these squares. We all loved them! Tangy yet sweet, the perfect little dessert. These will be going on the table next month when it is my turn to host the next 'neighbourhood ladies coffee date'. 8x8 Baking Pan / Mini food chopper in blue / 250 foot roll of parchment paper 6 mason jars with lids / Iittala wine glasses / Pretty mason jam jars Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support. I hope you will try these awesome squares. Super easy to make, can be whipped up real fast when company is coming. Happy Treat Time ~ Tanja

I was looking for a treat to make with my sourdough discard this week, and thought that some kind of raspberry streusel squares would be just the thing. Our raspberry patch is very new, just two years old, is not yet producing tons of berries, but I was able to gather just about 3 cups of raspberries... enough to make a homemade small batch jam. Small batch raspberry jam is quick and easy to make, taste amazingly fresh, very different from preserves. You can adjust this recipe to use up whatever amount of berries you have on hand. Just over 2 cups of fruit will make just about enough to fill 2 jam jars (2 x 250 ml mason jars). The berries will cook down so not quite fill your jars to the top. This jam needs no pectin and no need to hot water bath the jam either, as it goes straight into the fridge or freezer. You need less than 30 minutes to prepare the jars and cook the jam. Easy peasy and hardly any clean up either. Small batch jams are perfect for those of you who are like me… want cooking to be quick and simple, very fresh tasting. This jam will be a bit less stiff than pectin jams, is looser. Tastes so good, you will wonder why you haven’t been doing this all along. I know that is what I was thinking! To gel (set up) no pectin jams, you want three things… To cook for a longer amount of time, in this case, about 20 to 25 minutes. Lemon juice. With low pectin fruits like raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, use more lemon juice, for medium pectin fruits, some lemon, and for high pectin fruits, no lemon needed. About 60% as much sugar as you have berries. I had 2 cups of raspberries, so used just over 1 cup of sugar. You can add more sugar if you want sweeter, but not less. Ingredients & How To 2 cups of raspberries 1 heaping cup of sugar 1/2 medium sized lemon Put the berries into the pot, add sugar and squeeze in the lemon juice. I used one whole lemon as it was on the smaller size. Remember to put your hand under the lemon as you squeeze the juice into the pot to catch any seeds that may come through … saves you from scooping them out of the berry mixture. Turn up the temp to a high heat and bring to a boil. Cook on high for the first 5 minutes, stirring often. Skim off any foam and discard or add a dollop of butter. My mom always skimmed, so that is what I do. Lower to a medium heat and cook jam for an additional 20 minutes, stirring regularly. To check the set of the jam, drop some jam onto a chilled plate. If it sets up nicely to your liking, does not run all over the plate, it is ready. Or, you can check for gelling by using a chilled spoon. Put a spoon in the freezer as you begin the cooking. When you are ready to check the set, pull it out of the freezer and dip it into the jam. If the jam drips off of the spoon in drops, it is not yet ready, a single glob means almost ready, but if it sticks and coats the back of the spoon, you are good to go. For looser jam, cook 5 minutes less (I like looser : ) I like to boil my jars for a bit, to make sure they are sterile, even though these are not going in the pantry. I make the small batch jams for eating or baking within a month or two. If not eating right away, place in the freezer for up to 6 months. Optional - To sterilise the jars, place them into a pot of water as you begin to cook the berries and bring to a boil. Let them boil for at least 5 minutes. Lift out carefully and place on a tea towel. Wash lids with soapy water, rinse, dip into the boiled water and swish about. Place lids on tea towel to dry, as well. Let the jam and jars cool for 10 minutes, pour or scoop into 2 x 250 ml sterilised mason jars, leaving 1 cm of headspace. Place in fridge where they will store for 3 weeks, or pop into the freezer. Enjoy your lovely, quick and easy, homemade jam on toast or on ice cream : ) ... or make raspberry dessert bars! *You will notice that we have two kinds of jam here. We were so excited about making our small batch jam, that we also made a super delicious blueberry one, as well. Happy Jamming ~ Tanja

How to increase your tomato harvest, and deal with frustrating tomato problems. Some tomato/garden problems are due to soil issues. Maybe you have purchased a new to you home with tired soil in the garden beds, soil that has not been fed with organic matter. Maybe you have gardens that are not thriving with soil life, beds that have been fed with chemical fertilisers only so the soil is lifeless. Don't be too hard on the former gardener, it was the era, the commercials led people to believe that using a fertiliser is all you needed to do to have thriving gardens. Maybe you have purchased new soil for your raised beds that is just okay, but not yet amazing. It tends to take a few years to build up good soil. It also depends on where you are living, different areas of the country have different soils. Some tomato problems are caused, or made worse, by the weather. Very wet, cool, or hot weather. Maybe you have great soil but you had a really cool spring, a heatwave, a heat dome, or maybe all three! Here are five growing tips to help your tomatoes overcome these weather related problems for a bigger, better harvest. Tip 1 - What to do when you have few flowers, but