And one large buffalo robe

On my last trip to the farm I spent some time photographing a few family keepsakes. Until recently, everything had been tucked away inside an old house owned by a relative who, even in his last years, refused to install indoor plumbing. That alone should tell you that there was little inside his home that had changed throughout his lifetime, not to mention the generation before him. The only real change was through accumulation. 

Four leaf clover found inside the Family Bible.

One of many tintypes.

Calling card for a water witcher.

U break my heart. 

Terms: Cash or Produce.

Powder horn.

After looking through the ledger, it seems there were no outstanding accounts for John Kilgannon--everything from raisins to one large buffalo robe was paid in full. 

Summertime

Carmel and a most different view of Ottawa's Parliament Hill. 

Maud having a snack on the front lawn. 

Maggie and the Wildcat.

Outdoor anchor museum at Pointe-des-Cascades.

Newlyweds.

Summertime always feels like one too short day. 

First two photos of me by Bükem Reitmayer and last photo by Jon Paul Fiorentino.

Crumbs in the icing

I've been making a lot of cake lately for get togethers. My go-to is a chocolate cake with fluffy almond icing that I once blogged about here. For this particular version, I baked two 9 x 9 pans but then decided to take the biscuit cutters to them. I made little layered tea cakes topped with candied rose petals, which may sound fussy but it wasn't. I think that's because I've come to terms with the fact that there will always be things like crumbs in the icing. And what, really, is so bad about that?

Ancient moment

My mom took these photos a few years ago and I've always loved them. I think these photos may have even been what finally inspired me to buy my own camera. Because I wanted to be ready should an ancient mossy turtle decide to climb on top of a hay bale and sit there for a spell. Because there aren't any words for what that looks like -- it's something you have to see.

Photos by Sharon Simpson

Wander where you will

Carpet of trilliums.

Killdeer egg hiding in plain sight.

Fancywork anemones.

It's been a late spring, but once the flowers start blooming it's easy to forget they weren't always there.