Saturday, April 10, 2021

~Whasup?:)

 








Dear oh dear I cannot stop painting these Paris People..I am still baking etc..but on a daily basis ..well painting has less calories and it's only the two of us..



They all have names and stories in my IG feed.. it's fun♥

My girls are starting to tease me and say..are you going to write a story about this pic?:):)

I do make my new old favorite bran muffins.. a lot..I seem to love a certain recipe for a while and then I switch..

Fickle muffin  baker.

These are from CaféSucreFarine...but I add prunes instead of raisins most of the time and love my daughter's light crumble topping.

I love making make ahead small lunches..quinoa/farro salad..cook both   for different times..add all the fave veggies you like..olive oil..lemon juice..garlic..salt and pepper..parsley..and FETA when serving.I make 6 ind bowls..Jacques is not a fan.

I LOVE.

I also love making Naan..I have made Half Baked Harvest's repeatedly..this time I made Once Upon a Chef..Delish too..

Started seeds..


My usual tomatoes..


Bumblebee Sunrise

Dancing With Smurfs

Sweet William

Sun

Poblano peppers

Some Zinnias

Potted up some 4 o'clock tubers

Bells of Ireland

The only thing showing signs of life..the tomatoes..

NB..I added 2 tomato varieties from Fred and Jalapenos and Blue Chard..Fingers crossed  my craft room looks like a grow room.


I think this is the earliest in a long time that the yard has looked so clean so fast..Have to rethink garden areas..

Ours ummers are more parched and sunnier..our land is very sunny..so I need to add drought tolerant sun loving species.


Oh and these were fantastic..from an Instagrammer I follow that is uber talented in all she does..




Take care.. have a lovely weekend..it's felt like summer here the past 4 days..♥Thank goodness..a new lockdown in place.

35 comments:

  1. I love all of the Paris People you have done! You chose such interesting characters :) I love all the things you've started from seed! I'll bet your room does look like a nursery ♥ It's so much fun to anticipate the garden. My favorite garden center opens on April 28 and I will be there! I didn't know 4'oclocks had tubers! Did you dig them up from last year's plants? I am dying for a cookie and those Viennese Sables look beautiful! Our dear, late Barbara shared a Pierre Hermes chocolate sable swirl that I saved. I hope this will be your last lockdown! Yes, thank goodness you can be outdoors now. ♥

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    1. Well Susan my experience w/ the tubers is not great..I think we talked about it last fall ..I dug some up..and stored and planted..yesterday I was fed up w/ seeing nothing lol so I took them outside and put in the earth..one tuber had a string of a root and most had rot..LOL..Done done and done..stick to seeds!I hope its our last one too..
      It's ridiculous people who are not paying attention and our slow start to vaccines..:(Now its coming along..but we were not manufacturing here..mistake.Have a great Sunday!xx

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  2. I love your Paris people! Your garden sounds like it will be filled with wonderful veggies and flowers this summer. Stay safe.

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    1. Thanks Penny..I do love painting her people and adding stories..Thank you!

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  3. Fickle muffin baker,
    I’m loving your figure drawings ❤️
    So much character and wit. And nice painting as well..all that practice paid of 👏👏👏🥂
    Chapeau !

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    1. Marci Carol I have really enjoyed and still enjoy painting them..:)Je te remercie du fond de mon coeur pour ton encouragement.

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  4. Fickle muffin baker,
    I’m loving your figure drawings ❤️
    So much character and wit. And nice painting as well..all that practice paid of 👏👏👏🥂
    Chapeau !

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  5. It's felt like summer here too, and my tulips have never bloomed this early. I have only planted basil seeds this year, and the purple basil is taking forever to look like a plant. Make ahead lunches are wonderful, I found a new recipe that I will make today for my lunches next week.

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    1. I find basil takes forever to germinate don't forget that trick about grocery store plant..snip and root in water way faster!!Bon dimanche!

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  6. Dear Fickle muffin baker,
    I’m loving your figure drawings ❤️
    So much character and wit. And nice painting as well..all that practice paid of 👏👏👏🥂
    Chapeau !

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  7. OMG hahaha yr site was rejecting my comment :((
    But not really :))

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    1. Last week I got my first awful comment re Covid etc..soemone else got it too..I decided to try comment moderation and I hate it:( I'll see..lol

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  8. Your Paris people are lovely Monique. I keep telling myself I should start painting again, but there always seems to be something else I would rather be doing .... or is it because I don't think I will be very good at it? The latter I think, I haven't done any for over a year, since the first lockdown :-(

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    1. I have to say Polly..this is the first time..that multiples have appealed to me..I love tutorials..and classes and lessons..but then on my own I never know what to paint...this gave me something to paint!
      Forever grateful that's for sure..
      It was a little lightbulb moment.
      Is there something you love to paint?
      I sure love those Chris Petri tutorials..and LOVED my Roisin Cure lessons.Loved.

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    2. I'm hoping my village art club will start again in the summer, that will give me some inspiration. I like doing flower, garden, nature watercolours.

