Family..

Heinz (my brother)and his wife, Marlene up near Williams Lake, BC

Larry's ( my brother in law) surprise early birthday present of his Quad...
I am so lucky to be part of this loving family that connect and stay in touch.
Happy August 1st long Weekend!!!

Peach Skillett Upside Down Cake....

Martha Stewart's Cake

Dagmar Leuenberger-Swift's cake

Turned upside down. You decide which one looks good.

Yum, it sure was good!!!!

Here is the recipe below.

Ingredients
Serves 8
5 1/2 ounces (1 stick plus 3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 medium ripe peaches (about 1 1/4 pounds), skins on, pitted, and cut into 3/4-inch wedges
1 cup coarse yellow cornmeal or polenta
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons chopped fresh lavender, or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried lavender
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, using a pastry brush to coat sides with butter as it melts. Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar evenly over bottom of skillet, and cook until sugar starts to bubble and turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Arrange peaches in a circle at edge of skillet, on top of sugar. Arrange the remaining wedges in the center to fill. Reduce heat to low, and cook until juices are bubbling and peaches begin to soften, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
Whisk cornmeal, flour, baking powder, lavender, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat remaining stick of butter and 3/4 cup sugar with a mixer on high speed, until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl. Mix in vanilla and cream. Reduce speed to low, and beat in cornmeal mixture in 2 additions.
Drop large spoonfuls of batter over peaches, and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer skillet to a wire rack, and let stand for 10 minutes. Run a knife or spatula around edge of cake. Quickly invert cake onto a cutting board. Tap bottom of skillet to release peaches, and carefully remove skillet. Reposition peach slices on top of cake. Let cool slightly before serving.
Helpful Hint
Perfectly ripe peaches, available from May to October, will feel heavy for their size, yield slightly to gentle pressure, and emit a sweet, heady perfume. Avoid any fruit tinged with green, as it won't ripen. Ready-to-eat peaches last 3 to 5 days refrigerated; firmer ones will soften when kept in a brown paper bag on the counter for up to 3 days.

The essence of pleasure is spontaneity.

~Germaine Greer

Thrift Shop finds

This was the best find, a small wall hanging that was hand embroidered with the saying.

"Within every heart is a garden waiting to be tended."

A bargain @1.25

Obviously a good day to find things and all @ 50% off!!!

Charming old cake carrier to add to my metal tin collection.

These 2 plates are destined for a gift picnic basket.

I always need/want lace and buttons, who know where they will end up.

I also found Cindy 2 more plates for her collection.

So, as you can see, it was a good day.

I am only sorry that my buddy Cindy wasn't with me to help me find these tresures. She is coming for 4 days in September and then we will do some serious shopping.

Can't wait.!!!!

Collections.....

These collections say "summertime" like nothing else. I am off to find a few more things to add to my collection. Wish me luck!
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As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.
~Henry David Thoreau,

McCoy Pottery & Lavender...

Part of my McCoy Pottery Collection in my Library room, along with the little house that Jim built for me.

Lavender from the garden and fresh peaches from Paytner's Market up the road for my Peach and Cornmeal Upside Down Cake to be made today.

"Take your needle, my child,
and work at your pattern — it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that . . . one stitch at a time, taken patiently."
Oliver Wendell Holmes

All set for Summer Relaxing...

A cheerful arrangements of flowers.
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Today I bought the new issue of my very favourite magazine, British Country Living and found these wonderful images to share.

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Tea in the Garden

Today I got busy cutting back my lavender and made a whole bunch of bundles, now the whole house smells fresh and lovely.

Off for our own beach side picnic, I am looking forward to a simple and tasty picnic dinner at the water's edge.

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Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.

Alice Walker

Happy Brithday, Caroline

July 25, 1958.....

A memorable day.......

Happy 5oth Caroline, you still are as totally sweet as you were in this Christmas photo.

I am so proud to have you as my younger sister, and your work as an artist!!!!

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Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.

~Paul Pearshall

Living Your Life....

I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite ' the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides. —Carl Sagan

Lunch at The Terrace Resturant..

Having lunch with Jo-Ann today at Mission Hill's Terrace Restaurant.

Voted by Leisure Magazine as one of the 5 Top Winery Restaurants in the world. It was so lovely to sit down and be served such a wonderful, flavourful meal. Thank you Jo-Ann.

Halibut

Duck Confit

After all the trouble you go to, you get about as much actual "food" out of eating an artichoke as you would from licking 30 or 40 postage stamps.

~Miss Piggy

Craft Room and weekend finds!!!

My clean craft room, everything in it's place.

On the side wall

Great little crocheted lap afghan. $2.00 find. And can you imagine, Jim says to me, and we need this WHY????? Does he not know by now that need has nothing to do with collecting?

Part of a collection for Cindy of Dudson and Heath Restaurant Ware..She plans to use this down at her beach Cabana.

What a find this was, all for $5.00. I am totally spoiling Cindy with these treasures and sparing no expense to do so!

Ice Cream Love....

The Venue

The anticipation of waiting to see Dad with the Ice Cream!!!!!

Satisfaction guaranteed!!!

Good to the last lick!!!!

Concert @ Mission Hill Winery

Greg Sczebel's concert. That's Greg on the keyboard. It was a lovely evening with great music and really good wine. We will be going to the remaining 3 concerts, each one seems to be better than the last.

Look what I found!!!!

Summer or Early fall, you get to choose your look at Pottery Barn...I could move right in!

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Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it.

William James

My brother Werner...

Last week I drove down to Penticton and had lunch with my brother Werner...he is a great guy, always living on the edge, and doing the things that he loves. He lives part time in Cabo, so we don't get to see each other too often, but he is great at keeping in touch...

Stay safe, Miss you.

Flea Market Finds...

Brad and Carmen....

Jim and his son Brad at Mission Hill Winery

Brad and Carmen at Greata Ranch

Balcony at Greata Ranch

View from the deck.

Beach Dogs....

The "girlies" enjoying the beach at Harvey and Annmarie's in Nelson.