Monday, August 28, 2023

September beckons..

 


I love antique shops and thrift shops..my husband doesn't lol..nor my girls..the latter into different styles..
I pick up very little these days.
I need nothing.
For some reason I gravitate towards our vintage clothes shop..and I do like makeup.
I have so many cookie cutters..lol cake pans..years of blogging.
No wall room left for art..I don't tire of things..I don't redecorate lol.
One thing I would love is  a GREAT bed.
in the last 10 yrs we have bought two mattresses.They both are :( for me.
My friend from Fl visited..and she was talking about her beds..
People tell her she makes a bed better than a high quality hotel bed.Best linens best beds.
She couldn't believe J and I sleep in a Queen:) She said one of the first things she told her husband was KING.
Oy I would need a whole new headboard footboard..etc..we've had this set for 50 yrs.And the room would be tighter.
But why can't I get a mattress I ADORE.
She has a mattress and bed and linens here where she spends her summers..and the same in Fl.

Puffy.
Once you start Googling mattresses..it never ENDYS lol.

Pros and cons for all kinds..

I don't have hot flashes way past that and never had any .
But my calves get so warm.
I can't sleep without a sheet and blanket.
Surely there is a mattress I could love somewhere in this universe.
I mean I NEED to sleep.

Any suggestions?

Funny how my art tutorial by Chris Petri..please Google..it leads to my account if I link..hundreds of fabulous tutorials..led me to bed talk..


I know they are cute..but they munch too:)



Luckily none of these..I follow a feed in French that has gardens..veggies..they sell them..one day she suggested making edible bouquets..
All these are edible:)
Zinnias..cosmos,dill,shiso,basil,lovage,sage and sorrel.
I find they look lovely together.

Speaking of flowers..The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart..has the worst ending ever.
I hated it.





This little cake..if you think you can't bake..you're wrong.EASY Peasy.
Food By Khan on Tik Tok.
@foodbykhan
https://www.tiktok.com/@foodbykhan
I am a fan of TikTok..recipes..cooking ..gardening..babies..tutorials..






I love this new to me zinnia..She's smaller than the others..but packs a sweet punch.I may have to amend that area where I sowed her..I did the stupid mistake of putting geotextile 22 yrs ago..  unfortunately the earth has sunk the textile is too high now so its a struggle for seeds to grow..hardy things like weeds just love geo and run rampant and pierce through everywhere.:( To late to rip those big beds up.

The Phlox are huge this year..they need dividing also.
Jobs I am not as motivated by as when I was 50.20 yrs of digging plays havoc on shoulders and elbows etc..

As I go through my Spring and Summer photos..the gardens have whizzed by:(



I've ordered some seeds and really ..if you can save your own..Seeds plus shipping. ..$$$ and you seem to get so few lol.
So it's too early for my zinnias still soooo many to bloom..and age..same with cosmos..but you can start marigolds and definitely dill..
I like doing this:)
I had saved poppies.
I am grateful some of my last Provence 4 o'clock seeds took and are blooming..not many but I will surely save again.

The only thing that has not changed but has..

are these vultures.
They used to be gone end of August.

Taken TODAY


My tomatoes are still happening..lots every single day.Grateful.Ugly plants.Good tomatoes..go figure.

Littles(big) back in school..football season starting very very soon.
They work so hard I wish them a very good injury free season.

Enjoy the rest of August:)




26 comments:

  1. Finding a mattress that satisfies two people is a big challenge! My husband likes a firmer mattress than I do, so we ended up buying a sleep number bed (formerly called Select Comfort). They are different (because they're air mattresses) and I wasn't sure at first whether I liked it or not, but once I got used to it, I decided it was a good choice for us. We ordered our first one many years ago, and it was so simple to figure out. The last one we ordered a few years back, has remote controls that seem more difficult to operate. I have heard good things about Helix mattresses, but have not tried them. I'm looking forward to reading comments from your other readers.

    I looked up the Cinnamon Loaf and jotted it down, already. It looks so good and simple to make. Fall is made for all things cinnamon.

    That salmon zinnia is a stunner! I believe our zinnias have actually thrived during this crazy summer. They sure do bring me joy. I'm collecting marigold seeds from the more yellow variety. Love them. As for those lousy beetles, I cannot believe you have them this late in the season. They have voracious appetites! I sure understand what you mean about gardening taking a toll on our bodies. It has hurt my pride to cut back so much, but it has helped my aches and pains. I have found that a few favorite flowers and garden plants still give me something to tend, and it is enough for right now. We're having a cooler week, thank the Lord. Maybe we'll be able to get out and enjoy the weather. You have a good one, too, Monique!

