Lynda Naranjo Photography

Another break ...

2012-01-29T11:38:00.000-05:00

Hello dear friends,

I'll be taking another blogging break ... my mom was rushed to the hospital early Friday morning. She's now out of ICU and doing much better but I need to give my full attention to her right now.

I know you'll keep us in your thoughts and prayers and I can only say how much I appreciate knowing you're here with me. I hope to be back soon. xoxo

Meyer Lemons

2012-01-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

I can't wait to use these Meyer lemons. I've never used them before, truthfully I've never even seen them sold here before, until now. My mind is overwhelmed with possibilities! Stay tuned!

Deep Dish Apple Pie

2012-01-24T15:12:00.001-05:00

There's nothing like a home baked apple pie. It oozes comfort in every sweet bite. I'll be honest, I love baking desserts. Pies, cakes, cookies ... it doesn't matter.

I used to be afraid to even attempt making pastry but now that I've been doing it awhile, it's really not difficult at all. It might not always look so pretty, but it always tastes great. For a nice flaky pastry, I use lard and the Tenderflake® recipe has never failed (click here for pastry recipe).

Deep Dish Apple Pie

6-8 medium cooking apples (MacIntosh, Spy or Cortland) - more if you want a higher pie
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
3 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp lemon juice
1-2 tbsp butter

Prepare pastry for a two crust pie.

Peel and core apples, then slice thinly. Mix with above ingredients (except butter) and pour into unbaked deep dish pie shell. Dab the top of the filling with a tablespoon or two of butter then top with crust.

Bake at 450 F for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 350 F and bake for approximately 4o minutes or until filling is cooked. (Tip ~ To keep your pie crust from overcooking, cover it lightly with foil after 20-30 minutes.)

Serve still warm with vanilla ice cream.

Are you wondering why you're seeing so much food photography on my blog lately? No, it's not a new passion. I've actually been photographing food for several years but the photos rarely came out the way I wanted them to. Mostly, it was due to bad lighting. My kitchen is dark, and even though I had lovely under the cupboard lighting installed about a year ago, it's still dark - unless you're right under the lights, which is great for cooking but not so great for photos. Now that I have studio space, I can haul everything into the studio with my oh so wonderful natural light! So, yes, you will be seeing more food - a lot more food - along with my usual country inspired photos. Besides, food is country, right??

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

2012-01-12T11:20:00.001-05:00

I've spent that last couple of weeks editing photos that I took as far back as October! These cookies were supposed to be posted on my blog early in November but I just never got to them.

After years of making chocolate chip cookies, I got bored and began to experiment with different combinations of chips and nuts. Some have been more successful than others, but these were a definite hit!

I really love home baked cookies and try to make sure that I always have fresh cookies on hand. These are adapted from Nestle's Toll House Cookie recipe (the one on the back of the chocolate chip package) so they're quick and easy to make too!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies ... adapted from Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in white chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-02T16:58:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely holiday. As expected, ours was very quiet but really, really nice. Not having time to do it all this year, I picked what I felt where the most important bits and focused on them. Keeping the holidays simpler made them so much more enjoyable ... something I'm going to try to remember for next year. Now I'm ready to get back into some sort of routine although I'm finding it just a little bit difficult ... I'm so far behind and don't quite know where to start! It feels like I've been away forever!

I'm always excited about a new year, aren't you? So many possibilities! It's like starting off with a clean slate. You'll notice my blog looks a lot different ... this is something I was working on before my Mom got sick and I was able to finish it up last weekend. I was ready for something cleaner, lighter, simpler ... and I really missed having a sidebar. I may or may not add a photo to the banner ... right now I like it just the way it is. There are still a few things that need to be tweaked but I'm almost there.

Did you make any resolutions? Set any goals? I didn't this year. I didn't choose a word for the year either. Every January I make these lofty goals and by February reality sets in. So this year I decided my only "goal" was to enjoy doing what I do. Every day. Every minute. That should be easy because I already enjoy what I do! And hopefully I'll be able to do more of it.

Now I realize that pomegranates have absolutely nothing to do with this post but they're one of my favourite treats for the holidays so of course I had to photograph them before eating them. The seeds look like tiny red jewels, especially against the white dishes, and I love their tartness ... so refreshing after all the sweets that I've indulged in lately.

Thanks for joining me on my journey ... I'm so glad you're here! Wishing you the best year ahead ever ... Happy 2012! xo

Countdown to Christmas + Peppermint Bark

2011-12-21T12:15:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that Christmas is just 3 short days away. Our Christmas will be a little quieter this year ... a little simpler. My Mom has had a rough month with many ups and downs but she continues to improve slowly. Bobby and I will get together with friends on Christmas Eve then spend Christmas day with family.

Last week we bought a tree and decorated it. Nothing beats the smell of a fresh tree ... one of those "must haves" where every whiff lets you know that it's Christmas! I've kept the decorations more wintry than Christmas this year. That way I get to enjoy them a littler longer, especially since I was so late getting them up. The little bit of shopping I managed to get done was bought online and honestly, I haven't missed going to the mall and fighting the crowds at all!

I haven't done much baking this Christmas either but I did get my peppermint bark made this week. I usually give bags of this to friends and neighbours and they've come to expect it. I couldn't disappoint them!

Peppermint Bark - adapted from Martha Stewart Recipes

2 pounds white chocolate

12 candy canes

3/4 tsp. peppermint oil

1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.

2. Melt chocolate using the "melt" setting on your microwave.

3. Chop the candy canes into approximately 1/4" pieces using the pulse setting on your food processor.

4. Stir the pieces of candy canes and the peppermint oil into the melted chocolate. Spread evenly on the cookie sheet. Chill until firm. Break into pieces.

Wishing you and your families the gift of love, the gift of peace and the gift of happiness ...

Merry Christmas!

An update and a project revealed!

2011-11-28T10:13:00.001-05:00

Thank you all so very much for your thoughts, prayers and good wishes for my Mom's recovery. She's home now and making slow but steady progress ... and I'm slowly making my way back to the online world!

Remember that project I told you I was working on? Well I can finally share it with you! Heather Anderson from Post Road Vintage emailed me a few weeks ago and asked if I'd be interested in collaborating with her and a few others to put together an e-zine on farmhouse decor. Heather has done an amazing job putting this beautiful 'zine together ... and it's yours for FREE!

To receive your copy of Homebound, just sign up here ... http://postroadvintage.com/2011/11/homebound-giving-thanks.html. Your magazine will be delivered right away and, as a bonus, you'll also receive weekly decorating advice!

I'm just thrilled to be part of this little magazine! If you love farmhouse decor, I know you're going to love this!

Thank you ... and a break

2011-11-17T20:29:00.001-05:00

Hello dear friends! Just a quick note to say thank you for your lovely comments on my last post ...your support means so much!

