Kritters Cottage

The snow slowly disappears

2012-01-30T13:14:00.001-08:00

+7 today so the snow is melting at a good pace can now see the lawn in some places If all goes well it will be gone by Saturday.

Happy New Year from the Studio

2012-01-06T12:59:00.001-08:00

Well a new year is here and gardening is a few months away but our winter has been snowless which is alright with me. Garden is a mess did not clean up last fall so there is one project to start maybe,have some garden magazines to read by the fire.

Merry Christmas from the Studio

2011-12-06T11:49:00.001-08:00

October and the rain has come

2011-10-30T13:05:00.001-07:00

Well work continues in the clean up mode dahlias have been dug up and drying under cover.Final clean up for season will happen on next sunny day if it happens.

Finally the Drainage Project Done

2011-09-11T13:37:00.001-07:00

Project went really well done in 6 hours

Looks great when finished!!!! Area is finally drying out. No more pond on this side of house YAAAAAAA

Sunny sunny day

2011-08-07T15:45:00.001-07:00

Love the garden on these hot sunny days

Back from wine country

2011-07-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

Great week visiting wineries of the Okanagan

The wine was fantastic

A cool summer here so far

2011-07-18T13:52:00.001-07:00

But the garden is full of color

Maybe August will be our month

Rain ,Rain ,Rain

2011-06-25T13:14:00.001-07:00

We are in a constant state of cloudy rainy weather

New Plants Have Been Bought

2011-05-16T13:24:00.001-07:00

Well we purchased all bedding plants and are now hoping to plant them. But we have rain and more rain.

Is it really garden season

2011-05-03T15:01:00.001-07:00

Well sort of rain and cloudy. Cool seems to be the way of describing our spring. Forecast's say sun reality is rain so we hope for a sunny day. Will it come who knows.

Spring is here finally

2011-03-21T15:58:00.001-07:00

All the snow has disappeared from the garden. Cleaning up that wasn’t done last year. Build a new flower bed and the rains began again so will finish tomorrow.

Can you believe it 2 ft. of snow one day and then 2 days of pouring rain, a pond on one side of house, out digging a ditch to drain it oh joy getting my hair wet

2011-01-14T11:41:00.001-08:00

Sunny and cold in Hope but no snow. A time to sit by the wood stove and plan this years garden.

2011-01-02T13:57:00.001-08:00

Major rain yesterday thought house would float away. 12 days till Christmas

2010-12-13T12:35:00.001-08:00

Its darn cold here –12 C and we on the west coast are not liking it. Is the world gone mad!!!!!

2010-11-24T09:33:00.001-08:00

Snowing in Hope and Christmas music playing on the radio!!!!! Tis the Season

2010-11-18T13:17:00.001-08:00

Storm blows thru clearing trees of leaves

2010-11-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

Snow in the mountains and its time to light a fire open a beer and watch some Monday Night Football

A day in the garden cleaning up

2010-10-28T10:32:00.001-07:00

Sunny in Hope, good day to walk the dog!!!

2010-10-19T16:23:00.001-07:00

A beautiful fall day in Hope

2010-10-13T13:59:00.001-07:00

Yes another great day so out with the camera to tour the garden. Been limping around on a bad knee so not much garden cleanup has happened. But I am improving my tan on the studio deck and catching up on Garden West magazines that have been stacking up over the summer.

Salmon in the creek so lots of action at night with racoons out to do their fishing. I wish they would eat their catch near the creek instead of dragging fish around the yard.

Happy Thanksgiving from the cottage

2010-10-10T12:14:00.001-07:00

The Kokanee Salmon are back

2010-10-08T13:22:00.001-07:00

They arrived 2 days ago behind the Studio even more today.

Grass the lawn type, cut for the last time in 2010!!!!!!!!

2010-10-06T11:31:00.001-07:00

Hopefully my last cut is now done,get out the snow shovel oh no can winter be peeking round the corner.

