Summer So Far

So Sunday I posted about Canada Day 

and I thought I would share some more happenings around here

I forgot to share my picture of the "cheese ball" I took out to Sam's party

after trying to make a giant maple leaf ~ I turned to my trusting cookie cutters

and arranged mini ones around the plate

I forgot to get a picture once the crackers were added ~ but it was fun and festive!

Although we have been to the cottage for day trips

we had not been down overnight once so far this summer

until last weekend that it is

can you believe it?

there has been so much going on ~ good things too

that we don't like to miss out on ~ so we stay put

things like ribfest ~ oh my Lord ~ hubby loves them

and I must admit ~ I like the not cooking part

and do enjoy a rib myself

there were 5 vendors and we bought from 4 of the 5 and shared

so we could try them all ~ well almost them all

we went last year for the first time and marked it on our calendars this year

it is a can't miss event

then the following weekend was the Atlantic Nationals

Friday night downtown is always a blast

Trev goes for the cars and I go for the social aspect

we tend to go early as there is usually a good crowd of people come 7 o'clock

and this year was no different

one of the big draws this year was a fav Canadian band was playing

so it brought even more people to the event

I shared a couple of pics on Instagram of the night

but this was when I gave Trev my phone and he held it up at arms length

and took a shot of Main Street ~ it was wild ~ so many people

April Wine still sounds as good as when I was a teen

so glad we went.

Saturday morning we got up ~ packed up and headed to the cottage

the lawn needed mowed ~ I cleaned up a bit and put stuff away

took over and did the rest of the mowing then we sat on our butts

and enjoyed the quiet

I read and napped and took pics

we ate well ~ played crib and slept sound

when we got up on Sunday there was nowhere we had to be

we visited with my uncle and I wandered through the fields

with my camera so I could get some shots of this

a sea Devil's paintbrushes ~ so pretty ~ so much orange

I don't think I have ever seen that many there at one time

we enjoyed the rest of the day ~ had supper then packed up and headed for home.

This past weekend was Mama's birthday

so we scooped her up on Saturday and went down the the camp

Trev's Mom was down so we busted in on her ~ put her gazebo up

and had some quality deck time with family and good friends.

Hope your week is going well!

Catching Up

It's Sunday afternoon and supper's in the slow cooker

spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove ~ I have been to the grocery store

and since it has been raining off and on all day

I have been puttering around the house getting a few things done

things have been neglected ~ but aren't they always when the weather is nice

and we all just want to be outside?

after my husband called me a picture hoarder yesterday

and since I didn't blog anymore ~ why did I take so many

wait ~ what....

this place has been neglected lately as well

so I here to catch up a bit

and babe ~ I have always loved taking pictures

I don't think that will ever change!

Canada Day celebrations were different for us this year

as I headed to the beach and Trev stayed behind as he was helping out

in a neighboring village with their fireworks display

I picked up my nieces, Sam and Kat, and Kat's bf, Jon as

Sammie's sweet 16 party was at her grandfather's cottage

and it was my first time there

we walked on the beach ~ played frisbee ~ ate too much

it was everything Canada Day is supposed to be

surrounded by friends and loved ones

even though I was missing my boy

Kat & Jon

they had a bonfire and fireworks ~ but I had to head back into the city

so I missed out on that but a good time was had by all.

Good to be back!

Friday Potpourri

Can you believe that it is the end of June already...

where has the time gone!

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and officially summertime

which means so many good things!

and speaking of good ~ we have been enjoying

cherries as snacks

peonies bursting open 

warmish nights = evenings on the deck

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so many blooms and fresh cut grass

planting and weeding ~ enjoying all the green

time with my "big girl" camera  ~ I put it down too long

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 first week of hubby's new job and so far ~ so good

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tomorrow I will be putting out my red & white

as Canada Day is next week

so looking forward to it

it's a birthday weekend as we celebrate my MIL & SIL

with a brunch on Sunday

then my Sweet Pea turns 16 on the 2nd

I can't believe it ~ my Samantha is growing up

way too fast ~ I am a proud Auntie

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and I always have room for a new potato salad recipe

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Hope you had a great week

and that the weekend puts a smile on your face!

Main & Steadman

Like most I drive the same route to and from work every day

and every morning as I come around the corner

I see a sea of red & white

I say to myself ~ you need to come early one morning

and get some shots with your phone

but it never happened

then last week ~ one night after supper

I changed my clothes and grabbed my camera

and away I went ~ off before the petals all dropped

and it is a good thing I did because after the rain we got this weekend

they are pretty much done ~ thankful that I had the timing right for this one

this is right outside the main police department in Moncton

and as I walked to this spot I thought back to last year

when I walked here with a heavy heart and tears streaming down my face

I am happy to say ~ this year I was smiling

it was a beautiful night and there were so many people downtown

smiles all around

I love the brickwork in the downtown core

as you come to a cross street ~ there is a marker bearing the street name

I jumped in the truck and went up a couple of blocks

to outside a business I passed the week before

and saw the most beautiful lilac bush

knowing that most of the lilacs were done ~ I held my breath as I came around the corner

and yeah ~ she is still blooming

isn't it beautiful ~ double blossoms with just a tint of mauve

and the smell was amazing ~ I may have snagged a couple just to enjoy for a few more days

so while I was out I decided to stop at another place

I pass by every single day

it's an old house converted into a business

and it has curb appeal up the wazoo

from her pretty blue door and her big pot full of flowers

to being surrounded by lilac bushes 

both sides and the bushes are huge ~ i could just sit down on the steps

and be very content

the retaining wall and the cascading greenery that blooms as well 

I really must stop back when this is in bloom

so so pretty

Can you believe that we are already half way through June?