happy looking foliage. Healthy green growth means that you have a healthy amount of nitrogen in your soil keeping your foliage green, lush, thriving, and your vines growing. Nitrogen is the first number listed on any fertiliser package ( N -P-K). If you want more flowers, Do Not feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser. What you want to look for is a liquid, or water soluble high phosphorous fertiliser. That is the middle number (N- P -K). It does not matter whether it's being sold as a flower fertiliser, or vegetable food. The middle number promotes both more flowers and stronger roots. A higher phosphorous fertiliser will help both vegetables and flowers make more blooms. In summer - Take quick action. If you do not have much for flowers by the time summer rolls in, you want to use a liquid or water soluble plant food so that it gets to the root system quickly. Fast enough to make a difference right away. Mix as directed on the package and apply once a week for two weeks in a row. You should start seeing more blooms starting during that 2 week period. When fertilising plants, always water them first, to prevent burning the roots. I like to water in the morning and then feed them a few hours later, in late afternoon. Here are a few different high phosphorous fertiliser ideas that you can use for fast results. They are mixed with water and fed to the roots. Shop for these products (or a product with similar N-P-K numbers) either on-line and have it come right to your doorstep, or pick up from your favourite local box store, greenhouse, or nursery. Hydra Veggies 2-6-4 / Miracle Gro Bloom Booster 15-30-15 / Cronk Nutrient trio (Bloom 0-5-3) In Autumn - If you find that you regularly have less blooms on your tomatoes, veggies, and flowers than you would like, or you tend to not have great luck growing beets, carrots, parsnips, root crops of any kind, you may have a phosphorous deficiency in your garden. Boost the phosphorous for next year by applying one of these products to the garden in autumn, after your garden clean up. This will give it time to amend the soil so it is ready for planting in spring. Alternately, you can apply it in early spring, a few weeks before planting time. Lightly scratch it into the surface with a rake or cultivator. Broadcast scatter it over your beds, or add in with compost or manure and spread over the bed. If you are organic gardening, you are feeding your soil with a layer of compost/manure in the fall anyway ( see Charles Dowding ). Mix the phosphorous product in with the compost and rake out over top of your beds. This is beneficial for perennial flower beds, rose beds, and food beds. Here are a few ideas for a 'slow release' phosphorous to improve your soil in either spring or fall. If you prefer a vegan source, stick with the rock or mineral phosphates. If purchasing bone meal, try to get the powdered kind rather than granulated, it will break down faster. Big Ass Carrots 1-9-3 / Gaia Green Power Bloom 2-8-4 / Gaia Green Fishbone Meal 6-16-0 Bone Meal 4-12-0 / Gaia Green Rock Phosphates 0-3-0 Gaia Green Mineralized Phosphate 0-9-0 Gaia Green is easy to pick up just about anywhere in Canada, being a Canadian organic garden product. Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support. Tip 2 - You have healthy plants, lots of blooms, but little to no tomatoes forming. Tomatoes are self fertile and rarely need help to set fruit. The wind, or the fluttering wings of bees and pollinators, move the pollen about so that pollination occurs. Weather can make a big difference in proper pollination and fruit formation. Cool, wet, rainy, humid, or even very windy weather prevents pollination from occurring, and sometimes flowers do not get pollinated at all. Poor or improper pollination usually occurs in early spring, while the weather is unstable. This disruption in pollination sometimes results in weirdly shaped tomatoes (mostly beefsteaks) that are lumpy, bumpy, or fused together. Still edible, but very weird looking. High temperatures can also wreak havoc with pollination, especially if night time temperatures remain high. This can make flowers sterile, or delay fruit set. If the flowers have shrivelled and are dry, with no fruits at the end, those flowers are done for. They will not make tomatoes. Not to worry though, the plant continues to make fresh, new blossoms, or some will be hiding in the shade of the foliage, they will be fine... with a little bit of help. This is the problem I was having this year. Before I left for my one week holiday, the weather was super windy and very cool. It switched to a heatwave the very day I left. I came home to healthy, lush, thriving tomato plants, absolutely covered in blossoms, but very little fruit was actually setting. First of all, you want to hand pollinate/help the pollen move about . Take the tomato cages, or strings, and give the plants a good shake. This is often enough to get the pollen moving. I do it daily for a few days in a row. Another thing you can do is take an electric toothbrush, set it against the stem of the flower cluster, or the plant itself. This will shake the the pollen about, helping to set the fruit. Do these things in the morning, or evening, during a heatwave, not during the heat of the day. If temps are low, or weather is humid, do it during the warmest, driest time of day. Secondly, f eed your tomatoes with a high potash fertiliser . That is the last number on the packaging (N-P- K). As soon as I came home (3 weeks ago), I gave my tomatoes a good shake and then gave my tomatoes (and dahlias) a good shot of this liquid seaweed extract . I now have loads of good sized tomatoes on all the tomato plants. The extract is 2-2-16, all natural, and is the bomb. I