Joyeux Noël, dear Ronelle! Life hectic (living in hospital with dear daughter plus birth of new baby with son’s family) and unable to visit but thinking of you and wishing you the loveliest of holidays. Once here, hard to leave realizing how much I have missed. Hopefully, the New Year will be wondrous for all of us! (BTW … my stunning amaryllis is blooming but have not had a moment to capture its beauty
How you have the time to set the table, make the food, take the photos, and paint the pictures is beyond me! Amazing site! Always full of great eye-candy!
The tulips I brought back from Amsterdam last year are all in bloom, except for 3 Allium bulbs that I lost to greedy rabbits. I picked all white bulbs and got big surprise when a few of the carefully picked white bulbs turned out to be a bright sunny yellow! That is OK. Oh well, […]
Whether we love it or hate it, it needs to be done. Laundry. Washing. Some of us are lucky enough to just fill the laundry basket and someone else does the washing. And the ironing. Some of us do it all ourselves. I am one of those. Partly by choice and partly by force. Laundry […]
Recette de Sour Cream par Hungry Couple : Over the weekend I was faced with that age old dilemma of what to make for dinner. What...this surprises you? I wish that, because I write a food blog, I could just pull a crown rack of lamb out of the drawer! When I do make something more involved I usually...
Stars Shining bright above you~Night Breezes Seem to Whisper..:"I love you"~Birds singing In The sycamore tree~Dream a Little Dream..of me~Say Nightie Night and Kiss Me~Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me~While I'm alone and blue as can be~Dream a little dream of me~Stars Fading..but I linger on dear~Still craving your kiss~I […]
Blue is a natural for the great outdoors. There's the deep blue sea, and sea glass skies, the blue bird's wing, and a myriad of blue hued blooms. No wonder it makes us so happy when we bring it inside! I get a natural high when blue meets my eye. Here's a mini montage of Summertime Blue. Hope it does the same for you. . . .It's so sweet o […]
to study those things around you in full detail, will bring you to a better understanding and appreciation to think there is so much flora and fauna that is around me…..above me…….below me………. some bringing sustenance, others bringing beauty, some useful to our livestock….. but it isn’t just for me….. the vegetation [...]
My daughter was very excited to tell me a couple of weeks ago about a subscription service she had signed up for. You get a box every month containing samples and full size products that are all organic and non toxic and echo friendly. She lives in America. As we discussed this we agreed that often we want to try out something new, but then never find it on […]
Last week I had three pound cakes on my kitchen counter. Hubs and second son love cake, a well documented fact on this blog, and I love baking. Still, a chocolate pound cake stacked on a coffee pound cake, atop a rum pound cake, may be a bit much. Even then, I'm toying with the idea of a mocha glazed walnut poundcake or perhaps, one riddled with nutty […]
Lots going on in the Militant Community Garden. Things are really moving along. We harvested broccoli last weekend. The beets keep coming and it's hard to keep up with them. We have a million strawberries, and I have already baked 2 cakes & muffins with them. I can't keep up with them either. This is the BEST cake in case you haven't made […]
Heehaw, heehaw, heehaw. Do you really think that you can get that mama duck to follow you for a half mile? Honestly? Give it a try, but don't hold too much hope. Dear Friends, AWOL here. I know it, but I've had lots and lots of work to do and am just beginning to breathe easier. I sent in my entire manuscript, glossary, bibliography, author's […]
Tree blossoms. The yards are blanketed in them.+And the rhododendrons - they are late coming to spring's party - but they are here. They're pretty fleeting. One swirl of the Minnesota winds and they scatter. But everything is fleeting, isn't it? The days I thought I would never be able to walk through my home without stepping on a lego or a mi […]
Stomach: A slave that must accept everything tht is given to it, but which avenges wrongs as slyly as does the slave.- Emile SouvesterWhen diet is wrong medicine is of no use.When diet is correct medicine is of no need.- Ayurvedic ProverbHe that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician.- Chinese ProverbWe only have one life, so we […]
At just on 5 months old (20 weeks), Snookums rushed into my Studio shortly after I let the girls out of the coop and headed straight for Kiep's old nest box on one of my art tables. After a lot of inspecting, scratching, packing and organising the grass neatly, she settled down to the serious business of laying. For the fact that it was her first egg […]
If you don't see me posting quite as often in the next couple of months, it only means I'm outside enjoying our far-too-short Wisconsin spring and summer. My schedule is always more hectic during the spring and summer with a busier work schedule, many more yard chores, al fresco entertaining and my favorite summer sport - golf with my husband. It […]
When June Bloom Day, the invention of my friend Carol of May Dreams Gardens rolls around, the brilliantly sunny days are greeted by lilies and lots of them. Years of adding and spreading, click here for a how to on bulblets, have made for some spilling swaths in the Lawn/Meadow. I chuckle at the Verbena […]
