As close as it gets for now:)

 

I get funny around my birthday..I pull out the last card my mom bought for me..and I look at my little girl pics with even more longing.

:)

For Christmas I received delicious cookies..from Susan in Ontario..I have talked about them..I've since bought another box..but I make cookies right? So I started Googling the cookies..

This is the closest I could find and in a pinch ..or a budget friendly version of store bought ...I made these.

More than once:)

Found online:)CTV news.

Here it is..

Mary McCleod's traditional shortbread cookies

And here is another..

Here

Personally..I love them.. you can adjust to your liking..J still loves mine better..I am leaning towards these:)

Shortbreads are good all yr long.

Speaking of Shortbreads..Ted Lasso is coming back in March:)

1923 is done..Season 2 coming..

1883 still my fave.

We have had so much snow..  and it is still snowing:)

This is Gilbert..a retired school professor.He loved his profession.

He taught in McGill UniversityFrench Language and Literature.He never married but has a nie circle of friends with same interests...And of course his pup ,Molière.

Another in my series of Montreal people first captured by the talented eye of Myriam  .

She is a MONTREAL expert in all things..And an expert photographer.

Birthday Month..

  

Our home was beautified with Spring bouquets last Week..And of course they are still lasting..

I take pics of them all the time:)

We had a double celebration for my youngest daughter's birthday..46..oh lala..and mine.

We were invited to our eldest daughter's ..she hosts our double bdays:)

Generous Italian dinner.. so so so so good..

Lasagnas.. meatballs..arancini.. caesar salad ..garlic bread..so many apps..We were twelve and all the men are tall tall tall..Noah is catching up!

The next day I had soup for lunch and soup for dinner and went for a very long walk:)

I was in charge of desserts..

 

I made little tea cakes ..Now those turn out adorbs.. Tips..add mint LAST minute.. my mint would last but store bought wilts soon after..

Make sure you have a container high enough to keep these little naked cakes moist.

I do like brushing on a simple syrup to keep cakes moist but because these are naked all around..and you cannot put a Saran or the piped roses will squish...a good airtight container is a very good idea.

I made the recipe where I found the cakes..but would stick to my own versions of coconut cakes tried along the yrs.

American friends even have a cake mix that one reader said is ideal for these..Dolly Parton's coconut cake mix.

Who knew she cooked..Debbie at Mountain Breaths first mentioned them:)

The choco cheesecake is Preppy Kitchen's recipe.

Such a nice night..

I prefer giving gifts..

But who can resist receiving a watercolor of a bouquet I made years ago?

It was tucked into my birthday package from Susan..who never brags about her artistic talents..I know because I have some here..some watercolors through the years.

Even Jacques thought it was a photo it's so perfect and I love the cream paper.

I love it.

One sweet girl has  added to my  colllection of these sweet La Fermière crocks.I brought blue ones back from Povence..we don't have them here.. in the last couple of yrs Sarah has added so many to my collection and in many colors.She's a jar lover like I am.

I use them for many things:)

Mostly as vases:) For my garden flowers.

She lives in Austin and has beautiful gardens.

We exchange Valentines..  I mailed her card over 1 month ago and it's still not there.:(

How much pleasure does a gardener get in seeds? Let me tell you..gardening is exponentially more rewarding when something actually works from seed you have planted.

Last yr I discovered I could grow Zinnias..because of 

Susan..in Canada.

This yr I'll get to the rabbits before them for sunflowers:)

Susan and I were friends with our beautiful Linda..

She shared February with me..

Have a good week..

PS Yes I took out the last birthday card my mom ever bought me in 1973..Unsigned..I have kept it.

Found it in one of her drawers when I was sorting them..I was 19..

You really think you can never be happy again..

it takes so long..but you can..

Mid February..and a sweet movie.

 

Triple lemony loaf:)

Antoine parked in le parking of Ménerbes with his beloved Pitou.They like to stroll about tat totally charming commune in the Vaucluse.The views are spectacular.He will scout around for lunch to see who will accept Pitou.Un must.

The lemon loaf .. very good:)

I had made the curd..and the rind had been saved  so it was a really quick do.

The recipe for the loaf is  here. ..

I added a lemon crumble on top instead of the glaze.

Saturday the 11th was so sunny but brisk..we went snowshoeing..mostly icy unfortunately..