have had that small container for several years now. The extract is mixed with water, and then that mixture is mixed with water again, so one small container makes 1200 litres of fertiliser! Reindeer is a small mom and pop Vancouver Island company, but Stuart ships anywhere in Canada. This extract and his liquid seaweed are two of my most favourite things. If you are going to order and pay for shipping anyway, get both! You will love them. This is just my personal opinion/review, not a paid for advertisement. Just one application is probably enough to get things going, but you might want to give them a shot once a week for two weeks in a row. That is it. You do not want to overdo it. Over fertilising may cause further problems, like sterilisation, that you will not be able to rectify. Here are some other fertiliser ideas that are high in potassium. Pro-Mix 3-6-12 / Lawnderlust Seaweed Extract Fertiliser 3-5-18 / Cronk Nutrients Trio (use the Grow 2-1-6) The bagged one (Lawnderlust) in the middle is also an extract, very similar to the one I purchase from Reindeer. It is pricy to start with, but you mix it with water and it makes up to 2000 litres of fertiliser. You will have it for years! You can use it on anything that is struggling, even indoor plants that are not flowering. Tip 3 - Your Tomato has yellowing foliage, brown tips, few flowers or fruits, looks peaky, not healthy. This can be so many things. Might be that it was too cold when the tomato was planted, temperature fluctuations, over or underwatering, bugs, too small a container, or lack of nutrients. If you think it is a too small container (should be 5 gallon, or bigger), pot it into a larger pot, or a big bucket with holes drilled into it. Use a bagged potting soil, not garden soil, and add some compost or manure. My 'secret' ratio is 2 parts compost to 5 parts potting soil. The larger pot with good soil should perk it right up. You cannot change the temps from when you planted, but you can help your tomatoes deal with the fall out with nutrients. Though you might think it is a lack of nitrogen (first number) because it is so limey in colour, it actually needs a boost of potassium (potash). The last number again (N-P -K ). A nitrogen deficiency can look similar on the foliage, but if the entire tomato looks a bit off, you need potassium. Also, if you feed your soil annually with compost/manure, it is unlikely to be a nitrogen issue. Potassium is considered the all round, make it healthy fertiliser. It helps the water and nutrients flow through the plant, it makes plants stronger, which in turn means less pest and disease problems. Helps your plants deal with heat stress and drought. As above, this is something that you only want to apply once, maybe twice in midsummer. No more than that. If you still need something afterwards, choose an all purpose fertiliser, like this water soluble 20-20-20. Tip 4 - Tomatoes look great, but are not ripening . Now that we are in August, if your tomatoes are not ripening, they might need some help to prod them along. Where you live and when your first average frost is, will make a difference in when you start to worry. Here in Central Alberta, our first frost is the first or second week in September, on average, so we need to get a wiggle on pretty soon. On the coast, it is not till October, but you have the September rains and late blight to worry about. First - Remove much of the excess foliage. I have removed foliage 3 times already (see above) as I have such lush tomato plants. Start from the bottom, and prune off excess foliage. This puts the energy into the ripening process, rather than making new leaves. Never was that a problem for me on the island, hahaha. Usually the plant was kinda pathetic, while the fruits were amazing (see above). It is a soil thing. If you have gardened in the rocky, sandy west coast soils, you know what I mean. Here on the prairies, we have clay soils that tend to hold more nutrients and moisture, so prune, prune, prune. Oh, but don't get too carried away. Do not remove all the foliage so that your tomatoes end up with sunburn. Second - Top your indeterminates. Take the tops off of your vining tomatoes to stop it from growing taller and putting on more flowers. This will direct the energy into ripening the existing fruits. You can also top your determinates (bush type tomatoes) if you really want to push things along. Third - Remove new flowers. They will not have time to grow and ripen. Fourth - Cut back on watering. Tomatoes love water, they will keep on fruiting and growing as long as you are watering. This is not what you want if you are trying to ripen the existing fruits. Time for me to start cutting back on water. I've been watering every 3rd day this summer but will now taper off to just every 5 to 7 days. How often you water will depend on whether the tomatoes are in containers, in ground gardens, raised beds, depth of raised beds, temps, and how often you get a good rain. Always check with your finger to see if the soil is going dry before watering. Overwatering will often give you blossom end rot (BER), and bland tasting tomatoes with no flavour. General Guideline for regular summertime watering... Potted tomatoes - every 2nd day. In ground gardens - every 3rd day. Low raised beds - twice a week. Taller raised beds - once or twice a week. Fifth - As we near mid to end month, remove any tomatoes that are too small to size up and ripen before first frost. Sixth - This is something I am loathe to do as I like the depth of flavour in vine ripened tomatoes. Will only do it if I am truly running out of time. Remove blushing tomatoes. Let your tomatoes get to the blushing stage and then bring them in to finish ripening indoors, leaving the rest of the tomatoes to blush, or ripen, on the vines. Greenhouses and frost blankets will extend your season by several weeks, sometimes by as much as a month. Tip 5 - Keep them healthy . Each year will have it's own challenges, with some years being better tomato years than others. The weather will sometimes be too hot, too cold, too wet, too humid, too something. While you cannot control the elements, you can ensure a good harvest by keeping your tomatoes as healthy as possible. Potted tomatoes - See tip 3 for how to plant, adding manure or compost in with the potting soil. Feed with an all purpose tomato or vegetable fertiliser a couple times a month. This is the easiest way to keep them thriving. Epsom salt , a couple tablespoons (a small handful), on top of the soil, once a month, is also helpful to keep the leaves green and the plant strong. Tomatoes in the Garden (raised bed or in ground) - First and foremost, the most important part about organic gardening is feeding the soil to feed the plants. At the end of the year, after garden clean up, layer 1.5 to 3 inches of compost or manure on your garden beds. Rake it out, leave it sit for the winter. If you have great soil, less is required. If your soil is lacking, layer it on a bit thicker. Can also be done in spring, a few weeks before planting time. I like to use different compost or manure as the more soil life diversity you have, the better your gardens will perform. Ps, chicken manure is my go-to, my manure of choice. If you feel like you would like to add more nutrients, planting time is the best time to do this. Add some organic granular, slow release, or pelleted fertiliser. My favourite fertiliser to add to the planting hole, or to scatter around the plants is Acti-Sol. It is a pelleted, dry chicken manure, with calcium added to help with BER (blossom end rot). It also deters rodents from digging up your bulbs, so is great for fall bulbs, too). Alfalfa pellets (yes, like you feed your bunnies or gerbils) are a great organic source of nutrients, especially nitrogen. You can also buy alfalfa meal. If you like to mulch your garden with straw, choose alfalfa straw, if it is an option. It costs a bit more but adds more nutrients as it breaks down. Liquid seaweed/kelp as both a water in fertiliser and a foliar spray gives an instant boost. To apply a foliar spray, dilute kelp/seaweed in a spray bottle, or backpack sprayer, spray liberally on the foliage. Water with an all purpose vegetable fertiliser now and then. Do not overdo it. Over fertilised tomatoes will stop fruiting, especially in a heatwave. Side dress with manure or compost in mid summer and let the rain and hose bring the nutrients to the roots. Acti-Sol / Gaia Green 4-4-4 / Jobe's Organic 4-4-4 / Alfalfa Pellets Alfalfa Meal / Sea Farm Kelp fertiliser / 1 Gal Garden Sprayer The most important thing for healthy, thriving tomatoes, is to feed your soil so that you have have healthy soil. Healthy soil means healthy plants, which means less pests and diseases. These fertiliser tips will help your tomatoes overcome weather related issues that may have stalled out your tomatoes, will help you reap a bountiful harvest. Happy Tomato Growing ~ Tanja

The heatwave is over, but the plants loved every minute of it. They are all thriving and happy. Me, I am happy with these moderate temperatures, as I can finally get things done. I had an AHA moment yesterday, have made a big change of plans in my backyard renovation. Will tell you all about it in the next Notes From The Potting Shed. It's going to make a lot more sense, and look spectacular. Check out this pretty yarrow, eh? It lives in the hottest part of the hard. Gets afternoon and evening sun, is surrounded by concrete, gets very little water as it is under the eaves, but yet it is thriving. I highly recommend. Not sure of the name, but think it is Red Velvet. Here are the great reads that I found for you guys this week... I absolutely love this garden , must pick up the book about krautkopf gardens. How to make a rain garden . A rain garden is a shallow, bowl-shaped area that collects water runoff from impervious surfaces such as downspouts, sump pumps, paved areas, roofs, driveways, walkways, and lawns. Often, the heavy rain from a thunderstorm comes down so quickly that the water doesn’t have time to soak into the ground, which means the water isn’t even available in the soil for thirsty plants to take up. A rain garden creates a “trap” for that water! D angers to garden birds . I love the birds. I plant flowers and shrubs that will attract them to my garden. They seem to prefer my front yard to the back... which may be because the dogs are out back. Perhaps they see them as a threat. I get that. I so want to put out some cute little birdhouses, but sadly, as long as we have Little Lulu kitty, that is something I cannot do. She has gotten fat and lazy since we left the acreage, a whole lot less mice and rats around here, but she loves to watch the birds through the window. Though she sticks pretty close to home, she is allowed outside. Therefore, no bird houses for me. Ten things to know about growing lavender. I love the English lavenders! I took these for granted on Vancouver Island. They grew, thrived, flowered, with little to no care needed. Especially big bonus as they did not need water to thrive and flower. Here in my zone 3 garden, I treat it as an annual. If you have a sheltered area, mulch it up well for winter, it may come back, but if you think of it as an annual to enjoy for the season and it happens to come back the following year, well... what a lovely bonus. These are the most beautiful, carefree, English cottage style gardens! So dreamy! Check out the many great photos in this read. White