I'll be taking a break for a week or so .... my Mom was hospitalized on Tuesday. She's been having breathing difficulties for several months and things got very bad last weekend. After a second visit to emergency, they finally admitted her. I'm spending my days at the hospital and to be honest, as much as I love photography and blogging, my heart just isn't in it right now. Once I know she's feeling better, I'll be back.

See you soon! xo

Thank you Artful Blogging!

2011-11-14T15:05:00.001-05:00

It's a good thing Jennifer Jackson Taylor couldn't see me jumping up and down when she emailed me in August asking if I'd be interested in contributing an article for the Winter issue of Artful Blogging. Interested? Of course I was interested! After the initial euphoria wore off, I realized that I would actually have to write something. While I may have days where I dream of being a writer, let's just say that I think I'm better at the photography part.

Somehow I managed to take a deep breath and reach deep into my soul to write about my blogging experience. But to actually see those words, along with my photos, in print makes me giddy with excitement. I still have to pinch myself to believe it!

Thank you Jennifer and everyone at Stampington & Company for publishing such wonderful, creative and inspiring magazines. Thank you for creating a place where ordinary artists, bloggers and crafters have an opportunity to share our stories and our art. And thank you for letting me tell my story.

'Tis the season ...

2011-11-10T09:47:00.001-05:00

Nope, I'm not talking about the holidays ... cold and flu season is here. Barely a week after getting our flu shots, a nasty cold entered our house and has refused to leave. Nothing much can be done except rest, drink lots of fluids and hope that once the colder weather arrives, the germs will be gone.

The photo above is a sneek peak at a new series I'm working on. I'll share more in a future post but expect to see barns ... lots of barns. :)

I'm also working on another exciting project that I can't share with you just quite yet. It shouldn't be long though and I think you'll like it. Hopefully it will be ready before the holidays.

And as a few of you already know, I'm featured in the Winter issue of Artful Blogging! I'll be sharing more about this next week but needless to say I'm thrilled beyond words.

See you soon! xo

Frosty morning

2011-11-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

I awoke the other morning to find that a heavy frost had covered everything in the garden. Before the sun had a chance to melt its beauty, I grabbed my camera and headed outside.

The frost had left a dusting of icy crystals, sparkling like tiny jewels in the early morning sunlight, on the remaining flowers and fallen leaves.

It was somewhat bittersweet because as beautiful as the frost looked, my garden began to wilt under its touch.

Another gardening season has come to an end.

Apple Season!

2011-10-25T11:17:00.000-04:00

I've been visiting the apple orchards in my area, stocking up on apples for both eating and baking. I like Red Delicious best for eating ... especially when they're crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Bliss!

We're fortunate to be surrounded by apple orchards so there's no reason not to have plenty of fresh apples on hand during the Autumn months. There are a couple that I visit regularly but the one I like best has bushels and bushels of various kinds set out so if you want, you can mix and match different varieties. During the week they put out a metal cash box where you can deposit your money ... completely on the honour system. That's pretty rare these days.

Some of the apples will be made into pies and crisps with the rest being made into applesauce. There's nothing like homemade applesauce! It's so easy to do and freezes really well if you want to make more than one batch at a time. MacIntosh apples are great for making applesauce. They cook down quickly and have just the right amount of tartness.

Homemade Applesauce
Peel and core 6 large apples. Slice them into pieces and place in a saucepan with about 1/4 cup water. Cook over medium heat until they're soft. Remove from heat and add brown sugar to taste (or leave it unsweetened if you want to use if for baking - applesauce is a great substitute for oil in recipes) and a dash of nutmeg. Enjoy!

Orange and Gold

2011-10-14T08:18:00.002-04:00

We had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend ... three days of record breaking warmth and sunshine! Perfect for getting out and enjoying a fall fair along with the changing colours ...

Leaves that have turned to beautiful shades of orange and gold ...

Old trees with a colourful carpet of leaves below ...

Spots of orange tucked in among the green ...

A display of pumpkins at a farm stand ...

Bushel baskets filled with squash, gourds and mini pumpkins ...

Dirt still clinging to just picked pumpkins ...

Perfect Autumn days.

Back to baking

2011-10-07T10:13:00.000-04:00

The cooler weather has me back in the kitchen and baking again. Baking is one of my guilty pleasures ... I love to bake! The problem comes in eating everything that I bake. Luckily I have lots of friends and family who are willing to take some baked goods off my hands. Zucchini bread is something that I usually only bake once a year when the zucchini is plentiful. I actually baked this one a couple of weeks ago and although it makes two loaves, they're already gone. I like to keep breads like this on hand ... they freeze well and are great when you have unexpected company drop by.

Zucchini Bread

2/3 cup shortening

2 2/3 cups sugar

4 eggs

3 cups shredded zucchini (about 2-3 medium)

2/3 cup water

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp vanilla

2/3 cups walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9x5x3 loaf pans. Mix shortening and sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, zucchini and water. Blend in flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves. Stir in walnuts and pour into pans. Bake 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before slicing.

* * * * * * * * * *

This weekend we'll be celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving so I'll be offline, spending time with family and friends and hopefully taking advantage of the warm weather to clean up in the garden.

Have a lovely weekend ... and Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! I'll see you next week. xo

Burnt Orange Season

2011-10-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

Hello friends!

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my calendars! These are the first I've offered for sale and I'm so excited about them.

I'm using my new computer but as I've mentioned to some of you, the transition didn't go quite as smoothly as we'd hoped. My husband actually got the brand new computer and I'm using his old one, which he's only had for about a year and a half. I was quite happy about that as my computer was 6+ years old and getting slower by the day. To make a very long story short, we've had problems with everything from discovering I was using pirated software (which I bought online from what I thought was a legitimate source) to having my camera USB cord not work on my new computer. Everything does have a happy ending though ... while I'm out the money for the pirated software, I was able to purchase a legitimate version from Adobe. And we found a USB cord from an old camera that works just fine. Minor (major to me!) glitches keep popping up here and there but I'm lucky that my husband is a computer geek and able to fix them. He has so much patience!

But enough computer talk ...

Autumn is my favourite season. I love all the colours but burnt orange is my favourite. I bought lots of these mini pumpkins to use around my home as decorations.

I love how the light makes these maple leaves look like they're glowing!

Pie pumpkins in wooden crates waiting to be used for decorating ... or if you're really energetic, in pumpkin pies. I prefer using canned pumpkin ... this is just way too much work!

Pumpkins ready to be carved into jack o' lanterns for Halloween sit in straw at a local pumpkin patch.

And who knew pumpkins grew on trees! Every Fall a local farm hangs pie pumpkins from their trees ... so fun and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Calendars and computers

2011-09-20T11:12:00.001-04:00

I've just added three new desk calendars for 2012 to my Etsy shop. I'm so happy with the way they turned out ... it's the very first time I've offered calendars in my shop. Here's a sample ...

