A watercolor I made I actually like:)

 

Sketching Retreat announced some lovely tutorials.I signed up and there are many from so many talented artists..A lot graphic arts.. perspectives etc..Out of my league.But I have purchased a few of Shari's tutorials and when I discovered she was also amidst the talented teachers..I was so happy.

She posted this one and I followed her attentively..This is the outcome.

I see all the errors of my ways but all in all I am pleased.J really likes it too:)

Even if you get a few tips with these well worth it.

Our weather has been stellar:)

In the spirit of Halloween...

It's all quite gruesome in some places...

I stayed local and skipped Mc Mansions..I follow an Instagrammer..the brownstones in NYC..it must cost a zillion to decorate like that.

The Wizard of Oz..  The wicked witch..I was so frightened by her:)

I still don't like them..especially real life ones:)

Time change this weekend..I think I like it..I'll have to settle in and see:)

Take care.

Arlene's birthday is on Halloween:) Have a great one..

The most beautiful fall..ever.

The most beautiful fall..ever..

A great day.Oli was able to play a game after 1 month in a cast.They won.Yes that's Little Oli number 9.Who towers over us.

I have  soft spot for him.. I have a soft spot for the other 3 also.I am full of soft spots.They are the spots that fill my heart.

You know the thing about sports that I love is the camaraderie.Some students have been on the bench for 4 years.Never played.The parents and the grandfather come to every game.It's the friendships:)In one case..

I have a new found respect for dahlia growers in my zone or colder.

Yikes those little tubers I planted went forth and triplified +++++I dug them up..huge clumps..I'm not dividing..  I cut off all these scraggly roots..Brushed them off ..I had tagged them before..They dried in the sun yesterday today also they will.Then I will store in wood shavings indoors and keep my fingers crossed.Tightly.

Have a lovely week.

 For Van Gogh lovers..a must see..

Rachel shared this on her blog..

Starry Starry Night

Half time ;)

P not sure anyone will see my posts now..MailChimp sent me a notice saying they will not unless I purchase credits..Lol That I exceed 2000 subscribers.

Ummm..No.

C'est tellement beau..

 

Not peak yet..But oh so pretty.

Saturday found areas without power and windy..(the cause) but sunny with gorgeous white puffy clouds..I went out looking for beauty.I don't have far to go..

I met a past client with his dog:) Years ago..years..he was nice enough to let me take pics of him.He was nice that many yrs ago..still nice.

People are always surprised when I say..from the back:) I love them:)

My husband said something so wise..he often does..he rarely comments on things but when I mentioned again I love taking photos from the back he said it's because nothing is forced..(fake) So true.

One of our daughters hosted Thanksgiving.. on her own..her husband is a hunter and he usually is away this weekend..it was delicious..the whole family..I adore when we are all together.

I come home late..WIRED and I don't sleep a wink lol..

We eat early..by 5.30-45.And we don't eat a lot..nor after that until the next AM..At family gatherings..I star when I get there..5..and stop eating at 11..No wonder I don't sleep;)

Wired.. We are quiet..these evenings are full of conversation and laughter.The big boys still come..I just love that.LOVE that.

So I brought desserts.. my cupcakes were not great.my icing broke..:(

My cookies were just ok..I tried a new recipe..but these were a hit.Pecan Pie bars.

I was glad to be able to pick a bouquet for her.

Gosh those dahlias..I remember when zinnias thrilled me:)  I still like them ..but..:)

Enjoying Disclaimer on Apple TV

No frost yet..  so dahlias will remain..underground.

Have a great week:)

...Lucky to be cozy.

  

I have been going overboard in the gardens..my immediate neighbours to the left and right have gardeners now to put the beds  to sleep (and RIGHTLY SO)..But I confess to not loving it as much as I used to..If I could annihilate the invasives..I might be more encouraged..But everything I chop.. Beside..Invasives that only get worse...I have very few left to put to sleep.One I have actually abandoned and I let it look after itself..Far right way back..;)

In between I do gentler hobbies;) Painting and baking..

