Joy Drop: Balancing worship and sport during Ramadan

Another week closer to removing the winter tires,a sure sign of spring! I can feel it in the air. Although the air is rainy with some hail in these parts around Toronto.

On that note, I start this week's online notebook entry with some hopeful gardening. I am known to have a "black thumb" — I have killed everything from succulents and orchids to herbs galore.

But last year, I successfully grew a gorgeous basil plant (my 17th attempt) and she was an emerald goddess. We enjoyed fresh pesto (please roast the pine nuts!) and some amazing desserts — including my all-time favourite dessert recipe for Catalan chocolate, and olive oil cream with strawberry, raspberry and basil salad. I may be getting ahead of myself seeing as I am still wearing my Manotibah Mukluks inside. But the extra hour and glimpses of spring make me hopeful and happy.

The season calls for gardening blogs and for good news from successful growers — including this dad in the U.K. who harvested 1,269 cherry tomatoes from a single stem. That's a lot of precious little red gems but Douglas Smith, an IT worker, wants to break more records. He spends hours a week tending to his plants. I love cherry tomatoes. And I appreciate the motivation. 

Motivation is what pushes people during the month of Ramadan and I thought I might share some information about Muslim athletes who are fasting and how they manage. Earlier this week we saw a video of Kyrie Irving go viral. He was breaking his fast during a game.

Different sports clubs, teams and companies recognize Ramadan and advocate for their athletes. I have written on athletes and how they balance worship and athletic competition during this holy month. 

This cool spot from Under Armour in the U.K. shows how teams and