Category Archives: Live

5 Things to Do to Harness the Busyness Monster

Jun 1, 2022 Live

In a previous post, Joy and Workaholism, I shared my journey to harness the busyness monster. It’s that feeling that you are very busy, the anxiety that comes with not being able to keep up, and the trapped thinking that you, therefore, have to work more.

“I’m So Busy!”

Ever said that? I seem to be saying it a lot lately.

As I mentioned in that last post, I shared that I am a recovering workaholic who continues to work on the recovery. Recently, I came across an article from Harvard Business Review that called out a busyness paradox where busyness does not equal productivity. Many folks reading this may be saying, “no kidding.”

But as I previously wrote, it’s the shame and guilt that comes with not feeling like you can keep up which causes you to keep wanting to do more. It’s also the feeling that because you are busy “all the time,” you are getting the right things done, which according to recent research, is not the case.

Busyness Paradox: A Closer Look

According to Brigid Schulte, of the BetterLifeLab of New America, many folks like me (and maybe some of you) get caught in a busyness tunnel. It’s that single or narrow-mindedness where we can only focus on the more immediate tasks and things we can check off the list.

As Schulte explains:

“when we’re busy and have that high octane panicked feeling that time is scarce or that sustained moment of hecticness…our attention and ability to focus narrows. Behaviour researchers call this tunnelling.”

The one-track approach causes us to be focused on keeping up and crossing things off our list. This is, of course, instead of focusing on critical priorities and ensuring they are being addressed.

Schulte also points out that if we all disliked our jobs, we would find it easier to create this balance between work and life. So the paradox isn’t solely about limiting something we hate, but the discipline it requires to enjoy the work and focus on doing the right things. 

And the other kicker is we all know what to do, but putting it into action is the real challenge. So what do we do about all of this?

So What Can We Do?

As with all things, change doesn’t just happen overnight. Instead, change occurs when there is a paradigm shift or when you transform how you look at the problem.  

This shift in thinking will cause people not to accept “what is” as truth but to question whether this burning the midnight oil, and looking at emails 24/7, is effective. Schulte calls this the need to construct a new mental model – where you choose not always to put work first. And this shift in thinking will help one get out of the “tunnel thinking” that I mentioned earlier.

According to Schulte and the work at idea42, some suggested practices being explored and tested include:

  1. Recognizing the power of social signals
  2. Building slack for important work
  3. Increasing transparency into everyone’s workload

After years of experience battling the beast, I suggest two others (at least early on in the journey)

4. Nudge discussions with key individuals

5. Recognize the Wins

A Closer Look at Some of the Solutions

1. Recognizing the power of social signals

Here, the focus is not to read all the incoming signals about needing to “always be on” and introduce new signals in the organization, such as taking breaks and vacations, leaving the office on time and not sending emails after hours on weekends.

2. Building Slack for Important Work

The concept is simple but perhaps a challenge to remember to do it, and that’s building in some time in your day where there are no booked appointments and there is time to do work. One of the contributors to this endless treadmill is that we all underestimate the time it takes to do the assigned work.  

The solution, therefore, is to create a pull approach (in Lean 101 terms) where you set the pace and work comes to you when you are ready to take on more work vs. Having work arrive and, in effect, pile up.   

So this means needing to book appointments with yourself where you have “desk time” and where you plan transition days before and after your vacation so you can catch up. And Schulte and the idea42 research reminds us that we need to shift our mental model to not view this desk time as just slacking of

3. Increasing transparency into everyone’s workload

According to Schulte and idea42, three ideas under research are: 1) booking time in your calendar to work on priorities (which also means meetings cannot be booked during this time), and the priority is concretized. And then 2) the goal is to introduce meeting hygiene tactics such as limiting time in the meeting and a focused agenda that results in a concrete plan. Third, the goal is to have email and meeting black-out days, so that staff and leaders spend that time focused on priorities. Finally, all three goals “call out” or make the priorities more apparent versus solely being in meetings and responding to emails.

4. Nudge discussions with key individuals

As part of adopting a new mental model and good change management, you also have to communicate your intentions. So, in addition to introducing new processes, you also have to “clarify” your intentions to others who may not have yet adopted a new mental model. So this doesn’t have to be lengthy discussions and topics on a meeting agenda list, but when folks hear you shifting and setting boundaries, it may be a confusing time (between one mental model and another). So here is when I find I have to reframe “at the moment” regularly and explain why meetings at 9 pm or 6:30 on a Friday of a long weekend are “out” and a no go for me.  

It also means having a crucial conversation with my leader, not in a time of stress or pressure, but during a regular meeting, where you may discuss what works for you and why, and how this will benefit the organization. It’s a skill I am still learning every day, but not having a discussion can create some unnecessary tension. The best approach is to practice prevention and have this discussion before the uncertainty or confusion begins.

5. Recognize the wins

And lastly, with any recovery journey, you have to celebrate the small steps. So while making this all change overnight is a wish, it’s not a reality. The reality is, turning things around will take time, and as you take each step forward, it is essential to celebrate the small wins.

Next Steps Towards Recovery

So this research has piqued my interest again in better understanding how to be productive and effective as a leader and modelling the way. I think it’s up to us as individuals to want to make a change. But as a leader within our organization, it’s up to me as a leader to help our organization focus not on being busy but on the long term and essential goals.

So I continue this journey of recovery and learning new ways of shaping how I view busyness and finding a new balance. And as part of this journey, I am now reading a book on “Making Work Visible: Exposing Time Theft to Optimize Work and Flow” by Dominica DeGrandis. I will let you know all that I have learned. I also picked up another book, “The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life.” More to come.

Bliss Reflection

Finding the right balance is a challenge, but not impossible. What makes it quite the challenge is the “culture” around you. Let me explain.

If you realize that you are on that busyness tunnel and want to get off, I find it quite challenging. Challenging to be the one implementing new processes and perhaps even boundaries when others around you are probably wearing the badge of honour that they are “so busy.”  

And for others, it is not a badge and is simply about too much volume for one individual. But regardless of the reason, when you are one of a few looking to make a change, it can feel lonely and sometimes, you are judged for not “working long hours like the other person.”

