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.

in season - peonies, local strawberries and local rhubarb

This is one of my favourite times a year to visit our farmer's market as some of my favourite things are now in season.

A few weeks a year, locally grown Peonies are available and it's such a sight - pails and pails of blooms! And so reasonably priced, you can pick up an armful to enjoy a bunch in every room of the house.

Rhubarb is also still in season, and something I pick up each time I can. We never tire of Rhubarb Crumble Coffee Cake, or Rhubarb Almond Muffins, or a favourite of ours - Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble topped with Vanilla Ice Cream. I also freeze it to enjoy through out the summer.

And local Strawberries have become readily available, and while I will eventually get out to pick my own for jam, we still can't leave without two pints - one to eat and one to enjoy over waffles or with our yogurt.

Within a day or two the Peonies unfurl into the most beautiful flowers and they smell so pretty.

This weekend I also stopped by the Oliver and Rust parking lot sale and grabbed another one of my favourite locally made pillows. I also used my market tote which I brought back from Nantucket!

In Season - Peonies and The First Strawberries

With our local farmer's markets back in full swing, the displays of local fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, and fresh-baked goods seem to become more abundant each week as more becomes available.

This week was a favourite of mine and it meant a special trip into a neighboring city's Saturday morning market.

For only two or three weeks in the year, a local Peony grower fills a stand with pails and pails of Peonies, in as many as half a dozen different varieties. I snapped a picture with my cellphone quickly to send to Ryan so he could understand my excitement.

She sells them for $4 a bunch (five stems) or 3 bunches for $10.

Needless to say, we each left with an armful of peonies.

Another favourite sight were rows and rows of little baskets mounded full of bright red strawberries.

Our strawberry season has officially begun and we are looking forward to when we are able to "pick-your-own", which will start in the coming weeks. There are few things as wonderful as freshly-picked strawberries, still warm from the sun.

These berries didn't last long. I couldn't wash them fast enough.

And no trip to the market is complete without taking home a treat - this week we picked a sticky bun and pain au chocolat and split them between us.

The Peonies found their homes all over the house. In the bathrooms on the vanities, on my night table, on the coffee tables and on the mantel.

Gorgeous.

A Weekend Away - The Country Living Fair

I'm back, and what a wonderful, quick little trip away it was!

My mother in law met me at 5:30 on Friday morning and we headed down with two other friends to Rhinebeck, NY for the Country Living Fair. We arrived just before lunch and had all afternoon to browse the show. The weather was questionable all week, but it wasn't going to stop us, and thankfully we didn't let it! It was perfect show weather - overcast, warm but no humidity and breezey.

 

I visited some of my favourite vendors, and enjoyed taking in their creatively styled displays and collections of found treasures.

There are always so many interesting things to see - it just feeds your creativity.

 

What I did find for myself, my mother in law purchased to put away as a birthday gift for me - some ironstone pieces and the most adorable little basket.

I would have loved to take home one of these gorgeous topiaries, but crossing the border with live plants isn't encouraged, so I didn't want to risk having it taken.

While I was browsing through this particular booth, which was located at the back of the stage area, I was half listening to the introduction of the next speaker. She got my full attention however, when I heard her mention about an award-winning blogger from Connecticut. Nora Murphy of Nora Murphy Country House was doing a live presentation. I just loved that! I didn't have time to sit and watch, but I listened as I slowly walked around that particular barn. Over the past year, her blog and style have been a great inspiration to me. I'm so drawn to her beautifully curated mood boards for each season, and how those seasons effect her home, her gardens and eye for making the simple beautiful. It was one of those right place at the right time moments and it added something more special to the trip.

After the fair, we headed to our hotel in Hudson, NY. We had stayed here before and enjoyed the town. After freshening up a bit, we headed out to the authentic pizza joint for a great dinner.

The next morning, before heading out on a scenic drive home, we opened a favourite store in Hudson - Red Chair Antiques. We browsed around for a while and then headed out.

It's a shop that is just full of the most beautiful European object, all perfectly displayed.

We made our way to Kinderhook, a tiny town about 40 minutes North of Hudson. It was Saturday morning so we caught the local farmer's market and walked through the town square. Before leaving we found this little cafe with a squeaky door and friendly locals, and enjoyed a delicious lunch. And of all things, a drum and pipe parade, complete with period costumes, marched right past the shop. Once again we noted that the best things happen on unplanned adventures.

This old man sold the sweetest bouquets of his garden flowers. The peonies tucked in them made me smile.

On our way home, we took the slower country drive through the small towns and winding hills. We stopped at one man flea markets and antique stores whenever we we came across them and by the time we made it back home, my car was quite full!

A highlight was coming across this salvage place - Fort Plain Antiques and Salvage. It's a warehouse of architectural treasures that will reward anyone who is willing to get a little dirty digging through it.

Can't wait to show some of the great finds I came across.

From Market

I came home from market today with a colorful assortment of produce.

Bright red Royal Gala apples were in - sweet and crisp.

Red potatoes for a Potato Corn Chowder.

Golden Beets that will be roasted with goat's cheese crumbled on top.

Heirloom Carrots - some for the chowder and some to roast.

And this wonderful Eggplant! I'm not quite sure what I'll do with it this week - possible Eggplant Parmesan,