Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Signs of Summer


 Signs of summer, splattered in splashes of colour, 
will soon force spring into a deep, dreamy slumber.


Softening chiseled doorsteps and upstaging stone facades,


 brilliant beams of Grecian blue,
pierce skies like lightning rods.

 

 Tissue paper petals in hues of 'hot and bothered' pink,
flutter in the balmy breeze, amazingly in sync.


All signs. Leading to a season,
painted in radiant, rainbow ink.
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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Floral Friday: All About Foliage

From: 'Savouring the Last of Summer', still holding on, a grape vine in the town square.
(click on the titles to go to the posts)

Trishie, over at Under Lock & Key, hosts a 
lovely party every month called 'Floral Friday'.

 'This series is about fun and taking time out to smell 
the flowers.', says Trishie. For June, the theme is 'foliage'.

From: 'Olive Tree Chivalry, and Other Acts of Kindness'

 The crusty, copper leaves, reaching for revitalization, 
and a prayer to the crystal ball moon, above.

From: 'Olive Tree Chivalry and Other Acts of Kindness'

A leafy blanket, for passersby, seeking shade 

From:  'A Sweet Retreat'

or shelter, from a sizzling sun or sudden rainfall.

From: 'Journey into January'

A carpet of clover cuddles the olive trees,
cocooning them in leafy luxury,

From: 'Forever Fall'

while a maple shows off its fabulous fall features,

From:  'Autumn Hues and Poetic Views'

 and the vineyard beyond our front gate, hosts
autumn hues, before the bareness of winter.   


Thanks for visiting, and please stop by for more
 foliage fun at the blog hop below. To play along 
next time, please email Trishie for next month's theme.

Happy Weekend, to you!

xx
Poppy

Sharing at: 
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The Scoop, Brag About It, Inspire Me Tuesday, Tuesdays at Our Home,
Tweak It Tuesday, A Return to Loveliness, Amaze Me Monday, 
Inspire Me Monday, Make it Pretty Monday, Sunday Showcase Party,
Say G'Day Saturday, Simple & Sweet Fridays, Friendship Friday, 
Fabulously Creative Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Flaunt it Friday, 
 


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Monday, June 2, 2014

The Allure of a Picture

Downtown Galt, Cambridge, Ontario, photo by Linda Fegan

Have you ever been so utterly enchanted with an image, that you found yourself, literally, being drawn into it? This is exactly what happened to me, the second I spotted the gorgeous photo above.

A small stream, Churchill Park, Cambridge, Ontario

I felt an inexplicable and immediate connection with Cambridge, a pretty town in Southern Ontario, that compelled me to cross the Atlantic and see it for myself! And, that's exactly what I did!

source (edited)
 
So, I got on a plane, and
jetted 8385 km (5210 miles)
 across a very big pond, 

Charming, downtown Cambridge, Ontario

to another continent, and the city of Toronto,
from which I drove a further 108 km/67 miles,


until I reached the banks of the Grand River, 

 The Living Levee Trail, Cambridge, Ontario

where I walked along its flowing trail,


past leafy pathways and shuttered, stone houses,


 charming, cottage-y gardens,

Queen's Square Terrace Retirement Living

and stuccoed, shingle topped stunners,

Central Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, Ontario

piercing, sky-scraping steeples,


and shops painted in happy, pastel-y hues,


to finally STOP.


My photo: a rainy day in spring, of the view that originally captivated me!

Then, in silence, I gingerly stepped, 
into that bewitching of views -
this blogger's beautiful, magical muse!

A big thank you to my sweet brother-in-law, 
Alex, for all the driving, and the giggles!

Thanks for visiting!
xx
Poppy

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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Birthdays, Butterflies, Bees, and Blooms

A beautiful butterfly and a bumble bee. Can you spot a third traveller? I believe it's a honey bee.

Hi everyone, I've missed you!
 
Well, it's been about two weeks since my last post. Like the busy bees and social butterflies in my Cretan garden, indulging in the generous gifts of spring, I, too, had the pleasure of spending amazing quality and quantity time with my daughter, my family and good friends, across the pond, back home, in Toronto.

From right: my mom, Rita, my daughter, Liberty, my sister, Cindy, and me.

On May 18th,
 we celebrated Liberty's 25th birthday. 
 It's no coincidence that I chose to bring 
my second 'baby' into the world on that
special day, twenty-three years later -
Poppy View is two!


We spent the first part of the day sightseeing in
the pretty town of Cambridge, Ontario, a town 
I had always wanted to visit for its scenic beauty.
More about that in a future post.


Last Saturday, upon my arrival back
 to the island, I was greeted by our
gorgeous jasmine, and I was surprised 
to see how much it had flourished.
Its sweet aroma 'simmers' in the kitchen
and floats into our bedroom at night.


