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Blogger on the Go!

2011-11-13T18:43:00.001-04:00

Trying out this mobile app. Looks good so far!

Morning Glory

2011-04-20T10:25:00.001-03:00

When we decided we wanted to make part of the patio more private (it's ground level in our building, and open on the left and top) I did some research and came to Morning Glory. Growing about 10 ft with large heart shaped leaves - the flowers were just a bonus. The variety I chose is Ink Spots, a newer variety that has shades of purple and white. I was going to plant them on the 16th when I planted the vegetables, but I forgot to soak them. Soaking them over night it supposed to speed up germination, so I popped them in the bowl of water and left them until the next day.
On the 17th I planted them in the same seed tray as the veggies, watered them, put the dome on top and went on.
I try really hard to not look at the seedlings 5 times a day waiting for one to pop, I get impatient. So when I sneaked a peek on the 19th I was shocked, and excited to see this:

And this morning even more shocked to see THIS:

The above picture is of my Morning Glory seedlings three, you read it correctly THREE days after being planted :) Exciting to say the least!

My Thyme seeds have also popped today! However their seedlings are very tiny, I don't think my camera would capture it properly.

Yesterday was me and K's 2nd anniversary. He is so wonderful. He brought me a bouquet of bright gerbera daisies, and some seeds so we can plant them together and enjoy them longer - I think that is so romantic :)
He also brought me Final Fantasy Origins (yes I am a gardener, a knitter, and a nerd). We had a perfect day, followed by a perfect dinner. I've never been so happy in my life.

Sown Seeds

2011-04-16T19:11:00.000-03:00

We went to Halifax Seed this morning to get some seed cells, earth, and seeds.
We got Nantes Scarlet Carrot, and Giant Valentine Tomato seeds. We also got white onion sets.
Today I planted the carrot, tomato, cherry tomato, thyme, oregano and sweet basil. I had some pansy seeds from last year left over so I planted some of those too :)

The top picture is the seeds, and the bottom picture is the larger onion sets. I left some cells empty so i can stagger the carrots. Can't wait for things to start popping up! Should be within 2 weeks or so :)

The Garden Planning Begins!

2011-04-15T21:20:00.003-03:00

So I did some reading... and this is what I came up with.

Vegetables that grow best in Zone 5/6

http://www.veggieharvest.com/Vegetable-Planting-Calendar/zone-5/

http://www.veggieharvest.com/Vegetable-Planting-Calendar/zone-6-vegetable-planting-calendar/

kale

lettuce

onions

brussel sprouts

cabbage

cauliflower

celery

spinach

broccoli

sweet potato

peas

tomato

eggplant

pepper

winter squash

summer squash

beets

carrots

potato

melons

corn

beans

Vegetables that grow best in Zone 5/6 in containers

http://www.gardenguides.com/686-guide-container-gardening-2.html

lettuce

onions

brussel sprouts

cabbage

spinach

broccoli

tomato

pepper

squash

beets

carrots

beans

From that list, vegetables I want to grow:

lettuce

onions

broccoli

tomato

carrots

From the list I want to grow, how I plan to grow it, the size container I will need, and recommended varieties:

Lettuce:

Transplant

5 Gallon Window box

Buttercrunch, Little Gem, Bibb

Onions:

Sets

5 Gallon Window Box

White Sweet Spanish, Yellow Sweet Spanish

Broccoli:

Transplant

1 plant, 5 gallon pot

3 plants 15 gallon tub

Pacman

Tomato:

Transplant/Seeds

1 plant, 5 gallon pot

Early Girl, Giant Valentine

Carrots:

Seeds

5 gallon window box, at least 12”deep

Nantes Scarlet

Supplies needed for this garden:

5 Gallon Window Box x3 (1 for lettuce, 1 for onion, 1 for carrot)
15 Gallon tub x3 (1 for 3 broccoli, 1 for big tomato, 1 for small tomato)
Tomato cage x2
watering can
hardware cloth to protect (see last years garden!)
vegetable seeds/transplants/sets

Bonus Herbs! :)

If I've got room (it's a small deck) and time I really really want to have a large pot with multiple herbs in it - these are the ones I chose:

Herbs

Oregano

Basil

Thyme

We're making a trip to Halifax Seed tomorrow to see if we can cross any supplies off the list. I think it's going to be a bit too early for the good stuff :) But I'm on vacation until the 25th, so hopefully I'll have something to garden!

My Apologies...

