What are you doing today?

Today is all about dog walking, house cleaning, yard work and coming up with a delicious dinner that can be made quickly.

Oh yes, and it's very much about raking up the mounds of hair Jada's leaving all over the house after her bath the other day!

So. . .

What are you doing today?

Fall Blooming

I did a field trip this morning, for the kids in grade 11 and 12, so my day is rather short.

I thought I would give you a quick peek at a few of the things still blooming in my garden.

Happy fall gardening!

Our little Getaway

We've been home for over a week now so I had better fill you in on our little getaway before I start to forget what happened!

We went down to British Columbia's Frazer Valley to attend the wedding of my lovely niece Mini Me ( aka Tamara's daughter.) http://thegreenhousediaries.blogspot.com/

As many of you may know, if Tamara is going to do something, she's going to throw her heart and soul into it. I figured she might want a little help, so Henry and I went a few days early.

The question arose as to where we might stay while we were there.

Henry and I will be celebrating our 24Th anniversary next month and we had never left the kids for much longer than a day and a night. On this trip we would be gone five days and nights!

I thought it would be nice to spend a few days at a bed and breakfast.

While I was down for my youngest sister's wedding, Tamara and I checked out a five star B&B close by.

It was amazing. The beds were sky high, the house had been a Travelers Inn, since I don't know when (was it over a hundred years Tam?)and breakfast was to be a dining experience.

But, oh the cost!!

At that rate all we could afford would be a two night stay and you've got to know there is no way I could eat $20 worth of breakfast every morning! (Henry could have though. . .)

We went home and I started checking out the local hotels.

Tamara, as usual came up with a winner.( with most of the glory going to her sister-in-law Darlene!)

Because Darlene knew someone. Someone in the process of starting a B&B.

In historic Fort Langley. How charming is that?

After chatting with Marilyn ( our host) I was thrilled to discover that due to the many discounts she came up with for us,(one of which was because we were her first guests) we would be able to stay for the entire 5 days! In her suite called The Nest!

It was a lovely place to stay. We were in a separate suite that was reached by going up the stairway in the main hall.

The decor was quite inspiring and at the same time cozy. ( It made me feel as though I was in an artist's retreat.) Many different paintings and sketches hung on the walls. You knew that our hosts collected as there was evidence throughout the suite.

Those furs are real people!

A delicious breakfast was brought up each morning and left on a trolley outside the door.

Henry did not have to complain about being hungry after these meals! ( I tried to be artistic when I took this picture. I think I fell a little short don't you?)

How cute is this?!

This suite had a large bedroom, dining area, living room, bathroom and a bit of a kitchen. And I can't forget the lovely gas fireplace that we found lit each evening when we came home, or the baking left to snack on. . .

Henry was sick on Sunday, so as I left for church I left a message telling our host not to worry about the room that day. She was up there before he knew it, asking if he would like some soup or an electric blanket to keep him warm on the little balcony!

I know she had a few things she still wants to work out , but for us it was wonderful!

Of course the very best thing about it all was being able to spend all that time together, without the kids.

I mean I love them but. . .

This was bliss. ( Although I had a very hard time not phoning home. But I didn't. Until the day we left. But that's another story.)

Sunflowers

As many of you know ,I started this blog with the idea that it would be all about gardening.

I started out okay, but well, other things started to happen.

Once we began renovating the bathrooms , one thing lead to another and other things needed doing.

Suddenly I was spending more time shopping (shudder!) than I was gardening.

I hardly did anything I had planned.

Plants I had started from seed died waiting to be planted in the spring, due to my lack of a greenhouse and too many nights taking care of other people's plants ( but I love you anyways Tam!)

I had planned to plant sunflowers as I love how they look in fall.

That didn't happen, but, thankfully the birds did it for me!

After spending all of last week cleaning and organizing the house I finally, by Saturday evening was able to say I was done.

I had reached the bottom of the laundry pile( a twice yearly event), scrubbed and vacuumed and rearranged the living room.

The time had come to use the lovely sunflowers in the house.

Here's where they went. . .

The garden room.

By my favorite chair.

In my pretty new bathroom.

In the kitchen.

And then, for something a little different,

Some late flowering clematis paired with a bit of sea lavender.

Fresh flowers from the garden, a clean house and, oh yes, applesauce cake made with our homemade applesauce and butter icing. (yes I use real butter!)

Life is very good.

Fall on the Prairies

It's well and truly fall here on the prairies.

A prairie fall is gold and brown with small flashes of red. The wind tosses the leaves about and before you know it, the trees are bare, but it's beautiful while it lasts.

I'm very blessed by my bus route as it takes me out of the big city into a neighbouring town well known for it's tree lined streets.

Above you see the country road that leads to our school. Driving down it everyday gives me an opportunity to watch the seasons change and allows me to feel a part of God's natural world.

I don't do poetic very well I'm afraid, but I do love fall.

Holly had her birthday yesterday and fun was had by all.

Crystal dropped by, and my mom came as well.

Holly requested perogies for her birthday meal and although I wanted to make them myself, I knew that wasn't going to happen so, I did the next best thing and bought them at the farmer's market on Saturday morning.

They do take time to make what with the boiling and frying but, we do love them!

Happy 21st Holly!

Oh, and what do you think she did?. . . .

Hmmmm. . . .

I received a lovely gift in the mail late last week.

I was the lucky winner of a give away over at Tollipop. http://www.tollipop.com/

Now what do you think I won?

Oooohh!

A painting!

Aren't these girls sweet?

Now where shall I put this?

Oh yes, right up here on my plant shelves. The perfect spot.

Thanks Kirsten, for the lovely prize.

A Birthday Post

I want to wish Nola over at alamo north http://alamo-north.blogspot.com/ a happy birthday today.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday Nola!

Tommorow is Holly's 21st birthday.

We will be celebrating with homemade pergogies which I just bought at the farmers market and cherry delight instead of cake as Holly doen't like cake.

I'm off now. It's time to scrub some floors and bathrooms. . .

Whoo Hoo!

I'm Cheating!

Well, as you all know it's unbelievably busy over here so. . .
no time to write any of the hundreds of stories running through my head theses days.
So, instead of writing something new I'm giving you a link to something old.
About four years ago my friend Ev and I (okay, mostly Ev) worked on a website for my fledgling garden design company.
To add a little interest I wrote a few 'editorials'
Click on 'What's on Rosa's mind " to see what was going on back then.
November's post is Ev's favorite.
http://www3.telus.net/public/evelynb/weare.htm
Now. . .
I'm off to drive the bus and this weekend. . .
Henry and I get to work on a very big project.
Stop by tomorrow for a birthday post.