Life at the Lake - Once in a Blue Moon!

Last night's Blue Moon was a gorgeous finish to a beautiful evening! The sky was clear and the weather was fabulous and after a few games of badminton and a rock skipping championship event, we had some fun photographing the blue moon.

Here are some of the results!

We'll have to wait until January 2018 for the next one!

Seeds...

Life at the Lake ~ Outdoor Shower!

We've FINALLY had a run of beautiful weather and hubs turned on the water to the
outdoor shower - YAY! He built it on our deck overlooking the
lake - crafted the frame from copper pipes, plumbed it all himself
and I found this great copper rain shower head online a couple of years ago. 
It's aged beautifully and is one of my favorite things about
summer at the lake!

He also made this sweet little copper soap dish and drain - it's verdigris is gorgeous!
There is also a copper pipe 'hook' for your towel on the other
side of this post - he thought of everything!

An old knob is a fun addition. 
The water has one heat setting (adjustable from inside only)
so you want to be sure of the temperature before you step under the shower :). 
It's LOVELY!

On My Bookshelf ~ Summer Reading List

My summer reading used to include a much anticipated trip to the bookstore  

where I would emerge with BAGS of new books, excited and

 ready to settle in on the porch or the beach and enjoy.  I would bring them home and stack them on my bedside table, loving the pile of them there, ready and waiting, offering worlds to visit without leaving home.

While I still love the feel of reading an actual book and miss that beautiful stack,
my Kindle is

much easier to carry, travel with and I use it ALOT!
I downloaded my 'library' today (8 new books!) and

here is my list for Summer 2015!

 

 

 

It's a rainy morning, perfect for a cup of tea and curling up

for an hour or two of reading - enjoy!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

  

  When I got my ukulele in June, one of the first songs I wanted to learn to play was Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a long time favorite and perfect, in my opinion, for the ukulele.  Sophie was keen too - we initially thought she would play her guitar but she loved the ukulele and had played a bit in music class at school (isn't that fantastic!?).  So, within a few days, she had one too - hers is bright green! The best parts have been the time we spent together learning and several resulting fun and silly, after dinner, impromptu family sing-alongs - such a hoot!

Anyway, we did it! We can both play it and if I do say so myself, we sound pretty good together.  She wasn't here to make this little video (we may do another on Thanksgiving weekend as proof) but here is me with a shortened version.  And, most importantly, I am sparing you my singing voice, but rest assured, I'm singing most enthusiastically in my mind~ enjoy!

 

Summer Crafts and Cooking ~ Week 3

 

Sophie was away at camp and on a little road trip over the past week so we just made one delightful dessert before she left. These chocolate cookie peanut butter cup 'stacks' were rich but delicious!!

 

Ingredients:
1 package chocolate cookies (we used oreos)
12 small peanut butter cups
fondue chocolate

* twist open the cookies (use the frosted sides of two cookies as the 'sandwich')

* place one peanut butter cup in the frosting and top with the other side of the cookie.

* dip in melted fondue chocolate

* let chocolate sandwiches set in the fridge until after dinner!

 

She's back and we are ready to create again today!

 

June Garden

 

"It's beautiful the Summer month of June
When all of God's own wildflowers are in bloom
And sun shines brightly most part of the day
And butterflies o'er lush green meadows play.

Light hearted skylark songster of the wing
High o'er the quiet and lonely moorland sing
Above her nest cloaked by the tangled heath
Her charming song so exquisitely sweet.

So mellow the gentle breath of june day breeze
The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees
And dappled trout in pool bed of the stream
Bask in the sun their spotted skins agleam."
-  Francis Duggan, June

 

 

June and early July are my favorite times in my garden.  Everything is nearly bursting with life! This yellow butterfly has been flitting through the flowers all week and seems to be particularly enjoying these blue iris and bright pink chives. (She's also provided hours of entertainment for Ethel who scampers around the lawn trying to catch her!) Look at the beautiful bits of blue and orange near the top of her tail!

 

 

And the BIG news is there are lupins growing along the edge of the field in our back yard.  I've had visions of this field brilliant with lupins since the early 90's when I optimistically planted a few seed in soil as rich and fluffy as wet bricks - oh my innocence! Over the years, I've dug plants from the roadside, lovingly dug deep holes filled with fertilizer for garden center lupins and tossed handful after handful of seed into the grass, always hopeful but to no avail. 

I have to admit, I have no idea where these came from :) ... but I am hopeful once again. 

Can't you just see this field brilliant with lupins?

 

 

There are three pink, five dark purple and one large white off in the distance!

