Gardenin' with Gertie - Fall Cleaning

Goo’day all, Gertie Geoduck here! I’ve got another gardenin’ thought to share with you  - fall cleaning is for gardens, while spring cleaning is for our homes.


We’ve had our first serious frost here in Snooterville Junction. That signals deciduous trees and shrubs to ‘head south for the winter’, well, to their roots any way. As these plants shift sugars and energy down into their root systems to overwinter, their leaves turn color and fall off. I look forward to seeing Mother Nature’s brilliance every year.

This also sends a signal to us gardenin’ geeks – time for ‘fall cleaning’. If there are any plants that you have recurring pest (disease or insect) issues with, you can reduce that issue by cleaning up any/all leaf and twig debris from under and around that plant. Pick it up now, and dispose of it.

Here in S-J we have garden waste collection, and, most of our garden ‘goodies’ go to a composting company where their process ‘cooks’ the compost to the point that most pathogens and weed seeds are deactivated. Although I have my own compost bin, I try to put only ‘clean’ clippings and material in it, as I can’t guarantee that there is enough consistent heat within the pile to really ‘cook’ things. Either way, we can then use that nutritious compost to fortify our planting beds next spring – what a Snooter-abulous way to recycle and reuse!

Miss Mary Jane-cat agrees that fall cleaning in the garden gets us a great head-start to a Snooter-ific spring (and she is more than happy to supervise)!


Happy Snooter-gardenin’!

Gardenin' with Gertie - Fall is for Planting

Goo’day all, Gertie Geoduck here!  My Snooterville Junction neighbors seem to think I know a thing or two about gardening and have asked me to share the ‘wealth’, or at least some of my tips and techniques. So, I’ve finally agreed to contribute to the Snooter-doin’s blog somewhat regularly, just in case you’re interested too.

Fall has fallen, and winter is not too far away. This is a great time to plant trees and shrubs – almost better than spring! Why, you ask? Plant roots grow anytime soil temperatures are 40 degrees or above. In the fall, our soils here in the PNW are still warm enough from the heat (however so briefly) of the summer, AND, we have the benefit of our infamous PNW rain, which provides natural (and free) irrigation.

During the winter months, the root systems of fall-planted material develop and become established. Then, when spring does return (sometimes later than never), those well-developed root-systems can support and take advantage of a full surge of spring growth. Plants with well developed root systems are better able to manage the stresses of summer heat and drought. There is also potentially less stress caused by insect and disease pest issues during the fall and into the cooler winter months.

The best time to plant in the fall is roughly six weeks before the first hard frost, which does not always correlate here in Snooterville Junction with the autumnal equinox of late September. It is also important to buy healthy plants. Get to know your local, independent garden center or nursery. You’ll most often get better service from their professional and knowledgeable (and often certified) staff while the prices are still quite competitive. Another benefit to fall planting is that you can get some Snooter-dooper deals at those local nurseries and garden centers as they are rotating inventory and making way for holiday displays.

There’s so much to share, I’m just planting the seed. I’ll be back with some more ideas and tips – if you have any questions, please post a comment here. And, I highly recommend that you attend the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle next February to see the Snooter-abulous display gardens, partake in the informative seminars, and to shop at the inspiring marketplace booths (we’ll be there!).

Happy Snooter-gardenin’!

BRUCE'S BOOKS Club ~ Vol II

NOT-SO-BIG KIDS DEPARTMENT


submitted by: Mary Mc

If I Could Keep You Little…..
Written and Illustrated by Marianne Richmond

We love this book by author Marianne Richmond but quite honestly we love all of her books! ‘If I Could Keep You Little’ celebrates the wonderment of a child growing up and how exciting it is for parents to watch the exciting changes a child makes coming into their own.

My five year old little guy, Jack, enjoys drawing parallels to things he can now do that he couldn’t do even a couple of months ago while reading this book! It’s a fun read and a great way to help the child communicate things that are successes to them.

With the weather cooling down and school back in session, why not add this book to your list of winter reads? Marianne’s books inspire both child and parent which is something we could all use a bit more of in our lives!

submitted by: Mama Snooter

Jake O’Shawnasey, Wheedle on the Needle, and all the whole Serendipity Press series
Written by Stephen Cosgrove, Illustrated by Robin James

I have endeavored to collect, and save, this entire collection for the day when there are Grand-Snooters running around Snooterville Junction. There must be nearly 40 stories at this point, but my favorite of them all is ‘Jake O’Shawnasy’ – the story of a ‘strange looking green Irish seagull’ who didn’t believe he could fly. Once he learns ‘The Secret of the Cliffs of County Cort’, Jake takes off to change his life and learn some important life lessons.

