Pit

After arriving to the cottage around 10pm on Friday night, our yawns and sleepy faces were telling that this was going to be an early evening; A glass of wine, small snack and then tucked into bed for amazing sleeps in the northern air. And then One glass of wine lead to two, the polish vodka was cracked and our favorite old cottage card game of Pit was brought out.

The sweet smell of must mixed with memories comes flooding out of these cards as they are dealt around and the trading begins. A simple game of trying to collect all one commodity (wheat, corn, etc) everyone trades at the same time, shouting over each other and trying to be the first to get the "corner on" whatever you are fighting to collect.

Points for the winner and deductions for whomever is cursed by the Bear and Bull market cards, hand after hand was dealt last Friday as everyone was convinced that just one more game was in order.

A quick glance at the clock between games reminded us that the night had now turned into the wee hours of the morning and our yawns and sleepy faces encouraged us off to bed. The Pit cards put away and the market closed on another perfect cottage evening with friends.

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Golden Mushroom

Another dark and rainy day, sweaters wrapped snugly and rain boots clomping along - not even a week into the season and it is definitely feeling like Fall!

We spent a beautiful weekend at the cottage with great friends, eating, relaxing and playing cards into the wee hours of the morning. A fire constantly roaring in the fireplace to keep the chill off and something always cooking on the stove, keeping the windows all fogged up.

There has been a ton of rain up there this season so the property was covered in big meaty mushrooms. Some more charming then others, including this sweet little golden one that Mr. S found growing under a pine tree. I almost expected to see a little wooden door on the mushroom stem and a sweet critter peeking through to greet us.

More photos of the weekend and the card game that kept us up all night coming soon!

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5 years...

This weekend Mr. S and I celebrated 5 years of meeting at a little wine store at the end of my parent's street, going to one of Mr. S's show that evening and then chatting the night away and into the next morning. We pretty much haven't looked back and I couldn't be more grateful and totally smitten to have such an amazing, talented and beautiful man in my life.

I adore you Mr. S. Thank you for letting me hang out and be a part of your life - it rules!

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Plywood Walls?

Photos care of Country Home

Yesterday my Pa and Sibling J gutted our basement! Walls, ceiling, awkward cupboards - GONE!
After some moving of heaters vents, etc. to maximize the space we are going to rebuild it as a recording studio and everyone is super excited about it.

Because it is a basement space with little light, we have been having a lot of conversations about exploring alternatives to drywall to keep the space, warm, interesting and as bright as possible. So far the one option we can agree on is plywood!
I have some apprehensions about the space looking unfinished, but I think with the right grain and clever patterning (panels hung with the grains going in different directions, perhaps different stains) it could be really fun.

And, I also think it will be a nice compliment to the beautiful and raw pine floors that Sibling J and my Pa discovered during the demolition! Underneath a layer of particleboard and far too many layers of peel and stick tiles was gorgeous, untreated pine that we are going to sand, stain and bring back to life.

Tomorrow I will post some photos of the demo. Nothing more thrilling then a blank slate!

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Soaring High

Last weekend on the way home from the cottage, we made a quick stop while still up north and were shocked by the site overhead. Hundreds of birds were flying around together; circling and soaring and creating a swarm of black dots against the increasing storm clouds that shortly after let open their flood gates.

Probably the most impressive part was that the majority of the birds were gorgeous hawks, swooping and diving with their wings stretched out far. The occasional flap now and then would send them high into the air - their decent a graceful free fall as they navigated the invisible roadways in the sky.

If it were not for the rain that sent us running back into the car, and my very strong fear of being pooped on (a fear based in fact as I have been pooped on so so many times) I could have stayed there and watched all afternoon. Just beautiful.

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Carnival Rides

Carnival rides are the backdrop to some of my favorite memories at the exhibition. From the moment you enter the grounds and their towering height and popping lights confirms that all is the same as every year before - same location, same designs and probably same people who make them go.
They transform an empty space into a yearly tradition and take you back in time to the first day you set foot on the grounds. Their retro design, colors and amazing signage; the way they click and clack as riders are flung into the sky and the constant hum of screams that can be heard from every corner of the park.

They are the perfect setting for one of my favorite days, and yet in my opinion anything that can pack up and leave on the back of a truck after two weeks should not be responsible for whirling and twirling you into the sky. The two just don't add up for me (portability + extreme heights ≠ Fun) and so I happily observe those daredevils that ride the Ferris Wheel from the safety of the fairway, roasted corn in hand.

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Tiny Tom

A day at the Toronto Exhibition would not be complete for Papa J and I without a visit to the Tiny Tom doughnut stand!

The charm of those sweet little dough balls plopping into the oil and frying right before your eyes has yet to wear off after 28 years of visiting. Each year we ponder how to sugar them and this year apple-cinnamon won out (I think it must be a sign of maturity because in previous years I opted for all 4 flavors mixed together).

And speaking of sweet things.... today is Papa J's Birthday!! To the best Dad anyone could ask for, Happy Happy Birthday!

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A perfect long weekend!

I am back at my desk today after a perfect four day long weekend. A long weekend that actually felt that way!
Starting with the yearly traditional of going to the Ex with my dad (Toronto's Exhibition/Fair) Friday was spent indulging in delicious and deep fried international flavors, spending far too many quarters on fair games and fighting our way through hoards of Jonas Brother's Fans (the concert ended just as we were leaving - worst timing ever!)
From there it was off to the cottage for a cozy weekend of fires, board games and delicious eats. The weather never got nice so there was no reason to leave the comfort of our cozy clothes and the roaring fire.
The weekend was capped with some work on my future craft/sewing room (eeeeek!) and a family party celebrating my little cousin heading off to school.

Perfection. I hope your weekend was as well.

More photos of all coming soon!

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Wood Grain

As a new home owner I am starting to see beauty in new things. The way the screen door now opens thanks to a shiny new hinge, the hum of an energy efficient washer that is actually drying my clothes (not destroying them), and how sacred a great paint brush for "cutting in" really is. Beautiful.
And don't get my started on building supplies - stunning!! A box of green galvanized screws, so uniform and symmetrical; a pile of freshly cut saw dust and the way wood grain flows across an uncut piece of plywood.

The piece of plywood in the photo above (used to build the new shed) reminded me of peacock feathers and wise owl eyes. It is like looking at clouds. What do you see?

PS. Wondering about Yesterday's mystery plant? Heather was right! It is a Double Purple Datura. Totally beautiful and totally toxic!! Apparently even a small bit of this plant will have you hallucinating and headed to the hospital.

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A mystery in our Garden

With the amazing help of Papa J, Mr. S and I have been slowly working away on the blank space that is our garden.To help with the transformation we made a stop at the local garden center to pick up a few new additions and came across this wee little plant - black bark, dark purple and waxy flowers and little pods resembling green walnuts. There was only one in the store and no one could name it.
We took that sweet little plant home with us that day and planted it safely into our new garden, but alas it still remains nameless. A lot of speculation about what it could be, but no definite answers.

Do you know what this is?

xo. L.

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