Wednesday, April 6, 2022

~Avril~April

 















April~ Avril

Here April announces Spring as the calendar does..and we have had 2 nice days..but I still have patches of snow here and there..and I am waiting to start seeing growth..

Funny..Forget-Me-Nots..the leaves are intact..certain feverfews.. pachysandra ..that ruthless invader..some Iris tips..my thyme//some sage ..some parsley..winter damaged but alive.

The Queen of them all..garlic tips:)♥


Indoors things are lush and lovely ..and seedlings are starting to sprout.

Easter grass..sprouted..

Still loving the Jean Haines tutorials..over on the 16th of April..Ill begin again next winter.If I painted..only painted..no problem..but I have chores lol..

One of my favorite salads has to include beets..this is one I made a while ..while ..while ago but keep repeating..also made a new one that has a hint of cinnamon in the dressing.


When I search recipes on my blog ..it still bugs me to see danger signs at all the lost pics..I hang on to everything..can't let go..

except some things..


Every Christmas Cactus is blooming ..messy little things though..

Succulents..no..

I have a jade plant that started the size of that tradescantia..

It's a floor jade now,huge..It's been years..

I seem to always have to be caring for something.


I loved Carol's Vanilla map..I use vanilla A LOT..


Look how pretty it is.

I'm sometimes tempted to try our small town but I have aerial view issues lol.

not for cute things like Carol..but fave buildings and things.


Carol had a fund raiser for Ukraine..she was donating half of the proceeds of her sales to aid Ukraine.


That's an Heartist.


A lot of closures of favorite local things thank  goodness new ones  popping up..

My favorite flea market ..Ive been going over 40 yrs..:(

A fave art store..

Quel dommage.

Les jours se suivent mais ne se ressemblent pas.


I have been loving Julia..

Can you believe I laugh and have had tears?




Fab acting. Set design.. costumes.. Love it.

Still LOVE Call The Midwife..

This is Us nearing it's end..I've loved it too.



Laughter these days is a rare commodity when we see the inhuman barbaric images of Ukraine.

Inhuman cruelty.

We are all affected.C'est trop triste.


Take care.


Here we will be getting a 4th dose of a vaccine for Covid..Jacques is set for tomorrow..I can call Monday.

The sunshine will help warm our faces..it's here for now...


Minimal garden notes for April 10th 2022


I walked the gardens..we clean up in Fall..and come Spring more to do..leaves never cease to fall..acorns seem to multiply..

AS of April 10th ..almost all seedlings are up and tomatoes have two sets of leaves.

Easter grass is great..not outside..inside;;;)

I see Irises popping up outside large and small  from Susan:)I hope they love it here.

Forget me nots..pachysandra.. daffodil shoots..hellebore leaves.. we are slow to start but do take off.

I am ordering a truckload of earth..mixed w/ 30% compost..instead of bag after bag..probably just 3 yards.

Delivery is $55.00 but it will be here..I'm tired of making trips w/ car boots and 10 bags at a time.

I will pick up black mulch bags though.



















36 comments:

  1. It feels rather strange to enjoy all our blessings/family/friends/Spring….when so many are suffering such horrendous events. Laughter and tears…..so many feelings…prayers…lots of prayers…hopes and dreams… keep us strong so we can do better ….so much better….…and go on. Thanks for sharing your blog. xo, V

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    1. Your wording is perfect.Somewhat strange..and what makes us so lucky to not be in their line of fire.And how can someone be so evil?All these thoughts..all the time.

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  2. Your indoor plants look great. I have never had luck with a Christmas cactus. I hope you continue next year with this new style of painting. I really like it. Carol's work is always wonderful & her generosity for Ukraine heart felt. For me, it is becoming increasingly difficult to watch the horrific images. How will that monster of a man ever be held accountable & brought to justice. I did get my second booster on Monday. Have a good week. I try to think good thoughts and count my blessings.

