We believed in glowing hearts.

 

Well, we did it!  We all came together as a nation, and we believed.

The 2010 Olympics are over, and while we wait for the Paralympics games to start we can heave a sigh of relief. 

We did it, and we did it well.

We even might have surprised ourselves a bit. 

These Olympics have been like a rite of passage for our city, our Country, our people.

We have blossomed, no longer the youngest sibling in the family of the world, almost overnight, we grew up.

Welcome to the world, Canada.

Many thank you’s are owed to the athletes, the volunteers, and the people of Vancouver, you did a great job.  And you deserve the praise that the world is giving to you. 

And in the end, it is not about how many medals won, or what color they were. 

It is about a chance to participate, to taking away a memory, a moment.

One that will last a lifetime.

Let’s remember that.

I know we will.

 

Get your motor running…

 

How is your blog loading lately?  Quickly, or is it slow as molasses?

If you like to read a lot of blogs, you quickly realize that those whose “motor isn’t running quickly” can be very frustrating to visit. The added time it takes to have all the plug ins and badges load on the side bars can make it very slow. 

I don’t remember where I first saw this website called STOPWATCH.

I like to give my blog, and my website www.muddybootdreams.com a check up every now and then.

The site is called Stopwatch, if you are into stats, this should surely get your motor running.

Jen

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I’m game for gardening

 

Fine Gardening Botanical Match Game

 

This is one of those online memory games that pop up occasionally and is offered by Fine Gardening. 

I am not sure where I first saw it, but It is certainly fun. 

You might find yourself trying to beat your own best time, over, and over.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

So far the best I can do is slightly under a minute, but I think that I need to practice a bit more.

Feel free to share your best time if you would like to.

 

Jen

 

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Frozen in denial

 

 Thanks to Shadow House Creations for this really cool Bokah2 texture.

 

 

I had to face a small reality check today, there is no denying we are all getting older.  But I suppose that is inevitable,[and look how much more wisdom we gather each day].

After wearing glasses since grade 3, as if that wasn’t an indignation enough, my ophthalmologist has now informed me that I need progressive lens.  Why, I can still see if I take off my glasses, so what if I can’t find them if I put them down?  I am sure they will turn up somewhere, like the fridge, or maybe on the couch. Someone please give me some good news about these lenses, I have heard nothing but bad things.

There is a sunny side to this, I am sure, but I just can’t seem to focus my eyes on it clearly.  And if aging eyes is not insult enough my physiotherapist has declared me well on the way to “frozen shoulder.” 

I’m frozen in denial, but it works for me, certainly I feel that I am too young to have this, but they say it can hit at any age. After finally giving in and visiting, and finding out that it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, I may even go back again.  Not being able to type for more than a few minutes is a real downer. 

But on the bright side, Gar does all the vacuuming now, since I can’t do it.  Now if I can only get him to wash the windows………

 

 

Everyone needs a little color in their life….

 

 

 

I think that we all deserve some color in our lives today.

So here’s some bouquets of colorful flowers just for you.

Enjoy!

Jen

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Jen, and Lin’s, most excellent Olympic adventure

 

My friend Lin, and I decided to go visit some of the Olympic freebies in Vancouver this week.  And Granville Island was definitely one of the spots to see.

With all the warnings about lack of available parking, we decided to use public transit. 

True bus neophytes, we were a little leery about how it would go. Our adventure started when we were unable to find a adult bus day pass anywhere in White Rock.  Maybe seeing all the folks lined up at the bus stops wearing their Olympic colors should have warned us. After all, they did say it would be busy.

We drove to the park and ride, and were shocked to find it completely full, thwarted, but still determined, we drove to Ladner, about 20 minutes away, and easily found a spot to park.

Enthusiastically telling everyone we met about how we needed a “Public transit for dummies” book, Lin quickly made friends with most of the lineup. Lin’s like that. 

The bus drivers were amazingly patient, telling us where to go, and how to get there, it seems everyone is on their best Olympic behavior.

