A Young Woman Coming to Help Me

This surprise was just sprung on me yesterday. One of my ESL students (the class is halted for the summer months), emailed me yesterday to tell me that she has this week off from her job in a day-care. She wondered if she could come help me out.

I had just been daydreaming about that on Saturday!

So I wrote back and suggested that if she could arrive here 6:30 pm and help me with weeding and watering the garden, that would be a wonderful help to me. I usually stop at 8 pm so I can still get in some hours on my business work.

She agreed gladly, but asked for a ride home to her apt when we were done, as she didn't like to stand at the bus stop down- town after dark. I can understand and agreed to drive her home.

We always get along quite well, but I said we can try this for several evenings and see how she holds up. If she gets too tired she can miss some evenings.

And if it rains we can work inside as I need to re-pot some of my aloe vera plants that have had babies and their pots are too crowded.

She may end up having more energy than me. If so, I said she could help me on Saturday which is usually my domestic day. at least the afternoon.

I think I should pay - or at least tip her for her help, but will have to see how much I can spare.

This will be a trial week - just how long...we'll find out.

<*> TIPS & SOLUTIONS: <*>

"Old as a Cow - and Still Adding to My Learning"

I found myself quoting my beloved "Gr'ma" with that phrase a number of times last week. It just came to me again!

Dori's bag of birthday gifts included a jar of Haskap Berry jam. I saved it, but tasted it at home and now I want to grow Haskaps too. But as I'm researching them online (and apparently our U of S here in Saskatoon has developed some new varieties!) I'm learning that there are several key things to remember.

1. One must grow two or more varieties close together or the flowers will not fertilize and have berries.

2. Birds LOVE these berries so one must throw netting over the bushes to keep the birds from stealing them all. However, the mesh has to be of a certain size, or cats and dogs will get caught in them and in their efforts to free themselves will yank berries and bushes down.

3. Haskaps can be made into juice, jelly, jam, compote, liqueur, wine, dried berries and fruit leather. Use haskaps in baking cakes, muffins, cobbler, crisps and pies.

3. The U of S only sells their shrubs to the public the first week of June, so I'll have to plan ahead if I hope to get some. (Maybe Dutch Growers also carries them; I must check.)

If you know anything else I should learn about Haskaps do let me know!

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