2011-04-14T10:53:00.000-03:00

for the sporadic posts...
It's a rainy windy day here in Dartmouth today. I've got bird feeding and gardening on the brain. Last year was successful for what is was - impulsive! :) So I'm hoping to plan it a bit better this year. One thing I'm finding is that even though on their own; container gardening, Nova Scotia, and backyarding with an apartment are all popular - it's difficult for me to find information on those things combined. I'm very lucky to have an apartment with an actual yard - it's too bad I can't dig it up as I please :) so my garden has to be quite flexible.
Heres how I plan to achieve this, and if you are reading this maybe help you as well if you want to have a small flower/vegetable garden, in containers, in an area with short growing season :)

First - decide what I want to have in my yard.
what kind of vegetables
what kind of flowers
what kind of decor
what kind of bird feeding
how much space to dictate to each

Second - research and planning
Find out about my growing zone (mainland Nova Scotia seems to fall between 5a and 6a) which flowers and vegetables will do best, and when to start them indoors or outdoors.
Last year I just planted whatever I wanted. Some hits, some misses.

Third - Shopping
I'm lucky to have a Kent Building Supplies with a huge garden centre steps from my apartment. Although some of their summer staff are lacking in knowledge, the senior staff are fantastic and helpful. I can't speak for all Kent stores, but the one at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth is perfect for any gardener and bird watcher. Bird feed, feeders, seeds, transplants, pots, earth, everything with reasonable prices on top of it all.

Forth - Plant!

To be Continued.....

Christmas? Ahhhhhhhh!

2010-11-13T17:59:00.002-04:00

All I want to do is get my Christmas List finished before December 25th arrives. With the added pressure of having a Mother who's birthday also falls on the big day, this is never an easy adventure. This year - I decided what I decide every year - Everyone is getting knitted gifts. However unlike years before, I've put this plan into motion, and have 6 dishcloths under my belt already.

Click for Pattern

5 dishcloths for my Mother, 5 for my Grandmother, fingerless gloves for Boyfriends Brother and his Girlfriend, a toque for my Dad and a couple of easy soap sweaters for last minute miscellaneous gift needs.
Also I've found a pattern for Candy Cane Cozy's which I think are adorable and would look cute attached to gifts, I have 2 finished so far.

Click for Pattern

I'm taking a sock knitting class at The Loop on Barrington Street in Halifax on November 28th - socks were a project I could never quite master so hopefully this will fix that. I'd love to make some woolly house socks for Boyfriend and myself.

Better Late than Never!

2010-11-11T19:49:00.000-04:00

ok I'm back! Work was so hectic, and summer was amazing!
Long story short, we went to NYC, the garden kicked the bucket while we were gone (it was during the heatwave in August) I decided to go back to school part time and I have welcomed the return of my winter hobby - knitting.
Spring/Summer = Gardening
Fall/Winter = Knitting

Somewhere along the line I lost track of my diet... but am happy to say that I haven't gained any weight - just certainly haven't lost any.
So for now - I am off to make some supper for me and my love - then watching a flick before bed.

Stay Tuned....

Squirrels

2010-06-27T17:01:00.000-03:00

How cute are they? And their acrobatics can provide as much entertainment as you have time to watch. But they also like to chew, dig, and climb - none of which I want in my small patio garden. The first time I saw 'Chip' he was adorable, I watched him scamper off to the wooded bit that borders our backyard, and under a rock to what looks like could be his home. So now I know he's local. I'd feed him some sunflower seeds so I could watch the running and jumping - so cute!
Then one day I cam home from work and checked on the tomatoes - there was a pit in the soil. I filled it in.
Next day - another pit - I filled it in.
After a week of this dance I decided enough was enough. Friday I started doing some research and today I put the plan into action.
All it took was:
Hardware cloth (wire screen) 1/4 inch was recommended but we could only find 1/2 inch
Something to cut it with
and mulch.
The total cost for this project was about 20.00$ CAD
I cut the screen to be the size of the top of the pot. it's bendy and holds the shape so anything that was a bit too big was easy to bend into shape. I cut a slit up the middle and with a hole in the end to go around the stalk of the plant. I had boyfriend hold the tomato cage up so I could slide the screen under and around - then we fitted the cage back into place and covered the screen with black cedar mulch.

If this works - I will be thrilled. The hardware cloth we bought came in a roll of 20ft for 10.00$, so it will cover all of the pots the squirrels will dig in, with some left over for next year.
It was inexpensive and relatively easy. If it doesn't work - well at least we didn't invest a fortune.
Now once the tomatoes come to fruit - that will be another challenge. :P

Pea Pod

2010-06-25T23:36:00.001-03:00

This little pod appeared yesterday, and today there's about 5 of them! :)

We've been having a lot of rain, and heat and it's been good for the garden. I'm still waiting for the tomato buds to bloom - they're taking a really long time...
I've got a squirrel in the yard too. He keeps digging pits in my pots. So this weekend I'm going to get some screen to fit around the base of the plants - hopefully this will deter him. I also want to paint the bike this weekend. Bike #2, not the pretty blue one. I'm thinking white, silver/grey and blue.

