Petal power~♥

My Serviceberry (amélanchier)..was in top form this past weekend..the peak of it's beauty.I love that tree..Lucas' age.
It looks like a big fluffy white cotton candy ball on a trunk.
It lasts for a breath..but it's a breath I crave..every Spring.

The sun came out Saturday and I had a chance to investigate and see what happened over the winter..seems our grass has been taken over by Creeping Charlie..Lamb's Ears..Forget Me Nots and Ajuga..oyoyoy..anyways once mowed it all looked better..

 I did weed.. but they come back faster than I can annihilate them:(
Jacques did mow and I was ooh lalaing again instead of oyoyoying:)

Lots of pretty muscari and violets..mini blue hues here and there.
Pretty pinks in another favorite tree..my flowering almond..packed with buds this year!! The whole tree!
Like miniature fairy roses all over it.

I baked a little apple pie..celebrating petals and blooms.
It's as if nature is truly having a coming out party:)
A debutante ball.

The pie is basic..your fave crust..I love Ricardo's..I took 2 apples, a tbsp of flour..cinnamon,cardamom..a dot of butter..
Baked till the under was done..I like that small heart glass dish because it's small,it's clear  and I see under..

I am sure the neighbors think I have a problem..I can walk around many times in a day and click click click..because in the span of just a few hours..things have grown:)
I am telling the truth.Watch f you have interest in seeing what happens to a garden in Spring.
Late Saturday turned to ugly..and ugly lingered into Sunday..threats of frost and snow..so the baskets we do have came in..my sicklings..not seedlings..sicklings this year..came in..and the geraniums..the basil ,the potted cherry tomato plant..thing is..we are so anxious here in QC..we tempt fate..and start everything too darn early.
Oh well....

The boys..literally crack me up..Lucas and Oli were over on Thursday..Oli asked if I could put tattoos on him..Me? Of course..I just happen to have the Star Wars ones here..where do you want them..and he showed me his cheeks and forehead..
Done:)  
But mommy could not get them off for school the next day..nor for dinner out at Mamie's the Saturday..so when Max and Oli went out for dinner..(Lucas was at a sleepover)..Oli went just the way he was:)♥
Oh to be 6 again and not give a dang about anything..

Imagine..if you had temp tattoos on your face..who would notice the imperfections?
I have a rubber stamp I use on my family's cards..it simply says:
LOVE YOUR FACE.
Because I do.
Have a great week!

BTW..mommy never tells nana don't do that..re the tattoos..she is very easygoing.
PS..it's 9.35 AM May 16th..and it's snowing:(

May 17th..no snow..:) Added the serviceberry and almond branches so you can see the profusion of blessed blooms!

Rose Bonbon~

The week leading up to Mother's Day..Jacques had an appointment very close to our Costco..
I had been saying..:"they should have kept their tulips under $10.00"..
That mind set of $9.99 and they would sell more..like they used to be..
they are $11.99 now..and I have not bought one bunch yet..since..

but Jacques did that day..there are 2 bunches in the package..and they are quite spectacular for tulips that are not French or Parrot:)

I have a big vase ..like a big goldfish vase..and they love it in there♥
I had a big one..and it slipped out of my hands a couple of months ago..in the workshop..(cement floor)..shattered..I was quite taken aback by the fact that my fave vase was no more..
then I found another..but huge..r..

these double pack tulips love it.
I look..ed at them so many times every day:)

So so pretty in pink.

And I saw Isabelle's post about the PERFECT chocolate chip cookies..

I HAVE 10 Perfects..:)

But we had guests..Littles..and I thought : "try hers.."
and maybe they are not THE BEST..But they are in that top 10 THE BEST..so I guess they are  part of THE BEST:)

I ♥ them..and so easy and delicious..
and I love them more the next day!

For 2 dozen cookies,courtesy of Isabelle@Les Gourmandises d'Isa~

1/2 cup unsalted butter,room temp..(I use salted)
1/2 packed brown sugar
6 tbsps sugar
1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract (I use paste)
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt 
2 1/4 cup choco chips.

