Getting Ready to pay respect

That time of year is nearly here again.  Take the time to go to your local cenotaph and show your local veteran's how much you respect what they did and continue to do for our world. 

Celebrate, admire and show respect.  Happy birthday to Mal on Sunday who is a veteran, please be safe Rob who is overseas at the present, Nate please be careful when training, John be mindful of the dangers overseas, and Ray you are thought of each and everyday.

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Blustery day!

I feel like we are in the Winnie the Pooh story about the blustery day.  It is quite windy.  We were out last night and came home after 11.  The wind coming home was pretty strong.  We only had a small amount of rain last night and so our basement is dry at the moment.  A few branches down on the roads and leaves everywhere.  But, no trees down that we saw and our neighbourhood seems to be intact. 

Just caught up on the hurricane status for the eastern seaboard: fires, flooding, power outages, looks pretty intense.  Queens is a blazing mass of houses on fire.  CNN is all over the story but not the objective reporting that they began their launch with years ago.  Right now they are focusing on the terror of folks trying to get out after a harrowing night. 







Stay safe, stay warm, stay out of the way of rescue workers. 

Lady of the Oak

Hurricanes, sore back, crafting ideas

Well the hurricane rain is here. how does that happen in southwestern Ontario? We are experiencing heavy rain and the temperature has dropped considerably since last week. Some areas are getting very high winds, and colossal amounts of rain. My back is still tweaky going to see my amazing chiro today and hopefully that will get it all back into the proper geographic locations. Then we are going to see "Argo". I have so many new crafting ideas I have been searching the net for different things to do with items that we have around the house and to upcraft. I saw a cool idea yesterday for using my toilet paper rolls. So, that is the next fun project to try once my back is back to normal. My workshop is so neat and tidy and I have wood for the stove and yet here I am trapped inside the house. Tuesday will be fun a friend will be here to lend a hand to help me get the pots into the garden shed, get my glass moved to the garage, rug moved and some Hallowe'en treats, and of course carve a Jack O' Lantern for the front porch.

 

 

 

I am so looking forward to getting back into the workshop.  I have glass projects to get started/finished for the holidays, some concrete that needs to be poured for the holidays and some decorations for gifts for the holidays.  I am also going to try my  hand at making some concrete planters for gifts.  My alchemy is getting dusted off and I will make some Christmas room sprays for gifts and then of course we get into the chocolate time of year.  I have nearly two dozen dishcloths made to date - pink ones for breast cancer are finished working on the blue ones at present.

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Allergies oh yay!

Allergies have only been a part of my repertoire for a few years.  There are differing opinions on the why. Let's just suffice it to say that I do indeed have allergies.  This year more than any year I have suffered terribly from them.  Last night I finally took my second allergy pill in many years.  I took one last week as I just could no longer stand the insanity of it all.  I got up out of bed last night and found the package that the we keep for just such an occasion. 

I am confident my other half has allergies as well.  He has been suffering the symptoms and the sore throat, the sneezing, a little cough here and there.  I am not sure why this year is so symptomatic but it has been crazy!

So, here I am...I am a little bit sniffly, my throat feels like a piece of sand paper.  But all in all I can breathe which is more than last night before the medication. 

Other than the allergies I am doing pretty good today.  My back is just about 100%, another couple days and I think I will be back to my normal.  The plan is to make Hallowe'en treats on Monday/Tuesday for handing out on Wednesday.  I am thinking Rice Krispie Squares and a cocotion of graham wafers with chocolate swirl on top of them and maybe a bit of peanut butter. 

Enjoy the day,



My nieces in 2008 - first time in the pumpkin patch

Lady of the Oak

Lanscape Cloth for the veggie patch

Well since I was unable to garden this spring the garden was furrow and the growth is amazing!  Not the things you want to have growing in your 24x24 patch of earth but growing nonetheless.  So, this fall we are covering it in landscape cloth to keep the sun off the growth and slow it down.  I will be able to plant right over top of it and cut slits for the wild milkweed and herbs sections.  I will also save the hollyhocks. 

The process is long and fiddlly, but it will get done. 

