Cool foods for hot days!
I love quinoa, a little grain with a lot of protein!

It makes a lovely summer salad when cooked, cooled and combined with tasty ingredients!

Like Annie's Roasted Garlic Vinagrette Dressing. Organic of course! We found this quinoa salad in the deli department of Whole Foods and have enjoyed making our own variation....
Directions: Bring 11/4 c. water to boil. Add 1 cup quinoa (rinsed). Cover. Simmer 12-14 minutes until done. Fluff with a fork. Cool quinoa.

Add about 1/3 cup of dressing, bits of sun-dried tomato, and/or fresh tomato, bell pepper (red or green or yellow or orange), red onion, baby spinach leaves. Toss. Refridgerate until chilled, allowing flavors to blend.

Sometimes, I leave the baby spinach out and serve the quinoa on a bed of baby spinach which has been dressed with extra Annie's dressing.....yummm!

Now to find the roasted garlic vinegrette secret recipe...and save more $$$$.

Lasting images of summer.....

My grandson enjoying perhaps his first corn on the cob! [I'm not the only "foodie" in this family!]

August day in front of the Plaza. [I wasn't on the trip, but love the photos!]

My grandchildren snuggling on a colorful sofa with Manhattan in the background! [To me this is almost like a collage, the many shapes, colors and elements crowded together, making it a challenge to find their faces. The warm sunny tones in the foreground contrast with the cool blue grays of the skyscrapers outside the window with its strong vertical black bar elements.

I love this photo! Great job, Laura!]
note: click on photo for closer view!

Riding around in the city, my daughter and grandson. Hugs to you both!

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NOTE: Just posted today's collage!

The last shirt of summer.....

This was yesterday's quick sewing project. Such fun! A man's dress shirt ($2.00 at Salvation Army Thrift Store) is transformed into a peasant blouse for US! The easy-to-follow tutorial is here!

We can always enjoy one more white top on hot summer days! [Or, if you really get lucky with the shirt you find, it could be a lovely exotic (no, not Hawaiian!) colorful print which would be a great tunic for autumn!]

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Yesterday, the library let me know that the book I had on reserve was in! I am enjoying it very much! It is a mystery in England in 1950. The sleuth is an 11 year-old girl. So far the plot has included poison ivy and a cucumber patch (in their kitchen garden) so I feel right at home!

NOTE: click here to see the collage bookmark I am using, LOL!

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I may bake these today, I can't remember where I came across this recipe, somewhere on-line.
I have rosemary in the garden of course.

Recipe of the month: Rosemary Cookies ( by popular demand!)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1/2 teasp vanilla
1/2 teasp baking soda
1/2 teasp cream of tartar
2 cups flour
1 tbls. chopped fresh rosemary
Optional....lemon zest, 1 Tbls.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients except rosemary. mix thoroughly Add rosemary at the last. roll dough into small balls and put on cookie sheet. Press with the bottom of a sugar coated glass to flatten. bake 10-12 minutes. cool on rack.

Sunny and bright in the garden at noon. A pink hybrid geranium and dwarf French marigolds grow near some young summer squash plants.

Here snapdragons and basil are doing fine near the young zucchini (courgette)! These squash and zucchini plants will have to spill out into the yard as they grow. This IS a tiny beginner's garden! Oh, and didn't I just put in a few cantaloupe seedlings....LOL!

The cucumbers are climbing the bamboo supports and blooming. I hope to have some kind of harvest. Now, it is so enjoyable just to see the foliage and flowers. [I've been reading on this...too little nitrogen or too much nitrogen and tomatoes won't set fruit....if the nights are too cool and/or the days too hot, the same thing...no fruit, just lots of leaves and blossoms. This is all a learning process. Thank-goodness I am not dependent on this for my food!!!]
Finally, after moving those plants around, I have to wash up at the "garden sink".

P.S. don't miss today's watercolors!NOw for sale in ETSY!

Of the Sea and Mermaids.....

If it's too hot to remain landlocked, we must search for ocean breezes.....

Caribbean paintings, seashell mirrors, dolls, sculptures, books about mermaids*.......

Look into the mermaid's mirror and see your true self!

\ So much creative possibility......and finally when it comes down to pure delight,

a little "merman" seeing his true self!

* a couple of books..."A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids" by Margot Datz and "A Mermaid's Tale" by Amanda Adams.

This is my first time to post for Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli!

With summer here, I wanted to show you my mermaid ornament.

She is of shimmery blown glass, about 6" tall, holding a "fan" of scallop shells.


I wish she had a lovely family story attached but she was the only, lonely mermaid hanging among the Christmas ornaments in a local store last September.....must have gotten lost in her deep ocean swims....


I love her "almost red" hair!


Perhaps I will get a mermaid doll (or 2) made this summer....she needs some friends!