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    1. I might pull. (I hate the thought) of high maintenance things.. Ive always loved cottage gardens..but boy are they a boatload of work..Tall things to cut back every yr,Annabelle Hydrangeas take over every yr..Should have planted those on their own as a hedgerow or something.I literally have to shovel and yank prune..Baptisias are hug e and are looking messy even with supports.Those LOUSY beetles..I love your description.Never had them this late..in time for second flush..:( DISGUSTING.My boys are immersed in football now an school Id love to have one help with fall..:) Oli is the only one not working..he loves the extra money:)100 yrs ago we had a waterbed..my fave bed ever,Ill Google yours and thank you:) Thank you.Thank you:)

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  2. Oh dear THE BED issue is a thorny one ! My husband was very tall so we had what they call a Californian King so his legs wouldn't stick out. Could never have a foot board.It was useful when our son was small. My husband used to call it our life raft. Somehow times two dogs, four cats and our octopus son would end up in it. We would be left clinging to the sides ! We had a lovely fireplace and a big window with an old maple tree outside. She was our friend. Oh how I miss those years....Then we switched back to a Queen size. Perfect for two. Now I am alone it it. I make up pillows for his side. Sometimes early in the morning I still turn over and think that he there. A silly fancy I know. But it gives me comfort ! I have hot feet always stick them out. Love a pretty fluffy bed. My bedrooms are always painted white. The colour coming from the sheets, comforters, duvet and throws. Following the season. Lots of pillows (4) and European squares (4)

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    1. It sounds like a dream..all white..light..euro squares.And I hear you re an empty side.The friend
      that visited sleeps with an empty side..two yrs now and tears came readily again on this visit.If someone cries I cry..We are a fine pair.You lose the love of your life and constant companion:( I have not walked in your shoes but friends have and I talk with them I keep asking to go first.I know I cannot ask.The years we miss:( Always the better yrs we miss.. I hate all that.I actually hate aging.Seeing friends aging.. etc..I never once thought about it younger.xox

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  3. Ah, the mattress conundrum. When my husband was living we had twin beds pushed together. We each had our own bedding. It made a king size bed and was not fun to make. I just bought a new queen mattress this spring and exchanged it . It is impossible to lie down on a mattress in a store for a minimal amount of time and tell that it will be comfortable!!!! I am still not happy but I don't want to go through the hassle again. Have you heard of the PURPLE MATTRESS? It feels like the old water bed and cushions, cools the body. I purchased the pillow which I love (those are hard to select, too!) but sometimes I wake up with a perfect grid on my face. Not as much resilience in the face. I think a game of tic tac toe could be played.
    The edible bouquet is so pretty. I was not aware one could eat those all of those plants.
    I also enjoy going to antique and thrift shops. If I lived in Paris I would go nuts in the brocantes. Don't need a thing or have room for any more knick knacks.
    I always check out the recipes you share and have good intentions but with my new living arrangement I have not tried any of them but this cinnamon loaf looks promising.
    My geraniums are still looking good and lantana on balconville flourishing. I am not ready for mums just yet but there are hard to resist when I pass a garden center. Disposing of the plants is not easy. Thank goodness I have maintenance men to help.
    Wishing you a wonderful week.

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  4. I will look into Purple..after all..When I am an old woman I shall wear purple;)I hear you about facial roadmaps.And some don't leave.I am not a back sleeper.I was told at 19 that a woman should sleep on her back..direct quote from Constance Brown and her Montreal School Of Modeling.Well I didn't listen lol.But the jokes on me.
    I say J doesn't like that kind of shopping..but he is the one that made the maps for our daily Provence markets and every day we would go to one.I ADORED that..he would pick our lunch spot.What a sweet life those holidays were..markets..wine..baguettes..olives..cheese ,painting at day's end or in a café etc..I know I have that here.. not the same.In Fl that's what we had twins together but they use a king bedding set.. for some reason it worked?I am so happy Balconville is fleuri!And yes that cake..perfect..add more vanilla:) Take care..

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  5. Highly recommend the dual adjustable Tempurpedic Cloud king bed. It is two singles in one bed. Both my husband and I enjoyed this bed. I used a king set of linens and it worked even with the separate adjustable option. It is a pricey bed but it did work for us. I recently am sadly sleeping single and the adjustable option is great for reading when sleep won’t come. Good luck on your quest for your perfect bed.