Butternut sqash soups..Jacques make my favorite BS risotto...

I made a salted caramel sauce..(next time) To flavor my buttercream for the cupcakes Sunday..

I fell IN LOVE with this Van Gogh palette..ever since we went to St-Rémy I love him even more..

The above is a Chris Petri you tube tutorial.Google him and You tube and you are set!!

I watched this on my own.. and enjoyed it.

Charming.IMHO.

I'm all about scents and colors and comfort food..and football once fall hits QC..

I need comfort..:)

As I type I am so very concerned re Fl..and Milton.The worse is hitting where we used to stay.Seeing people evacuate..seeing the mess Helene left and now they start over..

I have neighbours who own there..

It's tragic.

:(:(:(

October 1rst.

Still... Still:)

Be still my heart.:)

I made our favorite red pepper jelly..The recipe can be found on a way back post. Here

Made our favorite apple crisp..You can find the recipe here..I doubled the topping and added more apples..I have tried at least 20.This is the all time winner.It's from Cuistot..and the reviews are stellar...

 

I have started putting some gardens to bed..albeit so much is still popping..The geraniums..zinnias(I am letting those go to seed)dahlias,nasturtiums..French marigolds..They are en masse..I am not a yellow orange person but that bed with the nasturtiums and F marigolds w/ dill and sorrel and chives and parsley ..Thyme..garlic chives.. is outstanding:)

Cute bumblebee moth:)

I'll be planting my tulips soon:) 

And it's October..Just like that..

...Fall on my footsteps.

 

It is soup season again..I make stock when I have chicken and soups..some stock I reserve for J's risottos..s good.

So this carrot soup is a staple here..

La Recette

I small onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic chopped

4 large carrots cut in equal slices and peeled

Sauté all this in one TBSP butter and one TBSP olive oli

At this point you can add  some grated ginger 

Cover your sautéed veggies with stock..just above that level.

Simmer until everything is soft.

I use an immersion blender and blend and blend.

Smooth smooth smooth

Season with salt and pepper

A dash of hot sauce

About one tbsp maple syrup.

Taste Taste taste. If it's bland..enhance:)Never eat something that is not very good.

unless you have to lol

You can add some cream or milk .

Honestly it needs very little of either but I do soften with some 10% cream.Again,very little.

So easy.

If you want to jujje a carrot soup up a bit..this is my fancy fave.

Carrot Ginger soup with coconut shrimp.

A favored one by my family.

Don't underestimate flower frogs for whimsical cosmos bouquet

or any other:)

I saw a cute photo of Max with his girlfriend after a game taken by someone in her family..

Immortalized now with a little watercolor.

Young love:)

PS I made these banana choco chip muffins..so good..

I added a splash  of oil..and sugar in the raw crusted top.

Here you go...You can find the recipe here

Yummy.

Just read the comments:)

My dahlias are still so very very plentiful and beautiful.

Grateful.

My bok choy from Susan

Is beautiful.. Like dahlia blooms under organza hats I have finally been able to grow Bok Choy..under a tunnel.A mesh hooped tunnel my friend bought me at Dollarama (Nothing is 1 dollar).

I have started harvesting it for  inclusion in recipes.. and just sautéed with roasted sesame oil and garlic.

The leaves are starting to change.I did put the gardens that house the small mini pond to bed as our maples drop a boatload of leaves and I can't blow them out with all the ground cover.So..I nearly shaved that garden and even shaved all the ground cover..time will tell.

In doing that I see all the things that should not be there..too hard to shovel prune..A painted fern that grew to gargantuan size was murder to take out.

4 tarps full of cuttings and hydrangeas..

Spring and Fall..

All the work.

PS Anonymous  dug in deep again.I am leaving her comment here for all to see..subsequent ones will be removed. I can't keep up a ridiculous diatribe.