From the Weekend: The Whirligig.

Last week our dryer died.

I am glad it did for it forced me to finally go out and buy a clothes line.

I've discovered I like standing outside, listening to the angry birds, and hanging out the wash.

We call it the whirligig.

From the weekend: Painting

The kitchen cabinet doors aren't quite finished: but why finish one thing when you can start another?

The old colour is the beige, (Benjamin Moore, Papaya), the new colour is the off-white (Martha Stewart, Glass of Milk)

I tried a blue called River Mist by Martha Stewart in the coving first. That's it in the corner. I didn't like it. Too light, not enough grey. So, I scurried off to Benjamin Moore and brought home Wythe Blue.
Much better. (The original colour was a lovely orange beige called Cable Knit (by BM.)

June: Favourites Series continues

Sorry I am falling behind with these.

June is the end of the school year: and so it is awards season. My son achieved an average between 80 and 89 per cent his first year in high school. I missed the moment they shook his hand, so all I've got is lousy picture of him on stage with the sea of girls.

One of the bet things about summer--and June in particular is being able to visit outside. (Thank heavens, inside is a disaster!) Here's my Mom and my nephew in our backyard.

Last night, I saw this shadow perpendicular to my front door on the wall of my hallway. So ephemeral. This shadow may never be here again or it may come again tonight. But, its opportunity to be here at all occurs only briefly and only in June.

The Summer Purge

This truly is one of my favourite annual rituals.

I did a huge purge this year. Having to make room for a few new clothes certainly helped!

Slant

Looking west north west from the front step. 

Whenever I see it, it always reminds me of the Emily Dickinson poem:

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —

Success in Circuit lies

Too bright for our infirm Delight

The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased

With explanation kind

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind —

New Clothes

This is so silly!

But summer is my favourite wardrobe season--always has been, ever since I was a teenager and realisd that summer's shirts and shorts were brighter (and cheaper!) than fall's sweaters and slacks.

I bought myself this sweet little top and culotte. I bought a lot.

Sunset

In winter, sunset comes cold--and early. Usually while cooking dinner, or eating it. I never seem to get outside to see it.

I caught this one at 10pm coming out of Walmart.

I haven't started taking these for granted, yet.

The Rain

.....falls gently on the pane.

Have I mentioned the rain we're having?

When this house was built in 1948, there were still shortages from the war--especially in lumber. As a result, the houses in our neighbourhood have no eaves. Raindrops often scatter themselves across the glass.

It seems a fitting photo to commemorate D-Day, the landing of Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy. My father-in-law stayed in London, reading maps, apparently.

Dappled Delight

I've tried to capture this before.

Because of our latitude, the sun swings around. Right now, when the sun shines, it catches a portion of my bedroom wall every morning around seven.

I sleep right there. And I open my eyes and see dappled light.

It is a delight.

Kitchen Updo: Week 1

In a way, I am glad it is taking a while.

In another--well, let's just say I hadn't planned on doing weekly "updates." Painting the kitchen cabinets was supposed to be a quickie--something to scratch that urgent itch to decorate roused after the One Room Challenge.

However.

I picked a super high gloss paint in a dark colour (Dragonfly by Benjamin Moore): and I have sixty-five year old softwood cabinets and drawers (Douglas fir).

And rain.

There's been rain every. single. day. There's no room to do this project indoors. The back yard is my workshop.

This is where I'm at:

yep, that's my recycling centre under the sink. Sorry you had to see that.

I want to bring the colour up to the windows--and lighten and brighten. So, as it rained, I spent countless hours last week perusing fabric sites and pinning faves.

Premier Prints Fynn Jade from fabric.com

Graceful Garden, Spring from Tonic Living

Amy Butler Soul Blossoms Bliss Twilight Peony Azure from fabric.com

Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower from fabric.com

Premier Prints Nicole Organic Green Laken Fabric from onlinefabricstore.net

P. Kaufmann Suzani Jewel Fabric from onlinefabricstore.net

I need three yards/meters. At 54 inches wide, that will make a roman shade for each window. I was about to pull the trigger on the Waverly, Santa Maria (Desert Garden) above, but the price tag (plus shipping) stopped me. (And if I am going to spend that much, why not get the Kaufmann which I may like better. But are the pinks too pink in either case? Is there enough white space? Obviously, I am not ready.)

Instead, I ran around to Target and Homesense yesterday and I got so excited. For the first time in my life I feel like I am just catching the beginning of a colour trend.

Navy, jade and mint: I can do that.


I found this shower curtain at Target. I just draped it over the rod on the kitchen to get a feel for it.

Dazzled by the bowl, I'd misread the colours in the shower curtain. I thought that blue had been more of a teal than a straight up almost powder blue. But I think I can make it work. Two yards/meters in each direction. More than enough.

Then, I found these tea towels at Homesense.

Amazing, amirite? Well, OK, maybe I'm just too caught up in this whole thing. They're more emerald than dragonfly. But, they'll be hanging off the handle of the stove opposite. Close enough.

It all just makes me so happy.

So, as it turn out, I am eradicating all the yellow from the kitchen. Right down to the dishcloths. (They really needed to be replaced, as you can see.)

I'm having fun.

Blossoms

Is it any wonder brides want to be married in June?

I think these are crab apples.

Proper apples don't grow here: our summer is too short.

June: Late Evening Walks

In June, at this latitude, one of my favourite things is the light of the lengthening days.

Walking the dog at 8:45 pm.

June: A Series

June is my favourite month.

It is difficult to describe what June means to me. It is summer, yes, but not quite, not quite yet, here above the 54th parallel. Spring is very nearly over, but not quite. A few trees haven't yet quit their brilliant chartreuse halos.

I thought I might try and capture this month one day at a time for you: one photo at a time.

We've had a lot of rain. How much rain? Enough for a mushroom to begin growing out of our picnic table!

The lilacs have finally arrived. I love lilacs. I want more. (I took this while it was raining.)


Confession: I took both these photos today, as I only just thought of it!