And don’t get me wrong – I’m not scared of hard work. However, I am not prepared to return to the imbalance or the treadmill. I know how much can be lost when you do that.

So I have realized that I have to focus on my well-being and my team and be a leader who chooses to reflect on the busyness paradox occurring in the workplace. The buck stops with me, as the saying goes.

And when you begin making a change, like with any change that occurs, you need to prepare for the headwind. But if you know to expect this, you can use a change management approach to cause things to nudge or to shift in the desired direction.

And when you realize you can’t go back and that having that balance gives you more joy, you have to work on it every day. So it will take a combination of personal declarations, crucial conversations with your team, peers and leader, and time spent coaching or introducing new processes (such as the 50-minute meeting vs the traditional 60 minutes or introducing weekly or daily huddles.) 

But in the end, although you feel like a minority at first, it does pay off. I am still working on the change itself, but I choose to take each day to make a difference and an impact. It’s the small baby steps that add up. 

And as I travel on this journey, I am finding more people who think the same, but they either didn’t know how to tackle it or thought they were alone. And once you find one other peer who feels the same, that one additional person can make help you get through that headwind.

So it takes some work to curb the busyness paradox, but in this case, I think the payoff is there. And sometimes in life, you have to choose “being: and not just “doing.”  

Curious to hear others’ ideas and processes for curbing the paradox. Please leave your ideas in the comments box below!

Bliss Hints and Tips

  • If you want to look into the BetterLifeLab a little more and see what research and new ideas they are looking into, click here. If you want to check out Schulte’s latest book and website, click here.
  • For more reading about Lean, check out the American Society for Quality.

References:

  • Schulte, B. (2019). Preventing Busyness from Becoming Burnout. Harvard Business Review, April 2019. If you also want to read her latest book (which is next on my reading list), check out her website.
  • DeGrandis, D. (2017) Making Work Visible: Exposing Time Theft to Optimize Work and Flow. IT Revolution: Portland
  • Anchor, S (2010). The Happiness Advantage. Currency: New York.

Hints and Tips for Getting Your Yard Ready for the Summer

May 9, 2022 Live
Hints and Tips for Getting Your Yard Ready for the Summer

One of the moments I love is getting my yard ready for the summer. Why? It means that I get to be outdoors, doing what I love, gardening!

When I bought my new house, I loved my big yard but was overwhelmed. What do I do first? What do I have to prepare? On and on. Overwhelmed.

The Annual Maintenance Plan

Today, after owning it for a while, I have a system and am in a groove. I almost count down the hours until I go outside and play in my yard.

Winter up in the northern part of North America can be harsh. On the one hand, this very extreme weather helps you start with a clean palette every Spring. Very very cold temperatures “clean” the environment.  

And with that, once the snow clears, nature leaves behind branches, leaves, etc. But, if you are like me, I don’t remove all of my plants from the year before. The reason is that bugs get a place to survive and grow their young. It’s also good food for some animals that stay here for the winter.

And so, in the Spring, I go through a list of tasks that keep me busy outdoors – from basic things like topping up the soil to cleaning windows. Spring is the time to refresh your house and yard.

I’ve included my checklist of all my activities to get my house and yard ready. When I bought my house, I had NO CLUE what maintenance was required.   So I have used this basic list to help me keep it straight and stay on track. It has served me well for many years.

Hints and Tips for Getting Your Yard Ready

  • Many of the activities are weather and temperature dependant. For example, you can’t dethatch your lawn when there is still snow on the ground.  
  • Many of the maintenance activities build on top of each other. That’s because you can’t get it done in 1 weekend.
  • And if I feel truly overwhelmed, I do some activities and forgo others. 
  • This checklist matches northern climates where there is a hard winter. Folks may have to tailor it for communities that have much milder (aka no snow) winters.

It takes me a few months before I have it all cleaned up (because I can only do this work on the weekends). But even though our summers are shorter than in other parts of North America, I still have many weekends to sit and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

My view while sipping wine after doing all my Spring Maintenance

Bliss Reflections

Well, for obvious reasons, Spring gives people joy. But for me, I have realized two things: 1) Physical work in the yard and on the house is good for me as it works off my stress, and 2) my yard and my house are my canvas.  

As I wrote in my previous blog, I allow myself to express my artistic side through my renovations and gardening. It’s my outlet, and I have learned that to be a whole person, you can’t make work can’t be your everything.

As humans, we are more complex and have multiple sides and aspects. For example, since owning my own home, I have realized that I have to spend time in my garden or on my house and redecorating.  

And I get such joy when I can sit under my gazebo, sip wine, and be in my zen in the summer. My house and backyard are genuinely my soul place – where I go to get refreshed and reenergized. And in the Spring, it just means my place of zen gets that much bigger!  

The point of doing all this work and maintenance is that I enjoy it. And so, while the list is long, I make sure that I don’t just do but allow myself to “be.”

Bliss Hints and Tips

  • For more details about yard maintenance, check out one of my favourite magazines, Family Handyman, for all the handy gurls out there.
  • For an organic approach to caring for your lawn, check out this blog with some good options.
  • And here’s a list that guides you through spring maintenance from the inside out from ”The Spruce”.

4 Things to Know about Canine Vestibular Disease

May 3, 2022 Live
4 Things to Know about Canine Vestibular Disease

Geriatric Vestibular Disease in canines was unknown to me. Never heard of it. But once you experience it, you will never forget it because it’s scary in appearance.

And in times like these, you never know who will be your next superhero. And it’s true; they can come in small packages – like in a small Norwich Terrier.

This is Ziggy. He is a 13-year-old Norwich Terrier. He not only survived Cancer four years ago and a round of radiation, but he recently survived a severe case of geriatric vestibular disease.  

This is a disease that almost appears as if the dog has a stroke. But it is not a stroke. And because I had never heard of this condition, I wanted to make sure that other pet owners had heard of geriatric vestibular disease.

First Moments

First, here’s how it looked and felt. About a week ago, I was asleep and could feel a lot of motion at the foot of the bed, where my dog lay. When I looked to see what all the movement was about, I saw that he was making some odd movements, and it was clear he could not stand.

