“The earth laughs in flowers.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Happy Summer! We've had some beautiful weather. Calm and sunny mornings and long balmy twilight evenings. Wanted to share a few photos from a recent visit to our local botanic park. It was a busy summer afternoon when we went. Baseball tournaments were held in the next park. Various groups of bridal parties posed for photos amongst the beautiful floral settings. We tried not to photobomb anyone... as I wanted to get a few pics to show you.
One. Visit to a garden
One of our favourite local spots to visit from spring to autumn is the St Albert Botanic Park. An oasis of beauty and wonderment, this park is operated and maintained by volunteers since 1992. It is open to the public from sunrise to sunset and boasts lots of well-situated benches for enjoying the views.
Two. From the gift shop
A small pottery bowl—large enough to hold a generous salad for two—caught my eye. I looked at it, picked it up, put it down, walked away, came back and popped the bowl into the shopping basket. I have loved using it ever since. Many items in this delightful little shop are by local artists which makes purchases all the more special. 
Three. A cookbook question
Name your favourite cook book that's now well-stained or dog-eared pages.
First is The New Purity Cook Book, The Complete Guide to Canadian Cooking (put out by the Purity Flour Mill back in the early to mid-twentieth century). Mom gave me a copy—it cost $1.25 at the time—when I was in high school to put away in my 'Hope Chest'. It's still my go-to for baking powder biscuits and pancake/waffles (you'd think I'd have the recipes memorized by now ha but I don't).
And the other is The Best of the Best from the Best of Bridge series, recommended years ago by a work colleague and friend. Favourite recipes include "Elsie's Garlic Mashed Potatoes", "Regina Beach Coleslaw", "French Toast Raphael", and "Orzo with Parmesan and Basil", to name a few.
What's the name of your favourite recipe book?
Four. Enjoyable summer reads
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay
By Its Cover
by Donna Leon (novel, 2014)
Commissario Guido Brunetti gets a "frantic call from the
director of a prestigious Venetian library". Someone has stolen
several centuries-old books and cut pages from rare old volumes.
A visit to Venice is always good for the soul.
In the Time of Five Pumpkins
by Alexander McCall Smith (novel, 2025)
Another venture in The No 1 Ladies' Detective series.
I enjoy Mme Ramotswe's gentle musings about life and living as
she and her cohort Mme Makutsi solve the current mystery of the day.
Under Gemini
by Rosamunde Pilcher (novel, 1976)
Flora impersonates her twin Rose for a weekend. It soon gets
complicated when she meets Rose's fiancé's family and uncovers
her sister's scandalous past. A lovely summer read.
The Forgotten Garden
by Helen Humphreys (novel, 2002)
A short historical novel set in WWII England.
Young horticulturist Gwen Davis leaves London for the
Devon countryside to instruct a group of girls in growing
crops for the home front on a beautiful but neglected
country estate. She also discovers a long forgotten garden.
Five. A little Jane Austen
It was suggested on Instagram (it came up on several different pages) that some old book phrases from Jane Austen's writings could be reintroduced in our modern day lingo. Here are a few from the collection I found amusing; maybe you will too.
Expressions about someone you don't like:
"A man of no consequence."
"A woman of little understanding."
"A person not burdened by self-awareness."
"I see you've chosen to be yourself today."
Expressions of annoyance:
"What a vexing business this is."
"How excessively tiresome."
"I am not in the humour for such foolishness."
Expressions describing someone you like:
"A source of constant delight."
"A most agreeable companion."
"You are a welcome sight on any day."
Dramatic expressions:
"Good heavens!"
"Upon my word!"
"I'm entirely bewildered."
Six. A summer lunch
"It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long,
difficult words but rather short, easy words like, 'What about lunch?'"
A.A. MILNE
It was delicious!
❦
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda
Photo credits:
Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life
Photo:
Summer hat with cocktail
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay
