Picking Peaches

Good Morning,
What a perfect summer day! The sky is the color of a robin’s egg dotted with cotton candy clouds. My mother & I set off on our annual peach picking trip. She has been going to the same farm to pick peaches (Red haven) for over twenty years. We use our vintage bushel baskets & pick till we have a trunk-full. I am making a double crust pie tonight. I found some delicious peach frozen yogurt for a la mode. This day truly embraces “find joy in your journey”. It is a delightful drive through the country on miles of twisty, turn-y back roads. We stopped on the way home at an antique mall & thrift store. I bought a delicate, little enamel painted vase & found a lamp that my neighbor had been looking for. Something for everyone – what a successful trip!

Peach Pie
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (sprinkle & toss with the peaches)
4 cups fresh peaches, peeled & sliced
2 tablespoons butter
Pastry for double-crust 9-inch pie
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Combine the sugar, flour & cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Stir in the peach slices, folding to coat with the sugar/flour mixture. Pour peaches into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust, seal edges & crimp. Cut vents in top crust with a sharp knife. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until crust is golden brown.

New In the Shop...

New in the shop…
I’ve just added some gorgeous things from Fringe Studio. I love the graphics! They encompass everything I love-nature-the color blue-anything French. They remind me of the French country side or maybe Provence.

Also have a few architectural pieces just in. Lot’s of fun to decorate with-a little shabby-a bit cottage. Stop by and see what’s new!

Just Started a new book-

Paris to the Moon - By ADAM GOPNIK

Musing for the Day....

"For yesterday is but a dream, And tomorrow is only a vision; but today, well lived, Makes every yesterday A dream of happiness, And every tomorrow a vision of hope"

Always find Joy in your Journey

Always find Joy in your Journey...Time for a little mental health day-a drive through the country to visit a lovely town full of art & history-Mount Gretna. It was a picture-perfect summer day with miles of blue sky & white puffy clouds. With lots of shade & light breezes, we walked the town, had lunch & of course ice cream at the Jigger shop, browsed through a couple shops & took the long way home.

Walking through this lovely Victorian town is like stepping back in time. Life moves at a slower pace here. How can you help but relax on one of those inviting summer porches? There was a jazz worship service in the open theater that morning. The annual arts festival is two weeks away & the town is bursting with people then. But today was quiet, peaceful & relaxing.

A cottage windowbox over-flowing with blooms...

Serendipity-Shared Ideas

By definition serendipity means: "the gift of making fortunate discoveries by accident ". I'd like to share some of my personal discoveries. Some I've learned from family or friends or even complete strangers. Some I've discovered through my own trial & error. Savor those sweet, simple moments that happen on even an ordinary day.

Recycle
Don’t throw out those wine bottles!
Cleanse thoroughly & use to make your herb vinegars.* Decant large cans of olive oil for easier handling. Mix fragrant oil for dipping crusty bread. Use a clean cork available at most hardware or craft stores.

I like to use the empty bottles-especially the cobalt blue ones on my tables as centerpieces for outdoor parties. They look great with a single large bloom – especially a Dahlia, Hydrangea or Sunflower. Tie with a raffia bow, embellish with charms, buttons or shells. I found some stars & stripes ribbon at a local craft store for the 4th! For a wine-tasting party I leave the labels on.

Musing on a Summer's Day

"I thought I'd give you a little bit of sunshine to brighten your day. I bet no one ever gave you sunshine before".

Life Happens

"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans".

Had so many plans for this lovely summer day. I started my morning in the garden and stopped to check the nest for the baby birds. The nest was empty, but there they were peeking back at me sitting on a branch - oh - next they will be learning to fly! Grabbed my bag and I was off to the antique mall. Put the key in the ignition & nothing. When my husband came home from work, he & my neighbor jumped the car & we were off to the auto parts store -(not exactly the shopping trip I had in mind). All was going smoothly till we had to stop for a red light & the engine died. Luckily we were on a slight hill & we coasted into the parking lot into a parking spot right in front of the store. If you ever doubt there is a God or a Guardian Angel, I didn't today. What are the odds? We had to cross traffic without power steering or brakes & landed a primo parking spot. I laughed like crazy. It was just too impossible.

Back to work tomorrow but maybe I will have better luck on Thursday. Aren't these two hand painted china plates lovely? I found these out treasure-hunting Monday.

Zuccinni Tart from the Garden

There is a little grey Catbird who follows me whenever I am out in the garden. When I am pulling weeds, sometimes I find a tasty morsel for him & toss it on the walk where he can see it. This year he has brought his mate & they have "Gone Housekeeping" - (as my grandmother used to say) in our Bridal Wreath. They are proud parents of two fuzzy-headed babies. Our cat Tasha spent the morning on the brick path beneath the cherry tree while papa bird kept a watchful eye on her. When I went inside to grab a cup of tea, I surprised a little grey furball-(PeeWee) having a siesta on my dining room table.

I picked my first zucchini today. I know most folks have them by the bushel-full, but this is a real accomplishment for us as our property has very few hours of direct sunlight I found this fabulous recipe in one of my British Homes magazines. It is just divine!

