While the cat was away...

We have no cat...however, I was the mouse who got to play this week.

Julia is due back in a few hours from her week at Baby Hollywood (aka Bayview Wildwood) with her Aurora family. I've had a call from her each night, detailing all her adventures doing water sports (tubing, knee boarding, tippy banana boat, water trampoline) and how much rice she's eaten each day.

So I've had the week to myself do catch up on life, put some of the house in order, and do some of the running around jobs that she hates. It's a gift to have this time -- a solo staycation of sorts that, thanks to Moe, I've enjoyed for the last 4 years. And this year even more so as there wasn't even Purple Pages to cut into my time.

I wanted to make good use of my time and be organized, so a list was in order. This is the typed version that saw many drafts on assorted scraps of paper scattered around the house.  I had a list going in each room to jot down jobs as they occurred to me. The copy below already has jobs added to it, but I'm also happy to see things crossed off. There are 5 pages of jobs -- perhaps a tad ambitious, but there's a reckoning that happens when you put it on a list. 

A job I couldn't wait to do was make visit to Crate and Barrel. I had received a gift card from a dear friend and colleague who had picked up on my squeals when I was telling my tale of a run-through of the store at Yorkdale. I had visited Crate and Barrel for the first time on our trip to Chicago and had oohed and ahhed my way through three (or was it four) floors of wonderful decor. Needless to say this gift card was burning a hole in my pocket.

Here were my two purchases -- a leather bag for school and a pitcher (stewing sangria not included, but looks how it matches the berry colour of the school bag). 

Inspired by the beach of Southampton and warm summer nights, I combed IKEA and Homesense for some bargain candles and lanterns and found these treasures. 

And was also delighted to find some new patio table decor in the sale bins (on the right) that complimented what I already had (on the left). The summer bargains were abundant and I nosed them out wherever I could. It was like Christmas in July. 

New seat cushions pulled the whole theme together...are you chuckling at my signature green. 

 

Another long awaited purchase was a new chair for the laptop desk in the living room. 

This is where I blog...

Got some mats and frames for some embroidered silk I bought in China. Working out a collage wall in my head with these and some photo enlargements from the trip - a work in progress.

I had a midsummer's night dinner party for my some of my dear teaching friends and colleagues. We've known each other for 20 years, and although some have gone to other schools and one has retired, when we get together no time has passed. 

So many of the treats I purchased this week, had this event in mind...a garden dinner needed flowers, some from my garden and some from another garden that the grocery store has dibs on...I put the flowers in mason jar vases for a whimsical effect. 

Here's the table ready to go -- just add the guests.

Tried a new recipe for grilled vegetables in foil 

and honey mustard chicken.

Silvana, AMD and Helen.

Robert and Glenn enjoy appetisers with the ladies.

Glenn even joked that I had bought green grapes 

to go with the table.

Perhaps subconsiously I did.

This week gave me the freedom to play a little, work a little, purge a lot, and set some goals for the rest of the summer, and dare I say, for the new school year.  I missed Julia, no question, but also loved the time on my own. 

California Girls

I mentioned in an earlier post that the song "California Girls" was one of the songs that our China Beach gals loved to sing this year at Southampton.

This video is far more appropriate for our girls...

This is our little send off to Bryanna, Cassidy, and Lianne as they head off on the next part of their summer holidays.

Wishing you many days of sun, surf, sand and smiles as you play with Mosey, English Hubby, Sweet Pea.

Summer Repast

Our week at the cottage was filled with wonderful meals. Trips to the Off-Shore Bakery for yummy cheese bread and to Hi-Berry Farm stand for strawberries and peas are now part of our tradition at China Beach. We were inspired by new cookbooks and clippings, and a few of us by A Homemade Life. The cottage is the perfect venue to try new things with a dining audience that is more than appreciative because you are doing the cooking for them. Not a bad public.

I don't have pictures of Shauna's amazing Asian chicken salad for the moms and Rice Krispie chicken for the kids or of Janet's wonderful buttermilk chicken. I didn't think there was going to be a food post on the blog in the early days of the cottage stay -- it kind of evolved as the week went on.

We dined al fresco one night, keeping up the Devine tradition of party in the driveway...



Raclette made a return as per Kate's request. I enjoy the kids preparing their own little trays of meat and vegetables -- and then going the extra mile to make one for their moms. A wonderful treat.



