Local Tomatoes

These tomatoes are organic Canadian greenhouse tomatoes, probably grown in either Quebec or Ontario.  They are more expensive than the ones shipped from Mexico, but I like to support Canadian growers. I think it's really important that we grow as much food as possible in our own country. We have no control over what happens in other countries and how it could affect our food supply.  We need to keep our knowledge of how to grow food because it is not a skill learned overnight.
I'm always happy to hear of schools that are growing some veggies.  It is so easy to give kids the confidence that they can grow a few beans and tomatoes, and perhaps at some point grow a sizable garden. I was blessed to have a mother who gardened. She didn't have a big garden or even a very successful one (she had to deal with very poor soil), but I felt gardening was something anybody could do - and so it is.
And as to the tomatoes in the photo, they not only look great, they taste great, too.

Sweet Potato Vine

I noticed that a sweet potato that I bought a couple of weeks ago had sprouted so I decided to let it sprout so that I can use it as a viney accent to a planter this summer.  I've never done this before but hopefully it will work.  I cut the sweet potato in half because it is pretty large. I turned a small yogurt container upside down in the cup to keep the potato raised up and put enough water in the cup that the bottom inch or so of the tuber is covered. The leaves will likely be a nice bright green, although some varieties are more purpley. If I had full all-day sun in the garden, it would probably produce some new sweet potato tubers but I am only expecting some nice foliage.

I am starting another blog called My Morning Moment. I am hoping to do a short daily post based on a passage of the Bible.  The posts will look at a particular theme over a period of time and then go on to another topic.  The first theme is fear. I'm just jumping in where I am at and hopefully some people will feel they can connect there as well. It's at www.mymorningmoment.blogspot.ca

Last Snow?

We got  some fresh snow yesterday.  Will it be the last snowfall of the season?  Maybe, although we usually get some in April.  I always get impatient at this time of year because the days are getting longer, the light stronger and I am itching to get into the garden.  For now I must satisfy myself with my energetic bean.

 To counteract the whiteness around me, I've been watching Chef's Table on Netflix.  Now I am not a foodie but I have really enjoyed the eye-food that the great chefs provide.  Especially, I found Grant Achatz's work amazing.  So creative and fun and colourful.

Our son was in Barcelona recently and went to see the Gaudi park.  Now that is also a blast for the senses.  He described it as a scene from Dr. Seuss. Give it a google and you will see how fantastic it is.

London

 We are so sad about the attack in London yesterday.
In 2013 and 2014, we visited London and spent considerable time in the area near the Parliament buildings and Westminster Abbey.

Just like thousands of others, we walked over Westminster Bridge.

I will always cherish my memories of London (I was also there as an older teen) and hopefully someday I will go back.

Baby Set

Our son and his wife are expecting a baby so, of course, I had to knit a little baby sweater and hat.  It is always fun to make something for a baby because you can do a fancy pattern but not be overwhelmed by it.

Dwarf Runner

 So my little dwarf runner bean has sprouted.  It almost looks like a chrysalis.

Like a butterfly, you can start to see the leaves (wings) develop.

 Finally, it's fully open.

 Rather pretty, isn't it?

It will soon outgrow its peat pot so I will make a newspaper liner for the clam-shell I used as a mini-greenhouse and let the bean roots grow into that space which I will fill with potting soil.  When it's warm outside, I can gently lift out the newspaper and put the whole thing into a large pot. And if all goes as planned, I will have fresh beans in June.

Blast of Winter

The weather outside is frightful
But flowers are still delightful...
We are again having a cold snap so it is still feeling very wintery. These primula are from last spring.
Since we still have snow, the perennials won't be bothered by the cold, and probably a few weeks from now, the crocus and snowdrops will be blooming. The seasons  change very quickly some years.
I'm hoping this cold will also knock back the ticks which have been more numerous the past few years.  We  have Lyme disease in our area so ticks are a concern for people and pets.
My cherry tomatoes have sprouted.  I used a plastic clam-shell to make a mini greenhouse and that helped the seeds to sprout.

Flora Land

 We bought a bouquet of cut tulips the other day. It's our act of defiance as it was -20C with a windchill making it feel like -30C on Friday.  The sun is springtime bright though so it really does feel like winter is over.

 In celebration of the coming season, I planted four cherry tomatoes and some onions. I'm thinking it might be fun to start one of the dwarf runner beans and see what happens.  A single bean plant wouldn't take up much space .  A few beans in June sounds rather nice.

For anyone suffering from the late winter blues, or  political angst, or who is having to deal with challenging personal circumstances, I highly recommend planting something, anything. To see a little bit of dried brown material transform into a bright green shoot is really miraculous.  It offers hope and joy and optimism for the future.
I'd like to thank Dee at a Rosy View for sharing all her wonderful rose photos.  It's always a treat to see the roses in my blog reading list.  She has been assembling an amazing collection of rose pictures and it's always cheering to see them all.  

Dr. Jordan Peterson - U of Toronto

I just watched  a Youtube video by Dr. Jordan Peterson, of U of Toronto, at Ryerson University on his Youtube channel.
He talked about a lot of things so it is pretty hard to summarize it in a few words, but he has a really good understanding of how societies work .  He is a social psychologist and has a lot of insight into our current society.  I highly recommend the video.  It's almost two hours long but well worth the time spent watching it.  If you want you can speed it up to 1 1/2 times normal speed , you get through it faster .   I wasn't able to give a direct link to it but I really hope that you will go to his channel and watch this video and others that he has made.
March is giving us typical weather: warm and rainy followed by cold and dry.