Plaid Archives - Sophster-Toaster

We spent all summer working on our new barbecue patio. It took every free weekend from Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day weekend, the entire Canadian summer, to dig out the dirt, sift out all the plastic, broken glass and rusty nails so we could put it back into our gardens, refill it with gravel, and place the flagstone and brick border on the garden side. It’s so nice to now have use of this awkward and uncared for corner of our small backyard for the first time since moving in. Even Pepper likes lounging on the cool gravel on hot afternoons.

The weather turned cold this past weekend, finally ending this year’s summer weather that felt like one long heatwave. We used and enjoyed out new patio as much as we could while the 30 degree days stretched into September and look forward to spending more time outside in our finally fully rehabilitated backyard when the more seasonable early fall weather returns. I know I’m going to spend all winter waiting for the snow to melt and reveal our beautiful pea gravel and flagstones again.

Dress ModCloth
Belt hand-me-down
Shoes thrifted
Sunglasses ModCloth
Earrings ModCloth

All photos by me.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved the Canada Day long weekend because it truly kicks off the summer. As Canadians, we tell ourselves that the Victoria Day long weekend (towards the end of May) is the weekend that starts the season of warm weather and summer activities, but it’s really just the marker for when it’s safe to put your garden vegetables in without risk of frost. Canada Day is when you can really sit out on patios at night, have barbecues, swim in lakes, and go camping and cottaging.

I also love that both Canada and America have a summer kick-off celebration at the same time of year. We celebrate almost the same thing, at the same time of year and in the same ways. The two holidays (one on July 1 and the other on July 4) almost never line up to be on the same weekend, but I love how we get a full week of festive spirits on both sides of the border right at the beginning of summer.

We were up at the cottage for Canada Day this year. We’re on an island, and lucky enough to have our deck face the part of the lake where the fireworks are, so we lit some citronella candles and played with sparklers while we watched the boats gather, each with their own twinkling, bright light. As the stars came out, we tucked the pup inside, sipped some Canadian beer, and watched the fireworks shimmer across the lake. Summer is officially here.

Dress ModCloth
Shoes Old Navy

All photos by Matt Harrison.

Sophster-Toaster

Plaid

End of Summer

Fireworks Night