Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, readers! I hope that you had a beautiful day & invested in some self care in addition to taking care of your loved ones. 

Sending my very best, 

Heather

Warm Welcome, Singaporeans!

Good afternoon, Singaporeans! I'm thrilled to see your massive and recent activity on the blog. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance at heather lint 02 (zero two) @ hotmail dot com.

Welcome and best wishes, 
Heather

Apple Crisp

Apple crisp is cooling on the stove and it smells divine. I had some small apples on hand and another bag already sliced in the freezer. I've been trying to bake some extras for the freezer or friends the past couple weeks. Sitting to cook is less than ideal, but I'm making it work with my helpers. I initially planned to make some homemade apple sauce but it's been so long since we've had an apple pie, crumble, or crisp.

It tastes best completely cooled. It will be even better tomorrow for breakfast with some coffee, I'm sure. I hope you're having a relaxing Sunday and enjoying some simple, joyful activities. 

Happy baking, Heather

Formal Writing Projects

Dearest Australian, Scottish, Irish, and English RF readers, I was just made aware that the cost of the new journal is higher for you due to printing limitations with Amazon KDP. I spent considerable time trying to format the guided journal for this particular printer because they do not require upfront orders and fees. Please message me or feel free to leave a message if you find the cost prohibitive for you or your loved ones at this time.

The second journal is in the final editing stages and should be available next month. I'm also working on a memoir, which demands more time and attention to detail than the journals. Reliving some of the content also slows the writing process. As a result, I am working my way through the healing journal and have opened a public FB page if you're interested in joining our healing & wellness community. I urge anyone struggling with their past or current conditions to seek professional therapy to support their healing journey.

All my best, 

Heather

Gardening

I'm moving the garden to containers on the deck this spring and truly look forward to growing fresh fruits and vegetables again. The last time I thoroughly planned our garden beds, the kids were in elementary school. Life has a way of bringing us back to what matters most.

I've been focusing on our budget and cutting back on expenses since losing my job back in March. As a result, I turned to Temu for some garden supplies including raised boxes that should work well on the deck. Hopefully this change is convenient and reduces the time we invest and physical labor associated with yard gardens of the past. Supposedly the raised beds purchased are self-watering. I have my doubts, but am willing to do some experimentation and hope for the best.

Tomato varieties, especially heirlooms and large leaf basil are my priorities for the family, used in homemade sauce and meatballs. I freeze rather than can because we don't have the storage space required, though I enjoy canning. 

A word of caution about Temu seeds: Most seed packets turn up from China without instructions, often unlabeled. Since multiple locations mail them out, you'll have no idea what arrives, how to plant them, the sun requirements, etc. Items that should have been bulbs or corms are delivered to you as tiny seeds. Save your money. I'm planning some experimentation, but sorting through the seeds will take up a lot of room for starts/seedlings or take years to work through, and I sincerely doubt it will be worth the effort.

The strawberry seeds, however, are identifiable, though growing strawberries from seeds can be challenging. When the kids were really little, we tried it with some free seeds and nothing happened. I purchased small plants and babied them so the kids could see them growing. Thankfully, we learned a lot all those years ago, and reviving the patch on the side of the house should be relatively easy this time around. I'll also try container gardening for the deck with the same plants.

If cheap seeds are unmarked, imagine the issues people have with tree and bush starts. No, thank you. The plastic containers from Temu should work fine, though we haven't tested them. This should take some time and documentation to sort. We are also looking forward to some sugar snap peas, pole beans, and flowers; I've yet to purchase those seeds. 

I sincerely hope that your weather is better than ours. If not, thinking spring and planning your garden helps.

Happy garden planning,

Heather