Click on the images above for more details ... or go here to see all three of them. I don't like to show a preference but can I just say that I'm head over heels for my Country Life calendar? I've included so many of my personal favourites in that one.

On another note, I must apologize for having been MIA from your blogs! I'm ever so slowly catching up with what you've been up to. This week also brings me a new computer! Mine is struggling to keep up and it's taking FOREVER to get things done. I have the same attitude about computers that I have about cars ... just turn it on and go. I'm not one to care about what's under the hood so to speak but my husband promises this computer will be much faster. I hope so because I've been ready to toss this one from the window on more than one occasion out of sheer frustration. I've been backing up everything on two external hard drives (I'm terrified about losing any of my photos!) so hopefully I'll be ready when the new one arrives today or tomorrow. And I'm crossing my fingers that the transition goes smoothly.

See you soon! xo

Sunflowers, sunny days and studios

2011-09-13T19:34:00.000-04:00

There's something so cheerful about sunflowers. Their bright yellow colour demands attention in late summer, towering over the rest of the garden and dominating the farmer's markets.

I'm usually not a fan of brightly coloured flowers, especially yellow, but sunflowers are the exception. I have to have at least one bouquet of them every year.

We've been enjoying beautiful sunny days and I've been taking advantage of them! These last days of Summer are a blessing and meant to be enjoyed. I've spent them working in the garden or reading a book on the porch, anything to stay outdoors as much as possible. It won't be long before venturing outside is the last thing I want to do!

I thought I'd show you my new studio set up. It's nothing fancy but it's just what I need. I'm fortunate to have an entire room to use for my photography and any craft/sewing projects that I want to do. Once I'd cleared out half the room, I re-purposed a 30" x 60" folding table that I covered in white contact paper and placed it under a large window. White muslin curtains act as a diffuser when the light gets too strong. The table can be pushed back against the wall when I'm not using it and I can hang a back drop there if I choose. The most difficult part was finding a place for everything I removed from the room! It took a few days of trying this here and moving that there before I was happy. I'm looking to purchase some simple lighting for those dark winter days when there isn't much natural light available and I'll also be painting the walls a soft white.

So there you have it! Well worth a few days work. It's nice to have everything handy when I'm ready to shoot and not have to re-arrange everything in my living room or reading room to get enough space to take my photos.

Blackberries

2011-09-09T09:26:00.001-04:00

I bought these at the market last weekend and photographed them the same day, which proved to be a good decision since they didn't last very long. I'm not sure if I can describe how delicious these berries are. There's a burst of flavour as you bite into one ... tart and sweet at the same time. When I bought them, I was thinking about baking them into muffins, or a cobbler, but cooking them seemed like such a waste. Like raspberries, I rarely bake with blackberries. They're just too good in their natural state.

I'm finally working on setting up a dedicated space for my photography. It's taken a lot of rearranging and has proved to be a little more work than I anticipated (isn't that always the way?) but it's going to be worth it! Hopefully, I'll finish it over the weekend (in between my hubby's softball tournament).

What are your plans for the weekend? Whatever they are, I hope you have an enjoyable one! xo

Peaches

2011-09-06T09:31:00.001-04:00

Fresh from the farmer's market ... peaches! As I unpacked them I noticed one still had the leaves attached and thought how nice it would look hanging over the bowl.

These were so sweet and juicy! I love this time of year when the markets are filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. I have to be careful not to buy more than we can eat in a week but it's so difficult! I want to taste everything at once.

There's an Autumn chill in the air as I write this. September is usually a roller coaster of temperatures - hot and humid one day and cool the next. The apple orchards have begun to hang out their pick-your-own signs and most mornings now require a jacket or sweater. Yes, I'm starting to look forward to Fall ... to heartier meals and freshly baked pies, to putting my Autumn decorations up and buying mums and pumpkins for the garden. September means heading back indoors and re-focusing on home. I can't wait.

September + Second Anniversary Sale

2011-09-01T09:56:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that September is here already? I'm still trying to figure out where the summer went and now it's just a few short weeks until Autumn arrives! September is the month for new beginnings - a fresh start after a carefree summer. It's time to get back to schedules and to tackle projects that have been put on hold while we enjoyed warm summer days.

I'm also celebrating my second anniversary on Etsy! For the month of September, all 5x7" and 5x5" prints are just $10.00 each (regular price is $15.00 each) and 8x10" and 8x8" prints are only $20.00 each (regular price is $28.00 each). The prices have been marked down in the shop so you won't need to to enter a coupon code to receive the sale price (just click on the photo above to go directly to my shop).

I'll be taking a few days off from my blog to work on some new projects and to enjoy the last long weekend of Summer. I hope you have a wonderful weekend ... see you next week! xo

Evening in the Country

2011-08-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is the end of my August Break. It's been a lot of fun and I don't think I've ever posted this much in one month! Thanks so much for playing along ... I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I did. A warm welcome to my newest readers ... I'm so glad you're here!

Queen Anne's Lace

2011-08-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Spun Gold

2011-08-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

This grass grows everywhere and I can't seem to stop photographing it! I love the color and texture and the way it moves with the breeze.

Goldenrod

2011-08-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Feathery goldenrod by an old weathered fence post.

Ethereal

2011-08-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hay bales on a hill

2011-08-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

In my garden ... clematis

2011-08-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

There are just a few blooms left on my Jackmanii clematis but it was just gorgeous this year. It now needs two trellises, side by side, to hold it. In a summer where most of the garden was scorched, this thrived in the shade.

Behind the barn

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

A broken and abandoned wagon wheel sits behind an old barn.

p.s. - thanks for your lovely feedback on my blog's makeover! xo

Stillness

2011-08-19T10:00:00.018-04:00

I frequently drive past this old barn and have wanted to photograph it for ages. A few weeks ago, I finally did. This is one of my favourite shots from that session.

Have a lovely weekend! xo

Country Lace

2011-08-18T10:00:00.005-04:00

I love seeing Queen Anne's Lace growing everywhere in August. It's so pretty and delicate and hardly deserves to be classed as a weed. I found this patch growing by the pond near my home.

Edited to add: My blog has been given a bit of a makeover. I was planning on adding a sidebar but it looked much too cluttered so I've kept the layout the same. My categories are now in a drop-down menu at the top of the page, along with links to my online sites. The blog archive remains at the bottom of the page but it's now easier to read. I've also updated my banner slideshow (long overdue!) and tidied things up a bit. Let me know what you think!

Windowbox

2011-08-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

Roses

2011-08-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

Pale pink Evelyn Roses from my garden ...

