DIY Wintering Fuchsias: Part 1-Preparing for Winter Storage

I LOVE fuchsias! When I was a little girl, my grandma always had several of them. I remember standing under the hanging baskets that would be drippingly full of the bright colored blooms that I have always referred to as Ballerina Flowers.

Our home is a great environment for fuchsia hanging baskets, and we chose a beautiful one from a local grower for my birthday this year. From early May right up until middle October, the bright pink and purple blossoms invited the hummingbirds to sip, delighting us with the double pleasure of the flowers and the stunning birds.

My grandmother always had her baskets wintered at a nursery because they traveled to Arizona every winter. I had tried once myself, but without success. This year, I feel inspired by the universe and the amazing love that just flows around our home, to try again.

My sister-in-law is a great gardener and works at a local garden department, so I went to her for some tips. Which totally reinforced what I had learned years before. This time I am going at it with a new and heartfelt enSuzi-asm! One fuchsia, and two mixed floral baskets with geraniums and other pretty things.

I trimmed the plants back to about 8"-10". Trimming away dead grown and cleaning out all the dead leaves. Then watered them well, letting the excess water drain off.

Then I tucked them inside light weight translucent trash can liners, and gently tied the tops to keep a little moisture in but still have air flow. This will also help protect the plants from the sawdust that is highly likely to be floating in the air while they are being stored in the garage, or garden shed.

I will check them every couple of months and make sure they do not get TOO dry.
Once the last freezing weather passes in the spring, then I can bring them out and hang them up out front along the covered porch, and watch the magic happen!

Flowers are amazing and cheering and reminders that not everything has to be utilitarian! They can be beautiful! They can be for our pure delight! They help us ...

See what happened in the spring when I took them out!

Live Well!
Love,
Suzi~Q

Building and Growing

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Live Well!
Love,
Suzi~Q

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Be Prepared to Accept Opportunities

Waiting to get my last fish for the day INTO the boat! Had a nice one get close enough to get a good look at before snapping my line. And a couple more teased and let me reel a bit before shaking lose.

Its kind of like life opportunities! Equal measures of skill, timing, superstitious tricks & luck!

And before I finished that last sentence, he struck & came aboard! I think in part that happens because I was ready, but not just sitting around waiting for it to happen to me. I was engaged in connecting with my husband and contemplating and blogging about the life lesson!

My dad used to tell me to take whatever job is available, because its easier to find a job when you have a job. Employed people are more employable!

Opportunities come to those with several game plans and visions and are willing to run with whatever God the Universe and Serendipity throws at them!

Get out there! Create ideas and opportunities by opening yourself to lots of possibilities!
That, is living Well!
Love,
Suzi~Q


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Planning Ahead for Hot Weather Meals: Roasted Chicken, Rhubarb Crisp, Blended Vegetable Soup

In defense of the impending heat, I did some pre planning so we would not have to heat up the house with cooking activities.

Friday night I set a whole chicken out to thaw and harvested rhubarb from our garden.

I prepped a rhubarb mixed berry crisp. The topping is 1 stick of butter, 1 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal, 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup coconut, 1 cup mixed nuts finely chopped, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Mixed thoroughly with my stand mixer and gently spread over the top.

Saturday morning I was up at 6am (that is sleeping in for me ), and baked the crisp.

While it was in the oven, I prepped the chicken in my cast iron dutch oven.

The crisp came out of the oven, the chicken went in.

I sliced the chicken and de-boned it.

Took the chicken stock and added to it so is was a full 4 cups, and loosely filled the broth with chopped cauliflower, asparagus, garlic, broccoli stems, and a turnip. I let that gently simmer until the veggies were soft, then ran it through the food processor (a blender would have been better, but I realized at this point ... I don't have one! Guess what's on the shopping list)




Everything was done by 8:30am ... The soup can be eaten hot or cold. I like it cold.


We've been eating these things in various combinations ( chicken sandwich, or chopped on a salad, just nibble it, etc...) and tossed green salad all weekend, and there is still plenty left for tomorrow! :)

Delicious, health food all weekend without turning on the stove!
Now, that is

Living Well!!
Love,
Suzi~Q

Blossoms of Spring

Have you been paying attention to spring!?

In the Pacific Northwest, it has been the most "normal" spring we've had in a long time, according to our local weather reporters.

The colors are intense and amazing. The foliage lush. The blossoms abundant!

I am excited to watch our veggie garden grow! I can hardly wait to harvest the delicious carrots, snow peas, radishes, green beans, lettuces and Swiss chard!

I am hoping for an abundant harvest so I can "put up" some items for winter consumption!

What a treat to have garden fresh veggies in the cold of winter!

Fresh. Organic. Wholesome. Grown with love in our yard.

Now that is ...

Living Well!
Love,
Suzi-Q

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