Pre-heat oven to 350
In your KA mixer w/ the whisk attachment beat butter and sugars 2 minutes
Add egg and vanilla and beat at low speed until homogenous
Change to the large beater and incorporate the flour,bs and salt that you have sifted before,and the choco chips.
Using a tbsp make  dough balls about the size of a large nut..I used my scoop.
Place on your baking sheet (I use Silpat) and leave 2 inches between.
Bake 13-15 minutes until the egdges are lightly golden.
Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before placing on a cooling rack

~ Spring is finally surfacing w/greenery...slowly.. but surely..and the trilliums are just beautiful this time of year..Pulmonaria ,aka ..lungwort(what a name)..ferns..scillas,vinca,forget-me-nots,magnolias,peonies ..all surfacing..it really is a pretty pretty time of the year!
The porch ferns are bought and hung..another basket..some geraniums..at one point it should all come together..I'll be acclimatizing plants I seeded indoors..to get comfy enough for the big move..
..chaque chose en son temps~

Bon weekend~

Varia~Before real gardening sets in~

Tis' Myosotis Season♥

Oh my darlin' oh my darlin' ~

The boys came for a sleepover..how much energy do 3 growing boys have and how much of an appetite..do they have?

They played football outside/soccer for at least 2 hrs non stop before we came in for dinner..and they had had their first football practice in the AM..their uncle Alain popped by w/ Noah on his motorcycle..he is a police officer and loves to ride his motorcycle:)

they loved everything..especially the pizzas...banana bread and chips..and the cinnamon rolls the next morning..


I have to tell you that TV time at night ..is cuddle time..and they love foot massages..hair rubbing..lol..the whole nine yards..and equal time to all..;)
Bed was 11PM..and we usually tell stories..well Max and Oli and I do in our room..and Jacques and Lucas upstairs..Max started then said you do it nana..  Oli was gently snoring by the time I started..it was instantaneous..and Max drifted off shortly thereafter..Lucas the same upstairs..


The next day..when we were alone for lunch..I had to try those newfangled avocado flowers..so much easier than I expected.
They sure do pretty up  a plate..that was my first try imagine when we have it down pat? So so cute!
Mother's Day?
Not for me..as I am going out w/ my girls..but if you are treating your mom:)
I found the great tutorial  here.
What a nice CHEF!!

I had made egg salad sandwiches the day before..and I had a craving for a chicken salad I used to eat while working in a mall while going to school..
I loved those jobs..I had a few..my favorite though was Eaton's cosmetics dept..Picture..a sort of Macy's..gleaming counters,fragrances,gorgeous beauty products.
And we got samples..it was so much fun to suggest products..and help:)
I must admit I sometimes  I now feel intimidated in such stores in those depts..
perhaps because we had a beauty salon in back of my office before I retired..and I went in for something..  a shampoo I think..and the owner came over and suggested a line of her products for skin that was..well aging..

what? 

So since then..I have known that the cosmeticians..are a bit direct for me..now..
Let me live in my Eaton's bubble please.

When I was in back of the counter..like Selfridge's:)

And I would have never suggested such a thing.

And I never went back in there.Why ruin a perfectly great day.

Yet..give me a hardware store that I have been frequenting for about 40 years..
it was small and dusty and full of interesting things..set up on boards..and the owner..a woman..was always so nice to me..her son was there sometimes..and he took over at one point..
and the hardware store burned down and they rebuilt..
and the son was always so nice..
Hello young lady he would say to me when I went in..(he said that to everyone I came to see;)..
and then he had kids and we had kids and 42 yrs later I am still going there..and just this past week he said to me..:"Hello young lady.." And although I do not believe him at all..I will go back..because he did not tell me he had creams for aging skin:)

And because now HIS son is very involved in the business..and now his family..is neighbour to my family and because his grandaughter Katie  plays with my grandsons..and because she said this ..this past week..to MY daughter..sitting on my daughters' porch looking at her house..:

" you know.. when I am all grown up..I will still live in that house with my kids..and the boys will live here with their kids..and all our kids will be best friends~"

well..I will always go back there.

What a tangent..

..so when I worked in those stores..on payday..I would sometimes go for lunch w/ a friend..and have the chicken salad that came shaped like a dome(ice cream scoop)..so I did it again :)
It was such a treat for me.
I also liked to buy my mom a trinket or something.
She never bought herself anything I think.
Lipstick.. a pair of gloves..her Life magazine,Reader's Digest..oh and her cigarettes.
You would never have thought of my mom holding a cigarette..
but she did.
We never thought anything of it.

It seemed like everyone smoked back then.
And played bridge..:)

I thought about her all day on Mother's Day of course..

MD.. Jacques and I made Shrimp and Grits:)
And watched home movies from Florida♥



and the day before I enjoyed a lovely day with my girls..
we had General Tao..lol ..so very French..
and shopped..

we are Nashville lovers..

and now I have the sweatshirt to prove it..

