Remembering the happy things this May...

Oh my goodness!  It feels like forever since I have written a blog post, well maybe that's because it has been forever!!  Life has been very busy with so much going on (ups and downs).  I hope you haven't given up on me and my blog!  This morning, I needed to take a moment to stop and smell the roses and count my blessings.  I want to share with you some of the happy things that have happened during this beautiful month of May.

Lots to Celebrate...

My oldest daughter Anita, turned thirteen on the 4th of May.  I am officially the mother of a teenage daughter!  Scary?  Scary! 

On the same day, my youngest daughter, Annabel, celebrated her first Holy Communion.

I am so thankful for this moment right here. Annabel hugging her grandpa on her communion day.  She was so looking forward to visiting with him before attending mass that day (probably as much as he was looking forward to it, too)!

Mother's Day

On the week leading up to Mother's day, my mom came to stay with us...

We visited English and Miller tea house and enjoyed a pot of tea with warm scones, strawberry jam and Devon cream!  It was soooo yummy and such a treat for both of us.

My mom and I went thrift shopping together and found a couple of vintage teacups and saucers which we turned into bird feeders!  Here is one of them hanging on my crabapple tree. Isn't it adorable?

Here is a robin fresh out of the bath.  I never tire of watching the robins splash around in the water.  They always bring a smile to my face.

 Mother's day morning at High Park with my darling girls.  I love them with all my heart and I am so proud of them.  They truly are my greatest blessings.    

This is a picture of a lunch I made last week.  I like how pretty and colorful it looks served on my heart-shaped plate.  

This past weekend, we visited High Park in Toronto and spotted the cherry blossoms on the Sakura trees in full bloom.  It was unintentional, but how lucky for us! 

In and around our garden...

We celebrated the Victoria day holiday (Queen Victoria's birthday) on Monday with a BBQ lunch alfresco!  I do so enjoy setting a pretty table outdoors.  It's always fun to eat outside when the weather is pleasant.

We also planted our herbs this weekend.  We have thyme, oregano, rosemary, basil, cilantro, chives, and more!  Cherry tomatoes and kale were planted too.  I am looking forward to watching it all grow! 

The red and yellow tulips in our side garden blossomed several days ago and are looking lovely!

The teacup magnolia tree Nuno planted on our front lawn several years ago is boasting its first spring blooms this week, too! Magnolias are one of my favorites! 

This is how my crabapple tree looks today...overflowing with pink buds ready to burst into fragrant white blooms at any given moment!  

"The world's favorite season is the spring. 

All things seem possible in May."

Edwin Way Teale

These are some of the things that have made my heart most happy this month.  I hope you are all enjoying this hopeful season of spring.  Don't forget to stop and count your blessings.  Sometimes we need reminding!  I know I do!  

  

Fleeting Spring

I can hardly believe that two months have passed since spring's arrival back in March!  It seems like just yesterday, I was counting down the days till spring and now summer is just around the corner!

Spring is such a fleeting season.  Every day something exciting is happening in the gardens!  One week, the fruit trees are in full bloom, the next week, all the blossoms have disappeared with the wind.  The perfume of the lilacs is strong and enchanting , but that doesn't last long either.  So much is happening all at once, but much of it does not remain for long.  I have to remind myself to take note of every little detail; each new bud; every single flower; all the delicious new scents.  I make sure to thank for these tiny miracles of spring.  They are fleeting and I know that I will have to wait for next spring to be in their presence again.  

Spring has brought the return of many marvelous things!  The birds are back...robins, house finches, goldfinches, song sparrows, doves, starlings, grackles, and black-capped chickadees; just to name a few! 

One of my favorites, of course, are the robins!  This little guy was splashing around in our bird bath last week!  Isn't he precious?

This is a photo of our crabapple tree in full bloom, over a week ago.  I love how the scent of the blossoms is carried over to me in the breeze.  I drank up their scent while they lasted because...

after several days in bloom, the heavy rain and strong winds caused the delicate petals to fall.  It's funny how even the scattered petals are a pretty sight!



All sorts of things are blooming now...

the bleeding hearts

the irises

these beautiful tulips, planted by the former owner of our home.  Does anyone know the name of these?

And can you guess what this is?

It's rhubarb! I harvested it from my backyard!  Last Friday, I made a strawberry rhubarb pie using several stalks from our plant.

Some of you may remember my post from two years ago. I was given some free rhubarb by the kind ladies from our local Cookstown Antique Market.  I made a strawberry rhubarb pie with the stalks and my husband planted some of the rhubarb in our yard.  Now we have fresh rhubarb to look forward to every spring!

Here is the pie before...

And after!  I just love the black pie bird in the center!   There's just something about a blackbird baked into a pie!  Don't you think so?

Baking this pie makes me feel like I am taking nothing for granted this season.  I love spring and its whirlwind of daily surprises!   I plan on enjoying every single day and making the most of this glorious season because before long it will be summer!


Happy Monday!  Happy Memorial day to my American friends!  Have a wonderful week, dear friends!

This Week's Simple Pleasures...

Isn't it funny how the simplest things often matter the most?  For instance...

Spotting this female Pine Grosbeak in my crabapple tree on Tuesday.  There are actually two.  Can you find the other one?

Enjoying this pretty flower arrangement every day of this week

Waking up to this magical scene outside my front door yesterday

Appreciating all the splendor of winter, while keeping warm and cozy indoors

Cuddling with my sweet Buddy, who adds so much love and happiness to my world

Preparing a simple, but special lunch just for me 

In case, you're wondering, it's a tuna and cheddar cheese melt

What simple pleasures have you enjoyed this week?  

Enchanting & Glorious Spring!

I consider myself to be a happy and optimistic person.  Much of what makes me "happy" comes from my love and admiration for nature and the changing seasons.  I have a deep appreciation for birds, flowers, trees, sun, sky, and nature overall.  I don't let my surroundings, their constance and ever-after, allow me to take them for granted.

Here are some photos I've captured so far this Spring.  They all make me smile...



The robin enjoying a cool bath

Rub-a-dub-dub...



The American Goldfinches eating at the feeder

The goldfinch with a sunflower seed in his beak

A black-capped chickadee sharing the feeder with goldfinches

A black-capped chickadee cracking a seed open on our lilac tree

The following photos were all taken this morning...

The beautiful tulips blooming in my backyard

Our crabapple tree bursting with blossoms, preparing to bloom

Our purple leaf sand cherry tree blooming as I type this

One of our peony bushes, growing tall and beautiful. 

I can't wait for the flowers to bloom; I love filling teapots with them! 

I can almost smell their heavenly scent...ahhh!

Our lilac tree; soon to bloom and release its sweet scent!

The blue sky and warm sunshine peeking through the pergola

and lilac tree on the side of our deck.

Last night's full moon - the flower moon!  It was so big and bright in the sky!  

Did you get to see it?  I hope so!

Wishing you all a happy new week filled with sunshine, blue skies, birdsong, pretty flowers, and all the  beauty of Spring!  xoxo