Pink Polish

2010-06-17T16:29:00.002-03:00

It's Pay Day and that means a little treat for myself was in order. I headed to the Spa by my place of work and stumbled upon an Oldie but Goodie. Every time I see my boss sporting this shade I say "Oooo what colour is that?" and every time her response is "That's Hot! Pink, by O.P.I." It came out in 2008 I believe, and is part of the Mod About Brights Collection.

It's rainy, and cloudy outside and this bubblegum shade was just what I needed up brighten my day! The flash in my picture washes out the pink - it's more hot - less soft in person.

I feel so far behind on this blog - I have a second bicycle now, and the garden has taken off. This weekend I want to add all new updated pictures.

Busy Busy!

2010-06-09T15:13:00.000-03:00

It feels like I haven't had 20 minutes to just do nothing since my vacation the first week in May!
But it's been great :) Boyfriend got me a lightly used mountain bike from a co-worker, the garden is growing so fast, work is chugging along and NYC! It's coming up :D

I love the blue bicycle don't get me wrong, but the mountain bike is a lot more practical. The blue bike only has coaster brakes and street tires, so now with the mountain bike we can do a lot more than a quick trip to the grocery store and back. It's red and black - plus it's a boys bike... so I may paint it :) Summer Project!

And the Garden! it rained for 3 solid days this weekend, but everything sprouted by about 4 inches so it was worth it :)

I can just imagine that everything will be ready to go the week we are gone on vacation :P Oh well :)

I did all the running around to get my passport today, it went surprisingly easy! I was in the passport office a whole 5 minutes. I had my picture taken on Sunday, and today I was off for the day today so it was the prefect time to get this taken care of.

Weight Loss Ticker

2010-05-31T21:02:00.000-03:00

I am Addicted to MyFitnessPal for my iPod touch. It's so handy and has a huge database.
I'm using it to track my progress, and help me set goals. I don't want any double-chin pictures in NYC.
Since we decided on our destination, I've cut out 5lbs! Pretty Proud of myself, hopefully I can keep it up :)

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Ped-Egg Revisited!

2010-05-27T21:57:00.001-03:00

Ok so last month I tried the Ped-Egg and was less than impressed. Ever since it's just been staring at me from the nail polish rack in my bathroom. Last weekend Boyfriend and I made a trip to Bulk Barn and a nabbed a bag of Epsom Salt. He's out to a fundraiser tonight so I had a spa-night for one at home. Polish. Wax. Condition. Soak - with epsom salt - followed by Ped-Egg and like magic - perfect feet. Like I'd just had a pedicure in a salon, I am so pleased with this change.

Summertime To Do's

2010-05-26T12:48:00.000-03:00

This list will grow and shrink and get crossed off as the summer continues. Things that seem like quite possibly the best idea ever may not seem so great once some research and planning have been done.
I love the sun - I think maybe Boyfriend and I should move somewhere that doesn't have such a long winter!!

Visit NYC! (72 days from now but who's counting?)
Make a salad from our garden
Read all the books on my book list
Silkscreen at least one shirt (How-to found here)

We Decided

2010-05-17T10:59:00.002-03:00

on NYC for our August vacation!

I am so excited, I keep looking up trip packages, and making lists of places we want to see. 81 days from today we'll be arriving! I can't wait :) Neither of us have been there before. Boyfriend has his passport already but I've got to get mine - and some clothes - and about 20lbs lighter!! lol This is so exciting. We'll stay for 7 full days. I've got my heart set on a hotel in Tribecca - the rooms look spectacular, and it has free wifi (a must!) among other great features. There is a small fridge and microwave in the room, with a grocery store in the hotel. About a minute walk from a subway station this looks like the perfect location for us. All thats left is to book it.

Almost Complete

2010-05-16T15:48:00.000-03:00

Our garden consists of:
2 big beef tomato plants
burpless supreme cucumber plants
bistro mix lettuce plants
green onion plants
lincoln pea plants
a dahlietta
2 dianthus
pansies
marigolds
a hosta

All it's missing is.... a strawberry plant.
And I can't find one anywhere :P
The search continues...

