tea party in the garden

I whipped up some lemon brownies for a party and they were YUMmmmmmmy! 

  Working in the kitchen brings me great joy, though, this is what it looks like 99 percent of the time...

Kids playing on the floor if they're not helping me or eating the batter like this guy!

And some how toys always end up in the mix! 

If you have a weakness for lemon desserts you must give this recipe from Bakergirl a go! 

Linking up with Sarah at...

So with dessert wrapped up it's time to take a walk around the garden!

Yarrow is a blooming with pink Salvia

Knautia macedonica "Mars Midget" or pincushion plant and Platycodon grandiflorus "Fairy Snow" or Dwarf Ballon Flower

Thanks to my night gardening hobby I was able to create my island bed up front for my redbud, and in time, more plants!  

Here is some inspiration from the current issue of Garden Making of where I would like to take this area.  The grasses paired with evergreen shrubs in the foreground make for a lovely design in June McCutcheon's garden. 

And just some plain old pretty color!  Simple combinations like Coreopsis and Salvia make for a stunning show at the Morton Arboretum.

A big thanks to Sher from Momcaster 

for featuring my palette path in her garden craft round-up!

butterfly wings

Through the garden we fly

The blooms come and go as do the moments of joy

The sparkling rays of light dance on their happy faces

Wishes are made 

That one day they'll fly into those rays and spread their joyous beauty over the Earth....

on the wings of a butterfly

randomness

Ok, so it has literally been raining nonstop here and they are calling for more severe thunderstorms tonight.  It's enough to make me crazy!  Crazy because I would love to get out in the garden but even more crazy because I find myself watching the sump pump like a hawk to ensure that no water thinks of soaking the new walls that were just put up from the last go around!  Which leads me to this post of random pictures I have collected over the past few weeks.

Refinishing and sealing an old crayon drawn cabinet to use for my gardening supplies on the back patio....

Watching the budget by splitting and planting grasses in pots for the patio...

Admiring a couple quick combos while on a walk...

Catmint and Knockout Roses

lime green Coral Bells paired with Hostas and Phlox

A sweet little front yard garden...

And the beans first music festival to see this guy...

their talented Uncle John

The fresh air combined with amazing folks and great music made for a perfect day.  

Dancing, skipping, and singing are all you need sometimes to make life super sweet! Ha..and a little less rain!
 Hope it is lovely where you are!

meet me at the garden gate

Our favorite song to dance to with the beans is Garden Gate by the Black Crowes......

Come on in and see what's growing!

Wishing everyone a very wonderful weekend! 

Linking up with....Fishtail Cottage

Palette Path

We have some of our veggies growing in pots by the house.  The area is, well, blah!  So I grabbed some palettes from my Pop and set to work.

So there ya have it!  A quick weekend project spruce up!  Hope your weekend is rocking!  Off to hear my brother play at a music festival by the river!  Cheers!



Linking Up Here...I Should Be Mopping The Floor & An Oregon Cottage & Chicken Chick

blooming and baking

Blooming...

 my new addition...False Indigo

Tiarella "Spring Symphony" (Foam flower) 

 grasses, sedums and yarrows are coming in

 Solomon Seal

 

 Bleeding Heart and potted Begonias in the shade garden

 I can't remember the name of this dwarf shrub in the front garden but I am inthralled with her blooms!

Anemone Sylvestris

our peas

And a pot of happy up front! 

Baking...

We have been busy baking for Mother's Day! These are our go to coffee cake blueberry muffins.

(One of my helpers thought I wasn't looking!)


Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

-recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa-

Ingredients 
12 tablespoons of butter (at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 eggs (at room temperature)
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt

2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of blueberries

-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place paper liners in your muffin pan.
-In your mixer beat the butter and sugar for 5 minutes until fluffy.  With your mixer on low slowly add the eggs, vanilla,  milk, yogurt, and sour cream.
-Now add your dry ingredients and fold your blueberries in with a spatula.
-Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day everyone!  

Linking up with Sarah's and Tootsie Time...Flaunt your Flowers