April is here! That means we might just get a bit of rain in Calgary…and maybe some cherry blossoms (if they don’t freeze off). And tulips (if the rabbits and deer don’t eat them first). Clearly, a month of “if’s”….
Typical spring. 😉
My favourite furry flower, Pulsatilla patens – Nose Hill, Calgary, 28 March 2016
I spent the month of March doing more researching and querying than actual writing, and while I was busy with that, my e-mails collectively undertook a massive construction project that is now approaching monument status…we’re talking the Egyptian pyramids or something of that ilk. So I maybe need to do something about that this upcoming week. Ahem.
And I’ve been spring cleaning and organizing! I mean, moving files and piles around. No, seriously, I’m actually making a tiny dent, even though it might be NEXT spring when I see truly decent results. But just the small amount I’ve done so far is refreshing.
Speaking of files, here are a few interesting things I came across this past month:
- A snowy owl speculates on landing a coveted modelling gig – yep, you read that right. Go here. You’ll love the rest of Lyle Krahn’s blog, too – nothing better than fantastic wildlife photos combined with a wonderful sense of humour!
- A profile of the life and work of Felicitas Svejda, the geneticist responsible for the breeding of the hardy Explorer roses. Canadians who grow roses owe much to her dedication and passion for plants that could survive our crazy winters and short growing season.
- Photographer Beth Moon’s portraits of the world’s most ancient trees are absolutely incredible. Head over to the gallery and enjoy.
- Take a look at some samples from Saxon Holt’s fledgling Photo Florilegium project.
I’ve been posting some items elsewhere:
- Potato Pancakes recipe – Blooms and Spoons, Grit.com
- Parsley Soup recipe – Blooms and Spoons, Grit.com
- Over at The Door is Ajar, mentions of a few books I’ve been reading:
- The Artist in the Office (how to keep those creative juices flowing while you slog away at your day job!)
- The Carbon Diaries 2015 (a dark, smart teen dystopian novel)
- In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods (a seriously disturbing fable about the meaning of family)
Finally, this was a really fun book to read for review – I started out randomly flipping through the pages but then had to chow down on it cover-to-cover. Now, ask me something….
Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons (2016, Voyageur Press, Minneapolis)
Whether you’re a modern homesteader or an urban DIY-er, you’ll find a useful tip or hundreds in the Mother Earth News Almanac (2016). Want to know something about natural pest control? How to build a stove out of an aluminium can? Need recipes for popcorn balls or cherry preserves or tips on how to sour cream or sprout seeds for eating? What about sinking fence posts or cobbling together a working substitute for a broken cotter pin? Whether it’s raising livestock (or cats), making crafts, foraging for wild foods, or constructing, you name the topic – you’ll probably find something new and interesting about it in this book. The entries are concise and informative, divided into categories based upon the seasons of the year, and the book is illustrated throughout with black ink line drawings, diagrams, and tables. Fascinating and practical lifestyle hacks for everyone!
(* Many thanks to Voyageur Press for providing a copy of this title for review. I did not receive any compensation for my opinion, which is my own).
What are you most looking forward to this month?
Flowery Prose. 