Homegrown peaches and a recipe too...

We have a dwarf peach tree in the yard and the peaches are starting to ripen...there's not much better than a home grown peach...they are juicy and sweet! This year we don't have a lot of peaches...but they are big...and delicious! We grill our peaches, make pies, peach crisp, peach smoothies...eat them in cereal...so many ways...last week I was reading blogs and I came across this recipe for a blueberry cobbler and I tried it using peaches...it was so easy and really good...I am however, embarrassed that I can't remember who's blog it came from...I forgot to write that part down...but she shared it and so will I...

1 stick of butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
1 tbsp vanilla
1 pint blueberries or 5 peaches...I did use 5 and it was perfect

Heat oven to 350...I use my small convection oven in the summer and this was the perfect temperature for it too...
Put the stick of butter in an 8x8 glass pan and melt in the oven
While the butter is melting...whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder...
Add milk and vanilla...whisk until no lumps...
Pour batter over butter...
This is what mine looked like...
Spread fruit over batter...

Here's how it looks...

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden brown...

Mine took about 35 minutes in my little oven...I added a bit of cinamon on top before I baked it this time...I didn't the first time...it was good both ways...

Wait about 10-15 minutes and serve with Vanilla Bean ice cream...Yummy!!

I give this recipe two thumbs up...the cake is sort of spongy and the vanilla makes it great...and it was so fast and easy...my kind of dessert!! I just wish I could remember who blogged about it...I want to thank her!

I couldn't end my post today without showing you the latest color of Gladiola in the back yard...this has to be my favorite...I know...I know...I say that about all of them...but I love orange...and this color is so soft and pretty...It really looks good against all the purples that are blooming in the yard right now!

And yes...I still can't use the tool bar on my blog...so if I mis-spelled something...sorry...sometimes my head is way faster than my hands and I try to check...but I don't always catch the mistakes...also...this off to the the left writing is driving me crazy!! Oh well!

Enjoy your day, my friends!!

A relaxing day out...

Don and I decided we needed a day trip...we wanted to go somewhere to relax...walk...enjoy outdoors...we thought about driving up the hill to Big Bear...to the Chilldren's Forest...but that sounded like too much work...all that hiking and sweating...I was in a more relaxed mood...

What could be more relaxing than the beach...so we headed down the toll road towards Laguna Beach...too crowded there...and no parking...we decided to go a bit farther south to Dana Point...now this is my kind of place!

We could only imagine who lives in these houses...they were huge...and all a stone's throw from the beach...for you not familiar with California law...you can't actually live on the ocean...because all beaches are public here...but you can't get much closer...

Doesn't it look peaceful out there...

We took off our sandels and walked down to the water...our destination was that big cliff out there...we were wondering what was beyond it...

There were kids making sand castles and they inspired me ...

To make this!!

The waves were crashing on the beach and in some areas it got a bit rough...one big wave caught us off guard and soaked my shorts...that's OK...I was happy to be there...

The ocean is so peaceful to me...I could sit and look at it all day....

After about an hour of walking...we arrived at the big cliff...nothing behind there unless you went up and over or around through the water...that wasn't going to happen...so we turned around to walk back...

As we were walking back...pelicans flew over head...then they dove down into the water to fish....we realized it was getting late and we hadn't eaten since breakfast...so we got in the car and drove up to San Juan Capistrano...it's about 5 minutes away...we ate at The Cedar Creek Inn...it's right across the street from the Mission...the food is wonderful...

Don couldn't decide between a seafood salad and a Reuben...as you can see...the Reuben won...He said it was delicious...I'm not a fan of rye bread, so I took his word...but the pickle was delicious!

I got my two favorites all rolled into one...a Calamari Ceasar Salad...it was fabulous! There was so much Calamari and avocados...It was big too, but after all that walking...and with a bit of Don's help...I ate it all!

I had a great day...thank you, Don for spending it with me!! You are the best!!

As you can see...my Blogger is still messed up...I am very annoyed, but dealing...so enjoy your day, my friends!!

