Monday, June 01, 2020

And Now It is June





Monday morning. Blue sky and puffy white clouds. The roses are beginning to bloom. This, however, is the peony's time to star. I'm always amazed at how those tightly packed fat globes open into elegant ruffles. Most of my peonies are the dark pink ones, but I planted a pale pink and a white one last year. The white bush is not producing flowers this year, but the pale pink one has a few. It seems to be later than the dark pink ones. 

I had a vase of peonies on a table. While I sat quietly reading one day I heard the softest plop and looked up to see the petals falling in great clumps. There's nothing gradual about a peony. They burst into full bloom in a day and fall in a minute. 


I've not indulged in quiet time for reading for an entire week. No, I've been much too busy playing with Miss Iris. Here she is in the dress I made for her, on her first birthday party celebration. Her actual birthday is later, but she was in town, so we celebrated. 


We are gathering together as family these days. We had a most lovely time on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The older grands ran around the garden, played with water, and blew bubbles. We grilled meat and everyone contributed to the meal. It was simply grand!


It wasn't just ONE special girl's birthday celebration. No, indeed. The almost 8 year old and the almost one year old shared the party. Aunt Katie made the cake and it was a beauty - can you see the ombre effect in the layers? The almost 8 ate her cake with much more elegance and grace than the almost 1, who has not had sugar in her diet, and found it quite pleasant. 


I had lots of Nana time over the week plus that they stayed with us. Miss Iris's parents had business to attend to and we worked around my teaching schedule for childcare. What fun we had. I introduced her to my roses, pulled marigold petals from her mouth, and she clapped with glee when the Japanese bell sang by the fig tree. The first few strawberries ripened and oh, my - she gobbled them down in a flash. 

She was very engrossed in listening to Grandpa sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm", but looked up when I walked in with the camera. 

They left yesterday. The house is quiet. The domestic machines are humming with laundry and dishes. The high chair is back in the storage room, and I've deemed it safe to put a vase of peonies on the coffee table. There are no little hands to play with it just now. 


I prepared a lot of meals, but took no photos. Before the guests arrived I made some Orange-Thyme Shortbread, sprinkled with sea salt. It's very hard to eat just one of these sweet, savoury, and salty morsels. 

And now it is June. I'll be at school for three half days this month, supervising a classroom of 10 students or less. I'm looking forward to seeing the students face to face. Graduation is the 24th of June and we're still not certain how that is going to look. I'm learning to hold all plans very loosely. 

25 comments:

  1. I am so happy that you were able to spend time with family! Your peonies are beautiful.

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  2. The peonies are gorgeous, but the little Lily is the star of the show. Oh my goodness... how adorable she is with her little pigtails and darling dress. I am thrilled to learn that you and your family were finally able to be together and enjoy such a special time. Wonderful!
    As my thyme is thriving, I am off to check out that recipe.

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  3. How wonderful to have the time with your family. And to be able to celebrate the special days! The little dress you made is just adorable...isn't she a doll baby with those cute cheeks! I know you all made such good memories! Enjoy your week!

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  4. Little Iris is very cute. The dress is sweet. It's nice to be able to extend our bubble to family now. Enjoy your school days.

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  5. What a very pretty dress, Lorrie...and of course the person in it too!
    Wonderful to spend time with your family. We have been 'shielding' for 12 weeks and are now about to be 'let out',but can only mingle with one other person.

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  6. The peonies are so beautiful but baby Lily stole my heart. And, those cookies... love shortbread anyway and those, I bet I couldn't resist if I could get my hands on one.

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  7. Iris has changed to a blue eyed blond. Wasn't she first a blue eyed brunette? Whatever, she is adorable and looking so sweet in the dress you made for her. Holding things loosely...that is a good way of putting it.

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  8. Happy Birthday to your granddaughters. I can't believe that Iris is turning 1!

    Have they re-opened the schools in B.C.? I work at a university and last week, they announced that the fall term will be virtual (with some exceptions for health sci courses that require clinical labs). So it looks like I'll be working remotely through the fall too...

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  9. I love your peonies. The red is just stunning. What a cutie Miss Iris is! And the dress looks very cute on her too. Lovely to get to celebrate birthdays with family. The shortbread sounds delicious. I think I need to check out that recipe, though I have cut back a bit on baking. I eat too much of it.

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  10. Your special birthday girls are very cute. The cake is perfect for a princess or two.

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  11. Iris is so adorable and looks so pretty in the dress you made for her, Lorrie! I know she will enjoy her first birthday cake.
    Our school season is completed here and it looks like when the children go back in August everything will be very different with masks and social distancing and some online days. My grandchildren missed their teachers and friends. I'm hoping life can be more normal for them all by next spring.

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  12. Miss Iris is so cute. So happy for you that you are meeting together with your family. Nice to celebrate birthdays. The dress you made for Iris is so sweet...love the fabric. Happy June to you!

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  13. Iris is a little sweetie and looks very pretty in the lovely dress that you made for her.

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  14. Iris is a little doll and I love the dress that you made. Being with family is a blessing for sure. Peonies and shortbread photos are perfect on this Tuesday morning!

    Pam @ Everyday Living

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  15. It is so good to see all the normal joy and celebration in your family!! I'm so happy for you - The peonies are luscious, as is that cherubic little doll Iris!! And what a pretty cake...

    I hope your in-person teaching is fun and satisfying. God bless you.

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  16. I love how you described how a Peony falls apart with a soft thud
    ( can a thud be soft?) I have a jug of white Peonies on the table right now and no doubt in a few days I'll hear that gentle noise, or come downstairs one morning, to find all the petals have fallen.
    Beautiful grands and special birthday girls. The little one with her serious look in the last photo and the lovely long-haired sweetie with her special cake. I'm sure you enjoy them whenever you can.

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  17. Oh how lovely that you're able to get together. We still are distancing. Such lovely grand kids. Our graduations start this week. So glad we could have one. Take care. Kit

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  18. So lovely that you could have Miss Iris with you and celebrate her 1st birthday! Everybody has missed family gatherings so much, fortunately they are allowed again. I have had a couple, too mostly outside on the terrace <3 Your peony is stunning - enjoy as long they last!

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  19. Dear Lorrie,
    Iris stole the show. The sweet dress comes next and then there are the beautiful peonies. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. Such a wonderful post with beautiful photographs, Miss Iris is adorable but so too are your other grands. So special that you could spend time together.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  22. Lorrie - you are so blessed to get time with your family. All of your grandkids are adorable, and the dress you made for Iris is precious!

    What an impressive cake - ombre, indeed!

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  24. Your grand daufgter and her dress is beautiful. How lovely to get together as a family, we're still in self isolation.

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  25. How lucky you were all able to gather - we haven't attempted anything like that yet.
    Meanwhile we do the garden chores, wear masks for a quick grocery run - in 90 degrees masks are unbearable - chat with the neighbors at a distance, and obey the nightly curfew.

    Such a sweet dress for cute little Iris - and she's even prettier than the peonies!!!

    Both the cake and the shortbread look so yummy!

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