A Gathering of Tearful Beauties

The Elusive Last Rose of Summer and my Elusive "Ever Blooming" Self

 
New Dawn

There I was standing at my kitchen window yesterday and I saw it........the elusive "last rose of summer".  I purchased my husband a gorgeous curved metal arch a few years ago for his birthday and last season we planted a New Dawn climbing rose at the base.  Well, over last and this summer, it has almost covered two thirds of the arch and been a spectacular ever bloomer.  Well it's now won the crown for being an ever bloomer in my books.

 
I'm not much of an "ever bloomer" myself especially when it comes to my blog.  I'm so thankful you've put up with my abrupt "starts and stops" since I started this creative venture. 

I was a fabulous multi-tasker when I worked full time.  I managed a full time career, spent time with my husband, raised two children, took care of a 2500 sq. foot house, nurtured 4 cats, had extra-curricular activities and so on.  Now that I'm retired, multi-tasking has become elusive to me like that last rose of summer.  Seems I can only focus on one thing at a time......and.....slowly........at that. 

My last blogging absence was due to my "focusing" on my Open House, which, by the way, was not extremely well attended but was sooooo successful from a sales standpoint.  Now that that's done, my mind is arguing with itself over what to do next - catch up on my home's chaotic state, get ready for the next show I'm doing in Coburg on November 21st (details to follow) and then in Solina on November 27th , clean up my studio, post more items in the shoppes, call and reconnect with my friends, beg forgiveness from my husband for my lack of attention to him (which should be on the top of my list) etc. etc. etc.

Those of you who are now retired after years of corporate or out of the home work, are you having the same problem?  I need your help!!!!!!!  Talk to me, please!!!!!!

 
Mini Rose Pink

Sorry, I lied.  After taking the pictures of the New Dawn rose I found another "last rose" in the other garden bed.  This is a lovely mini rose that was gifted to us by our friends Arlene and Al this summer.  Just a bud, flanked by "the truth" about this time of year - a "spent" mini rose and utterly dry liatris spicata bloom. 

Talk to me you guys!

BJF!

Heaven and The BarbaraMitchell Daylily

 

HEAVEN in Our BackYard

I was out in our yard taking pictures "on this hot, hot day in July" (I think Raffi, the childrens musician does a song with this line in it) and thought I should share with you all.  Above is our yard, beyond the fence, where it's cooler by 10 degrees in the early evening, where the squirrels and birds seem to know we're sitting there but don't care and therefore come a bit closer, and  where the daylilies are planted thick and grow with wild abandon.  In other words, our backyard escape from daily life as we know it. 

I have to thank my darling husband, Triple M, as he is responsible for these beauties and the general well being of "everything backyard" at our house.  What a wonderful job he's done!  Enjoy the show.......

 
Echinacea - Purple Coneflower

Hemerocallis unknown - Daylily ??????

 Liatris Spicata - Purple Gayfeather & 

Hydrangea arborescens - Annabelle Hydrangea (background)

 

 

Hibiscus syriacus - Rose of Sharon

 
Hemerocallis - 4th of July Daylily

 
 Hemerocallis  - Daylily BarbaraMitchell

Not many people can say that they've had a flower named after them, and we still can't really say that.  We like to claim this stunning daylily as ours though as "what are the odds" that a flower would be named after Barbara and Mitchell (Triple M's real name) and be hybridized in 1984 which is the same year that we were married.  

So as long as I don't run into the person(s) who created this daylily, I will keep telling everyone that it was named after US!

BEJOYFUL and stay cool during this hot summer weather.  

Fascination with Honey and Ginger Tea

  

Homemade Honey and Ginger Tea

I found this simple recipe for real Honey Ginger Tea the other day in the March 2010 Chatelaine magazine.  I'm all for simple when it comes to cooking.  So I tried it.  Any drinks, hot or cold, with alot of ginger in them have always burned my throat but that's where the honey comes in or so I discovered.  After the ginger flared up the honey kicked in with this soothing, silky, yummy sensation all the way down to my tummy.  I was purring like my cats. 

I have to share this great discovery with you, so here's the recipe -

*Lots of thin slices of peeled ginger (about 10 - 15 thin slices),

*Add to a small pot of water,

*Bring to a boil then turn the heat down to simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until the tea is a rosy, golden or caramel colour,

*Pour the tea, through a sieve to remove the ginger slices and bits, into your favourite cups and saucers or mugs (using your favourite cup or mug is extremely important to this recipe),

*Sweeten with a tablespoon or more (if you like) of honey, buy local if you can (I use Buckhorn Honey from Lakefield, Ontario),

*You can also add lemon, but I'm not a fan and then,

*Sit back, sip and purrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
  BEJOYFUL....... 2 1/2 months until May 1st!!!!!!!!

Christmas Eve Is Upon Us

 
 Golden Birds and Daja's Dragonflies

It's almost Christmas Eve!  We're waiting for Daja's train to arrive at the station in another hour.  My darling will be home from university until after the New Year.  Haven't seen her since Mr. Ed's graduation from high school in early November......too long to be apart. 

This year I decided to change-up our four trees' decorations.  Birds, gold and red, on 3 of the 4 trees.  And gold birds and ice blue dragonflies on the 4th.

 
Ice blue and gold ornaments were a no-brainer considering the diningroom wall colour and draperies.

Garlands, Garlands, Garlands.  Garlands are the easiest way to adorn almost anything - pictures, door frames, drapery rods, banisters, chandeliers, husbands (teehee) - if it's standing still drape a garland on it!

Now for the Family Room tree - red birds, fruit, glass garland and other assorted ornaments.

I just love Dollarama and Canadian Tire for affordable ornament shopping but don't leave it until the last minute as the shelves were almost picked dry by December 15th.

And, finally, I've always had a penchant for Santas.  I have a small Santa figure collection, nothing to brag about, just ones that struck our fancies.  My favourite is a Santa candle from the now defunct White Rose Craft and Garden store that we made the mistake, we thought, of lighting it once but I think it adds to the handsomeness of this weathered fellow. 

 

Christmas is now one sleep away.......church tonight, the reading of The Night Before Christmas, cookies and milk to be left by the fire.  Christmas Day......opening presents, eat a big breakfast, then travel to spend the rest of the day with dear friends who are really more like family. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas Holiday Season!  BEJOYFUL, the Christ child is born on Christmas Day!