Canada has a holiday this weekend, celebrated for Queen
Victoria's birthday (24 May 1819) ... here's the first white wedding dress ...
what will the new Royal bride's be like ...
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| Queen Victoria 1847 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter |
The BBQ was taken down in a horse box, cleaned up and
brought back for our first evening outdoors at the top farm - not the dairy
farm down below ...
 |
| BBQ moving via horse trailer |
... just lovely to be out of doors ... I'm somewhat
surprised at the rate of growth ... I know we are 3 deg latitude further south
from England ...
 |
| Red Maple |
... but the rate of spurt is almost like Durban, South Africa -
with those extra bright colours ... the rhododendrons are so 'blousy' and the
wonderful red maple ... ah just delightful to see ...
 |
| There'll be lots of these tomorrow |
There'll be a carriage meet up here after the wedding, i.e.
our morning! ... and then the weekend will settle in ... farming, being family
and perhaps clearing the pool out ...
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| Wisteria curtains |
The family with small kids will be over from the mainland -
so lots of farm visits and generally running around here - creating havoc!
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| I did meet up with the granddaughter of the family ... in Victoria - we went to Nautical Nellies - should have been 'Wellies' as the weather was foul! She chose this: crab, shrimp, mango and avo stack - me too wishes I had! but mine was delicious ... so another visit due! |
Remember that word 'Levidrome',
the term coined by one young Victoria
lad, Levi, ... well the local craft brewery has brewed some Regal Lager an
"imperial beer" ... the owner
has young kids himself ...methinks he followed the motto of his brewery'swebsite ...
Inspiration through Fermentation
 |
| Looks good - medieval knight going into battle ... I wonder if Levi had an input into the label's design |
... and produced this delightful sounding 'levidromic' beer ... Regal Lager ... refreshing, but full-bodied with subtle hop
notes ... available for a one-off run ... probably through May ...
 |
| Haylage ready for storage - one crop in for the farmer ... another has to be ready soon, it grows so quickly ... |
So this holiday weekend ... we'll all be enjoying some
inspiration along perhaps with some Regal Lager brewed craftily from an idea by a
clever 7 year old lad - who had this new word submitted for inclusion into the
Oxford English Dictionary ... well done Levi: see my L for Levidrome post ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
51 comments:
Still called the Queen’s Birthday Holiday in some places here. How magical about the beer!
Love the levidromes are expanding.
Enjoy your weekend and the burgeoning spring.
Hari OM
Green fields and lush bushes... it looks wonderful. Honouring the levidrome is a delightful touch; may your picnics and holiday gathering be filled with the true joy of spring! YAM xx
Sounds like you've got a busy weekend planned. Hope all goes well.
Looking forward to the long weekend. Hope we get some sun :) Had a couple of meals out on the deck but not yet christened the BBQ this year - you are way ahead of us there!
how fun all around. Good to celebrate the Old Queen Victoria, and cheer on the new addition to the royal family. God Bless Her. In this day and age...tough to be under the magnifying glass. She shall need to hoist a Regal Lager!
We have a Quen’s birthday weekend too, only not for Victoria! Have a great week be, anywawy, and enjoy your barbecue.
Hi Hilary. Lovely summery post. You are right about Durban vegetation always growing, especially lately. We are having a lot of rain lately, not normal for the east coast of SA, my acacias are flowering beautifully as well as dandelions, clover, alyssum and a host of other plants enjoying all the water. It has been raining all week in Cape Town too! Yay!! Kim x
Victoria's birthday, my Queen's birthday (aka my Mum) and in a few hours time a new Duke and Dutchess of Sussex! A right royal weekend!
It sounds like you are enjoying your new home. That is good to read.
Looks so lush Hilary, and sounds like a fabulous weekend is in store. Enjoy! I love the levidrome brew - I'm sure Levi would be delighted, especially with that label.