Chores as usual...windy, a little chilly. Got half of the lawn mown before class. As my students were leaving there were several BIG birds flying overhead with huge wingspans. At first we thought they were hawks. But no.... Turkey Buzzards. I have never seen them land on the barns before. Finished mowing the lawn after lunch....then spent some time readi […]
Quelques morceaux de poisson dans une sauce tomate bien parfumée sont au menu aujourd'hui. Un plat rapide à faire et délicieux car, quelquefois, il faut savoir se faire plaisir sans passer sa journée en cuisine. Utilisez d'autres variétés de poisson ou même un mélange de plusieurs sortes, il n'en sera que meilleur!Pour 4 personnes:4 morceaux d […]
“My tummy grumbles for that!” my youngest son said as he pointed to the jar of Granola I had made on whim the night before whilst he was tucked up in bed. There’s something nice about a big glass jar of granola sitting perched on the kitchen counter - don’t you think? I’m not sure what it is? It’s probably linked to my obsession with food and lifestyle mag […]
…coming in a minute. I have some more pictures from the Libris Awards. “Obsolete” by Gail Stiffe Handmade papers, looking like crumpled and discarded wrappers with digital prints; a statement about profligacy. Approximately A4 , landscape orientation. “Punctuation … Continue reading →
The summer has been an unbearably hot one, and we have been staying away from the stove and oven as much as possible.I'm not complaining, because I actually love all this sunshine and warm weather. but our poor lawn is almost turned to hay!Today we woke to some rain and a much cooler day.I had made a pulled pork in the crock pot and was planning to mak […]
I should have a sign "Under Construction" on my blog like they do on websites in progress. My kitchen has been torn apart for the past few weeks and has a few more to go before completed. The only place that looks decent right now is the garden. Henryi and Miss Bateman blooming together both Type II's Geranium Magnificum Krinkled White P […]
It's been a crazy time. We've been searching for a new receptionist at the clinic, and I seem to be the most computer savvy of the group. Scary, that. But anyway, it falls to me to put the ad in craigslist. A simple part time receptionist job, paying a mere $10 per hour, and I got over 200 responses the first day. After plowing through the first 30 […]
Polenta con mais, sugo ai funghi e olio al tartufo I had two corn cobs that I had no inspiration on how to prepare, so after going through Plenty the book of Yotam Ottolenghi, I came across an interesting idea…using fresh corn to make polenta. Why not? This intrigued me so I decided to use his [...]
This month in Secret Recipe Club my assignment was a nice blog Feast on the cheap and Mary Ann and Mariel (Mother and daughter) have a lot of lovely recipes and finally I choose this Orange curd puff pastry tartlets because I love lemon curd and I wanna try this orange curd and was really amazing and all loved here.Im sharing with Orange Curd Puff Pa […]
Beautiful wintery days continue, clear skies, sunshine, happy moods. And the trialling of the BBQ continues to see what can be cooked in this no-fuss, not too much washing up, sort of a way. If you haven't see it already, take a look at Part 1 of this BBQ series to see Grilled Fennel with Lemon and Parmesan and Grilled Broccoli with Preserved Lemon. Roa […]
I must to admit having a bit of a soft spot for the excellent gastropubs operated by the ETM Group, a group founded by brothers Tom and Ed Martin back in 2000 and which now operates 10 venues across central London smart City gastro pubs, contemporary brasseries/bars, and small neighbourhood pubs. I think they generally strike [...]
If I plan to serve dip at a party, it’s always homemade. And, when I start thinking about what kind of dip to make, my next thought is that I really should make the crackers too. I have a recipe or two here and there for flatbreads that work with dips, but I didn’t have a good reference for a variety of crackers until now. Crackers and Dips by Ivy Manning, o […]
HI! This is a quick one. John works out in here and he is in a hurry to. Here is an Iris I'm working on and Sadie with an inchworm. Talk soon. Love,Diana
¿Habéis oído hablar de Degustabox? Yo lo oí por primera vez el mes pasado, y con lo que nos gusta en casa probar cosas nuevas no lo dudé ni un instante. Degustabox es una empresa que prepara y envía cajas con productos nuevos, recien lanzados al mercado, de reconocidas marcas. Se trata de cajas muy completas, que incluyen entre 8 y 12 productos, y que puede […]
Morning Call20x16 Oil/CanvasSoldMorning Call was loosely inspired by my lovely bantam rooster Vincent who, in real life, has an interesting shock of orange feathers on either side of his comb reminiscent of the pageboy type hairstyle worn by a young Vincent Van Gogh. His hearty crow announces each new day.
This month's edition of my newsletter - TASTESMONTHLY - features an array of fish cakes among other things. For a free copy, inbox me with Fish Cakes in the subject line.
Preparing yummilicious food really IS child's play... you don't believe me? It's just about recognising where you stand in the list of skilled pastry chefs... no use working with a Pierre Herme recipe when really, your experience doesn't extend beyond...