Magnolia tree...oh so pretty...

This morning as I was raking and cursing at my Magnolia tree...I looked up for a minute instead of down at all the leaves on the lawn and felt sort of bad for being mad at this tree...

It gives such nice shade to our front yard and such pretty blooms this time of year as well...

It was no taller than me when we first moved in our house and now it stands about 40 feet tall. It really is a great tree...even though it sheds leaves like no body's business...
I am still having issues with Blogger and I really am at my witt's end...for some reason the tool bar at the top of the page doesn't work anymore...except to load photos...and sometimes I have to fight with that as well!! I wish I knew what to do...but I'm an old fool who has no idea of how to fix this!! Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated...because I'm ready to scrap this whole thing and just go back to my before Blogging life...things were simpler then!But then I would miss all the wonderful people I have met here...oh well....I'm going back to the garden...at least I know what to do out there!!
Enjoy your weekend, my friends!!

Aren't these yummy...

Ha! Ha!! I fooled you...you thought I was gonna show some food and all you see is some wool...well...that's the yummy part...all the colors! Well, at least I think so! Yesterday I drove
down to The Wool Lady to pick up some wool for a couple of projects I working on and I found all of these wonderful bright hand dyed colors...they are perfect for my projects!

Another bright color is the new Glad in the back...it was just starting to open last night...and this morning it looks so beautiful!

This is the first yellow one...I love it!!

There is something very wrong with blogger this morning...I can't center my texts for some reason...so I'm just leaving it like this...if it looks a bit wonky...I apologize! I can't figure out how to fix it...the tool bar isn't working for some reason and I tried centering it manually, but it just goes back to the left side!! Also...spell check isn't working...soI hope I don't make a fool out of my self for poor spelling!

Enjoy the day, my friends!! I hope your day is smooth sailing and not as frustrating as mine has been this morning!!

Summer's here...

Today is the first day of Summer and it sure does feel like here...I thought I'd show you my June Project Linus blanket, but now I'm just embarrassed...it looks soooo wrinkled in this picture. I have no idea why it looks this bad in the picture...it really isn't that wrinkled...I think it may be the light and shade in the photo...oh well! Now on to my garden....

Look!! Ripe tomatoes on the vine...we've had a couple already, but now more and more are ripening...I cannot say how much I love tomatoes...and to have them garden fresh...one of my favorite things...


And teeny tiny cucumbers too...these have had a rough start but before long we will have cucumber and tomato salad...Yum!

Isn't it cute!

I know it seems as though I am Gladiola crazy...maybe I am...but I get all giddy when I see a new color of Glad in my yard...here's some medium purple ones...

A close up...so pretty!

A new dark one opening up...

Here's a light purple...lavender I guess...this one is my favorite so far I think...

In this close up you can see all the different shades of purple...I am so happy I planted all of these bulbs...it was a bag of happiness!

This morning I had to get out to the garden early...it was mow day and I wanted to get all the heavy work done before it got too hot. I think Summer is here to stay, so my gardening times will have to be adjusted a bit.

Enjoy your day, my friends...back to sewing for me!!

Well, we did it...

Yes, we did! We finally joined the 21st century...we got some new phones...Androids...and 4G to boot...not that our backwards area has 4G...but when it does...we'll be ready! Not that I'm gonna figure out everything on this phone...but I'm trying! And believe me...it's trying! We even got a wireless router...pretty amazing for a couple of old...err.. I mean middle aged...well...let's face it...past middle aged old fools...but it was time...and we REALLY needed new phones...our old ones didn't even have a camera on them! These ones have a 8 mega pixel camera...that zooms in...pretty crazy for a phone...and see...I got headphones too! I am supposed to be able to put music on the phone and listen to it while I walk...won't that be great!

Enjoy your day, my friends...back to Angry Birds...I mean sewing...yes sewing...really!

More Glads and a new bag...

