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Wildfire Smoke and Your Garden Health

rbspecht

Flames and smoke rise from the South by U.S. Forest Service (source) is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0 Safeguarding Your Garden and Health During Wildfire Season Wildfire season is no longer a distant concern for specific regions; it’s an intensifying global challenge with far-reaching consequences. Wildfires are affecting big chunks of North America, from Western Canada and the Northwestern United States to the Midwestern United States, Central Canada and Quebec, and even the Maritimes and New England States.  Canada’s north is not immune, and in fact may be a surprising source of wildfire smoke. Communities big and small are facing the … Continue reading Wildfire Smoke and Your Garden Health

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Creating a balcony garden or container gardening in a tight space

rbspecht

A beginner-friendly guide Balcony and container gardening is one of the best low‑barrier, high‑reward activities for seniors and singles—especially those looking for something calming, purposeful, and easy to maintain. It offers routine, beauty, fresh food, and a sense of accomplishment without requiring a yard or heavy physical work. This is the time of year when you start seeing your neighbours out on their balconies planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Maybe you’re thinking, “Could I do that too?” The answer is absolutely YES! Balcony gardening is one of the easiest ways to begin growing something beautiful or edible, even if you … Continue reading Creating a balcony garden or container gardening in a tight space

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Still thinking about starting a container garden?

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🌿 What You Can Still Plant Right Now (Late June) Fast-growing veggies (30–50 days) These thrive in warm weather and do great in pots: Heat-loving container stars These will produce through August and often into September: Herbs (excellent for beginners) All of these establish quickly in summer: Flowers that still bloom beautifully Perfect for seniors and singles who want colour and low maintenance: 🌞 Why Starting Now Actually Works Well 🪴 Easiest “Start Today” Options for Seniors & Singles If you want zero stress, these are the most forgiving: 1. Herb Trio Basil + Chives + Mint(One pot each, water … Continue reading Still thinking about starting a container garden?

Grandparenting, Growing Up, Moving through the world, participate in your own life!, RetirementLeave a comment
'life will not wait 'in scrabble pieces

Navigating Personal Growth: Time to Pivot Your Narrative

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Is it time to pivot? I think it’s time to make some transitional choices. I’ve tried to keep the digital footprint of Sir5r.com as a deeply personal, introspective chronicle. My sporadic posts on this platform have been my way of … Continue reading Navigating Personal Growth: Time to Pivot Your Narrative

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Love and Growth: A Sonnet for Her 70th Birthday

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A sonnet for my fabulous wife and partner on the occasion of her seventieth birthday. Today you wake beneath a brighter sky,A soul reborn with every breath you take.No past regret can dim your rising high,No shadow lingers where your morning breaks.Your spirit sings of reinvention’s flame,Of pages turned, and chapters newly writ.You are not defined by yesterday’s name,But by the spark that dares you not to quit.You walk a path where blossoms rise anew,Each step a vow to live, to love, to grow.Revived by dreams, by storms you once passed through,You shine with a light the world will come … Continue reading Love and Growth: A Sonnet for Her 70th Birthday

future-proofing, Moving through the world, participate in your own life!, Retirement, Watching The World2 Comments

What’s in your GO-BAG?

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What’s in your Go-Bag? I’m not talking about that small travel bag that you take on an overnight visit or the one that you cram into the overhead bin on an airplane. And I really don’t mean the bag you keep in the back of the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet at work in case you don’t make it home after having drinks with friends the night before. I’m talking about your emergency evacuation ‘get-the-hell-out-of-Dodge’ GO-BAG! Things have gotten tough enough and unpredictable enough that we really need to consider having a Go-Bag ready ‘just in case’. We’re facing … Continue reading What’s in your GO-BAG?

Creativity, I'm Not Done Yet, Moving through the world, participate in your own life!, Retirement, self-talk, Stroke Recovery and BackgroundLeave a comment

A Journey to Fulfillment? Distractions! Caught in a Loop!

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A journey to fulfillment? Uh, no. Guess what? Distracted again! Caught in a loop! A Journey to Fulfillment stymied. Do you remember my commitment to setting priorities for all those goals and self-imposed deadlines that I intended to put in place or had been putting in place when last I posted? Caught in a loop!  Distracted again! Speed bumps on a journey to fulfillment! Well, guess what,? I’ve missed most of them because there’s still just too much to do and I have allowed the outside world to get a toe hold in my focus and my imagination. For instance, … Continue reading A Journey to Fulfillment? Distractions! Caught in a Loop!

carotid, Effects of stroke, Moving through the world, Retirement, Stroke Recovery and Background1 Comment

TIAs and Aphasia

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TIAs and Aphasia are not to be confused with Tiaras and Asparagus. TIAs and Aphasia are serious indications of something going wrong in your brain. Let me ask a couple of questions to put this in context. Have you ever found yourself short of words?  At a loss for words?  Have you ever had trouble thinking of the right word, or any word that will get your thought across?  And when you couldn’t string together three or four words that you could actually say, not even an “F” bomb, did you panic? That’s aphasia!  What happened?  Were you having a … Continue reading TIAs and Aphasia