Fleeting Days of Summer....

We spent another breakfast morning on the front porch before the young adults left for their day at the Farmer's Market with their british friend, giving him a taste of the Mennonite flavour in the rural countryside.
I had to run a few local errands, so I grabbed my camera and captured these scenes along the way...
Shopping at the local hardware store:

The corn is maturing and should be ready for harvest soon. Some of the local farmers have started already. I could smell the scent of corn silage early this morning. When you grow up on a farm, you never forget the smell of each season and each crop:)

Soybeans will be harvested in the next week or two:

Goats and swiss bells...can it get any cuter?

Just so adorable and so sweet...
... and actually very tiny...
...I just want to take him home with me:
How I love the sheep grazing:
Back home again, the last of the summer gardens:
~Turtlehead...a perennial given to me by my friend Shirley...it is so lovely!
~Phlox:
~Geraniums in bloom all summer:
~Rose of Sharon still in bloom:

My daughter is waiting for me as it is lunch time....to the front porch we go....again!
We are enjoying these last leisurely days of summer, before the routines of the Fall season arrive.

Library Basket Lovelies

We have enjoyed our front porch almost on a daily basis this summer and have often taken our breakfast, coffee/tea there. It is also a great place to enjoy library goodness. This is just one of the many library books I have been enjoying lately thanks to my colleages S&N who brought it to my attention:

I am leaving shortly to spend an entire day surrounded by books such as this one and will have more to share later...

Thankfully the library is air-conditioned as we are experiencing some very hot and humid days here, one final fling of summer before the Fall season approaches.

Enjoy your fleeting days of summer, dear readers...

Making Time for Visits

It has been a busy past week again, with trips to the dentist for youngest daughter, extra summer shifts at the library, courses to complete, shopping and maintaining the home on the side.

On Thursday I made time for and enjoyed the company of my friend Shirley and her children who came for a visit and a swim in the pool. When the rains came down, we went inside for games, movie and chatting.
Yesterday my farming brother Dave, his wife and their four adorable, sweet children from the Niagara area phoned to confirm that they were coming and would be arriving by 11'ish.
I set to work with the baking, making oatmeal cookies and more of our favourite butter tarts, (more with recipes next week) cutting bouquets of flowers from the gardens (done by Jill) and set out all their favourite activities they like to do at Aunt Joanne's house.

Butter tarts fresh from the oven:

Garden Bouquet, candles lit, and goodies waiting to be served:

Farm tractors and farm animals for cute youngest boy:

Dora activities for three adorable little girls:





Groovy Girls:






Library Basket of Books:






Some relaxation time for Dad and Mom

while Auntie took care of the children:

Swimming Fun:

Fountains to splash in:

While my family was enjoying time in the pool, I set up a chicken wrap buffet for lunch including a variety of wraps, grilled chicken, red peppers, onions, veggies and dip, chicken fingers for the children, and watermelon for all.
We also received another family in the afternoon who knew my brother and his wife as they used to live in the Niagara area. Their four children were an added delight as they played so nicely together with my nieces and nephew. We had fun gathering the eggs from the hen house, feeding grain and watermelon rinds to the hens who squawked with gratitude, and playing with the 'new' toys and activities.

It was an enjoyable afternoon of reconnecting and sharing, as we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and the pleasure of a relaxing summer afternoon.

A Day at the Cottage

It has been a week today that my hubby and I, along with two of our daughters, spent a memorable day with our friends at a cottage three hours south of us at Long Point on Lake Erie. The travelling through Norfolk County was wonderful as we passed many rural villages and beautiful countryside with a variety of agriculture, very different from our area. The soil was sandier and the crops ranged from lavender fields, fruit orchards, ginseng farms, tree nurseries, tobacco fields, potatoes, watermelon, pumpkins, squash, and zucchini fields. Of course we had to make a 'pit stop' at the half-way point at our favourite coffee shop for a bathroom break and a tall dd coffee and muffin to go.

We arrived at Long Point to see the waves on Lake Erie, the miles and miles of sandy beaches, and sunbathers, cottages and boats. Our friends were so gracious and welcoming, so thankful that we came! The cottage they stayed at was situated on a canal within walking distance to the beach (5 minutes away)

This was our greeting at the cottage door:

...and the walkway around to the back deck where we spent some of our time; a beautiful pathway with driftwood arbour...

...and a lovely butterfly on a Buddleia bush to greet us:




Inside, the cottage was decorated with many images and stunning photographs of the lake and surroundings, along with books about the history of the area. The cottage had an open concept design with plenty of room for two families and a great layout.

There was a table set near the large picture window and on it were supplies to last the week with three busy children.
My friend Marianne is a teacher, so she had projects, children's books, crafts and activites to do with the three younger children she has 'adopted' as her own grandchildren and they are so proud to call her Oma.





After a delightful lunch of assorted breads, meats and veggie tray, we headed to the beach as the children were so eager to spend time in the wavy water.
While the group went swimming, I strolled along the water's edge, capturing images of the beach as I went along.

beautiful driftwood:

seagulls:

floating devices:






sand toys:






beach tube:







colourful umbrellas:







eager boys:








bright beach towels:








cottage decor:







adirondack chairs:

After several hours at the beach, it was time to head back to the cottage for a time of relaxation for some, canoeing and fishing for others. I confess that I spent that part of my time in a lounge chair reading then sleeping...absolute bliss!

This was the backyard scene:

My dear and patient hubby teaching the boys to fish...

...and my daughter fishing from her perch on the dock:

Inside our friends were preparing a fine feast, including a large fresh salad, new potatoes...

...and fabulous grilled maple-flavoured salmon as well as filet mignon wrapped in bacon on the BBQ done by the famous griller himself:






After our decadent dining experience, it was time to bid farewell, and make our way slowly home again. We passed these boat houses as we drove along the lake so I had to take one final photo opportunity, before focusing on navigating the driver home again.





Our day at the cottage was a wonderful experience and a favourite memory of summer.

Thank you to our dear friends, H&M and their adopted family, for making our time so enjoyable and for giving us such a lovely vacation day!