Thursday, July 6, 2017

~Dans Mon Jardin~



























Summer is garden time for me..we had lots of rainy days and then..just like in the Itsy Bitsy Spider story..out came the sun♥

Miracles of nature gardens are..some yrs the clematis are stellar..some yrs not..
This is a not  a stellar yr..so far w/ 2 missing..and the front fence onces..well 2 are not producing yet like usual..

the peonies and irises are gone..
the roses..lavender,,shastas,feverfews  are spot on..if not more prolific.
I finally found a control for hollyhock rust..cornmeal.I swear it works so I may add some here and there.

I have foxglove love and added another..purpurea to spread the seeds soon:)That's what you do..

The Nicotina from seed are 3 ft tall and beautiful.

It is exciting to watch new things grow in your gardens..

Part of my fun is growing edibles..and I do eat them..no flowers were left in the above massaged kale salad..even Jacques eats them.

Borage,calendula,pansies,roses,nasturtiums,herbs..I have a pesticide ~free garden..so I don't need to worry re the edibles.

The garlic scapes are cut and chopped and frozen..
Soon I'll harvest the garlic..

And dry it  and clean it up for the year.

I made something interesting w/ garlic and will share soon..
nothing you cannot Google..you "confit" your garlic and store in fridge...I found the original idea on NoCrumbsleft on IG.

I am happy to report miracles do happen  as  all my burnt to the earth line tomato plants that I saved..in case of a miracle..6..are beautiful.I had burnt the tender roots w/ fertilizer..
our local newspaper just reported that you can put some powdered milk in the water for watering tomato plants which I will do today..I believe everything:)

My girls..Caramelle and Bécassine..well I cannot imagine Spring Summer and Fall w/out them any more..just going to the feed store is a thrill..a country jaunt..and you find everything you need..
I love letting them free range..but can only get them back in w/ Kraft slices..processed..one..:)
Their little feathered bums in the air♥
PS My daughter dropped by today and she snapped this pic w/ her phone..it's hot and dry..the girls were out..the tree trimmer here..I was gardening and playing w/ my chickens and reading and stitching lol..I love pics when I don't know someone is taking one!

The *&^%$%&()(*&^****8rose chafers are here in force..storm troopers..I HATE them..they do not touch the rose ..named Fairy..above..if you can find these..a treat..they have climbers but QC is too cold for her.

I squeeze handfuls of chafers  every day..bare handed..lol..and I actually feel the hate.

Making cherry..rhubarb desserts..smaller and in two's if I know I can give away..

Still stitchin'..LOVE it so much♥

We have a nice tree trimmer..when people come to do work for us/ w/ us..I like to feed them:) A coffee..a muffin..pie..if the hour suits it..this time..it was off hours..so I bundled up a small cake and a dischloth and eggs..just mentioning..because when I received my dishcloths it changed my life lol..so go ahead and pay it forward.

Have not painted very much..and what I have is so..not nice.Really.
Except one small thing.In the mail..

We had our outing w/ Noah..  9 YEARS OLD..lunch and shopping.. it's a tradition w/ the boys.. he picked my fave in town greasy spoon..so 50's..on Main Street..red patio umbrellas and sign..white wrought iron sets outdoors or picnic tables..oldies music playing w/ loud speakers..you can eat indoors too..diner style.
I wish all the boys picked this place in summer..so far 2 out of 4..it's just a few steps away from the boys school.I feel young there..even though I bumped into a former co-workers' son..and he has grey in his hair..!So no..I'm not young..it's that  jean jacket illusion again.
Noah had received gift cards at his party Sunday..so he picked Toys R Us..and bought a fantastic Lego set..he is the only one interested in Legos and loves them.
I like that..like books and things..

he did receive an electric motorcycle..his dad has a Harley....I must admit it's fun.I rode it..

Quite a gift..you almost need to be an only child lol..
he was so well behaved..happy..great outing.



I made this cake end of June..blah.blah.Not like the cherry almond cakes on the counter as I type:)



Have a great weekend..I'll be in the garden..or baking or stitching or painting..when I should be reading too..

56 comments:

  1. Really wonderful photos and your garden looks lovely indeed. Nothing like nice sunshine and flowers in bloom. Great thoughts and warm greetings to you!