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    1. Thank you for your recommendation..It sounds great re adjustable.I am very sorry for your loss:(:(

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  6. Sigh. I'm afraid I have no help on mattresses. I still have a regular "full" bed at home and Queen at the lake. My bedroom is just too small to go "up" without changing out all the furniture but I suspect in a few years when I move into Rick's other duplex side, I'll get a queen. Or we'll use his. When you wrote about the antique shops, that's me. Rick, nope! But I don't buy much either, for the same reason. Like you, I like the things I have and don't redecorate, apart from holiday change-ups. I need nothing and don't really have the room to add it. I love the idea of an edible bouquet and your painting, too. I'm glad you're finding time to paint between the garden. It's gorgeous and I know you love it but boy, that's a huge amount of work. Have a wonderful week, my friend!

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    1. Its a HUGE amount of work..Spring and Fall. and with all our rain this yr..everything just grew and grew...It will need some clearing in many places..It's funny how I don't redecorate lol..If you knew me you would think I would:) Nope..I guess I am ok with what I have except the mattress:( Jacques loved the markets in Provence.. casing the towns for lunch after..lol..
      I hate stores like Costco etc although we do shop there.But where's the charm? In the staff only.

      Have a great weekend!

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  7. I love your watercolor doorway - nice how you made it darker within 👍
    Parisbreakfast ❤️

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  8. I don't know how you sleep on a queen all these years. I need my space! At Randi's the guest room only accommodates a queen and I suffer.
    Since I can no longer access IG I enjoyed seeing the photos in this blog. Each year I add more zinnias and I do try to save seeds. I grew 4 O'clocks last year and some self sowed in the perfect location. I don't divide perenials any more. Too much work for this old fart.

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    1. I HATE dividing and I am paying for my last divisions.parting the red sea would have been easier.Its the hostas and annabelles the worst of them all.I hate goutweed and quackgrass quack grass is ..oh lets face it..hate all invasives:) Ive been in that queen for 50 yrs lol.I can keep going in the queen but the mattress..I need cool and fresh and firm enough but not wood lol:)Get a new account!

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    2. I can't get a new account. The IG page simply won't load. I have to consult with my IT daughter when she has time.

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    3. Ahh..I have never heard of this A!!!

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  9. I wish I could help regarding mattresses! We have a California King also and when we travel and there is no king option it's hard for us to sleep so close together - LOL. Good luck and I hope you find one that's just right, Goldilocks :) My zinnias are almost taller than me now! I love the Antique shop painting! I would have loved browsing through them too. ♥ What a pretty zinnia and shade of salmon! I have mostly scarlet-orange, now and then an occasional pink (the pinks from you ♥) and yellow. The JPs are loving the leaves on the yellow one for some reason. Not eating the flower, just the leaves. Two shorter varieties I love too. I have a bunny too! I transplanted a dahlia to another bed and the bunny ate all the leaves off of it! Muncher, indeed. Your cosmos make such lovely bouquets and the cinnamon loaf looks so delish!

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    1. Yes the JPs like the leaves on zinnias..I seem to have far far less there than on roses.I swat the bushes to make them fly away..and boom they are back.Terrible unworthy creatures..like asian ones and rose chafers.I can't wait to see your dahliahs dahlink!I have to think of something..I am aging before my eyes lol with sleepless nights.Dare I wish for cooler weather? :(

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  10. I do hope you find a mattress you love, we have always had a king size bed and we love our mattress which is ten years old. I guess we might have to replace it soon, but it is still great. I'm not sure if we can even buy the same exact one since I'm sure things have changed in 10 years and I might end up not liking it. When we were in Switzerland recently, we stayed in nice hotels that had King beds but with separate mattresses. Two single mattresses can give a couple more freedom. We each had our own comforters and bed linens too. I loved it. Xavier returns to school next week, and his football season starts this Sunday. The team has been practicing Mon-Fri from 5-8 p.m. for the entire month of August. These football coaches are serious! They made a man out of my seven year old grandson. The kids work so hard at practice, and I wish your grands and mine a very good injury free season.

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    1. I like those twins merged together.I'll see....OY
      Yes the football coaches mean business..Our college Lucas starts tonight..Max last yr High tomorrow and then Oli.We will go tomorrow..and rotate..night downtown doesn't work for us because of bridge repairs but day we will..I'm in football mode.I know..trustme..football is serious business even for 7 yr olds;)

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  11. Lovely painting of the antique shop, makes me want to see inside….I love, love vintage, thrifting. Your garden is awesome…I’ve saved seeds also, always hopeful !! …always bugs and critters, yuck. We need to update our old mattress…such a difficult thing to purchase. Football season!…please everyone be safe and have fun! xo, V.

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    1. Part of my problem..my husband is fine with our mattress lol..no..:)Yes..I ray my Littles stay safe.They take football very seriously.Thank you.

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  12. What a lovely post and the painting is so nice...
    Hug, Titti

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  13. A lovely blog with wonderful art work.
    Enjoy the upcoming week...

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