Each of the stories in this series comes with a moral or lesson that is as valuable today as they were in the 1970’s when I started reading them to my daughter. The illustrations are bright and vibrant, and as paper-bound editions, they are reasonably priced, and a quick, fun read. I saw a news story recently that these books are being re-released for a whole new generation to enjoy.

Other titles include: ‘Flutterby’, ‘The Gnome from Nome’, ‘Leo the Lop’, and so many more. Some days I pull one off the shelf and read it to myself, just for the whimsy and the uplifting, encouraging message. We can all use some whimsy and encouragement in our lives these days!

WHEN to travel with your Snooter-doot

Timing is everything, or so they say. When you’re in the right place, at the right time, wondrous things can happen.

Traveling is like that. You may witness a stunning sunset, or happen upon a wild animal  watching you from the woods, or see breathtaking grandeur that will reside in your memory banks forever. Adventures are even better when shared with your Snooter-doot BFF!

So, WHEN should you travel with your Snooter-doot?

SPRING: It is so refreshing to get out after a ‘long winter’s nap’ to witness the renewal of spring. Everything is waking up, dusting off and embarking on a new year of growth and promise. Snooter-doots love flowers, and gardens, and forests, especially when they are blooming!

SUMMER: School is out; families are on the road again. Camping, picnicking, site-seeing, there are so many options. Sometimes it’s nice to just slow down for a moment and catch a few rays at the beach. (Snooter-doots don’t get sunburns.)

AUTUMN: The last hooray, harvest time, when the air turns crisp and leaves begin to fall. There is something comforting about fall colors and collecting the fruits of our labor – from giant pumpkins to all our vegetable garden fare. Snooter-doots really appreciate the richness of our land, and its amber waves of grain.

WINTER: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Wool keeps you warm, even when wet (although, it can smell a bit like a wet dog)! Snooter-doots are handcrafted from felted wool, so inclement weather does not faze them. And, they LOVE a good snowball fight!

So, no matter what time of year it is, when you’re on the road again, remember to bring your Snooter-doot. And, please share some of your photos with us!

Happy Snooterin’!

TRAVELING WITH YOUR SNOOTER-DOOTS, cont'd

Snooter-doots like to travel, don’t you? Snooterville Junction is a pretty small village, and we love it here, but there’s so much more to see and do out there!

We really hope that the same phenomenon as happens to garden gnomes (stolen, and photographed in various locales around the world - minus the ‘stolen’ part, of course) starts happening with Snooter-doots.

We know of one SnooterFolk family who took their Snooter-doot BFFs to Paris! They shared some pics with us on our Facebook page; that’s a great start! And, of course, Lennie and Bruce travel with Mama Snooter to every show she takes us handcrafted art-dolls to.

You may be wondering, just HOW do I travel with my Snooter-doot BFF? Here are some thoughts:

Since they are handmade from felted wool, Snooter-doots are quite packable, so any suitcase will do. But having their own backpack, like Lennie and Bruce do, is even better. That way they can be close to their HumanFolk, and easily accessible for that one ‘great’ photo opp.

Snooter-doots are satisfied with most any mode of transportation, just as long as they get there! But, if you choose to let them drive, be sure that they stay in their seat and use their seatbelts.

 

You may be tempted to let them take some photos. They’ve got a good eye and lots of whimsy, but with no hands, their attempts may become quite frustrating, so it may be best to just let them do the posing while YOU snap the shots.

When you’re on the road again, remember to bring your Snooter-doot.


And, please share some of your photos with us!


Happy Snooterin’!

Traveling with your Snooter-doot

Snooter-doots like to travel. Lennie and Bruce have made it their goal to see as many, or more, sites than the Travelocity ‘Traveling Gnome’.

They’re off to a good start. The boys went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival in California last year with Patty Pumpkin and the rest of the gang, and are looking forward to their trip again this October.

And, they’ve been all over Washington State, via the various festivals and art-fairs we’ve participated in. They’ve met lots of friendly SnooterFolk along the way

– often getting a photo with them.

Why should we travel with our Snooter-doot? Consider these thoughts:

• Since they have no mouths, they won’t be asking “Are we there yet?” incessantly.

• They don’t get carsick, so they won’t throw-up all over the back seat. Keep them inside the car windows, though; they don’t make good hood ornaments.

