We had 800 meters of corn fields to drive by..it was beautiful.
My daughter said :"aren't we lucky to live here?""We have fields bursting w/ produce when some starve..we have so much..look how pretty everything is."
I swear that sounded exactly like me when I have been with our other daughter ,Caroline.
I am always repeating myself..about how beautiful here is..and then I heard myself but the words came from another person.
It's so funny how our children inherit certain traits..here and there..of Jacques or I..all mixed up.The great gene pool.
So we got loads of blueberries..we went early..and by the time we left the heat and humidity were settling in again.
I decided to make 2 little pies.. and some jam..and save some to eat fresh..we may go back they will be open until the end of August.
Very nice ,young,gentle owner.
I told him I preferred his blueberries to another place..and he so nicely said..they have many things they cultivate..not one nasty competitive remark..
I loved his answer.Gracious. I didn't like mine.Lesson learned.
You can say you love his fields,just don't compare.
Not necessary.Less is best.
I made Linda's pie dough again..which is quite similar to the one the TB makes..I have not comapared the quantities..but it was so hot..the dough..for the hearts,did not hold it's shape as well..
the filling was just blueberries,cornstarch, sugar and cinnamon.
I am crazy about some of the pie decorators on Instagram.
I am crazy about some of the gardeners on Instagram.
I am crazy about some the photographers on Instagram.
I am crazy about some of the artists on Instagram.
You find people from your urban and country settings..vintage from England..beautiful children..
just another pretty venue apart from Blogging.
If you haven't looked recently..go peek and make a search.
You will be amazed.
One of the pie decorators is called the Topless Baker:) he has you tube videos and his pie decorating one was very good..his attention to detail is sweet.
Just one of hundreds I now follow..
Like the bloggers I love and follow..
It's different..blogging.. my perception is....you get to "know"the person..I am possibly wrong.
on Instagram..it's more ♥ing something..You click on a heart.
it means you like it.
You open your Instagram..and you are seeing gardens in Sweden..vintage finds in the UK..artists from all over the world....Calligraphers..bakers..many photographers I follow are from Mtl and I have gotten to appreciate my city even more.
Saturday I went to my brocante..again..so MUCH stuff..all so different and fun.
The above..all repurposed wood..made like vintage sewing machine drawers w/ alovely pull kno..at the front..at $15.00 I thought what a great price..
cute for bathrooms..kitchen..seed storage,art supplies etc..
This man has great..garden benches/structures in metal w/ a nice old green patina..
if I was 20 yrs younger I might invest:)
we have bouquinistes too:)
Love it.What did I buy? A small wood cigar case again..for paints:)
I have bought a few things from that man..they work so hard,many having to be there by 6 AM..set up..stay all day.And it was HOT.
Kudos.
How brace of you to be baking in this heat!!
ReplyDeleteThat corn field looks fantastic! As does Noah ♥️ Love his hair! hahaha!
Lots of lovely collectibles there...I need to STOP buying stuff!
Enjoy your day Monique!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
"BRAVE" not brace...geesh...I really should check before I hit publish!!
DeleteLol I read brave.
DeleteI typo so much I can correct read.
One of my daughters and I can get hysterical over some of our typos..but it' is IPads spell check most of the time!
I told Noah I liked his hair..he said I wet it..
I should be so lucky!
I bake in crazy weather..it's not going to get much cooler..so..on with it right?:)
Hope your B and B is good today;)
Yes...she slept a little dream...off to school...back on Wednesday ♥️
DeleteEnjoy..you will see they grow up faster than our kids did..:(
DeleteI was just thinking of you and Noah picking blueberries and knew it had to be time. Just love them. I like them best on yogurt with granola and nuts. Have you seen the big ones? I like them too. Not too much competition among the growers. We used to have a Christmas Tree Farm and mostly the growers help one another in some way. That spot was spectacular though with all the cornfields. I see those traits in my kids too; good and not so much, but it must be in the genes. Love seeing your summer and brocante. Like to see what's for sale in different places. When we went to London and Paris to hunt antiques, I found lots of the same things back in the US only cost twice as much overseas.