We have a bit of a connection to Victoria Day celebrations. My husband comes from a long line of daredevils, and his great grandfather managed to injure himself shooting off a cannon during a Victoria Day celebration. I have no trouble advocating for don't-do-stupid-stuff during celebrations, and consider that my great contribution. :-)
Wonderful recognition in the beer label. Good for Levi. Not quite barbecue weather here yet although we have had a few warm days. Unfortunately we cannot have barbecues on our balconies - too much danger with the propane.
Enjoy Victoria Day, or May 24th weekend as it is frequently called round here.
I'm so glad you posted this, Hilary. It's as close as I'll get to watching the Royal wedding. Though I do love the Netflix royalty series.
Nice post!
Enjoy your holiday weekend. We have wisteria growing around here but it all bloomed last month.
I I love that the beer is named after the word. Awesome! Wish I lived closer to have one. :)
Such beautiful blooms! Glad you are enjoying some nice weather. Enjoy the holiday.
~Jess
@ Anabel - I noticed the Scottish connection ... but elected to leave the post relatively simple ... and yes that beer - I have yet to try it ...
@ EC - I'll keep mentioning Levi's levidrome ... and help push towards the Oxford English Dictionary's inclusion. Thanks re the weekend ... damp, yet warm ... so burgeoning it will be ...
@ Yamini - yes very green fields, and very lush bushes rapidly greening up. Isn't it great that a local brewery is honouring Levi - by creating a beer for him and his word: Levidrome. Thank you re the wishes for a happy Victoria Day weekend ...
@ Liz - me too ... should be fun once the kids arrive ... at least they can be outside at this time of year!!
@ Ian - thanks ... you too and yes it's muggy here and not too sunny yet ... big clouds around ... we could have eaten out more often ... but not so easy with my elderly cousin ... but her son and family enjoy their BBQs up here - more air! it's very warm, I gather, down on the farm ...
@ Joanne - yes good old Queen Vic ... and now we have that new Duchess ... she did look good - lovely simple dress. She seems to be able to cope with that magnifying glass effect ... and it'd be great fun if she and her Duke hoisted a Regal Lager - and let us know.
@ Sue - oh ok ... which Queen and when??!! Thanks we'll have a happy time ... and I shall enjoy the bbq ...
@ Kim - gosh I've just seen the rain in CT ... such good news for them. I remember the Durban vegetation so well ... that's great about your plants ... they'll be loving the extra feeding they'll be getting ...
@ Keith - Happy Birthday to your mother ... have a lovely day with her ... perhaps watching the tv - but it looked like a wonderful wedding, very British, yet with some new overtones ... and lots of interest from new royal watchers apparently ...
@ Arleen - yes the area is lovely ... and the excursions and events will be fun to be a part of ... and it is good being here - thanks.
@ Deborah - we'll be full of the joys of Spring tomorrow with the family arriving ... but today is rather peaceful and pleasant so far.
The Levidrome Lager does look fun ... I can't wait to try it - it'll be next weekend probably before that happens ....
Oh what fun to read about your husband's great-grandfather firing off a cannon - and then getting injured: I hope not too badly - but in those days perhaps not getting off so lightly. We'll try not to do stupid stuff during our celebrations - we'll see!! Thanks for the warning about firing off a cannon though ... we'll try not to!!
@ Jo - isn't it great that the brewery has crafted the Levidrome Regal Lager for Levi ... so pleased for him. It's muggy here - and I gather they bbq often during the summer ... as it's cooler up here, than down by the lake on the farm.
I can understand you not having a bbq on the balcony - I do love bbqs ... so I'll be enjoying ours. Thanks ... yes, I think there are various names for the celebrations - but Victoria's wedding dress seemed to fit with the new Duchess's ....
@ Jacqui - I, in fact, didn't see it ... but may watch the repeat this pm ... I listened to a lot of the Service and preparations - falling asleep in between! I haven't been watching Netflix at all .. though saw a few programmes before I left the UK ... and one or two here ...
