Roses and muffins and painting and beetles:)

Always gleaning~
Recipes~
Ideas~

Always~

How else can one learn when at home..

I love getting recipes from blogs and IG..and Pinterest.

Thank God that old adage about not sharing recipes is a thing of the past.
Blogs and IG..and Pinterest ..all about sharing.
Ideas
Expertise
Talent
Knowledge.
Thank YOU!

I love when my roses second flush..
No chafers.
Yes the Japanese Beetles but there is no comparison between the two.
Rose chafers are chafer clouds that swarm all day long.
You cannot get rid of them.At all.
A JB..doesn't  swarm.
Neither are my Bffs.

The reason why..

Eating Henry Hudson.
They love tomato plants too.

Just saying.
Pick your enemies;)


I love seeds..zinnias and calendulas..etc etc..but heck you have to be patient.. and not all take..but when they do..They're  lovely.

I am enamoured w/ petunias again thanks to an Instagrammer that recoomended Jack's Petunia fertilizer:) I can't get it here..but found some in Plattsburgh.
It was Cindy..Luluinparis 17 that told me about it:)

Some of you may remember I won an original Vivian Swift watercolor..It's on my windowsill..since;)

I asked Vivian THIS year where she had bought her 4x4 frames..and she told me.And she offered to send me some if I could not find..
I hate imposing..so said..Oh no..and meant it..But that was super nice.

And..I  am like a relentless dog gnawing on the bottom of someone's jeans or a bone..when I get an idea in my head..

I looked here there and everywhere..even Hobby Lobby in Plattsburgh..Michaels..etc..
To no avail.

Lo and behold..

In a wonderful QC shop I frequent fervently..there they were..Have been playing w/ them..
and have been funny painting scenes from last year's trip..this scene..Oppède -Le-Vieux~
I think I have the painting bug..not in a serious manner but in a hobbyist's manner for certain;)
All of it..the whole shebang..
Paper ..paints..♥

If you want to bake something decadent..

Try these:)
I had fresh blueberries so did not use frozen raspberries..but just imagine w/ the raspberries too:)
Moist to the max.
You can find the recipe ..right here..Baked By An Introvert~
Keeper.

I am making pesto ..pesto..pesto..pesto..because of that basil..already jars of basil vinaigrette and containers of pesto..all because of those plants..that pic was taken after I had stripped cupfuls for a second batch of pesto to freeze on Monday..
It is stunning this year.That's where my garlic was:)
In closing..

wish we could all have the nature of a soon to be 9 year old..

So all 4 of our Littles play football..
Football to me..is..hard.
I hate watching them get hurt..
I have no interest in the sport when one of ours is not on the field..
The sport makes me covet   a superzoom.
I only had brothers..they were into it:(
And it on TV.

So back to the boys..
Max and Noah are on a WINNING team..it was 44-0 this weekend.
I see the championships in their future..  kids 10-11  ..

Oli..who was on the Provincial championship team last yr..is 8..soon soon 9..but had to stay in this younger team..
Poor Littles..Oli is the star I must say.In that team..and I feel funny even saying that..it's like bumping into someone and you ask how their kids are..and you hear..oh he's a doctor!  And my other one has an amazing job..head of finance..

No one ever says..they are happy.Why.
Is it the accomplishments that count?

Or being happy and kind..ok smart helps etc..but let go of the accomplishments..always someone better prettier wiser.


That scoreboard? Oli did the 6 points..this after having almost scored a TD but a Little on his team did something wrong..that Oli didn't see running full throttle w/ the ball..and a red flag was dropped..who knew Oli would have to try again after having just run the field in excruciating heat w/ a 500 lb uniform and helmet on?

But he did..started all over..and scored a TD..the child knows football like an adult..even his "bros" say he is good..

This child doesn't whoop it up.. you know..like when athletes do well and swing their fists or hands in the I am Proud and great way.. be he ever so humble.
I asked Jacques if he knew any golfers that were that humble..

He said:"It's Oli's age.."he doesn't know pride or show offship.

All I can say is God bless Oli..hope he never changes.

To see someone do so well and not show off.
Is so so lovely.

There are a few things I like about this sport..like watching parents be nice encouraging parents and not the bullies we see on TV lol..  I love seeing brothers congratulating each other.
I love seeing children active.Problem solving..thinking..camaraderie..
I also like the respectful way they act..w/ coaches etc.

One parent..I loved this..after the game...the coach..coaches..talk to their teams..the boys are hot..gather in a circle for post pep talk..a few boys started taking their equipment tops off..and one dad looked and his son and said:"  ... Don't take it off"..It meant" respect the coaches and the end of the game and the talk"..3 minutes  more wearing it will not make a difference.
I liked that.

I find being disrespectful..about anything..  quite disrespectful:)

I can be very set in my old fashioned ways..
Like manners and thank you notes..and opening doors..and giving up seats..

And punctuality;)
♥

Next year?

More ZINNIAS♥

Les Bleus~:)

A gorgeous cup shaped fridge/freezer container w/ lid..a gift from one of my daughters filled w/ blueberries picked by none other;)

So many recipes.. what to make quickly one morning before hitting the garden path?

Why these of course..proven winners;) A recipe from my other daughter..:)I made 8 instead of 12.

From the great year 2009.Geesh almost 10 yrs ago.
A wonderful year.

Instagram had a Granny Square Day..I picked the one above..


No secret..I have the blues..in a garden..:)

Having les bleus..in French means you are down in the dumps..

Having des bleuets.. in French means having blueberries.

I prefer the latter;)

Always.