 

 

My poppies are fuzzy ovals ready to open, the roses are covered in deep pink buds, lilies and columbine are in full bloom and this happy window box is gorgeous with bright shades of orange, lime and deep purple-y blue!

 

 

Happy June!

xo

Wordless Wednesday...

July

seeds...

...what if the Hokey Pokey really is what is all about?

Inspired! at the Barracks

Our Shop at the Barracks Fine Craft Shops

Fredericton, New Brunswick's capital city, is popular with travellers in the summertime and there is much to see along our beautiful Saint John River.  A highlight of our downtown is the Garrison District which was declared a national historic site in 1964.  Visitors find many attractions and activites here including the Changing of the Guard, tours, concerts, artisans at work, gift shops and live theatre!  Located in Barracks Square is the campus of the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, a center of creative and artistic excellence.  The old Soldier's Barracks house fine craft shops in the charming stone arched stalls that formerly held ammunition!

Fun and Funky Stacking Bracelets from Wild Woman Jewelry.



Whimsical magic wands are colorful and unique!


A few years ago, an adventurous and fun-loving garden fairy took up residence in my garden at the cottage and began corresponding with my four-year-old niece.  Esmerelda has required various special tools each summer, magic wands being one such item essential for a proper fairy!  A hunt for sticks with magical qualities ensued and in the dark of night, wand creation began...these handsculpted beaded wire flower colorful fibre wands are now available for fairies of all manner! Drop by and enjoy the magic!







Inspired! is filled with the creative products of seven local artisans and crafters -- we are painters in various mediums, paper artists, soap makers, potters, jewelry makers, knitters and fabric artists.



~ a few pieces from Wild Woman Jewelry



seeds...

There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.

-Albert Einstein

sunset sail...

...we were having a late dinner with family on our deck at the lake as the sun was setting last evening when this beautiful boat sailed by... it was so pretty I ran for my camera!

ahhhhhhh...it's still summer!

~ June ~

And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.

~ James Russell Lowell

*****

...flips flops, popsicles, watermelon, lemonade, sandy beaches, swimming to the raft, roses, long sunny days, buzzing bees and lazy afternoons in the hammock~ just around the corner!

My Garden Journals

With our early spring and all the recent lovely weather, I've been spending more time in my garden. Everything seems to be budding and blooming earlier than most years and I've found myself going back to some of my old garden journals, checking dates and blooming times from past seasons. I have fallen in love with these old journals again, the story of my garden, summers at the lake and the unfolding of each season...

For many years I searched for the perfect garden journal~ and I found may lovely ones, full of pockets and pretty pictures and pages labelled with what to record...I was never able to 'fit' my garden or myself into those books. Finally (although it was so obvious, I'm not sure how I missed it!) I bought a blank book with a textured cover and beautiful paper on which I wanted to write and draw and plan and dream...

They also contain the stories of summers at the cottage~ reading, relaxing and family times...

...and hundreds of photographs and captions...

...dried garden flowers and notes from Esmerelda, our garden fairy...

...and yes, it turns out everything is early~ by about three weeks~ I hope it doesn't snow in August!

Fiesta~ Summer Party Perfect

New this week at Wild Woman Jewelry!!!

Summer party perfect Fiesta Earrings are sundress ready in bright, cheerful colors~ margarita, anyone?

Wednesday Wonders ~ Six Spectacular Bags!

I'll admit it (and anyone who knows me will attest to it!), I have an absolute love of bags...totes, purses, clutches, book bags, computer bags, grocery bags...it's a sickness, really. I attribute it partly to my love of color and texture and partly to my urge to organize things. And why not slip all your bits in the perfect pocket in a pretty bag?

While we were in Bar Harbor, I came across this wonderful tote made from recycled boat sails by Sea Bags in Portland, Maine. The crisp, nautical blue and white is a classic ~ this one found its way home with me!

In celebration of summer beach days, market shopping and everyday 'lugging', this week's Wednesday Wonders features some of my favorite totebag finds on Etsy...please toss in your 'carry alongs', sling one over your shoulders and enjoy these beautiful totes!

Sailor tote XLarge..... in red by bayanhippo

Big City Linen Bag by tortillagirl

The Everyday Tote by fray

Large Hobo Slouch Bag with adjustable Strap by fromnancy

X-Large Orange and Red Retro Pattern Cotton Fabric Tote by jenniferburkin

Get Groovy!

With spring at hand, I've been happily creating several more one-of-a-kind pair of Flower Child earrings. They are a fun and groovy mix of lightweight plexiglass, swarovski crystals and sterling silver. Here's a sampling of new ones to be found in my etsy shop~ drop by!