The health lesson for today is ...........

What a wonderfully productive, fun-filled weekend I had -- gardening, yard sale, movie, day out in the city followed by Peggy's Cove.

But in the immortal words of Eloise's Nanny: "I'm tired, tired, tired, for Lord's sake!"

And when we're tired, we need to take extra good care of ourselves, right?

So, I'm sitting here eating a giant dark chocolate candied ginger chunk from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Yeah -- so what if it is only 10 am!!

Do I need to defend the amazing properties of dark chocolate or ginger? And when you combine them ....... Well! What I'm doing is just enhancing my health! Ohhhhhhhhh, the taste .... the smell .... the texture! The deep sense of comfort; the immediate positive-emotional feedback; the spiritual joy found in this particular little indulgence! Why, this is therapy; this is good medicine; I'm doing my ole body a huge favor!

So ......... QUESTION???

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Should I eat the Kaluha, raspberry or cheesecake truffle next???

The Garden - Part 2 of Phase 1

Here's one of my planters that I prepared Sunday afternoon. Pretty!


Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. When I was composing it and I saw just how many plants I had there, I thought to myself - "Egad woman! You've really bitten off more than you could chew!!". I began to wonder if I had enough oomph left in me to create the spaces to plant all that stuff.



But then, I had a "terrible, awful, no good, very bad" day yesterday at work. I came home all grumpy and angry. So, what did I do? I changed into my extremely unattractive gardening clothes, put my 35 yr old orange kerchief around my hair, sprayed myself with highly toxic bugspray, and went directly to the garden to began to prepare the new bed. I tell you - there's nothing like adrenaline that comes from being pee-ooed to get you working hard!

My side garden is really like a woodland forest: it has lots of shade and there are tree roots everywhere. So, it's quite a challenge to decide the best place for the garden and where the paths will run, etc. I went around in circles for a little while, trudging about the yard carrying large stones, quieting ranting at God about this being unfair and that not being nice! He let me get it all out; then once my mouth stopped, my brain began to work. And I came up with what I think is a good solution.

This is the bed I put in last week. (Fortunately, the ferns were there when I began, so I built around them.) The small pile of rock on the right side of the picture is where I began to work to enlarge that bed; there's a slight rise behind it that I'm taking advantage of for a rock garden. I found enough stone to use and then worked with the pickaxe to loosen the soil and dig out a few of the many, many rocks. This weekend I'll add my topsoil and peat moss and began planting. I'll still have to finish the gravel path; and there is some weeding to do and a few other plants to add here and there.

But I'm beginning to believe that June may bring an end to "Garden Plan 2009" people! Phase 1 is nearing completion; and joyfully, I can see fulfillment of my dream of spending the summer in a garden chair with a gin and tonic! New hope is springing from my breast!! (And the last thing I need is larger breasts!)

Stay tuned! I'm hoping to have lots of beautiful pictures for you next week.

Better Get Planting!!!

Connie at Notes from a Cottage Garden asked me why I didn't do a post on the plants that I've bought recently. I keep mentioning them, but where's the proof? Huh? How can we believe you? It could be all a big ruse! (She didn't really say that!)

Well, I was going to wait until I'd planted everything and could impress you with my beautiful gardens!! But then I realized, she's right! Gardeners love to see what you've bought and know how much you paid for it. So, here goes -- I'll prove to you just what a plant hog I am and how I've absolutely no self-control when you show me a cheap flower!


Now, keep in mind that the plants I'm buying are for my side garden which is in the beginning stages. So, they're going to be small ... and perhaps a little Charlie Brownie-ish! But as a woman ALWAYS in search of the ultimate bargain, I see past the sad, bedraggled look of these little guys and I either remember the seed catalogue picture that I saw during the winter or I picture in my minds eye what the buyer is describing to me. I'm an optimist! Plus, I'm going for variety, economy and a little experimentation!

So here we go. Come see my new babies with me; and although some may look like ugly ducklings, remember the swan at the end of the story.

