Listening to... a mix of music including Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and songs by Building 429. Bruce is controlling the playlist but played a few at my request. He has better speakers and great taste in music so I'll let him choose.

Working on... an undersea scene or two. This morning I finished a traditional style scrap page for Kathryn about the weekend competition. I have a garden journal idea brewing in my brain as well.

Spring Surprise -Kathryn

Researching... marigolds and Romania. I planted some marigold seeds that haven't germinated. I am curious to find out more about this plant to try to improve my success growing it. I plan to research columbine's yet this afternoon as well. Romania is the next stop on my inspiration journey. I have already found some interesting facts about Queen Maria of Romania.

Reading... Vegetable gardening for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; Google Speaks and an old family journal. The journal has a transcript of a speech or article about the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. I am just starting that section but wow what a celebration.

Distracted by... a bubble shooter game on Facebook, a to do list that is growing by the day. I should be working on taxes and paperwork instead of creative work.

Contemplating... a surprise request, planting more seeds and too many ideas to itemize yet. I have been looking at how I am using my time, my priorities and my goals and trying to determine if they match.

Looking forward to... a quiet evening at home creating and writing. The quiet will be interrupted by piano, saxophone and trumpet practice. I am also looking forward to a choir concert this weekend.

This week is a school break for the kids. I have been surrounded by imagination and activity.

1. I am thankful for the imagination of the girls. Kathryn especially. Victoria thinks about her ideas more before sharing them. Kathryn just starts telling a story and then edits as she goes.

Kathryn and her princesses

2. I am thankful for spring and the warmer weather. Our winter was mild but it is great to be able to ride our bicycles again. The girls have been spending some time outside each day. I see them climbing trees and riding their bikes. The birds sing nearby.

3. I am thankful for books. I am reading too many right now. I think I have four started beside the bed. They inform me. They challenge me. They inspire me. I do need to finish a few and start less at one time though.

4. I am thankful for the photo-exploring Bruce and I were able to do while the girls had piano lessons. In March the girls missed one of their lessons because of a schedule conflict. We rescheduled to this week out at the teachers acreage. During the hour lesson, Bruce and I toured around the area. Him with his camera and me with a notebook and pen. When we returned to get the girls, we had photos and ideas. I am thankful that his flexible work schedule allows for times like this.

workshop

5. I am thankful for health. After neglecting my running shoes and treadmill for too long, I laced on the shoes and hit the treadmill twice this week. On Monday, I was pleasantly surprised by the endurance I maintained in spite of my vacation from exercise. The girls and I plan to sign up for the Bridge City Boogie 5K before the week is up. Then it will be another 8 weeks of training in order to complete it. If I can stay injury free, it should be doable.

Eleven years ago, our family added its last member. Kathryn is a bundle of energy except when she is reading or working on a puzzle. She is full of questions and curiosity and keeps us on our toes. Her arrival changed the dynamics of our family in many ways. Victoria was a quiet content child. Kathryn needs to move and always has. I am much more likely to here the phrase "I'm bored" from Kathryn. However, her imagination is never idle. She has already asked if she can put on a play with her stuffed friends for us today. That should keep her occupied for awhile. Now if only I could convince her she should record some of these ideas. It is much more fun to dream them up that to sit and write them out.

Dance of the Butterfly

Happy birthday Kathryn. Keep imagining and dancing.

5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you. Matthew 28:5-7

I continue to be surrounded by blessings. For a couple of weeks in March I only wrote them in my journal. However, I like being able to look back and see the list growing here. Some things I am thankful for this week are:

1. The chance to watch my girls and their friends perform Seussical the Musical. They worked hard and had a lot of fun.

Victoria as the Grinch

2. Spring weather. Sunday it rained a ground soaking rain that washed some of the dust from the air. The mornings remain frosty but the afternoon sun is warm. Yesterday we were out in t-shirts riding our bicycles and enjoying the day.

In the middle of March Kathryn enjoyed the puddles created by melting snow. You are my sunshine

3. The warm weather is coaxing the tulips out if the ground. It brings a smile to my face to see the fresh green shoots stretching up. Yesterday I also found hyacinths and irises sprouting.

