Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Gorgeous Beets~












We love beets.. my daughter and son-in-law grew these gorgeous things..
I made that salad I made last year..that is a meal in itself..so good..
added beet leaves and swiss chard leaves ..
last year I froze kale..as is..and it turned out well..I was smitten w/ a blog last week and did beet leaves her swiss chard way..I have little freezer bags ready for soups this winter..
Simply blanch two minutes..then an ice bath..  look how pretty all rolled up~
That blog..♥
Could not stop reading..what talent...s


The small painting ,I took a pic w/ my Mini..and Waterlogue before settling in to the settee in the screened-in porch to paint.
This paper is unknown to me....but maybe 40 yrs old I would think..a friend gave me some of her husbands papers about 20 years ago..this is from a very large yellowed sheet..
a couple of the large shetts had Arches printed..but not this one..and the texture is very unusual.

You can see a brush case open on the settee..and my collapsible water pot..and a large Holbein palette..that I have had since I took those two art classes more than a decade and a half ago.
I really find Waterlogue helps so much to guide a novice..I love playing with it.
I have a new color in there Quinacridone Gold ..recommended when I took Shari Blaukopfs' online class..(that you get to keep and refer back to..)and it's gorgeous.
It's Daniel Smith..my first DS paint..I have a tiny order of 2 more colors and just recently bought Buff to help with sand.
I have discovered a great site for artist supplies in the US and have a small wish list for future USA visits.If you have not checked out Cheap Joe's..his videos..and read his story..do..Inspiring:)

Getting ready for a little birthday dinner here Saturday for our eldest..who..I don't know how this happened..will be 40 on August 10th.

PS..are you watching Friday Night Lights?I have mentioned it  before..
we have started Season 3..
I cried last night.

56 comments:

  1. Beets are really beautiful and true versatile, love yours pictures all look beautiful!
    And love the paint too!
    xo

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  2. Replies
    1. One of my daughters just got a Montauk hoodie;)
      I told her about you..and ..I just read My Paris Dream..because of you~

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  3. Hi Monique.....
    Love love love beets....and I love your painting♥️
    My eldest daughter is 41....gosh....how can that be, when it am a mere 40 myself! Hahaha!
    Enjoy your evening...and the birthday party...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  4. Your beet salad looks wonderful. I wish my daughters were gardeners but I guess if you don't have a house, it is hard to do. Beth our oldest turns 39 this year. Don't you still remember bringing them into the world like it was yesterday? I love your paintings. You are so talented in so many ways. Enjoy the festivities this weekend and wish your birthday girl a happy birthday.

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    1. Our daughters are not gardeners:) The son-in-laws are:)I must say that when the girls were little.. like our Littles are..the extent of my gardening was buying some tuberous begonias and impatiens and planting them..I didn't have one perennial until 1989..the girls..were 13 and 11 I guess..my manager Rosemarie..had a beautiful garden..and she inspired me along with a friend at the time..but the more serious gardening started in the late 90s..
      I absolutely do remember the elation of both days when they were born.
      Happiest days of my life..I have told them many times..:) Too many...;)I know it is the same for you.
      You have a great weekend too Terry.


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  5. I think beets are one of the prettiest veggies. Today I was at Costco where they were handing out samples of beet ravioli. They tasted fine but they looked like someone a bleeding heart. Oh well.I'd rather have your salad. And a painting or two!

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    1. We are doing a Costco run tomoroow for Sat;)Beets are one of the most beautiful vegetables I find..but then again so many are!

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  6. I like how you showcased these homegrown beets with all their pretty colours! They look very beautiful!

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  7. Monique, your beautiful beets look like paintings they are so lovely and artistically presented. As always your painting are a delight. As someone above said, you are talented in so many ways. Happy birthday to your daughter. Time really flies doesn't it.
    Sam

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    1. This will sound like fishing..but I am not talented..I think with Waterlogue..we just try and copy.And sometimes it works.
      I need to keep busy in peaceful ways..on my own..and all these little crafts help so much;)
      I appreciate your vote of confidence though Sam:)

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  8. Oh Monique, your photographs of your beets are beautiful and I'm sure delicious! Aww, happy birthday to your son! Time somehow creeps up on us, doesn't it? The other day, mind you, I was filling in a bd card for my son and had him, ten years younger than he is! Where was my brain?
    Hope you have a great day!
    Nancy

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  9. Love the beauty of beets and the rainbow of colors they come in. Love your painting to, so lovely!

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    1. I love the bars..I was on my MINI last night and commenting is a feat ..because I have to submit all my info every time..and the connection is not strong..I am off to tell you now what I think:)
      Thanks!

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  10. Those beets are beautiful. The swiss chard looks like the freshest I've ever seen. And your painting is lovely. It is so sweet and delicate and it makes me happy!

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  11. You have the artist's eye for photography as well as for painting Monique. Your beets are works of art. By the way, I also love the links that you provide. Karen's blog makes me laugh out loud. Thank you for broadening my horizons.

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    1. Me too.. isn't she something?
      She does not know me or anything but when I found her blog..had to keep looking..talented plus that girl!

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  12. These beets look amazing!!! Your photography is stunning!

