Once the Christmas tree is down, the lights come off the hedges and the remainder of the holiday decorations are put away, I'm usually motivated to clean up the house...a new year tradition. Decluttering my closet is typically the first order of business (this year was no different) and then I start thinking about refreshing… Continue reading The Upside of Lockdown…
Category: Home & Garden
Should I…or Shouldn’t I…
When it comes to painting, I'm not one to procrastinate (usually), but when deciding whether I should paint the hardwood floor in my living room, I'll admit I've waffled back and forth for months. I knew once I made the first swath across the floor with a loaded paintbrush, there would be no turning back!… Continue reading Should I…or Shouldn’t I…
The Campaign for Wool…
This green sheep drawing is the logo of the "The Campaign for Wool" which was launched in 2010 in an effort to make wool fashionable again. Prince Charles is the Patron of The Campaign of Wool. Wool once a mainstay of the United Kingdom economy (the world actually), has fallen out of… Continue reading The Campaign for Wool…
Trimming the tree…
Trimming Christmas Trees has been happening for hundreds of years. Originally a pagan practice, the Christmas tree then became a part of Christian religious celebrations, and today it's central to the holiday tradition of many. (More history of the Christmas Tree is on the December 8, 2017 blog post.) In earlier days,… Continue reading Trimming the tree…
Home…
Like many of you, I feel like our world has been turned upside down. The days slip by, but every day is the same as the last, and there's been nothing to look forward to. Now we are under another 3-week restricted shutdown... By the end of November, I usually have the house decorated...or at… Continue reading Home…
Forcing Beauty… with seasonal bulbs
Forcing bulbs (by tricking to bloom out of season) marks the beginning of the holiday season at my house...Paperwhites (Narcissus Tazetta) being my favourite. I know many of you dislike the scent of Paperwhites, but to me, it is the sweet smell of Christmas! I also love the way they look en masse...the more, the… Continue reading Forcing Beauty… with seasonal bulbs
Wine Wednesdays
Last March we all found ourselves living a new reality...our lives were about to change drastically. Many of us were shut indoors during a mandatory lockdown only venturing out for the essentials. I remember having such "cabin fever" that I would get in the car and start driving around the city amazed at how little… Continue reading Wine Wednesdays
Protecting Boxwood…
I'm grateful for the warmer temperatures we've enjoyed this week. It's given me that extra bit of time to check off the last-minute chores in the garden. Most important is wrapping the boxwood hedges with burlap to protect them against the north-west winds. Getting the supplies together takes more time than actually covering the… Continue reading Protecting Boxwood…
The Warm Glow of Beeswax Candles…
About 10 years ago, I started selling beeswax candles in my store. A friend, who ran the general store in Colinton, (a small town in northern Alberta), would stop by for a visit and shop at CC when she came to the city to pick up supplies. She supported the farmers in her community… Continue reading The Warm Glow of Beeswax Candles…
The Fall Cleanup…
October has been a glorious month allowing me to spend my time enjoying two of my favourite things...the fall season and gardening. Although many of my shrubs and hedges haven't started to turn the warm shades of autumn, the elm tree shimmers a spectacular golden hue against the blue, blue skies we've enjoyed this month.… Continue reading The Fall Cleanup…