Lady of the Oak

Friends

Life is funny at times.  Just not all that long ago I was planning what to do with the rest of my life.  Got as far as the university plan, and then it all just kind of fell into place or at least so I thought.  Now having been underemployed for seven yes, 7 years I am not so sure that the plan did fall into place as it was planned.  I went to university as a mature student and that was an experience I will treasure forever.  I made life long friends one of whom is just like a best friend.  I do not see him often but he is always there.  Others I went to school with are there too, just not with the same closeness.  One I lost track of for awhile has been found and we are in touch again which is nice.  I remember going to see "Circle of Friends" with her when we were both completing our undergrad degrees.  We went to see it with another friend and she left to go see the guy she was dating (who is also a friend of mine and they eventually married and had kids).  That left the two of us and we looked at one another and said 'wanna go see it again?"  and we turned and walked right back into the theatre.  I have never done that before or since that movie.  An experience her and I will always share.  Tis funny how the friends that you think are so much a part of your life just fade out and you do not really notice that they are not there.  But others have an impact on you that you just cannot live without.  I have another friend who stuck by me in some pretty trying times and never judged me.  We lost touch for a bit and we picked up like there had no time pass at all.  Another who lives on the east coast but she is not a tech chick in any way shape or form, so I know she will not see this - I have known her for more than two decades and her and I share experiences from what seems like a lifetime ago - yet we pick up the phone and it is as though we had shaved our legs in her kitchen sink just yesterday. 

This summer I met two such ladies that not having them in my life now would seem terribly empty.  I have not known them for very long, I do not know them well.  But, somewhere inside it is like I have known them both before.  Some where along the way we have known each other before.  They are not my only close confidants or sisters but there is something there that I cannot quite put a finger on.  The only thing that explains it is we have crossed paths somewhere else during another time.  Our friendships have an ease to them, no uncomfortable silences, no pretenses just us as the women that we are comfortable being today, here and now. 

I dedicate this post to those friends -some will read this post as they follow my blog but some do not for whatever reasons. 

Lady of the Oak

Where...

Where do the leaves go after they fall?  Where do the birds go that fly south?  Where do we go when we need to get away?  The leaves if they are lucky get to stay on the ground where they fall.  Birds that fly south get to be warm during the cold winter months.  I like to get out into the fresh air and just be in the forest for the times I need to get away.  I no longer have a place that I go, I used to when I was in university - I used to go to a particular spot on along the river out near Fraserville.  But, now a days I just find that I can lose myself within and or with my hobbies - riding, catching up with friends, glass work, crocheting, needlepoint, gardening and crafting recyclables into something new and useful. 

Where have all the jobs gone?  Now that is a much bigger question.  It seems to me that most of my friends are either in jobs that they despise or underemployed.  What happened to the term golden years?  I googled it to see what comes up...here are the results...

Noun

1.

golden years - the time of life after retirement from active work time of life - a period of time during which a person is normally in a particular life state

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

 

I am not retired yet, but at the rate I am going in my chosen profession I will never be able to retire.  I am not alone.  I am not only disturbed by this, but concerned about my generation.  We are a generation of either have or have nots.  I know both camps and have been in both camps.  I am not even sure which one I fit in at present.  I am fortunate to have a partner who has an excellent job. But, that still does not change my predicament. 

 

So, I leave you with where?

 

Lady of the Oak

Democracy

We have seen a shift in our world with Canadian politics - changing the way collective agreements are created.  I am going to plead the fifth on this one....

But yesterday, the ICI removed all 7 Tour de France wins from elite athlete Lance Armstrong.  Here is the short version - teammates say he doped - they received immunity from the cycling federation.  Lance Armstrong has been adamant for decades he is clean - not ONE POSITIVE test in all those years.  The cycling body has the authority to demand at any time of day, night, off season, on season, vacation, or not - if they show up you MUST provide a urine sample.  In all those years not ONE positive urine sample for drugs, not one!  So, in summary b/c teammates said he doped - and were given immunity, he is guilty.  Lance has been stripped of his accomplishments b/c he has decided that after all these years enough is enough and he is not fighting anymore.  How is this democracy? How is this fair?  This sets a bad example a very bad example for our next generation.  If the bully gets enough backing he will be right, the bully will get their way, if they gather enough momentum and is vigilant in their quest to be right.  Well the government is a bully and they have bullied Lance Armstrong to the point of no return.  They took the word of possibly tainted teammates who have never and will never win the most prestigious race in history on a bicycle, and given them free rein to say whatever they wish and for that they receive immunity.  Throw Lance to the wolves and walk away scot free!  Democracy has died.  If you do not catch a thief with more than circumstantial evidence, you are not able to convict, but apparently that is not how cycling is governed. 

