Thursday, November 3, 2022

A little cake..some cookies and lots of leaves..a master's canvas.

 








I just love finding perfect recipes..

A chocolate shortbread cookie that stamps so perfectly you are elated when you pull them out of the oven..Curly Girl Kitchen shared it..

Or the easiest marbled cake that you could even have for breakfast..a French tiktoker shared it.

I keep my tried and trues in file folders..

I have so many it's almost unbelievable..But it's been yrs and yrs..

I am not even embarrassed.

Not sure what will happen to them one day..But perhaps kept as notes are on  them..and they have been enjoyed by my family:)

We watched a cute movie..Mr.Church..and at one point Charlie says Mr Church is always baking/cooking.painting/gardening..well that's like me..except Mr Church also played piano.Pas moi.

I sometimes wonder what would have been had I kept working past 30 yrs.. the weird thing is a few  yrs while I worked..I saw ladies at the raquet club..golf club..out to lunch..and wondered what that was like.I thought I'll have to have a broken arm or something to not work.

Strangely enough it was  a medical reason that forced me to stop.

Now 11 yrs later ..I think I should have stopped earlier.

:)

I can paint..garden and bake way more.


But first..  the less fun parts re gardening...

All the beautiful autumn leaves..are near gone now..peak is done..in the process of blowing..believe me when I say we have zillions.


The winter tires have been put on..90% of gardens put to sleep..garlic for sure planted..

The favorite garden things brought in.. our she/he shed is so cute outside..

But inside it is being used for what it was built for.Potting in Spring etc..storage in fall and winter.






Fave cobalt planters..fairies and and special old ornaments I place here and there in the gardens..Jacques' dad's crates for milk bottles.. I have sheers on J's side to take photos..I didn't take one indoors this yr apart from the garlic..
So many pots lol..and my first Nana's House sign..there is a fresher one now but this one almost lasted forever:)I kept touching up the paint.
We remove it in winter..this old one and the new one.
Winter is ..or can be harsh here..
Isn't it funny the things..I am attached to?
And this is outside ..hahahaha.

In Spring and Fall I go a bit nuts.. we wash all the windows..Jacques outside me inside..ovens get cleaned..move washer dryer..lol and clean behind..




Little garbage foragers..

Anyway do be a bit squirrely and save some herbs..dry them..and make bouquets garnis:)



Take care.. busy here..:)

All vaxxed and la grippe inoculated..


Aren't they cold? BRRRRRR...

31 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! You have captured such gorgeous fall colors, Monique. Those maple (or oak?) leaves look like they're on fire against that clear blue sky. Breathtaking. It sounds like you are staying busy, preparing for the change of seasons. I remember that feeling of satisfaction when you've put the gardens to bed for the winter.

    When you mentioned your ever-growing file of recipes, I had to smile. I cannot resist keeping recipes, either. When I look through mine, it's like tripping down memory lane. I treasure the handwritten ones from my mother. I think it's really good for us to pause and remember happy times.

    I quit working early, too. When I was 44 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Our daughter was only 6 and my husband and I felt I should stay home and enjoy her for as long as I could. We knew that the odds weren't very good. But you know what, God decides!! Here I am, 24 years later, still here, enjoying my daughter's babies. Oh, life is hard, but so very precious. We are the lucky ones, Monique, to have been able to do the things that bring us joy. Blessings to you and your family!

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    1. Having tech issues ..it’s me Pam😊I love your beautiful story of resilience and healing.A miracle💕Oh hobbies and loves etc are instrumental in managing life I agree.Kudos to you in every respect.

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  2. I have been absent from blogging a bit, so I'm glad I visited first thing this morning. When you mentioned that you keep your tried and trues in file folders, it reminded me of when the gals came to dinner last month and I had one my huge kitchen filing drawer open while looking for something. One friend was in shock at all the recipe files and asked if I had actually made all those recipes. When I told her I did, she said she was impressed and that her recipe file consisted of about 10 recipes. :-) Just like you, it's been yrs and yrs. Our autumn weather (and foliage) is the best we have had in years. Glad we are both happily retired! Wishing you many more years of retirement and doing all the things you love.

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    1. I wish you the very same!And our recipes and having made them is part of our map of life!10 recipes..very cute but that’s not me.10 mascaras yes☺️

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  3. Your photos of the blazing colors of autumn are spectacular! I purged my recipe file a few years ago. Now I have a recipe drawer!! I also have had my share of health issues over my 73 years. God is good & I am still here able to enjoy the people and things that I hold dear. Wishing you the same Monique.