But we enjoyed just being out walking.

Jacques spends hours out..I don't so it felt good.:)

Remember the book I went on and on about..

The Boy..the mole,the fox and the horse?

That I love so much.

You can watch the Oscar nominated movie on Apple TV..here is the trailer.

It's so dear! I loved it.

More books and movies like these are needed in our world today..

The words are so profound..the animation charming.

Have a very good weekend:)

One week done..February..

 

On Instagram..I invent little stories to go with my people:)

She is Glory..  heading to her art studio ..she will stop and pick up provisions for her lunch @Vival, her local small épicerie..just fruits and veggies:)

I decided to use up some lemons(I've bought more since:))..So I peeled them and used my Nutribullet to keep pots of rind..for last minute lemon desserts or even gremolata for the osso bucco this past week.

I then pulverised the lemons with ginger and made big fat ice cubes.I put one in a glass the night before..the next morning add hot water and I am so good to go:) I made a small batch of lemon curd to try something else soon..

Vintage lemon juicer for the lemon curd..

Old things are sometimes good to keep.

Pâté Chinois is a staple here in fall and winter..

1000 different recipes.

It's actually Cottage Pie in the UK..but I just use cream corn and niblets..nothing else apart form the mashed potato topping and meat base.

You can read of it's origins here..

Lean ground beef..onions..garlic..s and p..Worcestershire sauce..brown completely..then top with the rest..I put parsley and paprika on top because my mom did.

I am still painting backs of people that have caught someone else's eyes first..then w/ their permission I try my hand at them.

I have well over 130 now I think..I get rusty though..you should paint every day.I don't.

So many AMAZING artists on IG:)

I love so many styles..

So I finally saw..

I went with my girls..  the stars finally aligned.

He does give a performance of a lifetime.

It's a tragic take on human nature.

We are so complex.

I didn't cry my eyes out like I thought I would.

I did get teary eyed..at the end.

The thing with movies is that you see so many trailers..bits and bobs..that you know what is happening.

To me it was like a play.It's all shot in his apartment.His dark apartment.

He is a dear dear dear man.

You cannot help but love him.

We started Dear Edward and like it..

As for 1923 it took me a while to get into it..  because I just loved 1883.

It's more of a soap opera to me.

But the cruelty the indigenous people suffered is sickening.. 

shocking..At one point Canada is mentioned and the man tells the young beaten woman... :it's worse.

So both countries..have a great cross to bear on this inhuman treatment.

And the nuns and priests.

:(

I hate them in this movie.

Religion is a personal and private issue..The Whale ..has something to do with religion also...

I know some of you often mention religion and your beliefs..I just can't offer an opinion.

Religion and politics.

I try to stay mum.

Because you cannot ever be 100% in agreement with someone's choices.

But I respect your beliefs and choices.

:)

February is such a short month:)Like this post ;)

Until the gardens start up..it is not the easiest thing to chat..

I think I will abstain from staring seeds indoors this yr.

Two yrs in a row my tomato plants are ravaged .

I'll see..but for now..direct sowing zinnias.. marigolds..and buying tomato plants.

I think;)

It's a snowy winter here..February already!

 

Some of his winter tools

I never tire of his paths..

This is such a great everything cake..Ina's blueberry crumble cake..

I used an 8 inch springform..

I omitted the lemon..we just finished lemon poppy seed cupcakes..

added more vanilla and cardamom.

Jacques had a piece after dinner and later said those exact words..

We don't eat a thing after dinner. from 6  PM till the next morning.. nothing.So I thought this was a true compliment:)

I loved this series so much.We are fans of Yellowstone..but this one is very different.

Great actors..dialogue..cinematography.

Taylor Sheridan is a wizard.

Elsa is mesmerizing.

Loved her so much.I hope she wins something..anything.

Kleenex required..in my case.We both gave it 5 stars.Just started 1923 and I am having a hard time LOVING it..

Also All Creatures Great and Small..so sweet..the tempestuous  horse..God Bless Siegfried:)

A note..  because some  may think I watch TV all day..LOLOLOL.

Night only after dinner and bath..7-9.

The porch views back and front.Snowy snowy snowy:)

You have heard of Hygge..

Norway has Koselig:)

You can read about it here:)

Enjoy.