I went in to record some pledge breaks for WKAR and the outdoor seating area didn't look terribly inviting!
I've been warding off the cold with a little cooking. If you like lemon you MUST try this drizzle cake from Marie's blog -- here's the link to the recipe. Easy and delicious. If you don't have medium eggs (I didn't), three extra large worked for 4 medium. I didn't have self-rising flour either, but just added some baking powder to the flour. It was great!
I made these lemon ginger cookies, too.
They're from this delightful cookbook, which I adore. All lemon recipes. (Thanks, Monique, for turning me on to this one!)
Note to self. Carry the timer with you when you go to another room.
And scones. Perfect with tea!
Lizzie, of course, is always showing off, flirting, and doing her cuteness thing in hopes of a treat. Well, can't resist. Could you?
Bushy D. Squirrel also wants treats -- from the bird feeder. We have a continuous battle but he is awfully cute! Bold, too!
A little bit of painting. I am especially pleased with this one. It's the cottage we stayed in near Bath during our trip. The owner posted a winter photo of it. Might be my best so far.
Here's the cottage in autumn from one of my pix. It's pretty accurate but it lacks the mood of the snow and the gray!
Sometimes I like them a little better when I'm just starting!
And this one I'm getting ready to totally mess up. It's the Baby Grands and actually, Little Little Guy's mouth is already messed up. He is not wearing his mother's lipstick. As soon as I put in the eyes, I'll probably need to tear it up because it just won't be them. Although, it might just be two cute little guys in the sink getting a bath. Just not my little guys anymore. (Postscript. It's now cut up into swatch pieces. I totally blew the faces.)
Getting a little color in the house. The daffs are just so bright and cheery. Our gray and snowy days are a little too monochromatic for me!
I also got some hyacinths. Pretty in pink and I adore the smell but I fear it's why I'm having a little more trouble breathing these days! Better in the garden, I think, but I'll soldier on as long as possible because I love them so much!
We had a lovely Valentine's Day. Rick made a wonderful dinner and we exchanged cards and gifts. He chose the prettiest earrings for me. Maple leaves, which he knows I like because we both love Canada so much. Each year I make him a book. This one was our year in photos and haiku. Haiku can be hard!
And I've had some wonderful mail lately and some nice surprises! This pretty heart arrived on the day before Valentine's Day and was made by Laura Ingalls Gunn of Decor to Adore. (This post shows how she did it!) I was so touched and surprised! (It will stay up long after Valentine decor goes down!)
Last month I won a free canvas in a drawing at Wayside Treasures, Sandi's blog. I chose one of my photos from the Cotswolds and they did a terrific job with it. When I get a few things down, it will find a spot on the wall but for now, the easel is just fine!
(Can you tell I've been felting a lot?!)
So far, several more hearts, a couple of sheep, a very cute bunny and a cat that looks a little bit Laurel Burch-ey and a little bit deranged.
And then some wonderful books arrived from my friend Joan! Perfect for the snowy days!
I really am over the snow. But life is good. Very good. And every day I feel like the luckiest person in the world.
And that's good.
Sharing with: Let's Keep In Touch / Best of the Weekend / Pink Saturday
45 comments:
"And every day I feel like the luckiest gril in the world"..I have goosebumps..It's a beautiful wonderful feeling.It shows in all you do and say.
Love your SB mug too!The felting and your snowscene home..LOVE..
Gettin'really really good Jeanie!
Have a wonderful week..and yes all of Marie's and Isa's recipes are great!!
I couldn't stop giving that sweet furbaby treats. I have been wanting to read Michelle's book, and the next time I pass by it I am going to have to grab it.
Have a good day! Congrats on getting all the goodies in the mail. That heart looks beautiful.
You are such a busy-bee! I love seeing all the fun crafty things you do and all the foods you make. This past year I've acquired a taste for lemony treats and it was never one of my favorite flavor profiles before. What's up with that?
Got to get me some spring plants for the house; I can almost smell your hyacinths.
Loving your paintings....that squirrel sure looks bold! I love hyacinths but can't have them in the house...too overwhelming.
Hello, you have been busy, cooking, painting and felting. The cake, cookies and scones all look yummy. I love anything with lemon. Your painting are pretty, and congrats on winning the free canvas. I love the cute felt hearts. Cute shot of the squirrel, he is a pretty color. Wishing you a great day and a happy new week ahead!
All your sweet baked treats look fabulous! Our kitchen has been busy with Len’s bread baking, so no sweets here. Also we are eating enough bread so that we don’t need cake too (well, ok, there’s a school of thought that says “both” but we won’t go there!) The cooking class you described in your previous post also looked fabulous. I’m a great lover of “sour” and I’ll even eat lemon slices that seem to be a garnish but for me are a nosh.