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    1. They thrive on neglect:) It seems they like indirect light and you can tell when they need water their firm leaves seem to soften..
      It's a hard call this war/No one wants a world war:(:(

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  3. Ah yes, spring has returned, but we actually have a chance of snow flurries today and tomorrow. What??? Monique, your indoor plants look so vibrant. You definitely have a green thumb. I love the pale shade of pink of your geraniums. It's important to surround ourselves with beauty, because there is so much sadness in our world. God bless Carol for her generous heart. Keep on painting, Monique--those chores can just wait on you!xo

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    1. I'm afraid my gardens and outdoor Spring things need my attention most in Spring and ealy autumn..I'll paint but one is very focused during her classes.. you have to watch the video then watch again..it's a process for me:)But I love it!I'll practice redoing some of the ones I had time to do.
      The thing is our lives are continuing..and theirs are hell.Hell.Destruction..devastation..murder.Inhuman actions against other humans.I hope an answer can be found.

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  4. You are always bringing sunshine 🌻 Monique !
    Thank you for sharing my Vanilla map 🙏

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  5. Your plants look so good. I love Frida too! That beet dish looks so good!

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  6. I echo what Anonymous said about enjoying things while another horrific chapter of history is being written. I applaud your seed starting. I haven't done it for a very long time but I was never much good at it.

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    1. It's just another hobby:) My tomatoes usually work very well..fingers crossed:)

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  7. Well said Monique. The war in Ukraine is heart breaking. This monster needs to be stopped. It does feel strange to enjoy our lives while those in Ukraine have suffered so much. I keep hoping for an answer to all of this. Your sweet plants look wonderful. We have lots of sunshine. I am hoping for rain, we desperately need some. Love your new style of art. Bravo to the Heartist for her heart warming gifts.

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    1. I agree! Bravo to the accomplished Heartists! I love your gardens Linda..Eden.

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  8. "Julia." "Midwife." Adoring them both. I only get one more "Julia" episode before my HBO runs out (a friend's subscription). Le sigh. I bought one of Carol's prints -- it should arrive any day. Ukraine. It breaks my heart every single day. Sometimes I feel like I have survivor's guilt.

    We are having a week of rain. I'm hoping Saturday and Sunday are dry -- Saturday, to dry out the yard. Sunday for an early egg hunt with the littles. Loving every photo (fabulous rooster!). I've been painting a lot with the Sketchbook Revival classes. I'll miss them but maybe I'm back in the groove. Hugs!

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    1. I checked out the Sketchbook Revival..super fun..That zoom session was amazing!Can you share subscriptions with friends? Julia is so darn good.
      Survivor's guilt.
      Spot on in a way.
      What makes some so lucky and some not one bit.
      Unfair.
      Totally unfair.Like why isn't Putin ill? Apart from in the head?
      I mean it.
      Bad people should suffer not good ones.

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    2. LOVING Sketchbook revival. The Zoom session is the one I haven't done yet. Some companies (netflix, hbo max for sure) let you have others on your subscription. My friend had a one month trial and put me on it. Alas... I'll have to wait till I add some streaming (and cut my cable) to watch the rest of Julia. And yes, I know what you mean about Survivor's Guilt. Me, too.

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  9. Beautiful plants...glad Spring is in the air. Julia is on our list to watch, looking forward to it. I wish there was an answer for Ukraine...it is hard to see and not feel guilty about carrying on with life. :( I hope #4 went well. xoxo

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    1. At 3,45 today number 4:)
      It will..he's not a complainer..at all.
      I wear those shoes here.
      xoxoxoxox

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  10. I haven't heard of 'Julia', I will look out for it. It is very distressing seeing what is happening to all those innocent people in Ukraine. Putin is a monster.

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    1. Julia is so good:)
      Putin..is a monster ..in French his name has a whole other meaning.
      In France a swear word..here.. it's derogatory for a woman of the bedroom.
      How archaic..but still you get what I mean.

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  11. Your indoor garden looks as lush as summertime! Your tomato seedlings look just like mine and my Easter grass just started sprouting...It's about an inch or so tall already :) Thank you so much for the reminder. We are hosting Easter dinner here with an egg hunt for the boys, weather permitting. It's been so cool and rainy here the past two weeks! Love your beautiful new works from the class you're taking. That salad looks wonderful! Can you point me toward the recipe, s'il vous plait? ♥ Every day such sad news and the random killing of innocent civilians is a horror. I hope he will be tried for war crimes! Carol's map is wonderful and so is her generosity for the people of Ukraine. Bravo!

