MEETING AT THE BISTRO

There is a meeting of those interested in the on site garden Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.at the Bistro for all interested in how the garden is shaping up.  I understand some would like personal small plots while others would like a communal garden.  Take the time to put in your 2 cents!          I will be there to hear what is going on and will report back afterwards. I can think of a couple of ways this would work in everyones's favour, whether of this thought or that, so do come if you'd like information.

Remember how the onsite Bistro was first open and then the residents  decided to have a coffee time on Tuesdays?  That is the stage that the new garden area is at  right now.  We have to decide how to use the garden facility to every resident who is interested's advantage so everyone can be happy!

These shots were taken Sunday morning...a LOT of dirt was shovelled and it sounded like many were having fun putting this together.   

I was informed that fencing would be going up this weekend, but that was not something that the management said to me, just what I heard from one of the workers.



  The tawny and white cotton tail rabbits that are all over the meadows are just that: meadow grazers.  They are reputed to be natural to the area and won't burrow through the grounds.  I hope this is true!! 
  A new salt is now available through BUCKERFIELDS outside Duncan, that keeps driveways clear of weeds.  The name is: 
CARGILL: kiln dried medium salt.it comes in big bags and is $13.00 a bag.  Not a bad price for the permenant reduction of weeds on our gravel drives! Lynda Cliff brought an empty bag that she uses at her home drive to Kelly Ockey.  Areas that growth is totally unwanted would benefit by this addition to the gravel. 

Again, Have a great Day!

GARDEN TIPS

This recipe from my son, as he said it was the fastest he's ever seen weeds dry up.  I tried it Sunday evening and next day everything I sprayed was DEAD.  It is pet safe, and much more pungent than the spray I've been useing.
Try it in driveway or directly onto weeds.  Don't let the spray drift onto regular lawn, though.  It kills anything.

1 Gallon of Vinegar
2 Cups Epsom Salts ( drug store)
1/4 Cup Dawn Original dish soap ( blue )

Mix  and spray in the morning.  By suppertime it's done it's work!

This is just a great help when one gardener cannot weed every yard.

The Community Garden, for those who don't open their mail boxes daily, is up on top in back of the Bistro and a meeting is called at 1:30 to find out the details.  If you're interested, please come and hear the presentation.  Bring questions, etc.

Happy Spring!

Leslie

BRIGHT APRIL

    We've had a very wet winter, but just enough sunshine to keep one a step or two away from the "winter Blahs".....

  It's been nice to see Linda Cleft working all winter, as there is so much to do with gardens all year around here...except for a few weeks in December!  We've seen  the walkways used much more, as well as the dog park.  I have to thank those who diligently take away the bag of dog waste.  It's usually changed by the time I get there, but I do endeavor to make sure plastic dog pickup bags are provided.  Anyone needing garbage bags for the cans can get them at the office or from Lyle.  



Several of us went on various holidays in the past few months.

In front of our cabanaCharles and I  went to Bacalar Lagoon, QuintaRoo, Mexico, for 10 days and loved it.  Just the warmer temperatures were a nice change, though I love the green here! Rob, our long time friend from Smithers days, owns and operates a wonderful 5 star hotel. We were invited down for 8 days and decided to go.

Rob shows us special spots he likes.

We are really glad we did, as it was so very relaxing!  It was warm and sunny, bright and refreshing with the breezes off the Carribean mixing with the sunshine!

 Now we're back to join in the Community life here at Chemainus Gardens.  I have been extremely busy this past winter writing the book I commenced  when we moved down in 2011.  Now it is just finished and I'm looking to publish.  Between that, the garden here and the Church garden....I'm busy and happy.

Last week Saturday a Campfire was held at Honeymoon Point.  Though we usually arrive a little later than posted, due to still working until 5:00, we got there in time to join in with the sing-along.  I understood that some people did not come because their pets were not invited!  I would urge anyone with that problem to please understand that pets get most of our attention during the day...surely they don't need to be underfoot at an adult Campfire too?!  It was pleasant and some came that hadn't attended before. Gerry led with guitar and was pretty good!  Then Ross and Monica joined in with their special style.  The combined group that did sing had a great time together and would like to have more songs to add to the songbook that Gerry and Koleen have made up.  Please get together words and music and submit them to either Gerry or Kolleen, I'm sure they know what to do with them.

As I'm walking around I see that a lot of moving of dirt and big cranes up on top.  I understand that a new Community Garden is being made up there.  I am sad to learn that the "swimming pool" area is not to be for residents ( we thought it was supposed to house a excercize room and pool or hot tub when we bought) but will house the contents of the storage sheds from above them.  So we develop..not exactly the first vision, but not bad!
 I know more information will be forthcoming in the next while from the Office concerning this new section. 
 I got the number of the man who will clean windows and do gutter cleaning:   P&T Window Cleaning Commercial & Residential:
Peter Lineham:   250-324-4534

  Here is to a happy Spring and hope you don't get the cold I have at this point.  If you see me with a kleenex in had, it's so I won't give it to YOU!! 

CHRISTMAS and beyond

BREAKING NEWS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG

   Early December 25 Charles and I took a leisurely morning walk with Skipper.  It was lovely out and very quiet.  I've never heard it so quiet all around town. The weather was so "crisp and even", even  if there was no snow!  Didn't miss it AT ALL.


This link was sent to me by Helen. It is funny and I thought everyone could use a good laugh. 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LR2qZ0A8vic?rel=0



The Christmas season has been pretty mild and many people visited in the Gardens with family, while others drove into the icy snowfilled areas of our great land to visit there! BRRRRRRR, not this chick!

