Give-a-away

Well I just noticed I reached and passed a small milestone in the blog world but a big one in my world. By blog has had 1000 visits, very cool. To celebrate I'm giving away something from my Etsy store.



Visit my Etsy store, then make a comment on this blog about which item you would like. I will contact the winner. You have until March 15, 2009 to enter for the give away.



Margaret

Seeds and a funny picture

Time to start some seeds, this year I'm trying Jiffy 7 Peat Pellets. Just add water, allow them to expand, plant your seed, keep them warm, and fingers crossed my seeds will germinate.

I purchased 50 pellets, lots right? I have, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber, peppers, melons and zucchini. Well I started with tomato seeds and that's as far as I got. I ran out of pellets, yup, 50 tomato plants are on the way. I hope they all germinate, I'm probably dreaming..but I really hope they all grow. I should have enough space for them but if not I have neighbours and friends that I can share with.

I chose two varieties from Veseys which I used last year with great success, Tiny Tim Cherry Tomato and Roma Tomato and two from WestCoast seeds, Black Krim Tomato and Gold Nugget Cherry Tomato.

Remember the five hats I made for my sisters..well here we are, goofy but we had so much fun.

From left to right, me, Elisabetta, Iolanda and Guiliana, missing (but not from our thoughts and hearts) is my sister Alessia in Australia, I'll be sending her the white and red hat, she must take a picture and then send it back to me which I will then post.

Bowser, BC

On my way home from Victoria I dropped my sister Iolanda at the Nanaimo Ferry. The crossing is about 1 1/2 hour long; she may have been lucky and seen a whale or two..

Then I keep driving north to the Comox to Powell River ferry. I was early so I decided to take the scenic Ocean Highway as opposed to the quicker Island Highway. The Ocean highway takes drivers through Parksville, Qualicum, Fanny Bay, Union Bay and Bowser. It was in Bowser that I saw about 30 fishing boats concentrated in a small area. I'm not sure what they were fishing but after I explained the sight to my husband he thinks it might have been herring but we are not sure. It was a beautiful sight to see.

I'm back

I'm now back from my weekend in Victoria spent with my sisters. We had a great time and it was fun to catch up, watch movies, shop and of course eat. We all cook but my sister Elisabetta is amazing. Friday we had bbq fish fillets wrapped in prosciutto and Saturday night she made short rib pasta sauce, I'm still dreaming about it.

Friday we visited Buchart Gardens, not a lot to see because it's still early but beautiful none the less. It's very peaceful and tranquil especially now without the usual summer crowds. The sun was out, the birds were singing and we could not have spent a better afternoon anywhere.

My sister Giuliana at the entrance to the sunken garden.





This is looking back towards the entrance to the sunken garden.



Ross fountain behind sisters Giuliana and Elisabetta.



You can also get to the gardens by boat and dock at Buchart cove.



Margaret

Baby crafts

My next door neighbor is expecting a baby in May so I'm busy..I'm using left over materials from the quilt I made for my grandson. I finished the bib but have to quilt the changing pad and for the first time I'm sewing little booties, the pattern and sewing instructions can be found here.

I'll post the finished items next week.

Here is my beautiful grandson with the quilt I made for him. He is so precious.

and his big brother, equally as beautiful and precious. Not sure what he's up to but he is very focused.

5 Hats for 5 Sisters

Three more sleeps until my "sister party" in Victoria; I crocheted 5 hats for 5 sisters. Only four of us in Victoria.. the hat that does not get picked will make it's way to sister number 5 in Melbourne, Australia. Hopefully it's the white and red hat, very Canadian eh!

Pumpkins

I know, it's not pumpkin season so why am I talking about it. Three reasons:

1. I have one left over pumpkin from last year.

My two pumpkin plants gave me four pumpkins last fall. I used two for Halloween, one I cooked, pureed and froze (still have some in the freezer) and one I kept in the cantina. Yesterday I decided I had to use it. Pumpkin soup and muffins today.

2. The Canada food guide suggests one daily serving of an "orange" veggie.

See number one, delicious!

3. Dare I sow pumpkin seeds in a few weeks?

It's really hard for two people to consume four pumpkins but they are so easy to grow. So I will grow pumpkins this year, two plants. One I'll pinch all pumpkins off except for one, hopefuly creating one really large pumkin for Halloween. The other plant I'll use one of the pumpkins for personal use, the others will be given away.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Margaret