Shirley's World

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Limited Pinks

Joining up with "Pink Saturday" over at Beverly's "How Sweet the Sound".

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Just A Few

I had to go back into some of my iPhoto archives and find some pinks for this week!

This is Miss Ellie. She always has that scowl on her face!! She's laying on an old pink comforter up in my upstairs hallway.

"New Dawn" climber that I'm taking out this year. Even though it's a beautiful rose, it blooms once for a short time and then every year the leaves get eaten by something and it looks horrible the whole rest of the summer. So I'm going to dig it out and try something new. Maybe a Grandiflora that doesn't climb all over. This one actually attacked me as I was cutting it down I swear. I have the scars to prove it.

A beautiful old fashioned rose. I forget the name!

And my Cone Flowers are in bloom. One of my favorite flowers.

Happy Pink Saturday.

Shirley

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Jam and My Prize!

I'm joining Michael Lee at Designs By Gollum for "Foodie Friday".

Check it out at:

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Peaches

It was starting to smell real peachy in my kitchen and I knew I had to use the few peaches I had quickly. So, what could be better than Peach Jam!!!!

Unfortunately I could've used a couple more peaches but I adjusted the recipe on the Sure-Jell pamphlet, which you are NEVER supposed to do. I really didn't expect it to set up.

But it did!! Yeah!!! And it's delicious.

I Got It!!!!

It Arrived Today!

Here is the unbelievable skillet that I won on Michael Lee's blog. (Designs By Gollum) What a fantastic give-a-way!!

It is big and heavy and wonderful!

And French!

OK, now I feel like I should cook like Julia Child!!!

Well, don't hold your breath on that last part but I'll try!

I haven't been cooking at all this week because of the heat. After coming home from the barn, I've had it, so it's either been take-out or pizza!

I'll do better this next week when the temp drops down into the 80's!

Bon Appetit!

Shirley

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Knobs & Latches in My House

I'm entering my mosaic of the week with Mary at The Little Red House for "Mosaic Monday".

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Knobs and Latches

Thought I'd try something a little different this week. B&W and kind of arty! See the one that looks like it's upside down? Actually that's the way the door is now. Someone at one time needed the door to open the other way so they just turned the door upside down and hung it on the other side of the doorway.

Hope you had a great holiday weekend.

Shirley

THis Is A Summer Sunday 7-4

I'm joining in with everyone telling about their Summer Sundays.

See the list of participants at:

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday America!

Good Morning everyone.

For me . . . Summer means that my garden is growing good.

My lettuce is beautiful.

My swiss chard is colorful and wonderful and nutritious in salads.

A garden friend comes to visit me. Well, it's Mr Toad.

He eats the bad bugs

And my garden is starting to produce!

That book shown is one of my favorites about the solitary life of Tasha Tudor. Her gardens were a wonderland and her house was a perfect reproduction of a 1700's house handmade by her son for her. She was a famous illustrator of children's books, some of which were "The Secret Garden" and "Wind In The Willows".

Have a wonderful day!

Shirley

Friday, July 2, 2010

Pinks for Saturday 6-3

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Blooms for Pink Saturday

My hollyhocks across the back of the garage are in full bloom!

All colors but here's some pretty pink ones.

Also my Cone flowers are just starting to bloom too!! See the tiny bee.

We are being inundated here with Japanese Beetles! Is anyone else having this problem! They are on everything!! YUK!

I made the mistake about 5-6 years ago getting the beetle traps. We filled 3 or 4 of them every single day. They we realized that we were attracting every Japanese Beetle from all our neighbors! So I'm hoping my neighbors get the traps this year!!! Not ME!!

Shirley

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The Child Tree, Show & Tell

It's "Show and Tell Friday" so I'm going to show you a little something from my babysitting day on Wednesday.

See the list of participants at My Romantic Home. Thank you to Cindy who hosts this party every Friday.

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

The Children's Tree

In my back yard, back by the hammock, I have the most perfect tree for children to climb. It's actually a smoke bush that has grown very large into an actual tree. However it sort of lays on it's side so that a lot of the branches are horizontal. Perfect for climbing and sitting on!!

When I was young there was a big tree in a little woods around the corner from my house that I used to pretend was a horse. Much like where Jack is sitting here.

Jack is little and is still content to sit still there and not climb any further.

But not Ava. She wants to go higher!

Nanna, I can see EVERYTHING from way up here!!!!

I'm really glad I had my childhood in a time where we could go out to play with all our friends and venture out around the block, (without crossing any streets of course). Moms didn't feel they had to keep the child in view at all times. There was no news about missing children and pedophiles and all that, none of the horrible things that go on today. It was certainly a more innocent time, a time spent with our friends, playing make believe, having lemonade stands. All that. It really was like The Andy Griffith Show when Opie was little!

Am I that old or does anyone else remember this!!

Shirley

July Foodie Friday

I'm joining Michael Lee at Designs By Gollum for "Foodie Friday".

Come and look for some beautiful photos and recipes.

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Portabella and Chicken

I started out with a big package of chicken tenders. Not that I needed it for this meal but I like to have cooked herb chicken on hand for salads in the summer. I cooked the chicken in olive oil till done and slightly browned. I seasoned with rosemary, thyme and a little seasoning salt.

I sliced up a nice potabella mushroom and cooked it gently in some butter with some green onions.

The sauce on the chicken is just a favorite of sour cream, thinly sliced green onions and a little milk; enought to make a sauce. Sorry about the canned green beans. If I would've just went to the garden I would've found some summer squash. (see below)