Thursday, June 9, 2011

Back for a minute or two

Did you miss me? I've missed you.
I'm here to share a few things today.
My favourite flowers are finally blooming, 
yes they are.
Peonies do not last long, especially after a 
hail storm, yes a BIG STORM.
Toby posing with my Peonies,
Pepper doodle posing,
Sasha trying to pose,

They actually remind me of big powder brushes we use on our pretty faces.
And one more Toby shot.
I also spent time with my favourite 
Sister Lollotte.
She turned 90 on May 31st.
 I surprised her with this HUGE 
red velvet CUPCAKE
 We had a PICNIC outside at the convent.
 See how happy she is?
The flowers are in a little PINK bird vase.

She makes my heart sing 
every time I get to be with her.

 Now for that storm.
 Our river is usually very calm.
 Those white things are HUGE pieces of hail.
The dogs were shaking in their boots... 
and so was I. 
It was hot and humid all day, then BANG this happens.
 Here's my other project. 
Remember my blue swing?
Well it's now got some character.

I finally got to paint it.
It only took me EIGHT bloody hours!!!
It now matches our outdoor shower.
More stuff going on at the cottage.
Trying to lay patio stones.
What a job that is... poor Colt.
 Another HUGE project was fencing our acre. 
Now all 7 dogs are free to roam the grounds with no fear of escaping.
Since P.J. is now totally deaf and nearly blind, we had to invest in a fence.

 It's weird seeing it around the cottage, 
but I'm getting used to it.
So for a little fun with all this digging going on, Randy and I headed to Montréal to Manon's 
French Bistro. OMG it was fantastic.
So that's what's been going on around here lately.
Many other projects to show you, but for now I will leave you with these pretty images from around the cottage.










31 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

CLAUDIE!!! I HAVE MISSED YOU SO! Look at everything, everyONE at the cottage! That Toby is a darling boy, and those flowers, well, they are as happy and beautiful as you my sweet one! AND SISTER LOLOTTE DOES NOT LOOK HER AGE! Elle ne fait PAS son âge, and you tell her that!!! FROM ME!!!

GROSSES BISES, Anita

Rita said...

Welcome back! Yes I did miss you; I have come to enjoy your posts because they make me smile. You have been quite busy; love all those photos you shared especially your lovely sister; I have only 1 and she will be 85 next week.
Rita

Kimberly said...

Yes you have been missed! I love all your posts they make me smile :)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I have missed you sweet Lady! I always love your posts since they make me smile. So much pink and love and happiness! Love you! Linda

Jo Ann said...

I am glad I checked today! Welcome back!!! Great pictures. Hope to see you soon...the next couple of weeks are busy..but after that I will make a road trip! Have a great day!
xoxo
Jo

jeanne said...

Hooray! Finally, your post downloaded. No kidding, it took 26 minutes. It was worth the wait though. BIG smile here. I love your post as always and that hail is something huge. I have never seen large hail. I hope I never do!!!

Your swing is beautiful and the red and white stripes are awesome. No wonder it took so long. Yikes. I am looking forward to swinging in your lovely swing.

The dogs are all so cute and your peonies are gorgeous. Picking them is the best thing to do because they don't last. Even a nice rain will beat them down. My mother grew them in her picking garden and I remember going in the garden to pick them for the house. I was so proud that my mother trusted me to pick them correctly. I was about 8 years old.

Your projects are looking wonderful I know you love the fence. A necessary thing to do with all the pups you have. They are all so darling.

It looks like Colt is making progress on the patio stones. Less grass in the pool huh? AA for bathing suit bodies sounds good to me. HA!

We had a bad and loud rain storm last night. It makes a lot of noise on the RV. I was waiting for CC to cry but she didn't. When she goes to bed in her crate in cold weather we cover her crate with a blanket. I think she must have felt safe in there.

After all the waiting to make this comment, I pray it goes through.
I love you bunches,
Jeanne

Grace said...

I have missed you so much dear friend!! So wonderful to see all is well and all the beutiful changes to to cottage. Wonderful pictures. Grace xoox

Sherry from Alabama said...

I'm so glad you dropped back by to let us see what you've been up to! Your pictures are wonderful! You are a very talented photographer and have a great camera!

Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

Rita said...

Bonjour,
Je suis vraiement curieuse maintenant. Est ce que Sr Lolotte est avec les Soeurs de la Charité d’Ottawa?
Son costume est familié. Ma belle soeur(la soeur de mon mari) était religieuse.
Demandes lui si elle se souvient de Jeanine Huneault.
Elle est décédé quelques années passés.
Si je me souviens bien elle était Mère Générale pour un bout de temps.
It is a small world after all.
Hier il faisait 30 aujourd`hui 13 et on gêle.
Hugs
Rita
I tried to email you but it didn't work.

Unknown said...

Happy belated birthday to your Sis! I love what you did with the porch swing! My peonies didn't come out yet but I hope the hail didn't damage them. I was really worried when it started hailing those stones! Anyway those are such beautiful pictures you took around your house!I miss u girl!

Hugs!Sandy

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Hello sweet Claudie!

Of course I missed you! Wow, loved looking at all of your pretties! Looks like you guys have been really busy. Nice that you got a fence up for all your fur babies. I want to get a swing like that for our porch too! I can't believe you had hail up there. We are having a thunderstorm now. So hot here, 98 and humid today! Ugggg! Love the pic of you and Randy.

Hugs,
Debbie xxoo

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

You knooooooooooow we miss you !
Ya'll have surely been busy ... keep checkin' in SweetPea so we know everything is okay.
(())

Pinkim said...

Hi Claudie! Yes, I did miss you! Of course I did...I love your peonies...and I just love the models more...so good of them to cooperate...My Bailey is a very talented boy...I am so proud...last night I saw him cleaning one leg and scratching his head with the other! He is a multi tasker! Such a smart little guy!

You have been very busy! Your swing looks beautiful...

Today's ride home touched 107 degrees...I posted that pic on FB...So glad to see your comment and rushed right over...we don't have hail but it is storming and thundering...maybe it will cool off..So glad to see you post again! Love to see and hear from your pink self! Hope you are enjoying your break.


Love, Kim

wendy said...

Yippee!!!!!!!!! you blogged. I have always been checking your blog just incase you put something new on. We all MISS you when you don't blog. (well, I sure do anyway)
That river is amazing. We went out for a bite to eat last night at the WaterValley Saloon (how about that for some country for ya) and the road we usually take was all washed out....!!! What a mess. We had to go a different way.
Hail storms can be pretty nasty.

That swing is gorgeous. I'll sit there and enjoy my book, while you guys are all in the pool (ha ha ha ha)

My mom grew peonies too. What a gorgeous flower they are. The pots in my greenhouse are doing well. But that is the only flowers I got going on here right now.

What a fun cupcake birthday cake for Sister. I be she loved it. You helped make her day special. Cause that's how you roll.

Tomorrow is a 2 year anniversary of sorts for me and Barry...as that was when I first came out here to meet up with the dude. Certainly changed my life eh.
much love and hugs for ya

Sherry from Alabama said...

I'm so glad you got the chance to drop by and update us on all your activities and share your wonderful photos! You are certainly a talented photographer!

Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

jorijepps said...

So glad you are back! There is too much awesomeness to comment on, I don't know where to begin. Love,love your peonies! Your swing is awesome, if I lived close by, I would probably have to steal it. Love the cupcake cake, I have that pan. Xoxo

Holly Loves Art said...

Hello!
I always love your newsy and lovely posts! All the doggies look so content and happy and BEAUTIFUL! Cute little chipmunk picture too. Have a wonderful weekend!
Big hugs,
Holly

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

MA BELLE!!!! OH Dearest, YES, how I wish I could be in Canada with YOU THIS SUMMER! But I will be here, relaxing, gathering my wits and paying off our addition!!! Oh how I cannot get over how BEAUTIFUL SISTER LOLOTTE IS!!!! BIG HUGS TO YOU and my goodness, what a great friend you are!

GROSSES BISES Anita

Betty said...

Lots and lots going on here!! I wish my peonies would bloom too! Yours are gorgeous! I love the striped swing. How fun is that?! As always, it is so fun to visit here! Love the little doll in the cup too!

Sherri said...