Lance you are a survivor and your true fans will stand with you, as I am and my husband is too.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is just some of mine. 


Lady of the Oak

Chilly weather and baking bread

Yesterday was chilly well nearly cold - I baked bread and it did not rise properly because the room was too cold.  Hubby says that it is like artisan bread! Today we are trying again but I have turned the furnace on so that the house is at least 70'.  We will see if that helps.  I will turn the oven on too to increase the heat in the kitchen.  So, that is all for now. 

Lady of the Oak

Autumn

Well, since it has been months that I have attempted to post anything on my blog, I thought maybe it might be time...the spring was spent hobbling around as my roller skating did not go according to plan and I was laid up for far too many weeks to mention.  Then we did our bike course and I have done little else but ride - shiny side up. 

 

Now that the fall is here the weather is still beckoning me to ride and I have been on the bike as much as possible.  To work, meetings, visiting a friend who is laid up in the hospital from an accident, going to the local Tuesday market, dinner in Port Stanley at the Buccaneer - fabulous Greek salad.  Met a lady on the patio named Francis she lives in Port and her cousin was visiting from Manchester, UK.  The ride home was warm and balmy especially for October. 

Now we are home safe and sound and for some reason I had the urge to post on my blog for the first time since an early May day. 

Lady of the Oak

Gearing up finally

Well I am finally almost ready to begin the gardening scene since being laid up for nearly 8 weeks.  I am still gimpy but getting around much better.  I got the rototiller out on the weekend to begin the tilling and bam! It needs to be repaired.  I have no idea what is wrong with it, or where to even begin with getting it repaired.  I have one name that seems to be popping up and I will see if I can track him down today and go from there. 

I am way behind in my planting, as I have done none.  I guess you could say that puts me behind the eight ball so to speak.  But, I will get there...if this heat is any indication then the growing season will be super anyway. 

I had planned the garden to be much smaller this year and more space between the rows so that is especially true now that I will have to purchase my plants instead of seeding many of them.

So out I go into the planting yonder...

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Chores

Finally getting to some much needed chores about the house in and out.  Outside water turned on, getting some laundry done that was not urgent but requires in my opinion extra outdoor line time in order to be fresh, picked up some much needed shampoo and cloths for the bike so that I can clean it maybe today - likely but not promised.  Spare room upstairs all straightened up and neat, spare room downstairs nearly all re-organized just need to change the sheets, hang up the moose antler, and general tidy.  Office is a mess, not sure I even want to enter the room!  I have been working in the dining room since obtaining my laptop so I have no need to be in the room at the end of the  hall - it is scary! 

Outside - need to get the garden turned - Justin is coming on Monday to do that, need to trim the edges with the clippers and trimmer as our lawn guy does not see fit to do the entire job only part of, going to condense some pots and need to plant some new additions, take down the carnage of the winter, clip the parsley, and in general tidy the garden shed, but once the stuff all comes out of the garden shed it will be tidy! LOL

We have our course tonight, Saturday and Sunday, tis going to be a long weekend in true fashion.  But the boys will be here on Monday and we can hang outside and be silly while we work.  I am still not quite mobile enough to do the rototilling so Justin is going to tackle that for me this season.  I have some clipping that I would very much like to get done this weekend at the back of the yard as it looks messy because again my lawn guy does not seem to think it needs to be trimmed when in fact it does. 

Just got a call for work this afternoon - which is great!  Just made my to do list for today shorter lol

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Rain

We are finally getting some much needed rain.  As I type I can hear the gentle fall of the drops on the house and back deck.  As much as I would like to be outside the next couple of days, we are in dire need of the rain and moisture that is falling.  We need about 3 days of this soft rain in our area just to get the soil wet.  The water table I fear has been affected by the lack of snow this winter and the incredibly dry spring we have been experiencing. 

