Mushrooms

There recently was an interesting article in the Globe and Mail - DIY fungi. Now this is something I would love to try. Not that I am particularly a big fan of shitake or oyster mushrooms but I certainly would give it a go. My backyard is not that glamorous so a log would probably be a great focus point.

I recently borrowed a book from the library call the Knopf Mushroom Book. It was very interesting. I didn't realise that there were so many poisonous mushrooms. Not that I pick wild mushrooms, well I would pick morels. Maybe next spring I will organise an outing and find a location to pick some.

Lavenders

Well I had to finally get those lavenders I bought planted. They only cost $1.00 each. In fact, Hugh had to pop out to the grocery store so I had him buy 6 more. So in total, my front bed has 15 lavender plants in it. They are all French Lavender but 3 different varieties: Mulberry Ruffles, BoysenBerry Ruffles and Blueberry Ruffles. They look very nice. I just hope they all last being planted so late in the year. When I saw the lavenders on sale, it reminded me of when I was in England and Detta and I were visiting Ham House. The lavender gardens there were beautiful.

Well I haven't heard about the Environment Canada job. But I have an interview with Clarington Public Library. This position is only a part-time 16 hours a week but with 20 hours at Seneca, it may just be perfect.

Anne arrives home tomorrow. She has been in Italy for the past 2 weeks, touring around with a bunch of her girlfriends. Sounds like they had lots of fun. Kath and her husband are in New Zealand until December. They seem to have been having lots of rain and 2 tsunami warnings but then it is spring. Check out her blog - Kath's Blog.

I am off this weekend to camp with the Pathfinders. We are sleeping indoors, thank goodness. I am supposed to have set up some games, but this past two weeks have been crazy and I am not going to get around to it. I haven't even started to pack, well I guess that's what I am going to head off and do now. I still have to finish painting Detta's room. Just the last coat of the orange but that may have to wait till next week, I am running out of time.

New Office

We are nearly finished setting up the office for Hugh. The computer desk is out and the table is nearly cleared. The book shelves are nearly full of reference material. Hugh took down the chandler and put up the new fan. The new fan looks good and moves the air around really nicely. I went back to Canadian Tire to buy another one for our bedroom but the sale is over so now I must wait.

On Saturday, I decided to rip out the baby layette that I had started. I didn't like the green, it just didn't seem to work very well. I have started knitting another one, which has a simpler look. This time I have used the aqua colour with the variegated and yellow. It is looking good. I have also finished the two big blocks for the baby blanket. Now I only need to sew them together and then knit some more along the long edge.

I finally got around to some gardening. If I wasn't feeling well, then it was raining. Though on Sunday, it was very windy. I have all my new plants finally in the ground except one. The last one Hugh will have to help me with. I want to dig out some other shrubs which I need Hughs help with. I am sure it is that same tree I had in England because I saw a bunch of new shots coming from it. Anyways I dislike. Plus there are some weedy looking shrubs which I am sure are being choked by that other shrub. I still have ferns but I may end up moving that to the back yard. My garden in the back, needs a major overhaul. The beds are full of grass and the weeds in the grass are terrible. I want to plant some more of those lilies from the front to the back but I am sure there is still some carpet in back beds. Lots of work but it will take me years to get sorted out. The lilac has more flowers on it this year except they are on the neighbours side. Well maybe next year it will have more, this is only the second time I have seen it bloom. The plant Joan gave me, the yellow flowers, is blooming like crazy this year. It is so pretty.

The pigeon is still with us, or Penny as the children have named her. I am sure her eggs have hatched. I hear a cheeping and one day when she flew off I ran back from the car to have a look and there was one chick.

Outing with Kath

I went and met Kath for breakfast. I did get weighed at WW, I actually lost some weight!!! YES!!! We stopped by Soper Creek Yarns and I bought some more yarn for the baby layette. I have decided not to do stripes. I am going to do the body part in yellow (with little holes). I am not sure about the green though, in comparison with the yellow it is very bright, where as the yellow is softer.

We visited some garden centres. I bought a spirea(!) for my front garden, now I must get out and do some planting. I saw a lot of other plants I would like but for the moment, I need to sort out what I have. Kath bought a bunch but she will be having a lot of people round this summer with Lisa's wedding in August. We also went by a church yard sale. I think we missed all the good stuff but Kath did get a frame for needle work.

Actually I saw some beautiful Aquilegia (Columbine), this one was called a clematis-flowered Columbine. There are some beautiful colours but at the moment $10 a pot was just a bit too much. I will have to see if I can purchase some seeds. The pictures below I didn't take but are from a website called davesgarden.com. There is also a very dark purple one which is beautiful.

Bunny Ears

I finished the hat for Al's Niece's daughter. It is supposed to be called Bunny Tail but I prefer Bunny Ears. I am going to put pink ribbons around the ears which can be removed if neccessary. I have started on a baby layette from an old pattern book of Mum's. Except I think the gauge is wrong so it is a bit larger than it should be. I am undecided as to whether I should rip it out.

Had a lovely visit with Joan. Detta and I saw her garden which is looking great. I need to do some planting but I have come down with a cold and have a wickedly sore throat, runny nose and tiredness.

Hugh and I went to the movies with Anne last night. We went to see Star Trek, it was my second time but well worth it. Got the wrong theatre but we still made it in time to the next theatre.