September~because August is over..Oh MY.

Lee-Ann sent me these charming toppers:)  

I just keep using and using them♥

It's Oli's bday month..our littlest..

This little boy is golden..:) Like his hair..

He's got  Rod Stewart  like hair:)♥

One day I went to the yacht club pool to meet his mom..

Everyone was swimming and Oli came out of the water..

I was sitting in a chair with a beach towel draped on it..As he came out of the pool  I said :"Oh honey ..do you want your towel?:"No..I came out to kiss you".
I mean.♥
No one else comes out of a pool to kiss me except my Littles.


This is a photo his mom took..like the other 2 boys..and I made his bday card ..so now they all have one.

May I talk about art a bit more?

That little one above..all 4 of them actually when they came over..much younger..and THEIR moms..when they were little..
I used to buy those painting books ..that had paints in the pages..you just added a wet brush..dipped in the color and painted away..

When I spotted Viviva Colorsheets..
I was smitten..

The memories..the ease of having this super light pad with vibrant colors..well it was just love at first sight.

I won't apologize for loving art supplies.

I worked for almost 30 yrs..
It's a time in space for me to play now.

I am not into jewels..and fancy...name brands..and oohlala.

I am into gardening..baking..and art supplies♥

Look!  A grown up pad of wet your brush apply to the colors and you are on your way.

The colors are super vibrant.
They remind me of my QOR  High Chroma small watercolor set.

The packaging is so pretty..the ease of it all is a breeze♥
Portability plus..and just a swipe and you have COLOR.
Fits in a wallet!!
♥
And VELLUM to protect each page..
I love vellum:)


16 colors in a wallet.

They make me feel young and that possibilities are endless.
~~~~~~~The boys  love that giant cookie..I shared it  with you.... Oli said at the time....: "Nana can you make a chocolate chip cookie cake?"Like bigger..thicker?


I was on a mission and there you have it..up above..

You can find the recipe here..

He was so happy..and he loved his card♥

Tomatoes..and zinnias and lots of golds everywhere..a sure sign the dog days of summer are already a thing of the past.
It was a hot and dry and humid summer..like the summers of my youth.

In August  for a combined party I made a few desserts..because we are 12 ..

I asked my 43 yr old daughter what dessert she would like..believe it or not she picked a childhood favorite..

..Butter Brickle~or here 
I make it in a 9x13..lovely for a crowd..make ahead..delish!
So many blogs have it..my first one was about 40 years ago at Holly's house:)
I made a non descript Italian sponge cake..didn't save the recipe..
And Fairy Cupcakes..


Always home made dressing for a green tossed salad..

And often Ina's Orzo and roasted vegetables..this is so good!A tried and true forever.

We had chicken brochettes,peppers and red onions....garlic bread..

a few appetizers..these..empanadas  with a few changes.. and this Salsa from Chris.. which both my girls loved..garlic bread..

I had fresh French radishes which I drizzled that basil vinaigrette on..it's my favorite..  It's not a salad dressing ..it is a fab flavor maker to so many things..lighter than a pesto..thicker than a vinaigrette.I have made 3 more jars since..the recipe is from What's Gaby Cooking.

and that was it:)

The night was lovely..
Another summer of birthdays..over.

Basil..this is my Love year for basil..never ending..always beautiful!
Things I have learned.

Pot bound is not good..woody..stunted..quick to go to seed.

I took mine out of the pots and planted where my garlic was..in a bed ..sunny..Success!

Keep pinching those flowers off..try and pinch where a stem joins a fork..look HERE.

A dry summer is actually better.Earwigs love dahlias and basil and zinnias..and  in a dry summer..you get way less.

Just my 2 cents:)

For my pesto..I eyeball it..I fill my Braun FP w/ the leaves..add a lot of my large White German fresh garlic cloves..salt..pepper..EVOO..sometimes pine nuts sometimes walnuts.
Parm cheese.
In some I added red pepper flakes.

I filled small containers and froze in 2 tbsps portions..but I also spread a few recipes on parchment in a pan..froze..and sliced like a pizza w/ a pizza wheel and froze like that 3 to a baggie.
Love that idea..where oh where did I find it?

That's August in a nutshell.


Like sands through the hourglass..So are  the Days of our Lives~(remember?)..

Putting herb bounty to use..oh those zinnias..I tell ya:)♥Not even my colors some of them;)
But I love them..so much.
How one little seed can become such a big plant w/ so many blooms..Unbelievable.
How some people can be so nice..

Grateful.