Our baby Robin's seem to be doing just jim dandy.  The parents are busy on worm and insect detail.  I was dive bombed last night for the first time this season as I stood at the BBQ.  I did not see her but D says she came directly at me and then swerved to get his attention.  Silly bird, if we did not want them there we would have made it difficult to build instead of leaving the previous nest and the branch up all winter whilst they travelled.

We are doing a course this week it begins on Thursday and runs Saturday and Sunday all day.  Ought to be interesting to say the least.  I am looking forward to it, but I think D is somewhat apprehensive.  My Mom is having a test that hopefully will show that things are stable and healthy, considering the lower stress level I am hopeful of a happy result.  I know Mom reads my blog so keep positive Mom. 

I am aiming to have my garage sale the first weekend in June.  I am hoping to get some help to set up and keep me company.  We could drink treats in our morning coffee if that helps enlist folks.  Getting into the garden this weekend now that I am walking once again and not hobbly.  My knees I think are past the point of surgery and whatever I did to them I think is nearly healed. 

Well, I have lots to do before I go to work,
Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Shunpiker and that sort of thing...

Yesterday was Mother's Day and as our tradition has been with Mom since 2008 - off we went.  This year we opted for a different approach as it was all highway driving (which contradicts the definition of the word shunpiker), so we went to the one stop, had a picnic at Weldon park in Arva, went to see Cathy, stopped in Birr at the General Store, went to Lucan to buy Lion tickets for the car giveaway, and headed back home via a stop to visit Mal. 

Shunpiker - from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunpiking
Shunpiking

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The term shunpiking comes from the word shun, meaning "to avoid", and pike, a term referring to turnpikes, which are roads that require payment of a toll to travel on them.^[1] People who often avoid toll roads sometimes call themselves shunpikers.
Shunpiking has also come to mean an avoidance of major highways (regardless of tolls) in preference for bucolic and scenic interludes along lightly traveled country roads.

The London Free Press has for years put out a yearly Shunpiker map in its weekend edition.  It has been our observance for the last several years they have put in minimal effort and expected maximum result.  Thousands of participants usually follow the map and if there are not lots of destinations in between the major stops then the clutter of people gets to be too much to manage.  This year the stops were minimal and all highway driving.  So we decided to do the Fanshawe Pioneer Village part and then have our picnic, and a bit of our own adventuring. 

Pioneer Village was fun, we have not been there in years and it was mostly open with the buildings manned by the appropriate folks.  Bear and I played a game of checkers at the Denfield General Store.  It was fun! 

We had to turn Mom in for being a resistor!

Saw this guy on the top of the cedar I heard him singing it turns out he is a Song Sparrow:

From there we headed to Weldon Park in Arva and had our picnic. We found a picnic table in a shady spot and plopped down to have our lunch. We had spent over two hours at Pioneer Village. From the picnic we headed to Anne's Chocolates in Arva and then across the road to pay our respects to Cathy and spend a moment with her. I still find it hard to believe...

We headed north on Highway 4 to Birr and stopped to browse the general store as per Mom's request.  We found some interesting things and strolled through the various nooks and crannies.  From there we continued north to Lucan and purchased D's car tickets he buys each year.  I saw places I have not seen in a long time and gazed as I drove by and for the first time in a long time had a smile. 

We headed towards home and stopped by Mal's for a quick visit.  I had been getting grief about her not seeing Bear and thought it was a good day to put that to rest.  She got a Bear and a D visit all in one! 

We dropped Mom off home and the three of us headed back to our home and had a BBQ sent Bear safely on his way after he brought the dresser in for me and now I can finish the spare room downstairs and toss out the rack that has been wobbly for sometime now. 

I put my legs up and got an ice pack for my knees and here we are this morning already.  We do indeed have baby Robin's again - how we missed egg laying is beyond us as D just checked the other day...But there are three lil ones in the nest. 

