Nancy's Notes

Notes On Work

Follow Me In Merry Measure While I Tell You of Yuletide Treasure

By the expressions on the happy glowing faces of Pinawanians and visitors and evidenced by the numerous packages and bags they were carrying at the first annual Winter Town Market; you know that someone dear to them will be finding unique treasures under the Christmas Tree this year. The wonderful assortment and quality of gift and commercial items presented to the public by the local exhibitors was a credit to their individual businesses.

  The first glimmer of an idea for a market in December started back in August. Crafters at the summer market were very interested in coming to Pinawa. The goal of the winter market was to highlight the volunteer groups in Pinawa and bring out the home-based businesses. One of our many volunteer groups, the Whiteshell Cross-Country Ski Club, used the market as an opportunity to sell memberships and to recruit volunteers for the 2006 Manitoba Winter Games.

  In total there were 34 vendors including volunteer organizations featured at the market with 400 people passing through the doors at the Community Centre. Five vendors came from the surrounding area, which included Winnipeg.

  Woe betide anyone that thought it was the time to start watching his or her weight! The amount and variety of baking made mouths' water and the baking went fast. In addition to the sights the redolence of home made turkey vegetable and wild rice soup by Linda Krampetz soon made one's stomach announce its intensions to get filled. The Food Court was filled with families gobbling down chunky soup with chicken caesar wraps and friends lingering over a coffee for a Saturday morning chat.

  Shannon Shewchuk provided 3 sets of entertainment of her own written songs and traditional Christmas favourites set the ambiance for the market. Eastern Manitoba Concert Association provided additional mood music between sets and the stage lighting and curtains for Shannon's performances.

  At the Pinawa CDC booth we had a free draw courtesy of Tupperware (Barb Sanipelli). From this draw we know that 84% of the participants were from Pinawa, while 6% were from Winnipeg, and 10% were from 8 other communities. Congratulations to Jennifer Bucton from Winnipeg who won the first prize and to Pinawa's Helen Olchowy who won the second prize.

  The Manitoba Winter Games mascots also made an appearance at the market, mall, and arena where a Bantam Hockey Tournament was being held. The market was so well received that we have set a date for next year. Don't forget to mark December 2nd , 2006 on your calendar for the Second Annual Pinawa Winter Town Market .

Town Market Photo Page

Notes On Nature

    Since nature and outdoor activities are fascinating I thought I would give you a few activities that would be fun as well as a learning experience.  You are never to old to play in the snow and one of the activities I passed a long to teachers when I was involved in winter outdoor education was how to "preserve" snowflakes.  There are, as usual, tonnes of sites on the web about snowflakes including books, scientific studies, and activities.  I am including an activity that I hope you can use to make a picture of snowflakes.  The only supply that you need to buy is liquid plastic spray that you can buy at a craft store.  You could use pieces of glass, or clear plastic, or even try the black construction paper to make the images.

  Another great activity is to do plaster casting of animal tracks.  You will need a water spritzer such as a plant mister.  Plaster of paris (available at hardware stores) a bit of salt and cold water.  Bring a washed yogurt container (500 ml or 2 cups) a paint stir stick, paper clips, cardboard strips 3x30 cm or 1x12 inches to make collars to go around the track.  If you would like to hang the cast bring a wire hanger already bent to insert into the plaster and finally newspapers to wrap the cast.

  Follow the simple instructions on casting animal tracks.  Additional notes: depending on the air temperature you will have to wait 10-20 minutes for the track to harden after you spray it.  Don't saturate it.  If the track is really good simply delete this step.  Place the cardboard strip around the track.  Mix the plaster with 1/3 water and add a bit of salt, add more if it is really cold.  The salt stops the plaster from setting to quickly.  Work quickly and tap the container to release air bubbles.  Add more water until the mixture is like thin cake batter. 

  Carefully pour the mixture into the ring and smooth the surface especially if you plan on hanging it.  When the plaster is partially set insert the hanging wire.  When set 20-30 minutes carefully wrap in newspaper for the trip home.  Let it harden and cure before hanging at home.  To really harden the plaster boil in a borax solution for about 20 minutes.  To make a reverse cast simply put oil or vaseline on the cast, use another cardboard strip and after an hour separate the two casts.

