It worked..it is SUNNY today!
And the rain pelted for and entire night and day..the gardens were left in disarray..
much to my dismay..
Ok too poetic..
a mess..hosta blooms knocked down..tomatoes engorged with water ..not sun nor warmth..
I communicated w/ my Smurf seed purveyor and she attests a bad year so far for tomatoes..bounty may be late September..
they need the latter two things to turn..warmth and sun..
A lot of the gardens are finished already:(
Why why why why why..
is this year's summer Jetsoning by?
Today is nice and I will clean up places..that look tired..Jacques will mow..
The dinner plate dahlias..are definitely not dinner plates..and not really my colors..but that's all they had:(
I cleaned all the garlic yesterday afternoon..quite a sight..
we love it's perfume in the house..
I cut the roots and stem..and gently rub to clean.
End of Oct I will plant..and the cycle starts again as long as I can.
I have saved one basket of 25 bulbs to plant which should give me a little over 100 next yr again God willing.
We eat it ALL.
We had a lovely visit yesterday..
I need time to write about it and not hurry the memory along.
Next post I hope.
We are celebratingAdamo's 18th birthday this weekend and Giuliana's 16th.
I am repeating myself endlessly..but talk about speed of light .
These two are such lovely young adults♥
I made a rolled carrot cake for Jacques..next time I will grate my carrots smaller..I used my mom's hand crank grater that I LOVE:)
But it made the cake extra moist..
You can find the recipe many places..in French at Isa's place and in English here.
Fun instead of a BIG cake:)
Thank you both for inspiring me to make this cake.
Have a lovely weekend!
Well, it all looks good even with the rain. My echinacea is on the wane and I thought I remembered them lasting longer last summer. My husband's tomatoes at the farm did very well, but turned out mealy, kind of like the ones in winter at the grocery store. Those teeny little balls inside. I don't know what caused it but I'm sure it must have had something to do with the weather. I have one Cherokee Purple tomato plant at the city house and I sure hope to get a few. It isn't looking likely. I love my cakes as moist as can be so I would love that torte. Have a good weekend, dear.
ReplyDeleteHave a good one too!Remeber your little wood message box and I mantioned I had one at one house but I had a vague recollection of another?
DeleteOr maybe I didn't tell you that but I did get that feeling..turns out I was right:)
I will tell you ..it has to do with the visit..
Today is a heaven sent day.
We did a system restore on grass and gardens and the girls ran wild:)
You should see them run after me when I have a Kraft Single in my hand:)
Me the wannabe food blogger and my girls lice Kraft cheese slices;)
Yay for the sun! We're in for a stretch of five sunshiny days finally. The rain was a blessing at the farmers market yesterday. For the time time ever, I found.a parking spot. They are usually taken and I have to circle for 15 minutes...lol. Hope you have a perfect weekend.
ReplyDeleteI know you will have a perfect one.I think you have a perfect life:)
DeleteHave le fun:)
Well your pictures make you garden look beautiful. We have had a lot of rain here too. The only tomato plant I had was in a pot, because we are in this rental, and it got too much water and died.
ReplyDeleteJust wait until Le Jardin De Penny in the home happens:)
DeleteDear Nana, around here the sun shines and it's really hot. I would love a bit of all that rain of yours.
ReplyDeleteThe rolled carrot cake seems to be delicious! Next I intend to visit both blogs you mentioned.
I wish you a sunny happy weekend.
Bisous
Nina
I wish you the same dear Nina!!
DeleteYes please! That cake looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI think you got our rain, we haven't had much.
Thank you Chris!!
DeleteI always tell you I love yours pictures and your garden. And I love this Isa's site I have some recipes of her.
ReplyDeleteand this roll cake look amazing :) :)
I love that you tell me:) It is encouragement:)Thank you so much..yes..Isa has fabulous recipes and cookbooks..a new one soon:)
DeleteEvery photo is a treasure! So beautiful. I have this image of people just coming by your garden and stopping to take photos! What a haven. And your carrot cakes looks divine. And it looks much like the pumpkin rolls I used to make every year (for sale, five dozen of them... took forever!). Cream cheese inside and a pumpkin bread in a roll. Yum. I'd love the carrot cake! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThat's it Jeanie..I have made pumpkin rolls and that's it:)
DeleteI love when Jacques has just mowed the lawn..it makesmy gardens seem like they are better than they are:) Bon Weekend!
Oh, the rolled cake looks fabulous. I want to try that. I made a rolled goat cheese and fig appetizer on Tuesday. I will share the recipe. It is easy and oh so delicious. We could use your rain. The heat is zapping much in the garden. Three more days of 100+ temps for the weekend. ;-(
ReplyDeleteOh I hear you re heat always..poor gardens for you..yet the photos I see always looks so beautiful:)
DeleteLooking forward to your recipe..:) I found the BP journal..I had inquired about it 11 months ago and the girl and I never met up..amd meeting her next week,,so I hope you win SB's journal!