Sunny now and Ponzie’s getting his finally rays of sunshine before the long cold winter. Garden is still looking good lots of colour with many flowers not giving up their time in the sun.

Visit Ponzie and us at www.kritterskreations.com

All those meat draws and still no turkey!!!!!

2010-10-04T13:35:00.001-07:00

Yes we will have to buy a turkey this Thanksgiving or cash in our Save-on points for a turkey. Trees on surrounding mountains are all in their fall colour and the lawns are covered in dead leaves ready to be raked up for the compost bins.

Visit our web site kritterskreations.com

Enjoying the final days of fall

2010-09-30T12:27:00.001-07:00

Sitting on my deck enjoying a beautiful fall day. My garden is still blooming on several fronts although I have cut back many plants that has finished for the season.

As My Garden Grows

Sunny and Warm can you believe it!!!!!

2010-09-25T11:28:00.001-07:00

Sylvia brought home a cardboard box of plants from a friends garden so that is my mission to get them into the ground. Removed all my red current plants their time had come, there was no berries from them this year. The space vacated by them gives me a place for more flowers.

Grapes of Hope

2010-09-21T11:44:00.001-07:00

Yes we are on our way to producing Kritters Chardonnay.

Snow in the mountains over night winter is peeking around the corner better get the Christmas lights out not!!!!

Finally my Canna indica Purpurea has some flowers

2010-09-16T13:59:00.001-07:00

It took a long time but it did come through with some very nice flowers.Was to be 6 ft tall barely made it to 3 ft.

Will the rain ever stop???

2010-09-13T09:28:00.001-07:00

Yes it is raining here again

I guess a good day to do some inside projects I have been putting off.

Great long weekend

2010-09-07T11:27:00.001-07:00

Well our annual Birch Bay crowd golf tournament is over and our team came 2nd this year yaaaaa. A good time was had by all. Thanks to Roger and Jill for all your work.

Finally the sun is back so will do so gardening today

Although sunny it feels that fall is near

2010-09-02T11:56:00.001-07:00

A good day to deadhead and clean up the plants that are finished for the year. With the last long weekend coming the camp ground next door will be shutting down for another year and peace and tranquility will come back to the valley.

What still raining

2010-09-01T11:14:00.001-07:00

Grapes on the vine were to be red but seem to be white oh well never trust a label in a plant store.

Tomatoes finally ripening very slow this year we are into September and just starting to harvest.

But we still have a few weeks of summer to enjoy the garden.

Back from Alaska

2010-08-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Even in the far north we visited some beautiful gardens.

The Kritters Cottage garden has survived my absence if I only had a way to weed the garden and mow the lawn.

Hot August day

2010-08-06T16:36:00.001-07:00

A may be a hot clear day in the morning but by 3 pm in the afternoon smoke from the interior fires filters down into our valley.

The fires this year have climbed to over 400 separate fires and have caused evacuations for many families in BC. Our valley is surrounded by very dry forest so come on rain. Open camp fires have been banned for several weeks.

This sun flower just keeps growing higher and higher

August all ready

2010-08-01T12:40:00.001-07:00

Summer is moving along at lighting speed. The garden at least flower wise is a success but the vegetable patch not so well. I find that my harvesting practices need to be improved. Lettuce I should plant 2 or 3 plants I am up to my ears in the stuff salad every where. So next year a revamp of harvesting that little garden.

Dahlias can put on a great show.

Big Mistake

2010-07-27T09:39:00.001-07:00

You should know when to pick your broccoli or it changes into a flower and can’t be used in a stir fry. So a lesson learned .

But my dahlias are in full bloom and what a show it is

Discovery at Kritters Cottage

2010-07-17T14:55:00.001-07:00

Its been awhile since I posted but I am back and found this little beauty in the front yard, the bulbs were given to us and all I knew is that they were calla lilies and the colour was a unknown to us. May I say I like it.

