In the Garden ... A Baby Robin

This little one was splashing around in the birdbath but hopped out just as I grabbed my camera.  Lucky for me it sat on the edge for awhile allowing me to get closer and closer as I snapped away.   Yes, I got this close.  I couldn't believe it!  We have a lot of robins this year and right now the little ones are everywhere.  I like watching them - especially when they decide to play in the birdbath.

Splashing about in the water sounds like a pretty good idea in this heat ... wow, it's HOT out there!  How do you stay cool?  I'm thinking ice cold lemonade and maybe a good book (or two).  Share your tips for keeping cool now that the hot, humid days of Summer are here!

xo, Lynda

Simple Pleasures - Lilacs

It's lilac time!  Or rather, it was.  Mine finished blooming a couple of weeks ago but I'm just now getting around to posting photos.  The season lasts longer this way, right?  I think lilacs are my favourite Spring flower.  I can never resist cutting a few branches and bringing them inside so I can enjoy their wonderful fragrance, even though I know they won't last very long as cut flowers.

I like to keep my floral arrangements simple.  A few lilacs arranged in a vintage Mason jar is my idea of perfection.  Then again, everything looks great in a Mason jar, don't you think?  Which is probably why I can never resist buying just one more to add to my collection.

I also like to use baskets to hold flowers.  To fill a basket with fresh flowers, just tuck a jar inside the basket then add the flowers ... or line your basket with plastic and use floral foam.

Tomorrow, B. goes for treatment #3 (those two weeks go quickly!).  The side effects from #2 were more severe and longer lasting than the first but overall, he's doing well.  We really appreciate your ongoing thoughts and prayers.

Have a great week!  xo, Lynda

In the Garden ... Chive Blossoms

It's great to once again be able to step outside and cut fresh herbs from my garden to flavour my cooking.  One of my all time favourite herbs to use is chives.  I love their light onion-y flavour and most of all, their beautiful purple flowers.  I used to make chive blossom vinegar.  I think I liked how it looked even more than its flavour.  Maybe I'll make some again ... next year!  :)

I also like to make little bouquets of chive blossoms for the kitchen, either in mason jars or small pitchers.  They look (and smell!) fresh and add a touch of country.

Do you grow and use herbs?  Do you have a herb garden or do you just tuck them into your garden wherever you can, like I do?

Visions of Pink

Hello friends!  Yes, it's been awhile!  May was an incredibly busy, crazy month.  Bobby has just finished round 2 of 12 chemotherapy sessions and is doing fairly well.  He had a PICC line inserted the week before he started chemo and gets 2 of his 3 chemo drugs administered by IV at the cancer centre.  He comes home with the third drug which runs for 46 hours and is disconnected by home care.  His "bad" days start around day #3 (today) and last about 4 days.  Then life returns to "normal" for a week until the next round (he gets chemo every other week).

I photographed these beautiful apple blossoms early in May.  Apple blossoms were a bit scarce this year as a late frost killed them off, which means local apples will be in short supply this fall.  It's apple country around here and many of the local orchards won't have much of a harvest.  One farmer lost his entire orchard and another expects apple prices will more than double.

But I'm glad I found one tree with blossoms!

Unlike apple blossoms, crabapple blossoms were plentiful!  I almost missed photographing any Spring blooms this year but caught these just as they were finishing - thanks to my Mom who spotted them for me.

I'm hoping (fingers crossed), now that Bobby has a regular schedule for his chemotherapy, I'll be back posting regularly again.  But first, my house is in dire need of a good cleaning!  So much has been swept under the rug (literally!) over these past few months. I've decided to take advantage of a rainy weekend to put things back to order.  I did manage to plant my garden even though it took me about two weeks to do it.  I miss having my husband's help!  I tucked a strawberry plant among the flowers and I can't wait until the fruit ripens.  It goes without saying that you'll be seeing the photos!

Have a great weekend!  See you soon.  xo

Blue Hydrangeas

Hi everyone!  It's been awhile but I think things are starting to settle down a bit.  Bobby had his surgery on April 4th.  Everything went well, and while the surgeon removed "suspicious" lymph nodes, there was no obvious spread.  He developed an infection about a week later which meant a trip to emerg and a minor procedure the next day.  He was able to come home with daily home care visits, which will probably continue for another 2-3 weeks.  As I'm writing this, we still don't have the pathology report on the lymph nodes but we should have it any day now.  We finally got the report back!  Only 3 of 35 lymph nodes were affected!  He'll still need chemo but this is such good news!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers, comments and emails ... you have no idea how much they mean to us.  Bobby has done amazingly well!  We're actually beginning to feel like we're getting back on solid ground again.

We celebrated our Easter a week early because Bobby would be in the hospital on Easter Sunday.  My parents bought me a gorgeous blue hydrangea, which I've been photographing.  Yes, I've finally picked up my camera again!  It's been a long time and it feels so good to be back taking photos.

 I can't wait for my hydrangeas to start blooming in my garden!  We've had such a strange spring ... unseasonably warm one day then freezing cold the next.  My crocus, which usually bloom prolifically, only had one or two flowers and I think only one daffodil and one tulip actually bloomed.  Lots of leaves, just no flowers.  Oh well, it won't be long until I have lilacs!

The idea for the flower petal heart was completely inspired by my friend, Georgianna ... but I couldn't resist!  :)

Before I sign off, Vicky from Simply Hue is once again running her e-course, Raining Umbrellas.  In Vicky's words, Raining Umbrellas is "a 4 week long creativity e-course to inspire you and motivate you in your creative journey".  The course begins on May 7th and registration is now open.  Click here for more details.

Well, that's about it for now ... I hope you have a lovely weekend!  See you soon.  xo