Hi there! Happy Sunday. How was your week? Our windy days have finally died down, we got 3 good days of rain during the week so our grass is greening up again ad the gardens are thriving. Now we just need some good heat! In saying that, there are parts of Alberta (BC and Sask, too) that may get frost tonight! Ugh!
I am not covering up anything. Not one thing, lol. What will be, will be. They say that just the cukes and squash will be super sensitive to the single digits and possible frost. So… just so you are aware, check your weather apps for tonight, and if you are worried, tuck in your squash.
Can I just tell you guys that I am exhausted? This new puppy business is a lot. She gets up when hubby gets up so that means I have to get up, too. I usually like to sleep an extra half to full hour after I get the bed to myself. Not so anymore. Even though I try to get to bed earlier, it is not working too well for me. It just gives me an extra hour to read ; )
Oh, and the breeder said that the puppy will adapt and take on our household energy… I can tell you that no one else in this calm and quiet household is a piranha mixed with an energizer bunny.
Anyways…. that is my week. Busy with the puppy training, busy with the yard and gardens (front yard is done!), busy getting ready for next weekend as the gang is all coming to our place for my big birthday bash. Of course, this is when the arthritis really kicks in, just to make things interesting.
Gardening Bits & Inspo…
How to create a colourful garden for all the seasons.
This post with 5 new ideas for your garden from bbc gardeners will give you food for thought, great ideas, and serious garden envy.
The 7 key elements for a restful patio. We just lost our two mountain ashes, the only things giving us some sort of privacy on our patio, so are now struggling to figure out what to do for quick privacy….
10 stylish garden seating areas. I love looking at these pics and getting ideas.
What are tomato megablooms? and what does that mean for your tomatoes?
What causes deformed cucumbers?
DIY’s
Homey Things
How to keep your cut flowers fresh longer. As we near the season of bringing in fresh flowers from the garden, I thought this was a good read. Plus, you know that the more flowers you pick, the more flowers your plant will make? Sweet peas, for example. Pick, pick, pick! If you stop picking, they will very quickly start making seeds, the vine will begin to brown off and die, and it quickly becomes too late. This is great if you want to save your own seeds, but if you want flowers for a long time, keep picking!
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I used to have a set of metal buckets like florists use to set my flowers for their initial soak. I loved them! They could also be used as vases. Came in super handy if you like to put out fresh bouquets when you entertain, or just to enjoy yourself.
Pick the flowers in the morning or evening, remove the leaves that would be sitting in water, give them a fresh cut, pop them in finger warm water, let them sit for a few hours (or overnight) in a cool place. When you are ready to make your bouquets, give them a new cut and pop into your vase that has flower food in it. *By the way, florists will use the liquid flower food in clear vases and the powdered stuff (as it is cheaper) in coloured vases or the buckets.
Or… if you prefer, you can make your own flower food from regular stuff in your kitchen.
How to choose between cast iron, non-stick, and stainless steel frying pans. Hubs is a chef and loves his stainless steel pans. I absolutely love my cast iron (the only issue I have is the weight, due to arthritis – so I use both hands and two pot holders).
Patriotic inspired grain sack tablecloth. Now, this is July 4th inspired, but I am sure we can make use of the idea for our own July 1st holiday ; )
Recipes!
Copycat Chick-fil-A frosted lemonade recipe. Now, I have never had anything from Chick-fil-A, but I am always up for a frosty or a lemonade, so this just seems like the best of both worlds.
Hummus heaped with tomatoes and cucumbers!
This tomato, peach, and burrata salad gets rave reviews and the dressing is said to be amazing. A must try as we head into peach season.
From Martha…. the best charcuterie board ideas.
From Martha… spaghetti salad recipe with veggies.
I am a huge pasta salad fan, so this is right up my alley.
Feel free to add or change out the veg according to your taste buds. Oh, and can I just add that if you are not a super big feta cheese fan, try baked or fried houlumi instead!
The Marigold Potager - A Zone 3 Prairie Garden 
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