October 2, 2021

Social Saturday | October 2

Nicole social saturday autumn, falltime, life lately

Happy October! Even though it’s a short season I love fall. I can’t believe that it’s already the beginning of October and the leaves are starting to fade!

Yesterday I snapped these photos of the beautiful golden light shining through the trees…and today is a cold and blustery day which has left almost all of the trees bare. We’ve had a beautiful long fall this year though, with so many sunny warm days. I love seeing the contrast of golden yellow leaves against a crisp blue sky.

Today is a quiet day spent inside with a book and a cup of tea. I got a couple of novels from the library yesterday, and have already finished one of them! (Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce and moving onto Longbourn by Jo Baker next)

I finished my patchwork sewing project a while ago. I made a new purse to go on these vintage wooden handles from my Mom. The bag that was originally on them was coming apart, so it was time for a refresh. I was able to use up a bunch of beautiful scraps I’ve been saving for years. I’ll have an outfit post with this purse up soon!

Another quick and easy project recently, was making some new pillowcases. I sewed them out of a couple of damaged vintage sheets I had and they go perfectly with my pillow shams and quilt. I used to have 50 different patterned throw pillows and white pillowcases, but I was starting to get tired of how busy it was when paired with my quilt. So, instead of changing out the throw pillows for new ones, I decided to update with floral pillowcases and keep my shams and throw pillow all white lace. It was the perfect solution and I love the look!

One final item of note for today is that I added a couple of new card designs, as well as phone cases etc. to my Society 6 shop. I added these ages ago, actually, but never posted them!

How is your Fall going? What are your plans for October?

July 3, 2021

Social Saturday | July 3

Nicole social saturday flowers, garden, life lately, nature, summer

Lately…

Reading- Just finished Pat of Silver Bush by LM Montgomery. I enjoyed it, but it’s definitely not one of my favourites of hers. It had a rather slow start, and took a while to get into the story. But, I did request the second one in the series from my library, so I’ll see if I like it better.

Loving- Taking photos of all the flowers in my mom’s garden. So many beautiful blooms, and the camera really doesn’t do justice to them!

Watching- The Closet Historian channel on YouTube- mostly her tutorials! I especially enjoyed Bianca’s Victorian bonnet video, and am planning on seeing if I can use some of her techniques to mash up a few hats for myself.

Making- A crazy patchwork purse in a 1970’s style. It’s going to be quite wonky by the time it’s done, with nary a straight seam to be seen, but that will add “character” right?

Eating- Lemon Almond Crinkle Cookies from The Iron You blog. Just rediscovered his recipes lately, and have been saving almost every single one!

Thankful For- Cool summer days. We’ve been going through an extreme heat wave (a “heat dome”) in Western Canada lately, and that makes me appreciate the mild summer days all the more. After a week of extremely hot temperatures, we finally have one in the mid twenties today, and are all breathing a sigh of relief!

What are some fun things you’ve been doing lately, dear Reader? I hope you have a wonderful weekend, however you spend it!

June 26, 2021

Social Saturday | June 26 (Chicks!)

Nicole social saturday life lately

It’s been a while since I have posted on Saturday, but I had to pop in today to post because we have chicks! The chicks are actually a few weeks old already now, but I even though I am posting these late, I still wanted to share, since they are just so cute! My mom has a mixed flock of Black Copper Maran and Chantecler chickens. This brood of chicks is our first of mixed breeds of chickens, so instead of being either pure white or black they ended up grey! We had four hatch out, and we’re not sure what they’re going to look like when they are grown, but are hoping that they will at least be more Winter hardy.

Anyways, I’m no chicken farmer, but here are some photos of the little chicks running around with their mama hen to brighten your Saturday!

And one final photo, with this little guy peeking out from under the hen!

June 16, 2021

A Summery Garden Tea Party

Nicole lifestyle elegant lifestyle, life lately, lifestyle, summer, tea party, teatime

a table set for tea

Come with me into the garden; it’s time for a tea party.

a table set on the lawn for a tea party

We’ll sit on the lawn, in the dappled shade of the trees.

a bouquet of lilacs and teacups on a table with a white tablecloth

I’ve got the table ready and have picked a bouquet of lilacs. Even though the blooms were not as showy this year, they will still add a lovely touch to the table setting!

stack of teacups on a white tablecloth

Pulling out our favourite tea cups; which cup will you choose?

pouring a cup of earl grey into a teacup

I’ve made a pot of earl grey tea… which kind of tea is your favourite?

pouring milk into a cup of tea

Would you like some milk or sugar?

snickerdoodle cookies on a fancy plate

a bite taken out of a cookie on the saucer of a teacup

This time I made some snickerdoodles for us to enjoy (with this recipe). Help yourself to one…or two.

a pitcher of pink raspberry lemonade on a table beside a bouquet of lilacs

If the sun gets warm, some raspberry lemonade will be just the thing.

teacups on the top of a table in the garden

Enjoying good conversation and food in the outdoors; what a lovely way to celebrate the beginning of summer!

Do you enjoy tea parties? I try to have them often; there’s something nice about setting a proper tea table, isn’t there?

teacup with a cookie sitting on the saucer

May 15, 2021

Social Saturday | May 15

Nicole social saturday lately, life lately

For this Saturday’s post, I have some fun news to share- we have a gosling!

I shared back in April that my mom’s geese were laying eggs and sitting on the nests. We weren’t sure whether we’d get any goslings hatching, because first year geese don’t always quite know what they are doing. When my mom was talking to some people who have raised geese for many years, they said that if you get any goslings the first year with your geese, those are a “bonus”. So, we have named this little guy Bonus!

All three female geese have been fighting over the nests, and it appears that they have all claimed him as theirs, so they are all looking after him (her?). He hatched on Thursday, and it’s looking like he’s going to be the only one…with three mothers though, he certainly won’t be lonely!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, dear Readers!