[ 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

[ last chance to enter my handbag giveaway! ]

I HOPE YOU all had a lovely final long weekend of summer and were able to soak in some summer sunshine! Even though fall brings pretty changing leaves and thoughts of new sweaters and wellies, I have a hard time letting go of summer. I think I'll pick up some fall fashion mags this week and see what's on trend - maybe that will help ease me into thoughts of cooler weather. Are you ready to embrace fall?

Don't forget to enter my handbag giveaway! All entries must be in by 11pm EST tonight and I'll announce the winner tomorrow. Good luck!

lisa

[pic: better homes and gardens]

[ handbag giveaway! ]

IT'S THE LAST long weekend of the summer and to celebrate, I think it's time for a handbag giveaway!

I'm giving away this lovely Grace handbag made from a heavy tapestry fabric in shades of camel and aqua. It features two camel ultrasuede handles and is lined in camel printed cotton. A removable brooch gives it a pretty finishing touch or could be worn on your coat. A perfect bag for fall!

Here's how you can enter to win!

1) be a follower of my blog and leave a comment

if you'd like more chances to win, you can...

2) visit my website and come back and leave a comment telling me which bag style is your favourite for an additional entry

3) blog, facebook or twitter this giveaway and leave a comment telling me you did so for an additional entry

Giveaway closes at 11pm EST on Tuesday, September 7. Winner will be announced on Wednesday. And the best part? This giveaway is open to everyone worldwide!

Good luck! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa

[ still time for peaches! yummy peach blueberry crisp ]

LONG SUMMER days are quickly coming to an end but peaches are still in their prime. Why not savour their deliciousness by making my easy peach blueberry crisp?

ingredients

2 cups (500 ml) sliced fresh peaches

3/4 cup (175 ml) blueberries

1/2 cup (125 ml) oatmeal
1/2 cup (125 ml) brown sugar

1/4 cup (50 ml) flour

1/4 cup (50 ml) cold butter cut into small pieces
1 tbsp (15 ml) cinnamon
1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt 

1. Heat oven to 350 F (180 C). Peel and slice peaches into an ungreased 8"x8" pan. 

2. Sprinkle blueberries over top. To make crumble topping, combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl. Work in cold butter using your fingers or a pastry blender until butter lumps are small and coated in dry mixture.

3. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. 

4. Crisp is ready when it's bubbling around the edges and topping is golden brown. 

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. mmm!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

SO CAN you believe that Labour Day is just around the corner? Where did the summer go?

Labour Day has always signalled the start of a new year for me {much more so than New Year's} and in Canada the weather has always changed just enough to make it feel like fall is in the air. It may not have cooled yet here in Dubai, but I'm hoping it will soon.

Will you be squeezing in one more picnic? Wishing you a lovely long weekend!

lisa

[period living]

[ art in parks ]

ONE OF the highlights of our trip back was being able to visit a couple of outdoor art shows. Some of you might remember this back in 2010...

Yup, that was my booth at the Muskoka Arts & Crafts Summer Show {read about it here}. So much fun and I really hope I can do it again someday! 

So you can imagine how excited I was to learn that we would be in Muskoka on the weekend of this year's show...

It was fun to see some familiar faces and some new artists this time too. I find these events so inspiring and they make me want to get busy creating!

So what did I buy? Well, it was difficult not to go crazy but I decided to limit myself to a new painting {I've been trying to build up a bit of an art collection of original works and these art shows are an excellent place to do so. This cheerful original is by Marlene Bulas...

But as luck would have it, this wasn't the only outdoor art show we visited! We happened to be in Oakville, Ontario for their annual Art in the Park show as well. Much smaller in scale but so many beautiful works of art...

And you guessed it ~ I bought a painting! This one is by Robin Mitchell...

I'm so thrilled with my 2 new acquisitions {doesn't that sound fancy?} 

Have you been to any fun summer events this year?

lisa

[ junquestock + celebrity sighting ]

ONE OF MY favourite shops in Muskoka is Simply Cottage and imagine my surprise when I discovered that they had purchased the old Muskoka Foundry building and had taken over the space...

I've always loved their mix of casual cottage furniture and accessories mixed with some quirky found antiques and this space is a feast for the eyes...

The fun thing about the weekend I discovered their new digs, is that they were having Junquestock in the back part of their enormous building...

a live band, a BBQ and all the antique junky goodness you could imagine...

And who happened to be there? Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott!

{oddly, this is the second time we've run into Tori ~ the last time was at the Bellagio in Vegas back in 2004}

Anyway, I could have filled a truck with all the treasures I came across, but unfortunately had to limit any purchases to my luggage allowance. What did I buy?

a cute honey tin...

and a couple of little bottles to add to my collection...

I know, nothing overly exciting! But it was cool to run into a couple of celebs and I can't wait to see what goodies I find there the next time I'm in Muskoka!

lisa

[ boothbay harbor ]

AS PROMISED, here's a little peek at what we saw on our trip {it's taken a while ~ I took way too many pics!}

I'm sure most of you know that Maine is known for its lobster and everywhere we turned, there they were...

Of course I wanted to try a lobster roll and heard that Red's Eats in Wiscasset was world-famous for them {and after waiting in line for well over an hour with no sunscreen, I looked like a lobster!}

Verdict? hmmm... ok, but kind of bland ~ not really crazy-good to make it worth the wait {maybe better luck somewhere else}...

Boothbay Harbor is filled to the brim with cuteness ~ shops, signs, homes...

and along with lobster, it was blueberry season ~ blueberry buckle, pancakes, pie, cake, ice cream, syrup...

We saw the cutest tiny seaside cottages...

and some pretty big ones too...

A walk along Ocean Point had incredible views...

and after all that exploring ~ time for a bite from the general store...

We went on a boat tour of the islands and saw so many cute lighthouses and boats...

A swing bridge let us through...

And when we had had our fill of seafood, a lovely Italian dinner on a terrace...

So, what did I buy? Well, it had to fit into my suitcase and not exceed my baggage allowance...

some perfect beach house art...

and of course a lobster buoy!

Well, that's it! Our trip to Maine in a nutshell! Of all the travelling we have done, it was definitely one of the best trips ever. Thanks for following along!

lisa