Chapter 18 Warm Blanket of Snow

Iris are snug in their bed for a long winters nap

Mother nature dumped about 19 inches of snow on our neighborhood recently and the accumulation has created a perfect 'feather blanket' to cover my iris bed. This blanket should last quite sometime; with no real warming expected for the near future.

I was thinking of how the 'blanket' metaphor really works because the snow insulates the iris roots from the cold air temperature. It would be informative to have a thermometer in the ground to see how warm it is.

I also have tree seedlings, Rose of Sharon seedlings, Chrysanthemums, Hosta and Blanket flowers in this garden bed. It is so easy to take for granted how Mother Nature takes care of her business; whether we are aware of it or not. See you by the fireplace.

Chapter 17 A Teddy Bear Christmas

Some years it has taken me quite a while to get into the 'Christmas Spirit'. Not this year. I got my Christmas cards done today; about 25 of them to family.My wife is baking weekly; Swedish rye bread, Lucia buns, Christmas bread yesterday. We do our Advent wreath ceremony each night. The Kitchen has great smells, (all day long on the week-ends) and since I don't have a corporate job anymore, my time is mine with my new business Achieve & Grow LLC. I'm definitely in the Christmas spirit; three weeks early. I love it.

Teddy Bear Bread
This morning I helped Nancy mix the dough (man that's work)for the Teddy Bear bread. Nancy kneaded the dough and later created the shapes that would become Teddy's and put them in the oven to bake. Late afternoon the Teddy Bears came out of the oven. I knew I had to take pictures.


Aren't they darling? Nancy has some pre-schoolers that asked her a few days ago "when are the Teddy Bears coming"? These little five year olds remembered her Teddy Bears. She makes miniature ones for the kids; that means about 8 inches tall. The kids will never forget Nancy's Teddy's. It's her way of bringing real excitement and joy to the little one's. It brings me joy to watch her.

What are your Christmas baking traditions? Send them to me. I'd love to hear from you. See you by the Fireplace.

Chapter 16 Petunias in December

It has been a few months since my last post; busy with autumn leaves, cleaning the beds and planting all my potted Iris.

I thought you would enjoy seeing the Petunias that started by themselves in some of my Iris planting pots. I transplanted them and they held up fine in the greenhouse all the way to the 15th of November. I moved them into the house where they bloomed a few days ago. The average person does not realize how you can have winter blooms like this. What a treat. Nice surprise; I honestly did not plan this. That is the beauty of having a greenhouse. It extends the season. See you by the fireplace.