Sunday, October 12, 2014

Simple Pleasures

Simple pleasures are best.
~ Alan Bradley

chickie4
Chickadees: everyone laughs at so small a bundle of large enthusiasm.
~ Aldo Leopold
This sweet little feathered friend landed on the base bar of the patio table. She looked so sweet just sitting there, posing for me. Really, she was eyeing the birdseed that was scattered on the deck.





steamed mussels
I have trouble with seafood because it tastes like a dock.
~ Douglas Coupland
Would you believe that I've never cooked mussels before? My son has though, and he decided to cook up a huge pot of them for us, one night. They were delicious. And a lot easier to prepare than I thought they would be. I've since cooked them again. Yum!





Leos fries
Blood may be thicker than water, but it's certainly not as thick as ketchup. Nor does it go as well with French fries. ~ Jarod Kintz
This is representative of a much less healthy meal but it's also a must-do out in cottage country, in the summer. A chip wagon situated about ten minutes from our place serves up some very tasty fries. They stay open on weekends until Thanksgiving (the second Monday in October) and then they'll disappear until next summer.





deck flowers
Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.
~ Theodore Roethke
These beauties appeared in both the front and back yards, this summer. Some of them actually grew up between the boards of the deck. Despite being top-heavy, they held on until our first frost, when we reached a temperature of -4 C (25F) overnight.





J kayaking3
A man of wisdom delights in water.
~ Confucius
My sons were here together on the Labour Day weekend. Alex was only able to stay for one night but it was wonderful to spend time with both boys. My next door neighbour is rarely up at their cottage. In the spring, she told me that I was welcome to borrow her kayak anytime - to just come get it from where it's stored under her deck. I never did use it on my own but each of my sons thought they might try it out. First Jeffrey took a spin around the island, across the bay.





A kayaking10
Never tell someone that a kayak is so stable you can stand on your head in it. They will insist that you prove this!!! ~ Dave Lindo
 Then he passed the paddle over to Alex who took the same route - a fifteen or twenty minute tour.





best boathouse ever arrrr
There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.
~ Walt Disney
Just across the bay, through that channel and around a corner or two, you'll find the best boathouse ever built. Who would imagine that a wonderful pirate ship was lurking in these waters?





Teamwork
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
~ Helen Keller
Late in August, I spent a few hours visiting my cousin who was renting a cottage with her adult kids and grandkids for a week, less than two hours from my place. These are her daughter's dogs who fetched every tossed stick together like this. Such teamwork.





pick a glass2
Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.
~ Paulo Coelho
We also attended a wedding in August - Frank's niece. Our drinks for the duration of this celebratory event were to be enjoyed in a wine glass of our choosing. Here is only part of the selection from which we chose our glasses.





tomato
It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.
~ Lewis Grizzard
What better way to enjoy the fruits of summer than with homegrown tomatoes. They were sweet and wonderful.

That's it for this collection of simple pleasures. There's be more photos coming up soon. It's only a matter of time.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canucks.

50 comments:

Cloudia said...

From the chickadee, to the dog team, to the pirate ship, to your handsome sons (men!), to. . . . . The rest of us are bloggers. You are doing something of a higher order here Hilary



ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=

ADRIAN said...

Wow you have been busy.
I love the boat house.
Muscles are a wonderful meal with fresh bread. I cook mine in white wine and butter.

Andy said...

Hilary you have LOTS SWEET MEMORIES. Have a great thanksgiving.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

hahaha...the 2 dogs swimming :)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful teamwork doggie photo. The pirate ship boathouse is absolutely amazing, I'm sure lots of folks take photos of it. Hope you and your family have a fantastic weekend. We are off for a family dinner at one of our daughters homes today... turkey and all the trimmings.

DJan said...

I've been enjoying listening to the chickadees as they snack on the sunflower seeds in our garden. I just love that picture of the two dogs, and the two young men whom you birthed. Glad you had them around for awhile. They are fine looking guys. :-)

June said...

I was struck by the dogtoes all spread and paddling underwater.
What a beautiful peaceful lake, and what a nice neighbor to offer the kayak. And what handsome sons.
The chickadee looks like a toy . . . hard to believe it is able to take care of its own needs to live, but it does.
The sunshiny yellow flowers are a treat; the mussels draw me not at all but good health to you that eat them.
The people with the pirate ship boathouse could start a small amusement park if they add to that installation...

messymimi said...

Such nice things to savor -- thank you for the reminder to look for the little, wonderful things.

TexWisGirl said...

love the hodgepodge of glasses idea. :) and SWEET pair of fetching pups! oh, beauties! love the head-bowing blooms. and great to see your sons enjoy your lake and your neighbor's loan. :)

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

I love your hodge podge.....lovely photos all. And Happy Thanksgiving to you, enjoy. Oma Linda

Red said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. There's nothing like having the kids back home.

Gayle said...

Happy TDay to you and yours.

Linette said...

That chickadee is so adorable and what a beautiful capture and those dogs omg way too silly and adorable another beautiful capture.