ReplyDeleteI never made it to a brocante in Paris..if you notice I go to ours alone.
DeleteJacques is not at all interested and I feel it..so I go on my own.
My girls prefer sleeker and modern..nothing vintage or flowery lol..and we know what I like plus their boys have fun filled activities all summer..just not their cup of tea.
Noah is a master picker now..and eater.we found him very quiet..:)
Cornfields are magnificent aren't they?
Playing with paints and more jam today..much needed rain arrived with it's friends ..overcast and humid.
Frizzville,Canada.
You must be an expert antique shopper.You know your stuff.
So sweet of you to not make them go when they don't enjoy it. I really prefer to go alone as I could look for hours if there are antiques and they get tired quickly. That made me laugh about Noah being quiet. I lived for a year in Iowa and cornfields stretched as far as you could see. That was when I was five, but I still remember them. I can tell you about most antiques, except, silver, crystal and jewelry. Really, I've been out of the business so long I haven't studied the price guides and things do change, especially with the younger crowds who like your girls, prefer other things. My kids always said antiques stink;)
DeleteOh you made me laugh!
DeleteI think we have both said..wonder what they will keep when we are gone..hope we can't see from heaven..God willing I get in.
I love blueberries and yep !
ReplyDeleteI bake any weather any season I love it :)
:) I thought you would:)
DeleteI remember being in Georgian Bay in my youth on the boat and we'd get off and pick wild blueberries. Mom would make a pie...totally awesome. Wild blueberries have an entirely different taste. And her crusts were to die for, even with the limited space in a galley.
ReplyDeleteI love a flaky crispy crust..bottom too.
DeleteIn France wild blueberries are myrtilles instead of bleuets.
I remember picking wild blueberries too in my youth..a place called Ste-Emilie-de-l'Energie..what a name!
My mom' s crust was so good too!
We are lucky to have such memories.
I love that you go pick your own blueberries. I think that would be fun! We eat so many berries here. Blackberries and blueberries every day either in cereal or just a bowl. I like to add just a touch of cream. '-)
ReplyDeleteThe pies are so pretty. I admire the way you make everything special.
Nice that you are having rain. We need some here. Our temps have moved into triple digits in recent days. Our plants are suffering, and we are restricted to watering once a week.
Enjoy your day with your paints. Love seeing shots of your brocante. I usually go with a girlfriend, but just as happy to be on my own. Sometimes just to relax, I'll got to the antique mall just to look around.
Off to the Cape tomorrow. Happy Times! '-)
Sarah..have fun in one of my favorite places on earth.
DeleteI know you will.
I like to go picking with Noah and his mom.we did it with the girls when they were young..great memories.Sometimes I cannot believe I am back to a blueberry field with my grandson.
I was 29 yesterday.
we are restricted to no watering.Just by hand..with a can..doesn't go very far..need many cans:)
Bon voyage!
What a beautiful place to get blueberries! I stopped at a road sign stand the other day and bought a box of blueberries.
ReplyDeletePerfect to stop and encourage farm stands!
DeleteYou do love this season!! What a lovely family excursion! I don't think the wild blueberries have arrived here yet...
ReplyDeleteIt is a Miss Rumphius season:)
DeleteThen I settle in to slippers and indoor things.
I painted all afternoon in between things.
I love it Rita.
I am a blueberry picker too....there is a special place I go to pick and they just opened on Saturday. Open Saturdays until the berries are gone.
ReplyDeleteI am fondly remembering the cigar boxes I used to buy and paint designs on the tops :-) Love seeing your brocante! I'm sure they appreciate your business.
We are lucky to have berry picking places aren't we?
DeleteI have been searching for an inkwell for fun..none yet...