After a few minutes, I realized something was wrong. I picked him up, and he started almost “twisting” uncontrollably in my arms and could not stand. His eyes almost looked like they were popping out of his eye socket, but that was because he stopped blinking.

I transported him to the emergency vet, and in the car, I could tell he did not know where he was, who I was, and could not find his balance. It was one of my scariest moments, and I thought I would lose him in the car.

A Race to the ER

After being assessed, I was told it was likely vestibular disease but a very severe case. I explained that he had an ear infection previously, and the clinicians wondered if that was the trigger.

The first 24 hours were not good. I was worried that I would have to make a tough decision. But after consulting a few more veterinarians, I was told that this disease has about 48-72 hours of being in a severe state, and then slowly, the body recovers.   

After about 30 hours, Ziggy slowly started to look like he wanted to get up and walk to me when I visited him. Then, he recognized me; his eyes were beginning to look “normal,” and I felt relieved.

After 48 hours, he started walking – what I call wobbly- and looked more alert. Seventy-two hours later, he could be on his legs most of the day, eat from his food bowl, and drink independently. However, if he turned too quickly, he stumbled and fell, and his little neck tilted to the right.

He would look at me, and it was clear that he could not focus on me, so sometimes felt as if he looked past me. Finally, I figured out that if I made some movement with my hands, then he “saw” me.

On the 4th day, he balanced on all fours very well, and he was able to focus on me, but not yet 100%. However, he is alert and slowly returning to his routine. I am grateful and so happy that he is on the slow road to recovery and showing me that each day is a better day.

First time he stood on his own. 3 days later and with head tilt

So What is Geriatric Vestibular Disease?

Geriatric Vestibular Disease is a condition in older dogs that causes a vertigo-like state that can be mild to severe.  

Vestibular means those systems inside of all of us that help us balance. Depending on if peripheral or central (nervous system), it can involve the inner ear, parts of the brain and the cranial nerves.

Symptoms

Dogs can present with nystagmus (rapid eye movements that contribute to the imbalance), including alligator rolling, leaning, falling, and head tilt, which can appear severe. Again, the presentation can be very intense and worrying for pet owners.

Its presentation can be pretty scary and intense, depending on the cause. It can be a mild imbalance to a more severe condition like my dog. He completely lost his balance, started doing “alligator rolls,” and had a severe case of nystagmus (rapid and continuous eye moments).  

This condition seems to come on suddenly and with almost no warning. And when it does, treatment and care need to begin quickly, and time is of the essence.

Cause

The cause can range from being “idiopathic,” which means the cause is unknown, to a middle ear infection, medication toxicity, hypothyroidism, head injury or something more severe such as a brain tumour. In my dog’s case, it was idiopathic or unknown.

Treatment

Treatment can vary, but typically, dogs receive antinausea medication that causes the “spinning” to stop. That is the primary treatment. In my dog’s case, they also had prescribed antibiotics and prednisone via IV and eye gel. I understand this latter set of medication was unique in my circumstance and not the norm, as they had suspected the cause was a brain tumour (prednisone) or ear infection (antibiotics). (Based on my research, I am not sure prednisone was required, and it was stopped, and he continued to recover.)

Recovery and Reoccurence

Recovery is slow, and we are still recovering on Day 7. The first 48-72 hours can be intense, with the symptoms full on. Then, slowly each day, improvement begins. He showed a lot of interest in food from Day 1, which is typical of Norwich! They’ve got an appetite.

For geriatric vestibular disease (idiopathic), reoccurrence is rare but not impossible. Recovery can take 2 to 3 weeks. Luckily, my little guy is looking pretty standard seven days out. But because this is a slow recovery, I have been advised not to push him and let him have easy and relaxing days.

Note: If I learned one thing through all of this, this condition and any decisions should not be made within 72 hours. It can take a while before the pet gets over the initial onset. I was advised within 24 hours of euthanizing, and after getting a second opinion, I realized that this condition takes time, and decisions like ending a pet’s life, should not be made that quickly. The clinician was convinced the dog had a brain tumour and hence the advice. However, after getting a second opinion, I was told that there was not enough information to confirm that and more time was required. I respect and honour the tough jobs veterinarians have. However, as a pet parent, it’s my job to educate myself to be an effective voice for my pet. In this instance, I am so glad I did.

First day home with he classic head tilt

Bliss Reflection

So how can there be any joy or bliss in this situation? I would have said four days ago – sorry, there is no joy in this story.

But, being on the other side of “this,” we are thrilled he is recovering and that we get to have this little guy in our lives a little longer.

Today, he is walking, playing, doing his cute faces, hunting, cuddling, and napping in the sun. His head tilt is almost gone (almost indiscernible), and we are just watching his vision as I think one of his eyes may have been affected.  

This little guy is my superhero. He has taught me that he continues to live a full life even through adversity. He put his trust in me and the care workers explicitly. Yet, with his cancer and this vestibular disease, he kept and keeps taking one step forward and adapting.

I am also grateful to two other superheroes: my sister, who stayed with me those 48 hours and ensured the little guy was held and petted in his hour of need, and my partner, who taught me how to take control. I am grateful to both because that was a very confusing time. I had the vet telling me to euthanize, and in my heart, I just knew that wasn’t the right advice. And both my sister and partner gave me the strength I needed, which resulted in me getting Ziggy the care he needed. So to them, I say a heartfelt thank you!

Bliss Hints and Tips

  • ”It’s not a brain tumor!” I include this link because my vet was more convinced it was a tumour and discussed euthanasia. I wish I had seen this before, and so sharing it now for all pet owners.
  • Vestibular disease – the basics.
  • And advice straight from ER Veterinarians.
The little guy 7 days later. Head tilt gone.

How to Plant Seeds – The Easy Way

Apr 29, 2022 Live
How to Plant Seeds – The Easy Way

The Beginning

I would call myself a beginner gardener even though I have been gardening for many years. Maybe I am still a gardening “learner .”I make mistakes, and I try to learn from them.

