LEMON COCONUT CAKE ON THE BUFFET

I have been told by friends that they

don't bake in the hot summer.  I had a

sweet tooth yesterday and by evening

I was looking at recipes which led to

baking a Lemon Coconut Cake.

We had been to our son's for a family gathering

for our daughter in law's 50th birthday.  I wish

I had made it sooner to take for lunch.

I will be sharing some with them today.

Chocolate pot with roses:

I love these two patterns

Serena and American Beauty and

any really with roses on them.

Do you bake in the summer?  This was

the second time I've used this recipe.

Here is the recipe.

SUMMER HEAT ARRIVES THIS WEEKEND

 Yes, with this Friday (some say Saturday)

marking the arrival of summer, so will the

 temperatures to go with the occasion.  

The Hollyhocks are still blooming and

usually it is already too hot for the

hydrangeas to bloom but this year we 

have had more rain and there are some

 lovely blooms.  They don't like 90 degree

temps so I imagine they will be most

unhappy this weekend with our heat

arriving.

We are at the top of  zone 6B so we have 4

different seasons.  I have loved our spring

this year but that party is about to end.

Last week I bought several bags of chicken

manure for our flower garden.  My husband

was not real thrilled with this event and the

smell but I am hoping it will be wonderful

for the garden.

I hope your summer is going well.  We

recently finished watching the entire series

of "Road to Avonlea" and I recommend it

highly for you and children love it.

GARDEN AFTER LOTS OF RAIN

 

After rain for about 3 days....

the garden looks pretty

happy!

I looked out the window this morning and saw 

what I thought was a baby bunny trapped in some

 wire I had put around my tomato plants.  It

turned out to be a turtle so I sent him on his

way happily freed.

And one more collage:

EARLY JUNE HOLLYHOCKS

The Hollyhocks have been lovely

this June but maybe not quite as

tall as usual:

Have a great weekend - we are 

participating in a 2 day yard 

sale in our subdivision.  This is

not a favorite thing to do but

sometimes necessary!
 

CENTRALIA, MISSOURI ROSE GARDEN

 This lovely rose garden was a delight to visit last
 week.  We usually visit the garden later
in the summer when the roses have sadly been
visited by Japanese beatles.  We grew up

referring to them as "June" beatles because

they showed up in June.

I always admire the 1904 Edwardian period

home in Centralia, Missouri.  It is a Queen

Anne style home built by pharmacist

R. L. Hope and his wife and later purchased

by the Chance family.  It is maintained now by

the Historical Society of Centralia.

I was so happy that our visit

was earlier this year!