With the bus crowded to the limit, we began to dread each stop, but each time they managed to squeeze in a few more of us, I guess that’s what the bendy accordion like material between the two long carriages is for. Lin made friends with more people, and they exchanged life stories.  Turns out that everyone almost knew each other, Lin’s like that.

We got to ride the new Olympic line, and each time we stopped, they squeezed in a few more.  No one seemed to want to leave, but many more got on. There was even a free tram, which was a blast, and we ran into previous customers that knew us, Lin’s like that.

Granville Island public market, was a sun filled crowed delight, of tourists, food, and flowers. Literally thousands of people swarmed the sidewalks, and stores. We took in the sights, the huge crowds, different languages, and all the cameras busy clicking away. The busker’s busy entertaining the generous crowd, the seagulls, and the sunshine. 

 By the return trip, although tired, we were now experienced public transit travelers. Definitely on my list to do again.

And if you are anywhere near Vancouver, make sure that you get a chance to visit.

Jen

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The song of spring.

 

 

 I know that spring is coming early, I can hear it. 

It is in the sounds of the seagulls as they travel the few blocks inland towards my home.  They never come all winter, but I know that spring is almost here when they wake me early in the morning. 

I can hear it in the moss, as it shakes off the dew.

I can hear it in the song of the birds, as they rise with the dawn.  I can hear it in the slowly greening buds, as they open towards the day. 

I hear the sounds of spring in the voices that carry, as more people walk the streets in daylight. 

And in the cold, dark, wet, soil that cracks with the green sprouts. 

Listen, and you will hear soon the song of spring. Yours may be muffled by a deep covering of snow, but soon you will hear the melting drips, from a warmer sun.

Listen for the sounds of spring, it is coming.

What’s really going through his mind.

 

Excuse me, but have we met before?

 

At the local Elementary school there used to be a parade of beautiful pale pink cherry trees scattering their blossoms all along the sidewalk each spring.  They were a little like the beauty queens of White Rock in the spring, but after they finished blooming, it was like “girls gone wild, and even wilder.”

Taunting branches wound their way outwards, catching hair, and hats as you walked by in summer. Insects scrapbooked with lace cut leaves, that browned and curled up all summer.  In the winter they resembled old skeletons with arthritis, so painful did they look.

The city decided to replace them with more demure, and smaller sized trees last fall.  And as we walked by the other day I noticed these beautiful yellow blossoms. 

Clearly I am feeling that I should recognize these trees, but I don’t.  It is simply like a matter of pretending during a conversation with a stranger that you know who they are.  When all along, you want to say, excuse me, but have we met before?  And you don’t want to insult them by saying that.

So you nod, and smile, and pick neutral subjects, all the while racking your brain, trying vainly to remember whom you are speaking with.  Sometimes I think that we should all have name tags.  That would certainly help me when I run into a old customer from the nursery.

So can you help identify it, this is a small tree right now, and I am sure it is not going to be too large, the yellow blossoms are clear, and similar to a Edgeworthia, but not fragrant that I can tell.  Definitely a tree, not a shrub.  I am stumped, help me out if you can. Oh, and next time if you run into me, tell me who you are, before I melt into a puddle of embarrassment please.

 Jen

Pea planting time?

 

We went for a walk yesterday on a rare, sunny Sunday, usually if it is the weekend it rains.  Well, this is known as the wet coast.

The camera accompanied us, and we definitely saw some sights.  The first Camellia bloom, beautiful coral pink. Brilliant yellow forsythia, [ it’s time to prune the roses now that they are blooming ]. Tiny, darling little Iris reticulata, so purple against the dark wet soil.  And even the regal golden daffodils were nodding in the sun, readying themselves to open up.

All this early blooming makes me wonder if I should get out there and plant my sugar snap peas.  The sweet pea seeds that were left behind in the planters have sprouted about a week ago, and they love the cool weather also. Pushing their way up through the extra soil I have put overtop of them, and determinedly showing green.