In my post on Zinnias, I shared that my mom had the green thumb in the family, and I tried to learn from her. She seemed to know which plants did well in this prairie climate (Zone 3) and knew things like how to fertilize the ground with eggshells and coffee grounds. When she sprinkled this mix into the ground, I wondered why she spread old food all over the garden. I thought it was some old country myth. I was wrong! She knew what she was doing, and she had great success.

Fast forward to it being “my turn” at gardening. While my repertoire of plants is broader, I continuously learn about gardening, from placement to fertilizing to growing a garden from seed.

Growing plants from seed has been my biggest learning project. Some years it’s been successful, and other years, I put them out too early, and they suffered from wind or sunburn! But, there’s a science to growing from seeds and here are my hints and tips for making you more successful.

Steps

Pick your flowers

Perhaps an obvious step, but the first step is picking the plants you wish to start from seed. I tend to favour “easier” seeds that are easy to grow in trays, like zinnias, cosmos, tomatoes, etc. Many guides and posts can help you start with the easier seeds.

Prepare and plant away

I use Jiffy seed starter trays with the base, soil pellets, and dome. All you have to do is water the pellets with warm water. Then pour warm water onto the pellets till they expand and are thoroughly moist and look like the photo below.

Pull back the netting a little and put 1-2 seeds into each soil pellet. Lightly dust earth over the seed. After covering all of the seeds, place the dome on top and ensure you have a seal. (This seal is critical because it will allow the humidity and warmth to help the seed germinate.)

Hint: Make sure you read the seed packet and check whether the seeds need to be soaked overnight. Soaking the seeds overnight softens the seed’s shell (and, in this case, particularly hard shells) to break open more easily.

Warm it up

Seeds need a warm place and a darker or less sunny spot to germinate. Depending on the seed, it can. Take anywhere from 2 to 7 days (sometimes more) for the first sign of life to sprout. Putting my seeds on a warm floor or near a warm vent ensures that all my seeds sprout.

Take it off

When you see the first signs of life, pop open the dome but don’t take it off yet. It’s almost ready to come off, but you want to give the slower seeds a chance to sprout. By popping it off, you also provide the seeds that have already grown a chance to breathe.

The Zinnia seeds in this photo sprouted on day 2 (see image below), and then I popped open the lid on Day 3 when the seedlings looked a little more established.

My cosmos and calendula, on Day 3, we’re getting there but not quite ready to pop off the lid. But by Day 4, the cover came off.

Move to a sunny location

If you are unsure if you want to invest in grow lights, put the trays near a sunny window. Once the dome is off, the sun is essential to its growth. I find that I rotate the tray so that the plant gets even sunshine, and you don’t get a plant “leaning” to one side (to catch the sun).

One note is that having it near a sunny southern window is essential as there is a lack of good sunshine, and the plant goes leggy. This is where the seedling grows a very tall long stalk to try to reach the sun. And a leggy plant is usually much harder to transplant to the soil/garden. So the goal is a strong stalk.

Let the plant grow and strengthen here for a while. You want the plant to produce a few leaves (not just its initial two leaves) and the stem to thicken slightly.

Mine got a little leggy!

Harden off

Next, it’s time to get the plant to adjust to the outdoors slowly. Again, this hardening off is essential. It’s the secret ingredient between the plant thriving or dying outdoors as soon as you plant it.

Hardening off is where I always mess up. I either move the plant to the natural sun too quickly or leave it too long outdoors in the first few days. The goal is a slow and gradual period of adaptation over two weeks. Then, each day you expose the plant to the sun until it’s outdoors 100%


Once there are a few leaves (not just the initial ones), you can transplant them to the garden bed once they harden off. Make sure you keep the seed packet. It will provide info on when to transplant and how to space the plants properly. I plant the pellets, netting and all into the ground (I may loosen the mesh a bit) and then on to usual care.

T.L.C.

Once the plants have hardened off, its time to put them into the ground.. Now, here is where I go to the experts to help me with how to plant in the ground. And who better to consult than Almanac.

The one tip I will give is to keep these new seedlings watered. And its a balance. You can’t over water but drying them out is almost a guarantee that the seedling won’t make it. So if you transplant it into the soil., try not to do it on a hot day and make sure you will be able to commit to daily waterings at least for a week.

Bliss Reflection

I’ve written in previous blogs about how gardening brings me joy. Growing plants from seeds brings some added joy because I get to be part of watching a new plant come to life in a small and humbling way. If you are a gardener, you get what I am saying.

Although I “simply” put a seed into soil and water it, I marvel at how the seed knows how to germinate and then turn into this beautiful plant in the sun. And then the added bliss comes when you are sitting outside, sipping wine, and you can say “I grew those” to your friends.

Planting from seed isn’t always easy. But, without getting too philosophical, it teaches you some humility because sometimes, a plant doesn’t take. You realize you don’t know it all, and you don’t control all. You remind yourself what you still have to learn.

But so far, there are many more positives to growing from seed. And I would encourage everyone to give it a try. It may take a few growing seasons before you get the hang of it, but having plants in your garden that you nurtured gives you some added bliss and smiles over the summer.

Bliss Hints and Tips

  • In addition to the Almanac (a trusted gardeners friend), many of the seed companies offer some good hints and tips in terms of planting from seed. Also there are a few really good seed companies, like William Dam Seeds in Canada, that have years of experience and expertise, and offer a wide variety in terms of seeds.
  • Many universities offer a wealth of local information for gardeners. For example, here is a great resource from the University of Minnesota.
  • A neat tool is a soil temperature tracker. Here is one for the United States. Soil temperature is a good indicator as to when its ready to plant your seedlings. Consult your local university extension to know when its the right temp in your area.
  • And there is an app for that too. Here are some helpful apps from Country Living.

Gardening Joy: The Stunning Zinnia

Apr 8, 2022 Live
Gardening Joy: The Stunning Zinnia

Many years ago, my mom was the master gardener in the family. I was always amazed on how she knew what to plant, where and when. She always had this “magic” with flowers and only used natural or organic solutions and always seem to have an abundance of vegetables and flowers in her garden.