Nashville is a country music..type of Soap Opera..that we found w/ Connie Britton after Friday Night Lights..
even Jacques watches it..

he prefers Marseilles..w/ G Depardieu on Netflix..yet..eases into an episode of Nashville:)


I don't blame him..

Have a LOOK
he is one of the Nashville stars

I will never grow up concerning that song.


I am the grateful recipient of  a new very pretty journal..and a mini birdbath that will look like ..well life sized in the Fairy Garden..tulips..cards..
spoiled.


I am VERY grateful to have a very bright room in the basement..where all my "stuff" is stored..it's not a pretty room..
it's the one I do the most things in apart from the kitchen.
I do keep a little stash upstairs..because I do prefer being upstairs..but most of my menagerie is in that room..corner windows..south facing..
But it is not like a magazine and I have said so.. my sewing machine is set up..a card table for other crafts..gift wrapping..stamping..calligraphy.. and with the boys..I just stored the mini set in the attic..
there's a long table for computers and printers..a TV (I never watch it)..and a stereo..(vintage for my cassettes LOL).
Jacques stores 3 wine glass carboys  there too when in production..
I can leave my ironing board up etc..
I have seedlings growing above what you see..2 easels are set up..

FUNCTIONAL..all of it..but not Pottery Barn..and not a Pin It room:)
Just thought I should tell you:)
I have a true dislike for that chair..it used to be at a breakfast island in a home we lived in many years ago.. that chair..followed us here..it is so uncomfortable..but it's the only one high enough..~
The drafting table cannot go any lower..
Any suggestions?:)
Bonne semaine!

May~ Le mois de Mai~

This coming weekend is Mother's Day weekend..

I wish everyone a lovely one~

Mother or not..we're all nurturers:)

I want to tell my daughters that my mom..their nana..would be very proud of the young women/mothers they are themselves.
I am sure she is so enamoured with her great-grandsons and hopes they can feel it in some way through me~

I made Ricardo's bread again because nothing beats it as garlic bread on the grill and grilling season is here..
Jacques grills all winter but now it's on the deck..
I really like using the brotform because it leaves a lovely design on the bread..
A brotform makes a fine gift also:)

One grilled chicken salad I love is a recipe from Robert..a friend.

I worked with him..actually met Sylvie first:)

Anyway one day a few years back he brought over a salad dressing he makes to put over the grilled chicken..it was so good..I have made it and made it and made it..
he had been working with my husband on some outdoor jobs too big for us to handle.

You top it w/ candied pecans..which are simply pecans coated in maple syrup/sugar..not too much sugar..there were no proportions given..and yet they work.. that you bake at relatively low heat 325F until the coating  is baked on..once dry..and cooled they keep well for weeks...in a sealed glass jar..

The dressing is never the same as I tweak it every time..because I usually double or triple it..

it has sesame oil in it..mayo..teriyaki..some sugar.

1 tsp  roasted sesame oil (I love sesame oil)
2 tbsps Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce 
3 Tbsps sugar
mix well then add 5 tbsps Hellman's mayo.Blend until homogenous..
pepper.
***I use less sugar.And I add a bit of water to create the consistency I like.
A few spring green onions..some mesclun or romaine..slice your grilled chicken atop..then the nuts.
I serve the dressing on the side..those are our chives..and the first reseeded pansy here.I only have 1.Soon we will be able to get our plants and herbs and baskets.

I have a few warm chicken salads I like..I'll share more as warmer weather arrives..
I still favor Gina's Skinnytaste Baked  Chicken Milanese one  very much also..

Roasted beet salds are almost my favorite salads...apart from grilled chicken ones:)

You know that though..here..HERE..here..I know there are more..cannot find them right now:)

This one ..simply golden beets..roasted with evoo salt and garlic..save the sauce:)  Add white balsamic to taste and pepper..
use mesclun..romaine or arugula as the base..top with the gorgeous sunny beets and feta..pour dressing on top..and home chives..dandelions are just a plus.
As you know,weeds are but an unloved flower.
Dandelions..pesticide free..are good for you.

Tarts..anything cuter?

I fell upon this..at Tutti Dolci..
and decided to make mini versions..I used strawberries and figs..
The little lemon addition is very yum.

I have had those molds for maybe 20 yrs..
I recently found another use for them and hope to share it soon..if they work~
Google translate isn't always literate.