@ Diane - thanks ... we will enjoy ourselves ... our wisteria is going over now ... it's beautiful isn't it ...
@ Jess - it's been fun to read about the beer ... and I might go down and have a tour around the brewery sometime. I'll taste the Levidrome Regal Lager next weekend probably ...
The Red Maple is the only one I've really seen - so was delighted to be able to get close to it ... and the flowers are gorgeous ...
Thanks everyone ... we now have a new Duke and Duchess in the Royal Family - and all went well ... have lovely weekends - cheers Hilary
Our countries are so close yet so different. You look busy. Are you going to watch the Royal wedding? I am going to tonight.
That portrait of Queen Victoria is brilliant! Well, we know what the wedding dress looked like now :) I do hope you were able to watch the wedding? You sound happily occupied...So cool about the lager too.
The current Queen, though it’s not actually her birthday. I have heard it’s the opening of the skiing season, second weekend in June. Heaven knows why, since most of us don’t ski, but any excuse for a public holiday. I imagine once she’s gone, it will become the King’s Birthdsy and stay where it is, unless we become a Republic finally - unlikely with our monarchist politicians.
The plants look so luscious.
Sounds like a busy, fun weekend.
Enjoy:)
That stack is so pretty, I'm not sure I'd be able to ruin it!
Was it as good as it looked?
A Regal wedding it was indeed. And though Regal beer wasn't available in Minnesota spouse and enjoyed a Leinenkugel from Wisconsin during the early festivities...:)
Mmm, beer. Sounds like you had quite the event planned. Hope you enjoyed the wedding.
happy birthday Queen Victoria! nice her birthday gives you a holiday.
happy spring! nice pics. glad you're enjoying the warmer weather and the new growth.
Regal Lager... cool Levidrome
welcome to your new Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
@ Sandy ... I saw the CNN version last night - way too many adverts ... but I saw things. Yes Canada and the States are so different, I guess!
@ Nila - thanks ... the dress is made of Spitalfields lace ... and yes Meghan had a beautiful simple dress ... with a delightful train with the Commonwealth emblems around the edge of it. I did manage to catch the wedding ... the lager idea is great isn't it ...
@ Sue - oh ok ... you down under celebrate something this weekend ... I couldn't see anything ... except Australia has an odd way of organising public holidays. Who knows what the future holds ... tiddly-pom!
@ Sandra - yes lots going on ... and the flora and fauna are very lush ...
@ Jz - I didn't choose the stack ... as I'd eaten lunch, and wanted to try the Parmesan Portobello chips, which I'd been recommended ... so needed to choose something lighter - theoretically! I had the crab cakes ... but next time I will have the stack - that's for sure!!
@ Troutbirder - it was a regal wedding - simple, yet conformed, yet introduced new ideas in to the proceedings. Good to read about the Prussian beer - that's kept its roots once it was produced in the States ...
@ Mary - I just wanted to get the beer, while it's available - and try it ... as they're having a short production run.
@ Lenny - good to see you ... and yes the Canadians are very British! Now we have a new Duke and Duchess for my county once I get home. It is a clever Levidrome isn't it - I'm looking forward to trying the beer next weekend probably. Yes thank goodness for the warmer weather!!
Thanks so much for visiting and your comments - our weather isn't so 'hot' now ... ie cloudy and cooler ... but not snowing!! Cheers to you all - Hilary
Those wrapped hay bales look like giant marshmallows.
I think in southern Ontario we skipped spring this year and went right into summer. We will be barbecuing dinner this evening and I suspect many of our neighbours will be doing the same. Think I’d better have a glass of wine while I cook to make sure I do it right!
What a lovely barbecue! I hope you had a great time. Everything around here is abloom, too, but a hail storm destroyed the flowers on the trees. It will be glorious when they come back.
Oh, wow, Hilary—these photos are amazing! Sounds like you had an exciting weekend, too—will be looking forward to photos of the BBQ and the carriage meet!
