By the beginning of June, we can be fairly confident if a plant or shrub in the garden hasn't started to push out greenery, it probably didn't survive the winter. This is always a sad reality, knowing that plants, too, have a life cycle. I was reminiscing with my daughter about the loss of… Continue reading My Extended Family…
Category: Beauty
Lily of the Valley…a lucky charm
This photo (left) and quote are found in Carolyne Roehm's book, Flowers, where she has dedicated a chapter to Lily of the Valley. Like her, I have an affection for this simple, delicate, fragrant, hardy woodland flower that grows so effortlessly in our Northern Hemisphere gardens. On May 1, France celebrates, La… Continue reading Lily of the Valley…a lucky charm
Rainy Days…
I love a rainy day, which makes me, by definition, a pluviophile, which by the way is not a word in my personal lexicon! The garden looks so beautiful during and after a rain. Dust and debris are washed away, leaving behind a lustre that cannot be replicated by watering with tap water. Have you… Continue reading Rainy Days…
Spring forward…
The sun is shining, snow is melting, and water is running, but as I look out my front window, it's apparent that winter is still very much here. I'm so anxious for Spring that I have been trying to cheat a couple of extra weeks into the coming season...albeit indoors. I've been going to… Continue reading Spring forward…
Aging Gracefully?…
I love this quotation. Age is just a matter of perception...right? And I love those sayings like 60 is the new 40, 50 is the new 30 etc. In reality, though, aging gracefully is not for the faint of heart...especially when others have opinions about how you should approach the passing of years.… Continue reading Aging Gracefully?…
The French Beret…
Like champagne, baguette, and macaron, the beret is an iconic symbol synonymous with France. Berets were originally worn by French shepherds centuries ago. They believed (correctly) that if wool could keep sheep cool in summer, dry in inclement weather, and warm in winter, the same principle should work for them. Their crude, wool… Continue reading The French Beret…
The Warm Glow of Beeswax Candles…
About 10 years ago, I started selling beeswax candles in my store. A friend, who ran the general store in Colinton, (a small town in northern Alberta), would stop by for a visit and shop at CC when she came to the city to pick up supplies. She supported the farmers in her community… Continue reading The Warm Glow of Beeswax Candles…
Simple Pleasures…
If the past two months have taught us anything, I hope we now realize that we shouldn't put off doing the things we've talked about doing or more importantly dreamed about. We've never really known what may be around the corner, but this situation is teaching us not to wait around to find out. By… Continue reading Simple Pleasures…
The New Year’s Concert…
The PBS broadcast of the New Year's Concert at the Musikverein in Vienna is the icing on the holiday celebrations. The Vienna Philharmonic performance of the New Year's Concert has been a musical tradition since December 31, 1939. My love of classical music began when I took a university music history course. I naively… Continue reading The New Year’s Concert…
Is Red the New Nude…
It's party season...a time to dress up! Along with the little black dress (LBD), red lipstick completes the look for any festive occasion. Red lipstick has been in and out of favour for thousands of years. Cleopatra was one of the first to wear a red lip but all through the centuries, society has… Continue reading Is Red the New Nude…