Di you do folk art?I took classes in the 70's..someone's basement..so much fun!
Yes, folk art....when I stop and think of all the "classes" I took over the years, I smile. I made two beautiful quilts when the children were small by going to someone's house once a month. I dragged all the little pieces, and we hand quilted :-)
Delete:)
DeleteI love how you're so in the moment with your family....that you pay attention to and enjoy them so much.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love how you recognize the hard work of the antique man and reward yourself and him with a purchase.
And lastly, Your blueberry pie looks so delicious.
I'm going to the Farmer's Market Friday....wonder what wonderful fruit or berries they will have here in Colorado that I can take home and make a pie with.
We are lucky we live close enough..but I must admit we see less of them during the day in summer..so busy ,not us lol..the Littles.
DeleteYou are going to have such a nice time in Colorado..did you ever hear the song about baking a pie with a heart in the middle?
From the movie waitress I think..so sweet..cute cute movie too.
I remember your blueberry picking last year with Noah. Can't believe it is that time again. The pies look great. Of course the heart one is so sweet. I know what you mean about collecting, if I had the energy I could empty my basement of so much STUFF and have my own flea market! Instagram, have to see what that is all about.
ReplyDeleteI know..it seems like yesterday Noah and were picking..I think we missed blueberries last yr,we did strawberried..I remember because I painted a little scene of Noah and I..if I hadn't I would think it was blueberries too:)
DeleteYou just end up w/ "stuff" at our age..
Instagram..so many ideas:)
Love to see how you're enjoying the beautiful Canadian summers. We just spent a few days in northern Wisconsin and it was heavenly! 78˚ and minimal humidity. I imagine that's what Canada is like. Blueberries are definitely the gems of summer and it sounds like you had lots of fun with them!
ReplyDeleteIt's been hotter and more humid this summer..into the 90'2 some days and 100's in the sun!
DeleteStill no complaints..I can just come in:)
those boxes are adorable. I really like them. We stayed just outside of Maulevrier at a chateau that had been purchased by two men. They were quite interesting. The more talkative of the two had worked in business and then quit to buy the b and b. They made their own yogurt. It was a lovely stay. I will do a post on it this week. Maulevrier is close to Cholet. I have not read that book but will seek it out. These pies look great. I made a peach galette and a fig tart this week-the fig tart had goat cheese and parmesan along with eggs and half and half. I think you could use milk just as easy-I will send you the recipe-also chives. It was spectacular. Aside from heating up the kitchen. Have you ever cooked from Donna Hay-it is in her Season's book. I love blueberries-however given we get them all winter I tend to stay away from them in the summer. I adore the stone fruit. My brother was taking the children blueberry picking in Ottawa this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI have made a few of Donna Hay's recipes,her books are BEAUTIFUL.I think someone at work had introduced me to her..I look forward to your other post..and ay I say what a lovely daughter you are.Ottaw is very close to here.The blueberries will be perfect!
DeleteOh, I do love blueberry season. Back home we picked them wild, and it was backbreaking labour. I never saw a cultivated berry until I was an adult. Love all of your photos and the corn and your little Noah. What a sweetie pie. I think it is wonderful when we see character traits and mannerisms showing up in suceeding generations. Proof that we live on in our children and grandchilren, etc. Would love to go to your fleamarket. It looks fabulous! Such a treasure trove of novelties, antiquities, etc. Could spend hours in those types of places! Hope your day is going well. Its a lot cooler here today than it has been. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI am..perspiring:) Just spent a couple of hours in the gardens..I am not a spring poulet anymore it seems..;)
DeleteI think you would enjoy the market..Marie I Pinned an art work I liked..and it's Chester..your town is so pretty!
Chester is a gorgeous city for sure. You would love it I am sure!
DeleteYour Noah and our Declan could be brothers, and both going into third grade?
ReplyDeleteI love picking blueberries and baking with them the same day! What a world of difference in taste! Very few places for blueberries left here. We had a place near the ocean, but it was sold to build houses! ☹️ I have one bush and I battle with the birds to pick a cup!