My garlic brings me such pleasure..still no leaves in the trees..yet these babies..shine..my serviceberry is a breath close to blooming..I adore that tree.

Been gardening..
and..signed up for new Craftsy art lessons..Marc Taro Holmes..People In Motion.I have  such a long long long way to grasp it all..
The Craftsy classes I have taken are way way out of my league..but one picks up helpful hints while learning.
Still I am LOVING it..I keep practicing on Jacques..

there is one main reason why I am taking this class..there is another artist that I admire..Rita at Sketchbook Wandering..her watercolors are so alive..you can feel them all..I asked her if this was innate or learned..and one of the commentors suggested Marc's class..
so I went for it.
Pop by Rita's blog if you never have..her art makes me smile and feel something.

Although I can appreciate perfect art that reflects an object or person as if photographed..my true loves swerve for more charm in art..such as the artists I refer to in many of my posts.
And I love to learn.

I have  been practicing calligraphy w/ that oblique pen..
Jacques said ..:"it must be so hard to write with that!"..
And..it's not.
I ♥ it.
Let me just say flourishes ABOUND on Instagram.
Thanks Instagram and all the EXTREMELY talented calligraphy artists that share their tips and tricks and tools of the trade~

Have a great week and weekend~

Hopefully it will start to warm up here..moreso than Tuesday's glimmers ..I sound so discontent~ I am just anxious to get this show on the road I think.
Just want warmth on my face and in my earth now:)
To sit and watch my garden grow.

Linda~Orecchiette~Cookies

Linda..I ..."met".. years ago through blogging..we always keep in touch even though she is on an extended hiatus from her well loved blog.
We clicked and we still click:)
She's such a great cook/baker..and I love when she sends me an email with a link to something she has tested and liked..or loved:)
The latest was this orecchiette dish ..that both Jacques and I favor.
The little pasta bowls end up holding such flavor..w/ the pancetta(Costco)..we used to get it in Little Italy..but the last time we were at Costco they had some so we picked it up and it's good..very good..
I add toasted pine nuts to the recipe..and some red chili flakes when charring the leaves of the sprouts..
and I add basil when I have it.
Since she told me about it we have had it twice..and we will have it again soon:)

April was Letter writing month..and I think I will keep it up..
It's over now..but I think next year....I will do it again...but more.

I love posting a note as well as receiving a note..

I always want everything to get there the same day though..like an email..;)
Take for example the seeds..I ordered them online..because I really want Watermelon radishes:)  And I can't find any..
Ater 10 days the seeds had not arrived and I inquired..asking if this was habitual because it's all within Canada ..and she said yes..

Murphy's Law..the next day or close to the next day the seeds had arrived..

have to wait until summer to plant..they are not like early French radishes..

I think I am changing..Jacques is slowly ripping out a hydrangea/goatsbeard bed..(what a job!)  so we can plant a few more little veggies..
I had planted all those to hide an unsightly heat pump..I guess growing a few more veggies or garlic appeals to me more than hiding ugly now.
:)
Also chopping down those hydrangeas and goatsbeard plants is a huge job in the fall..

It's been so cold..and prepping the gardens is more difficult when cold..
Tonight..I am going to take a warm bubble bath .. wash my hands and face..and apply all those Rose samples to myself.♥
And make believe I am at a spa..and make believe I like spas..and make believe I have tried a spa.
I love home grooming.. what can I say...definetely not high maintenance.
I used to streak my own hair..till it got old too;)And till I goofed twice:) Orange was not the new black back then..:)

Bus duty..pulled out a recipe from my real estate yrs....one client had made these to greet the agents:) Sold!

They are called Terri's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies..

they are so good.I sample the batter.

Here you go:)

My notes..
I first had these over 10 yrs ago..maybe even 15.
I did not add nuts..nor the peanut butter kisses although they are delish w/ those..the Littles..like w/out fanfare.
I use a cookie scoop..and so mine take about 12 mins to bake.
They are puffy when I take them out of the oven..and flatten.
This recipe makes ap 36 cookies.

Definitely keeper cookies..

Bon weekend..may our temps warm and our gardens grow~

Shameless nana had to add Oli..a pic I took last weekend when he donned my hippie era fur collared and cuffed jean jacket to stay warm while playing football..~


He cleans up well:)♥He's the baby of all the Littles..6.
He's so cool.

photo courtesy of his mommy's Iphone.

Hmmm....he always reminds me of a very young...