How Does Your Garden Grow

Yay, It's SPRING!  That's when a young man's and young woman's fancy might turn to gardening. It may be their first garden though and unless you spent time with your parents or grandparents tending their beautiful patch of soil you might need some tips about how to make your garden grow.

Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden

Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your yard is sheltered or windswept. You'll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.

But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acidic or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow.  You can alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.

Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy 'one of everything' your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organized, harmonious and you can vary the colour for interest.

Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the center if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.

The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.

In Search of the Best Gardening Tools

Different kinds of gardens require different kinds of garden tools. Hardware stores mostly carry a wide range of tools, but there are shops that specialize in the more expensive kind of garden tool that shouts quality.  (I'm thinking Lee Valley Tools - even though my missus says I'm not allowed in there.) Wherever you decide to shop, here are a few pointers to advise you.

Do you have small garden or a large one? A small garden will not require the same large equipment that would be of use in an extensive one. A ride-on mower is unnecessary if you only have a small strip of lawn. Another point to consider is who does most of the gardening? Some tools are too heavy for use by your favourite gal.

When you buy secateurs or pruning shears, make sure the blade always stays sharp to avoid damaging the plant. Look for models that have blades that can be sharpened or replaced, models with tension control and with sizes that best fit your hands. Secateurs usually cost around $50 - $130.

Hedge trimmers or shears are handy - but only if you have a hedge, or plan on growing one.  Some hedge trimmers have curved blades to stop branches from sliding out when cut.

Forks are used for turning and aerating compost and breaking up lumps of soil. The cheaper ones are often not strong enough for heavy soil, so go for sturdiness instead of price. Forks usually range from  $30 - $100. Make sure that the handle feels comfortable in your hands and has good balance. If the handle is too thick it puts extra strain on your hands just trying to hang on. And don't forget to pickup a good fitting pair of leather gloves to keep the blisters at bay.

A shovel has a scoop blade and is best used to move around dirt and garden soil. A spade has a flat blade great for cutting edges, digging and dividing plants. The edge of a spade should be kept sharpened for clean and efficient cutting will cause the least amount of damage to plants. These are a basic garden necessity and usually cost from $30 - $50.

A pruning saw is used for pruning trees and larger shrubs, while secateurs are for plants like roses. Pruning saws have a narrow curved blade that fits between stems or branches and easily and cuts them as you pull the saw backwards. They are approximately $27- $55.

A chipping hoe is a handy tool for getting rid of small weeds. The Dutch or push-hoe is slightly more user-friendly as the action required to use it does not jar the neck and shoulder quite so much.

A rake is also a basic requirement for the garden. The strong rake with the flat head and sharp metal prongs is used for smoothing a garden bed and getting out the last of the bumps and weeds. The plastic rake is used to gather leaves and grass clippings only.

Gardening tools don't have to be expensive. Flea markets and garage sales can be excellent places to pick up great tool bargain. Just make sure you wash the tools down before using them in your yard just in case they are carrying any plant diseases in the dirt.


Come back again soon as we'll be talking about Butterfly Gardening and more garden tips. Enjoy

Acoustic Music Circle just Formed

Was just visiting with a friend of mine the other day and we got to talking about music and one thing led to another and we found that we both played (and I use the term loosely for me) acoustic instruments and had friends that played them too. Next thing we know we've got an acoustic jam circle started in Bonnyville and we're moving quickly to secure a venue and pick an evening that works for most people's schedules.

This is going to be a very informal group with players of all levels. It's going to be strictly acoustic so if you play a guitar (6 or 12 string), Mandolin, Banjo, Fiddle,dobro, stand up bass or lute or whatever tickles your fancy you're welcome to participate.
Hook up on our Facebook link Bonnyville Acoustic Circle Jam and you'll be able to keep in touch of upcoming jam nights and so on.

Blue Grass, Olde Timey music, good country and folk, it all fits so ya'll get your gear and get ready to have some great fun.

Skin Scrub or Skin Care?

What is it that makes a person's skin glow? Is it an inherent gene or is it special care and grooming. To keep your skin looking it's best especially in the dryness of winter, you'll want to try these tips.

1. Start using a creamy facial cleanser. Cleansers, which you use to remove make-up usually, strip away moisture and during winter, this problem gets magnified.