The kids finish school this Friday

I think there is a prom every night this week so Facebook will be filling up with beautiful pictures

Hubby will finish out the school year being a bus driver and start a new adventure on Monday

I participated in the United Way ~ Day of Caring this past Friday

love giving back to these organizations

we celebrated my besties birthday on Saturday night

12 of us at a Japanese restaurant ~ seated around the grill

it was so much fun

not much else ~ feeling like summer

loving the sunshine and the heat

hoping to get to the cottage soon

Hope you have a great week!

Simple Pleasures

One of the things I do every morning is log onto the app Timehop on my phone.  It is one of my favourites as it pulls from social media posts from that date in past years.  As I usually tweet my blog posts, this one came up for me on Saturday morning.  Kim over at Kimberly Taylor Images had a series called "Simple Moments" and asked for guests to post on certain dates.  This was my post and since we were headed to the cottage that day ~ my words struck a chord with me.  I thought it was one of my best posts, so I thought I would share it again here for you.

Originally published May 30, 2012

I love the quote “you are responsible for your own happiness” so when Kim asked me to write a guest post about finding joy in the simple pleasures I was “in”!

Maybe it has something to do with getting older but I find myself stopping and looking around more often ~ trying to really see my surroundings.  Heading down the dirt road to the cape where the cottage is something I used to take for granted but not anymore.  I call it my little piece of heaven.  Knowing that there have been 5 generations travel on that same route makes me stop and smile ~ 5 ~ that’s amazing to me.

Our rustic little cabin nestled in the woods ~ milled from trees that Dad cut down with his father and brother.  The wood stove is our source of heat ~ perfect for a rainy or foggy night on the bay.  Smelling the fire and hearing the crackle of the flames takes me to a warm cozy place.

Going down the driveway and crossing the road and down the embankment to the beach.  Walking along and finding treasures ~ glass no longer sharp as it has been tumbled by the tides ~ the odd shell ~ and cool rocks of every shape size and color.  Come mid July the sandpipers will arrive ~ feasting on the mudflats while the tide is out and giving us an incredible air show when it comes in.  Grampy always called them the “peeps” ~ I watched them as a child and still sit and watch them in awe of their fluid moves ~ it truly is a site to see.

Not too far up the road is the farm ~ the place where my Dad was born.  I can spend so much time here ~ camera in hand ~ walking and just loving my surroundings.  Wildflowers in the field ~ my grandmother’s big rhubarb patch ~ the old hen house ~ the barn where we used to swing for hours ~ the blueberry fields and the best sliding hill around.  If you listen real hard you can hear music coming from the house ~ guitars and singing as a good old Maritime kitchen party kicks into gear.

They all spark a memory which wrap around me like an old well worn sweater and hug me tight.  That brings joy to my heart and sometimes a tear to my eye.

Other things that bring me joy are my 4 legged fur babies that always make me smile ~ a good book  ~ freshly cut grass ~ flowers blooming and knowing that vacation time is getting closer.

Happy Monday!

Friday Potpourri

Well hello there.....

it's Friday ~ I am on vacation and thought it was high time 

to get my butt in gear and do a little update.

When I last posted it was my birthday eve

and I was looking forward to my party which was held at our place

I did not have to do a thing

I was taken out to dinner and came home to a decorated house

I was surrounded by family and friends that are near and dear to my heart

my girlfriend made my cake and I absolutely loved it

it was so me and all around the sides were musical notes

she knows me so well

I was spoiled rotten with flowers and gifts

it was a great night and as stressed out as Trev was planning it all

it was a huge success.

Trev's birthday was 2 weeks later and was more low key

as he only hits the "big one" next year

we celebrated with dinner out then back to the house for game night

with the best neighbours ever

I made a cake and we had some munchies

we always have a good time when we are together ~ even the dogs.

The weekends are starting to get busier as the warm weather arrives

we have been down to the cottage to hook up the rain barrel

and take the shutters off the windows 

I hope to get down there to clean on Saturday

since I will now have water and we finally are getting some

warmer temps

the sun feels good.

Last post I talked about a couple of my painting projects

and thought I would share some pics

the bathroom was originally a raspberry colour

remember back in the days of Trading Spaces

it used to be a Saturday night ritual

it made me bolder with my colour choices

but after 12 years it was time 

I primed it and then did 3 coats of paint

it has lightened up things so much

it is a soft yellow ~ buttery and so hard to get a picture of!

While I had the paintbrush out I decided to paint the closet doors 

in the bedroom

when I redid the bedroom 3 years ago

I wasn't sure if I wanted to paint the closet doors, 

stain them to match the flooring or get new ones

so one day while out running errands I made a snap decision

and went into the store where I buy all my paint

knowing that they would have the colour on file

honestly it took no time to do and I have no idea what took 

me so long!  The doors basically disappear and I am very pleased

why is painting such a dreaded task when the results are so rewarding?

so this week has been full of sunshine and warm weather

planting flowers ~ getting some sun

Trev found this nest out back ~ the babies were still in it

but they were dead

not sure what happened to the Mama

so he buried the babies and saved the nest for me

he is such a good boy!

It feels good to be back ~ I have been here for 6 years now

hard to believe  but there it is ~ hope to post 

on a more regular basis going forward ~ we shall see

Happy weekend!