Monday, August 29, 2016

Click~ Camera Cookies~Marmalade~W/E getaway~







So Friday afternoon..all 12 of us set out on a little end of summer vacation..
We left from our home and took the ferry to head to the Mont Tremblant region.
Our daughter had found an area  called Blueberry Lake..a family get away up north in the woods..
..we were all in.
We each contributed ..
the first night was my dinner..Spaguetti for 12..(more like 30)..garlic bread, salad..Fred made the dressing and Caroline brought brownies..
we walked to the lake at almost dusk..and Max jumped right in:)
he was so brave!

The next morning we had croissants..jams..eggs..bacon..
the morning was spent canoeing and kayaking and swimming..(I only canoed)..a nice big lunch  w/ watermelon..chili dogs..watermelon..

the aft..we walked to the pool area..  where the kids swam again..so did the dads..some volleyball and tennis..
the kids had a ball..that night ..last night ..we had the most amazing steaks on the barbecue..salads..baked potatoes..smores..
The kids played Monopoly..we all played Scrabble..Boggle..Heads Up..Pool..

Had a little paint moment..where we 3 girls and Fred painted the leftover watermelon:) I hung them up for dinner:)
Our own up north vernissage.



..Giuliana..15..had brought some make up..she fancies..that art..she made us up..:) even her dad..soooooo funny..what a great sport.

 The 2 teens..in the group of twelve..are such nice teens.
Geat role models for the Littles.
Never ever impatient w/ the Littles..so nice to everyone..just sooo easy to be with.
Adamo and Giuliana.♥

No wifi..and no one even complained..the whole weekend.

I had errands to do last week and found a cookie cutter on sale that I quite liked:)It was just sitting there at Winners'(TJ)..in the liquidation area;)

The recipe is used..I have used before..it works well w/ stamps..

Courtesy of Roti n Rice..

1 3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup rice flour
2 sticks butter room temp..softened
1/2 cup icing sugar..
Cream butter and powdered sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy..sift in the mixture of the 2 fours,blend with pastry blender until dough comes together.Wrap in plastic,chil for 15 mins..roll out cut out..or emboss.. place on prepped cookie sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven for 20 mins or until edges are lightly browned.

My other small contributions ..were a jar of Blueberry Jam..C Ferber's that I have shared here..
and some marmalade..I made  a full batch this time..and used this recipe...from Ricardo.
It is brilliant.
Make sure..you take all the pith off the orange sections..
I used an extra sharp knife..to do this..some stays w/ the peel but make sure you get most off..



I am still searching for another one I made and will share when I find it:) My pantry /fridge of preserves is quite ready for winter:)
Have a great week..~

50 comments:

  1. It's so lovely to get away! Your spot looks so beautiful Monique.
    I just love the camera biscuits..how adorable.
    The pic of the sunflower and marmalade smacks of summer.
    You are one great nana!
    Have a great week!

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    1. It's one of our daughters who thought of this getaway..we all said yes right away:)
      I hope you are great Shel:)And everyone:)

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  2. Looked for you in the canoes. I bet that was fun with everyone together. I wonder what my son and daughter-in-law and daughter would have done without wifi... Did you have your beach vacation this year? I love all the pictures, the cookies looked great. Have a great week too. I'm making my list this morning.

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    1. I hate being in pics..love being behind the camera..when I was much younger..20-40..I didn't mind that much..but we never had selfies lol..
      Amazingly..no one really complained about the no wifi..
      there was no time..they did take pics w/ their cameras tough:)
      No beach yet.;)

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  3. Such a lovely, fun and delicious weekend you had! I know everyone had a wonderful time! I love how getaways like these create so many great memories!

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    1. They do and we have some pretty funny pics to remember the moments:) I know you experience this all the time w/ your UK family:)

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  4. what a beautiful place to be and such great memories you must have made :) I've never been canoeing but have dreamed of trying it.
    I love that heart shaped cup too
    Have a great week

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    1. I think you would enjoy it Jenni..it is easy..and calm..very peaceful..no noise..just the views..I hope you get to go one day.Fingers crossed.

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  5. What a great weekend with all your family. From the pictures it looks like everyone had a marvelous
    time.
    Thanks for the cookie recipe. All of the food you served sounds really good too.

    Have a great week.
    Mary

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  6. How wonderful that everyone was 'in' on this weekend trip! It's so hard getting three families together - especially for an entire weekend. It looks like an idyllic spot and the house looks rustic and charming. Your meals all sound wonderful too. I love that you played real board games and not those on a phone or tablet. Everyone should have a wifi-free weekend with kids now and then. Adorable camera cutter! I prefer being behind the camera also :) I am going to make orange marmalade this year...as soon as I can cut and peel a little better :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You're doing so well..it's just a matter of time:)
      I will search for the other recipe as both consistencies are entirely different.I'd love you to be able to try both:)
      It was sheer luck I guess that everyone was available:)

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  7. What a gorgeous place to enjoy family time and a little fun, along with great food too. It looks perfect!

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    1. The house lodged so many..there are several in this Lake area..all log construction..3 above ground levels..room for many many to sleep..a large gathering room..fireplace..dining room..3 full bathrooms..it was clean:)
      That's my first hope in a place:)

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  8. Way to go, Monique, a great send-off for summer. Lucky you with a big family! Canoe sounds great and swimming even better! Learned to love orange marmalade in Paris and rest of Europe, problem is nobody else here does.