Amazing Flower

One of the “go to” plants she loved was the zinnia. Zinnias (pictured below) are plants that resemble daisies but come in a wide array of bright spring and summertime colours. Imagine bright orange, yellow, pink, red, salmon, beige flowers, some the width of an average palm of the hand, peppered throughout your yard. They also are breathtaking in a flower arrangement in a vase, and if you change the water regularly, they can last from 7-10 days.

The Look

Depending on the species, the Zinnias can have a daisy like characteristic or an almost “pom-pom” like look to them. They grow on very strong stalks and some of mine have gone “crooked” (probably because I didn’t support the stalk as it was growing and the flowers began to add some weight). As I mentioned, the flowers are the “superstars” of flowers (next to peonies, my mom’s other favourite).

Growing Season in Colder Climates

Zinnias flower usually from early summer to the Fall, and do not disappoint. While I resisted growing plants from my mom’s “era”, I realized just how right she was. These flowers can be grown in seed trays before the spring planting season or can be planted directly into the ground.

I find in my garden they do better in my west and south facing gardens, but I have grown them in my east and north gardens. And yes, these can be grown in northern climates quite successfully but when the frost hits, they usually start to look burned or weak, and eventually the leaves go brown quickly. So in this climate, they are annuals but you can harvest seeds from these plants, and store them for next year. More on that later.

Planting, Spacing and Layout

You can purchase species that are shorter and ideal for borders (about 12”) but most of them seem to come in heights from 24” to about 36”. They need a little space because these grow wider and taller and make perfect “3rd row” plant.

Third row? Let me explain – my garden has 3 rows of plants typically, “front line” (first row or border), “splash” (second row with medium tall plants ) and “the wow” row (third row and usually closer to 3 ft). So for the last few years, I have elected to put the species of Zinnias in my third row, and they don’t disappoint.

Some plants thrived and some didn’t make it. Next yer, I will space these out a little more. Please ignore the tubing – that’s me trying to establish a soaker system (that is not quite ready.)

Depending on your preference or the look you are going for, you can plant them all in one colour and make a bold statement, or mix them up for some cheerfulness to your garden. I tend to plant the Zinnias so that there is a splash of different colours. I love seeing the pop of colour.

I have grown mine in both containers and in flower beds. They seem to do well in both settings. I have also grown them in my south facing rock gardens, and they almost thrive in these very warm environments. The one environment I noticed they don’t do as well in are more shady (full shade) areas. They grow in shade but they seem to take longer and a few of my plants in the shade never “made it” and died. But for the majority of the yard, they are show flowers.

Companion Plants

I am curious to hear about the other plant combinations folks have done with zinnias, but I have found the Cosmos plants to offer some nice contrast to the Zinnia. The Cosmos plant has a nice bushy look to it, with delicate “fern like” leaves and also have a daisy looking flower. Sometimes I plant 2 Zinnia plants to every 1 Cosmos just for some contrast and “texture”.

Harvesting Seeds

The other great thing about the Zinnias, is that you can harvest the seeds. So if you find a particular plant and love the colour of the flower or the details in it, you just have to patiently wait for the flower to completely dry out. Once it does, you pick the flower off, and start pulling apart the head of the flower where you will find these brown tipped seeds. Seeds can be stored in a paper bag, in a cool but dry place. As an experiment, I have also dropped the seeds directly into the soil late in the fall, and have had some of the plants return in the spring, after being insulated by snow. But harvesting is easy, you just need to wait for the flower to dry out completely (and look almost light tan to brown and all of the colour gone.)

Summer 2022

Last summer (2021) it was very very hot where we were and most flowers and gardens struggled (because it would mean we would need to water daily and soak the flower bed so that it could survive in the heat). In that extreme heat (even atypical for us in more northern environments) it was difficult to keep my “three rows” thriving.

So 2021 was a bit of a write off. However, the Zinnias still did well even though a few plants perished. Some of the pictures I posted below are from 2021, but I am really looking to 2022 because I hope to get my three rows growing again. An now that I also know to stake some of my plants along with avoiding shady areas, I hope to have that dazzle of colour well into 2022.

Note: All plants on this post are from my own garden in 2021.

Bliss Reflection

This flower, whether in the garden or in the vase, just brightens up your day. It’s a hardy plant that just awes you.

But I think the true joy comes from me being able to continue my mom’s tradition of flowers. She loved these flowers and always had the green thumb that resulted in every single one of her Zinnia to sprout and grow.

These flowers remind me of her smile and her joy. She sadly is no longer with us, and so these plants always remind me of how she would always teach me gardening, and how she would tell us “how good her Zinnia’s looked this year”. And each time I look at my Zinnia’s, I remmber how she would say ”Zinnia” in her thick Polish accent. It always sounded more elegant than the english version! And like any European that grew up I the war, she knew how to harvest the seeds and keep her garden blooming year after year, without spending hundreds of dollars.

So when these plants ”light up” my garden, its as if, she is there. She is all over my garden, and I know she smiles when she sees my garden and those Zinnias. It’s like I have hundreds of her smiles all over my yard.

Bliss Finds and Facts

  • For a trusted source on the zinnia, check out even more detailed information from Almanac.com
  • And if you want to know what compantion plants go well with Zinnias, check this out.
  • And if you want to know everything that is on the web about Zinnias, and get ALL your questions answered, click here.

The Joy of Watching the Norwich Play

Apr 5, 2022 Live
The Joy of Watching the Norwich Play

This past winter where we live, has been long and dark. As a result, I had to find a way to keep my now senior dog engaged and working his brain. Happy dog, happy life, right? A great solution (referred to me by another dog owner) is the Nina Ottoson line of pet toys.

Toys and Options

Nina Ottoson specializes in creating toys that help dogs (and cats) do what comes natural to them: hunt. The company has a series of toys and each help your four legged creature practice new skills, and practice at different levels. The reward for hunting? Just some of their everyday kibble or a special treat or snack.

Toys are predominantly made out of plastic (at least the ones I have purchased) are washable (soap and water and top tray dishwasher safe), and come in all shapes and sizes. Many of them require our furry friends to use eyes, nose, paws, and sometimes a combination of all of the above. Treats are hidden in a vary of compartments and under levels and layers. Play time can vary and the first time, usually takes longer as the dog tries to figure out what movement they need to do, in order to uncover their treat.

