CANADA DAY!!!

It's still dreary and drizzly outside. But we're gonna have a barbeque and celebration anyway!

MORE READING, BETTER EXCUSE TO SPEND MY SUMMER CHILLING!

I went to my local Sally Ann today just on a whim, and they were having a 25 cent book sale! So, I've added to my summer reading list. Look at the gems I got!

I can't remember if I've ever read a Barbara Delinsky; but it sounds like a good, light read. The next 3 are all bestsellers. And the last is a biography of Graham Chapman from Monty Python's Flying Circus. ("Wink, wink; nod, nod! Say no more, say no more! A wink's as good as a nod to a blind bat! Know what I mean? Know what I mean?") This show was a long time favorite of mine and my husbands. Graham was King Arthur in "Search for the Holy Grail" and was usually the sort-of straight man for the rest of the crew in a lot of the sketches.

I've just started "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult and am enjoying it.

Tomorrow is Canada Day here, and I've got Thursday off to take my little Colombian daughter to the airport so she can go home! Sob, sob! I'll be sad to see her go; there'll just be me and my 17 yr old who's always working or out socializing. Still, how wonderful it will be to have the house to myself and so much free/me time!

WHO AM I, PLEASE?

Greetings from the (usually) beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia where - yet again - it's raining! But we have been getting the occasional cloudy respite from the showers, and thankfully, things are continuing to grow. My flower boxes are full of wonderful yellow and orange marigolds, and the lobelia is almost long enough to begin to trail.

I need your help, please, with identifying two plants that were probably purchased roadside or given to me. I've given you 2 pictures for each of them: one of the plant itself & another close-up of the flower. I hope the picture quality is good enough for one of you brilliant gardeners with huge brains and good memories to identify them.

Thanks for your help.

CURRENT FAVORITES

I love lotions and creams. As we age, we're told to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize -- not just our face but our whole body. And let's not forget our lips!


Our skin changes as we age, so a product that worked for us just a few years ago, doesn't work anymore. I'm still looking for a suitable low to moderately priced face moisturizer. I'm currently using "Olay moisture therapy lotion", but it's a little sticky. Still, I hesitate to toss it out when I've paid money for it. Sitting on my dresser is a new one I recently bought -- "Marcelle Essentials multi-defense cream". That one was under $20 for 2 oz.

"AS SOON AS WE GET SOME SUN, PLEASE MR GOD!" I'll probably start using that one because it has a SPF 15 reading.

I love taking the time to moisturize, especially after a bath when I think that my open pours just soak up that lovely lotion! (It could be another illusion successfully sold to me by the cosmetics industry, but please don't burst my bubble! It feels sooo nice!) I always liken it to giving my skin a good, long drink of cool water.

Here are two of my current favorite discoveries.


The first is a line of lotions and gels made in Greece ://www.forkingsandqueens.com/w.forkingsandqueens.com/). I purchased it here at Shopper's Drug Mart for about $20. I choose cinnamon orange because of it's heavenly smell. But I'm so impressed with it that I'm planning on trying whatever else in their line that I can find. It really is absolutely gorgeous; I can't rave enough about this one!

The second is a tinted lip balm from Burt's Bees who sell natural, earth-friendly personal care products. Mine is a lip shimmer (that seems to stain your lips) in a rhurbarb color. It feels nice, it smells nice, and it's doing double duty as a lip protector. A great product for summer.



I've love to hear about some of your favorite products. Let's share our treats!

SOUTHERNWOOD / Artemisia abrotanum

A big thanks to all of you commented on my previous blog today. Gardeners are such an encouraging bunch! I think we just all love to see each other "bloom".

Several of you mentioned that you'd never heard of Southernwood. Here's a close-up picture of the plant and some tidbits of info I found on Wikipedia and a few other sites.

http://http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.075.020

According to http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARAB2, this plant can be found in many parts of Canada and the US.

Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) is a flowering plant known by many names: Old Man, Boy's Love, Oldman Wormwood, Lover's Plant, Appleringie, Garderobe, Our Lord's Wood, Maid's Ruin, Garden Sagebrush, European Sage, Lad's Love, Southern Wormwood, and Lemon Plant. My plant does have a lemony scent to it, and apparently, there's a recent variety of this plant that smells a little of camphor. Needless to say, it's not a plant bothered by animals!

It forms a small bushy shrub; the grey-green leaves are small, narrow and feathery; the small flowers are yellow (although I don't remember ever seeing a flower - I have to be more observant this summer). It can easily be propagated by cuttings or by division of the roots.