Refreshing

2011-08-15T10:00:00.001-04:00

Watching the rain from my front porch ... seeing the parched leaves turn upwards to catch the raindrops and the earth swallowing the water in big thirsty gulps. It's been a dry summer.

Garden angel

2011-08-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

Roses and peonies

2011-08-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

Locked

2011-08-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

Wishing and hoping ...

2011-08-09T10:00:00.001-04:00

Attic Window

2011-08-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

A lovely spot for a picnic

2011-08-05T10:00:00.001-04:00

Lavender

2011-08-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

Pink Hydrangeas

2011-08-03T15:00:00.000-04:00

It hasn't been a great summer for gardening. Extremely hot temperatures (for us) and very little rain has left my garden scorched, in spite of almost daily watering. After surviving the winter, my blue hydrangeas just couldn't take the heat and have stopped blooming. I've mulched their roots and watered them, sometimes twice daily. Maybe once it cools down, they'll start flowering again.

But my pink hydrangea has performed beautifully! I've never had blooms as large as I have this year. I planted it about 4 years ago and even though I've had to water it almost daily, its roots are a little deeper now than the blue ones. Maybe that's helped it survive these hot days.

I've tried and tried but still can't dry my hydrangeas. Can anyone let me in on the secret? I was told to cut them and place them in a jar with an inch or so of water. Once they've taken all the water, they're supposed to dry but mine just wilt! What am I doing wrong?

On another note, starting tomorrow, I'll be participating in Susannah Conway's August Break. For the rest of August, I'll be sharing a photo a day from Monday to Friday, no words just photos (okay, maybe the occasional word!). If you want to join in, click here for all the details.

One last thing ... there's a blog makeover in the works. Hopefully it will all go smoothly. :)

Berry Good

2011-07-21T16:04:00.000-04:00

These were delicious ... really delicious. In fact, they almost didn't make it to the photo shoot because I couldn't stop eating them.

Raspberries are my favourite berry. When they're in season, I buy them at our local farmer's market in the morning and they're finished by the end of the day.

I think they're best when eaten the same day. The flavour just isn't the same once they're refrigerated. I'm hoping there will be more at the market this weekend but with the extreme heat we've had this week, the season might be over much too soon.

And speaking of heat, how are you managing to stay cool? This week has been hot, hot hot and almost has me almost wishing for cooler Autumn days ... almost. :)

A day at the lake

2011-07-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

We recently spent an afternoon cooling off by the shore of Lake Ontario, watching the sailboats and seagulls.

The seagulls flew close overhead, completely oblivious to me as I snapped away.

The distant Toronto skyline is barely visible through the haze and humidity.

I think a private beach would be wonderful! Imagine being able to step down to the shore whenever you want.

The water sparkled and shimmered in the bright afternoon sunlight.

I'll be adding these to my Etsy shop over the next few days.

In the garden ... peonies

2011-06-24T20:01:00.001-04:00

Like lilacs, peonies are one of those flowers that I wish would last longer. Mine lasted a little more than a week, but they were oh so beautiful!! Yesterday's rain finished them off and now all that's left is a pile of petals that needs raking.

It doesn't matter how many photos I take of them; I always wish I'd taken just one more. It's such a long wait until next year!! I've started writing photography notes and ideas in a notebook that I keep with me so I won't forget styling ideas.

This soft pink and white peony is one we transferred from my Mom's garden last fall. It only had half a dozen blooms this year but it's so pretty and delicate.

I brought in huge bouquets of these pink peonies and placed them everywhere! I was determined to enjoy them before the rain finished them off.

Thank you for the lovely comments you've left on my last couple of posts. I'm sorry that I haven't gotten around to visiting and replying to you but a bad bout of bronchitis has left me behind once again. I'm feeling better but my energy level just hasn't come back yet. Hopefully some sunshine and warm weather will soon help.

Enjoy this lovely first weekend of summer! ♥

The softness of white

2011-06-13T19:23:00.000-04:00

White whispers; it never shouts. White is restful and calming. White is ...

... lemon poppyseed scones

... lily of the valley

... and white lilacs.

"White is the color of angels and brides, moonlight and lily of the valley. It is capable of endless subtleties; fragile or strong, it can be transparent as ice, opaque as marble, in love with light as a diamond." ~ Victoria, At Home With White

Lilac time

2011-06-08T15:55:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I love lilacs. In my tiny garden, I've managed to squeeze in six lilac bushes and when they're all blooming, the fragrance is wonderful!

The doubles seem to last longer as cut flowers. Someone once told me to remove all the leaves before putting them in a vase because the leaves take the water away from the flowers. Lilacs don't make the best cut flowers but I can't resist bringing a few inside and removing the leaves really works. They'll last 4-5 days without the leaves. I cut a few branches with just leaves to tuck into the arrangement.

Sadly, the lilacs have already faded. I always want them to last longer but maybe if they did, I wouldn't appreciate them as much. It's a long wait until next Spring!

Come into my garden ...

2011-06-02T19:34:00.000-04:00

... so I can show you what's blooming!

I've planted bleeding heart in a few places in the garden before finding just the right spot for it. The "King of Hearts" blooms all summer long, right up until frost, as long as it's deadheaded regularly.

My redbud is like a pink cloud in the Spring! Once the soft pink flowers have faded, it has the prettiest heart shaped leaves.

A dwarf iris, transplanted from my Mom's garden last Fall, blooms for the first time. It's such a gorgeous shade of purple. Virginia bluebells bloom in clusters of soft blue flowers and spread themselves everywhere. I don't mind because they die back after blooming, leaving no trace until next Spring.

And lilacs. They never last long enough but I can't imagine a Spring without them! I've got more lilac photos to share with you in my next post.

♥

Life on the pond

2011-05-30T17:40:00.000-04:00

Every year we enjoy seeing the goslings and ducklings on the pond. They're just so adorable when they're little balls of yellow fluff.

I couldn't resist photographing this family of Canada Geese. They grow and change almost daily!

Rainy days

2011-05-17T16:46:00.000-04:00

Have you ever seen so much rain?? I could count on one hand the number of rain free days we've had this spring. The grass is so long but never dries out long enough to cut it and I think the weeds have completely taken over my garden.

My parents are almost fully recovered from their bouts of pneumonia. It was a crazy few weeks with both of them sick at the same time but we're all slowly getting back to normal routines.

I haven't had my camera out much and was a little frustrated that it was raining, yet again, last weekend. So I set my tripod on the porch and took a few photos in the rain. My favourite is of the rain splashing in the bird bath. While it was kind of fun capturing rain drops, I would really like to see the sun so I can get out into my garden this weekend. *crossing my fingers*

I'll catch up with you soon! xo

Back soon!

2011-05-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." ~ John Lennon

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been MIA for so long! We've had some illness in our family which has shifted my priorities. I'm hoping to be back blogging and catching up with you all soon.

