Next will be to find rocks that will like to live with our plants, adding some depth and character. There are a few more plants, sedum's and maybe even some cactus that will be introduced in the spring. 

So, for now, the project and the plants (and us) will rest. The Xeriscape bed has come to the point of “That’s all for this year.”​

Imagine a jar, a spoon, a sleeve of crackers and a locked door. Any locked door as long as you can escape with the other items in hand to partake in some solitude. A place you can enjoy eating crackers heaped with Mom’s Yellow Bean Relish without interruption. ​

Now is the time to head for the garden or local Farmer’s Market to get your supply of fresh beans.

It's the time of the gardening season when the tomatoes are showing off their colour.  In some instances, the harvest can reap bushels of of this fruit that need to be dealt with before the frost starts to make an appearance. So we pick them green and spend the next few months checking on their transition to red. 

One of our all time favourite recipes to look after the abundance of green tomatoes is Mincemeat. It stores well and is ready to use when the urge takes you to make pies and tarts. 

 In a small bowl, mix together cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and salt.

Combine tomatoes and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Stir often. Boil gently for 30 minutes. Drain. 

Add apple, suet, raisins, currants, mixed peel, and both sugars.  Bring to a boil. Boil gently until thick ~ about 2 hours. Stir frequently.

Stir in pieces and vinegar. Continue stirring for 2-3 minutes to blend the spices evenly  throughout the mixture. 

Pour into prepared jars. Process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes. 

If anyone has rocks they are looking to get rid of, please contact me. 

​Are you missing out on some easy and free marketing for your business? Do you have a shoe string budget or no budget at all when it comes to advertising? This could be your breakthrough. 

Time involved, after initial set up . . . Under one minute.

How can you take advantage of this opportunity? It’s easy. There is nothing to buy and after set up, there is nothing to sign up for. 

You have now taken the initiative to increase your followers. More importantly, you have increased the exposure for your business. 

You don’t have to invite everyone, and not everyone will accept your invitation. Consider it another baby step in marketing your business. One step that can be taken with little effort.

Facebook is a cauldron of opportunity. If you are taking the time to post and read other people’s posts because you “Liked” their business pages; why aren’t you taking the one minute or less to invite others to Like your page?

Get over the “I don’t want to bother people” attitude and start building your followers list. FB is a prime example of the ripple in the pond affect. For every person that Likes your page, one of their friends sees your page and ultimately your posts. You have now doubled the marketing value. 

Take advantage of what is right there in front of you. It only takes a minute!

Tell us how do you utilize Facebook to market your business?

Goodness from the garden. Be it your garden, a neighbours or the local farmer's market. Fresh vegetables make all the difference when you are baking something good to eat. One of my favourite loaf recipes uses root vegetables.

This versatile loaf pairs nicely with tea and coffee. Serve to guests, add to lunches or eat for dessert.  

​Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life​​​

​Oh, man! What was I thinking? The 4’ x 8’ chunk of potential xeriscape land is way bigger than I thought. Well, I guess it isn’t, but it sure seems that way. 

“Where to start?” Was the question that almost ended the transition from old flower bed to planned new garden space. 

I needed a list. I always work better with a list. This one received the heading of “Flower Bed to Xeriscape - How to Tackle?”. 

As the list progressed, the project was starting to look good (on paper). Everything seems straight forward. No roadblocks or snags. I’m already liking the paper version of my Xeriscape garden. 

Excerpts from Flower Bed to Xeriscape - How to Tackle?

1. Assess the situation. 
    - Make a list of plants I think I want here. Yes, I am notorious for lists. They work for me, what can I say. 
    - Assess the situation, again. Short list the plants.
    - Contact friends and family to see if they want any of the plants that have to go.

2. The work begins.
    - Clear the space.
        Rake out any debris, ground cover and dead plants.
    - Dig out ALL the plants. 
        Ready space in the rogue garden or flower pots for the keepers.
3. What's currently planted in the space?  
      - Day lilies, peonies, rue, flax, daisies and a few hyacinth and tulips and sedums thrown in for filler. 
4. Hope the friends and family show up to pick up their plants. 

I wonder if everyone will stay away until I am done all the preliminary work? 

​Life was good, so to speak. The project was on track, and then it started to rain! And it rained, and rained and rained. Day after day after day. Mother Nature managed to put the whole thing on hold and until things dry out some, the next phase will have to wait. The promise of hot, dry weather is in the forecast. Since this is not a hurry up job, it’s time to review and reflect on where I am and where I am going with it. 

More reading and planning. More wandering from here to there looking at the space to see if I need to change my thinking.  Time to re-visit the paper version to fill in holes of the recorded
thought process and adjust the lists. ​Oh yes, there is more than one list!

Soon, it will start to come together (I hope). 

​Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life​​

In recent years, flea markets, junk yards, garage and yard sales, basements and attics have all been recognized as treasure chests. These places are home to antiques, memorabilia and junk. 

A little imagination, along with the unique suggestions from the pages of this book, and your yard will have a character like no other. The operative word here is imagination, because after reading this book, you will chastise yourself for throwing out some perfectly good garden accessories. Incorporate everything from tin cans to car springs and cutlery into your outdoor setting. Your deck, patio and yard can have unusual pieces that will not be found at the local garden and yard decorating centres.

Visualize old garden tools as a support for clematis, scarlet runner beans or sweet peas. Metal containers such as pots, buckets and tin cans housing your herbs. Books and foot wear that have been damaged beyond repair or restoration once again come alive and will become the centre of conversation when used as planters.

This book provides an abundance of pictures that give you every opportunity to invent a work of art that adds personality to both inside and outside decor.

The old adage that one man's junk is another man's treasure is confirmed in page after page in this intriguing by Leeann MacKenzie.

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life​

I didn’t have to go very far to find the recipe for Bread Pudding. The old fashioned kind that was a dessert main stay from kitchens of the 1900's. Easy to make from memory and then found in cookbooks written in that era. 

Mom’s Blue Ribbon Cook Book (circa 1940’s) is my go to book for these old time favourites.  Instructions, as you can see, are interesting, to say the least. ​

Bread Pudding (Steamed) - 2 cups bread crumbs, 1/2 cup molasses, 1 cup hot water poured on the bread, 1 cup flour, 1 cup raisins, 1/2 teaspoon Blue Ribbon soda, 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 egg, Blue Ribbon spices to taste, milk if required. Steam 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Good and inexpensive. (Verbatim)

Download Recipe for Not Your Momma's Bread Pudding. 

Now for the topping.  This is one of the best sauces I have made. A little goes a long way, but it compliments anything it is paired with.