Your gardens are so beautiful Monique! And I can see your handiwork peeking out from beneath the garlic! C' est si bon!! Tres tres belle! All do it and I love the cake roll. I must bookmark that to try myself. Todd loves carrot cake, but a whole cake is too much for us! As usual your presentation of all things is impeccable! I admire you for that. Takes patience and so much talent which you have in spades! Bonne weekend! Xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh sweetie..if you only knew ..I do have patience ..so much!!It is a trait that would be on my tombstone if I was to have one and I'm not..
Deletebut patience would be the engraved virtue..
but for pics and posting..it's immediate..click click transfer..some sharpening..editing..but for the actual taking pics..I rarely set up..when I do?=fail lol.
I was just wrapping a gift w/ this paper..so it's wrapping paper..beneath the cake..the little tea strainer/sifter is always out..and since my eggs are fresh..they are out too..not all.. 6 at a time:)
Thank you Marie:)
From what I see, your dahlia looks pretty. My goodness you have grown a lot of garlic and it looks so nice. After our pig roast I will clean mine up. Do you plant in the same place? I have these last few years but read not to do that. Space is limited. I have already ordered German extra hardy for next year. My harvest produced small cloves. Have your girls left your radishes alone? I'll plant my flashback mix calendula too after the pig roast. I was disappointed in the size of my flowers on the other calendula. Next year I'll stick to just them. The carrot roll looks very good. Did you bake the French recipe, it looks a bit more like yours. I made Sally's Baking Addiction funfetti sugar cookies and they will be used for ice cream sandwiches (which she did). You should go look, I think even the boys would enjoy them. I know Katherine will. Do you know the other day she talked about my reindeer chocolate cookies? I guess we made them at Christmas time and they made an impression on her. I can't remember what recipe I used! when it comes to cookies she sure does not forget a thing
ReplyDeleteI have planted my garlic in the same places in 2 places..the small raised bed and a tiny patch..this was the first yr I planted in a larger patch where we ripped out all the hydrangeas..ap 8 x 8..so now it looks BARE..I have one tomato plant..in that patch..so I can tell you next yr..if it was a bad idea to plant there again..it's a good garlic spot hope it keeps being good..I have left 2 borage seedlings as they say Borage is good for the earth..next yr..more borage will be in a few perennial bedes..
DeleteI thought both recipes were identical:)I guess I skimmed..like I always skim recipes..sometimes not a great thing! I used the English one..
I'll go look at the funfettis..honestly the boys have not been here at all:( Too busy..today..party..everyone..we see everyone ..but all the parties..lol..
we are dust in the wind this summer.
Dahlias are Provence red and yellow..and not dinner plate..oh well they will make me happy..
The girls want to eat the radish seedings I think..they jump on the raised bed.I shoo them off..lol..
My white German produced nice big ones..not quite as big as planted..I just came back from the market one lady had beautiful garlic but she was busy chatting..I might have bought a couple;)
Thanks Monique for clarifying which recipe you used. Makes it easier for me when it is in English. I'll be pinning that for future reference. Maybe your son in law will give you some of his compost to add to the soil of the garlic bed.
DeleteHe's so nice he would..I have been using mine too:) But he has more chickens..:)
DeleteThis past Thursday we had to drive across the city to a friend's home for dinner and drove in torrential rain. Scary on the freeway! We are in a dry spell now also and hopefully the big tomatoes will start to ripen. Picked a few cherry tomatoes and also a few patio tomatoes. I want a BLT with a nice, big tomato though :) Beautiful photos, Monique! I hope it stays dry for you a bit also so you can take more pretty photos. The cake looks wonderful! Summer is flying and fingers crossed for a beautiful and bountiful August. I want some cake! Will look at your links after I hit Publish :)
ReplyDeleteI want a big BLT too:)
DeleteWE have hit torrential rains in Fl..scary is right..you cannot see a thing..there could be a truck on your front fender:(
I cringe thking about it..glad you were safe and sound my friend.
So glad.:)
Have a great day!
Love the carrot cake...this year we are also not getting good tomatoes
ReplyDeleteOh Krishna with everything you are going through..buy the best tomatoes you can and spoil yourself!
DeleteWe have had a lot of rain, too but in Colorado it is still never enough. My tomatoes are coming but always a mystery when!
ReplyDeleteHere also a mystery!!
DeleteLuscious! I love gratitude. Will stop by later to read and comment again...Running to work!
ReplyDeleteThank God for gratitude..it's a prayer.A constant prayer:)
DeleteBeautiful! So verdant and lovely.🌸 I've just arrived back at the house in the desert. Monsoon rains have made everything green and in full bloom! It was such a long drive for me yesterday, but I was rewarded by the most amazing vistas. A sea of green on the desert floor against a backdrop of dark stormy skies, Bougainvillea - a mass of color against the stone wall around the house. Sometimes, I think we should consider a condo, as I get older and the garden seems to be too much work. Moments like these, make me realize I would miss my garden too much!
