Sit back, gardeners; we have earned a well-deserved rest after another gardening season! Make a cup of tea and sit with me for a few minutes Did you get some bulbs planted before the weather turned really cold? We didn't plant any new bulbs this year; Toby's tulips last fall were the latest addition to our garden. Many of you knew Toby: he was our beloved fur baby, a black Lab who loved to spend every minute with his family, especially "helping" in the garden. We lost him in March to cancer. Last fall, I was struck by the inspiration to plant a pailful of tulip bulbs while Toby was there to "help" me.
I hoped that he might still be with us till spring, but deep down in my heart I felt that he would say goodbye to us before then. So one bright autumn afternoon, Toby and I went out into the yard and planted all those tulip bulbs. Toby was in his little red doggie coat against the chill, sitting quietly on his pet bed on the grass beside me. He didn't explore the yard much anymore, content to sit in the sun close by me. It was a special project that Toby and I did as a surprise for Keith.
When spring arrived this year, our yard seemed very quiet without Toby doing Pooch Patrol and watching for squirrels. But one day, a riot of color appeared at the edge of the grass. Brilliant tangerine tulips exploded in the sunshine; that evening when Keith got home, I called him out to see the tulips. Surprised at the new addition, he asked where they came from. When I told him how Toby and I planted them together the previous fall as a surprise, he was very quiet for a few minutes; then he went into the house to get his camera and take pictures of Toby's tulips. Isn't it special how our gardens can make memories come alive?
As we're chatting, I've got a pot of soup simmering on the stove. It's a day for comfort food! One of our favorite soups is lentil. Did you know that Canada is the world's largest exporter of lentils, and 99% of these lentils are grown in Saskatchewan?
If you have ever considered challenging yourself to "eat local" where possible, then it's time to add lentils to your shopping list. You can buy them dry or canned, and they are delicious served so many ways. We like to use them for soups, but you can also add them to muffins or breads. Remember when zucchini chocolate cake was such a novelty, and Moms were tickled that they could add a veggie to chocolate cake? Lentils are almost the same, except they are just packed with protein.
I found a great website, www.pulsecanada.com that talks about lentils and other pulse crops (factoid: a pulse is part of the legume family, but refers to the dried seed such as peas, beans, chick peas, and lentils). This interesting site has a lot of information about the pulse industry and how it impacts our food and health. Not only are pulses locally grown, but they are so very healthy. Here is what the site tells us: "Pulses are nutritional powerhouses. They are very high in fibre, a good source of protein, are low in fat, and are packed with essential nutrients. Pulses are also gluten-free, making them an excellent choice for the 1 in 133 people with Celiac disease or gluten-intolerance." The site also has yummy recipes; for those of you with gluten issues, a cookbook is available with recipes using pulse ingredients.
The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their next meeting in February. The planning committee will be hard at work coming up with an interesting and exciting schedule for next year. Members, if you have any ideas about speakers you would like to have at our meetings, please pass that info on to Liz. Till next time, have a great week!
