Birthdays..

So happy to see my zinnias again:)

These are really called Chase's Dills..Gardenweb forum..you can Google and find.I have been making them for 100 yrs..Lots of discussions re  the pickles there.I don't process after sterilizing the jars and pouring boiling brine over the pickles,all the jars pop and we have never been sick.But you do you:) LOL.

I used to like entertaining..not big groups..a couple or two for dinner.I liked the prep..the camaraderie..then..I couldn't..then Covid..but I didn't stop with my family.

So glad I did not.

My favorite guests ever.

We had a triple bday celebration here Sat and until 4 it rained and was cloudy..

So I did it inside..

The four boys at the kitchen table..

and the 7 adults in the dining room..2 menus..

Susan sent me this.. for the boys... I tried ..and a success.

Read the comments and adapt to YOU.I did and they were perfect.

We don't have Hawaiian rolls I used the Pains Briochés from Costco..same shape ..so tasty..Made 15..

Gone..

For the adults I made a keep on making recipe here.. I started in 2008:) That is how good it is.Not. A.Speck.Left.On.Plates.

Instead of a charcuterie board..I made ind tasting ones..

Some of the hds.. I had chips and popcorn..and varied olives..but the main one..this..

I toasted my focaccia,and those little rectangles? Oh so good..Pizza shortbreads .Nuts and cheese and the boys fave sticks..and J's prosciutto..

I made two desserts..one a cake because ..cake is bday right..I sent them home w/ 3/4..

Yet the Fudge Sundae Pie..was all gone..winner winner since the 70's here.I did not get the recipe from there..But my recipe is in a book I made for the girls 100yrs ago..I usually make a bit more mix of the peanut butter ;)

The cake ..everyone raved about Dolly Parton cakes..LOL I don't bake with mixes..I went to the USA in May and bought.NOTHING like home made..hardly coconutty..Would never repurchase.

I have to however give thanks to ANITA..  she creates such pretty toppers with rice paper..I made two balloons..

Made my fave no knead Olive bread..I have shared it here before..

and very good cheese garlic bread machine rolls..never enough garlic butter so out of the oven I brushed them all with more.Also all gone;) The no knead was hardly touched.

Hope some of you like and try some of these recipes..:)

I'll leave you with ..

Another video..

 I love this..

and sometimes I wonder if social media isn't all about this..

my garlic..my flowers..what I bake..

I hope you know this is kind of my journal..where I can come back and search for recipes.. pics(Let's not mention the lost ones)

Share things that work with me those that do not..

..

Maybe I do  brag about these guys..

They light up my life:)

Still Juli..;)

Nasturtiums and the first zinnia:)

 

 

The gardens are flying by..I am seeing Rudbeckias and Black Eyed Susans..That usually means August to me..

I cried for rain..well my dreams came through.

Deluge wise.

I even harvested my garlic a bit early because we had hail warnings and a tornado warning..

So I usually like to harvest after a dry spell but only rain was in the forecast except for the following day.I let it dry a bit outside that day.. 

Now it is tied in bunches.. curing in the she-shed..with a fan oscillating.

It's just so humid here.

I baked amazing cookies from @bakingbossbabe but her Tik tok recipe not IG.They are good.warm they are tops.

My fave daylies..Maggie..looks so happy with Nikko Blue.

Lots of birthdays in my corner of the world..

Oli will be 14..

Max turned 16

Noh..15

And Lucas will be 18:)

My oldest daughter 48..how did all this happen.

I love this pic Lucas' mom took of him..

He ..after yrs..of being a little camp kid..to becoming a camp counselor..has now become a co-ordinator.

Summer job..perfect for college.

This car he is driving was mine..passed down to his mom.

A Volks Cabriolet 1986.

They love it..

Anyway this is Lucas driving home from work with his mom in the car with him.

Look at his arms:) Love marks ..hearts etc..from the Littles at camp.

I have his mom's permission to post..

He is so loveable :)

They all are.

Lucas now has his permanent on his own driver's license.

How time flies.

Juli.

 

Lots of pretty blooms..although not the greatest summer..

I hope I have not missed the peak harvesting garlic time.I like a dry day..

It makes things easier.

Many of you may remember Bonnie Stern ..she's on IG..and showed the butter tart square recipe.. had to make:)

They are good!

La relish de Josée

 I made Josée's relish again..my husband loves it and most of my family  does too..so it's win win:)

I have been making it for 100 yrs..

You can find the recipe here

The reason some looks gold and some looks green..the green are in green Ball jars..:)

I know I left you with a video last time but when I saw this one..

:( I had to share..

THIS ONE

It broke my heart..a lot has happened  in a nice way to that boy..since ..but ohmygosh..At exactly that age..until 14-15 I would say..I was bullied by the popular kids in my neigborhood..the less popular were nicer..but could get roped in..you know..peer pressure..but FAR nicer...Never at school..Just in that clique.

I was bilingual.. and they were anglophones..I've always been bilingual and always will be.I favor none.. I did Primary and elementary school in French ..College in English and started at McGill.

 But to them..I was French.. so French pea soup..French fry..  I was heavier than they were..so Fatty fatty two by four can't get through the kitchen door..Tidal wave when I dove into the community pool..etc etc etc...

Really bad bullying..the kind that even affects your mom.

Imagine that.That bugs me more than anything.

Thank God school and the students there were always just so normal with me.

My life changed and took a dramatic turn..but let me tell you..you never forget.

We all do things we regret..but if you can stop one kid from bullying..you're a Godsend to the bullied.

Even adults bully...

Have a great week..

Take care..:)