I was just saying the other day how beautiful peonies are. They have to be one of my fav's too. They look like pink cabbages to me : ) Looks like you have been busy busy busy around the "Sugar Shack" lots of improvements that I'm sure will help make life easier! Looks like Ontario is way ahead of Vancouver in the weather department. You seem to go from winter to summer pretty quick. We have had the most dreary spring. Believe it of not I haven't even been to a garden centre yet this year : ( Not much new here. My back is finally back to normal. I have been going to kick boxing everyday trying to get back in shape. Just a few more weeks of work but they are going to be rough. I'm responsible for a retirement party of almost 100. And a breakfast for about 50. And lots of other things in between!! I hope al is well with you! You must be getting excited about your girlfriends rolling into town soon! Take care! Love SHerri : ) XOXO Oh Yeah! Go Canucks GO !!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Happy birthday to your sister!! That cupcake is enormous! Your red swing is so cute! So glad you made the yard safe for your little hearing challenged puppy! Now he can't get lost.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Hi Claudie... :-)

Whoa Girlie.... that was one nasty storm, wasn't it? We have some dandies here too, but not that much hail.....betcha we'd beat you in the rain department though.

SEVEN dogs? Holy moly.... I have a really hard time keeping up with one small dog!....although I do love them though.

Love your swing painted red and white! Totally charming.

Big huggies dear Chickie...

xoxo
S

Anonymous said...

Sister is pretty amazing and so glad you spent a birthday with her. Looks like you all are busy as can bee. :) xoxo to you

GardenOfDaisies said...

Stop back by my blog sometime soon. The pictures are up now and it's a giveaway! :-)

Anonymous said...

oh goodie....you came for a visit. :) So happy to see your pretty face. I am crazy busy with major house redo's and planning for the wedding celebration or I would be one of those bloggy girls coming for a visit. And lots of company coming for two weeks week after next....I don't know if I am coming or going. Right now I am going for a wee chocolate break. xoxo Moi

GardenOfDaisies said...

Claudie, No, I'm sorry, I don't make the cozies to sell. I just made these for the giveaway. BUT, I just discovered today that another one of my followers DOES make tea cozies for her shop, and they are very similar to mine. Her name is Marilyn and she's a real sweetheart and she has all sorts of pretty tea things for sale. Her shop is called Marmalady, and I hope you will purchase from her. She uses really pretty fabrics too!
Here is the link to her cozies
http://marmaladys.com/cozies.htm

Judi said...

Hi Claudie
Your pictures are so pretty and so refreshing and I love the ones of your cottage...and of your sweet little furry ones too. You have captured so many special moments and movements around you. Sweet.
Hasn't the weather been something?
We are soooo longing for nice spring weather..and while we're sure it will come ...someday its hard to wait. We've had loud thunderboomers and rain and just overcasty and cool.
But the flowers are having a nice time...
have a wonderful week and come by for a visit..
Judi

Unknown said...

Hi Claudie! Oh yes I have missed you!
Love all your sweet phots, have a great time!

Big Hugs
Charo

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

I am late getting here Claudie, but I'm here!!!
Your cottage is simply adorable and you have done such wonderful things to it!
Love your swing, love your peonies, the water, everything is fabulous!
And cute pic of your and the hubby!
How did you manage such a nice tan already?
Hugs friend and enjoy your summer!
I know it's short where you are too!
Cindy

Claudia said...

hi darlin -- I am taking this summer slow too.

but i have to tell you I am soooo in love with your newly painted swing. It is FAB- UUUU Lous!!

Looks like you are going to have a wonderful summer with all your guests and I promise not to pout too bad LOL

Lovin ya...
Claudia

~CC Catherine said...

Honee Love, I cannot wait to give you the BIGGEST HUG...I'm not gonna let go either. I'm SOOO glad you got to spend time with Sister L., she does MAKE your day, I can hear that in your words and I think you definitely make hers too! LIFE has been speeding by faster than normal it seems, don't know how. :( Can't wait to have it slow down while I'm in Canada to enjoy the time with you, Jewels, and the Summer Breeze gang...and with Ran, Colt, and the puppitos and meow kittinos. :) Please give your Mommy a BIG kiss from your GA peach friend.

LOVE YOU TO THE MOON & BEYOND! ;)