2. Moisturize throughout the day. Use a moisturizing facial mask. Try using body lotion even before you've left the shower, right after rinsing soap or body wash. It will help lock in some extra moisture.

3. Of course, hot water showers feel great in winter, but they wreak havoc on dry skin. Try a lukewarm shower instead, and then pat your skin dry with a towel.

4. Avoid skin products and hairstyling products that have a high alcoholic content. When alcohol evaporates, it feels cool and refreshing, but it also strips away moisture, so opt for alcohol-free products, when the air is already dry.

5. When it comes to hair, if you're already dealing with dry, brittle hair, resist the urge to reach for the hair dryer. It'll only make things worse. Dry and style your hair with a towel, and if you still want to use a dryer, time yourself and try to use it a little less.

6. One of the biggest problems during winter are chapped lips. Use a lip balm with at least SPF 15 and preferably one with antiseptic agents to aid in healing. Some lip balm products are made with tea tree oil, which helps heal painful cracks.

7. Your hands, feet, knees and elbows need to be looked after too, during winter. Use products containing shea butter, petrolatum, mineral oil, tea tree oil or glycerin. For intense relief, moisturize hands and feet at night, and then slip on gloves or socks to lock in the moisture.

Organize and Get Paid

If you’re good at organizing, you can help others get organized…and make money at the same time!

If you’ve always been interested in organizing, there’s actually a professional in the world known as ‘professional organizing.’ That’s right…you can actually make money, helping others get organized. What a concept! Whoever thought that someone would pay you to help organize their kitchen, or get their papers into a filing system? But there are people that help others get organized every day, and make lots of money doing so!

What I love most about this business is it doesn't require lots of capital. It doesn't require you to spend thousands on advertising. You don't have to go out and buy expensive equipment. You don't have to invest in any special training. You don’t even need a college education. You basically have to have two things:

* a knack for helping people get organized and

* a desire to run your own successful business

That’s what I find amazing about this business. Anybody who is good at organizing can do it, and can make a great income at the same time.

My good friend and organizing expert, Maria Gracia, has come up with a comprehensive resource that shares every single thing you need to know to start, manage and grow your very own professional organizing business. She makes everything easy-as-pie and fun! I highly encourage you to have a peek at her material.

Get all the details here:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/aff-1shop-ultimateguide.html

Renew Your Passport

Wow, it was minus 14 C this morning with a high humidity index of around 91 % and combined, that is cool and is equivalent to 14 degrees fahrenheit. Now water starts to freeze at 32 F and at 0 C so you know what's happening outside. Inside it's starting to put thoughts of warmer climates in my head.

The Missus noticed it starting last night when her friend "arthur" one of the "itis" boys payed a visit and stayed all night. Her hands were both red, swelling and sore as heck.  Oh yes, she popped her faithful Aleve but that only helped for a little while. She's better today because the Sun came out and its a balmy minus 10.. Hmm I took a bit of a sidetrack there for a minute because this is supposed to be about Renewing your Passports.

So the Missus pulled her passport  out and said " I've got to get mine renewed before the end of 2012 so I went looking to see if it could be done on line.  Eureka, I went to the Canadian Government passport link and sure enough you can --- sort of.

Here's the deal, you still have to get your pictures taken and submit the fees and then wait while they process it. Processing times will vary depending on the way you applied. Here are some general guidelines: 
Processing times — not including postal delivery times

In person (at a Passport Canada counter)		10 business days
By mail		20 business days
Via a receiving agent (Service Canada or Canada Post)		20 business days
From the United States		20 business days

If you plan to travel within the next 20 business days, please submit your application at a Passport Canada office.

There's another great resource page called Traveler's Corner that provides handy tips and suggestions and another link that provides a warning about not getting swindled.  It seems that there are a few nefarious types out there just waiting to get there hands on your travel money or just your money by offering a service to guide you through the process. You don't have to do it because all the resources are right on the page.  If you do get in a bind your local Member of Parliament is a handy resource as well. 

US PASSPORTS

The US passport process is handled by the Department of State (DOS)and they have a completely different process that utilizes the mail service or appearing in person. So far I haven't found an online source yet but I'll keep looking.  One nice thing I noticed is if you are in a hurry and you plan on travelling internationally you can get a passport within 2 weeks.

