Back to hiking...

Since we have been back home here in BC, we haven't hiked much at all, we have gone for walks but no hiking..yesterday we went to Kalamoir Regional Park...a 27 hectares = 66 acre park. It is only 4 miles from our home... We took the path that overlooks the lake, thur grasslands, volcanic rock and then walking along the shore of Okanagan Lake..just enough elevation to know you have done a bit of work {700'}..We saw a deer hiding in the bush, but apparently bears and the odd cougar are in the area..so you need to be aware of your surrounding. 2.7 miles, it was a perfect way to get back into hiking.
It is very overcast here today...perfect weather to get out in the garden..I hope your week will be a good one.

Quiet Sunday morning time....

I love the stillness and the quiet in the early mornings, broken only by a birds call...I hope your Sunday is a lovely one..

Happy Weekend....

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.
~John Ruskin

Farm Chicks countdown...

Only 7 more sleeps and I will be on my way to The Farm Chicks Show in Spokane, via Nelson..being able to stay overnight at Cindy's beach Bunkie. Taking the time to find a treasure or two in Nelson before before thrifting our way down to Spokane...Our 4th year attending..this year we will be joined by Cindy's cousin Dana..my motto is, "the more the merrier" As a added bonus, we were gifted the Saturday evening soirée tickets by her good man Tim..major bonus points earned by him..thank you so much Tim!
I know it will be such fun once again to see our favorite booths and be astonished and amazed with all the creative ways to display and use our sweet finds. Hope one day you can all become Farm Chicks yourselves❤








The two Farm Chicks, one year younger {2012}

Yellow roses

If ever a rose brought back childhood memories, it would be this old fashioned yellow rose..we had one growing near us at our neighbors house were we grew up...the sweet fragrance still lingers with me after all these years...to find one blooming here in the OK was a gift, begging to be pruned away from the hedge, into a vase on our table..so sweet and fragrant.

"I feel as if I had opened a book and found roses of yesterday sweet and fragrant, between its leaves.” Lucy Montgomery

Heartfelt...

Finding this perfect heart shaped rose petal is just one of the small delights of gardening. 2 is even better❤

The guest bedroom..

Jim has been busy painting the downstairs, a soft blue gray...the guest bedroom is put back together again...the view with the yellow irises looking out to the golf course is very peaceful..all I need now is to have a new slipcover made for the headboard..contemplating my fabric choices from my stash!

Loving Pasta

There are so many ways to enjoy pasta...once you have been to Italy, eating pasta is uncomplicated and good..lunch on the deck, or a light supper with a crusty piece of bread and a salad..you are good to go....served with some salmon, lemon basil dressing, a few olives, shaved parmesan cheese ...delicious.

"Two" cute to pass up

Finally, a score! A pink gooseberry cinderella bowl....hopped right into my hands.."Happy Mother's Day" to me..these two little cats are a bit scarred, a chip here and a part of a bow missing. Cute and kitschy....they will be given as a gift....

Lunch tomorrow...

I love magazines, but hate to give them away, so the pile up in nooks and crannies..going digital really works for me, they are always there for me to read. I capture the recipes and file them away. This is what I will make for lunch tomorrow..summer at it's best.








these recipes from Martha Stewart June 2013

Vancouver love...

A trip to Granville Island Market is always a must for me..the produce, the flowers, the sights and sounds of a busy harbour..on a sunny day, it would be hard to find a more beautiful place. Of course it helps having a friend such as Shirley who lives aboard her boat "Adelante" right at False Creek. We shared a wonderful day, a walk around Strathcona ( Frosso's) neighborhood, getting fresh spotted prawns for supper, indulging in an afternoon movie ( The Great Gatsby) eating those wonderful prawns and catching up on our lives..... it doesn't get any better than this!

Saying the final goodbye to the "Girls"

Last week we finally put our two old Dalmatians to rest. They had both passed away in 2009. We bought a beautiful "Toba" Hawthorne tree in their memory..as we poured their ashes into the hole, planted the tree and said goodbye, my heart was full of emotion, a sadness swept over me and my eyes filled with tears..Jim felt the same strong sense of loss as I did..they were such sweet old girls..Cookie was 15 1/2 and Pebbles was 13 1/2..- a long good life well lived.












Last Night
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said " it's me."
You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to be with me.
Author Unknown

Today

I received this lovely postcard from my dear friend, Koralee..It is me to a T..I am always scheming on how to fit a few extra minutes into my day to go to some of my favorite thrift stores..Thank you for this Koralee, I think I will frame it, or use it as a tag for my purse when we go to the Farm Chicks Show in two weeks.

Market flowers..

Going to the Granville Island Market is always such a treat..heavenly flowers everywhere, the memories of their scent remains long after the flowers have gone...here are a few photos I took of these flowers that caught my eye. Thanks to my really good friend, Shirley for the amazing dinner aboard her boat..wonderful treat my friend!

Colors of the day...

