...All about the gardens..

 

It really is..

May is the month where a lot happens here..more toward the end like now..

Which means I am out there primping and fluffing and weed whacking and weeding..

Tending to the clematis and their unruly growth..winds play havoc on them..and a few are susceptible to tiny worms making homes in leaves..like Annabelle hydrangeas..both get them at the same time.Pinch them off if you can..They often need tying but one night can have them wound up where you cannot untangle at all.

I also water the seeds..I sowed.

I will never sow in cool weather again.

In warm humid weather as we just had within 3 days..cosmos and zinnias were up..

What a waste when I used to sow them too early.

We think everything is early so I am happy I will have annuals to enjoy.

Honeysuckle and such bushes Jacques trimmed yesterday..used to be end of June.

I snipped the dahlias the way they showed online to have more branches to the plant etc..

Time will tell

The bridal wreath spireas are outstanding this year:)

Tree peonies..always first to bloom.

I am not complaining:)

Have a great weekend:)

We are loving this series..

It is a very emotional series..not for the faint of heart.

On another note..we started ..

My husband..not so much..me? I think I like it:)I know I am late to the party..

Also watched..

Hard to watch..very sad..

Great acting..not sure why no awards..you know..GG..AA.. etc..

I thought they all acted very well..

"I used to be a brother"

:(

A long weekend here in QC..

 

 Still a lot of rain..Mother's day was sunny but I was away..Tradition..A weekend get away with my two daughters.So much fun..so much talking..I love how we all talk about real things and not just the weather.I can basically tell them anything.

About me.And listen..about them.

100 yrs ago..  my first manager..not first ever but first in my career..was a Godsend.She was so perfect for me.While having fled bullies as a pre-teen and early teen to my bedroom..she was my saving grace with what we called sharks ..lol in real estate.

When she passed away..at her celebration of life..Eddie..one of her dear friends.. brought this cookie like spiral cake..I call it Eddie's almond roll.

I made it again Monday..it slices more like a cookie not a cake..

La Recette

250 grams of cold butter
375 grams of flour
125 grams of sugar
1 packet of vanilla Sugar

Mix and mound all..make a well add an egg.. Mix again...
Let rest..Knead a bit ..roll out..Until you would almost see the Tupperware writing:)

(I always make this sugar crust/dough on my ancient Tupperware mat..as the recipe specifically said that..and I have had mine since the first years of my wedding..)Eddie had one too:)

In a seperate bowl mix
200 grams of ground almonds
100 grams of sugar
1 egg white
a dash of almond extract (I add much more..I am a big fan)
enough Rose water to make a paste..

Spread paste on dough..roll up..



Make slits.. brush with egg yolk.. I add coarse sugar .for a sprinkling of crisp sweetness.. I love how the crystals caramelize..the ones that fall on the parchment.
Bake at 375 degrees for ap 45 mins..
It makes a long roll and is such a nice treat with tea or coffee.
Cool slice and serve..small slivers are ideal..Wrap tightly..and keep..if you can.
I just felt like taking out the NEW Rose Water:)

The gardens change so very quickly here in May.

Plus we have had a few days of unreal weather..VERY Provence-like..So very much like it.Those glorious blue skies.. the fresh green..the Irises starting..In fact the LOTV are just beginning  to wane.

In a breath the new gardens ..slip out..

It was so mild..

That I..

Planted the dahlias I bought at Costco..yes I did.

I had bought from a local grower/and not her fault I am certain..but not lucky was I..

I bought a bag of Labyrinth..potted them up indoors..in a few short days all had shoots!!

When I went back..They had Café Au lait..How could I resist? Since the first bag showed promise..

The bag jumped into my cart.

Same response potted up here:)

So after a couple of weeks..with this weather..I brought them out..and a few days later planted..The root system on all!! Oh my goodness..Only one is looking frail..but its hot and sunny so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

If I can overwinter the tubers..they will go where my garlic is this year..and the garlic will grow here.

My nasturtium seeds have sprouted:). A new variety and my old orange ones..

Cannot wait to see:)

I seeded marigolds..and cosmos and zinnias..All did well last yr.

Geraniums are planted..Wave petunias..and cascade mini ones..A tricolor sweet potato vine(2)..And 2 blueish annuals..Verbena Bonariensis:). ..And ones Derek grew...Ageratum..they may have too much sun where I planted them.

I hope they live by this adage..

Rosemary overwinters beautifully indoors ..that's back out..

I still need some herbs:) And two bicycle plants;)

Chives are great perennials..Thyme..Oregano..my sage died last yr..during summer..a rare..fungus.Dill lol borage..reseeds..

I planted only 4 tomato plants.

Have new guinea impatiens as annuals too..

Potted geraniums on deck..

Looking rather good today:)

Here's to 2024 garden season.

May the flowers be with you:)

...Tiny Treasures..

 

So..since I painted this so dear to my art watercolor gleaned from a photo my daughter took of me  and Lucas..ap 15 yrs ago..I corrected my right arm:) It's uncanny what the scanner picks up..all to say it's all better now..in a clip frame beside the original pic in the sunroom.

I remember as if yesterday. It felt like heaven. 

It has been an unusually cold ..wet ,dark Spring..slowly things are peeking up..but ever so slowly.

I am so cold:(

My poor little Cicely Mary Baker fairies have seen better times..missing arms..legs even one headless one..paint off..cleaned in fall and put into hibernation..still like our birdhouses..falling into decrepit states.

A while ago..Marie ..

https://andthenweallhadtea.blogspot.com/

Posted and a little bracelet caught my eye..the bracelet was ok price wise..perhaps 17.00 at the time..but shipping 23.00..I thought this cannot be lol.I send boxes to the US..well one in particular for that.. but a weightless bracelet? So I texted and asked if it was an error.Unfortunately no  reply.

So I thought..let me try ..it's far from what I was looking at..but I will keep practicing.

In the kitchen..one of Jacques' very favorite desserts are date squares and I don't blame him.

These are the best.. and Anne Lindsay herself dubbed them that.I have made many recipes..this one is always tops.

Anne Lindsay was a hero of mine..I must have 4 of her books and I have kept them.

This goes back..a long time..as I am 70 now..

She was a mentor.

I loved having mentors..no mom..Since I was 19...So I relied on mentors..In the garden..In the kitchen..At work..

Oh a side note.I bought dahlia tubers at Costco on two occasions..starting them indoors.. We shall see;)

Happy May first.

Take care.