I sometimes buy love w/ cookies♥

I think this is the hottest..most humid summer I have ever known..
even..including the summers of my youth.

It's a great summer.
Not for gardeners..
not for hair that fuzzes and frizzes..
not for the sleep deprived..

And not hot tea lately..Ice tea..
I love this Tea Forté set..because it's pretty and clear and Tea Forté pyramids have leaves..
Because I bought it on Varage Sale for a small fee.
Because the seller was nice..


Re that heat.. the Littles..never complain! They do day camp and football in all that gear ..and NEVER complain.

I think they are so lucky and so adorable.

Yes I miss our Littles when they were Little..and I kissed them not stop and stared into their beautiful little faces with love and adoration.
I could snuggle and rock them..

But I have to tell you..They are pretty amazing..older.

I love that they are happy to see us.


My face lights up when I see them..I feel it..I look at them all..and admire their perfect..different features..their thank God healthy bodies and loving..funny individual personalities.

No one makes me laugh like they do.

No one tells me my baking doesn't even need a a question..like..:"Do you like this?"

Everything I make according to my little politicians..is delicious.

They tell me my skin is soft..when in fact I am turning into a lizard.

I marvel at the gifts these Littles have been to us.

Which brings me to the GIANT COOKIE..lol.. see above..
A hit.

You can find the recipe here.I have made 2 others,this has been the best.

I put it on a pizza plate and Lucas cut it w/ a pizza cutter.

Oli asked if he could have one for his birthday..and when was the day we were taking him out for lunch and shopping?

:)♥
We had just brought Lucas..for that day..his 13th..
Oli is the last..

Max told us there were 305 days ap until his next birthday..That's Max:)
And Oli can't wait.

Noah..knows exactly what he wants..LEGO forever..the other 3..it takes longer..clothes and shoes and sport things are often considered..and reconsidered.
Lucas gave me a fashion show at Marshall's.
I beamed.


High beam.


Ok..make that Giant cookie..love is the reward;)


Summer Snow..(Paul Farges ) clematis IS the most vigorous longest blooming clematis.Mine is in full sun all day.
Have a home to cover? LOL..This is the one:)

My Japanese anemones are in bloom..

we've had thunderstorms to paint in..

new gardening aquaintances that have brought joy to me..

and did I mention those Littles?:)

We have a multi birthday celebration here..this w/e..

Fingers crossed for sunshine.:)

Have a lovely one!

And look what's on Netflix!

The Guernsey

Tonight!:)Will watch:)

The deed is done♥

I kept my old tag..So I have been growing it since 2015:)

This past weekend..I prepped the garlic..for planting..saving and eating.
I love doing this..
It is so rewarding.
You start the dance in October,by planting each clove individually.
You let it hibernate all winter.
Come Spring..it is the FIRST thing that pops up.
You watch it grow and grow..w/ no bugs..no pests..nothing..
In July you gather beautiful scapes and chop and freeze what you do not use immediately.
And then..you harvest the garlic..digging it up gently and hanging it to dry.
The very end of July..it's almost August..or is August..you cut the dried stems and beards..and save and enjoy.
I hope I can do this forever..because only fresh garlic tastes like garlic..buy it at markets ..and enjoy..or grow..Nothing compares.

That potting shed is dear to me.
Every home we lived in..Jacques built a little house..
this one is the first that was just for us and gardening..his part at the back..mine at the front..the front you see.
It's as cute as a button outside..inside..strictly for functionality.
And I love that.
It's stuffed by end of fall..you can't walk in..but during THE season..I do so much in there.

Anyway..all to say I love it.

The feed sacks are from Derek..from Gardenbuddies..some of you may remember..Actually Derek and Marlene♥
Both gone.
They were gifts to me.

Derek and Marlene.

This past month created havoc in the gardens..from drought to sopping wet.
Some perennials seem lost forever.
Next year will tell the tale.

Others seems fine.

I am still doing teacupthursdaysk on IG..and I made Chris' yogurt cake w/out the lemon..because Jacques..asked for plain white moist cake..for all the fruits of the season and crème fraiche.
Done.
Read the comments..often you have to make the bottom the top.
Not only here..LOTS of recipes a dome forms..Flip..the bottom becomes the top.
I have made and frozen an Italian Sponge Cake for an upcoming birthday..same:)

Painting? I did paint quite a bit..made color dot cards..tried different papers..next time I will NOTE the papers..

The only one I KNEW after the fact was Yupo.

And I am recommending that last set of fan watercolors if you can get it at a good price.

I bought it at Amazon Canada for $25.00  for travel it's a treat..not much of a mixing palette but you can use the long back..
A waterbrush comes with..and much cheaper in the US..maybe $18?
On Instagram some sell them for $60.00..
Nope..don't do it..
Under $20.00 is ideal..but I can only buy in Canada.
No big deal:) Happy to.

I cranked up my ancient Acer..and found pics...that little girl to the right..perhaps 3-4 yrs ago..at a waterfront resto out w/Max for his bday:)

The colors are not bad..for 42 colors..on the spot w/ a waterbrush♥
And let's be honest..it's soooo cute.
My small addiction continues..I am now coveting Mijellos:)♥

I leave you with this adorable scene..

This is Donna's pond   Donna's photo....look at the boat♥
You can't miss it..I need a boat in mine now ;)
For some reason..I find it adds a touch of Monet♥
Especially w/ her lily pads.
It  also reminded me of my dad's "chaloupe"..
It just takes an idea to turn something very pretty into something more magical.
This its it.

Have a great weekend..
I talk way too much here..;)