, Cardening Dizzy chore getting the freezer ready “Christmas is a’comin’, the gOOSe 1S gettin’ fat” As usual I’m not ready, but there’s nothing new in that! Next week, hopefully, I’ll have a catalogue of suggested gifts for gardeners on your Christmas list, Meanwhile a message for those of you who love to have holly around the house at THAT time of year. Smyth’s farm at the corner of Downey and West Saanich Roads is having a sale of beautifully berried holly, Tuesday, December 8th, from 10 a.m. until dusk, or as long as supplies last. Once again, all proceeds of this sale will go to the Sidney Branch of the “Save the Children” fund. The recent sale of pumpkins (held by the same generous people) netted ““Save the Children” $1,006! Amazing! Sort of renews your faith in your fellow man, doesn’t it! The best way to keep holly fresh until Christmas time is to put cut stems into a bucket of water, outside, until shortly before the big day. The “dip” used by commercial growers 1s not available to us home gardeners, but a product called “St-A’ Fresh” sprayed onto the leaves and berries will help pre- serve them. This 1s available is most garden centres. It might be worth a few phone calls to check around, as prices seem to vary considerably. Some years ago a friend of ours had the most beautiful collection of shiny, healthy-looking greenery, including holly, salal, etc., TOMORROW CRD TOMORROW Values, Goals and Priorities Project You are invited... CRD residents are encouraged to air their views about regional values, goals and priorities at a workshop to be held: Sat., Jan. 16, 1993 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin St. A draft document compiled from this meetings will be presented to the CRD Board and member municipalities in February 1993. RSVP by Dec. 15 to Joanne at Fax: 360-3159 Phone: 360-3195 Registration is limited A CRD Tomorrow Project TheReview arranged in a large pot night beside the front door. This was about Christmas time. I have_just called to ask her how much glycerine she had used in the water she had soaked this foliage in ... all I could recall was the fact that ske had used glycer- ine. I was truly disappointed to find that she (foresighted female that she is!) had done the soaking business in JUNE, not December! She has promised us the recipe in late May, when sap is running, and this preservative does such wonderful things to foliage. I must remember to give it to you, and to use it myself, because her arrangement really did look both festive and lovely! This frost is doing my poor cabbages and winter cauliflowers no good at all! _ Most mornings, to my horror, their leaves are sagging like deflated balloons. The Jeaves even- tually perk up when the sun warms them, but how long will they be able to flop over, and still pick themselves up in the mornings? For the past two nights I’ve hung Reemay cloth over them, and this does seem to help, but I’m sure I ought to get busy and make a plastic cloche over the whole lot. I should have done it in October, of course, but, once again, although I’m running like mad, I’m running late! “himself” has been busy sweep- ing leaves, has also made several batches of orange marmalade (the one made from concentrate), and has now promised to help me clean out the freezer. This is the worst domestic job of all, I feel, although I wouldn’t want to manage without a freezer. During our ordeal I’m sure we'll find several things I’d forgotten we even grew, and “himself” will say (with great satisfaction ) “We won't have to buy any food for months now. Just look at all this. great stuff WE froze!” — Later: That miserable job is now done ... the freezer washed out and re-packed. What I found most interesting (when the dizziness caused from standing on my head eased off) is that I’m either too tall or too short. Too tall to stand inside the freezer to scape down the walls, and too short to reach the bottom, while. standing outside. Probably Wednesday, December 2,1992 — AI17 ~ | Dr. Terry Hartrick M.D. would like to announce his new office location effective immediately to 103-9710 Second St. cles, though. I rock back and forth Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C4 on them trying to sop up the water, 65 6-726 1 and then wring out the sodden XN 7 towel. \ All the while I pray I won’t overturn and end up sitting snivel- ling, surrounded by a few garden peas, some wet filberts, the odd dessicated blueberry ... all of us afloat in a sea of freezing slush. Never mind, it’s done! It’s Done! Yippee!! It’s DONE! very good for the stomach mus- Are your sound | investments a little too quiet? If you don’t think you‘re making the most of your money, you probably aren't. - I can show you how to improve your rate of return and boost your income. / It’s that time again! LET US ARRANGE YOUR CHRISTMAS STAFF PARTIES! Complete Lunch & Dinner menus from $10.95. Some dates still available. a DOUG ROBINSON, FLCB. ff Small parties? Don’t forget our Pub. Great food, 652-8202 (Kes) Great prices and most important, GREAT TIMES! Investors MG) icp THE WADDLING DOG INN 652-1146 Building futures since 1940. _ y At Pat Bay Hwy. & Mt. Newton X Rd. solar _Autographings Friday, December 4, at 1-3 pm Sue Coleman - Meet this internationally recognized artist signing her new book, ARTIST AT LARGE: In the Queen Charlotte Islands - an exceptionally beautiful book. Makes a great B.C. gift for Christmas! Quality Paperback $12.50 Friday, December 4, at 3 pm Fraser Miles - Author of SLOW BOAT ON RUM ROW, a fascinating memoir of Miles’ youth on the Fraser River and his years on the rumboats; this is an exciting story of survival at sea. Hardcover $26.95 Saturday, December 5, at 10-12 pm Helen Chestnut - Meet the well-known columnist and gardener signing copies of the HELEN CHESTNUT 1993 GARDENING CALENDAR. Have a chat and pick up copies of this practical and novel calendar - a good way to start the year. $14.95 Saturday, December 5, at 12:30 - 2pm Norman Emmott - Autographing ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND - a memoir of sevice in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Paperback $18.95 Saturday, December 5, at 2 pm Florence Tickner - Author of FISH HOOKS & CAULK BOOTS, Raincoast Chronicles #14. Memoirs of life on the B.C. Coast in the 1930’s and growing up in a floating logging camp. $14.95 Phone 656-2345 to reserve your autographed copies if you can’t come in.