Thanks so much for the visit over at Debbie's for my guest post; glad you enjoyed it, and always happy to see your name in the comments :)
Guilie @ Life In Dogs
That sounds perfectly lovely, Hilary. I'm glad you are in a fun place like that.
Levi is all ready a force to be reckoned with. Look out world.
I'll take a holiday for anyone's birthday! :)
I watched the wedding last weekend for Harry and Megan. I enjoy watching royalty for sure.
Teresa C.
It was such a lovely wedding this past weekend! Did you hear the cellist? He was fantastic!
It sounds like you're really reveling in spring's beauty surrounding you in your new digs. Now that you're at a working farm, when are you going to trade in your proper flowered dress and hat for a pair of overalls? (When ya do, we want to see a picture!)
Lift up one of those lagers and... cheers!
Hey everyone!
Yes, the Regal Lager is quite exciting! Levi is thrilled and he LOVES the label, but no... he did not help in designing it. The owner of the brewery Matt Phillips gave Levi one of the cream soda's. Levi looked at the label which read, "Phillips Dare Devil Cream Soda" and declared, "Devil is a levidrome! Devil-lived!" so he was pretty thrilled with that!
This levidrome beer is the first Regal Lager, but there are two other Levidrome beers in the world that we know of. One from the Malmo Brewing Company in Sweden (a lager), and another Levidrome IPA from the Mygrain Brewing Company in Chicago. It is SUPER exciting to see all the people worldwide who are embracing the idea and the term, and making products is just... awesome!
Thanks for all the support y'all and keep (peek) finding and calling out levidromes! A grade 4 student recently created a list of 103 of them!! Great brain exercise!!
Have fun celebrating! The wisteria looks great:)
@ Steve - the hay bales smell wonderful too ... that green grass perfume suffuses the air around them ...
@ David - well I thought we might have had summer here ... but the weekend wasn't thrilling (cloudy and cool) - until yesterday pm - we did barbecue though ... and yes some vino was on offer ...
@ Shannon - in fact we had a 50th party to go to ... so that was fun with lots of delicious goodies to share - along with a luscious chocolate cake - that we had seconds yesterday ... helping out! Oh I feel for those blooms with the hail - they've had storms here, but down in the southerly part of the Island they haven't crept in yet ...
@ Gulie - little did I realise the carriage meet was a distance away, but a few other things stopped me going - so no pics ... but they'll meet up here or down on the farm at some stage ... we had a party instead ...
@ Lynn - yes there's lots going on and it's lovely being able to see the earth come to life ... the early Spring/Summer cycle ...
@ Sandra - Levi ... certainly seems to be inspiring wordsmiths amongst us ... it's fun isn't it ...
@ Teresa - oh me too! Glad you had a happy time watching the wedding ...
@ Sherry - yes I did hear the cellist and thought of you and Karen Allendorf ... both string players - Sheku Kanneh-Mason was amazing ... he was totally absorbed into his music: it was awe inspiring to watch ...
@ Susan - well I guess I just might have to don the overalls - I'll have to beg, borrow or steal a pair ... but need ones that are preferably clean!! And a big hat ... and then I'll post ... and next weekend we'll lift one of those lagers ... and say cheers to all Levidromers ...
@ Levi's Dad - great to see you again ... and thanks for answering my note about the label. The label is great fun to see - I love the jousting knight. I bet Levi is a force to be reckoned with ... and I'm sure just about every word gets 'brain-bombed' to see if it levidromes itself ...
That's great that Matt Phillips gave Levi a levidrome cream soda ... 'Phillips Dare Devil Cream Soda' ... fun, and I'm sure he was thrilled ...
I saw the two beers but thought there was one in Australia ... and there is - in northern Sydney ... Ekim Brewing Company - (Mike backwards!) with a Viking helmet as a logo:
https://www.ekimbrewing.com.au/Ekim_Brewing/Home.html
I have another one ... but need to do a full post on it - end of May or first one in June ...