Enjoy the day,
Lady of the Oak

Wacky Wednesday

Ya know when you think you have just figured things out and along comes....whatever it might be.  Well, I am sure we have all experienced this at one time or another.  Last night outside our dining room window there seemed to be by all accounts a bird fight, yes you read correctly a bird fight.  It started rather quietly and I went off to bed to read and shortly after fell asleep.  D says the bird fight was quite distinct and very noisy.  He says it sounded like a bird died.  I have yet to go out and check for the carnage, but likely will before this post is finished.  What do birds have that is so important they need to fight? Why not just fly off somewhere and get what it is there?  Hmmm, not exactly sure.  Okay, going to look outside and see what if anything in the way of evidence there might be, nuthin at all out there.  But on the way I saw this!

even worms do it!

Enjoy the day

Lady of the Oak

Coolness of Monday

Monday has arrived and it is an overcast cool one.  I am guessing by the sky it is likely to rain today.  Monday begins the busiest week in May for me.  Today I have an interview, a presentation at a meeting, evaluation on Tuesday and a funky new art project to share, still with Tuesday lunch with a friend and then an important union meeting, Wednesday a meeting, packing for my conference on Thursday and Friday, then home Saturday is our annual plant sale, Sunday is our tradition of Shunpiker.  Whew! Busy week! 
This morning is all about preparation beginning with hopefully a massage about 10 to relax the muscles of the weekends activities.  Then home and shower to head into the city. 

The Robin on the back deck has settled in nicely and we think she has laid her eggs will check this week to be sure.  But she is not as plump as she once was.  I am hoping to get the garden cultivated this week but am not sure with all the other activities it may need to wait till Saturday when things settle for a few hours.  As well the youngin will be here and he is pretty good at helping his Aunt. 

Well, that is all for today here is a picture of the flowers we created after some improvisation from the directions.  They are not yet completed will do that tomorrow and re-post finished flowers.

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Busy, busy, busy

The month of May has become a busy one and quickly.  I have yet to venture into my garden...oh my!  I have been busy with an old hobby and it has nothing to do with gardening.  I am busy with work, have an interview, evaluation, and doing community work. 

First off the old hobby that was left so long ago and is back I love it! I missed it! I am happy to be back to it!
Second interview yes, an interview Keep your fingers crossed.
Thirdly evaluation yes, an evaluation...been prepping for it all week nearly finished just going to do the finishing touches today. 

Fourthly community work - ya know I did it because it was and still is important to me, but I have learnt it is not so important to the community. I had no volunteers show up and two that I had asked to attend in support bailed on me as well. As always my Mom was there and what a super trooper! We worked from 10-2 on one part of the huge property and it was a tough battle.

Here are the before pictures before any real spring growth this was in early April. 

Now the after...on May 5

There is still much do be done, but at least the entrance resembles an entrance now and not an overgrown mess of bushes, vines and trees that have not been maintained.  I had not planned to cut the bushes to the ground but it just was the most viable option as they had been left for too many years to try and get them under control.  There was too much dead under the growth to be able to trim them and have them grow, so the decision was made that we would cut them back all the way and wait for them to regrow again. 
I am truly disappointed in my community for not coming out and lending a hand.  The neighbour who lives next door to the entrance of the fairgrounds he was very helpful he lent us his hydro connection and then appeared with a small chainsaw, let us pile the brush up on his property so that the town will come collect it.  A gentleman riding through on his bike with a gas powered weed wacker stopped and whipper snipped the grass for us and along the fence line.  The grass was nearly two feet tall.  That was an immediate fix!  An older lady stopped by about 1pm and raked, picked up piles and walked the fence and picked up garbage.  By 1 Mom and I were pooped so were thrilled to have someone help us get through the last hour.  My massage therapist popped in with her two little ones about 1:30 and lent a hand.  Her and her husband discussed the pile of stuff out behind their house and they are going to have it removed for me as it borders their property but on ours.  I spoke with a neighbour on the other side and he wrote a letter and had his neighbours sign it in support of what I am trying to accomplish.  So, it was a successful day, just not as successful as I had hoped and planned.  But a BIG thank you to the ones who did help!  I could not have done this job by myself I would still be there! 

