My Two Favorite Things About June

June is more then halfway done! Can you believe it? This month just kind of disappeared before my very eyes. Time to slow things down and stop to think about my two favorite things about June. Luckily, both things start appearing mid-June or later!

1. local fresh strawberries, 2. Strawberries 

#1- Local strawberries - Local Strawberries have just started popping up in grocery stores and farm markets all around me! They're still a bit on the pricey side ($3.49 a pint I saw on a sign yesterday), but soon the prices will start dropping and then then U-Picks will open! Local berries are not only cheaper, but they taste like little bites of heaven. So sweet and juicy.

a photo from my garden!

 #2 - Lilies - Lilies are my favorite flower. I've got several different varieties in my garden, and mid-June is when the first of the day lilies bloom! Yay, Lilies!

ps: It's also the first day of summer today! Why not celebrate by doing something summer-y?


Isn't June an awesome month? What are your favorite things about June?

Happy World Oceans Day!

1. Fishing Shacks, 2. Ocean Colors, 3. Awesome Wave, 4. Santa Monica Pier

June 8th is World Oceans Day. The concept was proposed by the Canadian government at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. It has been unofficially celebrated every year since, and has been officially recognized by the UN since December 2008.  It's a day to celebrate our oceans and promote ocean conservation. 

The world's oceans are important to all of us. They generate most of the oxygen we breathe, provide us with food and provide us with medicines, as well as potential new medicines. Plus, they're damn pretty to look at. They're also home to some of the most bizarre creatures on earth, such as the immortal jelly fish, the Axolotl, and the Leafy Sea Dragon. Not to mention huge animals like the Blue Whale and the Giant Squid. Oh, you like your animals  more cute and cuddly? Fine, check out this photo of a baby seal. (aww!)

The ocean is particularly important to those of us surrounded (or at mostly surrounded...) by one. I may not live right on the ocean, but I could leave my house and be there in 20 minutes. We are "Canada's Ocean Playground" (according to our license plates). There is no place in Nova Scotia that is more then 67KM from the ocean. It regulates our climate. It provides a source of income for many Nova Scotians. Soon, it may even provide some of our power! 

In short, the oceans are pretty incredible. 

So, whether you can see the ocean from your doorstep or the closest you've been to the ocean is watching Finding Nemo, have a Happy World Oceans Day! 

Want more World Ocean goodness? Check out these awesome photos on the Flickr Blog and theoceanproject.org for more information on World Oceans Day and ocean conservation.


Books about ocean conservation that I think look terribly interesting: