It has been a wacky, wild and weird time around here, how about with you? Have things been extra curious in your neck of the woods? I think it's the weather. Mother nature let spring out with 90'F weather, and then Mister frost stepped back in for a day, and let out snow even. Weird. Weird and bizarre. I told you it was bizarre around here ;)
Of course, a little cold snap to surprise us, made me sneak in a little more baking before the oven is closed for the season. I made this coffee cake and shared with friends. It was yumm.
Then I made these rolls on a whim (to go with dinner), and they were a massive hit. I used two packages of rapid rise yeast, and let the dough sit in the bowl for 20 minutes instead of 5. Then I just plopped little blobs of dough on a buttered cookie sheet, and voila...
They were also good for breakfast, with a tinge of butter and jam. I have been forcing myself to eat breakfast for a year. Do you eat breakfast?
Now I find that my body actually wants breakfast, and I enjoy it. Plus I have more energy and get more done. But for years, since I can remember really, I couldn't muscle breakfast down if I tried. And now, I love it, and enjoy it. Fancy that?
So, I set a little breakfast table for myself before I get to work in the morning. And, coral shaded roses and pink carnations from the garden, add the perfect touch of hello happy, to start the day...
I also love cafés in the morning.
They make my heart skip a beat.
The smells, and clankings and coffee, and tea, and toast.
I just love cafés in the morning.
I also love cafés midday, when no one is there.
So, while we pretend we are in a café here today, let me tell you about the surprise in my garden. If you will?
You see, I planted a huge box of cottage wildflower seed mix early last year in lots of spots in my garden. In that same year I saw poppies, bachelor's buttons, black eyed susan's - you know, all sorts of little flowers. It was great...
BUT, there was also a lot of non-flowering green stuff. I figured it was just filler seeds or something.
Summer came, all the little flowers stopped blooming, but the green stuff stayed on.
Fall came, winter came and went, and still the green stuff lived, thrived and actually got huge.
And then, it was a new year.
Fast forward to today.
All of that green stuff started showing signs of buds - (squeal!)
And then, like magic...
Little flowers started turning up, quite unexpectedly, about two weeks ago...
Sweet Williams bloomed, hooray!
And Siberian Wallflowers too...
Isn't that a huge treat? To have little flower treasures popping up as such, whilst waiting for this year's plantings to grow up and bloom later this summer?
I am a happy camper, I tell ya.
Imagine living in the dry desert, and rarely seeing lush flower gardens (the desert is pretty too, but different pretty). If you can imagine that, you will understand my overbearing garden obsession ;)
And, there are oodles of more curious creatures about to bloom. Every morning I open my eyes at about 5:30 and bolt outside to see anything new going on.
Also, to see if the gophers have sucked down anything more.
But mostly, to see how the flowers are doing.
I had to pull out hundreds of pumpkin sprouts in the thinning process, but there are still all sorts of little plants squinched up close. I may have to thin more, but I simply can't bring myself to do it. I will have to ask Mister Lovee to do it for me. Although, he over thins, so that could be dangerous. Never, ever ever ask him to cut your hair. He is dangerous with scissors. He has always cut his own hair, so I never know if long curly locks are going to be massacred when it is trimming day ;)
Also, the giant coral rose bush is getting as tall as the trees with it's roses shooting up...
Exciting!!
I have a hard time focusing with the outdoors calling my name. I feel like I am being bewitched some days. No matter how hard I try, I can't exit the garden :)
I was so worried on Saturday when it rained so much, and the temperature dropped to low 40's for a high. What with 6 inch sunflowers that were getting used to the hot weather - I knew if the clouds lifted they would be doomed.
Luckily, someone (a fairy?) tugged at my toes at 5 a.m. just as the earth was freezing, and I stayed outside until 7:30 sprinkling everything with water so it would not freeze. It was intense, but it worked!!
Here are some icy morning shots of the aloe.
A tinge of ice crystals, and the sun shimmering on everything.
Don't you love how frost glitters?
I was so happy to see the sun that morning.
And so were all the growing things, I'm sure...
Well, I have 5,000 things to do.
The studio is a wreck, but I am painting today - and burning the rest of my to do list...
That is, if I can keep from being mesmerized by the uncurling of fresh new leaves on the pecan trees...
I thought we were supposed to stop day dreaming as we got older. But somewhere along the line, I got worse ;)
You?
With that I shall wish you....
A love love lovely day!
See you super duper soon...