Living

Like some lucky people during spring break, we were out of town on a short holiday.

I've never seen a year that has stayed so cold and wet even into April and we're all starved for some outdoor colour. Early cool colour plants must be able to handle unexpected late frosts, cold winds and lots of very heavy rain.

Not long ago, I discovered my dad's favourite hobby. He enjoys collecting traditional tea pots and tea trays because it's part of his heritage. It calms him and creates a family sharing time.

Babies love books. I know this seems like an oxymoron since babies can't read but there are many ways a baby's attention can be captured by a book. I have always thought, if I were ever to become a writer, I would write books for this age group.

Iremember a time when I thought if someone older said it, it must be true. The young, innocent mind has a hard time comprehending things such as deviousness, personal interest, manipulation and predators.

Gentlemen, start your ladles. Dogwood Pavilion is holding a lunchtime cooking class for men on Monday, April 11 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On the menu are a nutritious and hearty soup, coleslaw made with broccoli and an easy and quick bread.

The city of Port Moody is hosting boot camps for people aiming to get or keep fit. Registered boot camps will take participants outside to challenge their muscles and bump up their heart rate with various exercises and methods of training.

We're at least three weeks behind this year because of the continuing cold weather, but finally, it's time to get your early vegetables growing if you want to savour the wonderful fresh taste of new vegetables this spring.

Books Plus runs in The Tri-City News each Friday to highlight programs and happenings in the Tri-Cities' three libraries: Coquitlam Public Library, Port Moody Public Library and Terry Fox Library in Port Coquitlam.

My life is an experiment that started two years ago in Grade 7, when I had just arrived in Canada from Russia. I was asked to write my first paragraph.