....Sad times.

 

My interpretations of sunflowers for Ukraine.

 I am appalled at what I saw in the White House.

Who voted for this Magalomaniac and his sidekicks?Yes MAGAlomaniac.I know the proper spelling.

Vance wrote Hillbilly Elegy ( a lot falsehoods I have since discovered) How dare he tell Zelensky to say THANK YOU and why are you not wearing a suit?You know how you were.. and yet you judge? 

Zelensky is a hero buddy. Not you.

I have never ever seen such a terrible display of hosts IN the White House.

And then you have comments like these..

OY.

Wow..

Putin is laughing ..  scary times.

I had to voice my disdain.

You only live once..This is not a dress rehearsal.I want to say what I want to say.Freedom of speech.

They have disrespected my country.Canada.

They have disrespected Ukraine.

They have disrespected hard working people..People born in America that harvest their crops..etc.

They are disrespecting Gaza by showing AI Images of a waterfront Club Med.

The list goes on and on and on.

Do unto others as you would like others to do to you.

For the boys..Smores cookies.. base is a graham cracker..topped with milk chocolate pieces..marshmallows then a good choco chip cookie dough..Baked..Before warming to serve add an extra piece of choco on top.

Yes there is sugar:) No you can't make them calorie free:)It's a birthday;)

For healthier fare...

Funny..I stitched this pillow probably thirty yrs ago..I NEVER noticed I had left parts unstitched..wondering why lol.One day I'll unpick the pillow and finish;)

One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth

I would have to add..or holding a baby..being with family..

All far from the Madding Crowd.

Birthday Girl...

 

She was the most pleasant baby..Loved being rocked..woke up happy went to bed happy..My young mom friend could not get over her nature..Easy peasy.Our first was feisty lol going to bed for her was sheer torture and she let us know;)

I'm so glad they are such good friends..18 months apart.Best days of my life being a young mom..then the best ever days lol was becoming a nana.Heart full.

These are so good..I found the recipe at Simply So Good you can find it here..Keeper:)

We had two storm days.. but the 16th was the worst.I looked out and our crabapple was filled with what appear to be robins.The wind and snow..blizzard  like I could not get good pics.How do these darling tiny things withstand this weather?

I think there are about 125 ft..from our gas tanks to the road..It's an area the snowblower cannot go on..so I shoveled it:( So heavy so deep..

Next yr I will try and find someone if this happens again.I usually make a path on snowshoes..I could not with the depth..Lesson learned..

I didn't have fun.;)

Inside far warmer.The girls bask in the sun.

And  children play in the snow:)

All these players played as children..and now they have won the 4 Nations hockey tournament.Kudos for their courage and hard work.

Have a lovely weekend...

Bonjour from QC Canada.

 

The biggest storm ever recorded in decades in Qc..is coming..

I love winter but not disproportionately..

Oy..up to 15 inches.. More Friday and Sunday too.

This is what the world needs more of at this moment in time.

One of my Montreal people with a story to go with on IG..

I am always grateful for the light in our kitchen no matter what season.I surprise myself with my gratitude for  our home..and where it sits..

I don't redecorate..I just seem to be comfortable as is.

I had a nice digital loan re Elena Faita..Yes the highest honor..She has a cooking school and owns my favorite store in Little Italy.A dream..

Dante....Her son Stefano owns restos and is a very accomplished chef with a TV show to boot.A huge line of products to enjoy.

Proud of that family.

Did a bit of stitching but.. honestly..compared to kits I stitched up before..the quality is cheapette.

Not impressed but it kept me entertained.

Another chef I love here is Ricardo..His coquilles St-Jacques are on repeat here..I add Shrimp..and make that full recipe for 4.. for just J and I. For small ind. ones..This recipe for 4  is just right.

Rachel is you are reading this..I have not received your photo:(

I have even emailed you..Wonder what the glitch is..?

I have only about 5 of these large crewel works that I made in our home now.I gave the rest away.At one point I think I had counted over 50 works.

I am second guessing two of the people I gave one to..and one that I gave a few to..Should not have.Trust your instinct lol.

It's that wee voice that is stronger than all the rest.Shh...Listen..:)

I just love the ones I have left..not bragging just happy I made them..and have them still..

I'm not baking Valentine treats because I am in charge of desserts for an upcoming bday..The littlest..48 unimaginable.

So if I make anything that turns out Ill share in my next post.

Until then..

I received this kit of English cookie cutters years ago from Marie I still love them .She is so kind.

Happy Valentine's day..I'm just calling it heart day..It's a great excuse..and you don't need a boyfriend a partner a spouse  or a lover..Just LOVE everyone..  color..creed..etc...

Let's make the world great again.

Update:)

...Sweatah Weathah...continues

Definitely sweater..coat..mitts ..boots weather.

I confess I LOVE it.

I love having seasons:)

A season to receive seeds and plan ahead:)

My inspiration to get out there on my own..is to forge a path to the generator.

