[ removing sap from pinecones ]

IT'S THAT time of year when pinecones take centre stage in holiday decorating. Buying pinecones can be expensive but if you're lucky enough to live somewhere where you can gather them on a walk near the woods, you can easily prepare them for crafting. I had some that I brought back from Canada since finding them in Dubai isn't an easy thing.

But first: remove the sap…

There are a couple of ways you can remove the sticky sap from pinecones: washing them or baking them. I decided to bake them since I figured it would be quicker and much less messy. It worked like a charm.

Line a baking sheet with foil and lay out the pinecones…

Bake in a 200F oven for about 30 minutes or so. Check on them every so often to make sure they're doing ok. Turn them if you like. The sap will drip off onto the foil as the pinecones dry and open up. Your whole house will smell like pine trees while they bake…

Remove from oven and lift them from the foil. Notice how they've opened up and the melted sap has created a lovely hard shine on the tips…

Now they're ready for your decor either au natural or you can add paint or glitter…

Are you decorating with pinecones this Christmas? 

lisa

[first pic: via marloes oosterhuis; remaining: mine]

[ coffee mate ]

OH HELLO little birdie! I was sitting here this morning enjoying my cup of coffee when I was joined by an unexpected guest. Say hello to my little friend. Isn't she a beautiful green? Does anyone know what kind of bird she is?

lisa

[ seat with a view ]

PERHAPS it's because I'm a Pisces, but I'm always drawn to water. There's just something so relaxing about gazing out over sparkling water. My dream is to have a home with a water view someday but for now, I'm lucky to live a block away from Lake Ontario where I can enjoy this...

I love going out for a walk and making a stop at this little park. We're having some amazing late summer weather this week and all the more reason to linger a while on my favourite bench...

I love the dedication plaque on the bench. I think someday I'd like to donate a bench to the park so more people can pause a while and soak in that pretty view. Do you have a favourite spot you like to go to enjoy a view?

lisa

[ I'm back! ]

THAT was a rather long break, wasn't it? I hadn't really planned to be away from here for so long, but I have to admit that it was a wonderful, relaxing break!

We had a great time seeing everyone back in our hometown and then spending a couple of weeks soaking up the fresh air at the cottage we rented in Muskoka. As soon as we walked in, this is what we saw...

Now if that doesn't just start the vacation off right, I don't know what does! What a lovely view from such a cute cottage. Perched halfway down a granite hill, it was the perfect spot to unwind...

I love the mix of casual cottage and mismatched furniture...

We rented a boat so we could explore the lake and see the sights from the water...

And enjoyed pretty sunsets out on the deck every night...

Don't you feel relaxed just looking at these? Believe me, it was very difficult to leave!

But we all have to return to real life sometime and so as I sort through our loads of laundry back in Dubai, I'm going through my pics so I can share some of what we saw. Stay tuned!

lisa

[ trip dreaming ]

DON'T YOU love having a trip to look forward to? I'm so excited, I'm counting down the days! Aside from seeing our families, whom we haven't seen in about a year and a half, there are so many other silly things I'm looking forward to after living in Dubai for over a year now...

Driving along green, tree-lines roads {instead of beige sand}

Enjoying our favourite hometown pizza {one we've never been able to replicate in all the places we've lived}

The smell of grass

Stopping along our trip in Montreal for a smoked meat sandwich

Maybe getting a bit lost along the way and discovering great places

My guy would love a decent hot dog

And breathing in the sea air while we chillax in Maine

There are oodles of other things I can think of but just these little things make me so anxious to get on that plane! What are your favourite silly things about planning a trip?

lisa

[ a divine deck ]

NOW THAT outdoor entertaining season has arrived, I find myself missing our Muskoka place more and more, especially when I saw this gorgeous home in Portland, Maine.

the gorgeous wrap-around veranda...

the stunning deck extending out towards the water...

I can already smell the pancakes in this kitchen...

and the porch just welcomes you inside.

The birds chirping, the swish of a canoe paddle... sigh. It's doesn't get any better than that.

lisa

ps: thanks for your sweet words about the fire near my hometown. It appears that any immediate danger has passed with the bit of rain they thankfully received and the ongoing work of the firefighters. It's been an unusually dry spring and any bit of lightning poses a danger. Our 50-year old family summer cottage was also surrounded by a separate fire but it looks like that area has been spared. 

[whitten architects]

[ somethins burnin ]

HAPPY MONDAY everyone! To all of my Canuck friends, Happy Victoria Day - (aka May 24) long weekend!

Nothing too exciting going on here in Dubai but it sounds like my hometown in Northern Ontario is surrounded by forest fires right now. This pic was taken about 4 km from my parents' home...

So far the town has not been evacuated - they are still trying to bring the fire under control. The entire city of Timmins is surrounded by forest fires on all outer highways so it looks like many family summer cottages are at risk as well.

Here's hoping for some rain! And that everyone's homes are safe.

update:

I appears that the closest fire has been tackled and there will be no need for my parents to evacuate (thank goodness!). As for the other fires, no updates so far.

lisa

[ beautiful blooms ]

SO NOW that the April showers are gone, it's time to see all those May flowers! Today's post is a tribute to all the gorgeous blooms I won't be seeing in Dubai {no April showers, no May flowers here ~ nothing but beige beige beige!}

Enjoy your beautiful gardens everyone!

lisa

[garden-artistry; google.es; web.me.com; voguechanel.tumblr.com; 

french larkspur; carol spiniki; thebookofsecrets.tumbler.com; house and home; 

laughingwithangels; getty; google; better homes and gardens; 

dreamywhites; genrecookshop; fishtail cottage]

[ island time ]

THERE'S nothing like a relaxing cottage to escape to and unwind, and if it's on an island, all the better! I love this pretty cottage in Muskoka...

Its traditional look on the outside helps it to blend into the greenery, but inside, it's so light and bright...

I love how the inside feels like a seaside getaway but so cozy nestled into the trees on the outside. The white and natural wood colour scheme keeps it feeling serene. Just another example of why I hope to have a Muskoka place again someday.

lisa

[house&home]