Monday, April 25, 2016

Memorandum Monday - April 25th

Linking in & sharing with Sian & the other Monday Memo Writers at:  From High In The Sky

What is new from the patio?  Spring!

A selection of spring pansies
We went on an outing Sunday.  Tried breakfast at newly opened restaurant, Sadie's Kitchen.  I had a delicious cheese, mushroom & spinach omelette, Mr Man had a typical breakfast 2 eggs, 2 rashers of bacon, home fries & toast.  He said their coffee was bitter, so no second cup.

Continuing on with our outing we visiting two new to us garden centres; Royal City & Greenway Garden Centre.  These visits were part of our quest for some cedar mulch (reasonably priced). We were able to get some natural cedar mulch on special; 13 bags for $53.00 (CND) at one of our regular garden centres.  Then Mr Man spent a couple of hours laying the mulch in our front gardens.
Mulch laid in one of the gardens.

Also on this outing, a search for Hellebore to plant in my garden.  We found several pots & varieties of Hellebore at both new locations but I felt they were a little to expensive, at $30.00 (Candian); British Pound Sterling, 16.43 & USD, $23.67.  I will wait to see what the local garden clubs have on offer at their sales. 

 
Royal City



Greenway




















New book I am reading;  The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.  Light & so far I am enjoying.

New season of Orphan Black (TV) has begun. So far it seems like it is coming back to the original story line; last season was a little off the rails for me.  Sad that Vikings is already over for the season. Outlander is just too out there for me, although I find the actor that plays Jamie, quite delicious.

High Teas are abounding everywhere as fund raisers & celebrations.  New source for me was the Robinson Bray Tea Room where on Thursday, one of my sisters & I enjoyed a tea birthday party for Queen Elizabeth II  - it was a lovely tea.  This was a new way for my sister & I to spent time together & thankfully this tea shop was a half way point for both of us to drive.  The other sister was not able to join us.
  
Robinson Bray Tea Room

 

New to us, two Chilean wines; one red, one white. It seems that of late the Chilean wines are gaining more shelf space at the LCBO as the variety available is increasing. We have found both quite enjoyable, especially after a day working in the garden & sitting down on the patio to enjoy the fruits of our labour.  The red is a dry cheeky wine; a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot & the relaxed white is a Sauvignon Blanc, again a fairly dry wine.  I enjoy both with a twist of lime.  While I prefer reds, they really do not like me of late, so I have switched to white.  Each 1.5L bottle costs  a reasonable Canadian, $13.75 (10.85 USD) (7.53 Pound Sterling).





I hope that everyone has a delightful week ahead of them.  With my garden angel, Meredith now in watchful residence, it can only get better from here.
 

Meredith has returned to the garden



23 comments:

  1. Oh how nice that your garden is taking shape and now under watchful eyes. It is still a bit early here for planting our annual, even though hubby is itching to get started. I enjoy blended wines too, but I've never tried a twist of lime with them - although I do love sangria and I suppose there could be some in there. Have a lovely spring ahead.

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    1. Meredith has been a positive energy for a number of years now - I must check her bottom to see when I made her. We have wonderful chats during the nicer patio weather times.

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  2. So glad to hear that spring has arrived for you and look forward to seeing your plants bloom this year.

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    1. I cannot wait to get out in the garden to the start of photographing of my 2016 garden.

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  3. lots of lovely new activities - like the sound of yoru omlette - have a good week

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    1. I have been craving that omlette all week. I will try to duplicated at home. The flip & fold of an omlette has long been a skill I need to develop.

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  4. A busy weekend with lots of activities. The hellebores do seem a little expensive. Keep looking!

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    1. I am reviewing online garden clubs to see when they have their spring garden sales - I am hopeful.

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  5. Isn't it lovely to be able to get out in the garden and prepare it for the summer? Hellebores are a lot cheaper here - I was surprised by the price you mentioned!

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    1. I have put out the word with many of our patients at the clinic that I am looking for Hellebores, hopefully I will make a contact.

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  6. Sounds like a wonderful beginning to spring! I added new mulch to our beds the first week of March and it made a huge difference in appearance. We're getting lots of April showers here now.

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    1. I find the mulch really helps to reduce the weeding or at least makes it easier to pluck out. The farmer's field behind us is such a source for joy, but also weeds. Ah the ying, the yang.

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  7. Goodness that price foe Hellebores is a lot, but yay to getting time in the garden. Lots of lovely new things you've tried too

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    1. Thanks Sandra. Back viewing the garden from inside - oh it has been chilly (thankfully no snow again).

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  8. A surge of energy with the good weather, I see! (We have had snow today...) Pleased to see Meredith back in situ :o)

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    1. Meredith was shivering since Sunday, we are dipping into the - temperatures over night - still too early to plant annuals of course, but I had to drag out the winter coat again!

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  9. Although the trees are greening, the lawn is covered with frost this morning. It doesn't look like the temperatures are going to get warm enough in the next week to bring the lilacs in full bloom by the time our annual festival begins a week from Friday. I can't wait to get to the garden shops and do some planting, but the wisdom here is to wait until the middle or end of May. After such a mild winter, I was hoping for an early spring!

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    1. We live within the annual gardening rule of do not plant until after the May 24th weekend, which this year is May 23rd - May 24th is a stat holiday celebrating Queen Victoria's Birthday.

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  10. You have a lot of "new" in there. I'm not much of a gardener but I do love a good historical drama; and having enjoyed Vikings, I'm about to try Outlander. You have got me intrigued about it now..

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    1. I will be interested to know what you think of Outlander.

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  11. A very elegant tea room ... Always nice to find a new one of these. Glad your Angel is looking after you :).

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    1. This tea house is one of 4 tea shops that I have sourced for my summer of tea parties. I really enjoy my angel but I am now on the look out for a gardening krone - her wisdom I am sure would be delightful.

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  12. High Teas are becoming popular as fundraisers here too....and I do love Garden Centres! Xx

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