Changing of the Seasons

Not too long ago, here at the High Heeled Life country home, we were saying how hot it was! Wishing for cooler temps. Well, just like that the weather is changing and though summer is not yet officially over, when you live in the country , as the weather starts to cool its time to start preparing for the change of seasons.

Morning garden walks are starting to require these...

Gardens need to be readied for the cold weather... plants moved, trimmed back, protected, autumn bulbs planted so that a beauty of colour will greet us after the long winter, etc.

Though our renovations are almost complete ... a wood burning fireplace is not planned until next phase of renos. But, when you live in the country and about 90% of your property is forest... trees need to be cleaned up from rain storms, and just ageing trees. Wood that is good for burning is cut and stored in the barn (yes, we have a barn..lol)

We don't rake in the forest but the trees that surround our home leave quite the leaf blanket, that needs to be raked, blown and bagged or burned. 

Living in the country as the seasons change from summer to autumn, makes drives into town that more magical.

Of course visiting the local orchard is also part of the autumn activities...

Coming home and baking  some yummy apple pies, or covered apple treats!!

Autumn is my favourite season  ... I love all that comes with it...

How about you, are you starting to get into autumn mood? Are there certain chores that need to be completed before the winter snow comes?

Once Upon A Time ...

There lived a very fit and active curly haired princess ~ she kept her golden brown locks tamed and in place, you would not have known they had a mind of their own. She worked hard at a career she loved, often starting early in the morning with the chirping of the birds and ending the day long after the final evening news had aired. But, don't worry she played equally hard, travelled the world and attended many social functions.

Life was good for this business developer and marketing princess! She wore the finest clothes, stood taller in her Jimmy Choos than her 5'2" height , Gucci and LV dangled from her hand. She ate at the finest restaurants; lived in her very own charming little castle and was friends with other lucky princesses and princes who called Yorkville their playground. 

She wasn't looking for a prince charming, nope, she was a modern day princess. Equally comfortable in a pair of jeans and T-shirt as she was in an evening ball gown. Independence was her middle name.

Even with a very busy schedule, she gave of her time to a help others get a helping hand in life.

Then one day as she crossed the street on her way to a very posh dinner party, she was knocked off her Jimmy Choos by a careless jalopy driver. As her lifeless body laid on the pavement, witnesses were sure she had taken her last breath. 

How could this be happening? She may not have always been the perfect princess, but she was a good princess, with a great life, would it end this way? Tune in next week for a continuation ... of

 Once Upon a Time is a new weekly feature ... till next time..

Tea Garden ~ In my friend's backyard

Well ok, it's not exactly in her backyard but literally across the road from her backyard. Our Stowe,Vermont trip had many wonderful discoveries, but I thought let's start the memory roll back with the most adorable outside Tea Garden.

INKY DINKY OINKINK

The whimsical name lets you know right from the start that you are in for an enchanted adventure. Along with the outside summer Tea Garden, this delightful 145 year old cottage is a B&B and can also be rented in its entirety. But there is much more ... pour yourself a cup of tea, something cold or perhaps a cup of coffee and lets take a walk around the magical grounds, shall we ...

The gardens are filled with amazing surprises ...

and are tenderly and loving cared for by our hostess. Along with the beautiful flower gardens, she nurtures a vegetable garden whose bounty is used in the making/baking of the items for the Tea Garden menu.

On the grounds, you will come across the Moscow Co-op, where neighbours contribute organically grown vegetables, flowers, herbs, along with wonderful delights created from their harvest. Our hostess was the founder of the Co-op and volunteers her time and the location, so the community has a central place to gather and exchange the bounty of their harvest. Payment for goods purchased is done via the honour system.

Our hostess is a wonderful soul and most talented! Continuing along our walk we come across this enchanting mini cottage...

Don't you just love the whimsy look of it?

Let's take a peak inside....

WOW!!! what a delight for the eyes... inside you will discover original art work created from the imagination and by the creative hands of our hostess. Here is a small sampling of her work.. (original Art Photos via Inky Dinky Oinkink website)

WHO IS this fabulous, talented , creative and nurturing soul ... you are asking ... well let's walk over to the Tea Garden, where we can have a seat, enjoy the view of this enchanted place along with some freshly made tea delights. Looks like our hostess is waiting for us....

I would like you to meet Liz Le Serviget ...

Upon being introduced to Liz, you automatically feel like you have arrived at the home of your Auntie, with her inviting smile and warm welcome. She has been up with the roosters preparing the day's menu, everything is prepared fresh daily on site. Let's have a seat and look over today's offering....

After literally salivating over the day's selections, we decided on the dessert tea. Miss V. (my dear friend who treated me to this magical afternoon) decided on hot tea with a hint of almond, while I went for the lavender iced-tea.

Miss V. pouring her tea, from a wonderful whimsical tea pot hand painted by our hostess. Liz's hand painted tea pots are available for purchase in her shop. Liz also does commissioned work, so you could have her create something special and original for a gift, or for yourself.