cosmos with blue borage ? Wow, they look so good together! These garden edging ideas are so pretty. I am busily pulling out the plastic flexible edging from my yard, making more natural transitions. I do not need to keep rocks and mulch completely separate (see 15). I know that they basically stay in their own lanes as that is what we did everywhere at the acreage. No edging materials at all. Though I sure do love those sleepers! Here are two really reads about garden myths. Did you know that these are old wives' tales? This one , and this one . I loved the last read best, but disagree with the part about not planting things closer than recommended, lol. As long as you have good air flow and plant things that grow well together, you are fine. If you live in a humid area or have your garden in a warm pocket that has little to no wind/airflow, then do not do it. Homey Bits It's been a minute since I posted much of anything to do with patios, decor, homey bits, but this post with design ideas for verandas and loggias is so worth the share. Not many of us here in North America have loggias (covered outdoor corridors, often with columns and arches, that lead to the garden) but really, they are just fancy decks... right? T urning a shed into a tiny house ? This is so cute. I love everything about it, but cannot imagine the amount of cleaning I would have to do with my grandies and pups in there, hah! Check out the outdoor space idea in this Scandinavian home! This pretty rag wreath . In Blue! Just my colour! Because... well, because Blue! Cute blue toaster This coffee maker by Drew Barrymore . A blue electric tea kettle *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support! Recipes I think I vaguely remember hearing about this many years ago... have you heard of B lueberry Boy Bait ? It sure does look yummy! but then again, you all know I love anything blueberry ; ) Holy doodle, this salad looks amazing! I found a new sourdough baker to follow. Love her insta page, and has a blog, too. Check out all the yummy recipes! This recipe looks like my next yummy thing to make! My plant stash for the pollinator strip garden.... and Berkeley. Hope you are having a great weekend! Happy Sunday, eh? ~ Tanja

Getting the house clean, and keeping it clean, are pretty big deals around here. With two very large, drooly, shedding dogs, the house can quickly get out of hand. Add in chronic arthritis pain, and suddenly staying on top of things is a bit more of a challenge. I need a clean house. It is in my genes, hahaha. Cannot stand messy or dirty. Love the dogs, obviously, but they sure do make a mess. Have you seen Turner and Hooch? Beethoven? Yes, exactly that. I have both a mastiff and a Saint Bernard. I also like to clean, most of the time. As long as it is easy for me to do, I enjoy the cleaning process. I don't like it if it is hard to do, wears on my body. Here are some of the tricks I use to make my life (with dogs and young grandkids) a whole lot easier. Tip 1 - Get Yourself A Spin Mop. Seriously. You will thank me for this tip. Whether you are a busy parent, a pet parent, have physical disadvantages that make it difficult to bend down, you will use this Vileda Spin Mop for everything! It is my life saver. Use it for the obvious, of course, for washing floors of all kinds. The spinning basket means that your mop is well wrung out so that it is safe to use on wooden, tiled, and vinyl floors. The grandies love to help spin the mop, by the way, so if you have littles, they will love to help you spin it. The triangular mop head means that it gets into all corners and tight spots. Even that awkward corner between the wall and your nightstand. The mop gets in there so nicely! Or, what about that space between the toilet and the wall? Ugh! No one, but no one, wants to get down there at nose level with the toilet! It also makes washing the dog drool and kid's handprints off walls super easy, and does baseboards, too. Just run the mop along the baseboards, gets rid of dog hair and dust. I get a lot of both in the summer time, for some reason. The walls I do regularly, pretty much weekly, just because it is so easy. Tip 2 - Get Swopt This company is brilliant. You buy a handle and then add whatever tools you need to clean your home. That release button is easy to use, even with sore hands, which makes swapping out the tool end easy as pie. If I can do it, I promise you can do it. It is nothing like opening child proof pill jars. We have 2 of the handles, a long 60 inch one for doing the front windows, and this s horter one (48 inches) that I use for everything else. I am under 5 feet tall, so I like the short handle. Hubby likes the longer one ; ) I have both the scrub brush and the window scrubber with squeegee . The squeegee is removable, you can hand squeegee your shower doors, if you like, or just leave it on and flip it over when you are done washing with the scrubber pad. This scrubby thing makes it so I can do the windows in just minutes. Even the basement windows are a breeze for me to do. I use dish soap and warm water, just squeegee if off. That is it. Clean as a whistle each time. I do my windows like once a month because I can do it so easily with this Swopt thingie. Takes just minutes. However, I also love watching this TikTok nonna who uses soapy water with bleach to clean windows, patio doors, and even the siding with the spin mop above. She then just hoses it off with clean water. Brilliant. She is a hoot to watch and makes me want to clean everything! I use the brush tool to wash the deck from muddy paw prints, and clean the grout and tiles inside the house. More about grout cleaning further down the post : ) Swopt also has a microfibre dust mop that I want. It would make