Bob And Susan

I went on a new hike today! It was grand! Dove Hill above Castlegar with the trail head starting at the golf course. The views were breath taking!!!

I am going to start Yoga this week for 10 weeks. I am looking forward to it!

Three sisters is a term referring to corn, squash and beans. There is three sisters soup for example (Google it). The three sisters I am referring to is companion planting. I prepared 13 tires that are embedded in one of my vegetable gardens this afternoon by turning the soil, ridding the very young weeds and adding lots of sheep manure and organic matter (rotted leaves and compost). This year I am planting the corn (several seeds in a square shape) and two poles beans in the center of the corn of six of the tires (in a square shape again). I will then plant three or four different varieties of squash in the remaining tires. This is companion planting. The squash serves as a ground cover (less weeds). As the corn grows tall, so do the pole beans using the corn for support and at the same time keeping the corn sturdy during windy days and nights. I also planted some Nastursium and Calendula on the outside of the tires to attrack the friendly bugs to keep away the nasty bugs in order to keep our garden organic. I will be planting the corn and my own dried seeds of squash and pole beans in early June – the soil should be nice and warm by then!

I planted a half row each of spinach (Viking – a good freezer variety) and Dwarf Blue Kale today. I love spinach. Not to sure about Kale but it is really good for you! I will eat it if it is on my plate as an edible garnish when I am eating at a restaurant and enjoy it. After looking at the picture of the Kale on the seed packet, it got me thinking about how beautiful it is. Then I remembered that Kale comes in many varieties and colours. I will purchase some ornamental, container garden variety kale and it will be one of the featured plants in my planter boxes around my deck this year. I do want a lot of colour and texture in my garden boxes on the deck but at the same time to be sustainable so besides the kale, I plan on mini-eggplants, mini butter lettuce, small carrots, scarlett runner beans, Matthiola flowers for the beautiful evening scent, some Nastursium for my salads, some Nemophilla because they are a black flower which I think is pretty cool and I may even sneak in a few munchin sunflowers for texture and fun.

This just in!! Cathy is about to become a grandma. Her daughter, Christy, has now entered the safe zone of her pregnancy. Chisty and Scott will be fabulous parents!!! Cathy and her partner, Albert, will very fun grandparents!!

Anybody that knows me very well, knows how much I love brandy. I found a new brandy that is just dandy! It is called “Raynal” Brandy de France. It says it is a “Rare Old French Brandy” (since 1814), VSOP. Just to confirm, it is very delicious – it has a smooth and velvety taste!

I planted four rows of yellow onions today – the are long lasting winter keepers.
I also got the first set of peas planted. I am planting a new type of pea this year. I got peas that do not need any trellising. They are called “Pea Knight” by McKenzie – suppose to be a darn good pea!! I will plant some more free standing peas in 10 days time and again 10 days after that!
I put some Cherry Belle radishes in between the onions which should be ready in 24 days!<
I planted a half row of various leaf lettuces – dark red to dark green – should be colourfully delicious! Radishes were also planted among the lettuce – makes thinning the lettuce a little easier. Another half row of various lettuces will be planted in 14 days.

Patty, the lady that looked after Bailey and our house, told me she was taking Bailey over to the Kootenay Canal for walks while she was here. I checked the Kootenay Canal out and what a fine place for power walking! It is right in the open so no danger of wild animals or jerks. It is nice and flat, the scenery is just breath taking and it is easy to get a tan. The Kootenay Canal is just an 8 minute drive from my house and a good 50 minute power walk.
The other great place for power walking is the old rail beds off highway 6 along the Slocan River. That place is also nice and flat. The rail beds go a very long way so you can make your walk as long or as short as you choose. The scenery is also gorgeous along the river but I do think that there is the possibility of meeting up with wild animals or jerks but there are quite a few homes along the way so it should be safe enough. Best to go with a friend on that walk.

And not a moment to soon. I have so many fabulous ideas this year that it is hard for me to sit still. I got the red onions planted on Good Friday – what a glorious day it was! On Saturday I bought some yellow oninon sets and assorted early season seeds with the anticipation of getting them planted today. The weather network said that today was going to be a lovely, sunny day -perfect for gardening. Well it is rainy and chilly not at all a gardening day. But I will be ready for the next fine day for getting dirt up nails.

Well Bob and I have been to Florida and back now. It was a fun trip! We went to a Blue Jays game, Shuffled, Played Euchre with at the club house with the retirees, went to the beach, went to Tarpon Springs and even hosted a BBQ. I was also nice to spend some time with my parents.
It could be a good life to retire in Florida and own your own residence but it is way out of mine and Bob’s financial league. I am not even sure if I would want to have the same place to go to year after year. I kinda like the idea of exploring many different venues.

In pursuit of retirement options, we went to Florida last week to visit Bev & Ron, (Susan’s parents) and while having a wonderful visit with them and enjoying their wonderful hospitality, we considered buying their place as a snowbird home when they were done with it. We decided very quickly that this wasn’t for us. A couple reasons: It would limit us to travel to many places we still want to go, when you pay for this you feel obligated to go there. We found that there were many homes available for rent as vacation properties, all around, Florida, just as there are in Arizona, Mexico etc. Maybe rent an RV, and do Newfoundland, and Maine. So many options and we want to check that out. If I’m 70, maybe I’ll thnk about a more permanent winter home.
Other: Dragged the tiller through the snow so Susan could plant her red onions. She’s very excited about gardening this year so I am grateful that the work I did yesterday didn’t hurt my back, and ,the chiropractor I now have has helped me out a lot. We have so many things on our plate, but we’ll keep them in moderation and enjoy life in the meantime. I have to rebuild the tractor, put a roof on the deck, rebuild the driveway, go see the girls, go to Ontario , and go see a Bears game with a couple friends at the end of September. It’s, as Rheanna would say All Good.
Bailey has lost a little weight, Susan and the vet think we should just give her more food. I worry somtimes when I come home from work and she greets me that she is going to eat me. You see…. she’s much closer to Susan than me.
I have a facebook page and I have very little time for it. We have dial up internet, which would drive anybody nuts, and I have our email, and this blog. That’s enough….so I pay little attention to Facebook and end up feeling guilty to all those who are trying to be my friend and I don’t have time to respond. Most importantly I have a phone, and that will always be the best means of communication.
Love Bob