Anne of Green Gables: A Garden Tour

“I read somewhere once that souls were like flowers,' said Priscilla.
'Then your soul is a golden narcissus,' said Anne, 'and Diana's is like a red, red rose. 

 Jane's is an apple blossom, pink and wholesome and sweet.''

And our own is a white violet, with purple streaks in its heart,' finished Priscilla.” 

~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea 

Confession:  I'm a deceitful and conniving mother.  In honor of Anne of Green Gables month on Be Book Bound, I sat my boys on the family room couch the other day and announced that I had a special treat for them.  I'm sure dreams of Wii games and junk food came crashing down as they watched me put a worn and weathered cassette into the VCR.  Anne of Green Gables.  Three measures into the theme song and my boys commenced moaning.  The only thing that could have made them more miserable is if I had force-fed them zucchini with cough syrup chasers while they watched the film.  I lovingly explained how much these books meant to me as a girl, and how I was sure they would love the movie as much as I did.  From the groans on the couch you would have thought that all of my children had contracted appendicitis at once.  I finally resorted to blackmail:  I would only serve dessert to the boys who watched the movie.  Hmphf.  So there.

Two hours later, my husband had to peel the children away from the TV to send them to bed---in spite of their protests that they had to see "what happened to Anne."  I would have put them to bed myself, but I was too busy crying.  I gave them all hugs and kisses goodnight, and then I added a triumphant:  "I told you so."  

This whole month has made me wish that I could write Lucy Maud a letter.  If I could, this is how it would read:

Dearest Ms. Montgomery, 

Thank you.  

Thank you for creating a timeless story that mothers and sons can share together.  

Thank you for Anne Shirley and her sense of passionate wonder.  

Thank you for giving us all a million more reasons to be book bound.

Yours Truly,

Erika (with an E)

As a parting homage to our dearest Anne, Miriam and I thought it only appropriate that we invite you on a stroll through the garden so that you can soak in beauty of God's green earth and let the sights of spring sing sweetly in your hearts.  We know that's what Anne would do.

So welcome to the garden . . .

Come on in through the monogrammed gate . . .

 Take a rest in the gazebo . . .

 Or stroll down the stone paths . . .

And find a quiet place to read...

Say hello to the birds and bullfrogs that call the garden home . . .

Enjoy the flowers of the front gardens . . .

And the blooms in the window boxes . . .

 Ring the rooster if you've enjoyed your stay . . .

We hope you've had a wonderful month.  
We look forward to sharing "A Little House on the Prairie June" with you . . .


Now Linking To . . .

Jennifer Rizzo  ~ At the Picket Fence  ~  French Country Cottage  ~  Common Ground  ~  Stuff and Nonsense  ~  My Romantic Home  ~  Happy Go Lucky  ~ No Minimalist Here  ~  Southern Hospitality  ~  The Charm of Home-

Anne of Green Gables: A Home Tour

"I can believe almost anything at this Green Gables of yours. 

It's the first place I've ever been in that felt like a home."   

~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Windy Poplars

I was sitting with some girlfriends not too long ago talking about places of refuge---those spaces we can go to for solace and respite, our "homes away from home."  There are several places where I feel completely at peace, but there always seems to be a snag that keeps me from visiting them as often as I would like.  For example, I love my parents' home, but it is a long and desolate 12 hour car ride away.  I would happily set up residence in the gourmet cupcake shop down the road, but I already have a hard time fitting into my jeans.  And then there is the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland---my favorite corner of the "happiest place on earth."  The problem is my kids tire of flying over Big Ben in a pirate ship long before I do, and I just don't have the nerve to stand in the kiddie line for Neverland by myself.

Luckily there is Maryann's house.  Having Maryann as a friend is like having your own Dalai Lama.  I love to sit at her feet and catch the pearls of wisdom that fall from her mouth as she speaks.  Maryann is a seasoned mother and grandmother who can answer any question I pose to her, whether it be about breast milk, bedwetting, strange spots, or how many pounds of potatoes it takes to feed a Sunday crowd.  You can't help but feel safe around Maryann---and not just because she knows everything.  She makes it a point in her life to care for the most fragile of things, like birds, babies, antiques, and struggling mothers like me who need a dose of encouragement and perspective from time to time.