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I went to 2 plant sales in beautiful Mahone Bay -- one put on by the Mahone Bay Garden Club and another as part of a church yard sale. I got there just as they were starting, so I was able to get first pickings! The Garden Club had a great selection at good prices; the church sale was also surprisingly good (and cheaper). On my way back to Bridgewater, I stopped in at the yard sale at Ecole de Riv Sud (the French school) where I got some hum-dinger plants! My last stop was at a church yard sale in Bridgewater; by the time I got there (noon), they were pretty low on plants, and the 2 gentlemen manning the plant tables just wanted to go inside and eat! So, they drastically reduced their price to 25 cents each! How could I not buy lots and lots??

Apologies made for spelling & names of plants as I'm posting off the cuff from memory! (Always a dangerous venture with me.)

4 little hostas - 3 at $1 ea and one for 25 cents.

Lemon Balm, Ajuca, Lamb's Ears, unknown, Hosta, Lungwort & Lamemium at 25 cents ea.

I don't remember the names of most of these other than the fern! But they were all 25 cents ea.




A Spirea $2, Cotoneaster $2, something?? and Snow in Summer 50 cents!

You can see the 50 cent price on these babies, but they were half price! There's a Rudbeckia in the back, and the middle plant in front is a tiny Burning Bush.

Unsure of the one on the left and a sedum on the right ($1 ea).

A Cana Lily and another Lamemium for $2 ea.

Looking for shrubs was the main reason I went out on Saturday. Here is a Beauty Bush ($3), a Hydrangea ($4), another Rudbeckia off the side ($1) and a Dwarf Spirea ($5). Behind the Beauty Bush is a Boxwood that I bought at a local grocery store for $10.

And here are my hum-dingers! A Chinese Lantern Plant (potted in a pot that I found on the side of the road during clean-up week) and a Forsithia Bush; I paid a total of $5 for both of these!

I did get my seed Geramiums potted with a little Alyssim (but obviously forgot to clean up the pots before I took the picture). Presentation Sandy! Presentation!

And I'm very excited about this one. I've wanted a Cardinal Flower (Lobelia) for a while. I found the larger one at a local nursery for $2.47; then I found another one this weekend for $1. Apparently, they like to have their feet wet; so, I've got a good spot in mind for these little gems in the back next to my shade plot.

So, ask me what I'll be doing this Friday and Saturday!!

Tag You're It!

Last week, Cassie at Junk-Fest got tagged by Lanette at Cottage Elements. This game of tag asks you to post "Six Things About Me?" and then tag 6 other people. I think that's a great idea; so, I hope neither of them mind my stealing the idea and using it. (They're probably really nice bloggers who like to share!)

Six (Amazing and Informative) Things About Me (that will enlighten & enrich your life --- ahh NOT!!!)

1. I need to lose 10 lb -- well okay, 15 lb --- alright, alright, 20 lb! But I WANT to lose 10 lb. (And even that is proving to be really, really difficult.)

2. I'm a born-again Christian. Yeah, I know; sometimes my language and thoughts may not reflect what is considered by some to be appropriate for a good Christian girl! But I don't slander God -- no never, never, never! And He loves me just the way I am; as a matter of fact, He created me with this warped sense of humor. So, in the words of that age-ole song, "I gotta be me" --- while being mindful of honoring Him.

3. I grew to love my ex-husband again after we divorced. Not in the carnal sense as I once did, but as a dear, dear friend for whom I only wanted the very best. I finally learned to accept him (and he with me), and we were both really happy to be able care for one another again -- from a distance!

4. I quite often drive myself crazy with my incessant singing. My kids all say "Mom, do you have a song for everything?" (because everything reminds me of a song & , of course, I immediately begin to sing it). And YES, I do have a song for everything. I can't help it -- they just come to mind, and then to mouth! But after 54 years, when I sometimes catch myself singing something, I'll gently say to me "Shut up, Sandy". But 2 minutes later, I'm singing again! So, again I say "Shut up!" (a little more forcefully this time). But no, a few minutes later, I'm singing again! No matter how many times I tell myself to stop singing, it just doesn't work. So, apparently, I can't shut up!

