Is Spring almost here?

Well maybe....it's been so warm that I'm almost ready to believe Spring is just around the corner. The forecast calls for mild temperatures for the next two weeks bringing us to the end of January...



February has brought cold and snowy weather but not all that often and not for prolonged periods of time, so could this be it? Could this be the end of winter on the West Coast?



Around the garden pansies, bluebells and primulas are starting to appear. But of course it's not just my garden, everything in this part of the world grows well. In Vancouver and Victoria snowdrops and some crocuses have already bloomed.







Even though the days are still very short, the warm weather has me thinking about my veggie garden. I'm trying to figure out what I'll grow this year. I've decided that Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower are out, too many bugs.

I'm debating adding more peppers this year such as poblano. A few years ago I had great success with jalapenos....hundreds of them, which I froze and used to make jelly. I also grew chili peppers which I dried and then flaked, very good added to pizza, chili, fresh salsa and speghetti sauces.


What are your plans for the veggie garden this year?

Surprises

Don't you just love surprises? Lucky me, I had two today. Technically they are not surprises because I new they were coming but one is weather related, so you never know and the other was dependant on the mail....

So first surprise, snow!!! Now it may not be that great for some of you, especially if you have to be out in it but for me the snow showed up on my day off, perfect...slow morning, with coffee and muffins and nowhere to go.

The chickens were not too sure about the snow, it took them almost all morning to get out of their house...scurry to the raised garden bed, and there they remained. Not even a hand full of seeds could get them off from there, I wonder if they will make it back to their home when the sun goes down?


The second surprise? A home made ornament from my blog friend the Hobbit. Can you see the little hanger? She made that to, it's absolutely lovely. I can't wait for next Christmas....



Check out her blog, Said the Hobbit, she does lovely knitted work, has some wonderful soup recipes and a mischievous cat that keeps the Hobbit on her toes. Thanks Hobbit, the ornament is really lovely.

A story about wild salmon oil pills....

So...I have high cholesterol. I tried to lower my cholesterol with diet but no such luck. For the last year or more I cut out almost all red meat, cheese, butter and cream except for special occasions like Christmas, birthdays or when I've had visitors... ect. Giving up cheese and salami was by far the toughest. There was no change, my cholesterol did not go any higher but neither did it decrease so I now have to take cholesterol lowering pills.



I picked my pills up last week and was advised by the pharmacist to take extra fibre, like Metamucil and wild Pacific salmon oil, and my cholesterol pill at night, okey dokey, I understand.



I went to the store and purchased Metamucil and salmon oil pills. Have you ever seen a salmon oil pill? They are huge...and I have to take two. I decided to split the misery...I will take one in the morning and one at night.

This is a salmon oil pill...one inch long.

I have the first one at night, went down ok, nothing to worry about, I went to bed, all was well. The next morning, same thing, take my pill and off to work I go. Now I must confess that the night before I had some olives and with the high salt content I was quite thirsty when I arrived at the diner. Instead of starting with coffee I gulped down some sparkling water, a couple of glasses.

I start working and I have a little burp here and there...hey, what's that smell? Fish? What on earth, I don't have fish on the menu. I looked high and low for a dead fish, was this someones idea of a bad joke, burp....burp....that fish smell is everywhere, oh no, I'll have to tell the landlord that there is some bad smell in the diner....Art do you smell fish? Nope, I don't smell anything...

I finally clue in....it's me! Those darn fish oil pills and sparkling water do not, and I mean, do not mix well. So if any of you have to take fish oil pills be forewarned...take your pill with food and do not drink anything bubbly....

Aprons

I need some aprons...at the diner. The ones I currently use are OK but boring, plain old black, faded black at that.

I was looking online to buy some fabric and came upon Galena Bay Fabrics. The website caught my attention for two reasons, they are a Canadian company and they have $5.00 per yard fabric.

I was looking at all their fabric, taking my time, trying to make up mind, finally I decided on some cute checkered fabric. I follow the instructions for purchase and start to complete the order form and when it's time to choose the delivery I see an option for pick up, I click on it and find out they are located in Powell River, wow... Not just anywhere in Powell River but a block from me. Double wow.

Anyway, I complete my order and walk the one block to Galena Bay. The proprietor's show room is in her home, open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursday from 1pm to 5pm and it turns out she has the largest selection of quilting fabric in Powell River, triple wow and she has plans to move to a larger home and add fashion fabric to the selection, OK so now I'm starting to shake, my knees are weak and I might just faint...I can hardly wait.

So back to the apron, I use my existing drab blackish apron for the pattern, and I finished one apron today...

And cut out a second apron with a bright red pocket.

I have a third cut out but I've run out of the white material I used for the lining. I'll have to go back to Galena Bay for....

Angels

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The sea wall

There are many, many beautiful trails and parks in Powell River that are easily accessible, I've written about a few in the past but I don't think I've ever posted about the Powell River sea wall. It's not a long walk, maybe two km, but the views are spectacular and the water is so clear that it's easy to sea the ocean bottom full of starfish, oysters and seaweed.

Art and I walked it yesterday, a wonderful way to start the New Year, never mind that we were eating jelly donuts....

Snow capped mountains on Vancouver Island.

Unbelievably clear water.

Not sure why there is a barge full of rocks here but Art thinks the rocks will be used for a new breakwater at the marina, seems logical to me.

The nice but cold weather will be with us for another day or two, a nice way to start the New Year.

Happy New Year

Well like almost everyone else around the world I reflect back on 2010 and look forward to 2011.

2010 was a good year for my family. My diner has been in business for one year. Art and I did not make money hand over fist...but we paid the bills, kept a roof over our head and ate well but we also worked harder than ever before, our old bones ache.

My oldest son finished 2010 with a new daughter. Has found himself working in a new career and will be starting trade school in 2011. His wife, became a permanent resident, and can, if she chooses, become a Canadian citizen. She came to Canada two years ago speaking very little English, today she is fluent and can speak English almost as fast as her native Spanish.

My youngest son and his girlfriend bought their first house in 2010 and, with the help of an accident settlement, they step into 2011 debt free except for their mortgage. He also finished his first year in trade school with high marks and is employed working towards his journeyman papers. Both my grandsons are healthy, beautiful and growing up much too fast.

My mom and dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and my dad turned 80. 2010 was a year of celebrations.

2010 was almost perfect and it's hard for me to think 2011 will beat it but I'm positive it will.

I don't have any New Year's resolutions...I just take each day as it comes, make the best of it and look forward to tomorrow.

I have lots of plans for my garden this year, can't wait to get my hands in the dirt. I look forward to summer's long days spent at the cabin and swimming in Powell Lake. I look forward to spending time with my family. But most of all I look forward to a peaceful year spent puttering around my house and finding joy and happiness in a simple, but rewarding life.

Happy New Year, I wish you all the best in 2011.