I have the distinct feeling that this is not a false spring, since we had only a small smidgen of snow in December, and nothing since.  Last winter we were hoping that the enormous snowfall signified a early spring, but it was a exceedingly late one. Several false starts fooling us gardeners into believing that winter had finished it’s devastation and moved on.

Hard to know, and what do you think, we are practically breaking temperature records. Should I plant those peas? Or should I wait, and not take the chance?

 

 

 

Happy Valentines Day- a calorie free one.

 

Happy Valentines Day!

  

It’s Valentines Day, the stores were super busy yesterday, all those people rushing out to buy their darlings something sweet.  But with sweet things comes major calories, so what’s a person to do.

I am working on a list of “Sweet, and Calorie free “ things that make us happy. 

Feel free to add your own in the comments section, I would love to see how creative you can be.

~ The first snowdrop, after a long winter.

~ Hugs, from anyone we love, always free, and no calories.

~ A really good 3 Kleenex movie, happy endings are the bomb.

~ The first medal for each country, no matter who wins it.

~ A surprise gift from someone you love.

 

~ New green shoots poking through cold dark soil, spring returns.

~ The sound the surf makes on a stormy day.

~ Living near the ocean, and knowing how blessed you are.

~ Blooming where you are planted!  Let’s hear it for that.

Be creative, and enjoy a wonderful, Happy Valentines Day!

True Patriot love.

 

 We are Canada, the quiet nation, but a patriotic nation.  You rarely find us waving the flag, we hold our nation in our heart. Preferring to know deep inside ourselves that we love our Country.

We know, we don’t show.

During the torch relay, and again last night while watching the Olympic opening ceremonies on TV, I saw a different side of these quiet neighbors I call my fellow countrymen.  Light glowed from over 60,000 faces in that stadium, reflecting a Olympic torch that has travelled thousands of miles to get to this moment.

Sadly during the ceremonies,we honored a young athlete who lost his life yesterday in a training run.  Reminding us that danger lurks in all sorts of places. A moment of silence, respected by all.

His team vowing to move forward, and honor his spirit by participating in the games. 

Grief wiping their faces.

I saw amazing sights, people normally reserved, now cheering, clapping, running, waving, with true patriot love.  Joining together in a tapestry of different cultures to celebrate Canada.

Watched from my warm room, I saw people running through the pouring rain, following Wayne Gretzky as he rode in the back of a pick up to light the outdoor caldron.  Famous red mittened hand grasping the slippery railing.  The flame climbing the angled glass pillars, and finally igniting the caldron. 

Igniting our hearts.

Go team Canada, we love you with True Patriot Love.

Ours arms are outstretched, and welcoming the world.

 On a side note:  I wrote the other day of being 3rd time lucky.  Running into the Olympic torch relay long after we thought it had left in the dark, and getting more photos in daylight. 

We walked back to our condo, met up with friends and decided to go down to the beach to see the sun rise, and have breakfast.

It had been over a hour since we had seen the torch go by.

It turns out that the runner I photographed was a co-worker’s daughter.  Randomly selected just minutes before the torch passed through uptown White Rock.

There was a article in our local newspaper, explaining how she became a torch runner, and I had casually mentioned it to someone else that I worked with. He then told me it was our co-workers daughter. 

Turns out since it was such a unexpected opportunity, they didn’t get any photos, but I did.

Small world?

Coincidence?  You tell me.

 

The 2010 Gardening Olympics

 

Vancouver may be hosting the athletes for the sporting version of the 2010 Winter Olympics, but have you heard about the gardening version of the Olympics.

See how many of the competitions you can win Gold in.

The Torch Relay:

Olympic version:  The torch is carried through out communities in Canada. 

Gardening version:  You, and a group of friends see how many nurseries, and garden centers you can visit in one day. Win the gold medal if you require refilling the gas tank, or more than two meals on the road.

Bobsled Competition: 

Olympic version:  Sliders rush down steep hills while laying prone on very small sleds.  Fastest one not to run off the track wins.

