Mlle Magpie

Birthday in the Backyard

 

Last weekend we had my youngest daughter's female classmates over to celebrate her 8th birthday.

 

 

 

 

My three children all helped to set up for the party. Here's my 11 year old hanging up the small pink paper lanterns I picked up a week ago when I went on a road trip to Target in Plattsburgh. My bestie and I like to take our little road trips to Target and Michael's across the border every few months - it's great to take a day off from the hospital, do a little shopping and have some much appreciated girl time. 

 

 

 

 

The cherry tree in our backyard was in full bloom. It really is one of my favourite times of the year in the backyard.

 

 

 

 

We had matching pink flowers on the table outside.

 

 

 

 

Last fall, I hung up some birdcages in the tree to add some interest over the winter time. Husband wasn't too sure about that but I think they look great in the tree. By the way, you can see the green climbing rope in the background - I was so glad that all the girls loved taking turns climbing up into the tree.

 

 

(all photos taken by 15 year old son)

 

 

And the weather was just perfect for the party outside. Sunny and warm. Just like my sweet little daughter :)

 

Mlle Magpie

 

Some Sunshine Therapy

 

 

Back from a week of rest and relaxation in sunny Florida. I really enjoyed the warmth and the sunshine, wearing flip flops, hanging out at the beach and just plain taking it easy. The simple life. This was the first time we ever went away all together en famille for March Break; I told my husband that we need to do it more often so that we can get better at it :)

Anyways, although it is now back to school for the kids and back to work for the parents, I must say that I feel much better after this vacation. Of course, it doesn't hurt that we came back to summer-like weather back home - just crazy high temps! Makes me feel as if winter is over and gardening season is just around the corner...

 

Mlle Magpie

Anniversary Roses

 

 

 

We are back from our long weekend visit to my parents' home. These are some of the 50 creamy white roses that I bought for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. They opened up beautifully over the weekend. I'm hoping they will end up drying out nicely so that they can be kept as a keepsake...

 

Mlle Magpie

Wedding Anniversary

 

 

 

Whew, somehow I survived the ultra busyness of September. It's been just crazy at work and at home with the kids. Fortunately we will get a bit of a break as this is the Thanksgiving long weekend in Canada and we will be off tomorrow to visit my family in Toronto.

 

 

 

We'll be celebrating my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary en famille.

 

 

(vintage wedding cake toppers from my collection)

 

 

Being married for 50 years is quite the accomplishment in this day and age...

 

 

Mlle Magpie

 

Son's New Etsy Shoppe

 

My 14 year old son has just opened up a new Etsy shoppe called KING x ACE. 

 

Linen eyeglass pouch.

 

Linen pencil case. 

 

Small hand made vintage paper envelopes.

 

I particularly love these pretty envelopes that he has made. Can you tell he is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic? Feel free to stop by for a visit chez lui...

 

Mlle Magpie

Ballet Sunday

 

 

My girls were performing in their ballet school's yearly performance yesterday. Here is the vintage tutu my littlest one was wearing. They were both wonderful in their performance and Grandmother from Toronto was lucky enough to come into town and see them in their show too. I'm so proud of them :)

 

Mlle Magpie

Major Makeover for Molly

 

Hope everyone had a good Easter weekend. We are back from Toronto and I do need to do a little recovering from the busy weekend. Besides visiting with my family the highlight of my trip was definitely meeting up with artist/teacher/friend, Colette Copeland. Will share more about that soon...

 

In the meantime I wanted to update everyone on how Molly, our beloved 14 month old goldendoodle is doing these days. She is doing really well. She loves people and stuffed animals. She is now a lot more calmer but is still quite playful. Her favourite place to be is running around outside the farmhouse.

 

 

As you can see, she had gotten quite shaggy over the winter time but were waiting for warmer weather before taking her for her first grooming as the winter is very cold up here. Needless to say, she really needed a haircut. Although her hair was getting quite long, curly and matted up, we did love her wild look. Some people in the neighbourhood would even ask where we got her groomed!

Well, we finally took her in to the highly recommended groomer in our neighbourhood right before Easter. Even though they warned me that they would have to shave her down because of her matted down tangles, I was still shocked when I showed up to pick her up.

 

 

I literally didn't recognize my own dog! She looked about 15 lbs lighter! I could see her eyes more clearly. And she went from being apricot in colour to being a blonde!

 

Poor thing looked freaked out. But her hair will grow back and since she will be getting groomed a little bit more regularly now there will be no need for such a radical shave again. I'm also happy to report that she is slowly getting used to her major makeover too. We've been very careful about showing her that we still love her, even without all her wild red hair :)

 

Mlle Magpie

 

Crafting at the Farmhouse

 

While husband did most of the cooking and all the baking at the farmhouse, the other family members did a little crafting over the holidays.

 

 

My son made a stack of envelopes using various vintage papers.

 

 

 

My oldest daughter worked on a pillow project using an old Amy Butler fabric from my stash.

 

 

 

My six year old got the idea for her project from the sewing book I gave her for Christmas. She is also using an Amy Butler fabric from my stash.

 

 

 

I gave all three of my children sewing/crafting books for Christmas. I find the instructions in the children's sewing books to be particularly good so they're also great for a sewing novice like myself. I will definitely be trying out some of the neat little projects in these books.

 

As for myself, I didn't do very much in the way of crafting over the holidays as I pretty much ran out of gas by the time Christmas came and needed a lot of rest to recover. I did get a new Martha Stewart bird craft punch from Walmart which made me very happy.

 

All I have to show for the holidays is a jar of vintage French paper birds. But making them made me very happy. Very Mlle Magpie.

 

 

Really, it's the simple things in life, isn't it...?

 

Mlle Magpie

Off to the Farmhouse for a Week

 

 

Leaving the city house for a week at the farmhouse with the family. No doubt we will see some of these friends in the surrounding fields. The kids will go skiing with their dad and uncle. My Mom and I are going to visit Naisi at her shop in North Hatley, QC, and do a little vintage treasure hunting in her barn. Dad will do his crossword puzzles. Our puppy Molly will be free to run around in the snow. It's going to be very quiet and relaxing. See you when we get back in the New Year...

 

Mlle Magpie

Not Just a Fair Weather Friend

 

 

Well it's yet another dreary, rainy day here. All I can say is thank goodness Molly is not just a fair weather friend.  She really likes wearing scarves now (you can see her coral pink one peeking out there) - very French, don't you think? By the way, her new hobby is destroying pom poms, like the ones on hats. And my new slippers. But honestly, look at that face and tell me how I can get mad at her?!!

 

Wishing you a good weekend.

 

Mlle Magpie