2010-06-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

After 3 years my grape plants will be bearing fruit this year that is if the birds don't get it. Summer has come to Kawkawa lake with 2 days of 70 degree weather in a row. Peonie season is almost over so why not show some more pictures.

2010-06-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Peonies my favorite flower and all the garden is a blaze.The bad thing June has been a rainy month and the flower heads are soaked and all sticking together in one big clump.

2010-06-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

Well it stopped raining for a hour or so and rushed out to take a few pictures not really but pictures I did take.
While slogging through the wet grass in my slippers I discovers my prized lilies I planted last year because they were my moms favorite flower, had been surrounded by this years new plantings. As you can see not a good thing.

I had plum forgot they were there.

2010-06-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Have not posted in a long time but not being one to complain its been raining here it seems forever.

The garden is in suspended animation just waiting for a full day of sunshine. When that happens hopefully soon I will start taking more pictures. Until then I am going into the house and have a nap.

2010-05-19T17:11:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the garden

2010-05-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

The hanging baskets and deck containers are done so other then daily maintenance we can just sit back and enjoy the show.

We are ready for BBQ season.

2010-04-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

A rainy day again but the rhubarb seems to like it, will it ever be sunny again.

Going to the annual garden club plant sale tomorrow hopefully will be coming home with some gems and deals to boot.

2010-04-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

A spring walk around the house

Our tulips are finally starting to bloom as well as our cherry tree below and what a show it is.

Our one and only daffodil this year,what happened to all the others I do not know

2010-04-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Better late than never but our quince is finally starting to bloom. Maybe spring is here??????

2010-04-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

One of our first flowering plants but is it spring? Snow this morning it was warmer in February than now.

2010-04-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

The bamboo fence is up and although its only 4 panels it takes the big white wall out of the picture as well as gives some definition to this side of the garden. Another project complete.

2010-04-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

I added 2 more sections to my bamboo fence which started as a screen to hide my neighbors oil tank. But as you can see once the new sections are added that big garage will no longer dominate my my back yard. I must say this fence looks good.

2010-03-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

The bamboo fence was built to hide my neighbors oil tank on the side of the garage and it really improved the look of the garden. In fact I am going to add one more section to finish it off and that big white wall of the garage will almost disappear if I don't look up.

2010-03-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

Planted some seeds into little pots to get a jump on the season and bring them into the studio at night to protect them from the cold nights. The weather feels like May here but we are only at the end of March so although I want to plant we must not cause it could get expensive and a lot of dead plants.

2010-03-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

We are officially into spring as of today but it feels we been there for awhile the weather has been marvelous.
While barbecuing a few nights ago I caught this sunset.

Raining today so a good day to catch up on my gardenwest magazines.

2010-03-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

The beds are ready for planting in fact will be adding some plants soon. The weather has warmed up and I have been busy cleaning up after after a pretty mild winter. The dreaded skunk cabbage is starting to appear by our creek.

2010-03-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

Snowing but won't last. Not a good day for wondering around the neighborhood so what to do. All garden expansion is done for this year. Won't be able to plant till May may be end of April. Added a web cam to my garden web site so you can watch as my garden grows. www.kritterskreations.com

2010-02-24T13:46:00.000-08:00

Soon the Olympics will be over and what a show it was. Over which the weather was great but is now into rain.
The garden projects because of all our sunny weather and warm days for February in this part of Canada are all
ahead of schedule

2010-02-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

More pictures from Hope during Olympic torch run here

2010-02-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

Well the Olympic torch has arrived in Hope BC. The turnout for the torch were in the thousands and a good time was had by all. It is more like spring than winter here but we believe.

2010-01-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

A sunny day we don't get many here at this time of the year. But when it does every one is outside enjoying it.

2010-01-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Its been raining here forever so no new pictures to start the new year. The above picture is from last summer. Only 8 weeks for gardening season to begin. Got a new garden west magazine so I will open a beer put a log on the fire and think about those long hot summer days.

