Avril Cottage

simple living

  • Signs

    Greetings from the Cottage! Although we are still experiencing snow and some negative temperatures here on the Canadian Prairies, the signs of spring are everywhere, and I’m feeling the need to dip myself back into this space after a long time away. Spring awakens a feeling of rising energy after a long, uneventful winter. There Read more

  • January: Crafting Through The Long Dark

    With Christmas and celebrations of the New Year now firmly behind us, January’s winter chill has set in and with it a sense of settling into the comforting rhythms of the long dark. Here at the cottage, winter’s quiet provides a perfect backdrop for focused creativity and generation of new ideas. A time of natural Read more

  • A Year of Hope Ahead

    Everyone goes through hard times, and life here at the cottage is no different. If I had kept up with blogging, there would have been posts about grief, loss of loved ones, unexpected health issues, and goals unmet. Let’s just say it’s been a tough year. A year that I for one am happy to Read more

  • Bird Watching Haven at Avril Cottage: A Sanctuary for Feathered Friends

    Avril Cottage offers a place of safety and respite to more than just people. Surrounded by wetlands, numerous feathered friends have come to call this place home during the spring and summer months. This morning I awoke to this lovely visitor resting on the grassy lawn where she stayed for a number of hours, possibly Read more

  • Preparing for the Flower Moon

    Here at Avril Cottage, we are re-learning to live by nature’s ancient rhythms and the ever-changing celestial light. The full moon in May, knowns as the Flower Moon, will arrive next week to reflect the vibrant renewal and growth of spring in full force. This year the Flower Moon will occur within the astrological sign Read more

  • Blustery Days and a Break from the Garden

    A turn in the weather has put a pause on all outdoor work for the last couple of days. Buckets of rain and a massive temperature drop means muddy garden beds and cold soil. No matter, Wednesday was a trip into the city for supplies and a little get away. Thursday was very blustery and Read more

  • Vegetable Garden Prep and Homecoming

    Potato planting and other garden prep filled the morning, Yukon Gold and Russet varieties are going in this year. Before getting very far we were blessed with another drench of rain, sending us inside for a restful coffee break. Flower baskets are hung, and tomato plants are climatized in preparation for a permanent move to Read more

  • Transitioning to a Permaculture Lifestyle: Tree Planting at the Cottage

    For those of us who are familiar with more traditional gardening methods, transitioning to a permaculture lifestyle can feel somewhat overwhelming. It means a major shift from a consumerism mindset to adopting a holistic view to life that prioritizes sustainability, self sufficiency, and harmony with mother nature. But the transition should be viewed as a Read more

  • Mothers’ Day Message from the Cottage

    To all mothers out there from Avril Cottage, may your day be filled with the appreciation, relaxation, and love that you deserve. Come back for a visit tomorrow for a post on trees! Have a blessed Sunday Read more

  • Morning Birds and a Sad Mishap

    The birds are very busy this morning as are the frogs in the pond over the road. A cacophony of sounds–ducks, geese, chickadees, sparrows, finches, grackles, red winged blackbirds, just to name a few. Swooping and whizzing past my head, startling me as I sip my morning coffee under the porch. One of the woodpeckers Read more