Sunday, June 19, 2016

Pause Paris 2~ le Jardin etc..












For some reason..I feel I need to honor the gardens..while I can..you hear me complaining in March about no sun..no gardens..and freezing..
I cannot take these gardens for granted:)

The peonies are from Noah and his mom when they picked us up at the airport:)♥
The BONHEUR café au lait cup is something I bought in Paris at Comptoir de Famille♥
That's our new rhubarb to replace the one we had..
my neighbor Hilary brought me rhubarb from her garden also..and we had bought strawberries when we returned..so ..

Strawberry rhubarb jam.

I used D Lebovitz's recipe again because it's so darn easy..added the rhubarb w/out adjusting anything else and it came out winner.

The garlic has scaped..I have just a few more to harvest..

but chopped and froze these..apart from about 6..and used one in that cook in the sun.. cherry tomatoes..basil..evoo..herbs(from the garden!)..black olives..and caper ..sauce..the bowl gets so warm in the sun..and the tomatoes actually blister a bit..
add your al dente pasta..and you have a meal..w/ your fresh herbs.
One of our favorite summer meals..

I planted some seeds in wine crates..cute but not good..wood warps..
and the crates dry out every 4 hours..
It's been sunny and warm..and hot since we returned..
so the seeds are hardly standing a chance~


Coming along~



46 comments:

  1. Yes, honor your garden. It's a treat for each of us. Your poppies are so sweet. I had but just a few bloom this year. I need to figure out why I can't get poppies to thrive. Others all around Austin do.
    Love the souvenir that came home with you and the sweet tags you stenciled and painted. The Garden Tools sign ~ love at first sight for me. ;-)

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    1. These poppies are huge and will be unsightly soon..the foliage will fall to the side and brown..my plan is to plant something to hide that..I have orange ones also and it's the only orange ..not my faves..yet I keep them on..
      Along route 6 A ..at least I think..there is a colonial home with borders of bright orange poppies like these lining the walkway up to the house..stunning!
      I have thought about you and Susan.you can feel the authentic warmth.

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  2. Hi Monique...
    Such a lot going on in your gardens....love that Poppy colour...fabulous!
    If my garlic has fallen over, is it ready? Geesh...I am pitiful!
    The chipmunks ate all of Vivian's sunflower seedlings at the cottage...:o(
    Such a beautiful hot weekend...loved it!
    Would love that jam, too!
    Enjoy the new week..
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. It has been windy..I know my poppies are leaning..but garlic? Shouldn't..it's upright and sturdy and looks like corn Fred said:)
      Firt garlic scapes happen..a curly scape..that has the beginnings of a flower at the end..cut those down at the point it came out..leave all the rest until they turn brown..I did mine in July last year..

      I feel bad for Vivian's sunflower seeds..:(
      You had such fun..I know you have back ups:)
      Such perfect weather!!You too enjoy the week...

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    2. Love your Jam labels...♥️

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  3. Gardens are lovely this time of year. It must be nice to be back home, settling in, thinking back on all the wonderful things you've seen.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. It is..so much goes on in gardens in QC in June:)

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  4. Je n'arrête pas d'acheter ces grands bols chez Comptoir de Famille quand ils en sortent de nouveaux ! Je les adore ! Quant à tes étiquettes, je crois que je vais te copier. Je n'en ai jamais vu d'aussi jolies ... On voit que tu es quand même contente d'avoir retrouvé ton joli chez-toi ! :-)
    Bisous et bonne journée, Monique
    Hélène

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    1. Hélène..j'ai pensé a toi..j'ai aussi acheté un bol avec des poules..
      Ces bols sont si beaux..j'avais vu un bol chez toi dans un de tes billets...Nancy m'avait acheté un livre il y a quelques années et m'avait recommandé ce magasin.
      On est toujours content de revenir:)

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  5. Your gardens are gorgeous Monique. Hooray for Strawberry and Rhubarb Jam! Our Rhubarb has done very poorly again. We just can't seem to get it right for some odd reason. I don't know what the answer is. Your salad sounds just gorgeous. We had two weeks of sunshine but then last week and today we are back to rain and cold. Beautiful peonies and that tag on the jam jar. I am thinking it has to be your own painting. Lovely. All that you share cheers my heart to no end. You are a great blessing to all of your friends and readers Monique! I love all that you share. xoxo

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    1. I wish you knew me in person..flawed flawed flawed.
      Thank God you have such faith and only see the good in people:)x
      I wonder why the rhubabrb doesn't do well..

      I know my neighbour could sell some she has so much:)

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  6. I love seeing photos of your garden. Those poppies are gorgeous. I really ought to make some rhubarb jam--my grandma (who also had many poppies and peonies in her huge yard) used to make the most delectable raspberry-rhubarb jam, with fruit from her garden. Summer in a jar.

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    1. It is..and doesn't take long at all..I enjoy making preserves..but with just the two of us I make less and less..this..Jacques asks me for as soon as the last jar is about to be empty..so none goes to waste:)

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  7. Total Miam Miam!
    Does the jam move? I hate when its like a solid rock...too much pectin.
    Yours looks right to me.
    Delectable.

