And, Now for a Bit of Levity

This is titled, Mrs. Brown gets a Bikini Wax and maybe considered a bit risky.
So don't tell me I didn't warn ya!

Earthquake near Chalk River, ON Nuclear Power Plant 3/29/11

3.5-magnitude quake near Ontario nuclear facility - Canada - Canoe.ca

The Gardening Shall Begin

Yesterday was the first day I felt like maybe Mother Earth was starting to awaken from her frozen nap. It's wasn't because of the sunshine, as there was not much. No UV warning from Environment Canada that's for sure. They are the watchdog for skin cancers with their warnings of the UV index and the sometimes "we got the weather right" national weather forecasts. By afternoon it was just grey, overcast and had a cold wind blowing in from the northwest. Required me putting up my hood and putting on my thick winter gloves. I don't think we were ever on the plus side of the thermometer. It was cold, windy and not alot like Spring.

But... I still felt as though the world was awakening. Maybe it's the birds. More birds have returned from down south and a more diverse gathering of birds are at our bird feeders. Whole huge flocks are stopping by. The robins are definitely back and are building their nests. The wild beautiful call of the Canadian geese is heard everywhere. You are turning to scan the sky to find them as they fly overhead in their "V" formations.

So what was it which found me out in the garden wandering and looking and feeling? Was it those little nubbins of rhubarb I saw poking up from the soil? The harbinger of Spring to a gardener? Or, was I just so tired of winter I had to be out and about "doing" in the garden. I weeded, I pruned, I turned some soil and then I turned the compost pile. And, it felt dang good!

Here I stand, my arms flung wide, yelling out loud ...... "WELCOME SPRING!"
Psst.... and don't be dragging your feet anymore. Okay?

Congratulations Neil Young

Neil Young appeared at the Juno Awards for the first time in nearly three decades Saturday to accept the adult alternative album of the year prize at a dinner gala. The 65-year-old Toronto-born rock legend received a standing ovation from the assembled crowd at the Junos. He just recently won a Grammy in the States in the best rock song category for "Angry World," a tune from his album "Le Noise."
His new album, "Le Noise" is absolute Neil Young. If you are a fan... it's a must buy or, even if you aren't a fan.... you should listen to this album.

Computer Crashes and Pictures

I had a crash on my computer couple of months ago and like everyone said and I didn't take notice of.... "do yourself a favor and backup your files".
Well I didn't.
It took me forever and a day to rebuild the computer from the ground up.
(You're looking at someone who has never had any training in doing this sort of thing, so I had my work cut out for me.)
I thought thru the crash and burn scenario and then the entire rebuild that somehow, someway I had been able to save some of my files.
It took me a long time to figure out yes they had gotten saved and then took another long while to find where those files had gotten stored. Just a couple of days ago I found my pictures.
Most important to me were the pictures.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words.
Whoever "they" is... they are right.
I was going thru those pictures and came upon some shots of last year's garden.
Man oh man does it look lush and healthy.
I am starting to get excited about this year's garden.

Doesn't it look good? I only hope this year's garden follows in the same vein.

PS Seedlings under the lights now include; cabbage, brussels sprouts, marigolds, peppers, swiss chard, another type of pepper, dill and parsley. Ground is tarped where we will be tilling for some in-ground gardens. We will be doubling our garden space this year. I must be mad to do this I keep telling myself.

Spring's Seedlings 2011

I finally got my arse in gear and started some seeds for this year's veggie garden. I have been very lucky and have had approx. a 100% germination rate with all my seeds. If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you will know I seed save from one year to the next. (At least I think I have written of this more than once.) With that being said.... here's a couple of pictures of my "lil babies".

Who Wouldn't Want One of Their Own?

I would perhaps share if it were mine..... :) well maybe.

Blah and Phooey!

Phooey? Yup you got that right. Phooey!
After a week of semi normal temperatures heralding Spring's possible arrival, this morning it is snowing.

Oh no, I thought we were done with the white stuff???!!!???
It's not like it's a light little flake falling out there.
No it's those huge fluffy flakes which accumulates inches in mere minutes.
It's only been snowing about 2 hours and we have about 10 cms already on the ground.
That's roughly an inch an hour.

The ground where you could see green grass everywhere, well mostly brown grass, just yesterday is now covered in a blanket of white.
Phooey!

And, to prove I am really actually looking forward to Spring and all that entails, I have posted some outside (phooey) and inside (Spring has sprung) pictures for your enjoyment.
That's a morning dove and a house finch digging through the snow for bird seed. Picture is a bit blurry as it's snowing! Notice the amount of snow....?
And, the seedlings I am showing under my grow lights are brussel sprouts and cabbage which popped up yesterday. Nice, eh? A big happy sigh :)

Spring's Vernal Equinox and the Full Moon

Spring begins with the vernal equinox on March 20 at exactly 7:21 P.M. EDT.

The vernal, or spring, equinox is the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north, signaling the beginning of nature’s renewal in the Northern Hemisphere. The word “equinox” is derived from the Latin for “equal night” and is used now because the days and nights are of (nearly) equal length. Enjoy the longer days!

In winter, I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way:
I have to go to bed by day.

–Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94)

The Moon

As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter. This full moon and whatever you want to call it is the last moon till 2029 which will be this close to the earth.

It's Late...

I am sorry I have been a bit under the weather with a sinus headache today.
I have since the age I can remember clearly (approx. 4 or 5) suffered with sinuses.
I almost always get them when the weather is going to be changing.... a high to a low pressure system (or, is that low to high?) causes me to want to drop right off the face of the earth. I have been known to say.... just chop my head off and I'll feel better. Oh the pounding...

I had a pre-planned get together with a friend today and it's all I could do to make it thru our luncheon.
I suffered in silence, only mentioned it briefly once. Then carried on.
After she left.... I went to bed in the hopes I would have a new head when I awoke.
Nope didn't happen. Still have the headache.

I am signing off as my eyes are blurring.
Hope this weather system passes soon.