Have a great weekend!

xo,

Lynda

Celebrate Mother's Day

2011-05-01T09:32:00.000-04:00

Take 20% off everything in my shop! Just enter code MOM20 when you check out to receive your discount. Sale ends May 15th.

Happy Easter

2011-04-22T15:39:00.001-04:00

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! ♥

Spring flowers

2011-04-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

Tiny little squill picked from my garden ... I love how they spread and come up in unexpected places every spring. They're such a pretty shade of cornflower blue and they look like tiny blue stars scattered throughout the garden.

Project 52 - Week 15

Golden Daffodils - Part 2

2011-04-14T14:52:00.000-04:00

As promised, more of my daffodils ... enjoy! ♥

Golden daffodils

2011-04-08T09:00:00.006-04:00


Project 52 - Week 14

I couldn't resist this bunch of yellow daffodils. Not only did they brighten my week, but they were being sold by the Canadian Cancer Society so they're for a good cause as well. I have a few more daffodil photos that I'll share with you next week.

Thank you so much for your recent visits and comments. I'm really behind with my blog reading right now but hope to catch up with you soon. I'm gradually learning that I can't do it all, at least not all at once! :)

Have a lovely weekend! ♥

Coming Home

2011-04-04T16:28:00.000-04:00

Walk up the painted wooden steps and across the porch. Scrape the mud off your shoes before going inside. Open the screen door and hang your coat on the hooks. You've come home.

Signs of Spring

2011-04-01T14:07:00.000-04:00

I think maybe Spring might finally have arrived. Last week's snowfall is melting, yesterday I saw a robin and I have flowers blooming in my garden. Welcome signs that Winter is leaving.
Project 52 - Week 13

Chewed leaves on the iris are courtesy of the rabbits who seem to think my garden is their private dining room. At least they left the flowers ... for now.

Super Moon

2011-03-22T19:42:00.002-04:00

Project 52 - Week 12

Were you able to see the Super Moon in your area? The clouds cooperated and cleared up so I could photograph it. This photo has been cropped and sharpened but other than that, it's straight out of the camera. I used my 75-300mm lens on a tripod {aperture 8.0, shutter speed 1/500 and ISO 800} and just about froze out on the porch. Brrr!! But it was worth it. ♥

Shades of Blue

2011-03-18T19:35:00.000-04:00

Blue hydrangeas are in the top five of my favourite flowers. I have two small hydrangeas that I moved last Fall, hoping that they would survive the Winter. They did! Today I noticed small buds on both of the plants.

Project 52 - Week 11

Warmer than normal temperatures this week have melted all the snow. It's nice to see the grass again! I'm watching daily for signs of Spring in my garden.

Maybe this year my hydrangeas will be big enough and I can have huge bouquets of them. I'd like to recreate these photos using real hydrangeas instead of silk ones.

This weekend we not only welcome Spring, but the moon is going to be closer to earth and bigger than normal. I'm hoping the clouds will stay away so I can see it.

Happy Spring! ♥

fPOE Treasury Giveaway!

2011-03-14T13:52:00.001-04:00

How would you like to win an entire treasury? You could win all SIXTEEN fabulous items in this treasury from the Female Photographers of Etsy (fPOE). The treasury has a retail value of over $240.00 and you could be the winner!

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on the treasury. {If you don't have an Etsy account, creating one is easy. Just sign up with your email address.}

CLICK HERE to go directly to this treasury:

I'm leaving the best part for last, because we're giving away not just one, but TWO treasuries! There will be two winners - one for each treasury. Winners will be announced on March 28.

Treasury #1: CLICK HERE
Treasury #2: CLICK HERE

Good luck!

Updated March 28th - Congratulations to Rebecca Jones! She won Treasury #2 (above). Thanks to everyone who entered! ♥

Pussy Willows

2011-03-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

Project 52 - Week 10

Another sign of spring ... pussy willows! Tucked into a container with a bit of water, they'll soon start to grow roots. They can then be planted in a pot with earth and later transferred to the garden.

My garden isn't large enough to accommodate them ... they'll grow as tall as 20 feet! Instead I enjoy them indoors as long as I can. You can also put them in a dry container and let them dry out on their own. They'll keep for several months this way.

Once the soft furry catkins begin to drop off, leaves will begin to develop. Hopefully by that time, there will be signs of spring outside.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my previous post. I'm so glad you enjoyed that little touch of spring. Have a wonderful weekend! ♥

Dreaming of Spring

2011-03-09T12:00:00.002-05:00

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. ~ Emma Goldman

It's no surprise that I love flowers. If I could afford them, I'd have fresh flowers in every room of my home all year long. During the summer, it's easy. I pick whatever's growing and even if it's just a single rose or a stem of lily of the valley, it has the power to completely transform a room - at least in my eyes.

It's snowing once again as I'm writing this but looking at my tulips, I can imagine that spring is just around the corner, patiently waiting to make her arrival.

I still prefer simple compositions of flowers. I like photographing them in vintage pitchers and mason jars, or paired with vintage books and tea cups.

Maybe it's the contrast of old and timeworn with fresh and new that I like. These are two of my favourite vintage books. I adore their blue cloth covers and they're worn just enough to make them interesting but are still in very usable condition.

Who doesn't love blue Mason jars? They're so versatile and I love the combination of the soft pink tulips against the aqua blue glass.

A little bit of spring from me to you. ♥

Scones and Jam

2011-03-04T16:00:00.001-05:00

Project 52 - Week 9

Simple pleasures ... freshly baked scones with homemade strawberry jam.

Bliss! ♥

Winter garden

2011-03-02T19:53:00.002-05:00

My garden in winter. A soft fluffy snow fell the night before, blanketing everything once again in a layer of white.

The snow clings to the branches like bunches of cotton, so soft that you're tempted to reach out to pick them.

In less than an hour, the sun had melted the snow from the branches ... but for a short time, my garden looked magical in the early morning light. ♥

Thoughts of Spring

2011-02-24T15:38:00.004-05:00

Project 52 - Week 8

I'm turning my thoughts to Spring this week. I don't care that it snowed again this morning, or that another snow storm is expected overnight and into tomorrow ... I'm so ready for Spring! I bought these pretty pink tulips at the grocery store on the weekend. I've missed photographing flowers and am happy to finally have some to photograph. I have a lot more photos to share with you next week. You might even get tired of seeing pink tulips on my blog. But it's better than snow, right?

Are there signs of spring where you live? Please share what's blooming or turning green or even what flowers are now in your grocery store. Maybe if we all ignore Winter, he'll get the hint and move on. It's worth a try! ♥

Monochrome

2011-02-18T09:00:00.001-05:00


Project 52 - Week 7

We took a little road trip this week to Niagara Falls, NY to visit friends. I took my camera along for the ride and snapped a few photos along the way. As it was overcast, all the photos were pretty monochromatic anyway so I decided to make this week's Project 52 image black and white. This is the Niagara River, taken as we crossed the bridge between Queenston, Ontario and Lewiston, New York.

