So humid.I have fur instead of hair.July..you came so fast.

 

I love Chicken salads in summer..

This dressing was made with Hummus instead of the reg oil or mayo..

Cottage cheese makes an excellent one also all blended together.

In fact I PREFER by far the dressing made with Cottage Cheese.

I add my garlic..capers..lemon juice..worcestershire sauce..a touch of 2 % milk to thin as the cottage cheese is thick...salt..and pepper.

Those are little red beet microgreens above..

 My daughter. sent me this..I was so touched by the idea concerning the restaurant..And of course the buckets..

This very special restaurant

I hope you looked at that video:)

So we finally had rain..which made the rose petals fall everywhere..some were still left..I piked some and made a jam recipe I fond on IG

Strawberry..rhubarb and rose petal jam.

It was made with that sugar specifically made for jams and jellies.

And our delicious QC berries..

A breeze.

I usually make David Leibovitz's strawberry jam or Christine Ferber's blueberry one..

I threw caution to the wind;)

A small lemon yogurt Bundt..I really like this mold I have had forever.

I also like Wilton's Bake Easy..

But it is $77.00 here..LOLOLOL.

Tomatoes are starting.I fear I planted too close for comfort.

Time will tell if they like socializing or not.

Me? Get me out of a party or a crowded room ..

But if they have something real to share..maybe they will be ok;)

July first is Canada Day here..TOMORROW!!

I cannot believe it is here.So soon...

Have a great weekend/week...

C'est la vie.

 

It's frightening how quickly we go from snowdrops and scillas to tulips to Iris to peonies to roses to clematis.

The speed of LIGHT.

Tumbling one over the other..

It would be so nice if things hung on a tad more.

We are expecting rain tomorrow:)

Alleluia.

Right now..I just came in for sparkling water ..

It is 110 F on my back deck..a little over 40 C..as I type..I was working on my tomatoes..and I am not a sweater..but in this heat my head dampens and sweat pours into my eyes..and they burn..so in I am.

I should wear a hat.

I wear sunscreen..no hat:(

I feel like I just took photo 3..the peonies were buds..they are alsmos..  quite nearly there..done now.

See what I mean?

My son-in-law invited J to go to PA with him and 3 of our grandsons..for a Football event at Beaver stadium.

They left Tuesday at one and got back yesterday around 5.30 PM.

Ages..13..16..17..50..and 82.;)

And he loved it.

I hope I am as fit as my husband at 82.

To follow the family..and enjoy every minute..:)

J shared a room with Lucas the 17 yr old.

Max..16 could not participate because his cast just came off..Oli..could..his first time at 13.

Memories to last a lifetime:)

Love that they did this.

Made some muffins..before he went away..coffee cake..nothing to write home about lol.

I like my other recipes better.

I discovered I eat like a bird when my husband is away:)

It's been yrs since he has been away without me..

So yes.. I ate mostly bread lol..focaccia..broccoli..nothing I cooked..eggs..

Back to normal now.

Have a great weekend..it is a long one here.

This week..

 

Morden Blush roses ..Chives and an Iris in my mom's lovely vase.

The days of roses and poppies.. and irises..and early peonies.

Seeds take longer.

I hope they take.

Every day we are promised rain..only  once it happened and not enough.

I cater to the gardens..But I have the time.

It's just a hobby I can still do..

I pulled something last week..I DR Googled..lol I have Golfer's elbow..LOLOLOL.

I found exercises and it is so much better:)

It is my earliest yr to start gathering the garlic scapes..

That last pic is a dish I give more than a 9 on;)

There is a baked breaded chicken breast under..and I added chopped garlic scapes to the dressing all the while making more dressing.

Both my husband and I love it.

Skinnytastes Chicken Milanaise with Arugula salad.

Love it.

I used sorrel and some capucine leaves:)Nasturtium..couldn't think of the English word..

Take care..Monique.

And again Mail Chimp will not send this out.I am over the limit..I just have so much more to say in Spring and Summer;)

Here and now...

 

My single peonies bloom right after the tree peonies..I grow 4 types..all from seed!Years ago..This is Adrienne Clarkson.

I have some that look like fried eggs:) and some are peach with pink interior..

It takes yrs from seed I don't recommend it..they were actually seedlings..

The perennial poppies will pop next.I grow two kinds..the soft peach papery beauties and the shocking red  ones..

My faves? Guess:)

I am looking forward to the ones that reseed..and the Shirley Grey ones..later;)

With all the fires way way north of us..and the Maritimes..

I am shy to complain.But we have never had a drought like this this early in the season.

The grass is jute in many areas and so sparse in others.

Perennials are shriveling..

I get excited when garden time arrives.. and I am gung ho.

My ho has left.

I need a lot of rain to see the gardens as pretty again.

That is a gardener talking.

Strictly thinking ..here and now..

When even people in NYC are suffering w/ the fires repercussions air quality wise.

Tis is however the first yr..that SOME roses have been so hardy..not due to the drought..winter must have had an effect..

And this is the first yr I have spotted garlic scapes already.

This is why we  love it so..

I still have last yr's harvest left..many bulbs..

and look..

Look how fresh after almost 1 yr in our home.As you can see I removed the outer peel..on..you could not see the ind cloves..

It's still juicy..fragrant and pungent.

Looking forward to seeing this yr's:)

Anyway I LOVE growing garlic as you know:)

Have a good week..

Stay safe..

I mean 100 F! And June 1rst.

 The weather has been like none other..

12 yrs ap..We were hit with a heat wave at a bad time for me..that caused irreparable issues:(

Enough of that..

We are in that wave now.

I feel so sorry for people who do not live in my surroundings with a home..  somewhere I can retreat in.

I have been getting up very early..  a few days 6 ish am..I water then.

To describe the peace..(and freaking mosquitoes lol)..is impossible.

My tree peonies are always first..the others take their sweet time..but nevertheless they arrive:)

I have been painting my people thanks to great photographers I have mentioned..

I used to paint jean jackets but..

I also used to embroider jean jackets.

I found a neat great quality kaki jacket locally for $10.00

I embroidered this panel/yrs ago..like late 1970's lol

I bought the jacket sewed the panel on..

The panel looks low..but my hair reaches the top..I had it higher..J said.. your hair is over it;) So it looks weird here.. but on its' better;)

And I am still growing it..I used my French laundry Initials..inside:)

It's not bad on:) Really:)

If I say that,you know it is true;)

Fast and furious is what happens now..

Its so hot..certain things are wilting.. the canvas..the grass..is burning.I shouldn't call it grass..the mixed bag of weeds..in truth..burning..and being on sand..  it dries things out so quickly.

It is a record I heard yesterday..May was for temps..

Only the tree peony is blooming..  the rest will follow..as for the large poppies..the buds are engorged and gorgeous..the Shirley poppies have taken:) Happy about that.My sown marigolds from my gardens last yr have taken not sure re the bought seeds..  Time will tell.

I'm being watchful;)

Irises are starting and the bees are so busy.I love having bees and birds in the gardens..

I will be complaining soon re the bad destructive bugs.

I made some sweet bee themed cookies ..

With this recipe..I rolled the dough..and din't add the sugar..I have made them the other way..but for these stamps it had to be this way..

Stamped Brown Sugar Cookies.

It's wonderful having passions..it can get you through a lot in life..

Believe...

Like Ted Lasso:)

Here is to a nice June for all of us.