When I saw the traffic on the freeway Friday afternoon, I thought it might not be such a bad thing to stay home. The guys were busy out in the fields from morning until night...and I visited the garden shops a few times and got my planting done for the season. It was just so nice to spend time outdoors...late into the evening!
On Saturday afternoon Broni came over with the kids, and we had a little lemonade party on the front porch...and discussed what we would be doing for supper. We never really know if the guys are planning to stop to eat...or if supper should be brought out to the field...or left on the back burner until they come in. Since it was 34 degrees here (that's about 98F)...we thought a 'watermelon and rollkuchen picnic' might be just the thing! So I got cooking...whipped up a batch of rollkuchen (a tasty little fritter), barbecued some farmer sausage...
...and took it down to the farmyard where we all had a picnic supper on a nice, shady patio. (I'll post the rollkuchen recipe tomorrow...in case any of you are interested in having a Mennonite picnic!)
The lilacs on the table are evidence that miracles do happen. About fifteen years ago, I ordered five lilac bushes (all different shades of lavender) from Stokes seeds, expecting them to be delivered by van. When a minute box arrived in the mail...I knew I was in trouble. Here were five microscopic little twigs, each about 1 1/2 inches long with a few root hairs attached. I had envisioned cutting blooms the following year...but when we moved out of the farm house a few years ago, I was still waiting. Finally they are producing flowers...and lovely aromas...and Broni can cut them for her table!
So although this may be called the Victoria Day holiday...I've been thinking it's Labour Day (that's just how it feels around here). Sunday is however the day of rest...so that's we we did!
We spent an hour or two strolling through our local show gardens in the afternoon...and bought season's passes so we can go back again and again.
Minter Gardens is just such a relaxing place to be...and the flowers change from one month to the next...as do the people!
The rhodos were in full bloom, as were the lilies...the tulips were a little past their prime...and the rose garden was not showing any colour as yet.
There's often a wedding happening there on the weekend...and yesterday was no exception. It would have been fun to watch the proceedings from a distance... but hubby wasn't exactly interested in watching the wedding of total strangers! (Although I don't think they were total strangers...I recognized the groom as the owner of my favorite Thai restaurant.)
It was quite easy to pick out the wedding guests, however, as we sauntered about.
The little attendants were quite adorable!
The gardens are a favorite spot for photographers...people with big camera and lots of lenses...people who actually know what they are doing!
I took a photo of this gentleman as he strolled through the gardens with his camera...and stopped often to take pictures. We chatted later...as I was sitting on a bench and enjoying my cherry cheesecake ice-cream cone...and he told me he took up photography only four years ago. He was at the gardens with his family...and was celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary. So, it's never too late to start taking pictures!
And that is how my long weekend is shaping up...who knows what today will hold? I'm planning to do a little cropping of my own...the lawn is in dire need of a trim. There are showers in the forecast for today...and there is corn to be planted before the rain arrives.
Have a wonderful holiday Monday!
Beautiful pictures, Judy! It was refreshing to look at this morning. We have had record breaking heat for days and the hills are all brown now, until next year. But the sun is shining bright!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day,
Blessingsm Patty
WOW! A fantastic post this morning Judy...absolutely gorgeous flowers and gardens...lovely picnic..you are living the good life my friend...have a beautiful week...Dee Dee
ReplyDeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteI often think of you as my twin blog. We so often post similar things. Mine are just a year earlier. I'll be looking forward to your rollkuchen recipe, it is so fun to see how everyones differs a wee bit.
Yours look scrumptious. . .
did you smell the ones up the hill on Saturday?
Love those garden pictures and yes, we don't try to do that highway either on long weekends.
Amazing photos Judy! Loved them!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a great weekend! I can't believe you're getting that kind of heat. Is that typical for your area? We're supposed to be 103* here today! Blaaggghhh!
Jan
Hello...my first visit to you! I was so thrilled to see the photos of BC, as my daughter lives way up in a town called Smithers. We have had many visits there, and love this part of Canada.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so lovely.
The picnic looks wonderful. And, I love all of your pictures from the garden. It appears that you know what you are doing taking photographs, too. Each one is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWasn't it just last week or so that everyone was getting snow and not a sign of spring? What happened? It's all so lovely and takes me back to the days when my grandparents farmed and dinner on the ground was a common thing. Thanks for the memories my friend...and for sharing these beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteOh my Judy. I just loved loved your post today from the bbq rollkuchen - a family favorite - to the gardens. I cannot believe I have not been there yet and that is certainly on my list of things to do this summer for sure. Now with the new camera...one never knows. You are quite the photographer....I bought simply a basic camera so we won't even think of any similarities. But you are amazing...even the traffic?! Where did you have to go for that? Must be close to an overpass I am thinking! Well, have a nice week. What a great mom, wife you are for a dinner like that. Reminds me of the stories my tells of the threshing crew and all the dinner's she used to cook for them as the eldest daughter
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, those photos are marvelous! And I thought that I had posted a lot...I'll have to go into overdrive to catch up. ;>
ReplyDeleteI'm quite intrigued by the promise of a new recipe. Hope that the guys got in out of the fields in time to enjoy it.
What happened to all your cool temps? I'll tell you; they arrived here today about noontime. LOL!
Sounds like you made the best decision ever. Stay off of the freeway on those busy weekends.
ReplyDeleteToo bad they don't have the autobahn, the trucks need to stay in the right lane and then you fly at 200 mph.
Your idea of rollkuchen sounds excellent, but I did get the watermelon and had a BBQ.
Time to catch up again.
Your photos are beautiful.....I especially enjoy the lovely flower scenes, and your story about the arrival of the lilac bushes!
ReplyDelete