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    1. Anne..I just went to see you..I think your photos are stunning..I cannot believe your age.
      Kudos kudos kudos!

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  13. From one beet lover to another :) I remember when you posted this salad. It's as beautiful as ever. I wish John loved beets as much as I do. He does like beet greens, though. When my parents were alive they had a huge garden and grew beets. I would make the beets for me and the girls and he would eat the beet greens. I applaud your SILs for taking an interest in growing vegetables! I am going to put this recipe on the list of ideas for Lindsay's birthday party at the end of the month. My youngest, the baby, turns 32! Oy. I will be looking at that blog where you got the idea for keeping the greens in the freezer! What a great idea to have for soup in the fall and winter. I have to bite my tongue again for typing those words :) Another beautiful painting!

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    1. Ugh.. je te comprends!!L'hiver..c'est long!

      It's a finicky little salad to serve for a group..

      Lots of steps..but beautiful and delish..a treat..but you would be making it for you..for the two of you;)
      Are they too sweet for John?Gosh I just love them:)
      Our bébés are growing up..have grown up..
      where have the years gone nana?

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  14. Love those beet photographs! Jim and I were in Florida last week. In one of the restaurants that we dined at, I ordered a beet salad with goat cheese and "beet shards". Having never heard the term before, I asked the server what beet shards were. She explained that they are grated beets that are flash fried. The roasted beets were topped with micro greens and the beet shards with the goat cheese on the side. Not nearly as pretty as your beet salad, but quite good.

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    1. I think the shards sound wonderful!
      Beets♥
      Or is it the other way around?

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  15. What a beautiful beet salad! It's just the thing for dinner during the record setting heat wave we are experiencing here. I'm just not a hot weather person. I agree with you about Cheap Joe's. It's a terrific source of art supplies. Thanks for the TV series recommendation. I enjoyed every minute of Parenthood. This one sounds excellent too.

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    1. Oh Cathy..you are in for some nice TV:)
      It's my wind down time..7.30 to about 9 TV..no other time.
      We had started True Detective.. we had seen season 1 last year..J struggled through it...so we started this years..and halfway ..not even last night..I said..:"I hate this"..
      So we deleted and there is no turning back.
      We put on FNL..and that's where we belong..of course until Downton and CTM return..:)
      It was interesting to me to see he was a pharmacist(Joe Miller)..and how it all started..

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  16. I'm delighted to have something good to watch and I may even do a little binge watching. Our heat wave is keeping me in the house more than usual and I've been putting in a little extra tv time. I'm looking forward to Downton too and am more than sad that this will be their last season.

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    1. Us too a heat wave.. yesterday..120 F on the small upper deck in the sun.I don't garden when we are in the 90's and 100's.At all.I water pots period.
      Today we had a lot of rain..but it's clearing..they say;)
      I have been in also..
      Sad DA is ending also.

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  17. Awwww Monique, these look fabulous! We love beets in salads. We often forget about them. Your photos look professional. I am so impressed with your photography skills.
    We are having a heat wave here. The garden looks toasty.

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    1. Us too a heatwave..as if I lived in California;)

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  18. We love beets! They are in our veggie box frequently when it is cool. Yours are very pretty...love the colors...

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  19. Hi Monique, beets are my favorite root veggie, I love all colors. Your kids are great veggie growers, you are so lucky. Also your water color is beautiful, you really are talented.

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  20. Oh, I guess my comment from the other day didn't post! I was saying how your mind and mine were attuned as we were both doing beets this week! Your photography as usual is just gorgeous. You have captured everything beautifully. I adore beet greens. Mom always cooked them with a bit of butter and some vinegar, salt and pepper. I still enjoy them that way. Love the painting. Everything you do is so very beautiful. xoxo

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  21. Beautiful beautiful beautiful, belle et beau, i can't say it enough!!! i also discovered Q Gold recently, but i still veer toward raw sienna...

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    1. I have always love RS..but I painted corn yesterday..and lovedthe QG..:)

      Fun to have a few different tube colors.. most of mine are pans..and very few tubes..and all not the best quality..I am liking the DS.

      I always love your input!!!

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  22. Oh, those beets! They look delicious and, oh, the colors! What a wonderful meal.
    And your little painting - I just love it.

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  23. I love beets too. So pretty. That watercolor reminds me of my back porch!

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  24. I'm sure the beets were even better coming from a family member's garden. I love getting beets in my CSA box. Like Susan's hubby, my hubby won't eat them. Certain things he just doesn't like but he's not picky. No worries, I am happy to have them all to myself if need be :-) Today is the party so I look forward to hearing about it. Happy Birthday to your daughter!

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  25. I have never been able to figure out why everyone doesn't love beets. I was watching an old Food Network Star show and Giada mentioned beets being a difficult veg to sell. Whats up with that?
    My mother pickled them and made a divine salad with them. My daughter can eat an entire saucepan full! So much better right from your garden too. I'm jealous!

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    1. My mom pickled hers too!
      She blanched and peeled..I loved seeing her do that..I do remember the beets in the water.

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  26. Pretty, pretty, pretty
    Besos

    lagalletarota.blogspot.com

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