I don't know about you but I've had enough of winter. I'm tired of the cold, the gray days, brown slushy snow, dirty cars and salt stains on my clothing. Spring can't come soon enough! *sigh*

♥

Shadow play

2011-02-10T20:07:00.000-05:00


Project 52 - Week 6

Thanks so much for your comments about my kitchen! It's amazing how much impact small changes can make.

Can I just say that I'm pretty tired of winter?? It's been so cold this week ... bone chilling cold! As I write this, it's 9 degrees ... and going down to -2 overnight. Next week is supposed to warm up to the low-30's ... I can't wait!

The shadows for this week's Project 52 photo are from my redbud tree in my front yard. At least the sun was shining!

Are you doing anything special this weekend for Valentine's Day? I'll be baking Linzer heart cookies - a tradition in our home. Our celebration is usually pretty low key ... somehow overpriced flowers and being rushed through dinner doesn't feel very romantic.

Have a wonderful weekend however you celebrate ... stay warm ... and Happy Valentine's!

♥ xoxo ♥

Kitchen mini-makeover

2011-02-09T16:00:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd show you a few photos of my new kitchen after its mini-makeover.

My kitchen layout works pretty well and the kitchen is just under ten years old but it was dark and dreary ... and a little cluttered. It's so much brighter and cleaner now!

I had two new cupboards custom built ... a full cupboard where the microwave shelf was and a smaller one over the stove to accommodate the new over the range microwave. The cupboards were then sprayed to give them a nice even finish.

Handles replaced the former builder supplied knobs on the cupboards and I had cup pulls installed on the drawers, all in oil-rubbed bronze. The faux beadboard backsplash was already in place (it's paintable wallpaper). And the under cabinet lighting is fabulous! I don't know how I managed without it!

The counter top is still in excellent condition so we kept it along with the taps. Eventually, we'll replace the taps with a similar finish to the hardware. Now that I have a bit of extra cupboard space, I'm able to keep the counter clear. Since these photos were taken, I've put the coffee maker and toaster oven back because we use them everyday. I'm also looking for one or two Windsor style bar stools so that I'm able to use this corner as a breakfast bar.

From start to finish, it took about 3 1/2 weeks. Sanding and painting the cupboards took the most time; installing the new cupboards, microwave and lighting was complete in just a couple of days. The paint colour I chose for the cabinets is Benjamin Moore's Cloud White in semi-gloss and all the hardware was purchased on eBay.

So, that's my new kitchen!

One more thing, I've extended free shipping in my Etsy shop until the end of February. Don't forget that you can also take an additional 10% off your purchase ... just enter DISC10 when you check out. ♥

Falling snow

2011-02-03T16:15:00.001-05:00

This was taken towards the end of Wednesday's snowfall. When it was over, we received a little over a foot of snow. With all of the snow that was falling, the groundhog didn't see his shadow so we're supposed to have an early spring. I sure hope he's right! I've had enough of winter. ♥

Good reads

2011-01-28T12:22:00.000-05:00

Project 52 - Week 4

There's nothing I love to do more than curl up with a few of my favourite decorating books. My reading room is so comfortable with soft down filled cushions and a cosy throw for those chilly days. Add a cup of tea and I'm in utter bliss!

I almost forgot to do my Project 52 this week! It's been a busy week getting the shop opened and on top of that, my kitchen has been having a makeover. I promise to share photos of the new look just as soon as it's all put back together.

Thank you all for your comments on my new website and shop opening! I appreciate them so much.

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

♥

Opening today ...

2011-01-26T11:02:00.002-05:00

My Etsy shop is now open! Since I had everything ready, I decided there wasn't any point waiting until Friday. I'll be adding listings over the next few days, so keep checking back.

Until February 7th, US and Canadian customers will receive FREE shipping and international customers will receive discounted shipping. And, as a little thank you, I'm offering my blog and FB followers a further discount of 10% on all purchases. Just enter DISC10 when you checkout.

Website

2011-01-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

My website is now up and running! There's a new splash page for easy navigation to my portfolio, blog and Etsy shop and a larger, updated gallery. I think the whole site looks fresher and cleaner. Let me know what you think!

http://lyndanaranjo.com

♥

I see the moon

2011-01-21T09:00:00.002-05:00

Project 52 - Week 3

I see the moon

and the moon sees me

God bless the moon

and God bless me!

~ nursery rhyme

Wednesday night's full moon was hidden behind clouds but I managed to snap this almost full moon a few days before. A 52 week project is so much more manageable than a 365 one! I'm really enjoying this and fully expect to finish the year. If I can make it through the winter, I don't think it will be a problem.

This week I've been spending 10+ hours a day working on my website. Thankfully, it's almost finished! I've created a whole new gallery with larger images that I think is looking pretty good. I'm getting excited too about getting my shop back up and running ... just one more week! I'll be glad to get back to my regular schedule!

Have a fabulous weekend!!

♥

Update ...

2011-01-16T11:16:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! If you don't follow me on Facebook, you may be wondering why you haven't been able to access my blog for the past few days. There is a problem with webs.com who host my blog template from Cinnamon Girl Studio. Thankfully, Timi (Cinnamon Girl) sent everyone affected a new blogging template on a different host so we could get back up and running again. So I'm back in business! :)

Hope you're all having a good weekend!

Through the Window

2011-01-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

Project 52 - Week 2

Up until this week, we've had a nice winter with only dustings of snow now and again. Winter has decided to play hardball and the snow is now piling up quickly, with a significant snowfall on Tuesday and another expected Saturday. This was taken from an upstairs window ... I wanted to capture the snow piled up against the window and a blurry glimpse of my garden.

Thank you so much for your comments on my last post ... they meant so much to me! Have a lovely weekend!

xox

Mark your calendars!

2011-01-12T16:26:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for summer! I've been busily editing photos for the past week and I'm working on some from last summer. We had more snow last night which makes me miss roses and butterflies even more.

I'm putting myself on a deadline and letting you know that my Etsy shop will re-open on January 28. Be sure to mark your calendars! I'll post more details closer to the date but I'm planning to have something special that weekend. You'll have to forgive me if I'm around less than usual for the next couple of weeks ... there's still a lot to be done!

When I decided to close my shop last October, three months seemed like plenty of time to finish what I wanted to accomplish. It wasn't. There are several projects I've been working on ... one is that I'm in the process of becoming a business. I'm also working on a texture collection that I had hoped to have ready early this year but it will more likely be much later in the year.

