June so far

A few pictures of what's been happening around here.

I made a bit of rhubarb syrup ( 3 cups rhubarb, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups water...simmer 30 minutes and strain) for rhubarb Tom Collins ( 2 oz gin, 2 oz rhubarb syrup, 1 oz lemon juice....top up with tonic water..yum).  It is gone now.....

My cousin graduated from medical school so he had a party and hired Cameron and Isaac as bartenders....no free drinks for me even though I'm their mother.

We finished planting the garden on Sunday, all that is left to do is stake up the raspberries plants and mulch the strawberries.

We are trying sweet potatoes for the first time this year, they need to be planted in black plastic-covered beds to retain the heat.

Since our house was built in 1876 there wasn't really a plan for outdoor lighting...the pathway from the door to where the cars are parked is quite long and I always feel bad sending our guests out to their cars after dark....especially since skunks have been known to hang around.  My solution is a few strings of lights from Target  strung in the big maple tree.....not bad for now.

The kitchen has finally come together with the old stove removed from the island and a new maple butcher block installed. The gas range and exhaust hood are in their new spot to the left of the picture. Scott and I had to cut a path through the top cupboards to vent the exhaust hood outdoors...and remove the cupboard the range hood is attached to and cut new crown moulding for the top...but we managed with the help of YouTube.  Now we are waiting for the electrician to come and remove that plug behind the range......and I really should make some tiles for that area too.

My aunt took me to St. Andrews-by-the-Sea for a late birthday celebration.  We had lunch at the newly renovated Algonquin Resort.

It was built in the late 1800's and is so beautiful.  

Everything in the yard is growing and blooming.  This white lilac tree that Cameron and I planted when he was 3 (19 years ago) has finally reached he upstairs bedroom windows.  You can reach out and pick them from the spare room....which is handy since white lilacs always seem to bloom on the top.  I have the windows open and the whole house smells like lilacs......which Scott is allergic to..oops.

Finally it's June

This is probably the best  time of year, everything is blooming and green plus it is the month of lilacs, peonies and magnolias....three of my favourites.

Since our anniversary is June 4th we usually plant a tree each year.  In 2000 we planted the cherry tree (on the left with the white blossoms) and in 2003 we planted the yellow magnolia.

I was afraid it would be too cold here in winter for the magnolia tree but is is going strong.

The warm weather means coffee on the veranda every morning, note that the veranda is screened in....June also means lots if black flies here.

I've been trying a few recipes from my late grandmother's recipe book which she started in the 1920's when she was married.  I love that every recipe is named after the person she got it from "Aunt Bell's nut cake"...no Pinterest recipes then.

My in-laws downsized from a large house to an apartment last year so they gave us this set of wicker furniture, we picked it up last night and now it is just waiting for me to make some seat cushions.

Our mini-kitchen Reno is creeping along at the speed of turtles...ugh.  But I finally managed to do a little job that I've been thinking about for awhile.  I removed the drawer handles that were shiny brass from the 1990's and spray painted them dark pewter.  This was my professional painting set-up;

Here they are back on the drawers, much more subdued. I like them much better now...although last night I was reading a "Style at Home" magazine and most of the kitchens now are using brass hardware....go figure.