  I hope you have fun with this activity. For an unusual Christmas present, which children can do with your help, make a track of someone's favourite pet. I often carry plaster of paris and the other paraphernalia with me on vacations and take interesting track casts of animals such as grizzly bears. 

  Next month I will give you birders lots of information on bird feeders and several recipes to keep our feathered friends happy.  Don't forget about the Christmas Bird Count, you can participate by going to the Manitoba website link.  To read the Manitoba 2004 Christmas Bird Count report on the Audubon site go to page 6 of the Prairie Provinces.

Notes On Gardening

Poinsettias…. Yes you can make them turn colour again!  

  For centuries Christmas and the winter solstice has been a time of celebration. Bringing plants into homes during the winter months has been an ancient custom even before the time of the Druids. Pagans and Christians brought plants into their homes for colour and the hope of an early spring. Few of us today adorn our windows and banisters with holly, which was used to provide homes for cold elves and faeries, but we do have a touch of nostalgia for the season past and the hope for a brighter and greener one.

  Poinsettias represent over 85% of the potted plant sales during the holiday season and December 12 th is National Poinsettia Day in the United States. As many of you know I like the challenge of taking a plant, which normally ends up in the compost bin, and getting it to rebloom. I have a beautiful Poinsettia with nice red bracts that is now going on to its fourth Christmas. I recently bought a cream coloured one from the Pinawa Christian Fellowship fundraiser. These Poinsettias are Manitoba grown. I am hoping that I will end up with a beautiful cream coloured one again for next Christmas but if not I'll just have to get another one – oh well!

  The Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima have very small insignificant flowers, as the showy coloured parts are actually modified leaves called bracts. The bracts are vividly coloured and usually come in red, white, and pink, but there are now actually over 100 varieties available. They are not poisonous and the flower industry has gone through great lengths to get the plants tested to allay public fears.

  To get your Poinsettias to last through the holidays just follow these simple steps. Give the plant as much light as possible at least four hours a day. This can usually be achieved by placing it in a westerly or southern exposure. Don't however let it touch or be subject to a cold window or drafts from the window. They like 60-70° F. or 15–21°C, higher temperatures will shorten the plants showy period. Place in a cooler room at night if daytime temperatures are very warm. Do not fertilize while blooming and water when the soil has become slightly dry and do not allow the roots to sit in water.

  To get your plant to rebloom the plants have to have had an alteration of a light period and at least 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day for about 40 days. After Christmas when the plant starts looking scraggly start fertilizing it once a month with a standard household fertilizer of 20-20-20 or if you have a fish aquarium, water your houseplants with the nutrient rich water. In the late winter or early spring (February or March) cut the old stems back to 4-6 inches. If the plant is very large and in a small pot now is the time to repot it. Once there is no danger of frost set your plant outside in a sheltered area until it becomes used to the environment. Remember, like tender human skin, the leaves will suffer sun scorch. You can also sink the pot into the garden soil if you want. I leave mine sitting on the deck railing and it receives the strong morning sun until about 2:00 p.m.,  then sits in the shade of the house. To make the plant bushy you can pinch the growing tips by about ¼ inch until mid-August. Keep the plant growing by regular watering and feeding about every 2 weeks. If it rains a lot and you are experiencing a lot of water draining through the pot you can feed once a week.

  In September, I bring the plant in of course checking it for bugs such as spider mites or aphids. I place it in an area that has a westerly aspect and as soon as the sun goes down the plant is kept in continual darkness. Because flower initiation depends on the length of the dark period, the plant must be kept completely dark from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Do this from September until December 15 th . When the floral bracts start to show definite colour it isn't as important to give the plant the complete dark period and you can place it in the desired room for the Christmas season.

   As a final note for 2005 I have to brag that my Amaryllis has 3 beautiful flowers and hopefully they will last through the Christmas week.  Another catalogue arrived in the mail so if I find myself bored over Christmas I know what I will be reading.  From my garden to yours I wish you a happy Christmas and may your future hold many new beginnings with fruitful outcomes in the year 2006. Happy Gardening from Nancy!

Pinawa Photo Gallery

Back...