cleaning up dust and doghair so fast in between floor days. I do floor day at least twice a week to keep up with the hair the dogs are losing in this heatwave. This dust mop could be a quick daily sweep. They have a 7 piece ultimate set , as well, that comes with this handy rack to hold everything. It is a little bit on the pricey end but I absolutely know that you will like everything about it (except, truly, get the spin mop, too). Tip 3 - Scrubbing Powder I have three different options for you to use on your tiles and grout. The Mint Cleaning Scrub , in the picture above, is the product that I like the best. Use it on grout, on sinks, stoves, counter tops, even use it on stains on fabrics or carpets. Cleans up cat puke very nicely. It smells so very nice, does not take your breath away like some of the other powder cleaners, is safe to use for anyone with breathing/allergy issues... and it works! To clean your grout... Wet the floor first, sprinkle the scrubbing powder on the grout, let sit for a minute, scrub with your brush. Use the spin mop to wipe it clean afterwards. No bending needed. If you can, are willing and able to get down on your knees to scrub, this Grout Brush Set is awesome. It also does a fantastic job on window and patio door tracks. Okay. The 2nd idea, the alternate powder that you can use to clean the grout is Bar Keepers Friend. Be careful putting down the powder, it is very harsh smelling till you wet it down, but it will clean up your grout to sparkling. The cream does not work half as well, stick to the powder. Use it the same way as above, with your scrub brush. The 3rd grout cleaner that I have used is Zep . I found this one easy to use because it is a spray, is not as quite as harsh smelling as the powder, and does a fantastic job. I really like this one a lot. I used this one to get the sauna sparkling for the picture used in the builders awards above. Amazing, eh? It also comes in a heavy duty, multi surface, citrus cleaner. I sprayed it on, then scrubbed the grout and tiles with the Swopt brush, rinsed everything clean with the spin mop. No bending. Certainly no crawling under the sauna benches! Tip 4 - Machine Washable Rugs I know, I know, I bring this up a lot, but machine washable rugs are a huge factor in keeping my house free of dog smells, clean from their dirty footie prints when they come in on a rainy day, or just dirty and hairy from them laying on them. I use machine washable rugs everywhere! In my sitting room, runners for the hallway, the grandkids room (especially great during potty training time) and in our bedroom for something cosy underfoot when you get out of bed. I have been know to throw them in the washer weekly some months! Sometimes just once a month. Depends on the time of year, how much dirt is getting tracked in by the dogs. See more machine washable rugs in My Amazon Shop. I do not buy pricey ones because A) I am too poor and B) it would be pointless at my house because of the dogs. These guys are affordable. Most all of them are very thin though. If you do not wear s lippers , you may want to put down a cushioned under-pad. Oh, they are non-slip, too; they have a rubbery backing so stay in place. No tripping hazards, no curling up of the corners! *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support, I sure do appreciate it. Tip 5 - Use Nice Smelling, Safe Cleaning Products Use cleansers that are good for the planet, good for you, safe for your health, and smell lovely in a natural way. I use two brands for everything I do. Mint Cleaning has the best smelling products that I have ever used in my life. If you check their website, everyone remarks upon the scent. They use bergamot, rosemary, mint, lemongrass.. all kinds of yummy scents. This is a BC mompreneur business. They were just on the Dragon's Den - we'll get to see that show in September! My favourites are the floor wash , the all-purpose spray , the scrubbing powder, the glass cleaner, and the hand soap. Love the hand soap ! They also have a yummy laundry soap, fabric softener, dish soap, so many great things! I also adore Mrs Meyers cleaners. They are a larger business, but are cruelty free, smell terrific, come in several scents (my favourite is Lemon Verbena), and, most importantly, they work super well. My favourites are the multi-surface cleaner for use on anything, but I use it for floors mostly, and the sauna, and the multi-surface spray . Safe to use on counter tops, makes them super clean, spray down the sink to make it sparkle and smell great. They also have a yummy liquid laundry soap and the dish soap is so nice. You can find them on Amazon, some drug stores, Canadian Tire, London Drugs, and at well.ca. *Note - I am going to mention this vacuum and this one, too. My gf has one and loves it so much, she bought one for all 3 of her daughters, plus her mom. She swears that it works, is the bomb. Said the best part is the detangling bar. She has a dog, long hair, her daughter's have long hair, hardwood floors with rugs in the main living areas, carpet in the bedrooms. They are both great, the one is just a little bit stronger. The less expensive one actually rates best on Amazon reviews. I love cordless vacuums! Hang it on the wall to charge, it is out of the way, does not get caught on things when you vacuum (like mine does). These both have a 40 minute run time. I cannot attest to this personally as I really, really want one, but do not have one. I spent a bunch on money on a vacuum that I absolutely hate, hahaha, but it works well with picking up dog hair, so I cannot justify getting rid of it... yet. When I do, I will get one of these. I also love to whip open the windows, let in the fresh air (when there are no forest fires!) and light a candle now and then. I love Sand & Fog and Sand and Paws , specially to neutralise pet smells (wet dogs, smelly dogs, cat litter). Happy House Cleaning (wink wink) ~ Tanja