Gardening version: Walk in the garden, if you can remain upright through the snow, and dead leaves, without slipping and falling, you win a Silver medal. Bonus points if you can identify any green shoots.

Speed Skating:

Olympic version: Skaters compete to see who can be the fastest on the oval rink.

Gardening version: Run through out the house in your muddy boots searching for one of your over 10 pairs of gardening gloves. Knowing that you put them away in the fall for safe keeping.  Win only a bronze if you can’t find a matching pair.

Biathlon:

Olympic version: Skiers stop to shoot at targets on a cross country skiing track.

Gardening version: This is a very competitive sport, with gardeners searching out the first blooming crocus, or dandelion.  Win gold if you are the first to email photos to all your relatives still buried under snow.

Gold Medal Hockey

Olympic version: Some feel this is the only sport that deserves Olympic coverage.

Gardening version: Finding that rare, and unusual plant on your wish list, and,  it’s on sale! This is a automatic gold medal winner.

Go CANADA!  Go Gardeners, soon it will be spring.

With Glowing Hearts – 3rd time’s a charm.

 

You may remember that we are hosting the world around here, they call it the Winter Olympics.  And part of the ceremonies was the Torch Relay.  Passing through most of the communities in Canada, it came through White Rock at 6:30 am yesterday.

Up at 5:45, out the door at 6 am, we eagerly walked in the cool, crisp dark air to our pre-researched “best spot ever.” 

As the giant musical Coca cola mobiles, with the perky dancing kids cruised by, the crowd roared, and surged.  It became harder and harder to see the road.

We cheered, surely the torch was right behind the three large noisy vehicles, no.. so we waited another cold 15 min.  The crowd up the hill started to swell, and cheer, as a vehicle approached us.  Flashing lights temporarily blinded us in the dark.  There was the torch, the runner was right behind the large motor home, surrounded by a cavalcade of uniformed runners.  A brief flash of light from the flame, in the dark morning, and he was gone.

Not to be undone, we ran down the hill to the other location, and cheered as it passed by in the dark.  Again, foiled, not a good angle.  More camera phones than people this time.  How was that possible?

Happy to at least have seen it, we walked home, met up with friends, and seeing the beautiful sunrise, decided to go down to the beach and capture it digitally.  Amazingly finding a vacant spot, we walked down to the main street, in the now fully light,  beginning of the day.  But the road was blocked by hoards of cheering people. 

The torch passed by us with only minutes to spare, and we cheered with the crowd.  This time we finally captured our Olympic moment shot.

You know what they say, the third time’s the charm.

Visions of sugar snap peas danced in their heads

 

Here we are in White Rock, with the warmest January temperatures ever on record, and there are no garden centers open, except for a year round, hot sauce selling, train running, gift shop oriented, no plants in sight behemoth. Seriously, where are the plants?

We gardeners are cruising the streets, trolling the alleys, peering over fences for the first sighting of the crocus, and finding it. 

But there is no where for us to purchase seeds, wander aimlessly, and joyously, smelling the roses. We are waking with visions of sugar snap peas dancing in our heads, and no where to buy them.

I know that It’s a tough competitive world out there for garden centers, and nurseries of any size.  Their share of the garden plot is getting skimpier, and they are fighting harder for it every year. 

Many of the garden centers around here have either succumbed to the poor economy, or decided to hibernate for a extended season.  This may have made sense last year, when we were buried under two feet of snow for a extended period of time.  This year spring has dropped in early, and decided to stay awhile. She is a welcome guest.

We are standing at the doors and drooling like fools, waiting to spend our money, and there is nothing to buy.  Everyone has signs up promising to reopen soon.  How soon?  When the lilacs are blooming?  The way we are going, that might be next month already.

Don’t tell me to purchase online, I want to fondle the new green leaves of the budding shrubs. I want to smell the soil around the rhubarb roots, feeling my mouth pucker as I remember the sharp sour taste.

