Happy Canada Day

While my home didn't end up getting any more festive than normal due to a very disappointing selection of Canadian flags, the evening was still lots of fun.

I swear, I could buy fanny packs, water bottles, crazy head bands, rain ponchos and even a Canadian flag travel pillow, but do you think I could find small Canadian flags? The closest I found were LED ones that lit up in different colours, but as they resembled light sabers, the boys wouldn't give them up. At least they had fun waving them around. They also loved the sparklers and glow sticks before the firework show began.

At least one of the pies was festive looking - a Strawberry Rhubarb crumble pie!

I don't bake pies often, but when I do, I remember how much I enjoy making them.

This is simple entertaining at it's best.

Drop cloth draped over a picnic table, an easy arrangement of Hydrangeas, votives in glass jars. It was a pour your own coffee and cut yourself a slice of pie sort of evening.

The other pie was a Kentucky Derby Pie - very similar to a Chocolate Pecan. The boys helped cut out the little pie dough leaves.

We got lucky with the weather as it had rained earlier, but cleared up beautifully by dusk, We just sat around chatting by the glow of twinkle lights in the ivy and candles around the deck. The boys happily ran around the yard until it was too dark to see and the warning firework went off letting us know the fun was about to begin.

We then took our chair and coffee to the front yard and snuggled as the sky lit up!

Happy Canada Day!

The Common Cardinal

You'll never guess what I witnessed in the hedgerow this afternoon?

I was reading by the window in the living room, when the brilliant red feathers of a male Cardinal caught my attention. Of course he was quite obvious against a white backdrop of snow.

But it wasn't until closer inspection that I noticed why he was perched in the hedges.

Do you see her there to the left, near the bottom of the Forsythia bushes?

I'm fairly certain it's the same female Cardinal who was happily singing in the same part of the yard just yesterday. Did you know that the more vibrant the plumage on the male, the more attractive he is to the female? And that once they've selected a mate, the male stays with the female and feeds her and protects her while she sits on their eggs?

It's a beautiful sign that nature knows Spring is on it's way, nevermind that it's still snowing and the temperature is much too far below zero.

An Early Winter Wonderland

In the most unexpected and splendid way, winter is suddenly upon us.

It began snowing early this morning, and the sky hasn't stopped blanketing the woods and yard with it's thick, fluffy flakes since then.

We are cozy and warm inside with our cocoa and tea. Even the birds are seeking refuge in the branches of the hedgerow, though they seem happy enough fluttering around in the soft snow.

And soft it is. It's a perfect light, delicate snow, settling softly on each bough and branch.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. 

A Very Merry Christmas

 

We've been enjoying such a wonderful Christmas holiday.

 

 

 

Our presents have all been opened, family has been visited, and the bustle of preparing for Christmas  has calmed to a slow, restful pace.

 

All that's left to do is to spend the remainder of our time off as a family quietly relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

 

 

This year, with my parents in the middle of moving, I hosted Christmas morning. My sisters all come with their gifts for brunch. Then we head to Ryan's parents for Christmas dinner.

 

It's makes for a day full of eating, and laughing, and exchanging gifts, and more eating.

 

 

The beginning of last week brought lots of freezing rain, and then unusually warn temperatures, which caused all of our beautiful snow to melt. However, after a surprising snowfall in the most wonderful fashion, we still enjoyed a white Christmas.

 

This morning, while eating breakfast, it continued snowing in a flurry of huge snowflakes. We decided that what we needed was a lovely walk out in our back woods and maybe even a little bit of sledding.

 

So we all donned our snowsuits and out we went, tromping through the freshly fallen snow. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a morning together.

 

 

 

A very Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

 

Maria

First Signs of Spring

 

This afternoon, with both boys sleeping and a rare moment of quiet, I snuck out to the back to poke around in the muck that this warm weather has turned the yard into.

 

There, tucked amongst the remaining leaves from the Fall months, are the first promising signs of Spring.

 

Pushing their way up through clumps of damp earth and debris are the Snowdrops and the Daffodils and the Eranthis.

 

A promise that Spring is on it's way.

 

Dainty white Snowdrops.

 

These are found in our neighbor's yard. Yesterday, while coming in the door, I noticed a small patch of Snowdrops in our hedge. Today, when I went to take a photo, our dear neighbors, the Lambs, must have been having a good laugh at my expense. Mrs. Lamb finally came out and told me to take a walk through their "dell" (They're a lovely old British couple), and see the other blooms. This was much easier than trying to maneuver through a hedge.

 

Daffodils sprouting.

Our walkways in the ravine are all speckled with pretty yellow blooms - Eranthis. It's actually part of the buttercup family. It's a nice contrast to the barren trees and they bring bits of colour to the grounds.