 Speaking of chicks, there are lots of little Bufflehead ducks and Cim MacDonald says we should see merganzers soon.  Keep a watch out and let me know if you see them, OK?  You'll see Cim doing photography around the ponds, so be sure to welcome her!  She's been in the area for a long time and is very knowledgeable on the Gardens. 

 



http://www.theregenesisproject.com/mf-british-columbia/

On another subject: 
 Charles and I were wondering if our water in Chemainus was flouridated.  The above  link affirms that we have no flouride in our water ( we are North Cowichan).  Just so ya know!

To remind anyone that would like to join neighbors for coffee, we still hold the Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. open and would love to have coffee with our neighbors!

BREAKING   NEWS:
 Just spoke with Derrick from HAARSMA collections ( garbage and recycle) and he has put new stickers on the CARDBOARD ONLY bin to include many other recyclables.  Also he has put 2 cans for  
"everything else", including  many things we now put in the garbage.  I assured him we were all "green" and some of us just take it ourselves to the recycle plant because we don't want it in landfill.  So now we have 3 containers and most things ( other than kitchen scraps) can be put into the appropriate containers!  I was really happy to see that!
He just set everything up near the Cardboard place.

Today Park Model owners can jointly ( 1:00 p.m.) put in their serial numbers and Park Model sites and leases at the office.  As mentioned in the email I put out, this can be done anytime, but we're trying to get as many as possible to send off today (Friday)
See myself or the office if you need any further help.

So I'm off to make turkey soup.. have a great day!

Manufactured Home Act

• Manufactured Home Act
  tags: Chemainus Gardens
  
  

This is a portion of the BC Homeowners rules . If our homes are not registered ( they were sold to us by the Gardens) then they should be doing the paperwork here.

However please hang on to your original letter!  The office can copy it to give a lease agreement.  

EVEN MORE!

The recipe for lemon squares was shared with me by Dorothy Newton. ( # 342 phase 1)   It reads thus:

                                     LEMON SQUARES

1 cup of all purpose flour  (250 ml)
1/2  cup soft butter (125 ml)
1/3 cup ground almonds (75 ml)
2 Tbsp ( 30 ml) granulated sugar

Mix flour, butter, ground almonds and sugar together until mixture forms a ball and is combined.  Press into a 8 inch (21) square pan and bake at 350F ( 180 C) for 15-20 minutes. Cool.


8 oz. (250 gr) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ( 125 ml) icing sugar
1/2 tsp. (2ml) vanilla extract
1 cup whipping cream, whipped (250 ml)

 Beat the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla together until smooth. Fold in HALF the whipped cream. Spread over the cooled crust.

7.5 oz ( 212 gr) pkg Sherriff Lemon Pie filling mix
2 egg yolks
1/3 cup cold water
2 Cups boiling water
1/4 cup (50 ml) sliced almonds, toasted.

Prepare the pie filling according to the pkg. instructions, OMITTING the butter. Cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
Spread over Cheese layer.  Refrigerate until cold.

Spread the remaining whipped chream over the lemon layer. Refrigerate. Garnish with toasted almonds just before serving.

Enjoy!








 These are photos of the bridge construction provided by Paulie...our great builder here at Chemainus Garden.

It is a pleasure to walk the Butterfly Pond now! Just hoping that all the dirt doesn't end up covering the gravel before grass is able to come up!







Thanks, Paulie!!

Christmas Dinner

John Kelly, Len Wansborough pose with Charles Van Gorkom

What a wonderful time we had on Sunday evening!  Hosted by Len and his great staff, we all enjoyed an evening of pretty settings ( did you note the CLOTH napkins and CHINA settings?) and Christmas cheer.  Not one to skimp, it was well presented by Linda Kelly and her able staff.  Saying it was beautiful does not do it justice, but there you are!!  

 I particularly enjoyed meeting new neighbors that came!

The help in the kitchen was so cheerful, especially  when  it became obvious that many more came than were  expected, they just put on a cheerful face and proceeded graciously.  Which is the real test of a host or hostess!
   


  A word here on the phrasing of  our invitiation: 
We were asked to pre-register for this dinner so the hostess could order the right amount of food for x number of people.

             Unfortunately there were 20 more people that showed up 
(not unwelcome, mind you) and there was actually not enough for everyone to have vegetables or salad. So, please, next time you get an invitation read ALL of it.  Some assumed that it would be like the little get together residents had last Christmas where we brought our own things and set them out.  This, however, was a hosted function and though it turned out fine, was rather an embarrassment to our hosts.
Please keep in mind this is only my opinion, no one on staff complained at all.

Gerry checks the meat

Cim MacDonald serves up dessert

By 6:00 it was packed and visiting began.  I got to meet people from the "2nd phase"... newcomers! 

Pauline and Judy

   I met Judy and Kirby for the first time, though Pauline and I
 have met quite a number of times usually walking our canines!

Mary!!

Dennis and Maureen

Beautiful layout

Good lookin' couple...eh, Paulie?

The biggest surprise to me came in form of a beautiful book on Chemainus Gardens by Cim MacDonald!  AND a calendar.  All wrapped up with pretty ribbons, no less and the author willing to autograph it, too!  I read mine through cover to cover and learned a lot about the history of the Gardens that I didn't know.

After all the cleanup of the food there was still lots for the staff to do.  Getting the food put away properly was part of it, but the beautiful plates and glasses had to be washed too. 

 As you can imagine, it didn't get done last night so this morning some pretty tired staff had to finish off.

 Maybe next year a group of volunteer positions could be posted for setup, cleanup and washup or something.  I wouldn't have minded helping after all the layout!

Several people have asked for the recipe for the lemon squares that had almonds on top. If it was anyone that is getting the Blog, could you write out the recipe for me to post? Thanks!

 So now I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, too!!