the merry month of may...

The apple trees blossomed and the grasses grew...

...and down on the farm there was plenty to do.  That's how it always is in May. 

And on May third we had a few birthdays and decided to celebrate with a girl's luncheon this year...in honour of Ranen and Auntie Broni's special day.  And then we took in a local production of Anne of Green Gables together in the afternoon.  It was all good!

Mother's Day turned out to be a beautiful, warm day.  We gathered up some books, a picnic lunch and a blanket and headed for Silver Lake...a short 40 minute drive from here.  Though there were a few paddlers out on the water...we had the park almost to ourselves.  It was a lovely afternoon!  Once we got home...the kids came by. 

A few of them had fun frolicking in the tall grass with their 'mamma'!  Last chance...since the grass was slated to come down in the morning.

And it did.  It was a bumper first-cut crop this year...with far more grass than the bunker could hold.  I think that is a good problem!

They worked long and crazy hours on the farm...trying to get all the cropping done.

And while they were making hay on the ground below...they had live entertainment up above!  It seemed there was work to be done on the wires...though it looked rather like a circus act to me.

Maggie came for a sleepover one night...and we took a hike up to Bridal Veil Falls together.  Spring is the best time to visit the park...with the spring run-off creating a veil of cascading water. 

On our way to and from the falls...we passed by grandpa who was preparing a field to be planted in corn.  Maggie thought we might stop for a bit so she could ride along...and so we did!

Victoria Day is one holiday that is seldom recognized on the farm...since there is no time for playing when there is work to be done.  When some friends invited us to join them for an outing to the racetrack at Hastings Park in Vancouver on the holiday Monday, hubby decided that the corn planting could wait until 'tomorrow' and we would go.

Our friends had a horse racing for the first time that day.  Wind Hammer did them proud and placed third.  It was a great run for a young horse...and we'll be keeping an eye on that horse over the coming months. 

The corn got planted despite our time off to go to the races!  By now it is up...and before long the fields will be green.

Wisteria, clematis, lilacs and irises all bloomed merrily this month...and the red-winged blackbirds sang from morn until night. The month of May has once again come and gone...but the memories live on!

 The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May.

 ~  Edwin Way Teale

farewell to the tulips of 2013...

We don't need to drive far to see tulip fields...

as the Tulips of the Valley are just across the river from our place.

  

Heidi called on Friday...

to see if I might want to join them on a trek to the tulip fields sometime soon.

We realized we better go right away...

or we would miss them this year...

since this was the last weekend the fields were open.

Off we went.

Heidi, Maggie, Lucy and Grammy.

And when we arrived...

Maggie couldn't believe her good fortune.

Her good friend and neighbour was arriving at the very same time.



 Tiptoeing through tulip fields with friends makes it all the more fun!

Lucy thought so too.

Though some of the fields had already been mowed...

 ...we still found lots of colour.

Popping pinks...

...and bright reds.

Lucy really wanted to do a little picking!

For the record ~ 2013!

Maggie and her friend skipped around the entire field.

They picked up the pace a little when they noticed a real-life princess standing in the flowers.



Tulips make a great backdrop for wedding photos...

don't you think?

 She made it!

 (Lucy that is)

Farewell to the tulips of 2013...

at least those on Seabird Island.

I will continue to enjoy the tulips in my garden for another week or so.

It's been a busy weekend.

I'll be back to tell you about it...soon.

spring colors...

So what are spring colours?

 I usually picture lilacs and pale green...

and soft pastels on the spring palette.

We played tennis at some new community tennis courts the other night...

...and this was the view from the courts as the sun  sank low in the western sky.

Pretty...

but not pink.

From my kitchen window...

I'm seeing a lot of yellow these days.

Frieda's tulips are almost bloomed-out...

but the dandelions are in their prime.

The rosy red rhubarb is ready for the pickin' in the local gardens...
and we are enjoying rustic rhubarb tarts this week.

 Who knew...

red and yellow are spring colours too?

it is summer...or is it?

Well...the grands seem to think it is!  

We have enjoyed a few beautiful spring days...
with sunshine and warm temperatures.
 It seemed like the perfect opportunity to have the first wiener roast of the season.  

We sent out the invitation...

and those who were free...

came.

 Some came barefoot and in shorts...

...and Maggie brought her chair with protection from the sun!

While the rest roasted their smores...

 

Lucy was raiding the marshmallow bag.

No it is not summer!

But it was certainly nice to be outdoors last night.

The weatherman tells us it will be very warm for Easter Sunday.

We might just be having our Easter dinner on the patio this year.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

it is spring...or is it?

With Easter just around the corner...

and the grands itching to decorate the 'Easter egg' tree...

...we decided to do just that a few days ago!

It didn't really feel much like spring....

...as the wind whipped those eggs around.

But they got the job done.

 An hour or two passed...

and it was winter once again.

Just briefly though.

When we see what kind of weather the rest of the country is putting up with...

we will gladly take a passing hailstorm or two.

 

A little hail in the spring flower bed...

...is a nice touch.

The weekend has been beautiful...
so nice for getting outdoors to work and play.
Or eat.

The neighbour brought us salmon on Saturday.
We popped it on the grill...

...and enjoyed dinner on the back patio.
The patio furniture is still packed away for the winter...
but we found a wee table and two chairs.
It is spring!
(I think.)

rainy days and mondays...

We had our share of rain this past week...

but there is always something to brighten the day.

Though the skies may be dark...

and the waters rushing down the mountain...

God sends a rainbow.

It's a promise of brighter days ahead...

I know!

A splash of pink on a dark day...

 does wonders to wash the rainy-day blues away.

Our Satomi dogwood never disappoints.

Though we have mostly perched under a canopy these past days...

we are hoping for some sunshine this week.
The weatherman tells us otherwise.
But hope is a good thing.

I have big plans to work outside today.

We'll see how that goes!

Have a wonderful day...

when the lights went out...

 We spent the night in the city.

We went for a nice long walk...

and found ourselves at the waterfront as darkness settled in.

The kiosk at Canada Place is a friendly reminder of the winter games we hosted here just two years ago.

Coffee and triple-berry cheesecake...

on a patio on the pier...

on a warm spring evening...

was just the perfect way to end the day. 

Who knew the sails at Canada Place changed colour every few minutes?

We know now!

A change of scenery from time to time is a good thing.

Even if there's not much that can compete with the view at home!