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Backyard Blessings August 3, 2018

Another hot day it would seem, although, you know how weather works... We are grateful to live in this dry, hot time WITHOUT wild fires nearby. We are grateful for the bounty of our small, disorganized gardens in the backyard: purple pole beans (that cook green), thornless blackberries (if you struggle while picking regular blackberries in thorny bushes, you would so appreciate these thornless ones!), red tumbler tomatoes (thanks to Ed's dear friend Alberto), and the yearly crop of small golden plums from a tree wedged between a fence and a shed. So grateful! If you are grateful for your good fortune and would like to see how that gratitude works in your life, you can find some great suggestions for GRATITUDE PROJECTS here for you and your family.

Sentimental Journey: What To Pass, What To Keep When You Declutter

As you might have read already , I have begun to declutter my kitchen and living room areas as a ride-along with my husband's doing some painting in those rooms.  What to do, what to do-- I actually need to let go of items that were given to me, or harder yet, bequeathed to me, by people dear to me.  And the odd memento of some place and time that I will never more visit.  Dishes, mostly.  Please let me know what you think in the Comments below.  Would you give away something your |Grandmother gave you as a gift?  Would you give away a piece of bone china that you never use, that is missing a lid, but that is your all-time favourite Royal Albert pattern, and belonged to your Mom? The first article of some sentimental value is a pinwheel crystal pilsner glass .  Pilsner is a kind of brew for a beer.  It is a fancy beer glass.   There were six of them at one time, wedding gifts from an auntie. There are three remaining (not bad in our house for something that landed he

Organic Granny Declutters-Simplifies-Minimizes

Some of the Clutter from my Cupboards WHY DECLUTTER? My husband moved here about 13 years ago this coming Fall.  We managed everything we packed up in the space of a cube van-- by selling and giving away anything that wasn't positively necessary (or that to replace at that time would be too expensive) or that had deep sentimental value (hmmm).  In the 13 years since it is evident that if we had any "policy" in our home about not accumulating (okay, hoarding) it must have gone out the window quite quickly after we arrived here. And we have precious grandkids-- who live afar-- which is meant to excuse the fact that we have raided the thrifts shops, Walmart, and Dollarama for stuff they 'collect', things they need need need (like water safety devices-- we don't have a boat but we do live near the Ocean), etc., for their time here.  I also had quite a respectable doll collection from forays onto EBay back in the day when I was addicted to doing that.  S

5 Sweet Ways To Show Off Your Daylilies

I have a couple of great pops of day lilies in my yard.  Daylilies are so called because they have a bright surprise bloom that generally doesn't last more than a day or so.  They bloom in mid-late June (Vancouver Island) and provide lots of colorful blooms for cutting and showing off. Here are some lovely arrangements that you can use to showcase your Daylilies: Daisies and Daylilies GardenOrg A fresh, cheerful bouquet.  Daisies and daylilies bloom about the same time.         2. California Sunshine Canada Floral This is an Asiatic Lily mix called "California Sunshine."  You can have the same bright dramatic effect by putting together daylilies with these alluringly sunny color contrasts.  Put it somewhere that needs a big pop of bright cheerful sunshine to bring it alive!     3.   180- Degree Vista Chester Garden Club This gorgeous peachy arrangement is a little different to what we are used to, on its side like a lush exotic flower