Fwd: [thesimple_life] Is it Spring Yet?

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Sheryl Simons <thesimple_life

thesimple_life

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 6:40 pm

[thesimple_life] Is it Spring Yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Simple Life

By Sheryl Simons

 

Every Spring about this time of year, things begin to get interesting.

Ice is melting on the lakes. Birds are returning in droves. Robins,

Sand Hill Cranes, Red-Winged Blackbirds, and yesterday, we saw a swan

paddling around the edges of Grand Traverse Bay!

Grass is beginning to turn green, and I even saw the pink tips of my

Rhubarb plants peeking from the ground. Daffodils are up several inches

and buds are swelling in anticipation of increasingly warmer temps.

Every day the sun shines is a good day.

I love to walk around my yard and welcome back my plants. They

faithfully come back year after year to bloom at their scheduled time.

Last year was a hard winter and the deer and rabbits sampled way too

much of their share. This year I took preventative action. Some of my

shrubs must be tired of starting over every year.

I bought some leftover linoleum at a yard sale. Cut to form a tube and

with a drywall screw at the top and bottom, these tubes were cheap, and

held up through cold and snow. But what about the tops that stuck out

of the tubes? Can't the deer still nibble? No. Not unless they get VERY

bold. I bought some 60 " material at Walmart that was=2

0only $1. a yard. I

made a bag for each special small tree that looks similar in shape to a

pillow case. Then, after fitting them over each bush, I secured them

with a wire tie. They are still there, waiting to be removed, and no

loss to the winter-feeders. Finally an answer we can all live with!

This week, in the 40's, I look forward to my yard walk. I have some

raking to do. After a long winter, what would I do without my plants to

welcome spring back? At least once a week it is so much fun to explore

the new sprouts.

There are a few plants I will be getting started indoors. If you want

to try some seeds indoors, plant your seeds in potting soil. You can

keep them in a dark warm place, covered with plastic, until you see a

sprout. Immediately take off the cover or they can start to rot. Put

them under lights, or in a bright window. Feed with ½ strength

fertilizer until you are ready to plant outdoors. Putting a gentle fan

on them each day is a good idea, as well, to make them stronger. That

is why large greenhouses often have fans going. Acclimatize them before

planting them directly outside, by putting them in shade and out of

harsh winds for a few days.

Then start putting the in the sun for a couple hours. Your plants will

hardly know you moved them!

 

Simple Oatmeal Muffins

 

mix together and let set for a few minutes

1 c oats

1 c milk

Add in egg20and oil. Add dry ingredients.

1 c. flour

1/3 c. sugar

3 t baking powder

½ t salt

1 egg minutes.

¼ c oil

Bake 425` for about 20

Nutritious for Breakfast

 

Keeping it Simple,

Sheryl Email: thesimple_life