When we started our Anne of Green Gables series on Be Book Bound, I knew I had to share something from Maryann's home.  Not only does her vintage style capture the turn-of-the-century charm of Lucy Maud Montgomery's books, but walking into her house gives me the same feeling I imagine Anne Shirley felt when she stepped foot into Green Gables:  it simply feels like coming "home."  So here is a miniature tour of Maryann's beautiful Victorian home.  I hope it does your heart as much good as it does mine . . .

Maryann's House

Gingerbread details and manicured gardens await your arrival.

This antique organ greets you as you enter the home.  The organ even has the original handles on the sides that were used to carry it from place to place to entertain listeners.

 

The kitchen is the heart of Maryann's home---the perfect place for her antique German canisters and a bouquet of fresh-cut lilacs . . .

Each bedroom is furnished with breathtaking antique beds and accessories from all over the world.

Everyone has a special place to sit, 

whether it be in a Grandfather or Grandmother chair . . .

  

Or on a Civil War era settee like this one . . . 

 She has punctuated each corner of her home with beautiful details, whether they be in the intricate wood carvings of the furniture. . .

or in the stained glass of the mantels and doors . . . 

 

 or in the thoughtful feminine accessories throughout the house . . .

Birds are a common theme throughout her home . . .

 This gorgeous cage is home to the family's finches.

The birds aren't the only ones who get dreamy accommodations.  The grandkids have their own built-in playhouse in the basement (complete with kitchen and slide), and the chickens will soon have the cutest coop this side of the Mississippi . . .

Maryann's house is just as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.  

Her backyard is full of blooming flowers, trickling waterfalls, fruitful vines, and gracious places to entertain guests . . .

 

 

 Is it any wonder I love to visit Maryann's?

May you all have a special place to call "your home away from home" . . .

Linking up:

Not Just a Housewife -

Anne of Green Gables: Strawberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed breathlessly, "there's going to be a Sunday-school picnic next week--in Mr. Harmon Andrews' field, right near the lake of Shining Waters.  And Mrs. Superintendent Bell and Mrs. Rachel Lynde are going to make ice cream--think of it, Marilla--ICE CREAM!"

~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

My husband says I'm un-American---never mind that I'm the one who buys the fireworks, files the taxes, and calls in the votes to American Idol around here.  My only offense is that I'm not a fan of ice cream.  Ice cream is cold, hard to serve, and doesn't like to cuddle.  I like a dessert that hugs me back, and ice cream isn't it.  But now that it is Anne of Green Gables month here on Be Book Bound, I find myself having to reconsider the virtues of the frozen food.  After all, Anne loved nothing more than ice cream.  In honor of that red-headed protagonist, today I willed myself into the chilly world of ice cream making. 

After searching out the tastiest recipe I could find for strawberry ice cream, I decided to put my own spin on it by adding some lemon thyme from my herb garden.  Thirty minutes and a few pounds of ice and rock salt later, I pulled the paddle out of my first batch of homemade Strawberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream.  I warily placed a spoonful in my mouth and paused before swallowing.  As I stared thoughtfully at my empty spoon, I turned to my family and said, "I've never liked ice cream before because it never tasted like that before." From the cheers and hallelujahs in my kitchen, you would have thought that I was a sinner who had seen the light.  I guess it's true what they say at church: it's never too late to change.

So here it is: the game-changing recipe.

Strawberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

2 cups cream

2 cups sour cream

2 cups sugar

2 pounds fresh strawberries, washed and hulled

2 tablespoons lemon thyme buds

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Pulse strawberries in a food processor until they reach the desired consistency.  

Place in a bowl.  Pour sugar on top of strawberries and stir.  

Let strawberries sit for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved.  

Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, mix, and pour into your ice cream maker.  

Let the machine do its magic and enjoy!

May all of your desserts this month be refreshing and truly American!