summer in niagara on the lake

This week, while the two older boys are enjoying an extended time at the cottage with their grandparents, I feel like I'm on a bit of a "staycation" at home.

I decided to spend the afternoon in Niagara on the Lake.

First I popped into a favourite antique barn - Queen's Antiques.

Right beside the shop there is a Lavender farm. The fields were in bloom and with the old car parked beside it was like something out of Provence. I half expected Monty Don to be wandering about the field in his straw hat!

Inside were beautiful hammered copper pots where they processed the Lavender oil.

Then I made my way into town and we walked up and down the main street, window shopping and enjoying the elaborate gardens. Niagara on the Lake boasts the most beautiful town gardens - overflowing baskets hanging from street lamps, colouful boulevards generously planted. and urns standing at each shop entrance in a variety of different combinations.

Surrounding town are the historic homes, and while the streets are lined with so many attractive houses, I have a few favourites in town that I always like to walk past.

There's something so beautifully simple about this white one. It's a combination of it's not having shutters on the twelve pane windows, the matte black door and matching lantern, and the two simple planters.

There's also this more spacious white house a few houses down, with it's additions extending out back. It also appeals to me but with more intricate simplicity. I like the black shutters with the shutter dogs and the curved chimney tops and the white picket fence. It perfectly suits being a corner house.

 

When the boys tired of walking up and down the streets, we made our way to the park. Simcoe Park is set at the top of town, a modest playground and an inviting water fountain (nearly irresistible on a warm summers day as this was). There are a few hills to run about, and large trees here and there for shade. There are people picnicking and there's a band shell. It's probably one of my favourite parks. It's well thought out and perfectly cared for.

By the time we finished playing, Jude's eyes got heavier and heavier, nearly lulled to sleep by swinging motion, but having too much fun to fully give in and fall asleep.

And finally, I added this small cottage, currently undergoing extensive renovations, to my list of favourite homes.

It's a quaint little cottage of perfect proportions. Just enough of a front porch, just the right balance of windows and a perfectly aged chimney. Oh and let's not forget to mention that tree, with it's well-groomed canopy. Thank goodness some builder had the foresight to leave it be and not remove it mid-improvement. It would have been a terrible loss.

We left happy and wet. It seemed wrong to allow him to play around in the fountain, but honestly, how could I resist. He was having the time of his life and it was so warm. (And he wasn't the only one! There were even lifeguards so it couldn't be that much of a faux pas.)

cottage tour

I recently shared a peek into this charming little cottage that belongs to my aunt.

At the end of the path that follows the curve of the lake, a few doors down from our cottage, sits a little red cottage, formerly belonging to a fishing lodge.

It's red logs and stacked stones make for an inviting entrance, made only more charming by it's interior just beyond the screen door.

Inside is a classic log cabin, simple and open, with pops of red and the perfect balance of Waverly prints and a few carefully collected antique pieces.

Cottage life is simple living at it's best. A slow morning with a coffee, a long afternoon on the dock and an evening spent fireside. And this space is perfectly suited for such days.

(This pair of tartan lunch pails were from a tag sale I had years ago.)

 She has such an eye for balanced patterns - a bit of toile, a bit of tartan, a few florals and classic stripes and checks.

She repurposed an old duvet cover into curtains.

(This antique monogrammed dish towel was a find on a trip we took together to Hudson, NY)

The cottage has two small bedrooms. One with a double bed with hints of pink, and another in blues with two twin beds. Each has a small closet and while open above to the rest of the cottage, still feels private and separate.

 

Some antique china in a mix of patterns adds character to the tops of the kitchen cabinet.

 

The living room has the best views of the lake.

And while the cottage may be small and cozy, it's high ceiling with it's exposed beams makes the space feel much larger. 

Just the right amount of decor - a few favourite pieces to add character but not clutter.

(I found this pillow made from antique quilt scraps, by a local artist, and couldn't resist getting it. It was like it was made just for her!)

A removable hammock is strung in the screened porch which looks down at the lake.

It's everything a cottage should be - a calm escape, inviting and personal.

And I'm so glad that I get to pop in for a cup of tea and chat.

victoria sponge cake with fresh strawberries and cream

Looking for an easy dessert for your holiday weekend celebrations? This cake is perfect because it's super simple to make and assemble, but it looks pretty (and festive) as well.

The cake is a simple Victoria Sponge Cake (I used this recipe accompanying this article by Felicity Cloake, found in The Guardian).

Now, here's the thing. I didn't have self-rising flour on hand. I substituted all purpose with the appropriate amounts of added salt and baking powder, but I feel the cake, as a result, was lacking a bit in sponginess (though, not lacking in taste!). Next time I will either add more than the recommended amount of baking powder (even though it seemed like too much already), or I'll just pickup a small bag of self-rising. You'd think from reading the article that I would have just waited. But the fresh strawberries from market were at that perfect point, where waiting even just one day further would have resulted in waking up to slightly mushy berries, and a small army of fruit flies that seemed to have appeared from nowhere.

Layer sponge cakes rounds with generous amounts of whipped cream, sweetened with powdered sugar for a little extra hold, and top with fresh berries. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Also, the first of the roses have made their appearance in the garden.

 

Perfectly imperfect and very patriotic.

in season - peonies

Each year, once June arrives, a local grower brings cut Peonies to the farmer's market. It's my favourite time to visit. She's only there for a few weeks, and because they're in season, they're much more affordable, so I don't feel guilty bringing home and armful.

It always take me a bit of time selecting the perfect ones. You want to make sure they're open just enough that you will actually have open blooms and not just buds, but also tight enough that they will last as long as possible.

They are one of my most favourite flowers.

Because they're a favourite, I try to plant different varieties in my garden for cuttings. And by different, I mean of the pale pink and cream varieties.

 

So far, my Krinkled White Peonies have bloomed.

The rest are quite far behind due to the very cool spring we had. We are by the lake, so the temperature is slightly cooler here than even in other parts of town. Just a couple more warm afternoons and these will be fully opened.

I always find it fascinating watching the ants do their part.