Happy Thanksgiving

For all my friends in Canada, enjoying a wonderful day here on Prince Edward Island. 

Recommended Reading

Just finished this book which was very entertaining.  A bit like A.S. Byatt's "Possession", "Out of Africa and a season of Downton Abbey all rolled up in one good mystery with some romance thrown in for good measure. 

Lavender on my Mind

I think I must be obsessed with lavender these days. It started with my lavender sea glass pendant. When I went to display it in the gallery I decided to create a scarf with vintage cream silk trimmed with a lavender silk velvet ruffle.  It just need the right background to be appreciated. 

I am up in PEI now and a friend suggested I visit a lavender farm run by five sisters, one of whom lives most of the year near me in Vermont. 

What a gorgeous farm. One sister lives in PEI year round and the other sisters visit regularly to help harvest and run the farm.  If you are going to grow a crop, I've decided lavender is it!  No chemicals needed and even weeding is a pleasant chore because you are bathed in the scent of lavender all day. 

This small farm and cottage industry sits on a hillside in the small village of Kelly's Cross on Prince Edward Island.  We were given a lovely tour and walked the charming fairy trail in search of hidden fairies and their most famous resident fairy Luci

We missed the harvest last week which we were told was early this year but there was still plenty of purple to see.  We sampled some lovely lavender vanilla iced tea and I purchased some culinary lavender so I can continue my obsession in the kitchen with lavender shortbread, pound cake etc....

Here is the lavender being distilled to produce the lavender oil. It takes 25 pounds to make just a few ounces of the oil so now you can see why it is so expensive.  

After the farm we made a short drive to one of my favorite villages on PEI, Victoria by the Sea.  Every scene there is postcard perfect. 

We had a yummy lunch at the lobster barn on the wharf and headed home.  A perfect and aromatic afternoon followed by a beautiful sunset. 

Purple Rain

What do you do with a nice chunk of lavender sea glass?  Combine it with some amethyst chips, vintage rosary beads, some stamped solder and an old sterling silver earring to make a long pendant necklace.

Littlest Mermaid

Look what washed up out of my sewing basket.  I bring a small suitcase of materials on vacation and challenge myself to make something from only what is inside.  It's amazing how much you can create from just a small amount of raw material. If you bring only the "good stuff" you will be assured something nice in the end. 

Quick Summer Craft

What to do with those wooden berry boxes?  Wash them with watercolors and trim them with bits of vintage fabrics. Next time you are looking for a cute container to hold homemade shortbread or other homemade goodies, you will have them all ready. These make great little hostess gifts for those last minute invites.  

Gifts from the Island

My daughter and her friends brought back this haul from the sea the other day.  She is a clam whisperer and can find clams so easily!  It is addictive to dig them up like little buried treasures. I cooked them up and we ate the small ones like steamers with a bit of melted butter. The larger ones and the one quahog I chopped up and made baked clams...yummy. The razor clams were a bit tough though. 

This was my island dish today. 

Can you guess where I am?!   Not only is this a beautiful island but there are some good eats here too!

Happy Summer days to all of you.