The iced tea was refreshing and much welcomed on the warm Stowe afternoon. Our dessert plate was a colourful creation for the eyes, rivalled only by the heavenly taste experienced by our taste buds. Made fresh on this day; a flour-less chocolate cake, green tea ice-cream, home made cream topping sat proudly on top of freshly picked strawberries, capped off by black berries. The plate was completed with extra squirts of chocolate sauce and an edible flower.

Attention to detail is most important to our hostess, a small tea cup with flowers cut fresh from the garden, even the ice-cubes are not over-looked ... for more details on the TEA GARDEN, click here.

Guests from the B&B had checked out, so I had the honour of getting a tour of the rooms. All I can say is, if you are planning a trip to Stowe, Vermont this would be the perfect setting. The rooms and bath have been lovingly designed with the comforts of home - away- from home. You can see photos and get complete details by visiting the Inky Dinky Oinkink website.

I hope you have enjoyed the first roll back look at our Stowe, Vermont vacation. I'll be sharing more discoveries in days/weeks to come. Till then I'll leave with this view from the Inky Dinky Oinkink B&B cottage.

I would love for you to share a wonderful Tea Garden/Room you may have discovered on your travels ...

Joining these wonderful parties;

Tabletop Tuesday with Marty

Sweetology Tea Party Tuesday

Click Here to Join Tea Time Tuesday

Click Here to Join Tea Cup Tuesday

Click Here to join Teacup Thursdays

The Power of a Box ...

It is truly amazing the affect, receiving a box ~ be it orange, black, brown or this blue one, can have on our day. Especially if we have been ill, or experiencing some horrific challenge in our lives. BUT there is something that is better than receiving a box....

WHAT COULD IT POSSIBLY BE?

you are asking.... let me give you a little introduction....

In my attempt to catch up with blog visits and reading of posts I missed while on vacation; I stopped in for a visit to my dear friend Mary's blog Hope-Filled Living Magazine . My visits there are always filled with admiration, inspiration and a desire to live a truer existence, Mary is possibly one of the kindest people I've been blessed to meet in BlogLand. As, I caught up with reading posts I missed this one titled Creating a Box of Sunshine really hit close to home, reminders of all the small gestures that family, friends and complete strangers had so kindly bestowed during the earlier days of my accident recovery came flooding back. Not the items themselves, but the feeling of warmth that someone cared, that they took a moment out of their day to bring me a little "sunshine" to my day, encouraged me to not give-up; to keep going.

GIVING a box that can bring a smile 

to someone's day, is truly better!!

To learn more about how you can help fill a shoe box that will have a positive impact on someone's day, please take a moment to visit Mary's blog and learn more about the program she is running that will make a difference in the lives of 60 people, who are facing life challenges. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

Mary my heels off to you, for all you do unconditionally and full of love for others...xo

Joining some fun hops...

After the Vacation ...

We had so much fun visiting our friends in Vermont, but the drive home was beyond exhausting ... so I have been doing lots of this ... 

Waking to enjoy a cup of  tea  ...

One of my favourite ways to relax with a cup of tea, is to read Belle Inspiration...

Belle Inspiration was founded by the wonderful, creative and inspiring writer of  the blog Bonjour Romance. I discovered Mimi's blog around the time she was considering taking her joy for life and creating an on-line publication. After much elbow grease, long nights and I'm sure many what ifs ... Belle Inspiration's premier issue was launched September 2010. Having enjoyed her blog - I was thrilled to be receiving her wonderful creation - directly to my in-box.

Each issue is filled with wonderful, informative, inspiring articles and stories from contributors around the world. For those who like to skim through publications for  inspiring photos be it, fashion, travel, home, or lifestyle you will not be disappointed.

During this past year of reading Belle Inspiration, along with how to make fig jam (in the premier issue); amazing holiday decorating, and that Wellies can be used as a vase; Nantucket's quiet way of life may be the place for me; a person may have Passion for many things, and that's OK; seeing France in photos, makes me want to return there; through wonderful photos and articles I understand Hubby's desire to return to Italy - it's not just his heritage.  Possibly the most important things I have learned is that you do not need to spend a fortune to be stylish, have a beautiful home and dine on the best food! and that everything is possible so long as you have a DREAM...

Each issue brings the magic of truly enjoying life ~ not just living it ~ to colour. 

If you are not already subscribing to this wonderful on-line publication

  CLICK HERE to learn how you can become a subscriber.

 View Current Issue

 Current Issue ~ Click Here

I'll be spending my week catching up at home, therapy stuff and blog visiting and  reading. Will return to regular posting next week.

What tips can you share to get back into routine, 

after a vacation ???

Having Fun....

Guess where we are on our road trip ...

How do you like my wheels?

Outdoor Markets.... 

Mountain Views....

Small Town

There are lots of furbabies...

Sight seeing is exhausting

Tea ..????

Something for the humans too....

Paws and licks, Dolce