Welcome to my Nest!
Merry Christmas to all of you, from our crazy family. May your holidays be filled with love, laughter and your family surrounding you. Cherish the twinkle in your children’s eyes as they experience the wonder of giving and of course, the magic of too much chocolate combined with the glee of new toys and over [...]
I have never been a cobbler kinda gal. I like my fruits in crisps, the cakey topping that I usually associate with crumbles can’t hold a candle to the crunchy oatmeal topping that crisps are known for. The story that lead me to this recipe is a common one around this house. It started with [...]
Oh, yes I did! These lovelies were inspired by my first trip to the Bulk Barn, prompted by everyone on Twitter telling me how much I was missing in life by not frequenting said store. And I mean everyone. I think even Jessica Alba chimed in at one point and said “Are you crazy??” Ok, [...]
The devil made me do it. That’s the only thing that came to mind when I realized that on a day when it was about plus 28 Celsius, I was finally making the cookies that have been niggling in the back of my mind for a long, long time. I recently posted the base recipe [...]
Ah summer in Edmonton. Festivals galore, the sunshine that won't stay longer than 10 minutes and a river valley that is a bounty of food to be found. We have been picking the Saskatoons in the River Valley almost as long as we have been living here. I wasn't sure how long, so I went to look. I made the mistake of looking up the first year we picked Saskatoons in our river valley, which I … [Read more...]
Yes, this was back on Good Friday and yes I am really late in posting these pictures. But doesn't it cheer you up to see snow galore on the ground only a few mere weeks ago, only to look out your window today and see sunshine with a side of mosquitoes? Yes, I know I am cheered up by the bounty of mosquitoes, I can't stop scratching the bites on my arms out of sheer joy! We did have a … [Read more...]
Oh, what would I do without the endless entertainment of my children? Children who, when they find a slug under the deck, proceed to beg and plead with their mother to keep it. A slug. Listen. They have a cat. They have some fish. They have a gerbil. It's not like we have a lack of animal life in the house. My poor, sad, deprived children needed to befriend a slimy little … [Read more...]
It never ceases to amaze me the available natural bounty one can find in your own city, especially a city with such a lush river valley system, such as Edmonton. We spent the day at Rundle Park, the kids rode their bikes and we watched them being the goofs that they are. We then headed over our favorite bridge towards Gold Bar, as there is a lovely little place you can easily head down to the … [Read more...]
I have eagerly been waiting for this series of videos to start, Kevin Kossowan has an incredibly informative and visually stunning blog and I found it thanks to his commenting here when I covered the Edible Garden tour. Kevin has taken on the enormous job of documenting some of the smaller local farms here in Alberta, mainly around the Edmonton area but he can correct me at any time on that … [Read more...]
Sometimes it's hard to handle the creepy crawlies that inhabit my garden. Sometimes I let out rather loud shrieks when you least expect it. Take, for example, the bugs above. I was talking to my son outside and went to see if the Jacob's Ladder had gone to seed. I grabbed the plant, brought it towards my blind, aging eyes and promptly let out a shriek worthy of a horror movie heroine. I … [Read more...]
The best bloom time in my yard is always August, all of my favorites are blooming in a rainbow of colors. The echinacea in the front is amazing as always, almost as tall as I am. The only disappointment I have is that I know I planted two more last year. I don't remember where. But dang it, I know because I love them so much, that I made sure to put in a couple more. And the same giant … [Read more...]
On to the next parts of the tour! Next we met Joachim who was one of the more diverse gardeners we met that day. His garden had a huge variety of fruit trees, including pears, a black walnut tree, apples and the most delicious plums I have ever tasted. Consensus had it that they were Brook Gold plums and I am heavily considering adding two-they need a pollinator- of them to the backyard. They … [Read more...]