The Gladiolas are really starting to bloom in my yard...it is wonderful! I know I showed you a white one yesterday...but this one is in the front yard...I don't know if I told you...I'm forgetful like that, so bear with me...I bought this package of bulbs on sale at Lowes for something like $4...it has been the best $4 I've spent in a long time...
That little bit of money has given me new flowers every day!!

This one is incredible...I love the white in the deep purple...

There's a tiny bit of yellow in there too...can you see it? So far I have three colors from the 60 bulbs I planted...there's another purple one starting to bloom in the back and about 5 or 6 white ones...I love them all...boy...do I sound giddy over flowers opening...I must sound like a kook!

I finished another bag yesterday after a bit of gardening too...It is my peace bird bag! I love birds...I guess that's obvious...and we can all use a bit of peace...anyways...I'm a throw back to the days of peace and love...a little secret...I was a wanna be hippie in my teen age years...but I was too young...a product of the early 70's and too afraid of my parents to be a real hippie! A gal can have dreams...anyway...back on track...not exactly a hippie bag...just a cute tote, diaper, market, beach or whatever you want to to use it for bag...

Here's a bit of a closer look at the wool birdies...

I made them to match these three...

Some layered buttons...the bottom one is ceramic...the middle one pearl and the top...silver...I do love layering buttons!

A peek at the inside...Robert Kaufman polka dot fabric in white and aqua...lots of pockets...

Yes, June Gloom is still with us, but not quite as much this morning...it is burning off a bit earlier today I think. We have a graduation party to attend tonight...our friend just graduated from college ...he is turning 60 this year...we are very proud of him!

We are also planning on going to get new phones today...I still haven't decided...Android or IPhone...I just hope I'm smart enough to use a Smart Phone!

Enjoy the day, my friends...and I hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day with your Dad or husband or sons...our sons have to work...so Don and I will have a quiet day here...but sometimes that is the best kind of day!!

Some of this and some of that...

As I went out this morning to feed the birds...my morning ritual...I noticed that more and more of the Gladiola bulbs I planted a while back are starting to bloom...

So far it's mostly white...these actually have a bit of pink along the edges...

and this dark coral color...but I'm an equal opportunity gardener...I love flowers of every color!

here's a closeup...

While I was out feeding and taking pictures...this little guy flew right up to me and stared...it surprised me a bit...they do this all the time, but it's never when I have camera in hand...when I realized I had my camera...I got a picture...it's hard to get these guys...they move so fast!!

As I was looking around the yard...I noticed some seedlings growing...don't know what this is...something the birds planted I suppose...it looked pretty with the water droplet on it...did I mention the drizzle and fog and gloom is back...

This little friend is keeping a close eye on all the happenings in the garden...

The Dusty Miller is blooming...

these tiny flowers are such a contrast to the gray plant...it does well in my back yard.

Oh here's another watchful eye in the garden...

The Hostas are doing well...this one looks to start blooming soon...

more Hostas with some Lamb's Ear....

Coral Bells are doing fine too...lots going on in the shade...

Maybe because I have so many friends out here keeping an eye on things...

These are miniature Snap Dragons...they are only about 6 inches tall...cute and colorful!

This is a Peppermint Geranium...it's in a pot on the back porch where I can smell it all the time...

See it's teeny tiny flowers...

I've been sewing a bit too...I got inspired by a bunny hopping around on the front lawn ...

Here's a close up...of course the bunny had to have a flower....

More flowers for the back pocket....this was a fun bag to make....

When I saw this fabric...I had to have it...so colorful and fun...so I made a simple tote bag...

I let the fabric speak for itself...nothing busy here...

Here's the inside...I added both bags to my Etsy shop...I'm trying to build up an inventory...sales have been slow...but I'm hopeful that things will pick up...I love staying home and working here...so I hope I can start earning my keep! Well...at least pay for the fabric!!

As I said ...it's foggy and gloomy out...a perfect day to sew!! But then...when is it not!

Enjoy your day, my friends...do something that makes you happy today!!