Games come in 4 levels, and toys generally require a compartment from being swung open, a lever being tapped, or a cover being removed. Using their nose is a MUST!

Cost for the toys vary and depending on where you live can run anywhere from about $15 or so up to $30. They sometimes go on sale on amazon, and are available in pet stores.

Review

So far, we have used the Dog Tornado and the Dog Smart toys (and we have the Brick ready to go). My little pup loves both toys, and very quickly was able to figure out the “movement”. I was worried he wouldn’t get it, but I should have had more faith in my buddy!

He’s quickly mastered both games, and loves the challenge. He uses all of himself to pop compartments open, and uses his mouth, teeth, nose, and paws. He may struggle getting a compartment open, but once he picks up the scent, he is determined.

And after months of use, the toys show no signs of wear and tear. Very sturdy so far in fact!

He’s also an older dog and he loves these toys. So I think these toys will suit dogs young and old. I love that his brain is challenged and for 20 minutes or so, he is entertained and feeling “accomplished”.

I don’t know why I didn’t learn about these toys sooner. But I am glad that I did, today. So is Ziggy.

Bliss Reflection

It goes to say, watching any child or pet play gives you joy. I don’t need to over analyze it. Watching your furry friend get pleasure out of accomplishing a task, and being rewarded is just….fun. In many ways it’s therapeutic.

It’s a perfect way to unwind, and for a brief moment, forget about what is happening at your office. The power of play I guess. I guess I just realized its my own way of being in the moment, and allowing myself and him, just have a good time – no judgement, and no expectations. It’s just a moment of pure bliss!

Note: I have not received any payment or incentive or any other forms of promotion from Nina Ottoson. This review is my own.

Bliss Finds and Facts

  • Nina Ottoson has a very informative website that can help you decide which toy is best for your furry friend – cats and dogs alike. The site also helps you purchase toys best on levels of difficulty – level 1 for easier games and level 4 for the most challenging. We are in Level 1 and 2.
  • For folks looking to marry high tech and interactive pet toys, look into some of these suggestions.
My furry friend trying his new toy!

The Joy of Having a Norwich

Mar 18, 2022 Live
The Joy of Having a Norwich

The Norwich Terrier was not a dog I had ever heard of until one joined my family a while ago. Although not as common a dog breed, it’s one that is full of spirit, determination and joy.

I first got to know this breed in 2009, when I was lucky enough to bring one home. Never owning a dog before I realized I had to do some homework first. When looking for a dog that matched my energy level, the “groove” in the house, and my experience (or lack thereof). But after consulting a few websites and reading more about the breed, I realized this was the breed for me.

A Little About the Norwich

This breed is a ”big dog in a small dog’s body”. This dog is all personality and is loyal, playful, and gregarious.

I find that he’s good with kids, reads people well and knows when to engage with someone and when to respect their space. They are dogs that both love to cuddle and chill and love to play with you. My little guy also knows when to do his ”cute pose” which can either mean, ”play with me” or just simply ”aren’t I cute mom?”

Activity

They love to walk and mine has this cute “sideways” walk where his little caboose kind of shifts to the left.

Any happy Norwich loves a yard where they can hunt. They have these huge front paws that are excellent diggers (because their job is to go after small critters such as mice etc), and mine loves to dig in his usual spot under the cedar bush or in my vegetable garden! He may have stolen a petunia or two or three but he has thankfully grown out of that. (Imagine a grown adult chasing a 15lb dog all over the yard, with a petunia hanging out of the dog’s mouth…root and all!)

Health

Health wise, they generally have good health. I discovered midway through having him, that he could be considered a brachycephalic dog due to some “skin flap” that they have. So after doing some research, I have been careful around overly exercising him in heat, and always remind the vet before any procedures.

In their older age, there can be issues with their eyes and hips, but this one has been generally in great health with the exception with one episode of cancer (now 4 years ago….will share more later.)


Bliss Reflection #14

I know that it’s obvious that pets and dogs bring people joy. I have had cats before that i loved.

But the Norwich personality is quite unique. They are feisty but loving all at the same time. On one hand, you have this small mack truck coming at you with a huge happy grin, flying across the air. And then a few moments later, he wants to lay on your lap and have a nap. He’s got the cutest butt, and when he walks, he’s got a bouncy waddle. And he always has a huge smile!

So how could this little bundle not give you joy? The answer is ”I don’t know!” Ziggy, will turn 13 in a few weeks, and is a survivor of cancer. And even though he’s slowed down just a little, he always wants to spread joy.

He just has to give me a look, I call it the ”Ziggy look” and then my heart melts. Not sure I could put into words how he has made a difference in my life. He can make your tears go away or make me have a belly laugh. I recognize and love his feistiness. And maybe it matches my level of feistiness.

They want very little, but to be loved, walked, fed, and played with. And in return they can make a lonely day go away. In return, you get some joy watching this cute butt sticking from under a bush, causing tons of mulch and soil to come flying everywhere.

All they want to do is be with you. This little guy has even joined me paddle-boarding. He loves to fall asleep on the front of the board, while I gently rock it through the water. He loves camping and can’t wait to climb into the tent and fall asleep under the cool evening sky.

He’s my little buddy. He’s taught me so much like how to just how to “be” there for someone. I’ve learned the importance of enjoying the small things in life. He’s shown me that an occasional nap during the day can make you happy.

The Norwich Terrier is hands down just the epitome of a happy go lucky dog.

PS. While I typed this entry, he was staring at me intently hoping that I would stop soon and give him some love and attention.

PPS. This isn’t ToTo from the Wizard of Oz. I believe that was a Cairn Terrier but these look a lot like ToTo. And yes, this is the breed that was in the “Best in Show” movie.

Bliss Finds and Facts

  • There are many sites that provide more information about the Norwich Terrier. But the best authority is the American (Canadian) Kennel Club.
  • Meet the woman who may have inspired “Best in Breed”.
After a good day of fun, the Norwich Terrier takes a nap. Oh the joy of having a Norwich!

Does Red or White Wine Taste Better in the Spring?