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    1. Forgot to mention we might wait until the end of summer to get our 2nd booster so it will protect us through the fall holidays. Not sure yet, still trying to decide. Numbers are down here but if they tick up we'll get it. I've read protection wains after 4 months. Hard to know what is right thing to do.

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    2. Numbers were up so he went yesterday I can book Monday..so I will..I need a mammo and want to be fully done before I go there.. then I can carry on w/ other appts if I need them..Just a routine mammo don't worry.We are hosting too it will be like lunch..no hunt I think the boys would ..crack up..I will have treats and started those eggs this AM..
      I love her classes Susan but on my own..it's like not good.I have to take a pause for Spring and summer..Can't just sit on my derrière during chore time;)
      I'll do a buffet I think..it's half planned;)
      3 yrs ago I bought things ..that I have never used as the last two years were a nono..
      Let me find that recipe..I'll come backx

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    3. Here is the Donna Hay beet salad
      https://latabledenana.blogspot.com/2014/10/now-this-is-fantastic-long-post-though.html
      Isn't it funny but NOT that my NG impatiens look like the dickens:(
      Why!
      I cut a bit of my grass yesterday..but it's lost it's atmospheric gaiety:)Too manicured..:)
      I hope you saw your seedlings there:)
      Have a great weekend:)

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    4. I did recognize the names on the seedling potting sticks! ♥ I'll be transplanting my tomato seedlings this weekend as some already have 4 leaves. Yay! I wish I knew about the NG impatiens! I planted mine in a very loose mixture of potting mix and vermiculite. Those that made it through the first couple of months are still doing great but I had many that didn't make it too. They do seem to need more water than other kinds of plants. Thank you so much for the link to the recipe. I love beets and will always order a beet salad if I see one on a menu. I can't wait to hear what will be on your menu for Easter! I get it about an egg hunt :) Bo will especially love it!

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    5. Hope you are having a great day:) I'll write soon:)

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  12. Lovely post and beautiful pictures! The first picture is just wow!!!
    Titti

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  13. Have a great Easter weekend! Things are coming to life :-)

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    1. Yes they are!!Debbie..issue on your blog:( Can't leave a cimment.says restricted to team memebers..Never saw that before.

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    2. I fixed it. I had to keep the spammers out.

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  14. I don't know how many ways to say how much I love LOVE your chicken. I have a soft spot for chickens. These latest paintings of yours would make beautiful notecards. I would buy them! I have always loved your head vases. Oh, I need to get some houseplants, but am trying to let the cats settle in first and get over their kitten play. Nothing is safe around them at the moment. There is always a trade-off when you get a pet I suppose! All your houseplants are lovely. A testimony to the love and care you give them and your very green thumb! I bet you are looking forward to getting into the garden soon! Your seedlings are doing well! Have you started basil this year? Your cake, your thoughts. Everything so lovely. We have very similar tastes. I loved Julia and thought it ended too soon! I was hungry for more! I thought Sarah did a fab job of portraying her! I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend! Happy Spring! xoxo

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    1. I thought JUlia was only one epi per week? e rae looking forward to five Thursday..I did get sidetracked with Ted Lasso and Morning Show..I took one week free Apple may have to add one week as Ted Lasso is my kind of funny charming:)We had seen Season 1 of The Morning Show..when we had 1 yr free at some point.
      Is its just me or no actresses on that show want to age apart from Shari Belafonte who looks beautiful.Could not recognize some..I was incredulous.
      So..this is a rooster..Mylène asked me to do a chicken for her husband I tried..6 times..only the last one is passable and it gets a dminus:(
      Happy Easter!

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    2. I feel so stupid, rooster/chicken. That's me! Of course it is a rooster. My sister collects roosters. I agree with you on the Morning Snow. Nobody wants to age. I saw a recent photo of Courtney Cox and did not recognize her at all. I prefer actresses like Jamie Lee Curtis who has allowed herself to age gracefully and if she has had work done, it is not obvious. I will have to check out Ted Lasso! Happy Easter! xo PS I am sure Mylene will love the chicken regardless!

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