So much smoke in the air today. We usually cool off the house at night so is nice in the morning, but last night I woke up to the smell of smoke. Once I had reassured myself that it was not a fire inside the house, I went around and closed all the windows. We woke up to a house that has not cooled down and the start to another really hot day. I worry, to see how hot it will be this evening, at this rate. The dogs still refuse to go to the basement, so we do the best we can with fans, bowls of ice in front of the fans, closed curtains, and the furnace fan bringing up cooler air from downstairs. That said, the gardens are really loving this weather. Everything is growing by leaps and bounds. I gave my tomatoes and dahlias a shot of seaweed. ( Here i s something with similar potassium numbers if you also want to try) The dahlias are sad looking but hanging in there. The tomato plants are happy and healthy with lots of flowers and some tomatoes. I want to push the fruiting of the tomatoes and make my dahlias happier. I know it is the heat that is working against them, but kelp/seaweed (high potassium) is said to help plants weather high heat, so giving it a go. Will let you know what happens... if anything ; ) The evolution of Sarah Raven's garden . If you love looking at fabulous gardens and beautiful garden buildings, as I do, this article is a stunner. There is nothing quite like an English cottage garden, is there? How to g row eggplants. No-Till Gardening Methods: Digging Into Different Types | Gardening Know How Pollinator container gardens. No room for a pollinator strip garden? Check out these ideas for container gardens to attract the bees! Creating Garden Rooms . This is a great article with so much inspo for creating room like garden spaces in your yard. Is this not the cutest garden set ever? I am going to admit that I want it just for that garden kneeling pad, but I love the rest of it, too. It is affordable enough to warrant buying it for just the kneeling pad, but getting that great bag, too. I think this would be an amazing gift for any gardener. I have been looking at kneelers to cushion the ground when I plant bulbs, garlic, or sit and weed a bed. I like the chair types , but they are not super practical for me with all my low gardens. This rolling seat caught my eye, I must admit. It has big tires so would easily roll, it looks fab, too, but I no longer have those long raised beds so not sure this is what I need. Some of the other foam kneelers are practical but not pretty. That is why I love that green set above. I would hang in on a hook in the shed so that I could easily grab it when needed. I can already picture this in my mind, hahaha! Homey Bits! Love this article about how to layer rugs on carpets in different rooms, especially this room in the picture above. I would love to do this in our sitting room... however, not with white. With a durable, darker rug that would give some texture and softness, but can be thrown into the washing machine regularly. That would save on washing the larger rugs, plus give the dogs a lovely cushioned place to lie (in winter). I recently found this blogger/youtuber and have been watching her videos on weekend mornings as a nice way to start the day. I quite enjoy her vintage ideas for decorating, styling. Mostly, I love listening to her talk. She has a soft, lovely voice, as she walks you through her ideas, showing you all the steps. Check out She Holds Dearly. Green Sweater Vest (comes in other colours). Summery Sweater Vest (can also be used as a topper in winter) Button down sweater vest with pockets (comes in many colours). Sleeveless sweater vest. (comes in many colours). Over-sized loose sweater vest . (comes in many colours). Scoop Neck, button up top or sweater vest. (comes in several colours) Did you know that sweater vests are having a moment? How do you feel about them? I want them, lots of them, for summer and winter! And, bags for back to school, shopping, work, whatever. These are super and are still very well priced! Get them now, before the school crush begins. Pink Corduroy Hobo Bag (comes in several awesome colours) Corduroy Tote Bag (also in several cool colours) Duck Canvas Sturdy Tote Bag (comes in some fun colours, love the burgundy, too.) *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support, I sure do appreciate it. Recipe Bits! Goat Cheese and Peach Crostini - Live Laugh Rowe . It is just about peach season, this looks amazingly yummy, and it works for my diet, too. These 15 easy to make, no bake desserts . Perfect for this heatwave! Remember this recipe I posted earlier for a browned butter rice krispie square ? Makes it even better! The best non-alcoholic bevies on the market ! Love unleaded options to help beat the heat! Have a great week! Tanja