I also needed to step back and find my artistic center. I was listening to too many "experts" telling me how to run my shop, what my work should look like, and so on. In November, I did a digital detox and deleted everything that didn't fit with my own vision. I consolidated what I wanted to keep in Google Reader, so now it's much easier to find a website or blog when I want to read it. I'm now creating from my heart and it feels great. Several of my prints are being retired, some are being reworked and there are some new ones that I haven't had time to work on until now. So, in a nutshell, that's what I've been up to! I'm really excited about opening up my shop and revealing my new website to you on January 28!

♥

Hydrangea in Snow

2011-01-07T16:00:00.001-05:00

Project 52 - Week 1

Something new for 2011 is Project 52 - a photo a week for a year. Winter will be my biggest challenge but I think I can manage at least ONE photo a week. By the end of the year, I hope to have a collection of images that will reflect the year; something personal that I can look back on. I love the texture and color of dried hydrangeas and thought they looked pretty with a dusting of snow.

Thank you for your comments on my frosty photos in my previous post. I'm running way behind with visiting your blogs; some weeks there just aren't enough hours in the day! This weekend I'm going to be working on my website. I hit a bit of a wall with it before Christmas and haven't touched it since. Wish me luck!

Have a lovely weekend!

♥

Frosty Morning

2011-01-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

We don't often get a hoar frost but when we do, it turns the world into a winter wonderland. The morning began with a heavy fog and when the temperatures began to fall, the mist quickly froze on everything in sight.

I've never had the chance to photograph a hoar frost before. The frost forms little thorns on everything it touches. Truly magical!

Unfortunately, a hoar frost doesn't last very long. A few hours later and it was gone. This cast iron bird sitting on the edge of a birdbath appears to have caught a few frosty spears in its beak.

♥

Welcome 2011

2011-01-03T11:04:00.002-05:00

Can you believe that 2010 is already behind us? Although many wonderful things happened last year, I think my creative turning point was when I set my camera to full manual mode. Finally I was in total control of my photography! I haven't looked back since.

Now there's a fresh new year to look forward to and I have a lot of plans for 2011! My word for this year is "grow" and I hope to do a lot of growing, personally and professionally, by the end of the year. These are just a few of my aspirations for the year ...

Spend quality time on my photography.

Continue to simplify my home and lifestyle.

Choose vintage or handmade over purchased imported goods.

Buy local whenever possible, especially food.

Make time for creativity - keep my work table clear so that I can work on a project whenever a creative urge strikes.

Practice yoga 2-3 times a week; walk or run at least 2 days.

Eat fresh, homemade foods instead of prepared or packaged.

Lose 25 lbs by the end of 2011. There! I said it! Now you can hold me accountable. :)

* * * * * * * * *

Have you chosen a word for 2011? What about your aspirations for the upcoming year? Please share!

Happy New Year! Let's make it memorable!

♥

Christmas at home

2010-12-29T09:00:00.004-05:00

As promised, here are some photos of my Christmas decor. This year I decorated in silver and white with hints of gold and red.

I'm never sure where to put our village so it changes from year to year. This year I chose to put it under the tree ~ my favourite spot so far.

This is my living/dining room. I saw a wreath hanging from a mirror on the Pottery Barn website and decided to try it on our antique mantle. It's hanging by a suction cup and actually fell down today for the first time in a month {it's back up for a few more days}. I lit the candles on the mantle just after I'd hung the wreath to see what the whole effect would look like. I smelled something like burned plastic and noticed that I'd scorched my wreath! A few quick fixes made everything right again but I didn't light the candles a second time. :)

A few details ... vintage postcards, bottle brush trees {bought on Etsy} and a vintage bottle brush wreath.

I hope you've enjoyed a peek into my home this Christmas! This week I've been taking a bit of a break, relaxing and catching up on reading and watching dvd's. I can hardly believe that 2010 will be over in just a few more days. Thanks for being with me through 2010 ... I've made many new friends this year and I'm grateful for both old and new.

Happy New Year to you and your families ... best wishes for 2011!

Winter Moon

2010-12-27T19:52:00.001-05:00

This was taken the morning after the lunar eclipse. When I opened the blinds I saw this beautiful full moon just beginning to disappear behind the trees. I quickly grabbed my camera and took this photo through a second storey window. Sometimes you just have to seize the moment ~ I would never have been able to get this angle from the ground.

♥

Christmas Wishes

2010-12-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

As I write this I still have baking and wrapping to do but I'm confident that everything will be finished by Christmas Eve. It looks like we'll have a white Christmas ... there's a light dusting of snow on the ground now and flurries are expected Christmas day.

May your day be filled warmth and joy as you celebrate with family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

baking day

2010-12-22T15:10:00.002-05:00

candy kisses

2010-12-20T19:52:00.001-05:00

I discovered candy cane kisses this year ... let's just say I can't stop eating them! :) I've always preferred white chocolate and these are delicious!

Are you ready for Christmas? I'm not! Next year I'm promising myself that I will NOT try to decorate, bake, shop and wrap in the span of four weeks. This is a recipe for insanity! {You can remind me that I said this next year when I'm trying to get everything done in four weeks.}

So, tell me ... what's your best secret for staying organized over the holidays?

winter's arrival

2010-12-13T19:16:00.001-05:00

Last night we had our first real snowfall. We've had flurries but this time the snow stayed on the ground. We've been lucky ... huge amounts of snow have been falling all around us but thankfully we've been spared.

I haven't taken many photos lately ... these gray bleak days don't afford much light ... but today I decided to head outdoors to photograph the snow. It wasn't long before I remembered why I don't like winter photography ... it's C-O-L-D!! A few quick photos and I was more than ready to head back to the warm car. Expect to see a lot of still life from me until the warm weather returns.

♥

poinsettias

2010-12-03T16:37:00.003-05:00

I went to the garden centre this morning to buy a poinsettia and was glad I'd brought my camera along ... so many beautiful poinsettias! I ended up buying a white one again this year.

This weekend I'll be doing some baking and hopefully finish decorating. I enjoyed reading about what you love (or don't love!) about winter earlier this week. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend filled with the spirit of Christmas!

♥

things i ♥ thursday ... first snow

2010-12-02T13:37:00.000-05:00

Gathered from these talented photographers on Flickr ...

1. ~first snow ~, 2. Untitled, 3. tree line, 4. dream

♥

december

2010-12-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire ... it is the time for home. ~ Edith Sitwell

While I'll be the first to admit that winter isn't exactly my favourite season, I enjoy the indoor warmth that winter brings. I like lighting candles each night before dinner, having quilts and throws everywhere to wrap up in when I feel a chill, and enjoying comfort foods like soups and stews.

The weeks leading up to Christmas tend to be busy ones. I know my "to do" list grows longer every day. This year I'm going to try, really try, to slow down and enjoy the journey instead of rushing through the preparations.

Tell me what you enjoy the most about winter or what you love most about the days before the holidays.

