Spring Has Sprung!

There's something special about the way the light floods into my home that signals Spring has finally arrived.

I was sitting on the couch one day in late April (under a cozy blanket as there was still a wee chill in the air), looking through magazines while sipping on a latte and as I looked around my living room, I noticed 'that light' was filling the room and a huge smile came across my face! SPRING!!

This is from our first sunset at the lake this Spring....we lost Dad two years ago and we started a tradition of going to the lake (one of his favourite places) on his anniversary. It was such a beautiful night and this handsome guy enjoyed the quiet and tranquil evening just as much as Mom and I did.

I'm a huge fan of visiting lake/cottage towns on the 'off season', before they get crazy busy. A good friend and I did a road trip to Muskoka a few weekends ago and we had to stop in Bracebridge to get a closer look at this insanely fast running/crashing water! I posted a video on my Instagram and the sound alone, let a lone the sight of it, was enough to take your breath away!

This is one of my favourite sections of the sideroad, just down the road from the Country House. This span of trees looks amazing in any season, but we happened to drive down literally just as the leaves had 'popped'. Soooo pretty! And....the farm on the right has a Clydesdale foal that I have to stop and say "Hi" to whenever I drive by. 

This is my first Spring with this handsome guy and it's been interesting to watch the transformation of his coat through the seasons. He went really dark, almost black, over the winter, but now that he's shedding his coat (and my goodness, I had forgotten how much fur a draft horse grows for the winter), he's turning back to his reddish/bay colour I knew from last summer. As he was standing there in the rays of the sunset the other evening, I couldn't help but capture this image as it really hilights the beautiful tones of his coat.

Spring is also a time of surprises. Whether it's tulips that randomly sprout up after being 'relocated' by the squirrels, or a plant that made it through the winter that you were afraid wouldn't, it's always fun to see what 'springs up' this time of year. I moved into my home in August and when the next Spring came around and I realized I had this beauty outside of my front door, I literally squealed with delight! From what I can tell, its an ornamental crab apple tree and its blossoms are absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!! Just as they're wrapping up, my beautiful and fragrant Korean Lilac on the other side of my front entryway comes into bloom...... Oh how I LOVE Spring!!!

RR

Meagan Smith at The Vintage Marketplace

Be Still**

Be Still**

I am always amazed by beautiful creations that pour out of people's finger tips from an image in their mind......and I'm even more amazed when a friend reveals a hidden talent of creating these stunning pieces of art!

I had known Meagan Smith for a while before I had the opportunity to see her work and needless to say, it's an understatement to say that I was blown away when I did.

Meagan and I share a love of a rustic and natural aesthetic. Her adoration of Mother Nature's creatures and beings is evident in every aspect of her work, from what she chooses to paint to the 'canvas' she chooses to paint her pieces on.

Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams

Free Spirit

Free Spirit

She captures every detail perfectly....the delicate tree branches, the fluid movement of a horse....and the fact that she uses wood from around the world, as well as local reclaimed barn board, just adds an extra level of depth through the wood's grain and texture.

Be sure to "Like" Meagan's Facebook Page to see pieces that are currently available and learn more about this incredible woman!

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

Thumbing My Way

Thumbing My Way

Wise Old Friend

Wise Old Friend

This is Meagan's favourite piece (Wise Old Friend) as it was inspired by her horse Jess (a thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross). It evokes a very sentimental feeling for me too as I grew up beside a farm that raised Clydes and they're one of my favourite breeds of horses.

Be sure to make the trip to Hamilton the weekend of April 18th and 19th to attend The Vintage Marketplace to meet Meagan and see her stunning pieces of art. 

I'll see you there (I might even head there extra early to take advantage of their VIP shopping time between 9-10am)!!

RR

**All images are the property of Meagan Smith**