Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the Land of Blog,
and mothers everywhere.
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and mothers everywhere.
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Today was magical for me, and not only because we had a beautiful day at the Maple Syrup/Pancake Sugar Shack (happily with our dear daughter and two Canadian grandsons)....
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but I finally saw my very first real-life Red Cardinal, flying nearby just on dusk.
It was just as I had imagined...a brilliant flash of gorgeous red, flying about the apple tree by the fence...
and then it was gone.
As so often happens, I did not have my camera with me, but this Google image shows just what I saw - a male Red Cardinal.
As so often happens, I did not have my camera with me, but this Google image shows just what I saw - a male Red Cardinal.
Meantime, I am distributing peanuts around the garden, hoping to entice it back tomorrow....
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On the way to Canada, we flew via Auckland, New Zealand, where I had a very special meeting....
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At the Parnell Rose Garden, I met a fellow-blogger, the delightful Shane of Roses, Lace and Brocante, one of the prettiest blogs around.
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Shane grows heritage roses, and volunteers at the public Rose Garden helping to maintain the beautiful collection of old-fashioned, heritage roses and companion plantings. It was fascinating, and gave the Cardinals some ideas for improving our little rose/cottage garden at home.
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Another lover of all things French, Shane then took us to La Cigale, a French market and cafe a short distance away. We discussed the tyranny of distance, and the joy of grandchildren who speak French, but are far away on the other side of the globe!
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Gifts were exchanged:
Tied with a beautiful ribbon of French Blue, I found....
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made by Shane, just for me, a beautiful little French themed personal journal..
featuring antique ribbon and lace, and special snippets of Parisian ephemera.
I am still drooling over my little book, and will add to it while I travel.
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Thank you dear Shane, for a lovely day in New Zealand...
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As we flew out that evening, I spotted this unusual sunset over Auckland Airport.
and on to Canada.
Having a wonderful time..
More later..
XXXX
Welcome to Canada!
ReplyDeleteWish I had your email address....
You are in Ottawa right?
Too bad...about a 4 hour drive!
Kingston is about 2 1/2...
Enjoy your visit!
Hugs to your grands♥️
Cheers!
Linda:o)
Thank you Linda, yes I am in Ottawa right now, happily. I just realised my email has disappeared from the sidebar. I will email you; but I had worked out you were a little far away from us. Today we enjoy the cold weather! Cheers x
DeleteWhat a wonderful Mother's Day and more special days to come over the next couple of weeks in Canada. Sending my best wishes for a wonderful and precious time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah Liz. It is a lot of fun living for a while in another country/culture. So many little differences, which add up to quite an alternative experience: words, foods, plants and animals, architecture - I soak it all up!
DeleteHappy travels Trish! Bloggy meets are lovely. How wonderful for you to be with your dear Daughter and family for Mother's day. Little Mr Cardinal must have known. Hope he visits again for you. Enjoy those squeezy hugs with your sweet grandies xx
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, yes, I did enjoy the bloggy meet so much. What fun to meet someone for the first time, already knowing so much about one another. It was a perfectly lovely Mother's Day, and yes, looking out for Mr Cardinal again. This morning we went to French Story time at the local library with the child formerly known as the Little Bebe - who is alarmingly big for a 2 year old :)
DeleteHello dear Trish
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of you and the special time we had together last week, it was so lovely meeting you!
Mother's Day with your daughter spoiling you – I know how much that meant to you - those are the times we miss with our daughters living overseas.
I can imagine the fun times you’re having with your two gorgeous grandsons – make the most of every precious minute (I know you will)!!
Thank you for sharing the little journal, I’m so glad you like it.
The little Red Cardinal must have known you had arrived in Canada and popped in to say hello!!
Shane x
Thank you Shane, I am glad you enjoyed it too. Yes, you know how it is with the daughter far away, and what a special time it is to be here. Not really doing the tourist thing, just embracing being part of their lives and getting to know the children all over again. Already have glued a couple of things in my pretty book :)
DeleteToday I am lurking outside with camera in hand, willing that red bird to return. I have convinced myself a few peanuts will do the trick. xx
I had no idea that you are already in Canada - how wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLovely that you met Shane and had a happy time together - I too share with you both having grandchildren that speak French, but luckily for me I can get to France in just over an hour from our local airport.
Good luck spreading those peanuts around in the garden for the Red Cardinal - hope that you get that elusive shot.
Yes Rosemary, I have quietly slipped across the Pacific to the other side of the globe! It seems we belong to an exclusive collective - grandmothers of special French speaking children. Today I enjoyed French story time for small children at the local library. My daughter keeps telling me the squirrels are eating the peanuts, but I like to live with my delusions :) Maybe the red bird will return today...