4. Listening to the birds. The robins have returned. The chickadees remain. The birds play and sing. It has also been interesting to watch the robins fight for territory. This morning I awoke to the songs of birds outside my window.

5. The friendship between my girls. They are sisters and they disagree from time to time but they are also friends. They wanted to team up against Bruce and I in a game this weekend. While I do not enjoy the fighting that occurs, I do enjoy watching them work together and play together.

Sisters circa 2005

Over the past few years, I have on occasion noticed Katie the Scrapbook Lady doing a monthly summary. She calls hers a roundup. In January, I decided to start doing a month in review. I am going to use some of Katie's questions and adapt for my needs. Actually most of the questions are modifications from her list.

The questions I hope to answer each month are:

1. What books and or magazines did I read this month?

I looked through a couple of gardening books but did not actually read them. I read Ephesians with the ladies Book Club at church. I am almost finished and Food, Inc. both of which are interesting reads with lots of science.

2. What movies, TV shows, plays, etc. did I watch?

Bruce and I watched more episodes season one of Battle Star Gallactica.

3. What interesting things did we do as a family? With friends?

Early this month, I went to a Ladies supper at the church. It was a great evening interacting with other ladies as we discusses things that influence us and how we influence others. The girls participated in two baton competitions, one in Regina and one that we helped host.

4. What were our accomplishments?

Victoria placed fifth in Grade 7 in the provincial math challenge. Kathryn advanced to the next level in two of her baton events, 2-baton and solodance. The girls passed their Star 1 level of swimming. Bruce was featured by The Fabulous Prairies group at RedBubble

5. What were our disappointments?

Life continues at a busy pace which leaves us choosing between two interesting things at times. Our previous changes have reduced the schedule conflicts some but not entirely.

6. What did I do for exercise?

This should perhaps fall under disappointments this month. I did very little. I went to the pool only once this month. I had a second trip planned but when I got there the lane swim was cancelled. I started walking to school to supervise during the last week of the month. It is about a ten minute walk at an easy pace.

7. Did I make progress on my goals?

I continue to make progress on organising, eating better and learning. Slowly the filing is starting to be done. Record keeping is being worked on. I am starting to record some of the stories I do not want to forget.

8. Anything of note not included above?

We had a seven hour power outage on March 19th. This was followed by an ice/snow storm which left everything sparkling with ice as we awoke on the 20th. The beautiful weather since has left me itching to get into the garden. On our way to Regina, we had an opportunity to watch some geese on a pond and field. There were hundreds of them including snow geese.

As the year progresses, I expect this list will change to more accurately reflect the things I want to track and remember at the end of the year. I am also working on a list of tasks I want to make sure I complete each month. I have slightly smaller stacks of papers to file. I hope to build routines to keep them from growing.

I am making memories with my girls. They are preparing for a few performances. The stress level is rising with excitement. While I have bits and pieces of ideas and events to record and share, they are at best fragments. I scrapbook to tell our story. In order to tell our story I must first observe it. Today is an observation day.

My brain seems to be functioning in random mode. This is possibly due to over stimulation. Whatever the cause, the result is a random list of things that are interesting me now.

1. Volcanic rock, tufa rock, and fairy chimneys in Cappadocea. The fairy chimneys look like they are just waiting for a fantasy story to happen.. Also intriguing is the cities carved out of rock in Cappadocea, Turkey.

2. Birds. Our backyard is home to hundreds of Bohemian waxwings at the moment as they stop on their way to their destination. They are feasting on ornamental berries and left over fruit from last season. They are fascinating to watch as they feed each other.

3. Green. Grinch green. The girls are in their final week of preparation for Seussical the Musical. Victoria has the role of the grinch. One of my tasks today was to find shorts or capri's that are green to finish her costume. I think I found two possibilities at the local thrift store. Hopefully they fit.

4. Birthdays. There is a birthday in the house in less than two weeks. While I was out I found a birthday present. Sssh. It's a secret! But I know she will like it. While I was at it, I picked up a little something for Christmas. Yep, way too early to be thinking about Christmas except to plan for making gifts. Now to hide it until I need it.

5. Music Festival. Both girls perform at the local music festival this week. They are excited. I am excited. I get to accompany the bands as a parent helper. I am looking forward to it.