A VISA might be another option. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the U.S. Before traveling to the U.S., a citizen of a foreign country must generally obtain a non-immigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you will need is based on the purpose of your travel. There's also tons of information on the D O S site about visiting, attending college, temporary working visas and Immigrating and living in the United States full time.

There's certainly several areas I'd like to return to live including Austin, Texas area, the Oregon Coast, Memphis or Nashville Tennessee, and Seattle, Washington to name a few. And, one area I would love to see is the New England states. 

Regardless of your destination though your passport is your best form of identification and you will want to protect it at all times. This document is extremely valuable in the wrong hands so be aware. Enjoy your travels and we'll see you where its warm. Dave

Organization Made Easy

The Easy Way to Get All Your Details, Information and Notes Organized Once and For All

If you’re like me, you’ll agree that we all have way too much to remember. Birthdays, phone numbers, goals, books we want to read, movies we  want to see, chores, store sale dates, home inventory, doctor visits and medications, web sites, travel checklists, things to clean, great ideas, vehicle maintenance, gifts to buy...phew! That's a lot to remember, isn't it?

It’s no wonder there’s so much stress in the world!

So, how in the world do you keep all this information organized, and easily accessible when you need it, without breaking the bank?

Great news...I know of an awesome system, developed by my good friend and organizing expert, Maria Gracia, that can help you keep it all organized. I use it myself, and I can firmly attest that it’s one of the best planning systems out there to help you keep it all organized and accessible when you need it!

I use it--I love it--and I know you will too! Get all the details here:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/aff-1shop-ezorganizer.html

Anti Aging and the Food Pyramid

Are You Getting Enough Of These Anti Aging Foods?

When we think of aging we often think about the external effects - the wrinkles, sagging and weight gain that makes us look older from the outside.  But what a lot of people don't realize is that you can help slow down the aging processes from the inside by eating a lot of anti aging foods. 

You've probably heard the expression you are what you eat, right?  Well, it really is true. 

The foods you eat today are what your body is using for fuel tomorrow.  If you eat foods that are a drag on your system and empty in nutrition, you will not have the vibrant energy and good looks that you want.  Eating too many fast foods like burgers and fries will not only put on weight but are also associated with many diseases.  Not getting enough vitamins and unsaturated fats in your diet can leave your skin and hair looking dull and dry.

Making sure you get enough of the right foods, ones that have antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals will not only improve your appearance but they will also help protect you from disease and Illness like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  So, just what are these anti aging foods?

Fruits And Vegetables

Probably the best foods you can eat are fruits and vegetables.  They are loaded with vitamins and minerals and, when eaten raw, have powerful enzymes that actually help your body with the digestion process - leaving more energy for you to use on other things. 

Fruits and vegetables are also loaded with antioxidants which fight off free radicals.  Free radicals actually play a major role in aging and are thought the be major contributors to disease so the more of them you can fight off, the healthier and younger looking you will be!
   
Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids might not sound like something that are good for you, but they are.  The Omega-3 fatty acids in particular are essential for keeping your cell membranes fluid which helps with a host of body functions not the least of which is younger looking skin.  You can get these essential fatty acids from cold water fish like salmon and tuna, flax seed oil and walnuts.

Fiber

Fibre foods

Fiber is key to keeping your digestive process working and it can also help keep your cholesterol levels in check. While this might not do a lot for your outer appearance, it can do a whole heck of a lot for your insides and this in turn will help keep you vibrant and youthful. 

It's especially important to get enough to keep your bowel movements regular, after all, who can look energetic and youthful when they are constipated?  Fiber can be found in whole grains, black beans, pears, prunes and apples. 

When buying whole wheat breads, don't be fooled by the words whole wheat on the label. Look at the ingredients and make sure the very first one is whole wheat or whole grains.  Otherwise, you are not getting a full whole wheat product.

Finally, the last of the anti aging foods I want to talk about isn't really a food at all - it's water.  Plain and simple water.  You need to drink plenty of it to keep you hydrated.  This not only helps with the inner functions of your body but will also help your skin and hair look younger.

Here's a great guideline for the types of food you should use and in what proportions you should consume.

Here's to healthy living. Dave