Today was a day I have been looking forward to since this spring; the Edible Garden tour done right here in Edmonton, run by the Urban Farmer Ron Berezan. It's an entire Saturday devoted to traveling around Edmonton looking at yards that have been transformed into more than lawn, using the space to grow vegetables, medicinal plants or even just incorporating more native trees and bushes into … [Read more...]
Yes. Even a spider as big as a quarter is lovely. I have learned to appreciate what each creepy crawly does in the ecosystem of my backyard. Even when they make me scream like a girl. Ok, actually, I don't mind spiders one bit and you wouldn't hear me scream. But Mike sure does. It's funny. Who knew he had such a high pitch to his voice? Since the rains have come and I am … [Read more...]
I have honeyberries, and more than I initially thought! I wouldn't call it a bumper crop, but between the three bushes there are enough for the whole family to have a few tastes. They are a definite mix between a blueberry and saskatoon, with the non-seedy inside of a blueberry. They are a little tart, so I am testing leaving them on the bushes a few more days to see if they sweeten. Still, … [Read more...]
What I really like about the new site design is that you can completely ignore my home and garden section, if you are so inclined. I. Go. Crazy. WithPicturesThisTimeofYear. And alllll summer long, baby. If I've said it once, I'll say it again: not only do I enjoy it and love my gardening, but pictures help my feeble mind remember what I did last year. Where I planted … [Read more...]
I am bored, so I thought I would post a picture of the side flower bed and what's in it. Enjoy. I am sure you are so thrilled that I am posting MORE flower pictures. That's what I am here for, your entertainment for the night! Click on the pic to bring it up in all it's full sized glory. … [Read more...]
I review a lot of DK books on my other website, The Super Mom, and came across this contest that should interest a lot of readers of this site. The contest can be found here. Here at DK, we love to be inspired by our readers. So go on and get creative in your garden this summer! Make a plant container out of recycled material. It can be anything you can think of – an old boot, a … [Read more...]
I am starting to feel like I live on the West Coast. So does my Jacob's ladder above. Ahem. I wish. But lately, the rain will not stop. We get a few days of sun, then a week of rain. Everything is tremendously green, the trees are happy, the grass is greener than a gardener's thumb and perhaps we can pull out of this "drought" blah blah they keep blah-blahing about. Sorry, I appear … [Read more...]
My resilient sunflowers. Wanna know how to not have to buy seeds for next year? Leave the sunflowers out for the wild creatures all winter, and let them scatter the seeds for you. I can't believe how many flipping sunflowers I have growing at the back, mixed in with some other weeds wildflowers that I scattered there last year as well. I am going to need a rope across there to hold them … [Read more...]
The cool and rainy weather might have sucked for long weekend camping, but my plants have never been greener. You know, I am not a teddy bear person, but I love this bear. Perhaps it's because he's reading a book, I am not sure why but I am attached to him. I have the most eclectic taste ever. I also have garden fairies and puppies. The puppy statue I can do without but of course my daughter … [Read more...]
I'm tired and it's been a long, long weekend full of fun mixed with stress with a dash of vehicular break-downage thrown into the mix. But we are home, safe and sound with the kids snoring in their beds and myself relaxing with a late supper of pepperoni pizza that was definitely not made by me but rather only took the effort of dialing a few numbers. And of course, I have pictures to post and … [Read more...]
Or at least they were before the snow and tornado like winds that we received in April. Good ol' Alberta. Gotta love it here! I was very happy to see green poking through the dirt, but not so happy that I had to water the flowerbeds to achieve this. What a dry spring, I have never had to water my flowerbeds to get things growing. But there was a point where I could see the front was parched and … [Read more...]
The hoar frost was gorgeous yesterday morning, and I always kick myself when I leave my camera at home. I should know that it needs to be attached to me all day, because I always see picture opportunities and never have my camera. The land by my daughters preschool is bare, and yesterday there was a beautiful low sun shining through trees with beautiful hoar frost coatings on them...and no … [Read more...]
I love my kids, my husband and chocolate.
The order depends on when you ask.
Welcome to my nest!
