Weekly Garden Report - #2 continued...

Still waiting for the sun...

Tomorrow is Canada Day which means no work. Yay! It sorta feels like a Friday night but it's Tuesday...Just adding to the discombobulation brought on by all this weird weather. Humph.

Not that I'm complaining about having a day off. Cause I'm not. Quite looking forward to it. Now where were we...

Things are growing like crazy ~ all the rain I suppose.



On the upside, our lawn has never looked better!



You have to look a bit closer to find color now (other than green) but it's there...











And coming soon...I planted red Asiatic Lilies last year and it looks like they've had babies. Looking forward to seeing them bloom!



Find the Fabulous Felines!



Okay...they're not exactly hidden but it sounded fun...

Weekly Garden Report - #2

I missed the garden report last week due to the Near Constant Rain...but I did get out to the garden this past weekend. We still aren't getting much sun though.

The weather is weird right now. It's like someone flipped a switch and we've suddenly got the heat of mid-summer, but we don't have the sun. It's been grey, foggy, dreary. And the temperatures really aren't that high yet, but the humidity makes it seem worse than it is.

I've been having a hard time settling down to tasks that I want to get done. I feel restless but can't seem to figure out what I want to do with myself. I'm blaming the weather because I don't know what else to blame.

I did get out to do some weeding on Friday night. Things were looking a little wild, and I did a quick run through to tidy things up.

I am concerned about my tomatoes though; the leaves are turning yellow. I'm wondering if it is too much rain and not enough sun? The Sweet Cluster and Jetsetter varieties have blossoms (the 4 on the right-hand side), so I'm hoping it's nothing too serious.



The plants in the containers actually look pretty good.





And one of my jalapenos has a blossom.



The lettuce is coming along as well.



And these herbs are growing like crazy - thyme, spicy oregano, garlic, and there is a catnip plant in there as well. Gotta keep the Fabulous Felines happy...



I don't actually remember what type of thyme this is, but it's flowering at the moment.



Here is Fred (and my toes)...



And George checking things out.



And I think that's all for today. I've got pictures of the flower beds, but I'll leave those for (hopefully) tomorrow.

Strawberries!

Finally! Local[ish] strawberries!

We had a week of rain and fog and grey skies. On Thursday afternoon the sun did peep out for a brief period...Then went away again. We got the sun for a little longer on Friday. And a bit more today. But it seems reluctant to stay.

It's really humid, which is not much fun. I just want to nap on the couch.

However, we did get out today to buy groceries and found strawberries from Nova Scotia. Which is pretty local when all you've been getting is strawberries shipped from the States that barely taste like strawberries. And where Husband and I both grew up in Nova Scotia, we kind of enjoy getting Nova Scotian goods. It's like presents from home...





Strawberries made their way into our salad...





And then, despite the humidity that makes it ridiculously hot in the house, I found myself cranking up the oven and rolling out biscuits...



Because if you've got fresh strawberries, you've got to have Strawberry Shortcake. With real whipped cream, of course; we don't do the fake stuff in my house.



Worth. Every. Calorie.

Boot camp continues

It was a dreary, rainy weekend and after a couple of nights of not sleeping well I was ready to do not much. Which is what I did. Read my way through 3 books. Did a little laundry and house cleaning. That's pretty much it.

Today was still dreary and the forecast for the next few days is not promising. So there's very little blog-worthy to talk about except:

1. I can see two deer grazing on grass from my seat on the living room sofa. I'd take pictures except it's too dark and they wouldn't come out.

2. Finished Week 3 Boot Camp workout Saturday, right on schedule, and started Week 4 today.

3. Last week I did the staggered hand push ups from my knees but today I did them from my toes which I feel good about.

I might actually have been able to do the push ups from my toes last week, but the staggered hands position felt awkward and I didn't think I could do it so I didn't try. But this week I figured I'd give it a shot and it was no problem. Yay!

I am liking the way this Boot Camp program keeps me switching things up. I have done Boot Camp type workouts on my own but on my own I tend to be repetitive with my routines. The three different workouts per week keeps things interesting.

But that's all I got. Except:

4. I can't wait for the nice weather to come back!

Boot Camp! I'll give you Boot Camp...

Just finished Boot Camp #2 for the week. Before that I spent an hour and a half working in the yard. I don't know why that makes the Boot Camp seem like a bigger deal; it just does.

Last week was chilly and rainy, then the weekend (and beginning of this week) was busy, so there are definitely some things that need attending to in the garden. The weather has been lovely this week, so I spent some time out in the yard this evening with Fabulous Feline company.

Fred



George (you can see I have some weeding to do)



First task I wanted to get out of the way was to put up this netting for the pea plants to climb. It's a pain in the butt to do, but it worked well last year. I also did some weeding and planted some new seeds where there were gaps.



Cotton Easter is blooming.





Catmint blossoms



Irises - because I love them so much!



The Rhododendrons in all their glory





The guardian at the front step.

Weekly Garden Report

It's been a busy couple of days so I haven't had time for much. I did take some photos on Sunday though, so I'm going to do a quickie post on how things are progressing in the gardens...

Tomato plants are thriving. Loving the bright orange marigolds in between the plants. So cheerful!



Things planted from seed are popping up.



Sugar Snap Peas and Garlic



Red Leaf Lettuce. The variety is called Vulcan. Being a Trekkie, I get a kick out of that (does not take much to amuse me).



Carrots.



Blossoms on the tomato plants that I got at the garden center.



Irises are in bloom! My favorite phase of the garden because I love the purple of the blooms with the green of the foliage. Photos do not do it justice, but it's the best I can do. Unless you'd like to visit?







And the Rhododendrun by the front step is in bloom. On Sunday when I took these photos, it was not quite in full bloom; it is now and it looks beautiful.

Next phase of boot camp starts Monday

Friday night I got in my treadmill walk. I'm having to go a lot slower than I'm used to, but I can tell my foot is not completely healed. I am doing my best to be patient.

Saturday I got in my final Boot Camp workout of the Intro phase. I was thinking about doing some additional cardio after I finished the Boot Camp, but then decided to be sensible. I hurt myself by overdoing things; I don't want to push my luck. I did do some yoga which will hopefully help me to recover and get stronger again.

It's hard though. I am impatient to get rid of these extra few pounds that showed up over the winter and I don't seem to be making any progress at all. It's frustrating and it's depressing.

I've been reflecting on my weight loss [or lack thereof] history lately. I was never one of those girls who was obsessed with dieting when I was in my teens. I was conscious of my size - it's hard for a young girl not to be - but I was not overweight so it was not something that I seriously worried about.

I first joined a gym in 2002. Up until then I had been an on-again-off-again exerciser, but by then I had definitely started worrying about my weight. At that point I was around 135 lbs, which was 30 pounds more than I had weighed 5 years previously (should mention I'm 5 feet tall). During those 5 years, I had moved to a new city and started my first full time job. Then moved to a different city and a different job. Then got married. Then bought a house. They were busy years. I had started trying to diet, change my eating habits. I was sure that joining a gym and getting into a regular exercise habit would help me get back to where I should be.

Establishing the regular exercise habit worked. I looked forward to my sessions at the gym. But my weight pretty much stayed the same. Since then, I have tried and tried and for my troubles I have gradually gained more. I don't know why.

I have always admitted that eating is the hardest part for me. But since this winter I have also realized that while I may not eat perfectly, I actually eat pretty well. Lately I have been eating more veggies than ever and cutting down on sugar a lot (not that I ate a huge amount before). I eat very little in the way of processed food and most of what I eat is home cooked. I don't eat large portions. Yes, I do have splurges. There are times when I don't choose the healthiest option. But overall, I think I do pretty well.

So, I'm pretty much stuck. To be quite honest I feel let down. Betrayed. By my own body. I'm doing my best to treat it well and do healthy things for it, and it is not responding in the way I think it should.

There's a lot of talk out in the blog world about body image and learning to accept one's self. I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not quite sure I can ever accept this. In all honesty, I don't really want to. This slow creep of pounds, growing out of my clothes, getting more uncomfortable with myself is not a happy journey. It's downright frightening. What did I do to deserve this? Nothing, I know, but I can't help asking the question.

Ok, this is not really where I meant to go when I sat down and started typing tonight. But it's been on my mind and it makes me sad and tired. Now it's off my chest. I'll throw it out there to the universe and hope that the universe will be kind.

Thursday....

This has been the longest week...Sigh.

2 out 3 Boot Camp Workouts completed for the week. I won't say I was keen on doing it tonight - actually earlier in the day I sort of was, but then we were an hour late leaving work and I was starving so I couldn't wait to eat which meant pushing the workout to later in the evening. I've been all sniffly for the past couple of days - seasonal allergies I'd guess - and I was tired...But I knew if I wanted to stay on track for the week I had to get Workout B in tonight so I did. It was split squat and wall jump night but I survived!

I had intended to walk on the treadmill last night, but then my Mom called and we chatted for about 45 minutes and I still had to clean up the kitchen from supper, so that didn't happen. Oh well. I think a conversation with my mother is a fair exchange.

And tomorrow is finally Friday! About time.

See JavaChick Freak Out...

The first thing we do when we get home from work every day is open the window for the cats. They have a cat door that leads to an enclosed area where they can enjoy the great outdoors, safe and sound.

Today was no different. We opened the window and went about our business - which in my case was changing into workout clothes and doing my Boot Camp workout. Then I went up to the kitchen to get supper going. Once things were in the oven, I decided to go out and check on things in the yard. I always try to remember to grab my camera when I am heading out because I never know what I might see.

Today I saw this:



This would be an open gate. The gate leading into the safe, secure cat enclosure...

And no, I did not have the presence of mind to snap a photo of the open gate at that point, I took the picture later.

I immediately went to check things out. I found George relaxing amongst the tulips, but no Fred.





I was really not sure what to do, and I stood there for a few minutes in the yard pondering the situation. I was pretty sure Fred would have headed up the hill, and that he would come back. If I left the gate open, he would eventually come back and come in the house. But if I left the gate open, George might decide to go for a wander and then I'd have to worry about two missing cats.

I decided to close the gate and walk up the hill. I was on the lookout, but saw no sign of Fred as I was walking up. I stood there a while, turning in a circle, hoping Fred would come running out of the woods...









I was thinking I was going to have to go back to the house and deal with supper, which was cooking in the oven, and then come back out. I knew that if I hung around outside long enough Fred would show up.

And then I spy...



It's my baby!



When he saw me coming he ran down to this spot of asphalt on the hill (leftover from construction I assume, as there is no other reason for it to be there) and had a nice roll in the dirt with some belly scratches from yours truly. Happy kitty...The little rascal!







As for the open gate, the landscapers had been by during the day to mow the lawn, which I had not realized. But even if I had known that, they are usually very good about closing the gate behind them so I probably would not have thought to check. I guess they forgot today - could easily happen - but it gave me more excitement than I wanted today.

I know it may not seem like a big deal to some people. Plenty of cats roam free, and my two have pulled the Houdini trick a few times and they always come home...But every time it happens I can't help but worry that this will be the time that they don't...

So after Fred had his roll in the dirt, I carried his 17-pound-self home and brought him in the house. And shared my chicken with him. Because that's what I do.