The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden

This past week went a bit awry. Hubby had surgery, they had a covid outbreak at the hospital, I caught it while visiting him. He did not and is recovering nicely. Ironic, eh? So, both of us have been out of commission, one way or another.

I am well on the mend now, but it sure set me back. I am still thinking about all the crafting I want to do, but first on the list is washing the bedding, changing out my toothbrush, disinfecting all the household surfaces, and, as always, cleaning up after the dog.

My stomach, nose, and tastebuds are totally out of whack (not even coffee tastes good at the moment). I’m trying all sorts of teas, both herbal and not, to see what my body prefers at the moment.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day here in Canada, Veteran’s Day in the States. A day to honour and remember our fallen soldiers. I think, when people today think about Remembrance Day, they mostly think about the ones we lost in World Wars I and II, but forget that we still have soldiers today.

The husbands/wives, dads and moms, who are away from home months and months out of each year, training and preparing for when they go away to far away places to fight for peace… and then sometimes come home a little bit broken, and some not at all.

My husband is retired military, an army man, so my ‘family’ consists of many wonderful military members, spouses, and veterans. On Remembrance Day, I think of all the men and women we’ve lost over the years, including my brother from another mother who was taken from us far too soon.

Here’s to my friend Mike, a good man, a fine and proud soldier to the very end, but most of all, a really great friend. A man who would walk through fire for his family and friends. Never forgotten, buddy. Miss you always, you crazy, funny son of a gun. Rest easy, soldier.

How are you making out with the time change from last weekend? I spent several days just sleeping off the covid so am right on track now, hah! The dog, however, is still messed up a week later.

She comes to get me an hour early for her supper, wondering why I am not getting it ready when her belly is saying it is well past time. In the mornings, she watches and waits for us to get up, popping her head up each time one of us moves a muscle, thinking ‘this is it, it is time!’… only to be disappointed when we simply roll over.

Daddy eventually gives in and gets up with her, in the dark… turning up the heater on his way by so that the house is warm and cosy when I crawl out of bed a wee bit later.

Long story short… I wish they would do away with daylight savings time already. It’s too hard on my dog ; )

Gardening Bits

We took down the Hallowe’en decor yesterday as we were both in need of a bit of fresh air. I always say that a good dose of fresh air and sunshine helps one feel better, faster. Sunshine is in short supply at the moment, but this lovely moisture is very welcome.

The dead birch twigs that were in the planter boxes to add spooky appeal to the Hallowe’en porch, have now been planted into the urns while the soil is still soft and friable. Try to get to it before the soil freezes solid. You never know what the weather will do here in central Alberta. Was 17°C the other day, might be 17 below on the turn of a dime. If you have emptied out your urns, you can fill them with floral foam instead. That is easy to poke sticks and decorations into. (*tip- save a small piece of foam to put in a low bowl or flower pot for your holiday centerpiece made of clipped evergreen ends – instant holiday scent)

All that I am adding to this is a bit of pinecones from the yard (spruce cones, actually) and twinkle lights. I have two sets of lights in my basket as I have not yet decided if I am going with the plug in kind on a timer, or solar. Both have their pros and cons.

Solar requires nothing after the initial set up, but has the (ugly) solar post that needs to go into the pot. The plug-ins draw a bit of energy, but can be controlled from the house with the remote… and I have to connect two together as I only have a plug in on one side of the shop. A bit more fiddly.

Here is a how and why to bake your pinecones first, if you are bringing them indoors for crafting.

My gardening mojo has left the building. I want to putter with things, but other than keeping my cuttings alive till spring, actual gardening in on hold till after the holidays.

There is little to add to the ‘what to do now’ list for gardeners who are still gung ho to go. The same things apply as last month… weed, water, rake leaves into beds, sow some carrots, beets, greens like kale, spinach and lettuce if you are on the prairies. Wait a few more weeks to sow carrots if you are in a zone 7 or better, you are still too warm, but you can sow the other vegetable seeds : )

Here is a list of November garden jobs from Monty Don, too, in case you are still kind of raring to go.

Homey Bits

This 10 minute yoga to help soothe you to sleep.

I adore Anne Hathaway’s kitchen. That stove! Ooh la la! The lighting, cabinet colour, and oh my, those soapstone countertops!

Holiday Season

I won’t be putting up my tree, or other holiday bits, until the weekend before Christmas Day, but I like to do all sorts of other wintery decorating. Here are some early ideas for your decorating, crafting, and purchasing for the holidays.

13 advent calendar diy ideas from Martha Stewart.

How to make your own wreath forms from grapevines and how to dress them up.

Make a diy holiday urn from foraged items from your yard, have it last all winter.

Or, check out this ultimate guide to Christmas pottery barn knock-offs for other wreath ideas you can make yourself.

I love this rustic looking gingerbread jar up above. Great as tea light holder, or actually give someone the gingerbread dry goods plus recipe, or ready made cookies. Anything you want to do with it, I think is cool.

Make paper snowflakes from lunch bags.

50 Free Christmas Printables. From gift tags to wall art and lovely paper chains, find them all here in one spot.

Wood slice gift tags. I think these are super adorable to put on stockings or gifts.

The sun has come out (sort of) as I wrote this, so I am going outside to play for a while, in the brisk, but lovely weather.

It’s been a rough week. Take care. Wear your poppy. Keep the faith ~ Tanja