I open the magazine and show Mazy the photo of herself. She cocks her head to the left as if to say, “Huh. That’s me. What am I doing in there?” Then she smiles a full, see-my-molars grin. Of course. She always smiles; she’s a golden retriever. Columbia Living published another recipe spread of mine: “Simple Salads & Sandwich Spreads.” YEA! Seeing my wo […]
When I saw this recipe on Bunny's Warm Oven, I immediately thought: annual potluck. Maybe it's because it has some similar components to the Blueberry Crumble Cake I made for last year's potluck. I love blueberries. Who am I kidding? I love custard and crumble too. Not to mention that it looks delicious. So, I couldn't resist.We have […]
From hereDo you know who the Barefoot Contessa is? If you have Foxtel or cable you may have come acroos her, otherwise in Australia you are unlikely to have any clue. She is Ina Garten, who began her food career with a gourmet food shop and catering business and now has many cookbooks and a TV cooking show.From hereIna Garten lives in the Hamptons with he […]
It’s fresh cherry season and time to take advantage of them while they are abundant in the market. Normally with fresh cherries I would make a clafouti, a baked French dessert of cherries baked in a thick flan-like batter and dusted with powdered sugar. But I was feeling more adventuresome and settled on a spicy fresh cherry salsa served alongside roasted po […]
I always admired those big plates of waffles at restaurants and I have never thought that I would own one someday. I had the chance to receive a new Chef's Choice Classic WafflePro 852 this week. It did not take me long to unbox my new waffle maker and make my first recipe. On the box it says that it is made of superior non-stick, easy release coating a […]
This morning, strolling the market, I noticed the foraged Spring things have finally made their way to town. Tonight we will enjoy fresh morels in cream on our own hand cranked pasta, and tomorrow a rabbit, nettle and potato soup. We had a full day of clear bright sun today for the first time in weeks, and it completely filled the kitchen, putting a definiti […]
AMOUR. Ce sentiment qui nous bouscule, qui nous chatouille, qui va puiser au plus profond de nous-même cette sensation qu’on appelle la vie. L’amour de son conjoint pour qui chaque sacrifice est un acte naturel, l’amour de sa maman à qui les têtes blondes offrent le plus beau des bisous, mais également l’amour du produit […]
So pretty!
Merry Christmas!
Cheers,
Rosa
23/12/2010 at 15:14
Beautiful Amaryllis Ronelle, Merry Christmas to YOU!!! love to you,Diana
23/12/2010 at 15:17
You too dear Ronelle..They are beautiful!
xxx..
23/12/2010 at 15:19
Same to you and yours Ronelle!
Eileen
23/12/2010 at 16:10
Ronelle…You have such a beautiful style of painting! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
23/12/2010 at 17:52
Just beautiful. Merry Christmas to you.
23/12/2010 at 18:03
Pragtig! n Geseende Kersfees vir julle ook!
Ixx
23/12/2010 at 19:48
Same to you, Ronelle! And a happy and blessed new year!
23/12/2010 at 20:24
Ronelle,
Lovely amaryllis. They are such a festive flower.
Joyeux Noel and Bonne Annee to you and your family.
Sam
24/12/2010 at 02:33
Thank you for the beautiful flowers! Merry Christmas to you, Ronelle!
24/12/2010 at 03:11
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
May this Holiday be filled with love, wonderful thoughts, happy times and delicious food.
24/12/2010 at 14:54
Ronelle~ this is my favorite amaryllis painting I have seen! I love it. You have a flair like no other.
Wishing you and your family a beautiful Christmas and a blessed New Year.
xo~Dana
24/12/2010 at 20:20
Thanks for the blooms in the winter. I hope your Christmas was merry and bright.
26/12/2010 at 23:28
TtHANK YOU EVERYBODY…i HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD TIME!!
RONELLE
27/12/2010 at 17:49
Joyeux Noël, dear Ronelle! Life hectic (living in hospital with dear daughter plus birth of new baby with son’s family) and unable to visit but thinking of you and wishing you the loveliest of holidays. Once here, hard to leave realizing how much I have missed. Hopefully, the New Year will be wondrous for all of us! (BTW … my stunning amaryllis is blooming but have not had a moment to capture its beauty
28/12/2010 at 06:24
Beautiful water color. Your colors are beautiful!! Happy New Year to you and yours.
28/12/2010 at 17:50
How you have the time to set the table, make the food, take the photos, and paint the pictures is beyond me! Amazing site! Always full of great eye-candy!
Joyeux Noël!
29/12/2010 at 10:08
Bonne Annee, Ronelle, and thank you for a year of your beautiful art work, musings on life, and recipes.
30/12/2010 at 06:06
Happy New Year, Ronelle! I look forward to another year of being inspired by your beautiful blog!
01/01/2011 at 18:55
Stunning Ronelle, absolutely stunning. I make these with thai beef salad.
21/01/2011 at 19:16