The Graduate!

Well it's official! My baby has graduated High School!

Last night after two & half hours of hard plastic seats & weak air conditioning, 

the class of 2013 was finally officially done!

Just before the ceremony.

The moment!

New Grads of 2013.

Needless to say we are very proud of our new graduate!

Now off to conquer the world... or at least University.  : )

Peonies.

Peonies are my favourite flower!

I have three plants in the back garden. They are at least 85 years old.

They were in my Granny's garden, then they were transplanted

 to another home when they moved. Then they were in my Parent's garden.

I then transplanted them to my garden.

Then we moved to an new house & they moved with us.

They were moved one more time & currently reside here.

One bush is double pale pink, there is a dark pink single flower & 

a double white with a tiny bit of dark pink in the centre.

Unfortunately, I don't know the names of the flowers.

They are beautiful & smell divine!!

It was another glorious crop this year!

I just bought a dark purple-pink bush to plant in the front garden for some colour.

It is a very small plant, I hope it will bloom next year.   : )

Irises.

The Irises in my garden were really nice this year.

I have two clumps in the back garden which bloom in tandem.

Purple is my favourite colour to wear.  :)

The Whatnot

I inherited this shelving unit from my paternal Grandmother,

who in turn inherited it from her mother-in-law, my great Grandmother.

As far back as I can remember it has been called the whatnot,

& has held the family treasures. ( AKA stuff you have to dust,

that serves no real purpose other than strictly display)

It didn't used to be quite this crowded but, I have been cleaning out some boxes

in my basement & discovered quite a few treasures in them.

So I put them all out to look at them for a while & then sell the ones

I don't want to keep. That being said it is really emotionally

hard to part with some of them even though they are not my taste,

because they belonged to beloved members of my family.

Many of the pieces I remember as always being on the whatnot

at my paternal Grandma's house. Some are from my maternal Granny,

while others are from great aunts on both sides. Some are valuable, while others

just have sentimental value. So for now I will look at them & enjoy them for

what they are.  : )

My Antique Copper Boiler

I got an antique Copper Boiler, bought it on Ebay & had it sent to my 

friend in Pennsylvania. Another friend was meeting up with her & she brought

back the boiler to me. It is now in it's new home by the fireplace.

It holds kindling & wood for the fire.

Handsome & practical. Awesome!   : )

Tulip Redo

I have had these wooden tulips for many years, I can't even remember 

where or when I got them. I have never really been a fan of some of the colours,

 but never really bothered to do anything about it.

Enter Annie Sloan chalk paint!

Before

After

I painted them with Old White & Emile, then applied clear wax.

Now they can go in any room & won't clash.  : )

Victoria Reunion

Wow! Still recovering from my University 30 year reunion!

What a fun night! Had way too much wine but did not buy

a single drink! At some points in the evening I found myself holding

a drink in each hand, while sloshing them around & talking

with a bit too much animation! Some things never change! LOL!

Reconnected with some people I haven't seen

for 30 years! Some I keep in touch with like the ladies below.

Many great memories brought back & catching up with

what people are doing now. I hope we don't wait another

30 years to do it again!

Cheers!  : )

Spring Planters

I got some planters for the front of my house. I really like the colours of these.

Now I just have to remember to water them!

My Echinacea plants will complement the pinks of these planters

later on in the season. Hopefully the frost doesn't hurt them!   : )