Happy December!

♥

wild raspberries

2010-11-30T10:45:00.000-05:00

It was such a treat to discover these wild raspberries on one of my recent woodland walks. Raspberries ... in November! No, I didn't eat any {although I was tempted!} ... the birds will enjoy them as the weather turns colder. I was just content at finding them.

♥

thankful

2010-11-24T14:58:00.000-05:00

I can't deny it anymore, the holidays are here. I've been making lists and checking them twice. Tomorrow I'll bake a pecan pie for our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. This is my husband's favourite thing about our Can/Am marriage ... TWO thanksgivings (we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving in October). We'll have our dinner on Friday so that we can share it with family (it isn't a holiday here) but will spend a couple of hours curled up on the sofa watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow. On Saturday we'll head to the basement for the Christmas decorations that have been stored since last year and spend the weekend making the house festive. I can't wait!

I have many things to be thankful for ... my husband, our home together, my parents and brother, being able to work at something I love, our health, to name just a few. I'm also thankful for each and every one of you ... for your visits, your comments and your friendship.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

xox

summer's last roses

2010-11-17T17:09:00.003-05:00

Last Friday I took advantage of the mild weather and picked the last few roses before I cut them back for the winter. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon photographing them.

My David Austin roses are my favourites (but shhhh ... don't tell my other roses!) This rose, Winchester Cathedral, was my very first Austin rose. It's usually first and last to bloom in my garden. I love their white blooms with just a hint of pink here and there.

Their fragrance is wonderful too. Sadly they only lasted a few days indoors before their petals dropped. I can't wait until next summer so I can enjoy them again. It's going to be a long winter.

♥

last leaf of autumn

2010-11-08T17:24:00.002-05:00

We took another woodland walk a few days ago. Most of the leaves have already fallen but I spied this one that was caught in a branch. There's still colour in the woods ... it's just softer and more muted but it's still there.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I missed last week's Favourite Finds. There just wasn't enough time to get something together so I've decided that it will appear a little less frequently. I'm spending too much time looking for things online and not enough time on my photography projects. I'll wait until I've found something exciting and then I'll share it with you. Thanks for understanding!

♥

the back door

2010-11-02T16:35:00.000-04:00

I've always been fascinated by doors. This one was tucked away in a corner of an old municipal building, probably rarely used and maybe even locked. But I liked how the fanlight reflected the trees and the decorative arch over the doorway. Doors are kind of mysterious ... you don't know what's behind them or where they may take you.

♥

favourite finds - gift packaging

2010-10-29T09:13:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it ... I'm a sucker for nice packaging. I've even been known to buy something just because I liked the way it looked. My other weakness is anything that comes in a kit. I love kits! For this week's favourite finds I've got packaging kits to share with you ... and all featuring another of my obsessions - Kraft paper! Yes, I've had fun this week. :)

Sweet Findings

I love this silhouette kit from Sweet Findings. Kraft paper bags with white embellishments and these gorgeous silhouette tags ... fabulous!

Packagery

Not everything fits into a flat envelope so these little pillow boxes from Packagery would be great to have on hand. This kit includes red and white bakers' twine and twist ties ... think Christmas! Just add a few rubber stamps on the tag or paper doilie and voila! A beautiful and uniquely packaged gift.

Olive Manna

I'm just a little addicted to Olive Manna. Just look at all the wonderful goodies in this kit! This would keep me ~~playing~~ busy for hours! I think I need those Kraft stickers ... seriously! In addition to her Etsy shop, she has a wonderful website with even more packaging (if that's even possible!)

With Christmas just around the corner, it's not too early to start thinking about your gift wrap. Hopefully this has given you a few ideas! Please take some time to look at the other wonderful things these three shops have to offer.

♥

curved lines

2010-10-27T15:08:00.001-04:00

Both of these photos were taken because I liked the curved lines. It's not often that you find a fence that curves. The verdigris colour is also unusual, as are the pine cone finials.

This was taken during my woodland walk a few weeks ago. The tracks are no longer used and I like how they disappear into the woods. Maybe on my next walk, I'll follow them just to see how far they go.

♥

a perfect autumn day

2010-10-25T15:50:00.000-04:00

While I was in the garden, I looked up and noticed how beautiful our tree looked in the afternoon sun. The sky was such an intense shade of blue and the leaves looked like they were made of gold. I ran inside for my camera so I could capture this perfect autumn day.

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favourite finds - fall entryway

2010-10-22T15:36:00.002-04:00

Image Source * Pottery Barn

I'm still in an Autumn decorating kind of mood and have found so much inspiration on the Pottery Barn website this week. I bought an old bench this summer at the antique flea market similar to the one in the lower right image. It's been on my porch ever since because it just looked perfect there. Seeing it here makes me love it even more.

Did you notice the cheesecloth hanging in the window behind the wreath in the lower right corner? Wouldn't that be a fabulous look for Halloween?

I'm going to take some time this weekend to try rearranging some of my Autumn decorations ... maybe I'll find a new look!

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I've loved reading about your favourite apples and how you prefer to enjoy them. Thanks for sharing!

apple days

2010-10-19T16:14:00.001-04:00

One of my favourite things about Autumn is apples. There are a lot of apple orchards around me so I have quick and easy access to fresh apples whenever I want them.

I love baking with apples ... apple pies, crisps and apple sauce.

The basket is a vintage apple basket that I bought at an antique flea market a couple of years ago. It's filled with a mixture of Macintosh, Cortland and Red Delicious apples.

The orchards are almost picked out now ... I might make one more trip to buy another bag or two to last into the winter.

What's your favourite apple and the best way to enjoy them?

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getting cosy

2010-10-15T14:29:00.000-04:00

There's a definite chill in the air and it's time to get cosy indoors! Here are a few of my favourite finds this week ...

1. Love these Autumn Lanterns from Midwest Finds ... they would look so fabulous for Halloween or an evening gathering.

2. French Script Candles from The Shabby Chic Cottage ... almost too pretty to burn!

3. Grain Sack Pillow from Shawnee23 ... perfect for curling up with on the sofa for those cool Autumn nights.

My last favourite find this week might keep you busy for awhile! I discovered Fall decorating on the Pottery Barn website that has how-to videos for projects like decorating your mantel or making a simple centerpiece.

Have a wonderful weekend!

♥

woodland walk

2010-10-12T17:01:00.001-04:00

We took advantage of the beautiful weather over the weekend to take a woodland walk. Right in the centre of town is an old mill pond surrounded by trees and paths.

Most of the trees are wearing the most beautiful shades of red, gold and orange right now. I loved how the colours reflected on the water.

The colours are even more intense against the bright blue sky.

This is actually an old railway trestle that's been converted into a bridge ... a perfect spot to stop and take in Autumn's colour.

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