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    1. I am so lucky my husband and son-in-laws love it..one daughter too and ,her Little and the two teens:) Can't win them all:)

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  9. A weekend with family - I know you were in heaven, Monique.
    We are so blessed.

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  10. A perfect way to end the summer with everyone together. Isn't it nice to have the tweens to help entertain the younger ones? I bet everyone had a great time.

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    1. They are so good w/ them..I bet you had a ball too!

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    2. Yes we did. I see your Littles started back to school, here our crew starts next week. Beth turns 40 on the 3rd, she truly is my Labor Day baby!

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  11. What a lovely weekend you had Monique! How very wonderful that you could all get together like that, and cheery for no wifi! That alone, I am sure, added to the fun you had. We are all TOOOOO plugged in I think! I have never heard you mention your granddaughter much. Like our Maryn, I suspect she is the only one? I love all the photos and those camera cookies are so cute! Oh, and your meals sound like they were fabulous! Hope you have a lovely last week of August! Love and hugs. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I have shown Giuliana here..when I talk about the 6..it's Adamo and Giu.
      Adamo and Giu are our stepgrandchildren..I hate that word LOL..they call us Monique and Jacques and we are their friends:) They have their real grandparents.I would never want to impose.:)
      We lucked out as they are wonderful young people..and great role models for the Littles..Adamo is 17..just entered college..in Sciences and drives..he is very handsome ..tall..polite, nice:)
      Giuliana is 15..in high school..drives a scooter since her birthday..loves dance..make-up,fashion..her Iphone for photography and she has a real eye.:)
      The Littles have them on a pedestal:) Where they belong:)♥

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  12. Your weekend sounds like a ton of fun....like many of our weekends with our grandchildren at the lake. We play until we're exhausted.

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  13. Sounds like a super fun & family vacation -your littles are clearly water babies! And no wifi makes for a truly old fashioned holiday, very like our Cape Cod vacations - no wifi there either. Such a great way to end the summer:)

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    1. It's over ! All 4 boys are back in school today!
      It flew by.
      We had our best summer weather ever I think..

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  14. This sounds just wonderful! How fun to be all together. And Blueberry Lake is a perfect name!

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    1. I know you all had a great reunio getaway too..you have been so busy!

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  15. I think that sounds lovely. A little family getaway. Lots of fun activities for the kiddos. Wonderful food and family memories to treasure.
    Very cute camera cookies too.

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  16. Good evening Monique...
    Such a perfectly perfect get away for you and the kids..fabulous!
    I love that everyone brings something...share and share alike...
    Your cookies are so cute...you amaze me!
    Those sunflowers are beautiful!! They really make a statement...
    I hope you are having a great week...get your hair done yet? **wink wink**
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Lol..tomorrow..my natural streaks get done and I leave with wet hair!
      I am not a beauty parlour kind of girl..I have a very understanding hairdresser:)
      It was really nice to be all together for 2 nights.
      Have a great night!

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    2. I am not a beauty parlour gal either Monique!
      I will be seeing my daughters hairdresser in 2 weeks...for colour...she works out of her home...perfect for me!!
      I used to go to my neighbour behind...she burnt my hair last Christmas...have not been back...lost a lot of hair! YIKES!!
      Been trimming myself...a bit of blonde here and there, myself. Time to get a good colour and cut...have a shower coming up, and of course the wedding in late October...
      Have a great long weekend...we are off this afternoon...kids coming on Saturday! ♥️

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    3. We sound so alike..:)I used to go to soemeone's home too..Jacques goes now..

      but I went back to the one I had before..she is 40..my daughters age..ap.and I think she is one of the nicest people.

      My niece is also a hairdresser and I love her..but she doesn't do 2 colors..I should just see what grey would do..but it's so long:(
      Have a great w/e..do you have your dress for Oct?:)

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  17. The camera cookies look so cute and delightful ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  18. Looks like you had a fabulous vacation. Being with the kids is the Best!! Camera cookies, click and Eat ♥
    Hugs, Jody

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    1. It will be your turn w/ Littles one day:) Until then I know you love the monets w/ your children:) It shows.

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  19. How lovely you all managed to get away together. Is the lake temp. very cold now? Way to s t r e t c h the summer xo

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    1. Apparently..the next 5 days will still be summer bliss here..what a summer.:)

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  20. Wow, a heavenly North Country vacation! I love your "scrapbook" here, including the boys in their kayaks. Will you be showing us the watermelon paintings? :o)

    I love the camera cookies!

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    1. I will take a pic of the watermelons:) I was trying to be Anne Laure:)
      Next post..I will:)I saved them all:)

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  21. What a grand idea! Everyone needs a little get away before the start of a new school year. Looks like you picked a beautiful spot! Love your little cookie cutter. '-)
    I had a fabulous get away myself this past weekend with a wedding in NOLA. Still basking in the glow of an incredible event.

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    1. Jacques has been to NOLA..before Katrina..he really enjoyed it..and of course we know Vivian Swift loves it:)

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  22. The biscuits looks yummy and I love those Summer pics:)

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  23. Sounds like the perfect family vacation and you all ate like Kings and Queens.

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    1. :) I have not seen you on IG..and your blog won't come to me Cheri..what a long saga I have been telling you:)

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  24. Love your new cookie cutter! The lake looks beautiful! xo

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  25. Quelle jolie sortie familiale ! C'est vrai, finalement, que tu peux faire très envie aux gens ! ;-)

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