Enjoy the day,
Lady of the Oak

May Days

Well it looks like it might just be time to get the garden ready for planting.  I must say my enthusiasm for gardening with the weather the way it has been is less than ideal.  But it will return.  I am busy with work, other hobbies, and organizing a community clean up this Saturday so will hit the garden during the week. 

Gotta go to work
Enjoy the day

Lady of the Oak

Time is about change...

Change is a good thing...it really is.  Change means new beginnings, new possibilities, new horizons and saying goodbye to the past.  Change is really about embracing who you are and where you could go. Change is about greeting each day as a new one as we ought.  Change is all about seeking new adventures and today is the beginning of each and every day henceforth.  So embrace the changes in your life and greet each day with enthusiasm and grace. 

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Snowy day in upstate New York

The bird nest cams I have been following are at present covered in snow.  The chicks in the Red Tail Hawk nest are in the process of hatching and will likely be just fine with the snowy conditions.  The traffic on the cams is incredible!  Check out the link to see for yourself Red Tail Hawk Nest Cam and the Great Blue Herons are in snow as well.

Well time to begin the day. 

Enjoy the day,
Lady of the Oak

Earth Day

Earth day is upon us and today was a sit quiet day for me due to my recent double knee injury.  I had to sit and just let my knees have a quiet day to rest after a busy week last. 

The Red Tail Hawk nest cam I have been following for a month has two eggs in the process of hatching.  We may see chicks come the morning. 

I watched two movies today one that I had just finished the book that a friend lent to me called "One Day" the book was great, the movie hit the main points of the story but the lack of background and time taken to actually connect the main happenings in the story had a significant impact on the final product.  I would not recommend the movie the book was much better, but that does not say much for the book.  The book was a great read. 

Juggling a few things at the moment.  I have a busy calendar with friends in town, volunteering, chairing a committee, organizing the community clean up day at our local fairgrounds the first weekend in May. Now it turns out the street is having a street sale - so trying to take advantage of that as well at the same time, and our home-crafters are hosting an archery tournament that same day.  Busy to say the least.  The following weekend is Mother's Day and the annual Shunpiker Tour. 

I have been busy in the garage poured a couple garden stones a few days ago and they are curing nice and slowly.  I have been checking on them today to scrape them. 

Spent time talking to Bear on the phone and caught up with him and hopefully he will be here for a visit sooner rather than later. 

I have been out with D this weekend we managed to find a helmet to fit me and him - mine was much more a challenge the first one he put on fit him!  I had to settle for a shiny black one when I was very keen to have a matte black.  But, it did not fit my melon properly so I had to compromise.  Jackets are bought and boots for me are next as I am not able to wear my steel toed work boots.  So, I either have to find a pair here at home or buy a pair. 

That is all for me today, I will try and post daily again now that I am able to sit in a chair and get up without a major production. 

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Volunteering, planning and PD

I have spent the last several days volunteering for a friend.  Also some planning for the community garden I am responsible for with our local hort society and on Friday we have a board wide PD day.  I have chosen the self directed PD option and will be working at a school developing the the curriculum expectations and planning the school wide involvement for the school garden project, which I will not name here due to location issues.  Hopefully with minimal on the part of the classroom teachers who choose to particpate. 

The weather is warming up and the grass is green, the danelions are springing up all over the place an I love to see the bright cheery colour of the their flowers.  I get a kick out watching folks out digging them up only to have them reappear the same time next year and likely each and every year.  They were very nearly our provincial flower and they are much hardier than our trillum that was chosen. 

What else is up well I am nearly walking properly again after a stint of ice, rest, massage and ultra sound treatments.  I am not quite back to normal LOL but getting closer each day.  I find that being on my feet is better than sitting and getting all stiff. Getting up each morning has become easier as the days flow into each other.  Once I get my calf and hamstrings stretched again and not so pissed off at having to work extra hard things will be ducky indeed. 

I have been studying for a test I will be writing hopefully next week.  So, that I can begin my time that is required at the first level.  I have a few things that required but I have one of them borrowed and just need two other pieces as I already possess a few of the required items. 