DeleteHave a super trip. Brilliant to have seen a Red Cardinal x
ReplyDeleteThank you Katharine. It was a great joy to see that flash of red flitting among the branches....of course, now I want to see it again!
DeleteTrish, such a wonderful time. So happy to see the cardinal on your blog...they always make me smile. Have a safe trip to Canada (you are probably already there), and we'll look forward to more pictures!
ReplyDeleteHI Linda, Yes we are already here in Canada, hoping to see the cardinal again, and will post more pictures in a few days.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful start to your trip. I know you must have treasured the chance to spend Mother's Day with your daughter in Canada and those dear boys. Enjoy your stay!
ReplyDeleteDarla
HI Darla, all is going well on our journey. The grandsons are wonderful, and we are captivated by every word they utter. They are very welcoming of us, not at all shy, which is great for us. We enjoy being on grandparent duty!
DeleteI'm so happy for you, Patricia! Spending Mother's Day with your daughter and grandsons, and finally seeing a red cardinal, these are such special treats. Enjoy the rest of your stay in the Great White North (hopefully though it won't be white while you are here!).
ReplyDeleteSo many special treats indeed Kristie, that I have trouble going to sleep with all the excitement. The little boys are such fun, and we enjoy their Canadian accents and every funny thing they say. I don't mind if it is white for us - I like a bit of snow. After a really hot weekend, it is delightfully cold today, less than 10 deg. Love it!
DeleteDouble wonderful, actually, probably triple! Travelling meeting Shane and now seeing your family and seeing a cardinal!!! So VERY pleased for you!! I hope the rest of your time is just wonderful! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, everything is going wonderfully, and we are having a Very Nice Time :))
DeleteHow exciting to see a real cardinal! You must have been in heaven. I'm glad you had a nice Mother's Day. Enjoy the rest of your visit!
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly exciting, Jennifer, when I least expected to see the fabulous red bird. All is going very well and we are actually babysitting one of our grandsons today :)
DeletePatricia, the red cardinal you saw was just for You! It is my dream to see the red cardinal one day, they are so amazing. What a lovely gift from Shane. It is a treasured book to keep forever. Is this pink rose from your garden? It is the exact pink that I wanted for my roses, but mine are actually a bit darker. I love this softer shade of pink. Happy Mother's Day, Patricia, a bit late but sincere all the same.
ReplyDeletelove, ~Sheri
It was a lovely surprise to see the cardinal, Sheri. I am having a blessed week, and love my gift from Shane. The pink roses and all the roses in this post were in the Parnell Rose Garden in New Zealand. They have an excellent collection of beautiful roses. Happy Mother's Day to you, too. I know you had a great day.x
DeleteI came across your blog via Shane, read some posts and am excited, this is one of the blogs I love, roses, birds, nature, travelling, architecture, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo exciting to see a red cardinal in the wild, I've only seen them in aviaries.
I will be your new follower.
Greetings, Janneke
Hello Janneke, and welcome to my blog, where we like the attractive things of life...it was a great excitement to see the cardinal flying about in my daughter's back garden. A very special moment. Greetings to you too.
DeleteWow, I hope you are having a wonderful time in Canada, Patricia!! How lovely you have seen a Red Cardinal at home though! Beautiful photos and flowers as always!! Have a great time! xx
ReplyDeleteHello Val, We are certainly have a very special time over here. So many different experiences, all great for the mind. I am over the moon with the spring flowers popping out every day, and of course the little grandsons, who are completely adorable!!
DeleteHi Patricia, I was just wondering what the willow pattern was? On the bottom of my cup it says Nikko Ironstone Japan, are you familiar with that? I found the cup and saucer at an antique store for only $10. Blue tea cups are the prettiest to me, not even sure why, but they are my favorite. I was just thinking about you today when I saw the blue jay fly right in front of me, and thought to myself, "Patricia saw the red cardinal, that would be awesome."
ReplyDeleteHave a sweet day, my Australian friend.
love, ~me
Sheri, the willow pattern was very popular in the past, made in England. It usually has the tree, 2 doves, a bridge with tiny figures etc. there are stories about the design if you look at wikiped
Deletethanks for sharing, I like it this blog information,
ReplyDeleteO my ears and whiskers, I'm late commenting here, Trish! I can only blame the fact we were travelling back from Scotland when you posted and since then life has been hectic. I'm so glad you were with your family for Mother's Day and that you even managed to see a red cardinal at last.
ReplyDeleteIi can imagine how much you enjoyed meeting Shane. Meeting another blogger is very special as we already know a lot about each other.