I tried a few new recipes, but was most happy to finally -- well almost -- perfect the apple tart recipe that has been haunting me since January I believe...Here's the shot that would rival the one in Ina's coookbook.



This was an appetiser medley Lianne and I put together -- her amuse bouche, lovely basil and tomatoes -- baked brie on the BBQ, a new recipe for me.



Lianne was not happy about how her amuse bouche turned out--broiler in oven didn't work; microwave saved the platter of treats. I thought they were wonderful.



Lianne wowed us with Burg's French toast -- sorry you missed that one, Shauna and MacLean. It was fabulous. The picture almost does it justice.



Look how excited the chef is to be working at this tall counter.



It was too hot to do a campfire -- we felt like we were in the fires of hell all week, but what's a stay at the cottage without smores? So I perfected the microwave version. The girls look happy. Other inspired desserts included Shauna's amazing fruit dip and Janet's baked shortbread with strawberries.



My attempt at Ina Gartner's creamy cuccumber salad -- lots of prep - draining of yogurt and cuccumbers --- and one I'd do again with some tweeking. It's allowed once you've done the recipe as stated says Molly of Homemade Life. And tweek I shall...



The girls got into the act making smoothies for us all and then freezing the left overs for some smoothie popsicles -- I was feeling a bit smug about our Newmarket recipe that is now the Southampton recipe after seeing Molly's version on her blog, Orangette. We were so ahead of the game....



DYI BBQ pizza was a bit hit with the gang -- so much so, some clamoured to have it a second time when it was our potluck-com-use-up-the-leftovers dinner. And Kate survived the flying pizza episode with not even scar...Whew!



Another creation by the girls -- Skor Ice Cream Cake -- a great one to get the kids working on and much appreciated on those hot nights.



We look forward to the time when the kids take over a meal and cook for the moms. And a new tradition was suggested for next year -- appetiser meal for the moms on the patio with cold cocktails while the kids play across the street on the rocks.

Can't wait for that one. Bon apetite, every one.

Girls just wanna have fun!

Some moments from our time at Southampton...

Southampton Girls!

This past week there was lots of singing of "California Girls", Katie Perry's song, so I thought I'd pay homage to that in the title of this post to begin the recap our wonderful days in Southampton. We had more than enough summer weather this year to make up for our chilly week last year. Lots of beach time for our China Beach gals.

No worries this year about them staying in the bunkie --

all was good, except it was hot!
Fans and wet face cloths helped with that.

The tradition of the hammock shot.

Boogie boards were all the rage this year.

And of course, ice cream.

Scout - a newcomer to China Beach
with the girls.

Staying cool on the beach.

This struck us -- foreshadowing the beach days to come
when they don't want to sit with us.
I guess this is the tween beach.

Some DS fun for all.

More posts to come -- it was quite a week.

New heights

Now that summer has started officially, I thought I'd look back at the first Sunday in June when Moe and I really felt like it was summer and had to shake ourselves out of it.


We headed downtown to fulfill a summer wish left over from last year -- a trip to the top of the CN tower. And we couldn't have picked a better day -- just look at that perfect blue sky.

Julia couldn't wait to get up that thing and scampered up for the postcard-perfect shot of the view of Toronto. No fear of heights for this gal. The day was so clear we were sure Shauna and Maclean could see us waving from across the lake.

Alyse was a bit more cautious as far as checking out the panoramic vistas the tower's observation deck offered. She claimed she was fine there by the wall. Eventually she did come around -- and over -- to checking out the view.

Look how Julia's dress matches the colour of the lake -

a lovely complement to my summer green satchel!

Living in its own shadow.

Showing some restraint!

Julia was ready to climb on these cables to look down.

The glass floor -- made me feel a bit woozy -- not this girl.

We decided since the day was so perfect, we'd take the ferry across to Ward's Island for some ice cream and a walk to the beach. The girls have been taking this ferry over to Centre Island since they could fit under railing.

Splendor in the grass.

A walk down cottage row.

Another across the way view of the tower.

As we lounged on the beach -- Moe even had a little nap -- and the girls frolicked in the sand and surf, we savoured the day and the moments, and looked forward to the time a month from then when a lazy summer Sunday outing would not be followed by the dreaded a back-to-school Monday.

I know all my teacher friends can relate.

Wishing all warm and sunny days for your holidays.