May's been Meh..but yesterday the sun shone and today it's brilliant and more to come apparently..
I see trees of green..(a bit..)
We're still in this mess..have to focus focus focus elsewhere.
I've been painting and caring for seeds and tubers and tomato seedlings..June 1 I'll plant my tomatoes..I won't rush it this year.
I had pulled out sooo many things..wanting to make way for younger and fresher but that will not happen this year.
The BM painting was inspired by tarts I made ..from none other than the illustrious Marie at The English kitchen:)Thank you!
And you all know I love Bonne Maman:)
I have been painting..here and there and yonder..I do love it..made the little Bonne Maman sheet..looks blurry here for some reason...
and the card..it shouldn't be a card..
For my painterly friends..in your journal on one page..paint..I painted myself waking into a dream.
Then you cut out the door..not all the way..so that what you paint on the next page is partially seen from the door..open the page, and it's all there.
I learned this from.S Dion Baker ..on instagram.
I was spoiled with beautiful flowers ..♥
Both girls gave me bouquets..Jacques' always said:"You're not my mother" ;)
And he's right.
I hope all 4 boys think of their moms later in life..♥
I've only spotted muscari and FMNs here..
Slow start..
Still......
Take care..
Dearest Monique,
ReplyDeleteGlad you got some sunshine. After a couple of warm, sunny days with 31ºC it is now cloudy and rain past night and more to come with thunderstorms as well. That's life. For the garden of course it is a God sent.
Enjoy your early spring flowers and there no doubt will be more to come.
All your Bonne Maman paintings are lovely and also the photos.
Enjoy what you are doing!
Hugs,
Mariette
I do enjoy what I do and am never ungrateful for my family..home..hobbies.
DeleteThings are slow but they will happen..apparently due for a dry hot summer and I am certain watering restrictions..so perhaps no garden centers might not be a bad idea;)
Take care!Bonne semaine.
I'm pretty sure those boys will think of their mom in Mother's Day yet to come. I think they're getting good training!
ReplyDeleteI loved Marie's tart recipe and copied it down. Yours look so pretty -- as soon as I saw them, I recognized them! And of course all your art makes me smile. I'm so glad you are painting a lot for that means you will share it with us!
It is pouring rain here and my basement floor is wet again. Everything that matters is elevated but oh, who needs it. More rain is due tomorrow... I'm ready for it to stop!
Take care. Good garden luck to you!
Your BMT..just read.. geesh..enough already!!
DeleteAnyway go see..just visited;)
Oh Monique, your little tarts turned out beautifully. Love all your artwork. I would happily buy a book containing your beautiful photos and artwork because I could look at them all for hours. What a treasure that would be. I think somehow magically sunshiny days make everything a tad bit better. Not 100% with what we are going through at the moment of course, but a tad more endurable. I hope and pray it won't be long before you are enjoying hugs again! Have you seen those plastic hug curtain thingies? Somehow would not be enough for me, but then it has been 7 years since I got hugs from kiddles. Thank goodness for the internet and facetime! Your flowers are beautiful, all of them. I love tulips. Maybe when this is all over I will get me some tulips to enjoy. I keep hoping your basil has sprouted roots. I think mine is about ready to plant out now! But I am worried it is too early. Basil is not a lover of cold. I am looking forward to a nice crop this year, thanks to your inspiration! Love all that you share. Love and hugs,and many thanks always. xoxo
ReplyDeleteFinally all my pots have tons of roots..almost overnight..a familiar sight.You are right basil hates cold.Yesterday I took my trays of stuff out to start hardening off tomatoes and such..then brought in porch..will do that all week..but basil..not yet..
DeleteI can't go to a garden center and must admit I was a shopper arounder.
Online I may get lucky w/ curbside but so expensive.
I'll see..we have a time slot later this aft for food pick up..I am looking forward to it.
I won't be venturing out soon.Amazon..etc..all making BUNDLES right now.
You are a constant source of inspo..for me.and J is grateful.
And you are the talented artist!
Tenfold inspiration.
I have not seen those hug things..
Be aware if you do get to see World On Fire..there will be a season 2 which I did not know and you are left with a cliffhanger.
CTM is done..wanted more on that last epi..you?
LOVE that show..
Call the Midwife is never long enough! Only 6 or 7 episodes per season, I could easily gobble up twice that many and never get tired of it! I wanted to ask you about Basil, you said something about trimming the plants? What did you mean by that? I am so NOT a gardener! Happy you have roots! yay!! xoxo
DeleteYour paintings always make us smile. The little tarts are too cute. Hopefully soon, the weather will cooperate. Your flowers are lovely. My husband Paul says the very same thing about Mother’s Day. I am not his mother. He is an engineer and so practical. I am sure the 4 boys will embrace their Mothers.
ReplyDeleteJacques is an engineer too:):):)It is cooperating.
