What Next, Scratch and Sniff Poutine Pennies?

We have family ties to Canada that cause us to have particularly warm feelings for the entire country, but there is so much to love about our big neighbor to the North, that we would certainly have a fondness for it even if it were not the home of several generations of our tribe.

However, the country does have some quirks. Over time, and from many visits during which we always try to help stimulate the economy  through recreational shopping, we have come to find that not only does this sparsely populated country have some loony names for their currency denominations, but they also have a higher than average number of news-grabbing issues involving their money. This first came to our attention when a certain commemorative quarter with a poppy image drew the attention of  U.S. intelligence agencies.

Then there was this news and the release of this innovative coin and then this hot news item.

Currently, perhaps because the Canadian mint has not been in the news enough lately, claims of maple scent added to their new plastic bills, which has been the talk of the nation since their release, has now grown to be an international rumor.

Usually NDL, does not involve herself in investigative journalism beyond the confines of the neighborhood, but as we are travelling there anyway to do some serious spoiling of our first great nephew, we will try to find out for you all if there is any truth to the assertion that the money in Canada smells like maple syrup. Of course it will be necessary to obtain a $100 bill, smell it at brunch with a side of Canadian bacon and perhaps a Bloody Caesar, cleanse our olfactory palate with a plate of poutine, and then spend said bill around town to help keep the loony on par with the U.S. dollar. But hey, we would do that and more for the sake of dispelling conspiracy theories that might leave a scent of impropriety lingering around those not so near, but very dear to us.

Footloose Across the Pond

What you need for a proper ramble in the English countryside is...

A good place to start and to end.

A sunny day, or at least hope of it.

Things below...

and above to give definition to the endless, lush green pastures.

Someone to talk to who seems interested in what you have to say.

Even if it is only, 

"Hey there sheep. How's it going? I see you're having a good horn day. Nice weather innit?".

Going to the Lake by Airplane

Travel Wisconsin has a new promo for fun in the sun in Wisconsin.

And once again they had a little celebrity help.

Back to France

Hoping to see in the Alsace region sights as wonderful as those of the plane tree-lined roads of Provence.

And of course if we do you will be the first to know.

Cocorico

The French flag is red, white, and blue.

And the cock, or le coq Gaulois, according to this enthusiastic vendor, 

is the unofficial national symbol of France  because he shares the same color scheme. 

He does not look very noble here does he? We do not pluck and eat our national bird.

but if Benjamin Franklin had gotten his bird of choice we certainly would.

In France and Wallonia, the French onomatopoeia for the rooster crowing sound,

 "Cocorico" (cock-a-doodle-doo), is sometimes used to express national pride.

At Home with an Event Planner

That was the theme for the Bachman's Spring Ideas House.

Garden party on the porch.

 Bursts of yellow in the living room.

Frog pond fountain in the fireplace.

Flower pot floor lamp.

Familiar and foreign floral arrangement.

Kitchen storage.

 Event planner workshop.

In the garden.

Ladies afternoon tea.

Summer family reunion.

 

 Audubon Society spring fling.

Master bedroom.

 

Girl's bedroom.

Birdy biffy.

Stairway scene.

Event planner's office.

The winter of 2012-13 seems to have taken a toll on the Ideas House. 

For the first time in many visits neither the garage or the backyard shed were decorated and the absence of outdoor flowers and greenery was notable.

But the temp hit 74, the jacket was shed, and the car windows were down as we drove away from a pleasant afternoon diversion in the city.

Jinx

It's all our fault.

We really thought it was safe to put away the Sorels and Smartwool, 

and hang a festive spring arrangement on the porch.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. 

As predicted, May snow records were shattered by this freak storm 

named Achilles by the Weather Channel. 

We're calling it something else.

Where Have All the (Spring) Flowers Gone

We suspect that after being pent-up for so long they will bloom all in a rush 

and probably exactly while we are out-of-town.

Maybe we can savor at least the syringa vulgaris season a little longer with this lilac lattice quilt.

The large-print fabric was just too great to cut into little pieces.

Lilacs - historic, useful, and fragrant.

Lilacs enjoy a good pruning so feel free to bring a few into your house for your own enjoyment.

If you would like to add a few stems of a double, dark violet variety to your bouquet 

you are welcome to cut some of ours if you know where to look.