a collection

I'm starting a new blog series called collections.   A collection of my photos that have no specific category but mean something to me for one reason or another.  I search for these little bits of beauty everyday.  Even when the house is covered in splattered food and the beans are running circles around me.  They are things that plain and simple make me happy. 

 Here is my collection....

sampling with mom

a cozy cottage

a flat tray garden

 my new pot for the garden

 our street beginning to show its colors

  rusted planters for the garden room

 my last bloom

hens-and-chicks in the kitchen

my practice knitting...it isn't much but I am teaching myself when the beans go to sleep

my hope is to one day participate with Wendy from September Violets in sending squares to LILY to  be made into blankets for Syrian Refugees 

Happy making, baking, and growing friends!

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!

a gardener's heaven

I saw a little piece of heaven today.  Thank you to my garden pal Sue for telling me about this event.  The gentleman that owns this garden came here from Italy with his brothers and they opened the Como Inn in Chicago.  When they sold that property he settled here with his partner.  His estate is now for sale as he is moving back to Italy.  Most of the items for sale are garden related.  Gorgeous Italian pots and tiles.  Art pieces and even plants. The garden is breath taking.  His use of grasses is stunning as are the large urns and pots that are nestled into the beds.

Enjoy...

apples apples and whole wheat apple muffins

There is a great children's book by Linda White called Too Many Pumpkins where a gardener named Rebecca Estelle has an enormous crop of pumpkins and no idea what to do with them all.  She decides to make the pumpkins into sweet treats for her neighbors and by the end of it, her kitchen is filled to the ceiling with pumpkin seeds.

This is pretty much how I'm feeling about the apples we picked from the orchard in Michigan.  I have no idea what comes over my ability to restrain myself while picking.  Sort of like when we hunt for our Christmas tree and come home with one that is ridiculously too large for our space!

So the baking has begun! This is one of my favorite go to apple muffin recipes around.  

adapted from Here

I double this recipe and come out with 12 giant muffins

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 stick butter (I use salted)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar divided
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup milk (recipe calls for yogurt or buttermilk but I use milk and they come out great)
• 2 large apples peeled and chopped

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees

Mix the wet ingredients in a stand up mixer

Slowly add dry ingredients and fold in apples by hand

Grease your pan and spoon them in 

Sprinkle their tops with the remaining brown sugar (you will be glad you did!)

Pop these babies in for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes turn the heat down to 400 degrees and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes

When the toothpick comes out clean you're good

Remove and place them on a cooling rack

Some apple inspiration for my remaining 100...

via-sugarpiefarmhouse.com

via-tinywhitedaisies

via-abounding-happiness

via-workmanfamily.typepad.com

apple cheesecake bars via-The Girl Who Ate Everything


Here is to a rocking Thursday!
Happy Baking, Making, and Growing!!!