End of March~

 

Spring walks many many many years ago....

Not a lot going on..

We're edging into Spring with puddles and still some snow here..

I came across these pics of the 3 Littles that lived across the street..in this kind of weather..

To try and explain how much we love Littles..is impossible.

They are big and tall and beautiful now..

I love that I have sooo many pics to look back on.

We had a celebration for Jacques' 81rst birthday last night and got home around 1 AM.(I felt like I had gone to a wedding..:) )..Making up for lost time?

To count the laughs would be impossible.

To say how good the food..impossible..

A beautiful fun celebration.They are not just family..they are friends♥

I found a new sourdough bread recipe and it's a keeper..

If you want to try..

The recipe is here..

I'm taking a one month watercolor class..es w/ Jean Haines..

Tempted to take one yr..it's just that busy will be here soon w/ gardens etc..

and they are in dire need of work..

dirt..planting etc..I'll see..

And the kindness and generosity of this artist is..wow..she has a fund raiser for Ukraine.. selling her art donating all the proceeds.She wants to reach 10,000 pounds.

And she will ..she's more than halfway there,

Carol from Paris Breakfast has her own fundraiser going on w/ her gorgeous blue and yellow paintings.

The hearts of these accomplished artists are as beautiful as their art for Ukraine.

Speaking of which..I actually am filled with hate for the beast running Russia.The images..are haunting..ever so haunting.

I started my seeds..some this week and lo and behold too many have sprouted..

I have to keep them happy till they can go out end of May/ early June.

So my craft room is looking rather busy w/ the painting lessons and seed sprouting.

Busy mind and hands stay out of trouble and truly help shifting focus.Your mind wanders with painting..baking.. gardening.

I thank God I love doing these things.

Have a good week..take care..From me to you..

~On my mind constantly~

 

Still doing things..I've loved distractions for years,crafts,gardening baking..painting..so I keep the hobbies up..but always on my mind.

Last night we watched War In Winter on Netflix..So sad.. their courage is beyond amazing.Very insightful to the pride they have for their country.

Trop triste.

My friend T sent me this this morning..

You can listen to Sting here.

And here we are March~

Indoor gardening.. because..

Yes because of this..

and this..

Yesterday  a glorious walk~

Ice Lake~

An artist's community

Our dunes~

 

Nosy Parker~

The love tree

I do get out there..but less this year...  I am ashamed.I have usually donned my snowshoes by now..always an excuse.. not enough snow.. too icy..too much snow..it's blowing like crazy out there..

My excuses.

He actually enjoys all the snow removal..paths.. decks..etc..redoes parts of the driveway after the contractor  because of where our cars were parked..It's picture perfect.

I love walks at favorite places..

I honestly cannot believe my geraniums..I think what I did last summer is that I nearly killed them.I had overwintered them in paper bags..so really the roots were raw.. I put tooo much Miracle  Grow granules in my soil..all summer they did nothing.. 2 big pots..I brought them in and by then the roots had time to strengthen I think and now they look like an ad for Miracle Grow..at least 2 ft tall on one just the leaves,the blooms are well above..the other has to be 3..I had to put bamboo sticks in.Lots of blooms etc..My fern still spot on..and Rosemary too..the trick is never let rosemary dry at all.

I hope I can make their transition to outside ..calm and uneventful.

I have baked a few things..namely those adorable and delicious Bonne Maman Petits Marbrés.

I follow many French blogs and feeds and kept seeing marbled cupcakes..cakes etc..and then one day a lady said her recipe was from the back of the bag:)

Never one to procrastinate..LOL those who know..know..:)I made them right away.I will always make them.

Recipe is below..

I also made Alexandra Cooks EASY (IT IS) Brioche bread..don't excpect a full on tons of eggs and butter and make the night before and rest...stretchy filamenty  (new word) bread..This is a lighter easier version.And truly it's a keeper.

You can find that recipe here.

Now for the Petits Marbrés..

Preheat oven to 350F ...356 to be exact as it is 180C.

For the white dough~

Combine 100 grams of sugar, 2 whole eggs ,a pinch of salt then 100 grams of flour  and 1/3 envelope of baking powder,

Then to this preparation add 100 grams of melted butter and mix energetically:) to obtain a homogenous mixture.Set aside.

For the chocolate dough~

In a bain-marie melt 100 grams of chocolate with 80 grams of butter.Meanwhile mix 80 grams of sugar  and 2 eggs ..then add 90 grams of flour and 1/3 packet of baking powder.

Then add in the choco butter mixture.

Butter and flour small cake molds..And drop half white mix half choco mix.Use your knife from one end to the other lengthwise to create the marble,

Bake 22 minutes.

My notes.

I melted my butter and chocolate in microwave.

Be sure to not keep going over the marbling or you will just get a pale choco cakelet:)

Levure chimique is baking powder. My Envelopes still active contain 11 grams. So you have to use your judgement.you can do 1/3 of 12 grams.

The recipe as found in French.(Source internet)

My molds..(source..internet)

Trust me had I found this in France..lol..it would be living here.

We had lunch out every day..in Provence..every day ..can you believe..but ate at home in the evenings..

So we kept little bags of Bonne Maman treats..in case we hadn't gone crazy and had dessert or pastry in the day..These were some of my favorite.The Bonne Maman shelves in France are PACKED with delicious charming products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On my blog..I stay away from religion and politics ..as much as I can.

Everyone is different.I don't want to offend or take stands..I do have opinions and can be vocal..But for my blog..

It's just what I choose to do.Or not do really.

But understand that I am heartbroken over the images of Ukraine.

Heartbroken.