These soft colors really reflect my decorating taste, soft as well as inviting..however, more practical that adding these jadeite mugs to a display.
The sun is shining here in Vancouver at the moment, a walk around the sea wall after lunch with my dear friend Shirley will be a wonderful way to wrap up my time here..Thank you Fro for the sweet gift of staying at your home here while you are away..
I hope wherever you are, the sun will be shining this week for you as well.❤

A special time

Mother's Day..for me, this day always brings happiness and a touch of sadness..Being a Mom, being an Oma and still missing my Mom..The circle of life...
We had a fun day yesterday going for a walk and watching a small part of the May Day parade in Port Coquitlam which was celebrating 100 years as a city. In one of the parade cars was Alice. She was 100 years as well. Such a sweet little old lady riding in a car waving to us all.....decked out in a tiara with snow white hair, she was radiant and smiling..what a way to celebrate your birthday, have a parade..( no photo unfortunately)
The Ikea store was a good way to spend an hour or so with Jeremy and Claire while Julie attended a soccer game with some of her teaching colleagues. As you can see, Claire was a good tester of comfort!
Happy Mother's Day..let's celebrate women everywhere and know how blessed we are to be loved by family and friends.

"Puffies"

The drive down from to Vancouver was the best I have had. The sun was shining, trees leafed out, moon roof open, all my favorite tunes on my IPod, singing at the top of my voice which can best be done alone and when there aren't any people to frighten..Did a bit of thrifting at my stores, came up empty handed but hopeful...got some great photos of Claire and my time playing in the park.
She calls spent dandelions "puffies"... brilliant child that she is..I think it should become a word more often used..she collected these "puffies" the longer the stems, the better..she raced around the park, gathering and blowing them into the wind..the ones that didn't co-operate got their heads ripped off..she just laughed and laughed...We were a bit late for dinner, Jeremy had to come and get us..I left my phone in my bag, bad Oma! As you can see, we had such fun..off to the MayDay parade here in Port Moody today..Claire's first parade...will you be surprised that more photos will follow?

Sunrise....

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
Swiftly go the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years....




Off to enjoy the Mother's Day weekend in Vancouver with Jeremy, Julie and Claire.
I just love to watch the sunrise, the quiet, the sound of the birds and somehow the coffee just tastes better..I hope you make your day a happy one❤

Colors of the week.

Just a sweet and simple little mosaic to wish you a happy Thursday❤

Blooming..

Just a few of the plants blooming in my garden..one of my two vintage peacock pieces of embroidery, they are well stitched and so lovey. I think they could become a charming pillow, don't you?

Live each day...

Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.



In memory of Jim's Mom, Joyce Swift. March 4, 1914 - May 7, 2013.

Lilacs

I am very fortunate to have a few of my Mother's lilac that I have transplanted from garden to garden..{Thank you Cindy for all the little lilacs you have dug up for me over the years} they are always blooming around Mother's Day..a special reminder of my loving and caring Mom.....yesterday on my walk, I pruned this white one, the fragrance is just heavenly, a sweet and gentle reminder that a mother's love is always there.

Yesterday...

We went for a drive yesterday, the day was just so beautiful, it is hard to resist the sparkle of the water on the lake on such a beautiful day. As we were driving along the lake, this is what we saw in the water..I am not sure if the name "Irish Mist" caused the problem or if this poor sailboat slipped its mooring during a windstorm..I wonder if it can be salvaged?
I hope you had time to enjoy even a small part of your day for yourself.




On a sweet note, Happy 40th Anniversary to my dear friend Christa and Mike..Have a wonderful day off today from all your gardening work❤

Welcome Spring...

Finally, a 10 day stretch of great weather ahead...the flowers are able to be outside now with the danger of frost passed...Such a cheerful and happy sight. I hope spring has come to your home as well.

Thrifted sweetness...

Wishing you a happy weekend..if it includes a stop at a thrift store or garage sale, all the better..hoping your weekend is filled with sunshine and love.

Puppies....

Caroline's sweet rescue dog, Emma had 9 puppies on Sunday night..Caroline helped deliver some of them because this poor young dog was just too tired..Mom and puppies are thriving. Caroline and Larry are amazing in the fact that they will keep the puppies and foster them for the SPCA until homes can be found for them all...She will be posting photos of the puppies on her blog "Log Cabin Studio..help spread the word. I can't wait until they are older, have their eyes open and can romper around..how cute will they be? They figure that the father was a traveling dog..unknown. As soon as she is finished nursing the puppies and the Vet gives the ok, Emma will be spayed.

Such a friend I have in Cindy..

Most of you that I have a special friend in Cindy, we have known each other for over 30 years...her thrifting habit parallels mine, she has a large studio to tuck her stash away until in can be intermingled with her collections.
Yesterday when a colleague was coming down, she sent some treasures for me to enjoy..I love the 3 new pyrex pieces she gifted me....{surprise}...paint by number dog portrait, restaurant ware, a tiny floral pitcher and a large vase to have on hand to give away with lilacs in them...Jim was downstairs painting, so no problem about taking photos and inter-mingling the collections! Thank you dear friend ❤ for the treasures, I hope you like what I sent you back via our pony express driver!















My partner in crime, Cindy, at the Farm Chicks show last year..sweet friend that she is!