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!  

  

My Herb Garden & Greek Inspired Chicken Kabobs & Potatoes

After getting married in the summer of 2000, Nuno and I  moved into our first apartment in the big city - Toronto. We lived above a nail salon, on a busy main street.  It was a large, 2 bedroom apartment, not modern, but somehow, at the time, it was just perfect.  I remember falling in love with the large living room with the red brick fireplace.  That was the beginning of our married life.  One year later, we had a little girl, that little girl quickly grew up, and when she was 5, we had another little girl.  I recall my eldest, Anita, always asking for grass. Outside our apartment, there wasn't any grass, nowhere for the girls to play, only concrete and lots and lots of cars.  So 7 years later, we took the leap and bought our first home in the City of Barrie.  One of our main concerns was finding a place with plenty of grass for the girls to play.  And so we found our cozy little home, with lots and lots of grass, and soil for planting.  It's hard to believe we've only been here 4 years.  It seems like a lifetime ago since we lived in Toronto.  Last year, Nuno dug up a garden for us to plant our herbs in. One of my favorite things to do, is go out to the side of our house and pick fresh herbs to cook with.  In the fall, when things start dying off, I have to go to the grocery store to buy my herbs.  So I don't take for granted, this little herb garden, and all it provides during the summer months.

We have parsley, cilantro, chives, thyme, oregano, dill, lavender, rosemary, basil and mint.

And of course, a little gnome!

Look at the beautiful oregano!  It smells delicious!

On Thursday afternoon,  I went to the herb garden, saw all the oregano and decided to make a Greek inspired meal - grilled chicken kabobs and delicious baked potato wedges! 

I cut up vidalia onion, and green & red bell peppers.  I didn't have any mushrooms on hand, but they would be great too! I also cut up some boneless, skinless, chicken breast into chunks and wrapped them in bacon slices. 

I basted the kabobs with an olive oil marinade ( lemon, garlic, salt, pepper, finely chopped oregano) and set aside while I prepared the potatoes.

I used red baking potatoes.  Wash them and cut into wedges.  Next, add salt, pepper, olive oil, a little water, lemon juice, and freshly chopped oregano.  Thoroughly combine. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven.  Half way through cooking, remove pan from the oven and stir potatoes.  Add some more liquid, if it is drying out. Return to the oven until you reach desired crispiness. 

Grilled to perfection, on the BBQ, by Nuno, my grill king. ;)

Here are the potatoes, just out of the oven!  They smell absolutely delicious!  I can pretty much guarantee there will be NO leftovers, they're just too good!

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the food on a plate.  I was in such a rush to eat the food, I totally forgot the picture.  But you get the idea! 

It is a rainy Saturday here in Barrie.  It has been raining for several days now.  I'm getting a bit tired of it now, but it IS good for the garden!  I hop you all have a wonderful, happy weekend, no matter what the weather! xoxo