Garden Progress

2010-05-14T12:14:00.001-03:00

I took a vacation day today to enjoy a long weekend. We've got my parents car for the weekend and the weather is fantastic - couldn't ask for a better weekend :) I popped over to a garden centre on the bike (which now has a basket by the way!) and picked up some tomato transplants and a bright pink dahlietta. Mom gave me a potted hosta which is getting bigger by the minute! Everything is coming together wonderfully. I'm really looking forward to relaxing on our back patio this summer.

Maiden Voyage!

2010-05-07T12:52:00.005-03:00

Boyfriend and I took went for a spin today! It was Fantastic!! :) We're out of shape, but hopefully the bike, and the weather, will change that.

Bicycle :)

2010-05-06T14:55:00.005-03:00

This came from my parents garage, who got it from my grandparents garage but I think it was my mothers after she'd married my father. I love it. A Blue CCM Galaxie, from the quick searches I did it appears to be from the 60's - although all of those bicycles had hand brakes, and this one has coaster brakes. It's well loved but I used some SOS pads and some elbow grease this afternoon to get a lot of the rust off the chrome, now it really shines. I will likely get a new seat for it - and I really want a basket - preferably for the back fender, not over the handlebars but if that's all I can do - I will :)

The rust on the fender in this picture is before I cleaned it all up :)

Ask and you shall recieve!!

2010-05-04T13:46:00.002-03:00

Excellent day. Got blueberries first thing this morning to make Blueberry Muffins then came home to this:

Perfection. Having drinks with Boyfriend and Boyfriend's brother on the patio tonight - great day for it!!
Enjoy the Sun!

Summer Reading

2010-05-02T21:49:00.006-03:00

I have a vision of laying on my lounge chair in the sun, reading a great book by the garden. The weather isn't quite there for it yet - but I've found a book that I love. Jennifer Weiner's 'Good in Bed'.

"For twenty-eight years, things have been tripping along nicely for Cannie Shapiro. Sure, her mother has come charging out of the closet, and her father has long since dropped out of her world. But she loves her friends, her rat terrier, Nifkin, and her job as pop culture reporter for The Philadelphia Examiner. She''s even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body. But the day she opens up a national women''s magazine and sees the words "Loving a Larger Woman" above her ex-boyfriend''s byline, Cannie is plunged into misery...and the most amazing year of her life. From Philadelphia to Hollywood and back home again, she charts a new course for herself: mourning her losses, facing her past, and figuring out who she is and who she can become."

I started it yesterday and I cannot put it down. I used to love Sophie Kinsella, but over the years her books have left much to be desired. Confessions of a Shopaholic had my full attention by the time I finished reading the book jacket, but Twenties Girl... ahhh I can't even bring myself to finish it. Over time, Emily Giffin has taken my top spot for favorite author - but I think Jennifer Weiner may give her a run for her money. I'm discovering 'Good in Bed' 9 years after it was published, so I've got the rest of her library to flip through over the summer. Emily Giffin does have a new book coming out on May 11th, Heart of the Matter.

"Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life. Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined. In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most."

I think this will be fantastic. As much as I love a good book, I can't stand paying for hardcover - so that gives me time to catch up on Jennifer Weiner before Heart of the Matter comes to paperback.
So my incomplete, unofficial Summer Reading list is:

Good in Bed - Jennifer Weiner
Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner
Goodnight Nobody - Jennifer Weiner
The Guy not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner
Heart of the Matter - Emily Giffin

It's going to be a great summer :)

One More Day!

2010-04-29T19:18:00.002-03:00

then a week of vacation! I plan to clean the apartment top to bottom, visit with my parents out of town for a day, and get as much sunshine / exercise as possible! Not the most exciting week off, but Boyfriend is really busy with work this month, and since he works from home I figure I should occupy myself :)
My Anniversary flowers are still blooming almost 2 weeks later. The peas and green onions are taking off. Spring is here! It's been pouring rain all day to prove it. Hopefully it will be all rained out by the end of my work day tomorrow :)

Pea Progress

2010-04-25T11:08:00.002-03:00

Today is rainy, but yesterday was a beautiful sunny day. Boyfriend went to visit with his brother so I spent a few hours on the patio with the garden. The green onions have sprouted, the peas are doing wonderful so I planted some cherry tomato seeds :)

Anniversary

2010-04-21T11:56:00.000-03:00

Monday was our one year anniversary. Boyfriend surprised me with the most beautiful bouquet I've ever seen in my life. He got them from Irises in Halifax. Exquisite!

We stayed in and enjoyed each others company. Incredibly romantic. We ordered in, had wine and watched a movie (Superbad!! haha) It was a wonderful evening - couldn't have asked for better :)

Latest Visitor

2010-04-17T09:45:00.000-03:00

A white Throated Sparrow. I got up early this morning so do some housework and spotted this chubby guy outside on the patio.