Tulips and cookies and winter and Peter Rabbit~

It's been quite a winter..as you can see by some of my pics above:)
But we love it believe it or not..

Jacques never complains about what he does outside and he makes everything look so nice in winter with paths..and walkways..all just perfect.
He even makes a winding walking path to the She~He Shed...

I wanted to tell you something about tulips because I love them..and they can last 2 weeks if I am lucky..

When we get them home they are upright..in water like the first shot for a few days..slowly..they start their dance..which I love even more..arabesques..and curtsies..a virtual little waltz..but around the 7th day..they can all droop right over the large fishbowl type vase I keep them in..
I found a trick..take them out of the water and and snip the ends at an angle again..like you did when you brought them home..wrap in newspaper snuggly ,straight...stems and all lying on your table or counter.. and leave out for a couple of hours..put them back in your vase that you have put fresh water in..and watch them dance again..and again..I have done it twice..they are still beautiful.

I also wanted to share a new rolling pin..cookie stamp recipe..that I made up as I went along.
Works for both.I used the Brigitte cookie cutter for the Justin Paul name..and my GoodyWoody rolling pin.


La Recette


1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
Vanilla paste or sugar..again to taste..I used 1 tsp paste
1 egg
instant coffee powder..I use espresso..as much as you like I used 1/2 tsp
1/2 cup dk brown sugar
1 softened stick of butter


Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy..add vanilla
Mix egg and coffee powder  add to egg and sugar mixture
Sift flour and cocoa powder..add to the above.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 F oven for ap 8-10 minutes.


You must flour your surface w/ cocoa powder for choc cookies..roll dough out and again cocoa powder  that.
Cut out your name plate cookies..
or roll ONCE with your engraved rolling pin....don't come back..just roll once I roll away w/ your engraved rolling pin.Cut desired shape.

Place on parchment paper on your baking sheet.
At this point I freeze mine..outside in our screened-in porch..in winter..in summer I freeze in the freezer..they freeze fast.
Bake and enjoy.
My impressions stayed clear and lovely.

Note..These are not for first timers..  at least I don't think so..

best to stay w/ a vanilla plainish sugar cookie to begin with:)
Chocolate is messy..and I don't want you getting discouraged:)

On a fun note..

For years I have coveted a child's Beatrix Potter Tea Set..because you know me and BP and Tea..
Never something I felt I could invest in..after all I'm 65 not 5..

Well lo and behold one of my favorite sellers on Varage Sale had one for sale  for $20.00 and I felt that was not the end of the world to be a little girl again..one tea cup is missing and the lid to the tea pot..but luckily I have one that fits well enough..I searched online for the replacement lid to no avail..

For my fellow BP/Peter Rabbit lovers and tea party lovers..as well as tea and tea cups..


Look how cute.

It even has the lace picnic blanket 

Even the suitcase ..♥Be still my young girl's heart:)

Have a lovely weekend~

~Mid October~

Enjoying teas and ephemera:)

Thinking of cute shops I saw in Provence..

Started to gather a few seeds ..

I cannot believe this..still  on this 12th day of October..it still looks like this..

I must say..even now I love looking back on paintings done in Provence as souvenirs..

Can you believe we bought 3 in Provence from an artist?:) We did..  
Already hung on a wall..
Mine stay in my journal/book.

The peppers are roasted and frozen..

My neighbourhood is looking spooky:)

And I have baked a few things in our kitchen:)

I'm having tea with Marie up above:)

A bundle of October goodness arrived in my postal box..all dressed up a la Marie..So many cute October Ephemera things and a new kind of tea I had spotted on Marie's blog but never here..Bistrotea..so easy..no mess..portable..small..and very very good..Thank you Marie:)

Our leaves are starting to turn..quite prettily as usual..and an adjacent town is having their fall festival of colors.They have fun montages out of straw people doing various activities..really cute..
The Hallowen decorations are popping up..
It's all looking quite festive.


Jacques and I did our roasted peppers..will have enough for well over 1 yr..
It's a process..about 3 hrs start to finish.

Split your peppers in half and de~seed.
Char  them on the BBQ.
Place in paper bags(a receptionist ..in a dental office   100 yrs ago told me this trick).
Skin the peppers and place them in a very large bowl that you have filled w/ EVOO,garlic and basil..at every warm batch..stir to mix perfectly..keep going until you are done.
The smell is divine..
Bag them up..and freeze..

Reserve of deliciousness to top pizzas put in sauces..salads.
I cannot stomach brined jarred ones.
You can't even compare.
Would be hard to get such a quantity done alone..Love that Jacques is into doing these..

One day in Provence I took my archaic Ipad(mini) out instead of my camera and took a few photos.I loved having them on the Ipad to try painting.

Unfortunately my Ipad is a black Friday 4 yrs ago at least Ipad w/ only 16 gb..and is full.

I read that they have not released newer versions of the mini in a few yrs and probably won't.
So I bit the bullet on a new mini w/ 128 gb..
the very next morning I found out my brakes were shot after only 3 yrs.

Ohlala Chaching.

Back to the mini..Apple released an Update..12 IOS and IG isn't full screen anymore..:( On my spanking new Ipad..on the 9.0 version..my dinosaur..it's fine.
I am not thrilled:(
It's a known fact..I Googled..It's IG's problem and they ain't fixed it.
Hope they do:)


The cake is a coconut cake..I found a new Instagrammer..who has a blog! And you can translate the recipes.
I have made 2.
This latest..the coconut cake ..the flavor is delish..I made it as she said but I also added a few drops of coconut flavoring.
I would have liked it to be a bit moister..not sure what I would change to accomplish that.Pehaps butter instead of oil..?Not sure.

Today.. one more garden has been put to bed.3 down..too many to go.
It's just so freaking cold here..or raining..I have not had much opportuni~tea:)♥

Have a lovely weekend!

Another Favoritea~

I know I talk a lot about tea..and since I love coffee even more..I too wonder why..
It's the beauty of it all..That's my attraction..the ritual..the way it catches the light..The way it sits prettily on trays.


Most of you know I favor Numi blooming teas.


I have also bought some from other sources..they seem readily available now..Not so much back when I first started indulging in this beautiful blooming tea.
I am a gardener... so to me..it's like a small winter indoor bloom.
Remember Sea Monkeys? Or those things I buy Lulu that look like small foam pellets in capsules and immersed in water turn into sea creatures?
The same applies here..but for grown~ups:)


You start off with a tray.. a cup.. an assortment.. or one hand made tea pod..and a clear vessel to brew the tea.



At first it looks like this..


And when you add your water ..it turns into a water garden..All different shapes.. all different types of teas.
It's a photo..a surprise .. every time..

Teatime~

I enjoy tea..I probably prefer coffee..but I like the prettiness of tea..All kinds..Little sachets..blooming teas..infused teas..and this tea..Tea Forté~


I think what got to me first was the leaf at the end of the tea bag:)





Each little pyramid shaped bag has a leaf at it's very tip..it's bottom sits in your cup infusing it with special blends..


All kinds of accessories can be added..the little trays..
the beautiful white individual teacup with lid..I see they have red now too.. little clear cups..gift packs..
I think they make great gifts..and I like looking at them too~
I keep mine out on a corner shelf in the kitchen~


If you need a special gift.. I suggest a few sachets and the big white cup w/ lid:) Or a couple of trays with a few sachets..they also have gift sets..

Tea Forté