I am standing while I type this and dancing for the first time in over 2 weeks.  I miss grooving to my tunes and it FEELS great! I have big smile on my face and a song in my ears.  Ironically listening to old skating music with the Bee Gees now it is Night Fever.  It is a sad day for the Gibb family though as one of the two remaining Gibb brother is in a coma in the final stages of his life.



Well, I think that is all for today. I am going to check the cams of the birds that I have been following and see if the red tailed hawks have hatched yet. They are due any day now. The Great Blue Herons are not expected until the end month. 

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Home, garden, friends, adventure

Tis spring and the fun is just begun.  Have been busy at home, getting geared up for our local home and garden show on the weekend.  Garden well it is pretty chilly here still not much on that side, cept I wrote an article for our local hort society newsletter - I will include it.  Been approved for the Community School Garden project we have been trying to get together for more than 2 years now.  Friends are bountiful and active.  Been skating, telephoning, and getting together.  Adventure lies just ahead D and I are signed up for a course in May it ought to be a hoot and a half! 

March 31 2012

Garden Dreams

I wonder what gardeners dream about?  Do we dream about endless amounts of money to spend on our gardens?  Do we covet the ability to plant any kind of species and have it thrive?  Do we desire pain free weeding? Do we crave a weed free world?  Just what do gardeners dream of? 

If we had money to spend in our garden on whatever wonderful additions we can envision to liven up our gardens what would we spend it on?  Would we add gnomes, plants, arbours, climbers, ponds?  Just what would we spend an unlimited budget?  Would we reorganize our entire garden layout and begin anew?  Or would we enhance what we have today and make it better or is it just fine and dandy the way it is?  Money might resolve our garden issues but is a gardener every really satisfied with their garden? 

If we could live in any part of the world and grow any kind of species we wanted what would we want to grow where would we want to live?  Would we choose to stay where we are?  Where would you choose to go?  What would you choose to grow?  Would you grow for a company? Would you create an organic garden fit for any vegetarian?  Would you convert to being a flower grower and export your flowers to all corners of the globe?  The garden possibilities are endless as are the choices we have right here at home in our little part of the world.  We have a decent climate, lots of native plants to choose from and many more imported options.  What would you do?

Weeds are an integral part of any garden.  What would we do with the extra time we would have in our gardens if weeds were no longer a time consuming, back breaking concern that required our attention?  Would you create an oasis free from extra work?  Would you plant more plants to share with friends and neighbours?  Would you put your feet up in the garden more often?  Would you stop gardening as the challenge might be gone?  Do we require weeds to keep us on our toes and in our gardens on a regular basis? 

What do gardeners dream of?  Gardeners dream of blooms that do not droop, blooms that attract all the pretty creatures that amuse us and bring a smile to our faces, soft rains and gentle frost as the seasons change.  Gardeners dream of easy-going gentle breezes and sunny days from days of old not the heat drenching sun surface of today.  Gardeners dream of bountiful harvests and sharing with family, friends, neighbours and other horticultural society members their success stories.  Are you a gardener?  I am!

Off to the home and garden show later today and most of the weekend.  Busy with D next week doing all kinds of different things.  Looking forward to spending time with him.  All is well and grand.

Enjoy the day.
Lady of the Oak

First Day of April

The first day of April has rolled in and it is a chilly one to say the least.  I hung a line of laundry out and my fingers were pretty chilly by the end of the basket.  I am still watching the live cams of the red tail hawk and the great blue heron.  If you have not taken a peek I highly suggest you do before the eggs hatch and you can watch new life unfold as it happens. 

Here are the links

All About Birds

The Red Tail Hawk

Great Blue Heron


Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Last March 2012 Saturday

Well after all the unseasonably hot weather we experienced we have been dropped back into the March type weather as opposed to tropical.  My spring flowers are doomed after 3 very heavy frosts including hail, rain, snow, wind and freezing rain along with freezing temperatures.  I am unsure whether they survived the night or will be all droopy and dropped over by the time I get out to peek at them today.

The birds are getting ready to build their nests around our place and the chirping has changed the last several mornings to a different tempo.  We have seen our baby mourning dove from last year bopping about our yard and hanging about with her mate.  Very excited about that!

