Saturday, December 21, 2013

Have yourselves a MACRO little Christmas!


Christmas at our house is truly family time. So many wonderful friends and relatives to visit with especially the little people and the faraway ones, who are all able to gather now in late December,
to enjoy each others' company.

To all my Blogger Friends and all my readers - have a wonderful Holiday Season and a happy, healthy 2014!!
Hope you enjoy these photos shot with my "up close" lens.









Please check my food blog - the latest post is for a dense delicious 3-layer chocolate cake!


Saturday, December 7, 2013

NOTL Holiday House Tour


Yesterday I was on the 15th annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Holiday House Tour with a friend. We toured 6 wonderful historic houses all decked out for Christmas! Please take a look at the beautiful homes and the fabulous Christmas decorations!



















Be sure to check out……wait for it……my 100th post on my food blog!!! Latest recipe is for Classic Pot Roast.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Fairytale settings


Some gardens are magical. It seems as if they are right out of a fairytale. Somehow near Christmas, secret wonderful worlds seem to be more real than at any other time of year.







(Ignore the parking signs on this one :)









Re-read some of your favourite fairytales - they'll take you back to your childhood and those magical lands!

Please stop by my food blog - I made a Lamb Tagine that is definitely worth trying!!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Friday, November 8, 2013

Entryways, Gates and Doors


Doors, gates and entryways set the tone for visitors and guests and should exude a warm WELCOME!
The simplest way is to make the entrance to your home and garden neat and tidy. It's not always necessary to have fancy pavers and wrought iron gates, but if you can afford them, they certainly add an elegant touch to the front of a house. Appropriate plantings are the next step. The homeowners above certainly had the right idea!



Formal modern iron gates define the entrance to this lovely home in Niagara-on-the-Lake.


Pineapples are a symbol of Welcome, therefore very appropriate at the front gates


As this gate swings open, one notices the paving stones set between lines of aggregate and then the soft leaves of ornamental grasses and ferns lining the path.


A formal front with a balanced number of windows on each side of the door need equally formal balance in the gate, the walkway and plantings. Here the point is further emphasized with twin topiaries on each side of the black door.


The same type of symmetry and balance are at the front door of this lovely home. Mirror image plantings appear on each side of the entry porch.


The next step is the entryway into the back garden. Not all gates need to have closed doors. Here the lattice archway clearly indicates the way.


A pale aqua coloured arch sets a more casual tone, which is continued in the simple table, sun umbrella and chairs.


A vine-covered arch delineates a small circular garden from the back area.


This beautiful garden had pathways all through it, with interesting plants on either side and an occasional pergola to walk under.


A secluded sitting area can be reached through a number of arches, most of which are hidden by soft evergreens.


The entrance to some garden areas are guarded by ferocious beasts (roar!!) :)

Please check out the latest recipe for Slow Cooker Chili with Corn Bread on my Food Blog.