Ice covered Beauty
6. Snow, ice and tulips. Last Tuesday, Bruce and I went out photographing ice coated trees, weeds and power lines. Everything sparkled in the sun. Friday, while Bruce drove, I put together a page telling about our spring ice/snow storm and the beauty it left behind. Yesterday, we saw the first tulip sprouts of the season. Spring has been moody so far but the signs are there that old man winter will need to find a different residence for a while.

7. Old family letters. Victoria is putting together a display about rationing in World War II. In some of the family letters we have from that time period, the family in England thanks the family in Canada for sending sugar since they can not get any. I have been rereading letters to find the ones that reference the War. They are fascinating to read.

8. Habits. As the month draws to a close, I am reflecting on the habits I have been cultivating. Some habits are beneficial. I want to continue those. I have a new habit I am contemplating working on for the month of April.

9. Migration. I am amazed at the miles that birds and butterflies migrate each year. Friday, we watched a group of snow geese and Canada geese as they stopped on a field to feed and rest. I briefly researched the snow geese and found that they have a great distance left to cover as the fly to the arctic tundra on the far north coast of Canada. Yesterday, I read about the migration patterns of the monarch butterfly. Amazing insects. It continues to astonish me the endurance there creatures display.

10. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Most of the seeds I planted two weeks ago have sprouted. The first sage plant popped its green leaves out this morning. My patience is being tested as I wait on some plants that are slower to germinate. Meanwhile, I planted some more last week and have some flower seeds to plant yet before I head out of doors to work in the yard. Lots of planning, dreaming and preparing before it is time to plant in the garden in May.

Our growing season is short. Too short. The time expected to be frost free is end of May to mid September. Often though we have frost into June and as early as August. Thankfully there are ways to extend the season so we can enjoy a variety of herbs and vegetables from our gardens. Tomatoes are one of my favorites.

When we started our garden nearly ten years ago, I knew little about gardening. We dug out a section of grass and set to work trying to grow peas, carrots and tomatoes. I planted a zucchini, only one because that is supposed to be enough to give plenty and got none. My plant produced blooms but no fruit. I gave up on it. Each year, we added compost, manure and peat moss. Each year, I dug out way too many weeds.

Over time, I have come to enjoy gardening. I still do not enjoy digging out weeds. The strawberry patch is overrun. I gave up on it. Last year, I moved some strawberries to a different area. If they survived the winter, I will cover the current patch with newspaper and cardboard and start it over. That will all have to wait until the snow melts and the puddles dry. In the meantime, I am working inside on extending my growing season.

Last Wednesday, I planted some seeds. I am hoping to have a table full of seedlings by the middle of April. Many of the plants I started will spend the summer in containers around the yard. The smaller ones can be planted even before the end of May since I can move them to the garage in case of frost. My favorite container last year was a repurposed paint can with holes drilled inthe bottom. A coleus grew from it. This year I am watching for found items to repurpose for the yard. I am also considering expanding my herb bed as I slowly transform the yard and garden from weed infested lawn to a lush garden and inviting space.

new sprouts.

The germination time for most of what I planted is 7 to 10 days. I am impatient at times. On Monday, I peaked in at a few and found some were already sprouting. Thyme is up as is some basil and tumbler tomatos. As I watch these tiny new shoots, I plan and dream thinking of what might be done outside. it is tempting to do too much at once. But then I can't maintian it and so my notebook will be filled with thoughts and ideas. I have already given myself lots of work. If everything sprouts, I have 60 plants to place.

growing oranges

The orange seedlings continue to grow. They are fun to watch. Their leaves are larger and stronger than many of the seedlings I normally grow. I have two new pineapple rooted as well. Green surrounds me and adds color in this normally colorless time of year. Inspite of the snow, my gardening season now extends almost year round. If only I could keep my rosemary alive! The challenge remains and the interest remains.

Do you garden as part of your creative adventure? Do you start your own seeds or buy seedlings?

Today I was reminded of how much of my life uses power. We unexpectedly lost power at 10:50 this morning. I did a controlled power down and set about to do some other things. Over and over I had to change direction as I needed power to continue. six hours later at 5:45 the power came back on. Just west of us a major transmission line went down due to a fire on a pole.