Yay, the gardens here have finally started growing. It was a cold June, with 3 frosty nights, very windy days, just plain out cool most every day. Now that we are in the 20°C region (68 F) daily, one can see the daily growth. Hoping I don't jinx things by saying... looks like summer is finally here. (As I get ready to post this, we have another rainy, grey day - sigh.) The yard reno was booked to start this week, but the trip to Saskatchewan (that was supposed to be in May, hahaha) is happening now instead, so we've bumped the landscaper to mid-month instead. This means that my pollinator strip is not going to have time to do much of anything this summer, but with the cool season it has been delayed. I think that finding flowering plants for the pollinators this time of year will be a bit more of a challenge, but will plant it up for next year to be amazing instead. Everything for a reason, as they say. I will post before and after photos of the work once it happens. Plus the finished potting shed reveal, plus the giveaway. Whew, all coming soon. It has just been one of those crazy things where nothing quite went as hoped and planned. The fun part is that we are staying at a cohousing housing unit in Saskatchewan with the most amazing gardens I have ever seen... or have seen in the longest time! I have become very inspired, the ideas that I have garnered during this short visit! I am going to pack that strip full of flowers, add lots more vines and flowering shrubs than I had initially planned. What to sow now... If you have not yet sown rutabagas, this is the perfect time to do it. They like to be sown in summer so that they finish off their growth in cooler temps. If you are on the west coast, this is when you sow your winter carrot crop! Some time over this week, you want to do it by the 8th, or so, or it becomes too late for them to size up. Truly. Try to do it asap! We can do this on the prairies, too, for baby carrots this fall. Some other things you can still plant, if you have room... greens like mustard, lettuce, kale, arugula... green onions onions turnips chard kohlrabi It's getting almost late for beans and cucumbers, but... if it has been too cold for you to get them in earlier, do it now. Nothing to lose by trying. I'm super worried about whether my tomatoes will have enough time to ripen with this late start to sun and heat. They are paste bush tomatoes ( Martino's Roma and Heinz 2653) that should take 75 days from transplant to harvest, so there is time... if all goes well. I've left my mizuna mustard for the bees. These flowers are edible, too. Pretty, eh? I fear that I may lose this entire bed of onions to maggots. These onions are all the fun, new varieties I wanted to try this year, so it is pretty sad. Two rows are gone, with more falling prey to them daily. I have onions growing in two beds. The first one has nothing growing around the onions. In the second bed, the onions were planted amongst the lettuces and mustards a long time ago, when all the plants were small. The greens have now grown up and around the onions ... this bed has no maggots (yet, anyway)! So, I am going to move in some more alyssum into the first bed, see if that helps. If it is not too late yet. I also popped in a trellis and planted a row of cucumbers. Just in case it really is too late to save the onions. Might as well use that space! I've had onion maggots before, and sadly, there is little that seems to stop them. Nothing organic, at any rate. I do not like to use DE as it kills bees and other insects, as well. I tried all the methods at acreage, finally gave up and covered them with insect netting on a hoop frame . That did the trick. That may be what we end up doing here, as well, though I am intrigues about this companion planting business that seems to be working. These maggots come from flies that lay their eggs at the top of the onion, right at soil level. The eggs hatch, the larvae eat the onion, the tops start to yellow, wilt, and topple. Hard to stop a fly! That is why it is either a cover, or with any luck, this companion planting makes the difference. Other things you can do now... Feed your planters with a little bit of slow release fertiliser . This will help keep them blooming and happy all summer. It is a great idea for those of us who do not regularly remember to do liquid fertilisers. I am pretty hit or miss ; ) Weed and weed some more. Pull the weeds, use a hoe, dig them out.... gosh, it is never ending with this rain. Pinch back your lanky petunias, and other flowers, now for a fresh burst of lush, bushy blooms in just a couple of weeks. If your baskets are drying out, pop them into a bucket of water to soak for an hour or so. Add some liquid seaweed or kelp, if you have some, for added nutrients and root health. Do not use Miracle Grow, or a similar fertiliser, as that will likely burn the roots. This dunk is a pick me up for dry, tired baskets. They will look amazing in no time. Trim off any bits by pinching (or with small pruners to avoid green fingernails and sticky hands), that do not bounce back after the dunking. Q&A's Question - Can I really sow carrots in this heat? It is like 35°C (95°F) in my garden during the daytime. Tanja - Yes, even in this heat. I promise that it will be okay. Though carrots can take several weeks to germinate, in heat like this, they will be up in 5 days or less. I like to cover mine with burlap sacks (doubled up burlap) to keep them damp until they germinate. If they dry out, the seeds will die. Soak the furrow, sow the seeds, cover with soil, water the bed, cover with burlap, water the burlap. Check daily to see if you have germination, or need to water. Remove sacks as soon as they germinate. Question - What flowers would you recommend to plant with the vegetables? Tanja - Great question! My favourite topic of all, hah! Sweet alyssum is by far my favourite, it attracts so many of the good bugs and pollinators. Calendula and marigolds are both a both a must. Cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, and herbs like borage, dill, oregano, thyme, and basil are all great companion flowers for your potager. 5 burlap sacks / Mesh Tote Bag / Collapsible 150' hose with 9 setting nozzle (love this!) *Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the affiliate links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support, I sure do appreciate it. Check out this gorgeous planter that my brother gave me for my birthday. Isn't it amazing? Have A Great Week & Happy Gardening ~ Tanja