2010-01-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

My first post of the new year all started with this fellow starring down on my brown and soggy garden. He hung around for a hour or so. I am thinking another 8 weeks and I will be busy in the garden with some cleanup. We are putting in one new bed and extending one other bed. I am putting a roof over the studio deck also.

2009-12-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas is approaching quickly and I am ready to take in the festivities. The snow is almost gone because of the rain so we will not have a white Christmas. We at kritters cottage wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

2009-12-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

We have snow lots of it making the whole neighborhood ready for Christmas. The only bad part is the shoveling of driveway and walks. Still below zero but should warm up by the end of week.

2009-12-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

About the only thing I do in the garden is feed the birds. This last week with cold temperatures below zero has finally killed off all my hanging plants. I was hoping that a few plants would survive. I am planning one new flower bed which will be in the shade because of structures blocking out the sun. As for my veg garden I might expand its area too we shall see. We need more soil so that means some manual labor in the spring to move it around.

2009-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Winter has now arrived no snow yet but the frost has been so heavy that it looks like it snowed. The Christmas decorating has been completed for another year. Its now a time for planning more flower beds and structures for next year.

2009-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

Putting up Christmas lights around the garden has been on the agenda for the last week or so and are now up and on in the evenings one week before December 1.A bit early but Its always nice to be first on the street.
As usual it is raining but we live in a area that gets a ton of rain now through March. Gives me a lot of time to plan next years garden. Which is on the to do list.

2009-11-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

The rains have come and stayed now for several weeks and about the only thing in the garden to do is rake the final leaves that had fallen in the last wind storm.
Christmas is coming so the first sunny day I will put up the lights ready for Dec 1.
Stokes seed catalog arrived so it must be time to think about next years garden. Would like to start plants from seed would be cheaper but each year I end up a the local nursery.

2009-11-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

While the leaves flutter to the ground the Kokanee are still forging up the creek to spawn even at this late date. De-commissioned the fountain in the garden, raked the leaves into a big pile. All those hanging baskets that gave their all by blooming day after day are down and sitting in a pile on the deck. Clocks were set back so darkness comes quickly in the afternoon. I miss summer already.

2009-10-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

Neighbor's trees showing off their color.

Well I was digging up my dahlia bulbs when my favorite pitch fork snapped so I hope I will be able to fix it. I also had another favorite tool I used for weeding it cannot be fixed. So the search begins to find another.

We had several nights of -5 C so many plants wilted under the cold. Took the snow shovel out of moth balls although I hope not to use it for many months.

2009-10-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

The salmon are running in the creek behind the studio at this time we have a ton of Pinks and a few Kokanee. They fight their way up Kopp creek which is fast flowing and not very deep but as time goes on the salmon have carved little pools out of the gravel but there is a lot of areas which are only 1" . They have come a long way and these areas will not deny them and they forge up the creek.

2009-10-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

Wow October 2 already and it is raining and cool with the promise of a sunny afternoon. I have our patio in winter mode with most of our baskets in full bloom.

Actually we are to be in sunny weather for 4-5 days so what to do take the weekend off post this blog

and have a good weekend.

2009-09-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

Wow what a fantastic day hell what a week every day seems to get better and better and the garden is blooming its heart out . The only negative is that the grass keeps on growing. I had planned on doing some garden work but it is far to nice to work god I'm retired. But I did move the air conditioner in the studio hence I am now updating my blog.

Anyway time for my walk ta ta

2009-09-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

Well Sacha found her place in the sun to have here afternoon nap. Brigade days is our communities big yearly celebration and a big event is our chainsaw carving contest.

The above picture is the start of the timed portion of the competition where they are allowed 2 hr to complete a project.

The main project the carvers have 4 days from log to final project

the above shows day 3 of one of the carvers. Below shows the total look.

2009-08-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Well we just finished another 3 days of 35 C here in the country. I have done very little in the way of gardening maintance. Except for watering a few plants I have been just enjoying the garden.