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  9. The watercolour and the muffins look great.
    I think they are spritz biscuits in the plate, I love them.

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    1. I had a spritzer:) And made Xmas cookies..these she made with a piping bag..very little sugar..Thank you Catherine..

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  10. Your food photography makes me swoon. Your paintings are so lovely - yes, stories with them would be such a great idea.
    I live in an area where we don't get any rain for several months (usually May to October), so I have a drought tolerant garden. It's a lot of trial and error, but it is possible to have a thriving beautiful garden without using a lot of water.

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    1. I will be working on that:) Last yr..going to the nursery was out of the question..I've had one vaccine..I feel I can go..it's huge..airy w/ mask on I should be fine..Thank you for your encoragement!

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  11. I love your paintings Monique!
    I'm sorry that people feel the need to be mean through social media bc they're unhappy with their life and they lash out at someone else!
    Keep safe and healthy!

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    1. It's funny because in the past I have had very littlle spam and in the form of investments lol..this comment was so ugly..I sent it to my daughters..they couldn't believe it.. about vaccines and baby boomers..etc..just awful..so I am trying this but inadvertently deleted 2:( 2 nice comments..so I don't know how long I will last..

      Thank you so much!!!

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  12. Your Paris people are so fun and I know each one has a story. Looks like a healthy lunch. Love your little green dishes. Happy week.

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    1. Gee you even see everything twice and are so patient with my people♥

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  13. I enjoyed this post, it spoke of normal moments of everyday life, something I've been struggling with lately. It is funny. Things are almost back to normal around here and most people I know (myself included) are finding it difficult to settle back into the old routines. Anyway, I love quinoa, use it a log, but I never tried farro, will look for it.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. I don't know how I will be..I see US friends who have been vaccinated twice and they seem to be back in the swing of things..but I didn't havea social life before this..just my family..so that's the only thing that changed and when we are all vaccinated I will welcome the change with open arms..
      WE didnt eat our before this.. we didn't do any social activities w/ friends..
      I was prepared for this in a way 10 yrs ago.
      Everything changed.
      So this has been easier for me.
      I feel for everyone else..everyone.

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  14. I love your Paris People, too. and such lovely baking! If J doesn't want to join you for that delicious looking lunch, let me know and I'll be right over (well, as soon as I can cross the border and get there so don't look for me soon!) I see from the comments you got the baby boomer/covid comment too. I get that periodically and have for several months. I think it's a robo thing -- I've seen the same words on so many different blogs that just left it up over time. I'm not even sure if there's a real person attached to it, though someone somewhere is in charge. They're ugly comments. I'm glad you are moderating -- that will at least help it not get up there.

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    1. Oh gosh you too?I'm not fond of moderating though..I deleted 2 comments too quick w/ the finger..darn.

      I'll learn.
      Some people just have nothing better to do.

      Thank you!!!

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  15. Your watercolors are just spectacular

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  16. I love your people paintings as you know and your stories, they are so special! You really bring them to life with your words. Your muffins look fabulous as does your salad! My heart is aching to be in its own space so I can really be busy and do the things I am itching to do, plan, etc. Your gardens are always so lovely. A testimony to all of the work and planning you put into them. I think you are pretty amazing. As you know I get mean comments often. Most times I let them roll off my back. I did comment monitoring a long time ago because of them. Sometimes they really cut to the core. I don't know what is wrong with people. Unhinged is one word I have for them.! Another beautiful day here today. Stay happy and healthy! xoxo

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    1. That was my first obnoxious one and as we know the same comment was left here and there..all about Covid..LOL..WEll you keep your opinion..galavant w/ out a mask protest curfews like spoiled brats..and continue to perhaps harm your fellow man. It's not about you this time selfish peeps it's about humanity.
      I swear Marie when I see the protests..I want to yell at them.
      And that's that lol.
      I can't wait for you to have your own place!!

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    2. I am with you all the way. I want to do more than yell at them. I'd like to give them a quick cuff up the side of the ears, but wouldn't want to get that close! My new place . . . closer and closer! xoxo

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  17. Bon Jour,
    I am glad you are still regularly posting your online diary as well as the IG which is adorable, of course. The photo of the marble head weeping snow is PERFECT. I also think you could create a book based on your Paris People. So many great and beautifully depicted characters! We are not having many in NYC and The Hamptons that are going against max and vax mandates, thankfully. When I hear about those still questioning whether the pandemic is real I have to wonder.... we've sadly become numb to the daily death toll. Spring is finally here in Sag Harbor. It was above freezing here last night, but I am hoping it is the last of the cold weather. The pool will be opening up soon!!! Best to you & Jacques xo

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    1. Hi Gail..it seems Feedburner..whatever that is..is stopping so again we will lose readers..I think blogging is going bye bye..for some reason we want faster faster faster now..
      Like IG TikTok etc..

      The sun is out the last of the latest snowfall is gone..almost.almost ..my gallery still has some..
      Happy Spring to you and Hugh:)

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