DeleteAlways something cheerful to great us here, Monique! I love all your paintings but the Bon Appetit painting is so happy. ♥ The 'door' in the painting is such a clever idea. Marie's jam flower tarts look adorable and delicious. She is quite an inspiration! The last of my Mother's Day tulips bit the dust yesterday but I see tulips and early irises blooming out my window so I'm happy. I just checked your forecast and Oh, la, la! 70s and 80sF! We have been stuck in such a rainy, dreary weather pattern the past three days. There is a lake where my low lying hosta bed should be. Drier, warmer temps heading our way, thankfully. I hope to start planting this weekend. Not the tomatoes or peppers quite yet but they are getting so tall and flowering already I need to get them planted soon. It has been fun having an indoor greenhouse ♥
ReplyDeleteYou're kind to comment on IG and here:)
DeleteAnd you are right nice weather..no garden center for me I fear:( I wanted herbs and such..I am hardening off things in porch and outside..planted 2 dahlias..Café au lait..hope they do well..
It is disappointing to not garden shop when summer is our only time and such aneeded diversion.But apparently yesterday was a zoo..the one place I would order from there is no catalogue..you email what you want?..oh lala maybe I will anyway..undecided for sure.:(It has been nice nurturing..:) Not quite hgs and Wednesdays with Oli though;)xx
What an incredible bright spot to my morning. I adore your new painting inspired by the tarts. I said have it printed into tea towels, but this morning, I thought, why not wallpaper, gift wrap, note cards, a poster for Bonne Maman. Endless possibilities! For certain, frame this one, Monique! Tres Bon!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I sent you that sunshine. We have plenty to spare this week. Our mornings are perfection, the sun dappling through the fresh green leaves in shadow play across the terrace. I wish I could capture it! Sending you photos this morning. You must see the tulips I found at the market. Happy Tuesday!
Thank you for sending me a pic of the gorgeous tulip..what a fairy!
DeleteBonne Mamnan used a previous one..and I am expecting some marketing things and can't wait to see..
They..well my contact there..is the nicest professional woman.I looked online..pretty pricey to make tea towels:( Especially here of course!
But thank you for that great idea..
!!And for the sunshine.
Your paintings are lovely. We have rain here all this week.
ReplyDeleteBut you have glorious roses already!!:)Thank you!!
DeleteLovely photos...always...lovely paintings...always...
ReplyDeleteStay well...always💙
Cottage drive tomorrow...god only knows what we will find...
Wish me luck!!!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Bonne Chance!Have a great day..Looking forward to pics!
DeleteOh your beautiful. delicate, sweet, precious watercolors!!!
ReplyDelete:) Thank you Rita..I am hardly good at any of it but OH what a pleasure!
DeleteDear Monique your paintings are lovely. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThe little tarts are too cute, and we adore your paintings. I think the 4 boys will do special things for their Mothers. We have glorious sunshine, and hope you do too!
ReplyDeleteWe do we dowe do!!:)I hope they do also:)
DeleteDear Monique, such happy paintings you have created! I love your flower-shaped jam tarts, so delicate. Not like the plain ones I make. Now I want to make some, especially with delicious Bonne Maman cherry conserve if I can find it here :) I hope that the sun stays shining over your weekend! Hugs Rose x
ReplyDeleteThank you Rose..I hope you can find it too..I loved Marie's floral shape for Spring!!!Here..Spring;)
DeleteBeautiful paintings Monique! I made the focaccia bread you recently posted - it was delicious!!! Thank you always for sharing! xo Glad it has warmed up some!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you made it! I have made it a few times now..we have a fresh one..and Sunday there will be another.It's just sooo easy!
DeleteThank you..Have a nice weekend:)♥
The contrast of blue and white in the last photo but one is astonishingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteThe petal-cup tarts are lovely. :) Well, all of it is, but I love the little petal-cups.
ReplyDeleteWe plod on, don't we? ♥
It is the only way Val.♥To my knowledge♥
DeleteIndeed. ♥ At least this is all unfolding for us (in our areas) as winter turns to spring and soon summer, and not end-of-summer-to-fall-and-winter. It would have made a winter much harder to bear. We have flowers and warmth and sunshine, is I guess what I'm trying to say, and those are not small things.
DeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly.The warmth on my face and watching color come to our world is a blanket.A security blanket.Fingers crossed for a vaccine and the end of all this sooner than later.Our world has changed in a breath:(Take care you very sweet smart girl.I hope your parents and Mike are well.
DeleteI missed this ;((
ReplyDeleteYou watercolors just keep getting better and better Monique !!
Wow
You've been an immense inspiration form the moment I first SAW you.
DeleteAs I've mentioned to you..your words of encouragement have been immeasurable.
Like a groupie here;)
ReplyDeleteDear Monique, you should really invest in a Thermonix because it's worth it, regardless of your age. In fact you are so young, so full of life that you will take advantage of it. Here we call it BIMBY.
I have so many gadgets☺️Had I heard of Bimby before,I would have!
Delete