 

To shorten the winter months, I would love to be able to purchase a flower in a 4 inch pot, but there are no longer any growers selling them.

I don’t want a huge six inch over bloomed, days left to survive, pot of daffodils, that every corner store offers,  I want green stalks and sweet whispers of yellow.

I want a promise, that spring is here, whispering soft breezes, and green colors to me. So where are all the garden centers? This has got to be the biggest business mistake you have ever made. Open up, the hoards are at the doors, and we want our plants!

Jen

February’s Page

 February, that month that although short, is so hard for gardeners.  This year for us however it is a little different.  Spring has moved in and looks like she is making herself at home.  Turn the page quickly for us Spring, we can hardly wait for April.

This is the February page of the calendar that I made for my Mom and Dad. 

Since they live where it is much colder, and spring takes her time to arrive, I thought that they needed a little splash of pink.

I used Picasa to make the collages for the calendars, and if you are a Picasa user, and you regularly use that program, I would like to pass on a little info to you, that might save you a huge headache.

I was told by my very reliable photofinishing lab that Picasa saves all of your files in a thumbnail size.  This won’t be a problem unless you are enlarging the image, and then the loss of resolution will just blow you away.

So if you have any plans on enlarging your images, maybe using them in a calendar, or a enlargement, don’t use Picasa for this.  Other than that, it is a great program.  I love it’s simplicity for blogging.

I also heard a story about a customer who had saved everything to CD’s using Picasa, and then deleted the memory card. She was devastated to find out that her images were practically useless.

Sad to learn from someone else’s mistakes, but good information to have.

Jen

 

Blog rolling, rolling, rolling……

 One of my blog readers was mentioning that I did not have a updated URL for her blog on my blog roll.  I immediately went in to fix it, and that is when things really started rolling.

With best intentions I went to her blog, visited, and then I was interested on another blogger on her blog roll, so I clicked on that blog, and had a good visit, and then there was another blog on the new blogs sidebar.  And about 10 clicks, and 40 minutes later, well you get the picture.

What was I there for again?  Oh right, I was supposed to fix my blog roll.

Wondering why the blog roll is on the bottom of my sidebar?  Well, that apparently is where Blogger wants it to be.  And after trying 2 different browsers, and many attempts at a better placement I have come to a compromise with Blogger.  It no longer deletes my blog roll, and I leave it where it is.  This way at least I can add a new blogger to it without deleting the entire thing again.

Anyone else having the same problems?

I really do read all your blogs, and there are many more that I don’t have listed. 

Who says the housework needs to get done in a timely fashion? Since we got our computer, and I started blogging, well...I may have let the housework slip a bit, but Bootsie doesn’t seem to mind as long as we feed him regularly.

Jen

What goes around… Bloggy Love.

 

I have been very fortunate to make some great blogging friends since starting my blog. Some have been with me since I started, encouraging, and supporting, with comments, and links, sharing what they know.

I know that we all blog for different reasons, some don’t mind if there is no acknowledgement from the great world wide web.  But I always found that any comment cheered me, and made me feel like I wasn’t just throwing in hours of work into a giant abyss, never to be heard from again.

Jodi from Blooming Writer, has been posting recently about adopting  new garden bloggers.  Supporting them with comments, and spreading the word. Since Blotanical is growing with such leaps and bounds, many of the new garden bloggers are not always noticed.

Her suggestion is great, and I am encouraging all of us not only to visit, and leave a comment on new garden bloggers posts, but to say hi to all sorts of bloggers.  Expand your horizons, check out other’s blog rolls, and leave a comment. 

After all, what goes around, comes around.  Do you remember how excited you were to get a comment from someone you have never met before?  So let’s spread the Bloggy love “baby”.

To get you started, I am encouraging you to visit a few of the blogs on my blog roll that you don’t know.  And then when I visit your blogs, I am going to do the same.  Think of all the Bloggy love we can spread.

It will be a revolution. 

Jen