My hummingbird feeders is being taken over by wasps

My tallest sun flower ever going to be hard to beat next year.

2009-08-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

We finally got some rain but the sun should be back by this afternoon as it better be because we have some friends coming over for a BBQ .

Today I will also clean up the vegetable garden the lettuce is finished and planted far to much for our family. Tomatoes are coming on strong and taste fantantic compared to the super market.

I have a problem of getting the produce out of the garden and into the regular dinner menu. So some things just don't get used. I will work on that.
My flower gardens have done very well and still producing blooms as they should we are just into August.

2009-08-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

The garden has produced some fair size zucchini so they will make it to the table in the next week. As for my tomatoes, taking their sweet time in ripening
Sylvia bought some new chairs for the corner of the garden to have her evening glass of wine
For Webster and I we stay in the studio with AC on did I mention we have been in a heat wave for the last 2 weeks suppose to end in a few days.

2009-07-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Canna Lily the new plant in the garden is doing very well with all this hot weather

My vegetable garden is putting on it own show topped by sunflowers all planted by the local birds and not a bad job.
Soon I will be eating toasted tomato sandwiches can't wait

2009-07-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a great summer as a garden grows but also for going on walks around the neighborhood with Webster our neighbors dog while his owners are on holidays.

As for our garden it is in full bloom as can be seen in this picture

2009-07-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

It is hot very hot in Hope this last week. So watering is a every day event . My tomatoes are doing very well this year and should be harvesting them soon. On a whole my vegetable has been a success this year.

Our hanging baskets are better then last year but still not like others in the neighbourhood must fertilize more or change to a new product I am using Miracle-Gro

The new rose bushes are coming along rather slowly but I am happy on how they are doing. I shall now go out in the hot sun to weed, joy

2009-07-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

A very busy week but managed to get the garden under control and all is in bloom. Also added some more plants from the local nursery who were having their season closing sale.

My hanging baskets or should I say Sylvia's are in full bloom but to keep them going I will fertilize this week .
As for the veggie garden I have more lettace then I can use. I also planted some more radishes the last batch was delicious but now gone.
My 2 grape vines seemed to finally taking hold and growing in leaps and bounds. For a while I thought they were dead.

2009-06-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Been on a Mediterranean Cruise for the last 3 weeks I know its a tough life but just my way of boosting the world economy to get it back on tract. But the garden did well without me what a surprise.
There is a lot of weeds mostly horse tails and dandelions but in the next few days will be gone.

Boy did my other plant grow also we had sunny weather here all the time I was gone with rain the day I returned go figure.
Our local plant nursery is cloing down for the season so everything is on sale 40%
So I had to go and buy some plants and will return for a few more before Tuesday the final day.

2009-06-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Baskets and planters got a way's to go but we got time.
I must say this year has been a fun year instead of not doing well with picking plants in that they slowly die. This year everything is growing and growing .
Ponies are just beginning to blossom my plants this year are full of buds. Also they are 2 times as tall as last year.

2009-05-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Vegetable garden seeds are beginning to germinate buts its a battle to keep a weed we call horse tail out of the garden. Oh well there is not much one can do to get rid of it on a permanent basis. So we will get out there at the very least once a week.
After today I have installed all my beds with soaker hoses which will come on every second day as per local sprinkling regulations for 2 hrs so another garden chore has been automated. Planted some green and yellow peppers and also some chives that got destroyed in the rearranging the garden in the spring. We also have a problem with raccoons who have taken a liking to sugared water put out for humming birds. What to do????????

2009-05-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Well its a beautiful day as you can see by the pictures. tomatoes as well as all the vegetable garden has been planted only weeding has to be done in the weeks ahead.
The lilac and rhodoendron are in full colour, our lilac bush has come back after a move from Maple Ridge

2 years ago. I thought I had lost it but seems very happy in its new location.

2009-05-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Time is marching by with a few sunny days to boot but not to many.
A very crappy spring indeed!!!