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  2. Lovely, lovely, lovely Monique! I want to visit your yard and your fine feathered friends in person. Everything looks so healthy and beautiful. Like a magazine. Love it all!

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    1. It's been a lovely garden time..drying up a bit now..but still grateful..and thank you so much Chris:)

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  3. Oh, I love to open a post from you! It puts me in a beautiful frame of mind! I can close my eyes and clearly see your garden, your cute Caramelle and Bécassine clucking about, and smell the fresh country air.
    What are you stitching? I want a peek, please. Enjoy the day!

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    1. Thank you Sarah!
      I am stitching dishcloths!Smitten.
      My little chickens are a joy to me❤️🐔🙂

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  4. Backwards, the cake looks wonderful. Oh how I wish I had one of those right now. Sounds like a good day. My littles aren't in to Legos either. I wish they were. Your gardens look beautiful and bountiful. The weather has been so crazy this spring and summer, it is definitely hit or miss with flowers and fruits and vegs. Love you potting shed. It is so cute. Hope your summer keeps going the same. Sounds dreamy.

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    1. Only Noah..maybe because his mom is a teacher..and they are together alone a lot..she interested him in them..he even keeps all the pieces!
      Jacques did a great job with the little cottage..I still love it..thanks Donna..have a great day!

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  5. That salad looks so beautiful! And so do the pictures of your garden.

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    1. Thank you Penny..happy home building..!!
      I remember so vividly when we built here..I nevr knew I was so young back then:)!

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  6. all look beautiful and amazing in your garden !

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  7. It seems I have changed your life 4ever!😉
    Your gardens and chickens go together so beautifully!
    Love the pic of you...just as I imagine you...and,yes... Young!
    I really need to get a few Clematis next year...can you remind me? Hahaha!
    So glad I saw your post before we leave in the morning...I managed to squeeze one out myself!
    Happy weekend Monique...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. You have to remember that clematis sleep the first year..creep the second and leap the third so start soon☺️I am always impatient!
      Group 3 are the easiest..if you can find a Betty Corning..get her now😃Summersnow too!
      Have fun this weekend!You would love chickens❤️

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    2. how lovely to see your garden, it all looks so pretty & lush, we have lots of hollyhocks in our new garden, but they are not looking good, all the leaves have rust spot. What is corn meal? I wonder if I'd be able to get it here in France. Is it used for animal feed or is it for cooking.
      love the photo your daughter took of you, you look like a young girl.

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    3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornmeal

      If you look at photos you will immediately know..it is a cooking baking staple and France has it for certain..a type of dry polenta..I use it under pizzas when baking for instance..a grant type of milled food ...yellow ish..works like a charm.I have to reapply..who cares🙂It works..last yr my plants were so damaged I never got a bloom..it was in Googling I found this..now if I could find a rose chafer cure!How about a new post Barbara re the new nest and more☺️👍

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  8. PLEASE!!! More pictures of you and the hens ensemble.
    Adorable.
    Yr garden is LUSH!!

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    1. I love my chickens..I can just watch and watch:)Thanks Carol!

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  9. This post and lovely photos are a breath of fresh air! Love the one of you with your hens.💕 It has been so hot, dusty and dry here in the desert southwest. We will be off to the beach with our little next week, so there is relief in sight. 😊

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    1. Oh my gosh you must cringe at my outfit.. gardening dresses since at least 25 yrs..but they are so comfy I can't part w/ them..3..2 are hanging by threads:)
      I hope I get to see him:) Please:)

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  10. Your garden looks fantastic. I know what you mean about the clematis. I cut out some of my Dutchess of Albany and she is sulcking that I did not let her run rampant. I had a sweet autum clematis that used to be beautiful, it disappeared one year but came back but a hydrangea has kept it much less vigorous. Of course it seeded in an unexpected place. A garden has a way of doing that right? Aren't the nicotinia wonderfully scented? Some are all white where others are more colored but I like them too. Your hens, their little fluffy bottoms! I would be in love with them too. That is a great photo of you in the garden. Happy Birthday to Noah. Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Well you know I hate posed pics..ask me to smile and pose and I make faces.
      I was happy when she sent me this one..:) she sent 3..so I am keeping them LOL..for posterity.



