In the Summertime when the weather is fine...

Afternoon tea in the garden

In her last week visiting Lisa and I took a day trip to the beautiful (world renowned) Butchard Gardens on Vancouver Island. It was a delightful way to spend the day, wandering around like ladies and it wouldn't have been complete without a posh afternoon tea overlooking the lawn. See that centre table in the last picture, well that was ours, the best in the house. It was so lovely to be waited on by staff who treated us like royalty (just about).

And what really topped the day off for me aside from glorious flowers, delicous food and wonderful Lisa (which really was more than enough excitement), was reading Pride and Prejudice on the bus/barge/bus trip over and back again (it takes a few hours there and a few hours back!). I really half expected Mr Darcy to walk out onto the grass at any moment. Though I have seen the BBC series of the Jane Austen classic this was my first attempt at the book. I half expected the language would be barrier to my simpleton mind but it was not at all a problem. I loved it and couldn't put it down, and the BBC series really does do it justice. Reading all about the mysterious Mr Darcy really just made me appreciate my own mysterious and charming Mr Newington. I feel a bit like a real life Lizzy (minus the annoying sisters, impossible mother and Pemberley mansion). 

BTW If you're wondering what we did with Catherine on this particular day she opted for theological books over flowers (?!?) and spent the day nerding it up at Regent and UBC.

pressed petal

I have loved poppies since I discovered such a flower existed. I love the way they come out of a small little hairy green cocoon, balanced on a precariously tall stem, like fine, crushed velvet, too delicate to touch. Here we have a plant in our backyard. It has been such a pleasant surprise after arriving in the winter to see all these joyful plants come out of hiding in the spring. This one has gigantic orange-red poppy blooms with gorgeous dark stains on the petals as though each was individually painted with the brush of a Creator God. Though it doesn't show the brilliance of the colour, I think it's even beautiful pressed.