Suddenly Summer!

Typical Alberta. We went from winter one week to what feels like full-fledged summer the next. This past weekend was gloriously sunny and hot, coaxing the trees into leaf and the new grass to grow shaggy overnight. There are still heaps of dirty, crusted snow here and there in shaded areas, but the lawnmowers are already out. Winter boots are still heaped in the entryway next to our sandals. We are all cynical (and superstitious) enough to believe that putting away all the winter gear would be pointless before May long weekend is over. Nevertheless, I am rejoicing in the new season and spending as much time outside as possible. Hauling bags of soil, mulch and compost, and raking and weeding have become my new workouts this past week.

I spent yesterday evening in the yard mowing, trimming, weeding, planting and supplementing our rock hard clay-based soil with fresh stuff. I placed a new clematis vine in the front yard that I have high hopes for...I've always loved the look of a climbing vine but have never had success keeping one alive. This time I followed the instructions to a T. As I was clearing the area around it, my neighbor commented "getting rid of that nasty weed finally?" Apparently I neglected to weed that small patch when I moved in last year and it's been an eyesore. Yeesh. Her yard isn't exactly nice to look at either!

In the backyard my boyfriend and I worked new soil and compost into a strip of garden along the garage. He installed a small picket fence border to keep the dogs out, and I planted my sunflower seedlings that have been on our kitchen table the past couple of weeks. I topped the whole thing off with some pretty red mulch. My hands are a little rough this morning- I know I should keep my gardening gloves on, but there is something so satisfying about feeling the dirt when you're working with it. When I went to wash them, the combination of earth and red dye from the mulch washing down the drain made it look like I had murdered someone.

There is so much more work to make this yard my own. I don't think I'll have much leisure time for the next month. Fingers crossed that the warm, sunny weather holds out!

Foot Scrub

Despite what the snow covered landscape might indicate, spring is officially here, which means summer is around the corner. Once the snow is all melted it will be sandal and flats season! Hooray! I always end up wearing the same pair of boots all winter long and craving the variety that summer brings with different footwear options. I have way too many pairs of seldom-worn shoes considering how short the season is. But hey, it's one of life's small joys.

I tend to forget about my feet over the winter since they're always encased in either socks or slippers, but this time of year I start my "foot rehab" treatments. A good scrub in the shower and some intensive lotion before I put on my socks in the morning. Pinterest yields some effective do-it-yourself foot scrub recipes, and I tried one of them out a few days ago. It is as follows:

2 handfuls of rice (ground to a medium powder)
2 TBL honey
Cider vinegar (enough to get the desired consistency)

Grind the rice in whatever tool you have....coffee grinders and blenders both work. You want it to be somewhat grainy still, not a fine powder. Add the honey and mix together. Pour in a small amount of cider vinegar to get a smooth, slightly runny consistency. Use the scrub on the heels, and whatever other parts of your feet are calloused/ have dead skin. Rub in a circular motion for a minute or so and rinse off. Be sure to follow up with moisturizer. I ended up with enough scrub to last about a week. I just keep it in the shower.

According to site that offered this recipe, this works great for severely dry heels that are cracked (mine are nowhere near that bad, but it worked great for me too.) The rice is an exfoliant, the honey is a moisturizer, and the vinegar is a gentle method of removing dead skin. You can also add olive oil for extra moisturizing power. I've been using it every day, and my feet are thanking me for it. Bring on sandal season!

Hello Monday

As evidenced by my lack of entries last week, I just didn't feel up to the task of writing (although I normally enjoy and look forward to it.) It was a tumultuous week- both for myself and my very good friend. And when my loved ones aren't 100%, I don't feel like I can be either. A number of things went by the wayside, not the least of which were my healthier eating habits...although I did still manage to get a good number of green smoothies into myself. I've been very internally focused this month, and I have found from past experience that being internally focused makes it very difficult to take care of myself physically the way I should. It's as if I can't concentrate on both at once. However this is a new week and a fresh start, and that's one good thing I can say about Mondays. I am feeling tired, but optimistic. This will be a great and healthy week!

I am busily planning the gardening I want to do in May. I moved in mid-summer last year, so I didn't bother with any landscaping changes. The previous owners were very smart to plant self-reliant perennials that survived my total neglect beautifully. However this year I would like a more lush landscape with some privacy screening so I don't feel like I'm in a fishbowl. Sunflowers, hops trained along a pergola, and large pots with lemon grass are all on the agenda. It will be a very outdoorsy summer this year...at least until the mosquitoes find me. Let's all hope they won't be as brutal this year.