Mlle Magpie

Wild Still Life

 

 

 

On the table at our farmhouse. A little bit of wildlife that I found while hunting for vintage treasures a week ago...

 

Mlle Magpie

Where We Relax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is where we relax. We came to our farmhouse for the labour day weekend, last weekend. After husband grills our food on the fire in the firepit, we eat here and then relax. Maybe a little more wine. And the sunset sky never disappoints...

 

Mlle Magpie

Wildflower World

 

 

At the farmhouse I used to have a patch that was my cutting flower garden. Since we're at our city house more than we are at our farmhouse, it has become a bit too high maintenance for it to work out well with respect to the watering and the weeding. This year I sowed wildflower seeds over the entire patch and I think it really is the best solution all things considered. 

 

Husband is away on a big business trip but I'm hoping to get away to the farmhouse for a bit this weekend with my girls and the dog (son working at neighbourhood organic food shop) to get some fresh air, see how things are going in the garden and take a spin on our bicycles...

 

Mlle Magpie

Wonderful Weekend at the Farmhouse

 

 

We had such a wonderful long weekend at the farmhouse. Our son's Godmother drove up from Connecticut for the weekend and we had a great time together. There was quite a bit of biking, some swimming in a nearby lake, some crafting, some relaxing, a lot of barbecuing and of course, some antiqueing and junking at all of my favourite places out there. The best of times...

 

Mlle Magpie

Long Weekend at the Farmhouse

 

 

We spent the Canadian Victoria Day long weekend at the farmhouse.  The very old tree in front of the farmhouse; this will be the summer that I hang a chandelier from one of the branches for some romantic al fresco dining...

 

The kids rode their bikes on the country road. Molly ran around in the fields. Since the weather was lovely all weekend, we were able to garden quite a bit. Husband mowed the lawn. I cleaned up the beds around the house and planted wildflower seeds in in my former cutting garden plot (I'm going for low maintenance this year).  

 

 

Planted blue lobelia in my my galvanized steel buckets. I also cut lilac branches to scatter through the farmhouse in milk glass vases. As you can see from these cut lilacs, spring has been quite cold and not very sunny - the lilacs are only now about to bloom.

 

 

Of course I cut a whole bunch of lilac branches to bring back to the city with us. 

 

Mlle Magpie

Farmhouse Reverie

 

We are finally having some spring-like weather. The snow is melting and disappearing... Winter sure lasts a long time here, spring arrives and leaves very quickly to make way for summer. And summertime means spending time at the farmhouse whenever we can.

 

 

I've done a lot of gardening here over the last few years since there really was nothing much to speak of garden-wise when we bought it. This year however I will be concentrating on our city garden which needs some attention.

 

 

Looking forward to taking my vintage Dutch bicycle (bought when I lived in Paris) for a spin down the road. 

Looking forward to spending some quiet time in the clubhouse too.

 

 

Perfect for a little nap after a bit of farmhouse gardening.

 

 

Yes, I am now also dreaming of summer days at the farmhouse because with the arrival of spring, summer cannot be far away... 

 

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

Back From the Farmhouse and Happy New Year

 

Back in the city after a week at the farmhouse with my family.

 

The view down the road from our farmhouse. Just fields and some hills in the distance. Very quiet and peaceful.

 

One of my most favorite pieces of furniture at the farmhouse. A crackled pink vanity. You can see another vanity table in the mirror.

 

This one is in our master bathroom. I bought this fabulous ruffled chair cover from Judy Hill when I was at Warrenton/Round Top  in Texas over a year ago. Judy is so incredibly talented and she was just lovely too.

 

I also want to show you a close-up of my favorite vintage photo which is on the ledge. One of my many treasures found at Naisi's shop, Pomegranate, in North Hatley in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

I think these children are just adorable, especially the girls with those big bows in their hair. I have three children as well, exactly in this same order for gender and age :)

 

In closing, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with much contentment, growth, and very, very importantly, good health!

My New Year's Eve cocktail - it went perfectly with our decor.

 

Sooooooooo looking forward to getting better in every way in 2011. How about you?

 

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

Farmhouse For a Day

Will be heading out to the farmhouse for a little visit tomorrow with husband. We'll be taking this gal along with us.

She  loves it there. Lots of space to run around, and then happily nap afterwards.

Will be picking up some stuff to take back to the city house. Like this crystal light fixture that I'm hoping to hang in my new craft room/studio.

I'm going to put that white bookcase from our farmhouse bedroom in my new room too - I have so many books (!).

Am planning to put this little white display cabinet in there too.  Why not? I'm also going to dig up a few of my rose bushes there since they've been crowded in too much where they are and I now have a few available spaces in my city garden. So... moving some things around, rearranging, and using what I have.

Hope your Thursday will be a good one.

Mlle Magpie

p.s. will be starting back at work very gradually starting on Monday even though I am not back to 100% (my doctor says we can't wait till then :), so wish me luck