Hoary Carrots

We had a most satisfying Sunday--collage in the morning, prepping for Thursday's workshop. This was followed by a pot of Dumni and cucumber sandwiches at Shaktea with my beau. I attended a LOVELY baby shower. Then the sun came out and I did a good two hours gardening. Peter even came down to the allotment with me and we harvested some over-wintered kale, broccoli and lovage as well as some hoary carrots.

I transplanted sweet peas, and nasturtiums and started on my trellises. Why do I hate making trellises? Will the nasturtiums be all right? Will it snow? It did in North Vancouver and Squamish.
I also planted some more seeds: 2 kinds of cukes, purple orach spinach, a fragrant agastache, and red Hopi Dye amaranth. I've decided to give away my sage plant to make room for something more interesting. The buttercup is thriving. Uggh.

I have been watching Season 3 of George Gently and Series 3 of the Land Girls. I also watched Withnail and I and a documentary called Withnail and Us. A trip down memory lane for me. I remember absolutely LOVING that movie and it's been a favorite for a long time. I appreciate it differently now, from a completely different perspective. It does have some of the all time best movie quotes. My favorite today is, "Here hare here." Richard E. Grant is pure genius in this movie. He is one of my favorite actors. I'd forgotten how good Paul McGann was in it too. I love those John Lennon shades. Rest in peace Richard Griffiths, my favorite cooking detective.

Plant Some Beans and Lighten Up

Today I plant the bush beans. I'll plant some in my raised bed and start some inside for the places I'll need to protect them from the slugs. Yesterday I harvested almost all the radishes and so I have space now. I've been eating radishes and kale almost every supper now in an attempt to lighten up my diet. "Lighten up" is my key phrase for the month. I've got to get rid of this tendency to plunge into anxiety as I get more and more tired from my busy season. Only about 28 more days to go before things really lighten up. The weather has also been my nemesis this spring. I do appreciate all the rain but the cold temperatures are getting on my tits.

Yesterday I harvested and culled bamboo in C's yard and we had a nice glass of iced bancha twig tea under the lilac tree chez-nous. My friend dropped off some wild garlic in a pot and also a few stalks to try. It is pungeant and fresh. I think this used to grow on the prairie. I have a sweet memory of a sunny day on a hillside with that same pungent smell coming from a plant with delicate white flowers.

I have been ironing fabric to prep it for my installation. I have to bite the bullet and start cutting now. It's that vulnerable stage between conception and realization. I hate this bit. This is where I wish I had a proper studio with a large clean cutting table, an industrial sewing machine and an assistant!

We've been enjoying the Ataulfo mangoes in smoothies with cardamon, yogurt and rosewater. P should be home soon. We sure miss him and he has been incommunicado as usual. All these new ways to communicate and not one word. Strewth.

The Garden Workout

I am very pleasantly sore from working in the garden today: 3 hrs at the MOP and one hour at home. I am already starting to transplant my seedlings and I am starting to build devices to protect my plants from hungry stellar jays. Yes, I caught them eating my peas. I've got cornflowers in and I direct-seeded some poppies today. I've also been tackling the evil invasives: lamium, bamboo, buttercup, goutweed, and ivy. I need a superhero to help me with those dastardly villains.

Soggy Day

It's seriously raining out there. I am in my warm, clean jammies after a day of teaching and gardening. I worked with the grade fours who have buddies in grade one. We talked about seed germination, the stages of plant growth and then we went to it. We planted seeds. It was complete chaos. Seeds everywhere, overturned pots, frustrated students. I absolutely fell on my ass. Tried to accomplish too much and flopped. Oh well. This is what they call part of the learning curve. My son said it was the worst buddy time they'd ever had and next time I should be better prepared and it should go more smoothly. No kidding.

I worked out my frustration by working in the rain in the garden; amending the soil in my garden bed with compost and sea soil and planting some of the shelling peas and sweet peas I'd soaked to get ready for planting. I usually don't sow direct because of slugs so I'm going to have to start saving eggshells and being vigilant. It felt good to pull weeds and get my fingers in the soil.

This weekend was all about writing protest letters to politicians about the education cuts. The replies are starting to trickle in. The school board is grateful to have parents advocate to the provincial politicians because they say they listen to parents more than the board. In fact they wouldn't be surprised if the provincial government tries to supplant the current board. We'll see about that.

I also saw a fabulous performance by Lori Blondeau at the Western Front: Unwrapping the White Man. It was vintage Blondeau, with great comic timing and a thought-provoking central image. The place was packed. I'm so happy to see a new young crowd supporting performance art.

Last night I watched a very silly and enjoyable movie starring Matt LeBlanc and Eddie Izzard called All the Queen's Men. It's about a recon mission in which the soldiers have to dress in drag to infiltrate a factory. I had no expectations so I had a lot of fun watching it. Then I watched an Inspector Morse Mystery called Deadly Slumber. Not the best one, but I still love Morse.

Alfredo sauce on orecchiette pasta and asparagus for dinner. Comfort food for a soggy day.