Brian Miller said...

what an absolutely cool boat house...ha...would love to be out on the lake kayaking....it is pouring rain here today and i really need to get out...smiles.

ds said...

Ahhh…that is one cool boathouse! All the pics are wonderful, but esp those of your sons, because you had them both around.Bliss to kayak around a lake & now I want to make mussels. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Anonymous said...

What a great collection - together they represent an awesome summer. I love the teamwork of those puppies and that boat dock is amazing! I bet your favorite was having your two boys there at the same time. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Unknown said...

Hilary: This is the first time I've ever seen dogs fetching a stick with teamwork! I got a big thrill out of it!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Beautiful array of photos. You stole my heart with the chickadee. They are such wonderful looking creatures. Right up there with a titmouse.

Lisa Gordon said...

What a beautiful series this is, Hilary.
I especially love the dogs.
What a wonderful photograph!!

sage said...

Dinner looks great and glad you had a nice visit with your sons and I heartily agree about tomatoes (especially thick sliced tomato sandwiches)

joeh said...

Fun pics, I think I like the fetching dogs the best.

Jackie said...

When I see that you have posted, I can't wait to get here. It is always a feast for my eyes and my heart. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Beautiful!!

Leah J. Utas said...

What a wonderful post. The simple pleasures are the best.

stephen Hayes said...

I love mussels and most seafood and don't eat it often enough. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all my Canadian friends.

Betsy Brock said...

Such lovely and fun photos...love the dogs swimming and that sweet chickadee!

Hope you're having a lovely Thanksgiving!

Rob-bear said...

Simple. Beautiful. Pleasing.

Blessings and Bear hugs!

Rita said...

So nice your boys were there for a visit! Great pics. Love the pirate ship boathouse--how clever! Some very funny quotes, too. I always enjoy my visits. :)

Tabor said...

Simple and beautiful. Curious as to how that boathouse does if and when the lake freezes over.

Laura~Pretty Pix said...

Wonderful images... love the doggie duo.
Simple pleasures
are the very best!

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful shots, excellent Hilary. I love the boat and the fruit.

Stewart M said...

Nice post - that pot of mussels looks great! Fresh bread and real butter and off you go!

Nice post.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Shammickite said...

Simple pleasures are indeed the best pleasures. You've served up quite a varied selection of pleasures today. Love the co-operating dogs, TessaDog would never let that happen! And the pirate ship ROCKS!

Sharon Wagner said...

I'm definitely a whole bottle kind of gal. And we ate every ripe tomato from our garden this year. Every one except the one's the chipmunks got.

Anonymous said...

Lovely shots - I love that photo of the two dogs!

EG CameraGirl said...

I love your selection of simple pleasures. And I'm so jealous that you have a kayak you can borrow whenever you want...even though you haven't wanted to so far. How great that your sons tried it out though.

Karen said...

I saw that boathouse on TV the other day. I can't remember if it was on Cottage Life or CHEX supperhour show.

Jenn Jilks said...

What a wonderful post!
it's that time, isn't it? Tourists go home, long lines disappear and restaurants close!

Daryl said...

i guess today's the last day for the chip wagon .. happy thanksgiving my friend!

photowannabe said...

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving Hilary.
You are truly blessed to live in such beautiful country.
Your series of photos is like a gourmet buffet.
Every one so delightful in its own way.
I think you are teaching me how to look at things in a whole new way.
Enjoy your day.

Gail Dixon said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you!! Looks like you've been having a lot of good family time. Love the boys on the kayaks. My favorite activity after photography. Your photos are ALL amazing!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Lovely scenes of summer.

Chicken said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Hilary. Do you focus on a big meal in Canada the way Americans do on our Thanksgiving?

Kat said...

Oh I love them all! It is difficult to pick a favorite but since I have such a hard time capturing a chickadee with my camera (they are so fast!!! and they never sit still- but they are my FAV) I think that little guy is my favorite. The dogs sharing the stick is adorable. When I was younger we had two dogs that would do the same thing. So cute. That houseboat is UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I love it!

Great pics, Hilary!

Mage said...

What fun to read this today. You leave me with a big grin and the vision of two dogs and two brothers with the same chin. :)

Laura said...

So much to be grateful for Hilary… I hope you all had a wonder-filled Thanksgiving:-)

Vagabonde said...

I love these little chickadees. We get many of them at our bird feeders – and I wish so much I could pet them… Your pictures are lovely – the wine glasses, the tomato, the dogs – simple maybe but simplicity is also an art.

Linda said...

Great images of your good-looking boys! And I love that boat house!

Suldog said...

First, my apologies for not wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving before now. For a guy who spends so much time talking about that holiday when it occurs down here, I'm an awful slug to forget your version of it.

Second, those mussels looked magnificent. I am a big fan of that shellfish (although nobody else in my family is, so I rarely have them except when given the odd opportunity at a seafood restaurant.)

Third, there are no fries as good as those from a mobile vehicle devoted to such gustatory delights.

Indrani said...

I have never tried molluscs, I am tempted to now after seeing the pic.
Great series of pics again, loved the yellow flowers. :)

Daryl said...

oops forgot to say thanks or POTW!