Yes..grade 3!
DeleteHe is such a character..is Declan?
What a shame new houses instead of blueberries:)
Hope you are having a nice summer Kathleen.
Same here..the birds eat them all!
At the farms..they have nets:)
Miam Miam
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are hard to find over here and pricy...
Pleas tell us some of yr FAV Instagramers!!
You have good taste..
I am going to send you a list:)I will just give me time:)A bit of time.
DeletePS how did you pass up that parasol!?
ReplyDeleteI honestly have no room for anything..except..small small small items.
DeleteI have been practicing painting..I wish you would do your tutorials again;)
OK I sound like I am begging..I have bought a couple of books..and am being a student:)
wonderful summer adventures :) fresh blueberry pie, so good, i know you say your not a big fan of sweets that you bake for others which is so sweet of you, but do you like blueberry pie ? i'm just curious :)
ReplyDeleteare you on instagram? i follow some but am not on it, yes i too would love to know some of your favorites...
Jenni..I take a sliver..picture running your knife a few cms over..and just run your knife..makes one bite.
DeleteI do that.
Because pie..is like a cookie..it's not a big cake item:)With frostings etc..so a sliver..I confess.But usually just the day I make it..so many reasons for this..
I am on Instagram..funnily enough..I must have joined ..well when I got the mini Ipad..it will be 3 yrs or 2 in Nov..but I never used it..NEVER..
then my daughters were sending me cute things..so I went on my daughter's instagram..but our tastes..for following are in some ways similar..but in many ways not.
So I jumped back in..maybe ..1 month ago..
And I followed some my daughters followed..and then they told me do a search..and a whole new world opened up..
I suggest you join..let me know..I will follow you..and you then can see who I follow.
I don't know the ins and outs and tagging and etc..but I do ♥ what I love..
Inspiration...:)
Monica/The White Bench is there..etc etc...
so join..follow me latabledenana..just to get you started..I am not telling you this for me to get followers..I love seeing and learning.
I have bought 2 books since this....try:)
my email is monb54@hotmail.com..if you want to tell me what name you have picked.
I think you would love it..it's non stop..the feed is regular and ever changing
I just made blueberry jam last week, went berry picking. It's one of my favorite things to do in summer. Your pies are gorgeous, love the little hearts.
ReplyDeleteNow that I can easily follow you on IG where blogging did not facilitate..I have to click on your name here and go see:)
DeleteI'm on Instagram! I do like it because it is instant satisfaction-and it is quick. I also see great photographers that I can only dream to be! Love your blueberry post. We will be planting a bunch under our evergreens this year!
ReplyDeleteAre you under This Is How I Cook?
DeleteI love that it's just more visual:)And YES awesome photographers!
Yeah blueberries! I love what your daughter said - we are also grateful to live in a country where fresh fruits and vegetables are readily available. And those pies! They are gorgeous ... just like your photographs.
ReplyDeleteWell I am humbled cause you're the one w/ the gorge pics:)
DeleteIt's one of my favorite things to do in summer. Your pies are gorgeous, love the little hearts. Sakura Beauty
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteBeautiful bleubs! :) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree... xo
ReplyDeleteI know..I see you and Bella:)♥
DeleteMonique, where you live is so gorgeous! Blueberries and the corn fields, LOVE! I wish we had a brocante near us like yours. I'm sure I could find something ♥ Hugs, Jody
ReplyDeleteI have read of great brocantes in Ca..? No?Thank you:)
DeleteOh, those delicious berries - and those dogs! I want those dogs to sit on either side of the door in my new apartment, just to pat on the head:) And the blueberries! (and the reminder to be kind and humble). Your pictures are glorious ! I do miss living in the country, working on that....
ReplyDeleteThose dogs are AMAZING.
DeleteCan't wait to hear that you are settled in NE.