Summery

         Last evening there was a rare occurrence, a full moon on the first day of summer.
Apparently this is not to happen again for another 70 years .Statistics like that leave one feeling small but held by our amazing God who knows each of us by name..
                                                 

In the midst of chaos, she pauses and inhales the heady scents of summer.
Longing and lingering waft on the gentle breeze.
Change and memory propel her forward into the gracious night.
Failing is not an option...

Learning is. 



                           I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten...
                                                 Joel 2:25

Window Expressions

I have this uncanny penchant for windows...
                                         

especially beautiful, open or filled with a fusion of floral. The aura of mystery they evoke captures my attention and intrigue. 
                 

This fact was evident as I sorted some photos recently.. Come join me as we peek into a few of the many I photographed this past summer in Old Montreal, Quebec and area...
                        

                                                              love the romance this exudes..

                             
                                                 and the simplicity here..

                                                          charming perfection..

an invitation waits

simply enthralled 

a poetic soul must live here..

also here...

I picture musical notes drifting out of these windows, or lyrical laughter floating away on the breeze.

They speak volumes inaudibly. The message is gentle, but strong.

Live free. Life is much too short.

Summertime Vignettes and a Salad

Sharing a few small summery vignettes with you today...

a new to me garden table on my back porch.

great storage solution and display at the same time.

I love when you wait and wait and eventually the very thing you've waited for falls into your lap...

my relic of a bike received a wash of white paint recently

I found these pictures a while back, they bring a summery vibe to this space

                                                            I love the way sunlight pools in corners 

 flowers on the table are simply a must have in the summer

I picked these raspberries this morning with my daughter Katrina in mind, so I sent her a photo to let her know..

 and finally the salad..

Watermelon Salad. 

The story behind it is almost as good as the salad. A few years ago we were dining alfresco with a few other couples. The patio was full, so the ladies sat at one table and the men at another.We opened our menu and saw watermelon salad and immediately all ordered it, as it looked so tasty.

Meanwhile at the men's table hubby remarked "who would order watermelon salad!" Of course  we had no idea until we had all enjoyed ours and determined to find a recipe, so that we could make this unusual salad ourselves!

Turns out hubby doesn't mind it at all, so win/win here:)

Cut watermelon into cubes and add red onion, chopped mint leaves and feta cheese to taste.

cucumber could also be added..

the dressing consists of olive oil, balsamic vinegar,maple syrup, dijon mustard, black pepper and poppy seeds (optional)

A refreshing and complimentary way to change up a summer palette.
                            Bon Appetite, and thanks for visiting.
                                                        Lucy~

As Long

There is something about hollyhocks  that I absolutely adore!  Long associated with cottages and a simpler time, these charming blooms evoke whimsy and nostalgia.
This year a good amount of rain and sun have produced showstopping blooms!
Hence a post dedicated to hollyhocks...

                                                    

                                                 
As long as there are   hollyhocks beside a fence in July                                   

And  mothers who sing to keep hope alive.

As long as children play, without thought of tomorrow
Imagination unfurled, unfettered by sorrow.

As long as we pick those flower bouquets,
And place them in vases to brighten our day.

As long as fathers come home after work
To loved ones and laughter and familiar quirks.  

Despair  can be quelled and bad news can't dismay
For we find what we look for at the end of the day

Life can be beautiful, a work of rare art,
A silhouette of the shape of our heart.

As long as there's hollyhocks beside a fence in July
And mothers  who sing to keep hope alive.(L.M.)

Rather Distracted

              
I keep thinking about doing a blog post, but I keep being distracted...
                                                    by sunsets,

                                                    beaches,

                                                  and fire works.

                             by children who play 

        in late afternoon shadows...

                                                by places to recline...

              and small sanctuaries...

and wings..

and that pile of books.

by gardens

and what lies beyond.

                                           

by trying new things...

(like lavender)

                                                       reflections,

and remembering...

the wedding

So although I have been distracted, 

it has been with good things,

rich, resonating and real.

The stuff of blog posts I guess:)

Wishing Away

Recently my husband said to me, " You always say I wish ".....

Now he is a great guy, and he really had no idea that I took his observation personally.
 I tried to explain that  he is my soundboard, and that I am simply being myself with him, 
but it made me realise how often I actually do say I wish                 .(fill in blank)


I also discovered that when I say I wish, I am letting regret steal the joy in a moment;even if the wish is something quite trite and insignificant in the big picture.
example; on a recent camping trip with our family and another (12 people in total) we needed a lot of food.It didn't take us very long to polish off the small basket of pears I had picked. I couldn't help wishing I would have picked a super, large box full of pears from our tree which is absolutely loaded with fruit this year.
Needless to say it was a great joke throughout the week. Whenever we ran a little short on food, we would wish for a pear.

Is wishing all futile though?  I  wonder to myself. Does wishing not provide opportunity to learn and grow. 
Does wishing  keep one from becoming too self sufficient and proud?
                   Can I be thankful while I am wishing?
            I cannot concede this at the moment.
 I need to ponder the why and how of wishing more first.....
                                     

                                       For now, I must say "I wish I was still here".......(there)

                        I wish summer wasn't almost over.
   
                                          I wish children grew up slower,


                              and I wish I could get rid of all these pears......

                   

as I thought about my wishing dilemma I remembered this song,

it sums up my wishes nicely...

Bits Of Gladness

Where have I been?

Let's just say I'm savouring the moments that make summer my favourite season.....

aren't glads delightful? 

                 

                        a bouquet by the sink....

               and a bouquet of lily & hydrangea here...

on a recent trip to Michigan ( with our youngest three )
                                                     we visited the Olive Garden...

I had to exercise restraint in my photo taking here and simply enjoy...
     it was very tasty.... and oh the decor!!! I loved it.

we also visited TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby....(we have similar stores in Canada,but I'd heard about these..)
 but why oh why was it closing in ten minutes......it's crazy, but when the store is almost closing...I really want to shop...

                              so this magazine was all we bought..













               back home...

                     a bit of a pickle here...

                  I leave you with another garden photo...

 Like life gardens are a lot of toil. But when we see what grows from our labour we rejoice. When something doesn't we hope for something else next year. Gardeners have to be optimistic  and resilient.
I find I am at peace in the garden, and I realize it is not because I am in charge of what is here...but because I can trust the ultimate Gardener who is.