Your crafts and home decorations always impress me incredibly much.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I want your scones! Miriam makes a fabulous lemon poppy seed cake, and a whole range of muffins (like the blueberry muffin I just had with my coffee) but scones are not her favourites so the only time I get to enjoy one is when I buy it. Since it is obvious you are not busy, and spend your time lazing around doing nothing, you will no doubt wish to make a whole batch for me and I could meet you at the border for the transfer! As for your art, bravo I say. There is more than a hint of talent there. I can barely paint a wall let alone create something of beauty. Totally unrelated to anything, a friend of mine who is in her nineties, and I, have been emailing back and forth about Ogden Nash, and his fabulous rhymes, which seem so simple - but just try writing one. I mention this, Jeanie, only because you are probably someone who would understand how delicious it is to have this kind of friend and this kind of exchange. He wrote that "Men never make passes at women who wear glasses." Well I proved him wrong on that one! Enjoy the week ahead.
I love this post, a little bit of this and that! The lemon baked goodies look divine! And the Lemon cookbook does too, because a little bit of lemon makes everything delicious, doesn't it? Last, but not least in any way, your water color of the Bath cottage is w o n d e r f u l!!! What a beautiful memory and you have captured it forever with paint and paper. Such a treasure. Bath sounds so beautiful, It's on my "list" of things to do in England.
Wishing you a beautiful week filled with warm days and cozy sweaters.
Nothing like baking to chase away winter cold. Your paintings are wonderful, big WOW! Hugs, Valerie
Oh, my, Jeanie! Perfect day -- not just winter but any time!
Oh my gosh, that lemon drizzle cake looks so moist and delicious, Jeanie. I love anything with lemon. The scones look Yummy too. I've been eating the scones more lately, as they seem to have less sugar. Didn't realize how good they were. You have had a busy February so far. Lizzie sure looks comfortable lying there on the ground. And what a cute picture of the squirrel. It has more of an orange coat than the ones we see here, which are grey and white. You know, your marble table reminds me of the one that my mother-in-law has. I've always admired it at her house. The Purple felt heart is sweet. That caught my eye right away, as Purple is my favorite color.
Enjoy the February days, Jeanie. I really enjoyed your post today. It was delightful in every way.
~Sheri
mmmm...lemon. Love your watercolors. Also love your felting.Your Valentine celebration with Rick sounds perfect.
Lemon lemon lemon--your cake looks delicious.
Watercolors are a hard medium. You have a talent!
Your opening photo of yellow lawn furniture with blue is my favorite combination. I have quilt fabric to make a blue/yellow quilt.
God, I would eat these ginger cookies!! :D
And I really love your paintings! This house looks amazing especially during winter time :) I would love to be as good as you in watercolors painting :)
I love anything lemon and the cake looks fabulous, as well as the cook book. The painting in the snow is fabulous, you are so talented. Bath must be lovely and I would so love to visit. Butch and I have done a lot of reading on our cold and rainy nights. Have a beautiful week, Jeanie!
I think you were a professional baker in another life! I am now very hungry for a treat.You've surely been keeping creatively busy!. I agree - you are lucky (and so am I).
That Lizzie is so adorable! Great picture of the squirrel and your baking looks so good that I can almost smell it.
Love.
What a lovely post, Jeanie. It's nice getting to know you a little better. Your paintings are lovely. Especially the lovely cottage in the snow. How wonderful to recreate your special place with your art. The baked goods looks delicious as well. I see you are a Susan Branch lover---aren't we all? I do hope you are feeling better. ♥
Thank u so much for this great post. Very cozy and hygge. I luv anything w lemons. You inpired me to make something lemon today. What a sweet and thoughtful gift for your hubby. WOW your painting is gorgeous❣❣❣ i luuuuuuuuuv it. Mmm the smell of hyacinth is the first sign of Spring. I live with my nose in them if they are in the house. I hope your snow melts soon. Although, I would trade you willingly. I miss snow here in Texas. Xoxo
Oh, you got me from awww to ewww with the first two pics! Brrrr, looked so inviting and then all that ice! ;-)
Sadly not a fan of lemons but a friend's son can eat them just like that (OK, maybe just for showing off!).
Love your cup, all true! As Lizzie!
Oh, and really, your squirrels are cute but miss the hair in the middle!
And your paintings!!
And your Valentine's pressies, all of them!!! You keep me awwwing here, thank you for all the smiles!
Also thank you for your pre-last sentence! I will print it out and hang on my wall once back in Germany!
I love, love what you are doing with felt. The picture you won is gorgeous on the easel. I want to read Michele Obama's book. The mug from Susan Branch is so cute. Your paintings are wonderful. That squirrel is a very familiar look at my house. I have a lemon cookbook too, but not this one. I love anything with lemon and the cake sounds delicious! I made some cookies with citrus and cut in shamrocks for St. Patrick's day and when I went to the freezer tonight they were gone. Oh so sad tonight!!! My son ate them all. I know they were good, but I won't make them again.
So many magical things today Jeanie!
The cake and cookies, your wonderful paintings, the gifts you received, cute Lizzie and bushy Squirrel...you are indeed a lucky girl!
I will have to look out for that Lemon book as I have 2 lemon trees so always on the lookout for recipes with lemon.
Let us know about Michelle Obama's book.