Mar 13, 2022 Live
Does Red or White Wine Taste Better in the Spring?

Question: Is it me or does red taste better in the winter and white in the summer?

Answer: For me, and understand tastes are different for each person, but red tastes much better or should I say tastes almost ”warming” in the winter and white is almost “refreshing” in the summer. Ok maybe no surprise to many of you and a bit of a ”well, duh” moment.

But why does this matter to me?

Many years ago I never knew one thing about wine. I actually disliked it with a passion. One day, I chose to let go of these firm beliefs and allows myself to be open to tasting wine and seeing if maybe there was one I would enjoy.

Till that point, I had only known the ”wedding wine” that was served on each of the tables and varied from almost ”concord grape wine” to some sparkly white beverage that resembled wine. In my early 20s, I wondered what all these mature adults saw in this grape juice in a plastic glass. “No thank you!”

I can’t remember when exactly I allowed myself to let go of my beliefs, but I remembered suddenly finding a glass I enjoyed. I think that first glass was a shiraz and may have been the Little Penguin brand. Finally, I said, something that tastes a little fuller, has some smoothness to it, and went well with my food. That first moment that your taste buds appreciate the blending of wine and food is heaven. I both suddenly felt like a real adult (funny that) and reacquainted myself with my taste buds.

Today, after a few wine tasting courses and events, I can tell you which grape and blend I enjoy the most, generally know which countries are better for certain grapes and blends (or at least which ones I prefer), can tell you which wines go with what kind of food, and can walk into a wine store and not be completely intimidated.

Bliss Reflection #12

I would not call myself even close to an expert, but I have gone from ”no way” to appreciating the comfort a nice glass of full bodied Shiraz in the winter to enjoying my favourite Sauvignon Blanc as I sit by the backyard fire in the summer. So as predictable as the change in season, I tend to switch between red and white as the seasons change. I may even find white unappealing in winter, and red far too warm in the summer.

But I think my joy comes from the reawakening of the taste buds. Even better, I think wine was the first adult thing I did where I didn’t use it to “get drunk” – I wanted to learn more about this thing called wine.

I wanted to know how these were made, who made them, what the heck is a chardonnay, how to pair these with foods, and on and on and on. Wine was my first hobby where I allowed my curiosity to keep going and allowed myself to explore.

I went on a hunt to discover what wine was ”me”. (You could this was part of me discovering myself but I will leave that deep of analysis to the professionals). And I finally found not just one type of wine, but a few grapes that I enjoy! Shiraz, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon tend to be my “go to”. Chardonnay, and Malbec not so much. And then there are those ”blends” that are a safe bet when you just want to sit and sip the wine by itself.

I have visited several vineyards including in Sonoma Valley, France, Ontario and British Columbia (my favourite vineyard there is Quail’s Gate) and have tasted hundreds of wines over many years, I have allowed myself to be open and to try new things that got me out of my comfort zone. I allowed myself to express myself and not limit myself or my curiosity. There is a lot of joy in feeding that curiosity! Lots of fantastic memories with friends, food and travel…all around wine. (My friends and I may have also organized some fun ”galas” around it…and more on that in later blogs.)

And not till I wrote this post did I realize that the joy of wine was also being amidst nature and marvelling about how nature knows to do all of this. The scenery, the fresh air, the colours and the sunshine – all come together around this glass of wine. And maybe the ability to wander and just take it all in does a soul some good. So how often do you let yourself wander?

Bliss Finds and Facts

  • Wanting to know more about wine? Many cities offer wine tasting courses (for folks who have never sipped a glass they liked to folks who want a deeper understanding about how they are produced). I’ve done them a few times and each time I learn more. For some basics, I found a good website called the Wine Folly.
  • If you want to know more about Quails Gate – a wine I drink for some guilty pleasure – check out info about Kelowna, British Columbia and also the vineyard itself.

Taking a Risk with Wallpaper!

Mar 5, 2022 Live
Taking a Risk with Wallpaper!

Redecorating can give you a fresh perspective. It can also teach you about what brings you joy and happiness.

Years ago, when I bought my first house, I chose a bold colour for my living room – red as an accent wall. Bold move, and I loved.every.minute.of.it! I know it’s not for everyone but I loved that wall. Jump forward 15 years and I thought, ”Hmmm, it’s time for a change”.  

After many hours of researching, I came across a new wallpaper that you can remove easily. That made me interested – for a whole host of reasons. I wanted a new feel to the room but I was also worried about making a mistake and having to live with it for many years. I came across this brand of wallpaper called NuWallpaper.

It’s wallpaper with a special backing on it, which can be removed easily without the pain of removing the usual wallpaper. This means that if in a few years you move or wish to put up a fresh colour, you can do so quite easily. It goes up just like typical wallpaper, and looks like it too. (I will update you on the wear and tear and the process I used later.) In total, I started the project on Monday (while on vacation) and finished it within a couple of hours.

Application

Applying it is a little different than other wallpapers. With the usual wallpapers, when its ”wet” you can usually shift it while its in contact with the wall. However, after that, that’s the only difference.

There is no need to apply any water or to activate the paste. All you need to do is unpeel a portion of the paper to reveal the sticky backing, and apply the first few inches. You can lift and replace as you need. It’s important to get that first row or column straight as it will make the rest of your panels go very quickly.

Keep unrolling the backing and placing the wallpaper onto the wall. Every foot, take a wallpaper plastic scraper and smooth out the air bubbles, so that the wallpaper lays completely flat and adheres to the surface. Again, getting this first panel down is a critical step that makes this project easy.

Work your way to the bottom and using an exacto knife to cut the panel at the bottom as cleanly as possible. Use a straight edge or rule to cut against and to make a clean straight line. Then onto the next panel, and repeat.

When you put the next panel on, you need to match up the pattern. I always matched and started out at the top and worked my way down. In order to match the pattern, you may see a longer lip at the top will form. Not to worry, once you get a few feet of matched seams going, you can cut off that top portion (with a straight edge also). You can also do a small 1/4 to 1/2 inch seam between panels (where one panel over laps the other, just like regular wallpaper.)