Equally delightful were the flowering
pomegranates. Their solid orange, bold 
and bright, against the sky's powdery blue,
was like a burst of energy -


something I definitely needed in order
to deal with the overgrown and ungroomed 
geraniums that border the patio.


Frazzled myself, from the long flight,
 and a good jolt of jet lag, I waited for the 
caffeine to kick in, and after a little TLC, 
I'd say they now look petal pageant pretty,
wouldn't you? 


And speaking of coffee, PR was on the prowl! My iced cappuccino must have looked quite alluring after another one of his long, lazy naps in the sun. Two seconds after I snapped this photo, he seemed to be sipping from that straw!  Now tell me, isn't he a naughty little feline, trying to steal his mommy's frothy frap?!


But who can stay mad at that cat? 
He's just too darned cute! (And he knows it!)
So, to new beginnings, dewy spring mornings,


and a budding summer, just around the corner!


 From my garden, where butterflies 
and bees are bustling among the blooms, 
I bid you goodbye, until next time!

Thanks for visiting!

xo
Poppy

Sharing at: 
 
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The Scoop, Tweak It Tuesday, Brag About it,
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Sunday Showcase, Inspiration Monday, Fresh-Cut Friday,
Amaze Me Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Treasure Box Tuesday,
 June Garden Party,Say G'Day Saturday, Friday's Five Features, 
Show & Tell Friday,Flaunt it Friday, Feathered Nest Friday,
Friendship Friday, Home Sweet Home, Fabulously Creative Friday,
 Simple & Sweet Fridays, Home & Garden Thursday, Wow Us Wednesday,

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

A Mother's Day Bouquet


Fresh flowers, fragrant and pretty, never smelled so sweet.

Mom's apartment: pretty 'wallflowers' keeping each other company

This year, there were many reasons to celebrate Mother's Day.


To start, it was the first time in fifteen years 


that I had the chance to spend it with my mom and my sister,


and eight years, since I last spent it with my daughter.

From left: my daughter, Liberty, with my mom, Rita,
 mom again, me, and my sister, Cindy.

This year, 
Mother's Day was as it should be:
full of flowers, hugs, and smiles,
undeterred by meddling miles!

How did you spend Mother's Day?

Thanks for visiting!

xo
Poppy
P.S. Promise to visit you all very soon!

Sharing at:
 Fresh-Cut Friday, Inspiration Monday,
Say G'Day Saturday, Friendship Friday, 
Friday's Five Features, Show & Tell Friday, 
Feathered Nest Friday, Flaunt it Friday, 
Home Sweet Home, Simple & Sweet Fridays, 
 Home & Garden Thursday, Wow Us Wednesdays,
A Return to Loveliness, Brag About It, The Scoop,
Tuesdays at Our Home, Tweak It Tuesday, 
Be Inspired Features & Link Party, Inspire Me Tuesday,
Treasure Box Tuesday, Make it Pretty Monday
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Friday, May 9, 2014

Laura's Lovelies, Part 2: Life on the Lake


St. George's Anglican Church, above, is one of the many
  interesting landmarks around Laura's house. Both are just 
steps away from Lake Simcoe, Ontario's fourth largest lake.


The day began at Laura's. It was the first time my sister,
 Cindy, and I were visiting Laura at her charming, new
 home in Keswick, a community in the town of Georgina.


Family heirlooms, like the beautiful hutch above, was made by 
Laura's grandfather, and houses some of her trinkets from the shop.


There is a joie de vivre feeling that
 permeates throughout, and lest you forget,


jolly folks, fortified with a laissez-faire attitude, 
remind you to eat, drink and be merry!


After some tea and yummy sweets from a local cafe,
we took a picturesque tour around the lake.


 Arriving at Sibbald Point, we were suddenly struck by the 
grand, Gothic style of St. George's Anglican Church, built in 
1876-7. The church was the first place of worship in the area.


The original wooden structure, built in 1839, was consecrated
 by Bishop Strachan, the first bishop of Toronto, in 1843.


 The cemetery is a resting place for those who devoted their time and
 talent in the construction of the church, and for their descendants.



Winding roads, dotted by cute, colourful cottages 
boasting views of the lake, led us to the town of Sutton, 
 where we stopped for lunch at a local pub.


  On High Street, in the downtown core, we parked outside the little
 coffee shop, above, when Laura announced, 'Ladies, I'm going 
to let you in on a little secret that lies just behind these doors.'.


 Our hearts raced, as we speculated, 'Hmm...the world's greatest
 coffee? Canada's own cronuts?'. We were intrigued, to say the least.

source

Who would have ever guessed that those inconspicuous, 
glass doors led the way to a set of roughly chiseled, stony steps, 

descending to a final destination
 of lush countryside and lakefront seats!

source


  No cronut, no matter how decadent, can compare 
to this feast for the eyes! A secret oasis, just as Laura promised.

Left to right: Laura and me, Laura and Cindy

 Once again, thanks for a wonderful and whimsical day, Laura!
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