Today is cold, rainy and overcast, a good day for laundry and shopping with a friend.  Oddly March came in like a Lion and is going out like a grumpy wet one...hmmmm, I wonder if he ate the lamb?

Toodles,

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Roller skating, friends and laughter

That is the goal of this evening...roller skating, friends and laughter.  I am hopeful there will be minimum bruising and wipe outs.  I have been asked for at least 5 years now by a young friend who I hold near and dear to me to go roller skating and finally here we are going at last and together. 

Many moons ago I skated on a weekly at times daily basis.  We had summer passes and we skated each day all day from 11-4 then back again from 6-11.  It was at Wheel's the local hot spot for skating.  So, now we are returning to our days of glory and going to try a new rink as the old one is no more.  I have often wondered about the Monroe's who owned that place.  I chummed with their daughter Laura many a day. 

Well, I have things to do today - two fairy protectors to get finished.  One is glued and is ready for hanging stage and the next needs to be glued and left to cure for 24 hours before I can move forward with it.  I might get some glass placed into my poinsettia mosaic and I think I might get the mold ready for a stepping stone.  I need more molds so that when I mix I can fill several at a time rather than just one. 

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Old Friends, new memories

Well today we got good news for Mom at the knee doctor - no surgery required!  Then onto  a stop at a very old friends who just happens to be very old - in fact married 64 years yesterday! My gosh where does time go?  Then off for tea with another old friend who is not so old as she is the same age as I.  Caught up, laughed, drank tea and made plans to get back to the rink just like we did when we were younger and hip and all the jazz!  It was a great visit and I look forward to many more to come. 

Got back to my mosaic work tonight instead of gluing my arse to the couch.  Hence likely why I am posting at this nutty hour I am energized and feeling great.  April is just around the corner, looking forward to the time of year when the birds really get into the nesting and the garden can begin to take shape for the coming growing season. 

I have a dinner with my cousin and my aunt and uncle tomorrow, well nearly today as I glance at the clock.  Wednesday picking up a dear friend from class, having dinner, heading to the rink.  Thursday an executive meeting with my hort society, working a half day Friday and that leads us to the weekend. 

Enjoy the day

Lady of the Oak

Nest Cams

Well tis the time of year to watch the nest cams and try to get all your errands and work done whilst doing the watch. 

Here are the ones I am keen to watch this year:

Red Tail Hawks

And this one of Eagles with little well today they are little egglets

Eagle Nest


Enjoy the day,
Lady of the Oak

Fanshawe Riots and Business Trips

Well we are stateside for some business for my husband and we are watching the violence happening in one of the cities in which we lived years ago unfold on the news cycle in the U.S. of A.  What a shame that a few can have such a negative impact on a city of hundreds of thousands.  Fanshawe and the city of London must now do something about the idiocy that has impregnated the campus at Fanshawe.  They must take ownership of their student body.  They admitted them, they accepted their payments for tuition and it is past time for them to step up and take responsibility for bringing them to London to create havoc. 

Tis a sad commentary on the youth of 2012 if this is the example of how they lead their lives. 


Onto the business side of things...spending time in Chicago has become on of my fave things to do.  Sightseeing, eating deep dish pizza, the festivities and the architecture are just a few to mention.  The stop at Tiffany's on Michigan Avenue was a highlight even though this trip no trinket, maybe next trip. 

I will post a couple pictures today and maybe more later. 

Enjoy the day,

Lady of the Oak

Spring Clean Up

It is time to clean up and spruce up our local fairgrounds.  We are having a clean up day on May 5 2012 from 10-2pm.  I will post the flyer once I make some tweaks to it. 

Enjoy the day,
Lady of the Oak

Gearing up for Spring

Well the time of the year is upon our local horticultural society to do some planning for community gardens. This year we are attempting to do three.  The one I am involved with is at a local school here in town.  The garden is barren not a garden more a mulch spot with a memory stone and other rocks.  We have developed a three phase plan and today we completed our measurements.  Now we wait for one of our committee members to create a plan for the primary specimens to be planted in phase one. 

I am off to another meeting for 7 tonight at the local fair board for our little town fair and our little town big city feel garden show next month. 

Enjoy the day

Lady of the Oak