      Chickens are just so neat to watch also..calming..except when they are curious and go through that arbor onto the driveway..then I scoot them back in ..

      Yes clematis..If you can believe..it's Blue Angel..Bletkiny Aniol that is sulking..one Jackmani didn't return..Paul Farges I would ecommend to anyone ..and Betty!!

      Huldine is great..but I should have put her on a dark background..on a pale yellow garage w/ trellis she is insipid this yr w/out Jack and Blue Angel..

      The Dutcesss has been engulfed..and terribly weakened by Betty...Betty started growing on her side too at the back.
      Yes..and I even love the leaves of the large Nicotinas:)

      Rain today so a few errands..good for the grass though!
      Enjoy your gardens..:)

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  11. You look so cute talking to your 'Girls' ♥ What a struggle with the rose chafers. They must be very close relatives to our Japanese Beetles which I squish with my bare hands also - hatred. They propagate shamelessly right in front of me! They are eating my eggplant leaves this summer and the basil. Your garden looks so lovely! I am so in love with this time of year when the group 3 clematis are at their peak. Here, I've had two terrible weeks of computer woes :( Had a technician here 5 times in the past two weeks. He was stumped. Fingers crossed it will stay running now after having it totally rebuilt! Nom-nom cake! ♥

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    1. Fingers and toes crossed! Computer woes are rose chafers:(

      Same.. except you hopefully have a remedy..I hope so! We just came home after a humid day of blah grey weather..

      so I put all the errands away..let the girls out and squished away..just sat down and one's in my hair.
      They are so gross.

      Susan I bet your gardens are glorious♥
      I know they are..

      I'll call Bill for you ok?

      Gates:)

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  12. It has worked so far all day without crashing so fingers and toes crossed for certain :) I'm so far behind uploading photos, etc. with all the computer issues! Hopefully, Bill won't need a call - LOL. Unfortunately, no remedy for those awful rose-eating beetles other than strong pesticides which I won't use as they kill the nice insects too. Squish, squish. Our buggers have a crunchy shell around their body which looks metallic golden-green so it's more like crunch-crunch :)

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    1. The chafers too..crunch ..handfuls..our tree trimmer had never seen them..honestly they wreck June-part of July blooms😢😕😬😩I hear you....

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  13. your gardens look amazing. The picture of you and the girls is so sweet. You look like a young girl. I did not know about rose chafers. Where have I been? Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Your gardens are Paradise Linda!I hope you never ever get chafers..

      I suppose everyone can look young when you cannot see the face😂As sweet as always you are!

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  14. It's always a treat to visit you. My spirits lift as I read about your gentle, poignant and happy day to day life. I, too, love to be surrounded by my flowers and homemade foods and of course, children...not always in that order! Ha!

    Planting foxglove next week as it is on sale. It will replace the aggressive Obedience plant that is taking over my garden. Grrrr...

    Happy Summer days to you!

    Jane x

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    1. Hi Jane..I had a disobedient plant..I did finally get rid of it..It's one of those instant pleasers and multiplies so quickly you think you have struck gold!
      And then takes over..so mine is gone..I did plant it somehwre I wanted it to take over..gone ..you cannot win..I think I am being successful at relocating gooseneck ..but it has really taken over ..so much so I can't get rid of it..
      Happy Happy summer days to you:)

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  15. Beautiful ..enjoy summer love Ria x ❤️

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  16. Your nature gardens and the photos are true miracles!! What gifts you have in your life!! As always, thank you for sharing the beauty...xo...

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    1. xoxo I have to admit those chickens have stolen my heart petwise:)

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  17. Dear Nana, your garden looks amazing.
    Enjoy it!
    Hugs
    Nina

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  18. I'm laughing so hard over the jean jacket illusion!!! :D
    If it weren't so hot out, I'd go put mine on :D!!

    What I can see of your watercolor is SO good...I said so out loud before even reading your words...

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    1. LOL I am glad you get my sense of humor:) Thank you!!

