Mid-summer's reflection

It's disheartening to realize that it's almost August.  After all, summer and all it's warm, sun filled glow has been fleeting.  

A challenging season for farmer's and growers, the honeybees and butterflies.

I'm hopefully optimistic.  Effective tomorrow, sunshine and blue skies from here on in (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

  

While we wait for the heat to return and the cutting gardens to burst into bloom we prepare for a very special August event sure to bring a summer smile.  

A quick stroll around the gardens this week reveals a lovely collection of perennial goodness, slow and steady growth in the annual cutting gardens, wind and torrential rain damaged delphiniums, mud puddles and nesting birds.  The peonies came and went, fast and furious.  One day they were barely in bud, the next in full bloom, the next, rain soaked and done.  

We are closed this Sunday, August 4th, hoping to enjoy the second last long weekend of the summer, BUT you can join us here tomorrow, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1st from 1 - 4 pm.  

Enjoy this mid-summer's day special where almost everything is 25% off.  

On Saturday, August 3rd, you will find me at the Thunder Bay Country Market which has temporarily re-located to the Labour Centre on Fort William Road (across from Intercity).  And, I will have a guest sharing my market table . . . my husband Brad will be joining me with his wonderful pottery.  Yay!  

Now, off to do some weedin' and such . . .

{images:  theurbanfarmchick.blogspot.com}

Simple ordinary beauty

I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Holly's lovely garden last week.   

While there were many beautiful views to be had that day, the sun was blazing in the early summers sky which made taking photos a particularly challenging event (for me), but these blueberries made my day.  I think I need to grow blueberries.

{images:  theurbanfarmchick.  Verse:  pinterest}

And, as promised, the culinary lavender has arrived so here's the recipe:

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

6 cups wateer

1 3/4 cup sugar

3 T lavender blossoms

1 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

In saucepan bring water to a boil.  Add sugar, reduce heat, stir until dissolved.

Remove from heat, stir in lavender blossoms.  Steep 30 - 60 minutes.  Strain.  Stir in LJ.  Cool, serve with crushed ice.

Rain or shine . . .

Moss Cottage is open Sunday, July 21.  Join us for a stroll we're open 10 - 4.

Some lovely summer specials await along with a refreshing glass of lavender lemonade.

Here's to rain, lemonade and bursting into bloom.

{Images:  google, google, theurbanfarmchick.blogspot.com}

Hello Summer . . .

So far, summer has been crazy busy and hugely challenging.  In any other year I would whole heartedly welcome the soaker rains that continue to come.  This year . . . not so much.  Thank goodness for raised garden beds which have allowed me to get cutting flowers planted to some degree.  Unfortunately the flower field remains almost entirely unplanted and what has been planted I suspect will not survive this latest deluge.  Let's just say you pretty much need rubber boots!  It has however, forced allowed me to consider the possibility of all raised beds.  Hmm, we'll see how that goes.  

On the other hand, the perennial gardens are loving these good soaks.  I've managed to replace winter's loss, I'm working on reclaiming the shop potager which got entirely out of control over a two week period while a robin, nesting on the beam above the shop studio entrance, dive-bombed any who dare enter the surrounding area.  The annual cutting gardens which have been planted in the raised beds are coming along nicely but overnight temps of 8 & 9 degrees are holding them back.  In any event, we're almost ready for OPEN GARDEN days, so stay tuned to the blog for random dates and times for a casual stroll about. 

The honeybees have been keeping me immensely occupied with their swarming tendencies.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they are all done with that and have settled in.  They too are feeling the effects of a nutty spring and early summer season.  Much more experienced beekeepers than I suspect it is going to be a tough and slim honey season.  Don't get me wrong, swarming isn't all bad ~ it allows me to increase the number of hives in the apiary.  The unfortunate thing is the time consuming nature of re-hiving the swarm and the reduced honey production that comes with a new hive.  They will be busy rebuilding a (hopefully) strong hive before the winter season arrives once again. 

Luckily for us, we have had the lovely pleasure of family and friends visiting, taken in the Blue's Festival, a beautiful drive to Grand Marais, MN and a few lazy moments when time allows.

The only thing certain at this point is that the summer season seems to hurry by.  So, whatever is good for your soul, find the time, make the time and do that.  

{images:  agirlsgotarighttodream.tumblr.com}

Fuel for my . . .

. . . white, grey and wood addiction.

The vision for the new foyer entrance is becoming more clear.

Did I ever tell you that I have a "thing" for white bowls.  Especially vintage ones.  I love the hooks under the shelf to hold pitchers and things and all those vintage boxes could easily hide "stuff", don't you think.

Still working on the master bedroom makeover but it has come to a grinding halt since gardening season which leads me to a little tale . . . after a busy outdoor working long weekend, the hubby and I finally plunked our butts down in front of the tube to watch an old movie (we love old dusters and black and whites).  The evening sun beamed through the living room window casting a light upon the side of the tube revealing what appeared to be a cobweb to which I asked, "is that a cobweb"?  The hubby replies, yes it is and I'm going to do a post on your blog about it and I'm going to call the post "Gardening Season".  

Each spring he half jokingly comments . . . I'll see you in September! 

Happy gardening and never mind the cobwebs.  They will still be there when gardening season is done!

(Images:  okay, I goofed and by the time I got to posting I had forgotten where I sourced these great photos.  If you know, please give a shout out and I'll correct it}

SISTERS

For Fiona . . .

June 21, 1957 - July 1, 2008

 For those of you who have ever provided end of life care to someone you love, this recollection I find with me today may be something you can appreciate.  Funny and sad and loaded with memories.

Fiona loved her Tim's coffee.  Altered by comforting care, she reached over, pressed her nurse's call button and said "I'll have a large double double".  Mere moments later, "Cancel that"!

We laughed so hard, we cried. 

Gone but never forgotten.  Happy, sad and every other memory in between.

To sisters . . .

{Source:  pinterest}