Relax, he’s friendly, unless your step on the Impatients. When life gets crazy - an unending list of chores - work projects, volunteering, stuff around the house – I head off into nature.
My escape has always been go hug a tree. But sometimes getting away isn’t so easy. Load up the truck, corral the dogs, prod Husbear off the couch – you get the point. So, I brought nature to me. I started gardening. It started off easy enough - a houseplant here, a few herbs over the sink – and soon I’m rototilling the back forty. Well, we live in SF, so it’s more like the back 15x12 – but I digress.
Gardening is simple, if you remember a few basics –
· “I’m thirsty!” – Well, I heard you can over water, but I’ve yet to see it. The trick is to insure that your plants aren’t in standing water. When you are potting a plant, line the bottom with pebbles to insure there is plenty of drainage.
· “No critters!!” – Even the most diligent green thumb battles bugs. Fight nature with nature – Marigolds give off a smell that aphids don’t like, so plant them around your rose bushes. Garlic does, too!
· “One man’s garbage” – is another man’s compost. There are many good resources on how to compost, check them out.
After a few months, your trash transforms to nutrient rich supplement for your garden.
· “Worms poop, and that’s a good thing” – Worm poop (castings) provide wonderful nutrition for your plants; drop a few in your compost heap. In their travels, they also help aerate the soil.
· Little Ole Ladies and a Bear - There IS a garden club in your area. In it there are little old ladies and lanky old men--and an occasional gardening stud--who, if you are nice and bring a covered dish to their meeting--will clue you into EVERYTHING you will ever need to know about growing things in your microclimate. And if your dish is tasty, they just might supply you with bulbs and cuttings from their imposing yards and all the tips you need to eventually out-green them.
And remember – If your furry butt has been inside all winter, wear sunscreen. April sun can be harsh. If you’re like me you’ll lose track of time, as you daydream about becoming the next Martha Stewart – albeit a much larger, furry version.
Now that you and BF have finally decided to tie the knot, there is so much to do. 
Many of our friends work themselves up into a lather with their holiday cookie baking. 
It's not always easy being a bear on the go. And this time of year, the social commitments just pile up. So, if you've gotten a little off track - our friend Peggy over at