J makes beautiful winter paths around our home.. but to get from  the side (where the tanks and generator are)..to the front of the road.. where the propane company comes..they need a path.. it is easier for me to do it on snowshoes.. so I do that back and forth  twice,to make a good one..then from the back of our home  to the trails I love so much.. It is exhilarating.

We are in the country with century old trees..if the winds howl..or freezing rain hits us..or heavy heavy snow..we can lose power..

Thus the generator.It took us 20 yrs to get a whole house one.We always used one that J had to get out.. get everything hooked up..fill with gas..  I said..Oh let's just do it. A wonderful feeling of security for a septuagenarian and an octogenarian:)

My people continue to become short stories..Good practice for me..

Auguste was skiing to work in Montreal this week:)

A good time to make bake and freeze cheddar cheese coins..I have a few recipes I love ..my first foray must have been 40 yrs ago ..they had rice krispies in them:) I make some from past virtual friends that are now gone:(. And these from America's Test kitchen ..Google and ye shall find:)Many bloggers have added the recipe..

I am not sure what the copywright is so I leave you to find:)I hope you don't mind..

My fave pastry mat is the Oxo oh so flexible one..that is so easy to clean..love it..and these new little gadgets that come in a set of various sizes.. We mark our spacing.What a neat neat thing to have.

If you are a baker.. seeds..if you are a gardener.Paints and paper if you like to paint:)

A camera ..if you like to take pics;)

I am reeling in gloom sporadically in my mind with everything going on.

The fires..the crashes.. the economy.

I keep busy to focus on other things..even reading does not distract me enough.I have to be moving about. here..but keeping busy.

Pretty sure many of you.. Stay awake at times..With concerns...

Have a good weekend.

Footnote..In case some of you missed this.Our current Prime Minister's response to the POTUS of the USA.

This is for Anonymous and her confidence in her POTUS.

 

Art..iculations... and sweater weather.

Linda  

Posted her Valentine's tablescape..

I'm not a tablescaper..but she is and is stellar at it.She had this cute element on her table and pictured her from the back..Had to try.

If you remember she was instrumental at getting me back to blogging.Tirelessly she coached me:)

I'll never forget:)

I love to paint in winter..

The latter two are taken from a wonderful Instagrammer..Myriam..

You can find here here..

Montreal..is what Myriam specializes in..

I am not complaining about winter.I like this laid back time..

I can nest differently.

very cold but very beautiful here.

I would not trade..

Except perhaps my Provence and this would have had to be orchestrated over 45 yrs ago:)

For my husband? No contest..here and only here:)

Quiet..Winter is quiet...I love that.

 

Starting off the year with a challenge for me.I am not a joiner of sorts..but on IG Hello Lovely People suggested painting 100 small paintings.. 3x3..I am going to discipline myself  to do it.I hope its not like the treadmill that my husband has been constantly doing every single morning for 30 yrs weekends included.I fell off the wagon..

Very early on.

The cute Sun Sprouts kit one of my daughters gave me for Christmas works very well.In about 3 days you have a container.I like the sprouts on avocado toast...or a spoonful..on their own;)

If you don't like taking care of things like plants etc ..It is not for you.There is rinsing involved etc..Checking..I like taking care of things..

The world is facing so many unfortunate life changing events:(

The images coming out of the LA fires.. the wars..

So much criticism on all counts.

So many tears shed.

Today I made a huge batch of spaguetti sauce with meatballs..I watched the snow gently fall through the kitchen windows,realizing once more how grateful I am.

I love our home.I know I repeat myself but I do.

To see it go up in flames ..I cannot imagine.

All the memories.. the photos..the work that went into it.

Watching my littles grow here.. I cannot imagine.

My mother's things..

My own daughters things..The wedding dresses in the attic..the dollhouses..

My mom's paintings..

I cannot imagine..

All the while making my sauce..

Images flashing across our screens.. turmoil in politics..

and then this..

Our Canadian Water Bombers in LA.. helping our neighbours.

I am grateful for hobbies:)

Grateful for childhood friends who are thoughtful enough to send me 40 yr old photos of myself..40 yrs ago!! At least.See how fast time flies.That little one  will be 48 this Feb..My youngest..And was I ever this young?

I am so glad we did not have SM and phones etc..My attention was devoted to the girls.They were not on IG and TT..nor was I.

I think I lived in a much simpler time.

When you get to be 71.. you realize you are certainly not immortal.

Some worries set in.

And you hope so much for your littles now BIGS heading into their futures..

It doesn't take much to enjoy a little R and R

A fave spot with a very nice person.I am more a one on one now apart from family..not a party girl..not a group girl.

Too many people for 30 yrs..

I guess..who knows why we change?

I know a few reasons..I'm not being honest here lol..re why I prefer one on one now.

But the quality of one on one..

Is just precious.

Here's a bit of love in a cup for all.