New Arrivals

Not only has summer passed but we're closely approaching October! ouch! That really does snap you into reality. Well that's really ok with me. The arrival of fall is always welcome. I love the colours, the cooler breeze, fresh picked apples and warm sweaters, not to mention the opportunity to put a little sparkle in your life.

New Glam Allure Vintage Jewels.

Just listed in my etsy shop.

A perfect party date!

Muskoka Arts and Crafts Summer Show

Our first showing at this beautiful show was a success! The 48th annual show this past weekend featured over 200 vendors and it was an absolute pleasure to be included among these quality artists. A really beautiful park setting alongside the Muskoka River helped to bring a small breeze through the intense heat and humidity. Whew! It was a hot one for sure!

I was lucky enough to have both my daughters help me prepare for the show, set up and work in the booth. I really couldn't have done it without them!




By the third day we had it down to an art!








I was really happy with the displays. They worked well for showing off the jewellery and for withstanding the occasional gusts of wind.








For three days this 10' x 10' space became our home sweet home. Thanks to all that came to visit! It was a pleasure to meet you.

What's in your Garden?

Look what I spotted in our garden this week.



I know these rabbits can be so destructive in the garden but this sweet little baby was so cute to watch. I'm sure his family was pretty happy when we planted our new vegetable garden this year. 'What? All of this for us? Ah, you shouldn't have.' So far so good though as we do seem to be sharing it. They have helped themselves to a couple of lettuce plants but not all of them. Hopefully we can coexist happily.

Today we will get our second shipment from the farmshare that we purchased this year. It's exciting to see what vegetables we will get this week. Stay tuned...

Bon Voyage!

I wanted to make sure to post my last photos of Annie and Oscar's family. It was such a short time from when we discovered them in our tree to hatching, growing and the inevitable flying away. I certainly enjoyed our time together.

They grew up so fast it was hard to keep up!

By May 18th the biggest of the two babies took his first flight and landed in this nearby tree.

By May 19th, one day later, they abandoned the nest. Here is the last view I had of the larger baby. He sat perched on this chair for a good hour before he flew off.

Now luckily enough they do visit our yard frequently. I have only seen one young one at a time but they are so similar looking I have no way of knowing if it's the same one or both at different times.

Anyways, I wish the best to Annie and Oscar and their young family. It was awesome how they let us become a part of their life for a few short weeks!

Bon Voyage my friends!

The Adventure Continues

A little update on Annie.

Annie and Oscar enjoying a tender moment.

The babies are getting so big!

Where did the time go?!!

Feeding time!

The Adventures of Annie

Last night we had quite the storm. Luckily it was short lived. Darkened skies at 5:30 p.m., so windy, thunder and lightening and rain. I'm not sure if it was the wind that knocked Annie out of the nest or if the thunder had startled her but we heard alot of commotion and flapping against the window and then she was gone. This was the first time we had seen her away from the nest. I teetered on a chair and could look into the nest hoping to see the eggs would still be there and not blown out. To our surprise, there are already baby birds there. At first I thought two but afterwards I think I could make out three little ones.

I was kind of worried that Annie might have injured herself . I found myself looking for her in the backyard. Silly really but I was worried about the little babies getting cold. Three hours later she returned to the nest. Relief.

This morning the sun was back and the wind has died down somewhat and Oscar showed up to check out and probably bring some food to the troops.

What a handsome fellow!

Robin in the "Rain"

It was almost two weeks ago when we spread a blanket of topsoil on our lawn, sprinkled grass seeds and crossed our fingers that we would have a lawn again. Since that day, and probably for days before that, we have not had any rain. So strange for the month of April.

So, I have a new morning ritual. After the girls leave for school I go out and position the hose and sprinkler and water the lawn. We don't have a large front yard but in order to do this with the least amount of waste, catch all the lawn area and not soak anyone while walking on the sidewalk (which is strangely not considered by many neighbours) I have to position it three different ways. It really doesn't take that long and has become a soothing, calm way to start the day.

Almost immediately, when turning on the sprinkler two little robins arrive. I look forward to their arrival and amuse at them skittering in and out of the sprinkler. They are just like a couple of kids. In getting closer to them over the days I'm pretty sure one is a mature male (maybe Dad) and the other one looks like a teenager, though I'm not much of a bird expert.

Here's the little guy from this morning. Isn't he cute? I must sound just like a proud Mama. Well, Mama Nature maybe - at least that's what I'd like to think. It's such a great feeling when you've had a hand in growing something and the fact that I can make a couple of birds have a better day as well is even better.


Annie update: For those of you who read my blog from a couple of days ago you would know that we have mourning doves nesting outside of our kitchen window. Annie is still in the nest (we have not seen her leave it). She is vigourously protecting her eggs through the fairly heavywinds and cool air. And, Oscar did make an appearance again a day ago - although he is a bit camera shy.