Things are looking up..

 

I know Spring is coming when I can pick humble bouquets..  and take photos of flowers etc..and bake less..and read less..

I have let so many Libby books go..only to reserve them and delay them again.

But here.. Flowers unfold at the speed of light..before I know it..September is here..then October.

The beds are still very empty as a lot of perennials need warmth.

We have had chill and rain..

It is still coming though:)

Ferns unfurling..like little fists emerging ..

Hellebores are stunning.I have a lot of burnt leaves but eventually they look good and my hellebores become yellow/creamy..

Lilacs..white ..

Trilliums ..we are not to pick them They should stay in their natural habitat..so I go in the Secret Garden..trip over branches..get very low to the ground and clic clic clic..

I sowed a few radishes..UP:) Some Shirley Grey Poppies..UP..Borage has reseeded not tons..but you don't need tons.:)

Finally enjoying season 3 of Ted Lasso..it was slow for me compared to season 1 and 2..  but by episode 6 I was back into all the smiles and feels..

Watching The Last Thing He Told me..I had read the book..I heard Julia Roberts was wanted for the role..She was not available..Jennifer Gardner kept asking for it and got it.She is one of my FAVORITE stars..for some reason.. I keep seeing Julia in the role..Once you hear something ..you can't unhear:)

Both J and Ia agree we NEVER tire of Call The Midwife.NEVER.

We both love it.

Quality..talent..storylines..ALL OF IT.

Have a great weekend..May all your flowers go forth and prosper.

A fiftieth and an outing:)

 

Nana and Oli:)And Darius.

We had my son-in-law's 50th birthday celebration at his mom's home.

She and her  conjoint.. ..live on a beautiful farm.

They have built a home on the land.. his childhood home is on the land too.

It's so interesting to see working farm properties.

And this one is beautiful as well as their home.

The first level of the barn..horses..some pigs..chickens..bunnies.. It is huge.. tack rooms.. at least a dozen tractors  etc..  a lift brings you up to the second floor where a fantastic collection of at least 30 horse drawn carriages are.. quite a collection.

 A step back in time.

It was night.. my cell for pictures..  they don't do anything justice.

Caterers served us so many different and delicious bite sized foods..all one as delish as the other..

An outdoor fire in the  deck pit.. It was sooooo windy..

incredibly so..And on and off rain..

So the celebration was indoors.. 

It was lovely.

The patina on many of the items up there ..:) I mean..

 Like being on the set of Yellowstone.

A beautiful event.

All the Littles..his family..our family his BFF and  his wife..

I am sure he won't forget his 50th.Truly..all planned with love.

I can just see Rip here.

 Exactly  the ones used in Old Montreal before the ban.

The owner's mom made this quilt:)

Not my usual banter but it was so nice..had to share.

All the bite sized apps were delicious all served in small individual vessels.. I think were were 30..I cannot tell how many people we are when gathered.

Unforgettable.

And Im so glad Im not a high heel person:)

I remember showing farms to people as a realtor..not many it wasn't my area of expertise..but we had  fermettes..  smaller equestrian properties on ap 70,000 sq ft of land..Some women wore stilettos;) Few and far between I think mostly city people who imagined them themselves as Beth Dutton;)

Had toremember this day..so I am saving it here.

Awakenings..and earth day..and let's have tea:)

 

Here and there things..because I have my favorites..

It seems I don't often tire of things..we have been in this home 21 yrs..no decor has changed..just little items though the yrs that I have out because of memories and such..

But no huge decorating changes or trends..

Or gifts that mean a lot.

The gardens are just starting..but I am again thrilled with my garlic..and who knew sorrel..was a perennial.. red veined is my fave..It just adds a splash of color to dishes..

Like the bang bang shrimp and rice..baked bang bang..we're not fryers;)

Every Friday J makes la pizza..I love that.

See creature f habit again..EVERY FRIDAY.

Wish I could ditch the pizza face though:) Salt puffs my eyes up:(

I can live with it:)

Alain our son-in law has a Gozney oven..his pizzas are out of this world.We had Easter with a pizza theme.It was too much fun..

Never a thing right..Just remember they are my fun.

:)

Sometimes a set a scene just for me.J had an appointment ..it was cold outside so I decided to paint in the sunroom..I set up a pot of blooming tea..and listened to an audio book..and painted away.

That's my other fun;)

I still enjoy growing micro herbs..A shower cap speeds up the process and germination is almost 100%

I like that too.