Keep applying the next panel, smoothing out the bubbles and matching the seams and then when you get to the last panel, cut off the portion that spills over the corner. (I only put wallpaper on one wall so that it could serve as an accent wall.)

Removal

I had one panel or roll of wallpaper that had a slight colour discolouration. Ugggh. So I put the removal of the wallpaper to the test. I simply peeled up a corner at the bottom edge and began pulling up the wallpaper. I slowly increased the edge until both hands had a good grip on the bottom edge. And then I just pulled it up slowly. Et voila. The wall paper came off and no residue, no paper to scrape off, etc.

I simply took the roll that better matched the previous panel and started again, and that panel stuck to the wall perfectly. No lifting or portions that ”just don’t stick”.

One tip based on my error – make sure the lots for the wallpaper are all the same. It will prevent funny colour mismatches and having to peel it off and do a ”re-do”.

Time to Complete

And there you have it. I included the before, during and after photos below so you can see how this project progressed.

Time to complete: 1 afternoon (if you want to ensure the seams and patterns match, and there are no air bubbles.)

Update

Its been 4 months since I gave a facelift to my living room. The wallpaper is holding up, the colour isn’t fading (even though my room has a hot southern sun on it) and no scratches or scrapes anywhere. Post Covid people have started coming over and they have all remarked on the aesthetic and look!

Bliss Reflection

Standing back and seeing the finished product gives me such joy. That’s not a surprise or unique just to me. Everyone feels that moment of relief when any reno or project is complete. 

Doing this wallpaper (or painting, or hanging up new prints, etc) is my form of art. I was never good at art – my sister got that talent. But my ”canvas” is my home, my walls, and my rooms. I get to pick my color palettes, textures and tools.

And I love being able to shape it based on what I see and feel. I love that moment when it all comes together – from ”old and dull” or ”so a decade ago” to ”wow – this feels good” and ”this is me”. Now I know colours, textures and ”things” aren’t me, but its how i get to express myself and I get some added bliss when others see what I see. 

I suspect when you get to make your space feel cozy and ”you”, it does something for your headspace. It makes you feel in tune with your environment and just makes you feel like things are flowing and you feel at peace in your corner of the world.

And these art projects don’t have to be big – for me it was just changing the colour of one wall, and suddenly it’s just a whole new feeling. It’s scary, it sometimes takes more steps than you ever planned, but allowing to myself be artistic, truly does something for my soul. The trick is, you have to find what kind of ‘art’ you like doing and to take that first step.

Bliss Hints and Tips

  • NuWallpaper has a lot of information and resources that you can use to decide if this wallpaper is right for you. You can even use their room previewer to see if the pattern you love will work in your space (thank goodness I did, as I would have made a mistake if I used the first one I loved.)
  • If you want to tackle this wallpaper thing, here’s a great and detailed blog that provide a simple and easy guide. Start a small project and learn how it feels. Once you do it a few times, you get the groove.
  • And yes, you guessed it, there is a science behind interior decorating having an impact on your well being.  Check it out.
  • NEW – for some inspiration and ideas, check 80+ ideas from House and Home.

So What Will You Plant in your Garden This Year?

Mar 2, 2022 Live
So What Will You Plant in your Garden This Year?

Spring just generally brings people a lot of happiness. For those who live in snow covered locations, it’s always a refreshing time where the days are warmer and longer.

It’s also a time to plan out your garden for the year ahead. Each year, in around February, I start mapping out my gardens. A few years ago, I spent many weekends laying new flower beds and then also building a small, above-ground vegetable garden. I planted quite a few perennials and then peppered things with annuals for colour.

To make the shopping easier, I created a helpful costing spreadsheet that has helped me predict the costs and keep me focused when in the greenhouse. (Many gardeners know how going to a greenhouse without some focus can be a daunting task!) 

Update

I had a few questions about the free spreadsheet I included in this post. So I have included my own spreadsheet so folks can see what the finished product looks like. I use this spreadsheet as my checklist (as sometimes I don’t shop for all my plants in 1 place) and also know how much to budget for. If you are a nerd like me, I also look at what it costs me each year, so I know my trend year over year.

It has snowed up here recently (in mid April, good.ness) and so I usually have my plants by now. I hope to start my shopping in a couple of weeks and will show folks how I use my spreadsheet and stay organized. This spreadsheet has helped me turn my visit to the nursery to be an adventure that I look forward to versus being overwhelmed.

Bliss Reflections #3

Planning the colours and heights of all my plants for the upcoming season is good for my soul. I love planning but I love knowing that in a few short weeks, I will be outside working the soil and opening the garden for the spring and summer seasons.

Being around nature and watching your backyard come back to life is very exciting. My garden is a work in progress – more art in the eye of the beholder, and not yet down to a science. I think I like that imperfection anyway. Sometimes I have bald patches where I simply failed to water a new plant enough, to spots where I got the proportions wrong and have a tall delphinium in front of short aster. In other spots, I may overcrowd my plants and I lose some of the focus.

But each year, I try. I let go of perfection and appreciate that each year I learn what the garden wants in that particular spot. And then suddenly, there’s there one year, where you get an area right and you say to yourself “okay, now that works!” And I snap a picture of the spot where I think I got it right.

While I wouldn’t call my yard a masterpiece, it has given me many years as a peaceful retreat, and each spring season it forgives my errors from the previous year. Its a great place to ”just breathe” and become a human ”being”.

Bliss Finds and Facts

  • There are a lot of gardening apps and resources out there. Ones that I love using are the apps that help you determine “what plant this is”. For a list, check out this website from You Had Me at Gardening. Not only are the apps “tried and tested” but website has some great tips and resources for avid gardeners too! I love these apps because they spark the curiosity in me and I always learn more about the plants I have in my garden.
  • If you want to read more about the meditative effect gardening has or how to make your garden your own nirvana, check out some of these sites:
  • NEW – The ”go to” website that I have used over the years to help plan my garden design is Better Homes and Gardens. This site taught me how to layer the plantings so that I had colour throughout the seasons, and also created some ”depth” to the garden.
Springtime Flowers
Green on green gardening
Pot Gardeninb