ReplyDeleteI agree entirely w/ your words..it must have been a view..that actually takes your breath away.
DeleteI love theose grateful moments:)
I've just done hard labor in the gardens..stone stuff..and am envisioning..freshly washed hair..and a glass of wine in my hand later;)
My reward:)
You're still so young!
And beautiful.
What a perfectly lovely garden Monique! Your tomatoes are perfection, and that carrot cake roll looks divine! Thanks for sharing your beautiful creations with us :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on them:) Encouragement to say the very least..thanks so much Tricia:)
DeleteIf there is any cake left I am coming right over. It looks DELICIOUS.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
You know what? I know that would be lovely:)
DeleteYour photos are STUNNING. The cake looks wonderful too. I didn't plant a garden this year after the critters ate all my tomatoes. Never could get one ripe enough to eat, they beat me to them. Even though we had rain, everything looks not so good. Probably from to much drought. I am still careful with water usage - time will tell.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Mary
Mary it's a ton of work too..you have enough w/ your gorgeous roses and everything else! Buy the veggies..I say buy them:)
DeleteDearest Monique,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we all got plenty of rain this summer... It is good for some shrubs and trees but can be hard on certain, long-stemmed flowers!
Always love your poetry in photography...
Hugs,
Mariette
Bonjour Mariette..I feel we will have an early autumn..changes in the gardens are happening too soon..I may be wrong..it just appears that way..every year is different! Enjoy the week:)
DeleteIt feels like yesterday was July 1st and now it is August tomorrow, I so badly wish it would slow down. I just love your garden pics especially the Daylily, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI just put up a new blog post about moving over to Facebook and posting one pic a day, I hope you can follow me over there, I'm pretty excited about it.
Hope your week is off to a good start...
I agree way too fast Jenni..Unfortunately I only use FB for the Varage Sale..but I am on Instagram ...I would follow you there for certain!!It is a wonderful venue!!you would love it!!Do it☺️🙂
Deletethe cake looks heavenly and i love you peek a boo gnome.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI can smell and taste everything
ReplyDeleteMiam miam!!!
😊
DeleteMonique, your photography skills are amazing... along with gardening, cooking, painting, loving your family so well. Inspiring. Love. Love. Love. to see your photos. Interesting how each of us have been experiencing the "speed of light" with the passing of time. How quickly they grow up. Carrot cake is one of my favorites! But, I have so many. Ha! And, it shows. I hope your tomatoes surprise you and have delicious offerings. blessings and hugs ~ tanna
ReplyDelete:)♥
DeleteHi, I'm back. I can feel the summer energy in your writing! You are loving it!! Thriving! You are like the plants and flowers, in full bloom, no?
ReplyDeleteIn more ways than one..
Delete;)
Oh my goodness....that cake looks delightful....so moist! Jacques is a lucky man!
ReplyDeleteMy Hosta blooms were all blown sideways! I love the white blooms later in August.
Your Garlic looks beautiful...and I should know! 💕
Sorry I am so late getting here...been kinda hectic over here.
Lovely photos Monique...
Waiting to hear your story about the weekend.
Cheers!
Linda :o)
PS...
DeleteLove the water droplets and tiny buzzers...♥️
A lovely visit here w/ a childhood friend and her hubby..had not seen her in 40 yrs..we were friends when I was 10..we saw each other in 77 ..briefly..so briefly I forgot!Busy gal you are!
DeleteIci, il fait bien chaud et pas de pluie en vue ... ce qui devient vite un problème quand les incendies pointent le bout de leurs flammes dans nos forêts ... Je te donnerais volontiers un peu de notre soleil contre pas mal de ta pluie ! ;-) Superbe, ton carrot cake façon roulé ! Je n'y aurais jamais pensé.
ReplyDeleteDes bises tout en continuant ma lecture chez toi ... J'ai dû en louper quelques-uns, des billets !
Hélène
Bonjour Hélène..je pense a toi..
DeleteChez nous c'est accablant..pour certains cette chaleur des derniers jours qui nous est arrivée..mais je me sens en enfance ..je me suis assise dehors cet après-midi..une revue..du crochet..sur le balcon en avant..et enfin..ce fut l'étée chaude de ma jeunesse..a l'ombre je ne peux pas me plaindre..pas de gros jardinage par ces temps.Si je m'asseois en arrière..je ne reste pas assise..:) HiHiHi trop a faire..
Such a lovely post. I cannot get over how gorgeous your photos are. The cake looks lovely and it is peaking my interest. Trying to play catch up...
ReplyDelete♥
DeleteI love carrot cake & yours looks delish 😍 We are on vacation all next week & it is supposed to rain..... I don't care! Hopefully it will fine up for a few swims
ReplyDeleteHave a ball:)♥
DeleteThanks for sharing this with all of us.
ReplyDeleteหนังตลกฝรั่ง