Hot So Hot!

Hi! Oh, we need a good big storm , the summer doldrums have arrived and it's just too hot to do anything!

You know how it feels, right?

I set out the jug of sun tea early and oh it brews so fast! Today's flavor is peach black tea, yesterday was mango mint green tea. The secret is not to let it get too strong, you want light and refreshing these hot days.

Then I worked on my deck for awhile instead of making the long Sahara-like trek to the beach. I'll walk at sunset instead.

Isn't this lovely! My deck project...any mess from stripping the stalks can just be swept away.
It's a lavender-hydrangea potpourri I just made with the flowers from my friend's yard. They dried very well...and just look at this color! Maybe too pretty for sachets? I think I'll store it in a clear Mason jar instead and just admire the shades of blue.

The fabrics behind the bowl are vintage French floral cottons, recycled treasures. From France! Via etsy.

I loved the idea of the assorted squares, planned to use the vintage fabrics for my lavender hearts...but maybe they are too pretty to cut up?

This one, below, is maybe my favorite, I know it's not going to get chopped up anytime soon!

If you look closely you can see just the faintestet remainders of the original pink candy stripe ground.

And while this pattern is not at all my usual taste, below,  I love the birds, and the detailed but not-quite-recognizable botanic flower renderings. (Are these larkspur? Very vigorous upright  sweet peas? Or what?)

Maybe the blue shades could be a very simple "shabby chic'' beach cottage quilt?

Not too big, just to use for summer naps or picnics...or to snuggle under if our storm ever arrives and cools things off.

I have that wonderful thrifted pansy sheet for a backing but I'll either need more blue flowered fabric or a spacer fabric: I am thinking blue and white gingham perhaps?

Etsy has some good finds, always fun to search their Vintage section when it's too hot for the flea market.  This one's a very good buy and I like the assorted sizes. Five yards for $11.00! Or this classic tiny, palest blue check?

Here are a couple of my favorite French vintage shops: Minouc  and Ma Maison Francaise

The vintage gingham aprons that turn up in a search for ''blue gingham'' make me wish I'd been able to save the ones my mom collected and used. She didn't have many, and what she had she wore in the summer over her khaki shorts and tank tops...cooking corn and lobster up on the Cape.....
Something to look for at the fleas this fall! For now I am taking my Porch quilt sewing out to the pool and I'll cut and sew some French pink hearts later when it's cooler...

What are you up to on these hot Dog Days? Lemonade? Sun tea? And lots of ice!

love

    lizzy

gone to the beach....

Happy Fourth of July

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Fourth of July...hmmm, here's the list: friends and family! Picnic, bbq, sunshine, good waves.....

Have to have flags!

Lots of flags...

And flowers, inside and out!

And best of all...fireworks! Over  the ocean....

Have a fun Fourth!

gorgeous delphinium blue/ cobalt!

love

            lizzy

...........gone to the beach

bonus: full moon and ''angel'' sunset

my fave tin star, a scented candle, and one of my recycled fabrics hearts

peace, love, and sandy feet
happy days....

Summertime Cooking

Hi! I know it's hot just about everywhere, isn't it! Sometimes it's just too hot to cook or BBQ.

The farmers market will probably be closed on Wednesday since that's the Fourth of July. (already! where did June go?!)...so I stocked up on goodies for the very long weekend that will last through the holiday, or maybe all week?

Lots of breads and cheeses for deck time/ cocktail time (as we called it in Cape Cod!)...

And LOOK! Lo-cal pina coladas? Back home in Illinois, before Cape Cod days, pina coladas were my mom's special Fourth of July treat for us all. I'll let you know how they taste.....

Beautiful berries...which make me want a strawberry daiquiri! Or strawberry shortcake, another of my mm's specialties. (Big Chicago prime porterhouse steaks and homemade potato salad, doesn't get much tastier than that!Oh and just picked corn! And LOL, my dad had a little cannon he'd shoot off before the fireworks.)

Back to the farmers market and reality! I served the berries with creme fraiche, in the little glass tub.
I also got these greenhouse heritage tomatoes, so cute! I quarter them and marinate them in vinaigrette with lots of black pepper, herbs, and fresh garlic. Wonderful spooned on top of BBQed steak or chicken, like a tomato chutney? I just fill up a quart Mason jar and keep it in the fridge.

Aren't these beets, orange and purple!---beautiful? I wish I knew what to do them. Beets taste like mud to me, lol.

Sunflowers for all my pitchers,

I'll add my collection of little American flags for the Fourth...

Exceptional lettuces.... It's worth the drive into town and hassle of parking, just for the lettuce, wow.

...butter and ''real'' arugula, like we used to get in Brooklyn. Big tasty leaves, so fragrant! [on the left], instead of that tiny prickly stuff we're sold on the stores.

I made a quick dinner the other night with large artisanal rigatoni, white wine, bacon, and cubed fresh parm. Added a handful of the arugula for color and zip. Yummy, easy, fast.

Back in the slow lane I got out the Crock Pot and made what my mom called Italian Beef, but is, I guess, more or less a pot roast that you slice and serve warm on crusty rolls on that night when you're too tired to BBQ or a storm rains you out. I used an eye round roast, mostly because the market did not have rump roast...added my farmers market baby carrots, tiny new red potatoes, mushrooms, sweet onions. Red or rose wine and brown gravy mix....it cooks overnight, then you have something easy in the fridge for the starving beach returnees! Or whatever, whomever, you need to feed...

I'm making pasta salad now...not sure what else for the holiday itself. Any special Fourth of July foods you /and your family love? I'll take suggestions!

love

        lizzy

gone to the beach~~~~~~~