I LOVE LEMONS, so I know I'd love the recipes, and the things you made look delicious! I see you have the mug with Jack on it...Oh how my Mother adored Jack! Enjoyed this post and all your creative pursuits, I especially love your art, your pictures are beautiful, they really are. I do not have that talent!! Loved seeing your kitty, (Lizzie, right?)--she is all relaxed and happy!! OH, and I do love the book you made him for Valentines day, I think gifts like that , made by yourself are 1000 times better and more meaningful!! Hope your week is off to a great start!
P.S.---that squirrel picture is amazing!!!
Jeanie! I didn't realise just how much we have in common and how very similar our loves are. I adore Lemon anything and your crafts, etc. painting. You are a real treasure! I adore red squirrels and have never seen one up that close. That's amazing. I am really pleased you enjoyed the Lemon Loaf. You made my day! xoxo
Ooh I am a lemon lover! That drizzle cake looks way too good. Love your painting of the cottage you stayed in. I do envy those who have the talent to paint!
I am so sorry about the watercolor of the boys. My husband works with oil paint because he says watercolor is not forgiving at all.
I hope an early spring is coming.
Jeanie, you are so multitalented and so energetic! You get so much accomplished in your days. I LOVE your winter painting of the house in Bath! So beautiful! Painting people, especially children, can be so hard--but keep trying and I know you'll master it.
I have lemons in my refrigerator waiting to be made into cake --the one you made looks delicious.
I've been wanting to read Michele's book. I'm reading " Hero of the Empire" now by Candace Millard --her books are full of well researched detail.
Mm-mm! I think I've gained a pound just reading about all your baking. Now I want something lemon!
The lemon cake looks so good and the cottage painting is lovely.
http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
So many wonders today. The chubby squirrel is so cute:) Your paintings are great. And that drizzle cake looks to die for.
This time I want to come over to your house so that I can do that felting with you!! Yes, your winter cottage is one of your best! Hard to get a true likeness in watercolor, especially when the real guys are sooooo cute! I don't bake or eat cookies, but if I did, I would try some of your recipes. I am drawn to the yellow color at this time of year. Obama's book: I've got the audio version on reserve from my library because Michelle herself reads it! She is my hero!
The kitty is adorable. The squirrel: We had some move into our neighborhood home attics. They are no longer my cute little friends! (well, they ARE cute.) PS I will email you in the near future...)
I love the books that you make for Rick each Valentine's Day. What a sweet and meaningful tradition. Our Valentine's Day was... not the best. Paul threw up twice when he got home from daycare. Ick. That was not fun to deal with. I had already assembled the lentil enchiladas and was in the process of making spanish rice when he threw up the 2nd time, indicating the first puke was a fluke... But I had put the work into it so we decided to proceed with dinner after he went to bed, even though we were wondering if we would be getting sick soon. So far we are both still healthy so we somehow avoided this bug! Phil got me some macarons and we had a quiet night on the couch. But I guess that is real life!!
I LOVE that painting of the wintery cottage. It's so pretty! Winter can be pretty, especially after a snow. I've been thinking about how the houses in our neighborhood look like gingerbread houses... we live in an old neighborhood so they just look so charming with a layer of snow on the roof and some icicles hanging down. But I had a bad case of cabin fever. Paul wasn't feel well all weekend so I didn't leave the house from Friday night when I got home from work until this morning when we left for work! :P And we are getting more snow tomorrow. We are about 4" away from the snowiest February ever. Bleh. I hope spring arrives soonish!!
Lemon's my favorite, and those lemony treats look wonderful. I did laugh at your throw-away line about keeping the timer with you. I agree with you on that painting of the cottage in winter in Bath -- it's really good.You certainly are living a charmed life these days -- and good for you! One of these days the sun will shine for more than six hours down here, and everyone will cheer up. I've decided the Pacific Northwest probably wouldn't be for me!
Those paintings are amazing!
Love your cottage in the snow painting.
Miriam just finished the Michelle Obama book and enjoyed it very much.
Yum to the lemon recipes! Your region's squirrels are very ginger! Ours are all very gray, rare to see an exception to that. I remember seeing black squirrels in Niagara Falls (Canada) and thought it most unusual.
I thought your Baby Grands looked good, Jeanie!
Jeanie, forgive me for being late to comment. Have been a tad under the weather. Love lemon and I imagine the book is wonderful. A great post and the best is your painting of the cottage in Bath. You are a wonderful talent.
Oh dear! no problem. yes! it was really harrowing! Thank god we made it safe.
I do like your art. The baking looks delicious. And Lizzie needs a tummy rub.
You know how to pass some quiet winter days Jeanie. Boy that lemon cake looks yummy and I would like a piece now. And although all your photos are good, that squirrel shot is really amazing. Hugs-Erika
Your paintings are looking fabulous Jeanie. I love that you give Rick a book every year with all the memories of the year. It sounds like you've been keeping so busy. I don't know how you do it all. Hugs. xx
Great to hear life is good for you right now. Hope it's still the case by the time I'm posting this.
Post a Comment