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  19. Look at you - you're a chicken whisperer! :) Such a beautiful garden shed - I could live in it. My clematis were not stellar this year - glad some of yours turned out gorgeous. It's hot here in Virginia, but I did work in the garden a little, and now sitting down to work on my next post - another pie. The cake looks yummy. Hope you had a great rest of your weekend!

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    1. I love that..Chicken Whispere..it's the Kraft Singles:)
      Very weird weathere here this summer..lots of rain..and then dry..a conundrum summer:)I do enjoy garden work..the heavy parts..are harder..I have tears in my bicep and rotator cuffs apart from wear and tear..because of something called age? And use.I have been hard on my arms..

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  20. I always save your posts till it is quiet (or quiet music -- right now Rick is playing his classical guitar) and I can just savor them, fall into every photo, read ever word, imagine every fragrance. So much beauty all in one spot. I simply cannot believe your fabulous garden! It makes my heart sing!

    Thanks for popping over to the Gypsy. Trying to catch up on blog reading!

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    1. I ike my visits there..real:) hope you are enjoying cottage country as I type:) Thank you Jeanie:)
      It must be so lovely to have real music..Jacques always has music playin..Spotify created a frequent user..:)
      We have our CD collection but it seems S is taking over...

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  21. Everything you share is so beautiful Monique! I love it all. Your garden is so lovely. You certainly have a green thumb but what I love most of all are your two little feathery girls. So sweet and I adore their little bottoms, so plump and adorable. Why are plump bottoms only adorable in babies and chickens and puppies and kittens? Hmm...tis not fair! Love the photo of you feeding them also. I love seeing you as the chicken whisperer, kraft singles or not! Whatever works! We have a very naughty puppy here. She got into our garbage twice yesterday and gorged herself on pork bones from the spare ribs we had had the day before and then was sick of course! Naughty girl! Dogs and children, when they disappear and get really quiet, you know they are up to something! In any case she is having a very quiet day today. Probably making up for yesterday! Love and hugs and thanks for all you share. You are a pretty spot of light and joy! xoxo

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    1. Could you hear me thinking of you?
      I finally got a border to fit into your chain 3's lol..but it's different..single crochet..3 trebles..single..then into the next section..so far it is the best dishcloth I have made and it's a gift..I wanted the frill to look like yours..w/ the compartments..tomorrow..I will try the exact way you did it yet again:)
      I'm not a total joy Marie..I promise:)

      Poor pups and YOU!!

      Yes quiet was always a..sign;)
      PS your banana bread recipe of 3 yrs ago w/ the cranberries? A HIT!!
      Am I surprised?:)

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    2. Ohh, I am so happy you enjoyed the Banana Bread! I was on pins and needles! Doing the happy dance here! xo

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  22. Replies
    1. Next time..I'll take a fashion accessory break for a sunflower scarf!♥

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  23. A friend gave me a few of the garlic that she is growing...beautiful! Di

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    1. Save some and plant some Di.. you plant end of October..One little clove in each hole..next Spring..first thing to pop up..then in June you cut the pretty scapes..about 20 days later pull up the bulbs..EASIEST thing to grow!!Imagine giving Adam some of YOUR garlic..sunny..pick a sunny spot:)

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  24. Dearest Monique,
    What a lovely garden you show us!
    For the ability to have Hollyhocks, i envy you and how wonderful to have found cornstarch helps out for keeping them healthy.
    How adorable your chickens are; fluffy and happy girls, living in paradise.
    Enjoy your summer and even when it rains, we make do with the flowers we GET.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  25. Loving all those summer shots!
    My work schedule is unbearable this summer :-(
    Thank you for sharing your garden!

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  26. اقل الاسعار العالمية والمتميزه في العمل شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر علي مستوي عالي من الجودة في العمل استمتع معنا بافضل الخدمات الحديثة والمتميزه في العمل شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام علي مستوي عالمي .

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  27. افضل التقنيات الحديثة والمتميزه في العمل رقم توكيل كاريير في جمهورية مصر العربية افضل التقينات الحديثة والمتميزه في العمل صيانة كاريير علي اعلي مستوي من التقدم في العمل .

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  28. Lovely gardens and cute pic of you! xo

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  29. Monique au pays des merveilles ... On pourrait réintituler ton blog comme ça, je crois ! ;-)

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