• Since Snooter-doots have no hands, they won’t lose their mittens.

• Snooter-doots are knit from the finest wool yarn and, when wet, will still keep you warm. Although, we do admit, they’ll smell a bit like a wet dog.

• They can act as neck pillows on long airline flights – saving you the outrageous costs of purchasing one of the airline pillows.

• Handcrafted and felted, Snooter-doots are very sturdy, so they won’t break if packed tightly in a suitcase.

• They can be a great conversation piece while being frisked by the TSA.

• Snooter-doots are warm and fuzzy, and a great companion for cranky young’uns to cuddle with.

• Since they are pretty much all eyes, they love to see all the sites. And they provide just the right perspective when placed near serious or overwhelmingly large vistas for those commemorative photos.

• For you single’s out there, they offer a refreshing ‘pick-up line’ - “Hey, wanna come back to my place to meet my Snooter-doot?” After all, as felted art-dolls, they’ll class up the joint.

• And, Snooter-doots just make you smile. Don’t we all need that these days?

So, when you’re on the road again, remember to bring your Snooter-doot.

Keep on truckin' (and send us some of YOUR photos)!

'BRUCE's BOOKS' Club Reviews - Vol 1

BIG KID'S DEPARTMENT

submitted by: Jacqui A

My favorite book receives that accolade for two reasons. First, it's a story that causes me to stop and think about life every time I read it. Moreover, I've probably reread it about 100 times. The second reason it's one of my favorites, is that one of my best long-term friends gave it to me, even though she misspelled my name when she wrote, "To Jackie (sic), Create a wonderful life for yourself up there!" as I headed off to Alaska.

Written by Richard Bach, Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, presents Donald Shimoda, a modern day Messiah who walks away from adoring crowds to open the eyes and mind of the main character, Richard. Learning the lessons from the mysterious "Messiah's Handbook," Richard, too, becomes a crowd attracting Messiah who writes about the lessons in this book.

After reading this book, your mind turns over questions such as, what is reality? Is it just a perception or something else? Why are we on earth and what are we supposed to do? How do we know if we've done it? If you have the answers, you are a Messiah. If you don't have the answers, you're still a Messiah. Think about it. Read the book, it may help.

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submitted by: Popperfisk

Hidden Mickey’s: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secret, by Dr. Steven Barrett

Headed to Disney World anytime soon? One particularly fun thing to do while you are there is to search for Hidden Mickey’s. There are over 800 images of Mickey Mouse that the Disney Designers and Imagineers have cleverly placed through out the World… they may be woven into carpets, pressed in to concrete walkways, painted into murals – just about anywhere you can think of .

This book is the quintessential guide to their locations and is organized into 6 different Scavenger Hunts complete with clues, hints and points – the harder they are to find the more points you can score! There is also a version of the book available for Disneyland, and there is an Ap available for your IPhone.

Dr. Barrett is also a regular Blogger on the Disney insider’s website AllEars.net, where he frequently posts about new Hidden Mickey’s and ones that have disappeared or moved – something those whacky Imagineers love to do all the time! Enjoy!

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NOT-SO-BIG KID'S DEPARTMENT

submitted by: Mama Snooter

Time of Wonder, by Robert McCloskey

This ‘1958 Caldecott Medal’ winning book is one of my all-time childhood favorites, and is still relevant today. The illustrations are calm yet intriguing, in misty tones of watercolor wash – until the big winds hit the little island this family of four vacations on.

The story describes the islands around Penobscot Bay, Maine, and all that the folks who live there love about the sea, the shore, and the surrounding forests. Their island life is challenged by a coming hurricane, and the excitement of their preparations is profound. The best part is the wonder of exploring the UPPER limbs, trunks, and root systems of giant trees that were toppled by the storm. The girls find such treasures!

It all wraps up into the story of a never-to-be forgotten summer for two young girls, with boating and swimming and weather-worn rocks to climb on, and a close-knit family who takes care of each other. I just want to climb into the pictures and be with them!

I am so taken by this book that my ‘bucket list’ has always had a trip to Maine as one of my top three wishes. That wish was granted not too long ago, when my daughter was attending college in Boston. She arranged for a tour of Stonington, Maine, where she rented an old lobster boat and captain to tour the very same islands described by McCloskey. It was a dream come true! And, the lobster dinner afterwards, wasn’t bad either!

Robert McCloskey also wrote and illustrated: Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Main, Homer Price, and Lentil.
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