Oliver and Rust Spring Show

Looking for something to do tomorrow? I'll be stopping by this show before I head into work. Why not make a trip out? Check out her website for some beautiful vignettes and a sneak look at what will be at the show.

I promise you won't be disappointed.

The Last of The Lilacs

The Lilacs have nearly finished.

I've mentioned it before, but one of the reasons we fell in love with our house was coming into the master bedroom and seeing these beautiful Lilac bushes in full bloom, just outside the window. Years later, it's still something we look forward to each Spring. There's something so lovely about having the windows open and the scent of Lilacs blowing in on the breeze.

I feel like this year they took their time arriving, and yet once here, the season seemed so short.

This beautiful little bouquet was from my Aunt Jeanette's garden.

A Belated Mother's Day Tea

With Mother's Day being so busy at the store, and then the long weekend, my Mother's Day Tea was later than usual this year.

It's a yearly tradition, and a way for us girls to spend an afternoon together over tea - high tea.

 Silver pots, scones with Devonshire Cream and preserves, delicious pastries and an assortment of wonderful teas all make it special for some very special ladies.

Happy belated Mother's Day girls!

Orchards in Bloom

I almost missed them.

The rows of apple, peach and pear trees covered in delicate white and pink blossoms. A brilliant display of Spring. A blanket of petals over the countryside.

I decided to head down the road, to our local orchards, and spend a few minutes walking through the trees.

A light Sring shower had left the grass damp and the petals dripping the last of the evening rain.

I was so happy I didn't miss them alltogether.

I even cut a few budding Lilacs. I'm looking forward to them opening, and their sweet fragrance filling the house.

Eriostemon and Hardscaping the Front Yard

One of my favourite parts of working at the store is picking out the cut flowers for our hand-tied bouquets. Twice a week our flower truck arrives with buckets full of fresh flowers; some in season from local growers, and others imported. Most of what is available is common, but there always seems to be something I haven't seen before, or something particularly special that isn't in season yet.

Last week, I took home a few bunches of Peonies. They were quite expensive as they were imported from Holland, but they were a lovely treat. I've had them on my night table and they are taking their sweet time opening, which I don't mind at all.

This week I discovered Eriostemon. It's actually a bunch of greenery but it has delicate little white flowers on it and the most beautiful, fresh scent. It's like a hint of bright lemon.

 I think a whole bunch of cuttings look beautiful as an arrangement.  

Oliver, all cozy in his favourite spot.

This weekend we also started the hardscaping in our front yard.

Ryan and I removed the old brick pathway to the front door. It will be replaced with a flagstone pathway.

We also had all of the existing sod (or what was left of it at least) scraped off. This week new soil will be added and our gardens will be raised, and weather permitting, we will start laying our pathway. We've also finished getting some quotes for our roof. You can see how awful it is in this photo. It was our "big renovation" we were planning on doing last year... But then our furnace needed to be replaced... And then we needed to decommission our septic tank. And so it had to wait.

A Dream Home in the Valley

Every time I drive through the valley, down the escarpment, I notice this stately home being built. It's in the middle of the valley, surrounded by old apple orchards and rolling fields.

I finally just decided to drive past and have a proper look.

There are homes continually being built in our area, some of them just as grand as this. However, I always feel as though they all look the same. All of similar style with the same colours.

This one however is quite different from the rest. For one, it's white. It's also much more traditional in design. And despite it's size, I think it's beautiful. I'm very much a fan of a Colonial-style home, with it's perfect symmetry. I think this particular design is timeless.

I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the grounds.

Magnolia's In Bloom

My Mother in Law has the most beautiful Magnolia Tree in her front gardens.

Each time I stop by to visit in the early spring, we like to comment on how close the fuzzy buds are from unfurling into their beautiful pinky-white blooms.

This week it's in full bloom and as the blooms don't seem to last long, especially in the Spring rain, I made a point of popping over (literally, it's two minutes down the road) to enjoy them.

Aren't they lovely?