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  5. I wish I had your organization and spouse cooperation. I washed some windows over the summer but they really could use professional attention. I love all your fall pics. Awesome color. New car or some stranger's in an opportune spot to showcase the fall colors?

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  6. Soon Bella my car will be 12 yrs old.They don’t make the Fiat here anymore..I am hanging on lol can’t find another car I like lol.Arlene we wash the windows diligently and I do all the tracks etc..but one week after all the streaks etc show.I think we need a pro job too.

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  7. Oh those colours. The long summer has ended here on the west coast and now the rains have arrived. I got my bulbs planted but the clean up will take longer as the ground is too soggy. No more wild fires now that’s the upside of the rain. The shorter days are no fun though. Angharad from Vancouver Island.

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    1. Tomorrow night change of time here…I am glad you got rain ..hopefully will drain soon for you..

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  8. Gorgeous colours and photos. Your bouquets garni photo reminded me to tell you that made some up, too, inspired by your post on IG. They are now in a glass jar, dried and ready for warming soups and stews. I'm a constant recipe collector, too. Love trying new ways to prepare foods. It's a way to be creative.

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  9. Look at that beautiful autumn color. Your baking always impresses me. Even retired, we find ourselves busy. Happy November.

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    1. I know you keep busy☺️☺️👌🏻⭐️👌🏻⭐️Happy Nov to you!

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  10. Love your Canelle molds and that cake looks just perfect. I adore marble cake. I will have to look that one up! You live in such a beautiful area. The colors are gorgeous. Almost all of our leaves are on the ground now. Those cookies are perfectly stamped! Wonderful! I need to harvest some of my herbs now before it is too late. We have had a very mild autumn temperature-wise. I am a recipe collector too, as you know. I love trying and learning new things when it comes to food, always! xoxo

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    1. Me too. A new recipe? I am in☺️We have had a magnificent everlasting fall..so warm

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  11. Beautiful autumn colors…mmmm that cake mmmmm….I see you reading from scratch….wowww I have seen the serie on Netflix last week…tears tears and more tears….what a beautiful movie….love happy Sunday from me and Leaf 🍀🐾💗🍀

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    1. We are on episode 3!Not sure I will continue the book:)I have heard tears flow🤗

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  12. Inquiring minds..
    How does a duck stay warm?
    Waterfowl species circulate blood through a countercurrent heat exchange, isolating the blood that flows in their legs rather than circulating it throughout their entire bodies. This helps to keep their body temperatures higher. Birds also have specialized scales on their feet and legs that help minimize heat loss.
    XxxCarolg

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  13. Coming here for a blog visit is like going on a vacation to the most beautiful and restful spot in the world, where the gardens are glorious, even in their faded beauty, and there are always amazing fragrances drifting in from the kitchen. Do you dry your bouquets garni? I hadn't thought of that and it's a wonderful idea. Your QC colors are just fabulous. Our leaves are going but not gone, just drying and fading. I will be harvesting oregano today (what's left of it, mostly new growth from our warm time) and will let the sage and thyme go a bit longer, though I've already brought some in. I love your original "Nana's House" sign. And also your Paris people on the side! Biggest smiles and wishes for a happy week!

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    1. It’s been a most fabulous fall..yes I dry them then box up or put in a see through cellpack.It feels nice to take one and put in soups or stews..

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  14. Beautiful fall scenes! I already miss the colorful trees. Almost all the leaves have fallen here and we can see the neighbors homes again. Today we're working on getting them blown into the woods and onto the street for the village to scoop up and take away. The marble cake and cookies look so delicious! A sweet treat with coffee is wonderful. Silly squirrel! :-)

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  15. Fall has been so wonderful .The pleasure seemed to last forever.Already thinking next yr ..seeds arrived Monday..first ones ☺️

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  16. I love tried and true recipes as well. Another beautiful post, Monique.
    Amalia
    xo

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  17. Good morning..I do hope you see this request.I would love the recipe for the “fabulous Marbel Cake” form the French TikToker.I found it under desserts but it is not highlighted and therefore will not open Darn! I noticed you have Dorie Greenspan’s but the other ones seems darker and mor moist. Please help…greatly appreciated one happy baker to another.
    Merci..unfortunately I wish my French was not sooo limited.Thank you❤️❤️

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  18. Gorgeous! Where is the cookie stamp from? :) I am glad you have time to spend on hobbies and share with all of us! :)

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