5. I have several secret stashes of good quality chocolate all over my house. (Refer back to #1 at the top regarding the difficulty of losing 10 lb. AND do you think these 2 are related?) My kids know this, but I'm really, really good at hiding it! And to be honest, they're pretty respectful of it being MY CHOCOLATE. (Plus, they do know that when they really crave it, I CAN share - albeit somewhat reluctantly & my choice as to what particular chocolate I can part with at that time.)

6. I will only trim my fingernails in private. You see, I use nailclippers .... and I have little or no strength in my left hand. So, after I clip the nails on my left hand using my right hand, I move the clippers to my left hand in order to clip the nails on my right. (Are you still with me? Have I lost anyone yet?)

Anyway, in order to get enough force to press down on the clippers, I have to use my forehead. Yes people, you heard me right - I use my forehead to assist my left hand in the pressing down of the clippers! It's finally out there in all it's embarassing glory.

I'm not sure how long I've done this; probably since I first stopped biting my nails (somewhere around age 15) and began to trim my nails myself. And you know, I wasn't even aware that there was anything odd with how I trimmed my nails until my ex-husband and my little sister (who was living with us) pointed it out to me --- while laughing uproariously! AND they never let me forget it.

Yes, bloggy friends -- I'm a closet clipper!

So, now it's your turn. I'm tagging the following bloggers; reveal six things that we may not know about you .... and for my sake, PLEASE include at least one embarassing thing!

1. Lynn at For Love or Funny

2. Teena in Toronto at It's all about me!

3. Wendy at no botox allowed

4. Anita at Rollercoaster Days

5. Barbara at THE SERENITY GATE

6. Lisagh at Grosgrain Garage

TAG -- YOU'RE IT!

Yard Sale Weekend

There were 4 different plant sales in the area today. I got lots of lovely shrubs and flowers that I've been looking for. The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, so in between pot luck at church and dinner with the international students, I may get a little gardening done.



I also got some treasures at the yard sales.


These 4 adorable side plates at 25 cents each.

Another pretty cup & saucer; this one for $2, but I really liked the birds.

Remember how much I love sparkle and shine? Well, here are 4 napkin rings for 25 cents total.

A pretty little gel candle - brand new, still in it's packaging for 50 cents.

A 1959 Rupert Annual for 25 cents for the girls vintage book collection. (We used to read these together when they were young). And another bird house for the garden for 50 cents.

And I couldn't make up my mind which color sandles I likes best. So, for $2 a pair, I got both.

I had a great cup of coffee and a blueberry scone while plant shopping from Joanne's of Mahone Bay (I'll highlight her shop some blog!). And a delicious b'bequed hot dog at the Girl Guides yard sale.

Friendship Seeds!!

In my blogging travels, I've been really happy to find and follow the blogs of fellow Nova Scotians. I've been even happier to come across one lovely blogger, Sara at Dream Big , who is practically on my doorstep! This past week, we met for the first time when she dropped in for a quick visit. AND she brought me the sweetest gift.

SEEDS! for my garden from her garden, all packaged in individual envelopes with pictures and information on the outside.

Isn't this one of the most thoughtful gifts for a fellow gardener! I'm so blessed.

It's been a cool and overcast week, and they call for rain tomorrow. But I'm hoping that the weather will clear up this weekend at least long enough to get them in the ground. And despite the lack of full-sun positions in my gardens, I think they'll do fine here. (Then in the fall, I'll have to collect the seeds and hopefully be able to "pay it forward".)

Thank you, Sara.

Thrifty Purchases

While I was sorting through things to prepare the deck for summer, I came across these other 2 purchases I made last weekend under the clothes I bought. I thought you'd like to see them.



This is such a pretty little hanging ornament, I guess you'd call it. Kind-of like a chandelier without the lights. It's about 6" in diameter; and I thought it would look really great hanging from the pergola on the deck next to my little lights. Plus it was only $1.00!

And I love this little Easter tablecloth -- my most expensive purchase of that day at $3.99 + tax.

Happy thrifting this weekend bloggy friends!