Gardens~Painting~Cookies.

 

Needless to say I loved that tutorial.I would love to be able to paint such as this no tutorial:)

I baked more cookies after ordering a few custom cookie cutters..

The cutters come with a recipe..Ill try it next time;)

This time I made the ones I love the taste so much of..brown sugar shortbread cookies..I know I have lots of faves..this is one of the recipes..I have shared it before with the Je T'Aime cookies..

They  are really good..  however..I really do understand what certain cookie cutter ..stamps need..and I still make errors..For this recipe I added more flour..I still rolled in sugar..but after chilling the balls (bigger) I dusted with flour and did the same with the cutter..prior to baking I chilled again..I made these on a 100F day mind you but when you make stamped cookies a lot you get the hang of them

Note..One day all my fun stuff will be somewhere in a huge garage sale lol..contact my daughters;)

My gardens are work..lots of work but lots of joy.The big work is Spring and Fall..right now..it's primping and cutifying..and caring for them..

You know..I walk the gardens several times a day..

and does this happen to you?

I walk by and bend down and look at a flower..and think to myself..:"you're so pretty"..sometimes I say it out loud.I do..Not LOUD more like just telling myself that vocally.

Some things I grow to mainly take photos of ...some things to punish myself lol..some to eat..some a challenge..some to remind me of friends.Some because they are larger than life and floriferous..others so small almost invisible.

Some to make bouquets and some to just bring a peacefulness to the gardens.

But it's the fact I actually say:"You're so pretty" ..?

We had Oli one afternoon and he wanted to take photos..when I downloaded the pics..I saved 3 of me..usually it's..garbage..bin..don't share..

But I saved 3 :)

I thanked him.

All the boys are well..♥

I've been taking small trips down memory lane..Europe 2008..Glad we traveled when we did..I know overseas is finished.

♥But I am grateful for all the beauty I saw the four times we went..minus one place:(

I could live in an old charming(of course) home..easily..in the south of France..but with all my family there too.

A lot of people have stopped blogging in general..and have stopped commenting on blogs because they become the dreaded ANONYMOUS and then say who they are..

This girl..

Everyone's tech guru princess..Linda has written a great post..thought I would share..

It's here at Life And  Linda..

She graciously shares tips to make Bloggers Lives..  far easier.

PS It's verbena bonariensis I forgot this year..def next yr.

~Mid July~

 

Mid July and it's mostly Lily time..My fave is the before last one..Maggie..blooming in profusion.

I would have them everywhere..I may divide and try that:)

JB love these too though so it's hit or miss..

I looked back to July last yr and my cherry tomatoes are a bust this yr:(

The larger ones seem better but not stellar..If anything is abundant Ill be shocked.

Happily surprised let's say.

Purple poppies no go this yr..just the ones I always have..

Dill is great:)

NEXT yr GOMPHRENA  I forgot:(

I took a wonderful online tutorial..With Marco Novo  he's just great..

that's the class the two little beach girls..

Still baking..always..

The bread is from Nusrat on IG..her name there is sabzi.schabzi

I don't know what happens if I directly link my account being a bit more cautious..

The bran muffins are from Chris..one bowl bran muffins..soo good..

Noah is in Maine..I miss going there..so charming..with his mom having a ball.

The 3 other boys went to Football University in Naples Florida..

3 days of extensive training in hot as heck weather.

Summmertime..and the livin' is easy:)

Into July~

 

It's all about the gardens:) And Noah's 14th birthday..wow..14..unimaginable ..I keep repeating myself but time is whizzing by.

The thing I enjoy about photography ..is ..well one of the things I enjoy..is that sometimes the lens catches something you didn't..like that hovering wee creature above the zinnia..

Or all the lace patterns on a dragonfly's wings.

Have a very good coming week~

Weather is iffy one day..perfect the next~

 

So the gardens and grass are still looking healthy alhough they need a system restore after each rain fall..and the winds!! Oh my gosh the winds..Some irises just keeled over..I should have staked many ..even non beardede,, I seem to have fewer blooms this yr.. some things are thriving like no other year..others not.

My least fave job..weed whacking my gardens..I like the borders neat and tidy and weedwhacking is the way to go.I hate the noise..and wear goggles now..so often something can pop up:(

Poppies are done..the big showy ones..

Peonies too after this last rainfall.

Ill need to divide so many hostas yet again.

Another job I hate.

Right now roses are the stars..and daisies..small medium and large..all different types.

I made a delicious marble cake..if you have a fave recipe consider covering w/ a Ferrero Rocher type icing♥

And don't consider making Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon on an overcast sweltering day with tornado warnings.

And hire a dishwasher:)

Still painting..Montreal People..Riviera People..Provence people.

On IG I add a story:)

I like that part;)

Well it's another rainy day ..so I'll get to painting another little person:)

Just made hamburger buns..and they seem yum..  practicing for M's bday in August.

Have a good week!

Here, things happen quickly:)

 

And this year it seems quicker than ever..but is that my age?Galopping at the speed of light time is..

Like these garlic scapes..I know I'm not a looooong time grower..maybe 6 yrs now?Maybe more..But this is the first time some scapes have curled and come about so early..some..but still.Now all harvested..the scapes This June 13th.

The peonies..June 10th ..starting..The singles have come and gone!...I need to fertilize 4 doubles..they have stopped blooming:(

I am not a red person in my gardens..But I can't part w/ a clump of red/orange poppies..they don't last long so I can live with them..:)

The peach ones will pop soon..those I love.Can you spot the first little clem bloom emanating from the obelisk?

I am sure I will be back soon as this is my garden journal too.

I love pickled onions on burgers etc..

These are different and delish from Hailee..CafeHailee ..

You can find the recipe here..I love Tik Tok what can I say:) 

At night before bed:)

Then I have trouble sleeping thinking about what I want to make..plant..cook..bake..lol.

That lemon loaf is a keeper.

It's from Tricia who..most of us are very familiar with as she has shared her recipes for years..

You can find the recipe here..Lemon Ricotta pound cake..I added lemon verbena and limoncello to the glaze.That' s it:)

Busy times for all the boys..fun to see them all become nice young men.

We had Noah today..he was excited to show us an award he won..ART..look at sidebar :) And history.A double.

I was so happy for him.

Again I just want them happy but to me..recognition is encouragement...and everyone needs it.

I love teachers that encouraged my daughters and now my grandchildren.

Victoire is my girl this week..another also ..but it's a surprise for someone..so keeping it under wraps.Again a painting from geeparee22 on IG..Geni..an amazing photog:)

Encourage someone this week:)