It has many uses. Medicinal - it's an antiseptic; it can be used to kill intestinal worms, treat liver, spleen and stomach problems; it can be made as a poultice and placed on wounds, splinters and for use in skin conditions. You can brew it as a tea to aid in digestion; and mixed with other herbs as an aromatic, it aids in sleep disorders. An infusion of the leaves is said to work as a natural insect repellent when applied to the skin or if used as a hair rinse is said to combat dandruff. The volatile oil in the leaves helps to repel moths and other insects. The Romans believed that it increased young men's virility!

Here's some information from another site for those of you who are interested in adding this to your garden.

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Artemisia+abrotanum

It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from March to November, in flower from September to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by wind.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Habitats: Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge

As I said before, I've had my plant for 25 years, long before I became interested in being a gardener (read - paid attention to actually taking care of and nurturing my plants or finding out where it likes to grow). It's been moved 5 times and simply stuck in whatever piece of ground was available. And although it's a slow grower, it's a hardy little thing and is thriving now!

I actually saw a shrub for sale for the first time recently - $29.99!!!

If you were close, I'd give you a piece to propigate. I love my plant; so I'd highly recommend Boy's Love as a wonderful addition to your flower, herb or vegetable garden.

LET'S VISIT IN THE GARDEN

I'm joining Tootsie today at http://tootsietime.blogspot.com/ for Fertilizer Friday.

I wanted to take lots of pictures this weekend of my garden and then invite you to come visit. We had beautiful sunshine yesterday, and it's scheduled for today. However, it's supposed to be overcast tomorrow and rain (once again) for the next 4-5 days. Oh, woe is me! It sure makes it hard to get the weeding done when you work 9-5!

So, let's make do with a visit today using the few pictures I took a week ago.

As you walk up my driveway, the brook-side garden welcomes you. These lilies are forming flower buds and will probably open a little later than their siblings in my other beds. On the right side of the welcome sign, the Southernwood bush is a prize in my garden. This started as a small twig in my wedding bouquet 25 years ago. I had a elderly neighbor who gave it to me on the morning of my wedding and then collected it and rooted it for me. It's moved 4 times since then and is happy to call #56 it's home now. When I transplanted it the last time, I separated it, so now have two. Nova Scotians call this plant "Old Man", but I like the Newfoundland name for it - "Boy's Love". Have you ever smelled the southernwood plant? It's divine! Every time I pass it, I rub my fingers on it's lacy foilage. Next to that is a small Potentila bush. And in between are some sad little Hens 'n' Chicks that should be moved; they're struggling.

Although there are lots of buds eagerly waiting to open, there are only a few things in bloom right now. These 2 plants are in Larry's bed: a lovely columbine (Didn't last year's tag say this was supposed to be pink??) and what I believe is a Globe Thistle.

This is one of two pots sitting next to the front staircase. I love the Colleus, marigold and lobelia color mix of colors here.

And here's my front step piggy planter containing some mini petunias. He's always smiling -- no matter what the weather!

Let's go through to the back garden.

There's so much more I'd like to show you. But until I take the next pictures, why don't we sit and listen to the birds sing while we have some refreshment. We'll have some fresh strawberries - the first of this year's crop from the South Shore. And your choice of beverage -- iced tea with lemon, orange juice & soda, a cold Sleeman's Amber Ale or, my favorite for the summer, Tanqueray gin 'n' tonic with a generous twist of lime.

Thanks for coming by. I'll let you know when we're expecting the next sunny weekend; we can do this again. Happy weekend wherever you are!

A Little Bit of Crunchy Heaven

Do you have one of those simple but wonderful food stuffs that just ALWAYS satisfies you? A comfort food that your body craves that - thank goodness! - is also quick and easy?

I do! And it's healthy! Well, almost ... sort-of ... practically ... in my terms healthy!

You take a bowl full of this:

Liberté Méditerranée yogurt is a Greek-style yogurt made with pure milk, without any type of sugar substitutes or gelatin in it. Despite its purity, it is amazingly thick and creamy but contains only 8.5% milk fat.


Mocha: Mix it well, all the coffee flavor is on the bottom. The delicious taste of a real café-crème without the excess fat

and top it with a generous scattering of this:

"A blend of chocolate and chocolate chip vanilla granola clusters, made with whole grain oats, rice and real cocoa. " Product of Canada


Per 2/3 cup (55 g)
260 Calories
9 g Fat

I'm having some now as my mid-morning break at work. And I'm literally licking the bowl! (Good thing I work alone!)

Heavenly! I can hear the angelic choirs as I lick!

Sheer bliss!