These pictures are on our way back from 4 days on a houseboat on Shuswap Lake

2009-04-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

Just one beautiful day after another. Pictures from my walk.

Found this one tulip miles from any garden.

2009-04-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ya Hoo the weather has changed for the better and we have our first flowers. Planted some new roses and moved a lot of plants to new locations.

While walk en the neighbors dog we came across this old car in the middle of the forest how it get here . A bit of a mystery.

2009-04-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

This winter does not want to leave us. Snowing today but they are calling for sunny weather soon.

2009-03-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

And so it begins. Yesterday was such a great day I got into some of my garden projects. I am building another screen on the side of the deck to finally put in the the hot tub.
All the soil will give me a new larger vegetable garden and top off all of the flower beds you can never have to much good soil.
Started to move some plants when finished this project will give a lot more privacy while my new planted trees by the road slowly grow. Should have planted them a long time ago when we were not living here. OH well this project will do the job for now.

2009-03-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

Spring just around the corner I think ice is off the lake and the I have been doing some pruning of bushes and trees that were damaged this winter.
Weather although very cold in the morning -10C and sunny the afternoons have warmed up to +10C

2009-02-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

The weather has been great in the last week and I could not resist starting some of this years projects. I added a middle section to my vegetable garden where I want to try my luck growing beans. This area will also be the new area for my tomatoes.
All I need is some soil !!!!

2009-02-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Its Sylvia and I anniversary today number 22 wow the time has flown by but fun years.
The planning of the new garden for 2009 is now complete. So the modifications of the garden beds will start soon. Several plants will have to be moved but that will wail till March and new plants will be bought . Am still debating about a water feature I have the pumps sitting in boxes so I have to use them or sell them but everyone needs a water feature don't they? The snow in sunny Hope is almost gone so winter cleanup will begin.

2009-02-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Well there is still ice on the lake but it is melting although slowly.

2009-01-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

Well the weather is finally changing for the better we are finally above freezing. Although we had snow last night it is almost gone. My tank is now empty it now has to be cleaned and flushed to clear out the salt and then fill with fresh water.

2009-01-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

It is sunny for only a few hours because of the mountains so its hovering at -5 C
So with time on my hands I have changed my use of my aquarium which I was going to set up a salt water tank fish only to a planted fish tank.
So I emptied the tank again to clean and start over with fresh water.

2009-01-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

This little cat statue says it all
We have had such a crappy beginning for this year but we are still looking forward to a great summer. A vacation to Greece might not occur because of the economic downturn but we are still hopeful. If not we will try for next year, we hope a bit of a recovery well occur this year.
The plan for the garden in in the making and the snow is slowly going away.

2009-01-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

Its a sad day at Kritters Cottage as Quimsby our little cat of the group but big in heart passed away. We noticed his weight loss the beginning of Dec and continue to lose ground although slowly. His vet after several tests discovered his cancer yesterday. Today after surgery we were told that cancer had spread through out his little body and we made the hard decision that every pet owner dreads and let him go. Quims even today tried to eat and walked around the cottage although slowly. He will be sadly missed.

2008-12-31T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have completed another year of blogging or should I say a running journal at kritters cottage.

We have had a good year being retired and I still not do not want to go back to work. Am looking forward to 2009 in the garden. If it wasn't for the economic collapse in the USA things would be going to plan all we can hope for now is some sort of recovery this new year. We will not take any major trips because of it. But we will travel locally and that's OK . I am sure we can amuse ourselves. We already have some small trips planned.

2008-12-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

Well it continues to snow and snow and it is cold very cold for us on the west coast.

As it's snowing now a white Christmas is a sure thing here
Will be shoveling snow this eve oh joy

Merry Christmas to all

2008-12-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

Well as you can see we have had a lot of snow from my last post and it is very cold -15C . So not much is happening outside except for shoveling snow and feeding the birds and our one squirrel.

All shopping is done and wrapped and under tree.