Pop and Thistle

Author's posts

Planting a Wildflower Meadow

I have a friend who is lucky enough to have a small field attached to her property. Once her old pony sadly died last year, she no longer wanted to use the field for grazing but decided she would like to turn it into a wildflower meadow. Many of our truly wild meadows are fast …

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Easy Crock Pot Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

I’m not Irish, but I do enjoy a delicious Irish dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. Growing up in the Midwest, I’m used to eating warm hearty meals comprised of meat, potatoes and vegetables. My figure is proof of my love for this kind of food. Corned beef with cabbage, potatoes and vegetables, and Irish Stew …

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Getting Fit For Your Vancouver Island West Coast Trail Hike

Traveling six to sixteen kilometers with a twenty kilogram backpack on a wilderness hike like the West Coast Trail demands a good level of fitness. What is the best way to prepare? Just how fit do I need to be? When should I start preparing? These are pertinent questions for anyone who is planning on …

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8 Tips For Making Your Yard a Bird Watching Paradise

Did you know that bird watching is the second most popular pastime in North America, coming in second only after gardening? You can integrate the two by planting a bird-friendly garden with plants that birds love. Why not go even further, and create a bird-friendly yard by installing nesting and feeding sites to attract birds …

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Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars

We Canadians know and love the Nanaimo bar, but did you know that peanut butter was invented in Canada too? There’s no better way to show your true patriot love than with this peanutty twist on the classic Canadian dessert. Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars Prep time: 20 minutes Baking time: 10 minutes Chilling time: 30 …

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Spring Dog Grooming Tips

A routine grooming schedule is essential to ensuring the health of your dog. However, pet owners tend to be a little more lax with their dog grooming practices during the winter months due to the cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions. Once spring emerges come late March, the cold callous mood of the previous months …

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Auriculas and How to Grow Them

About the Auricula Plant Primula auricula, more commonly known as auricula, mountain cowslip or bear’s ear, is an alpine flowering plant that originates from the mountain ranges of Central Europe. The auricula first appeared in European gardens around the middle of the sixteenth century. Since then its rather beautiful ‘unreal’ appearance has made it a …

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Barilla Pronto Spaghetti with Balsamic Chicken

Whether you know your way around the kitchen like a chef or are still perfecting toast, we all face our share of culinary conundrums. Here’s a roundup of solutions to some common kitchen calamities: Does your water boil over? Place a spoon across the top of the pot to keep it from boiling over. Is your …

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How to Make DIY Essential Oil Room Spray to Enhance Your Mood

After a long day we all need to relax and unwind. Instead of a sitting down with a glass of wine, do something better for your body and mind; use aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the art of using essential oils to benefit you both physically and mentally. These essential oils are distilled from various plant materials …

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All You Need to Know About Growing Strawberries

Strawberries are possibly the most irresistible and beautiful fruits. Everything about them be it color, texture or flavor is appealing which is why many people love growing strawberries in their home garden. Strawberries are really diverse fruits and are used in many mouth-watering preparations like cakes, jams, jellies, tarts, ice- creams, etc. You can try …

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