Solitude

I am connecting to Elaine's Sunny Simple Sunday 

Julie

Summer's Last Hurrah

There's a crispness in the air these mornings.  You can feel fall is on its' way.  But summer hasn't given up yet.

I cut the grass today.  That is a household task that I hate but someone's gotta do it. 

While I was pushing the lawnmower back and forth over the weeds, I was noticing that the garden is recovering from the summer's heat and celebrating the last hurrah with a few blooms.

The squirrels are running around and stashing their nuts for winter (and digging up my newly-planted tulip bulbs).

You can see a couple of the frogs in my collection peeking out from under the re-blooming dianthus.

I guess I'll enjoy the last bit of colour before it is time to put the garden to bed for the winter.

Julie

A New Addition to September's Giveaway

Hi everyone!  I have a couple more things to add to my kitchen themed giveaway this month.  The first is a little butterfly magnet  for your fridge...

And a cute little silver cutlery hook that would be perfect for oven mitts or an apron...

Again to enter, you just need to leave a comment on either of my blogs during the month of September and for a second entry, be a follower of either of my blogs.  The bowls shown below are also part of September's giveaway.  Good Luck!

Julie

Parties and Flowers

Hi, I'm back.  I haven't dropped off the face of the earth for those of you who have e-mailed to enquire. 

Here I am celebrating on Saturday night.  I held a 50th birthday party for some high school classmates of mine.  It was a great time, catching up with friends, some I haven't seen in over 30 years.  What a blast from the past!  (It doesn't matter if you are 5 or 50, sparklers are fun!)

Last week was a little busy and so I took a break from blogging.  Now I need to catch up with some posts and a lot of reading.  I just need to block off a few hours to read all your blogs.  I feel I miss so much when I miss hearing your news for a few days.

I filled the house with flowers for the party and they are holding up pretty well.  I took some pictures today to share with you...

Good night,

Julie

A Nice Way to Spend a Sunday Afternoon

Mmmm...homemade strawberry jam.  Ready for tea and toast all winter long.

I am joining Elaine's Sunny Simple Sunday.  Drop by with your cup of tea for a visit.

Julie



September's Favourite Thing

I am joining Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for her favourite thing party.  I've given this post some thought because I want to clearly express this feeling I get in September when the students return to school.  If you live in a college or university town, you might feel the same.  This time of year, the last week of August and the first week of September, brings a level of excitement and vitality to my city that nothing else seems to accomplish.  I love the feeling of the city coming alive.  Instead of mourning the end of summer, there is a sense of anticipation, of many wonderful things to come.



You start to see the rental trucks and vans bringing furniture and boxes.  A lot of the older houses that line our two downtown streets have been turned into rentals.  The last week of August you are dodging double parked vans with 20 somethings unloading beds and couches that have seen better days.  The trail of students in and out of the houses remind me of ants taking their prized morsels back to the nest.  For a lot of these kids, this is their first place of their own; their first nest to feather.  By the end of this week, they are settled in.  The boxes have been flattened and await pickup curbside. 

 The new inhabitants lounge in old chairs on covered front porches, wearing t-shirts and shorts, and swigging back a brew or two (or 3 or 4).  The colours are bright and the voices are free and joyous and it sounds like a party you really want to join.  Unfortunately you had your chance many years ago and now you are just a member of the audience.  But there is a vicarious thrill in the air and I gulp it down while I can.



The downtown grocery stores are full of students buying supplies that are tucked in their backpacks and carried back to their new digs.  I love being behind these kids in line, visualizing where they are heading home to, with their kale and tofu or their Kraft dinner and chips.  The stores and the bars come alive and it feels like the city awakens and is starting to pull all-nighters again.



My city has two fine institutions of higher learning - Trent University and Fleming College.  I've attended both and love the diversity they bring.  A chance to learn and interact with students from all over the world is a great treasure in life.

I graduated in Business Administration, Marketing from Fleming

Trent has the most picturesque setting

This is my favourite time of year because this influx of fresh, young faces into the city makes me feel like anything is possible and a brand new shiny adventure is just around the corner.  All you have to do is hold your breath and dive in.

Julie

Some Vintage Finds and September's Giveaway

I found a new thrift store in the area.  My sister said the prices were awful for the furniture but I might find some deals on dishes and kitchen ware.  I am happy to report that I did.

I bought this old tin cake carrier for $15.  It's a great addition to the display above the cupboards in my kitchen.

These 2 flower frogs were $7 for both.  I had to explain to the salesclerk what they were ;)

Teacups $6 each

I just love the 3 little legs.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST....

Two lovely little Pyrex mixing bowls.  It appears to me that the middle size is missing but neither are terribly large.  Below I show the small one sitting on a clear glass so you have a better idea of the relative size.  They are in good condition and were only $5.  Nice, eh?

The best news...these bowls will be part of September's giveaway.  As always, if you are a follower of either or both of my blogs, you get one entry.  If you leave a comment on either blog, you will get a second entry.  I will add more things as the month goes on and the theme this month is collecting for the kitchen.  Good luck...

Julie

Morning Glories

This is the view out the east facing window of my sunroom...

Usually I'm not up early enough to see the morning glories bloom.  It has been so hot this summer that you miss them if you are not an early riser.

This morning was cooler so I was able to snap a few pictures.

Julie