Monday, August 29, 2022

BLUEBIRDS AND AUGUST FLOWERS

 We have had a hot and very dry summer.
As I was watering my backyard today
I suddenly noticed about a dozen 
bluebirds show up taking turns in
the birdbath.


It is about 91 degrees out and we are
told rain is coming our way  later
today, which
would be wonderful.


I am happy to see the 
bittersweet getting
ready for fall.










The bluebirds never go to the
birdfeeders and are very
timid.






With August coming to a close, we
look forward to cooler weather
and fall baking.
 

Friday, August 19, 2022

TIME TO CELEBRATE MY 200th "Tea In The Garden"

 Back in 2010 I started a little garden in
my Colorado Springs backyard.  It took
me quite a while to dig out my lawn and
plant because I worked full time +. 
 I remember I had already been
participating in Sandy's Tea Time
Tuesday blog party for quite a while
 and then I decided to incorporate the
garden I was developing and have my 
own weekly link party called "Tea
In The Garden". 

(Back then, in the winter,
 I changed 
to (Friends Sharing Tea")

(click for link)



 We had so little rain here in 
Missouri in July, our lawn is very sad
so I hung up these old antique curtain
 pieces to dispel the dreary lawn.  Please
help yourself to hot tea.  It is only
in the 80's this week which is wonderful
weather compared to the high 90's.



So though I started counting these
photo shoots in years back in
Colorado, now they take place
in our Missouri garden. Of course
these places have very different
climates.


Time does fly just like they
say.  I can hardly believe we
have now lived in Missouri 6 years.



I just started collecting a few pieces
of Green transferware which
will be lots of fun to hunt for
and this pattern (tray) is called
Havana by Johnson Brothers.


And of course for this occasion,
baking is important too so I looked
at my fall muffin folder and found this
recipe I had cut out of the Colorado
Springs Gazette back in 2010.
It is for Fall Harvest Muffins and
includes pumpkin, an apple, some
craisins and pecans.  I have the
recipe at the bottom of this post.


Right now I have some lovely white
with green hyrangeas and on one
side of our house, we have those
strawberry type ones.


Many years ago in Old Colorado
City there was a darling and
elegant little shop called
"The Lace Chest".  It was in
the west side historic district
of Colorado Springs where I had
my business and was owned by
Sharon Dougherty.  Back then, she
 went to England and to Paris
 to buy her inventory. Her shop was
 so tiny but gorgeous!  She sold all English and French vintage and antique lace 
 that was cleaned and ironed 
to perfection.
Also, she sold antique jewelry and
china.

I purchased these old antique
curtain panels from her.



RECIPE FOR FALL
HARVEST MUFFINS:
375 degrees makes 16
reg oven: 20-25 min
convection: 18 min

Use a large muffin tin: grease with butter 
and flour well.  Shake out excess and 
will be filling 3/4 full
 
Mix ingredients in a bowl: 
1 cup of reg flour, 1 cup of whole wheat (I used all regular), 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger,
1 tsp ground allspice, 1/4 tsp cardamon, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 Cup of melted butter, 1 cup dark brown sugar, 2 eggs (I used 3), 1 tsp vanilla extract

 1 cup of canned pumpkin, 1 chopped, peeled and grated apple, 1/2 cup pecans chopped and 1/2 cup of dried craisins

Mix all above dry ingredients well and then add fruits and pumpkin  Pour into muffin tins and top with 1-2 tsp topping below:

Topping:  4 Tb melted butter, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup gran. sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup oats




Sunday, August 14, 2022

Friday, August 12, 2022

HYDRANGEAS, DEVONSHIRE TRANSFERWARE AND SWEETS for "Tea In The Garden"



Welcome to "Tea In The Garden":


The one thing that seems to be
 surviving during our incredibly hot 
summer are the  white and the 
green hydrangeas.


I love this old Devonshire pattern
of Johnson Brothers China.




Please pour yourself 
a cup of tea.


One day this week
 I baked cookies 
and brownies so
help yourself!
 







Now everything is back
in the armoire:


What kind of china
do you collect?



Recipes:

Thursday, August 11, 2022

AMISH COUNTRY - CLARK, MISSOURI

 Today we decided to ride up to the Amish
Country and see what produce was
available and also just enjoy a ride.
We conserve driving right now with
the price of gas but it really wasn't
all that far. 

 See the lovely cockcomb
in this ladies garden.  I remember back
in 90's when Martha Stewart got us all
gluing cockscomb onto cones for those
Christmas mantel pieces.


My photos were taken 
from inside my
car so.....so some are a bit dull.




We had trouble remembering where we
had been before and the roads were
very dusty from lack or rain.


I imagine everyone having similar conversations as 
they ride along. 
 Like, "oh maybe we should move out
 on a farm and grow our own food" or
something like "think how much money
we would save if we did this".  Haha!





All the houses are large and plain
with white siding.




I wanted to find one particular place
where they had a lot of canning items
with preserves and pickles.


There were a lot of greenhouses
with tomatoes inside.


The auction house is where a lot
of local small vegetable stands
go to buy their produce to resell.


I could quickly see that lumber is
a very important part of their lives.


So here was my stash 
at home 
on the kitchen table. (they reuse
old jars)