Wish I was a Grandma

I was just delivered a flyer for a Spring Festival at the Bellin College Campus on Eaton Rd. Saturday March 28th. They have a list of exciting activities going on that I would love to participate in. Cookie Decorating (that is what I am famous for in my family), a Cake Walk, Planting Flowers (everyone here knows how much I love to work in my gardens), Bracelet Making (I am always wearing some kind of bracelet), Nail Painting (I love painting my nails an array of colors), Lego building (everyone loves to put something together with Lego's), and of course there is an Easter egg hunt (who doesn't like to hunt for something). How much fun does that sound like?

There is only one catch. It is only open to kids 12 and under. Both my children are grown now and it doesn't look like I will have any grandchildren in the near future. What am I to do? I am “wishing I was a Grandma” now.

Post by: Karen S.

Spring Flowers!

What comes to mind when you think of spring? FLOWERS! Planting flowers are a great way to brighten up your yard after the darkening days of winter and are the surest sign that warmer weather is coming. Spring arrives at different times depending on your location but most flowers bloom in sequence. Follow these steps to ensure your garden of flowers flourish and blossom.

Step 1. Make a list of flowers you would like to grow in your garden. Visit your local gardening center to choose the flowers that would best work for your gardening routine. Some flowers need a little more attention and nurturing than others and depending on the size of your garden, some flowers can grow quite large over time. My best advice is if you plan on planting several different types of flowers, try choosing ones with similar watering requirements and sun/shade exposure so that they grow equally as well in the same location.

Step 2. Select your gardening area in retrospect of direct sunshine or shade. An area with too much or too less exposure can be difficult for some flowers to grow in. Depending on the specifics of a flower, find a happy medium location with sunshine and shade throughout the day.

Step 3. Acquire the best soil as flowers need good soil in order to preserve and flourish. The texture and the pH level of soil should be considered before planting. Avoid soil that is heavy with sand and clay and test the pH level so that is has a balanced pH near 7. You can add or rectify the soil by mixing sulfur or ground limestone to neutralize it. You can find pH tester strips and various minerals at any gardening center. Soil fertility and plant productivity result from organic matter content in the soil, thus increasing organic matter in soil improves soil structure and increases biological activity, resulting in better plant yields.

Step 4. After all steps have been reviewed and strategically thought out, planting the flowers at the right time is a critical step. There is an art to choosing the perfect time to plant your garden. Wait to plant flowers until at least two weeks after the most recent frost. Avoid planting until temperatures at night stay above freezing on a regular basis. To play it safe, plant a few weeks later rather than risk freezing your plants out. Use a farmer’s almanac to find the best time to plant flowers in your area.

Follow these steps for a successful garden full of beautiful bold rainbow colors. If you are an inexperienced gardener and have additional questions and concerns, speak with an expert gardener to fully undergo the involvement of planting one’s own garden. Good luck and remember to have fun and be creative!

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Post by: Mai Y. 

Spring is on the way…

Now that it’s officially March, the coldest days are behind us, hopefully! The sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. Maybe spring really is right around the corner. But before we get there, let’s take a look back at some of Wisconsin’s record setting winters:

December 27-28, 1904: 26 inches of snow fell in Neillsville in 24 hours. It still stands as the record for 24 hour snowfall in the state.

January 25-27, 1978: In Southeastern Wisconsin, there was a blizzard that brought 1 to 2 feet of snow, 50 to 70 mph winds, and 10 to 15 foot drifts.

January 25-27, 1979: A record snow depth in Milwaukee was made : 33 inches on the ground.



October 19-20, 1989: Milwaukee recorded 6.3 inches of snow that coated power lines and trees still full of fall foliage. The weight of the snow dropped trees and power lines, cutting off power to eight thousand residents.

May 10, 1990: The same situation occurred on May 10th, 1990 when 6 to 8 inches of snow fell in a band that extended from southern Oconto County, to northern Racine and Walworth counties.

January 31- February 4, 1996: High temperatures ranged from the teens to twenties below zero; lows dropped to the 30s to 50s below zero. State's record coldest temperature -55 F was set in Courderay on February 2nd and 4th.



Wisconsin is known for its long, cold winters. And this winter doesn’t seem to be any different. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel! Before we know it, the sun will be shining and all that snow will be melted. So drink your hot chocolate, wear your warm mittens, and blast your heat while you can. Spring is on its way!

Image courtesy of [Serge Bertasius] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Post by: Noelle C.

The Legend of the Easter Bunny

Did you know that the bunny has been a symbol of fertility since ancient Egypt? From Egypt the symbol spread to Greece and Rome. The Celtics also used the rabbit as a symbol for the festival celebrating the goddess of spring. But the Easter Bunny got his origins in 13th century, pre-Christian Germany. He was first found in literature dating back to the 1500’s. Children celebrated ‘Oschter Haws’, a rabbit that left eggs and candies on their shoes. Why eggs? They are also a symbol of fertility and rebirth. In the 1800’s Germany earned my undying gratitude by introducing that delightful treat: the chocolate bunny!! The Easter Bunny tradition was brought to America by German settlers that came to the Pennsylvania Dutch area in the early 1800’s. Over the years the amount of candy and eggs delivered increased until finally baskets became common. Well, except at my house where the candy and eggs were delivered in covered shoe boxes, so the dog couldn’t eat our candy! The Easter Bunny isn’t used in every country though. In Australia, bunnies are considered a nuisance and instead they use a Bilby to deliver eggs! I wonder if they make chocolate Bilbys?

Post by: Mary D

The dark days of winter are almost over!

The cold dark days of winter are just about over and spring is just around the corner.  Darker mornings and lighter nights will start this Sunday with daylight-saving time. It begins at 2a.m. March 8, 2015.  You will lose an hour of sleep but you will gain an extra hour of daylight.

This happens the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.  November 1, 2015.

So remember to turn you clocks forward (spring forward, fall back) this weekend.

Post by: Alice E