ZUCCHINI TART WITH TOMATO & PESTO

1 PIE CRUST
2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL
1/2 SWEET ONION-THINLY SLICED
1 CLOVE GARLIC-PEELED & CHOPPED
1 LEEK-CUT INTO MATCHSTICKS-*OPTIONAL
1 MEDIUM ZUCCHINI-SLICED INTO ½” THICK STICKS
1 MEDIUM TOMATO- SLICED
SALT & PEPPER
3 TABLESPOONS PESTO-HOMEMADE OR STORE-BOUGHT
2-3 TABLESPOONS FRESH BASIL LEAVES
3 EGGS
6 OUNCES LIGHT CREAM-1/2 & ½ OR MILK-(I USED SKIM MILK FOR THIS & IT TURNED OUT FINE)
2 OUNCES PARMESAN CHEESE SHREDDED OR GRATED
3 TABLESPOONS TOASTED PINE NUTS

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375. ROLL OUT PASTRY CRUST PLACE IN TART TIN WITH REMOVABLE BASE.
CHILL 30 MINUTES AND BAKE BLIND FOR 10-15 MINUTES TILL PASTRY IS LIGHTLY COLORED BUT NOT FULLY COOKED.

MEANWHILE PREPARE FILLING. HEAT OIL IN LARGE FRYING PAN & COOK ONION GENTLY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. ADD GARLIC, ZUCCHINI, GARLIC, & LEAKS & COOK UNTIL ZUCCHINI IS JUST TENDER. REMOVE FROM PAN & LIGHTLY COOK TOMATO SLICES ABOUT 3 MINUTES PER SIDE. SEASON WITH SALT & PEPPER.

ALLOW PIE CRUST TO COOL SLIGHTLY & SPREAD PESTO EVENLY OVER THE BOTTOM. ARRANGE ZUCCHINI OVER PESTO & TOP WITH TOMATO SLICES. SCATTER BASIL ON TOP.

BEAT TOGETHER EGGS & CREAM OR MILK. SEASON WITH SALT & PEPPER AND POUR OVER VEGETABLES. SCATTER PARMESAN NEXT AND THEN THE PINE NUTS. LOWER OVEN TEMPERATURE TO 350 AND BAKE FOR 30-40 MINUTES OR TILL THE FILLING IS GOLDEN BROWN, RISEN & JUST SET.
SERVES 6-8.

Last Day of Vacation

Today was the last day of my vacation...sigh! We just stayed home & slept in late & went to our favorite restaurant for breakfast. Tonight I lit all the candles on the porch & read a favorite book while my husband watered the garden until daylight faded. A fire fly landed on the page I was reading, so I decided to just sit back, relax & enjoy the quiet of the night. One of our neighbor's cats was enjoying himself in a patch of cat mint & chasing bugs!

Musing for the day - "The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon." - Psalm 74:16

Musing for the Day...

"My lover has gone down to his garden,

to the beds of spices,

to browse in the gardens

& to gather lilies. " - Song of Songs 6:2

Key Lime Dip

One of my newest additions for spring/summer is Miss Lily's Key Lime Dip. It is named for my little third cousin in Tennessee. The artwork is a fabulous hand-tinted French Postcard. Doesn't it look delicious? Just perfect for summer.

Even though home-grown strawberries are over,

the shipped ones work just fine to dip into our

Summer Strawberry Dip.

Follow Your Bliss

What bliss to sleep in with no set schedule. To set out with a destination in mind & then detour to pay an unexpected visit on a friend & catch up over dinner. Just a little metal health day. Miles and miles of mountains to refresh the soul.

Musing for the Day...

"Happiness appears to be a state that comes easiest when unsought." - Henry D. Chapin

Fourth of July Picnic

Fourth of July Picnic – It didn’t rain on our parade today, though we had a back-up plan just in case. I woke up to skies of blue, had tea on the front porch & spent the day in a flurry of activity. Found the neatest old melamine plates at a thrift store to use instead of plastic throw-aways. Friends & family arrived with all sorts of delicious food & spirits. Everyone had a great time & we had way too much food. The girls (And some of the guys too!) loved the Frozen Raspberry Martinis-(my friend Shawn’s idea). We added the Raspberry Vodka for the adults only!

Berry Smoothies *Vodka Optional

2 cups frozen raspberries
2 cups crushed ice or 1 dozen ice cubes
¼ cup sugar
3 cups milk – (I used skim)
Place all ingredients into your blender and liquefy. Pour into martini glasses and whisk in 1 shot Raspberry Vodka. *Top with dollop whipped cream if desired & serve.

Another variation substitute equal amounts, red & black raspberries & blackberries-fresh or frozen & partially thawed. Whisk in one shot Black Current Vodka – mmmmm….

Musing for the day…
“Happiness is not solitary, but social; & so we can never have it without sharing it with others.” – Henry van Dyke

Didn’t the Hydrangeas turn out lovely?

Happy Fourth of July

Musing for the day…
“It doesn’t matter so much what you do, as long as you smile when you remember it.” – Victoria Moran

Happy Fourth of July! Today was a little soggy, so we spent our time on the front porch. Tomorrow is our picnic. Everyone will bring a covered dish or favorite spirit. If we are lucky, the weather will turn fair, & we will fete on the patio – fingers crossed! I’ve cut bunches of Hydrangeas for centerpieces in blue mason jars with white shells.

Vacation

We rarely get a chance to take a vacation - even a mini one - but managed a three day weekend with good friends of ours to Biltmore in Asheville, NC. It was just breath-taking. The house is like a storybook castle. Everywhere there were mountains & rolling meadows. We caught this view of the back of the house just before a thunderstorm.

I like the mirror image reflected in the lake. It has a dream-like quality because the humidity was so high!