It's the little things.

Did you watch Tiny Beautiful Things?

Heart tugging.

Everyone who has lost a mom.A dear great mom..

Will certainly shed a tear.

..Have a great weekend..  and a good week:)

Still painting..

My last one is here..

On Instagram

Take care...

Lately...

 

One of my daughter's wanted to give her husband a very special 50th bday gift..

Meet Koko an Australian Labradoodle who will weigh ap.50 lbs:)

A bigger dog for a big guy..

She's quite magnetic:) Charming!And my first Grandgirl lol..

We all loved her right away..A dog's life;)

She is in a very loving family.

In other good news ..Sorrel IS a perennial in zone 5:)When I bought the two plants last yr..I was told it could be a perennial:)

Yay.

Sage is up..Thyme..some parsley ..and did I mention garlic:)

Easter was a rain check... Here days without power including Easter day..Our daughters and us.

Christmas..now Easter..what's next.

We still have snow.. However the last few milder days have been a blessing..We were able to pick up ice storm branches.. and rake ..gosh Tamaraks cause havoc!

My garlic is in an area where the snow melts first and it's looking grand.

I still have enough from last yr to get me to this year's harvest.

I sowed some Shirley Grey poppies..I bought them from a reputable purveyor..so fingers crossed.

I bought a new basil plant and took cuttings ..they are in individual little yogurt pots filled with water to root..and then I will plant outside..

I even put a few cuttings in Monsieur Provence:)

I rarely put paintings I have done in our home.. a few tiny ones here and there..

But this oil of Lucas has been there since I painted it..he is 17 now..and tall and not like this at all:)..But I love it with all it's failings.I remember that day as if yesterday..

Then last week before the ice storm ..

I added this one..

From a class I took.

I have a blonde and a brunette..:)

And I found this painting turned out ok.

Watercolor.

Makes me happy to see it.

I don't think I will ever stop making Cloudy Kitchen's focaccia.

Just made more today..:)

A treat.

I hope we can live in our home for many years to come.

There is such comfort in living in our creature comforts..

No power makes you appreciate it all.

You can distract yourself with painting..reading..

My Kindle came out!:)

It was a great thing.I read three books..another thing electricity..the lack of..does for you.

Time spent reading and creating.

Take care.. 

That's it..I've lost my sense of humour for April 1rst.

 

I mean it..every April Fool's joke is just too silly for me and I am gullible.

From a French Radio Station thinking they are interviewing Kiss that turned awkward and nasty..

to the Eiffel Tower having slides going down it..

I'll stay in and paint or bake..in an April Fool's safe space:)

After all it snowed yesterday and it's raining and daaark today.

I love this pottery Cuisine sign I brought back from France.. right below I have a kitchen hook with an apron hanging on it.. ..also from France from my friend Nancy..it was hers..

All the simple little things that I feel a wave of warmth when I see them.Little French plates..with a delicious Quinoa salad on top..(Don't buy Costco quinoa worst ever)..

Berets on French Littles.. love that.This Paris father and son was painted from a photo from a Substack called ..The Real Emily In Paris.

I don't get Substack..I signed up for free and what I get occasionally are feeds I never signed up for..this one is beyond me..Substacks..

Honestly..I can't believe Easter is in one week and that I can't find this painting I made..I wanted to have pages printed for wrapping paper for a wee gift..

I love Beatrix Potter:)

Loved painting this one too:)

Easter  is a religious holiday but I think its the cutest too..

I miss the Littles egg hunts..

All the baking..This year I am baking a carrot cake..the cute Nordic ware bunnies..and Angenetis a new recipe for me.

I still look back and enjoy remembering past Easters:)

Happy Easter everyone..I hope ..now that I have hibernated all winter like a mama bear..that gardening season is not too far off..

We still have mountains of snow..really ... but my garlic patch towards the garage is part bare and I see my little sprouts:)

And I still have last years garlic still fresh..Imagine:)

I should have planted tulips..these were exquiste that year.That was before every four legged creature started living here..Peter.. the squirrels..the groundgog..Alvin.. Simon..Theodore..Chip and Dale..

I wont even start on the rose chafers that found my plot too.

Kind of discouraged..visibly as I have started NOTHING indoors.

Again..Happy Easter:)

New for this year..You can find the creator  @miciammas on IG.

Footnote April second..

Have you watched Daisy Jones and the Six? Prime Video.

I had read the book..it was just ok for me.

But the series..I loved.