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    1. It does move..that is the perfect way to describe it:) David L 's recipe..just sugar and lemon..no art pectins..it's delicious.

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  8. Great photos! And I love those poppies and need to find some sunny space here to plant them! I love Paris too, a fabulous city to visit!

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    1. They do so well in full sun....hope you find a spot:)

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  9. Oh it all looks so beautiful. I haven't canned anything this year so far, but the cucumbers are 'putting on' so I'll have to go back to the farm and pickle. And, oh those poppies... I just bought some seeds yesterday in hopes I'll have some next year.

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    1. You should have some..they are stunning in a garden..well stunning to garden appreciaters;)

      I can't imagine a farm/home and a home..you have to be an Energizer Bunny:)

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  10. Look at those gorgeous roses hanging over your fence! Bee-u-ti-ful pink poppies! My Patty's Plum poppy is already finished but such a joy while it blooms. I love the centers! I only have a few scapes left to harvest also and need to remember to chop and freeze them. I had to Google what part of the scape to use because my friend who grows them was on a trip to Paris :) I've already harvested a few cherry tomatoes and can't wait to make your recipe for sun-marinated pasta sauce with Jacques' breadcrumbs. I have strawberries and rhubarb to use - guess what I'm going to make later today? My rhubarb does very well in part shade (since our yard is almost all 'part shade'. I bought the variety Canadian Red several years ago but it doesn't get brilliant red - more rose red to greenish but still delicious. I planted two right next to each other and I think they like company :) LOVE the cafe au lait cup!

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    1. Partial shade is the best..since the cutting of our biggest spruce..the gardens get too much sun..we are having a dry spell..
      I love the centres too..
      I am itching to get a companion for my rhubarb..next time out..
      I am happy that garlic growing has been a success for you!!
      I had that cup and another in my purse..when she took them out I literally said Oh not those too!!

      They were fine..
      Go peek at that store..

      http://www.comptoir-de-famille.com/fr/

      Loveeee...
      Have a great day Nana

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    2. I looked ♥ I found your lovely cup and lots of other things I would have had trouble leaving behind!

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  11. I am so glad you are sharing the garden pictures. It is quite lovely and well worth waiting for. I am loving those lush beautiful roses spilling over. Those poppies are gorgeous and such a pretty color. It reminds me to add more variety to our garden.

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    1. It's short and sweet here..so I can't neglect being grateful:)

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  12. Hello Monique...love to see your garden the flwers and herbs and fruits doing well...happy week enjoy summer love Ria x

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  13. Beauty everywhere!
    Like you, I take nothing for granted - especially the garden!

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  14. Happy First day of Summer....I love seeing everything through your eyes...
    Bisous xo

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    1. Happy first day of summer to you too:)
      Still hot as heck here and high high winds..something's gonna give..The grass and gardens need a respite for sure..

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  15. Your peonies are so beautiful....when I got to that photo, I had to take pause to admire them. Strawberry Rhubarb Jam would certainly be a hit at my house! I can see why you enjoy your garden...variety and beauty all in one!

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    1. We need rain..I know I sound difficult but we do..grass is turning to straw and peonies wilting..

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    2. We need it too. The snow melt is below what was expected....more drought.....

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  16. A post full of early summer sunshine and color! It's good to "be here now", even after coming back from such an experience as Paris! Did you make the jams and the little cards? Is that a printed strawberry? I like your accessories as well as the vegetables themselves!

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    1. Oui..I did..a painted berry..and Jacques favorite jams..
      Going to see you..were you away?

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  17. Your garden is very pretty. I love the little berry tag....I was going to ask if you painted it, but I see you answered that question in the previous comment.

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  18. Mon do you have Poppy seeds? Your jam sounds delicious lucky J!🍒Di

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    1. I had some for years..and now I don't..this poppy ..and the bright orange ones are huge..and they were plants..perennials when I bought them about 10 years ago..don't know if you remember..a couple of years ago I had bought small ones..they never came back..sometimes I get lucky and a stary poppy will pop up..another variety..if some do..those I can save seeds for you..

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  19. Beautiful photos. Your lovely lacy pink peonies remind me of silk chiffon. I picked two tiny ripe cherry tomatoes yesterday. Oh my, they tasted good. I would love to walk around your garden with you, Monique. It's so beautiful.

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  20. Hi Cathy..I just went out to water and I assure you..if you came..I would be apologizing for how tired everything looks..we've not had rain in weeks it seems and the grass is turning beige and brown..
    we have a watering ban..almost all month..earliest yet..
    I can water by hand..but of course cannot do all the beds..it's forlorn right now..plants need sunshine AND rain..
    but thanks:)

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  21. Beautiful garden! I recently made his strawberry jam, it's a keeper! xo

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    1. It is..and Jacques loves it so much..You know I stay away from sweets..but I even love it..

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  22. I always enjoy seeing your garden, just so pretty! Your jam looks delicious, have to try and make some! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes! I'm in love with the last photo, beautiful yellow painted walls♥
    Hugs, Jody

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