@ Mark - weekends are always good, even for a retiree ... and that curtain of wisteria has been a delight to see through ...
Thanks so much to you all - always good to see you - take care and cheers Hilary
Happy Weekend! I love rhododendrons, too.
The wisteria curtains are so perfect that for many years I thought they must have been made from paper mache'. Wisterias like to grow in a sunny position, but the roots must be kept cool, moist and well-drained so I am not sure how easy it would be to grow them.
Hi Hilary; I didn't realize you had moved to Canada! Happy belated Victoria Day to you. Welcome to "The Great White North". ☺ Things do turn from wintery to spring-like fairly quickly here, most years. Enjoy the beer. Cheers!
Such beautiful scenery. I've always had a soft spot for wisteria flowers. Spring is always pretty explosive here in Sweden. Perhaps even more so this year that the weather is unusually warm. Hope you had a fun holiday. :)
Hope you had a great weekend, it certainly sounds lovely. I like the word Levidrome, but I also like that Regal Lager is a palindrome. Clever to put them together.
@ Tyrean - the weekend is long gone - now on to the next one ... life rattles away too fast. The rhodos are gorgeous aren't they ...
@ Hels - wisteria is amazing ... and here it is in the right position - it's a well established plant and flourishes ...
@ Debbie - sort of temporary move ... yes I gather I haven't yet had the worst of the great white north - not looking forward to that. Yes ... there wasn't much Spring - at least not the gentle ease in to summer ... but I'm learning and enjoying the sprouting lush growth as it rushes out into the warm sun ...
@ Sara - I agree, I think I only came across wisteria properly in South Africa ... but appreciate it now - so pretty. I bet Spring rushes through in Sweden - plants are amazing how they adapt. You've certainly had major cold spells ... hadn't realised there were 'heatwaves' for you in Scandinavia too ... thanks the weekend was fun ...
@ Nick - yes there's always things going on. Well done re the palindrome effect of Regal Lager ... but the brewery seems to be on the same wave length as Levi - kids of similar age ... pre teens ...
Thanks so much to you all for visiting ... the weather is a-warming up here ... we had a chilly 2 and a half days - cheers Hilary
A happy weekend to you too. I love seeing all the beautiful colors too. Makes all this terrible weather we've having worth it! :)
Elsie
Good morning dear Hilary!
So beautiful post, as always!
PS: My computer is very "bad", so, I don't no if you got my message, where I thank you for your nice congratulations on my Mother's Day. Thank you so much!
I love "levidromic," Hilary! And what a lovely wedding it was. I was in NYC so I had to settle for news clips and bits. But lovely nonetheless!
I look forward to your next post and it is heartening to see all these amazing folks chime in :)
That is a wonderful levidrome. Interesting post. :-)
Take care, Pradeep
bpradeepnair.blogspot.in
@ Elsie - I gather the weather isn't that kind over your side of the continent ... still hope you had a happy weekend ... and the colours here are just delightful ...
@ Sonia - thanks for coming over ... I did get your note after I left my comment - so thank ... good luck with the computer ...
@ Denise - yes I'm pleased to have picked up on the Levidrome and hope it makes it into the Oxford English Dictionary.
I didn't see the wedding through - but had to catch it afterwards and then only saw some of it ... I do miss the British tradition over these events ... but still I'm getting to see a bit of Canada ...
@ Levi's Dad - lovely to see you ... yes - the commenters are awesome and very supportive of other bloggers ... it's a great group of friends ...
@ Pradeep - so good to see you ... and I'm glad you enjoyed this Levidrome post ...
Cheers to you all - there'll be more Levidromes coming ... Hilary
Lots of fun and celebration. I hope you had a good time Hilary.
Hi Juliet - yes it was a good day ... with lots looked at - the learning curve increasing via museums etc ... cheers Hilary
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