Tuesday, July 7, 2009

I can't believe it's time again for another

This week I'm happy to report
that the
Feverfew
has started blooming!
I think that it is so cute.
It reminds me of Daisies.
My all time favorite flower.
I plant Feverfew every year.
I guess you can brew a tea with it.
I don't do that .
I just plant it because it's cute.

Here is this week's version of the "Grow" sign.
I'm getting color in my garden!
So from now until fall -
I should have blooms!

I noticed this little hole
in the garden,
then I just stuck the camera
down in front of it and snapped.
After I uploaded my pix
I noticed this little guy
hiding out.
Don't be shy,
just click on the link below
to visit Susan
@
for more of
Outdoor Wednesday!

Robyn

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Blue Monday/Met Monday

I have a dual post again today.
and

For starters I actually completed a project,
and remembered to take a before pic,
and an after pic!

I have a cedar glider on my patio
that is so comfy,
but it was starting to look like
it had seen a better day.

I had a little help from Grampa,
he helped reinforce it,
then I sanded it and repainted it with
Behr Solid Stain in sage.
(Below is the before - see awful
it was starting to look?)
It was finished and dry just in time
for our 4th of July festivities!

I prepared a boneless turkey breast on the grill.
First I rinsed it off and patted it dry.
Applied a light layer of vegetable oil,
applied pepper and a little paprika.
I discovered that you don't really want
to salt it. The brine that it is packaged in
is quite salty already.
I snipped a few herbs from the patio
and placed them randomly around on it.
I used Sage, of course, some Marjoram,
and a bit of Thyme.
I placed it on prepared tin foil.
Sealed it up and double wrapped her.
(Just a note....place a drip pan underneath
if you want to catch any stray juices for gravy later.)
I'm from the old school, I keep it on the grill
until it reaches 180 on the
instant read thermometer.

We had the turkey breast, cheesy potatoes.
You know the ones made with hash browns
and two kinds of cheese,
(I placed them in a tin foil pan right onto the grill also.)
potato buns, and a Wild Rice Broccoli Salad.
The recipe is to follow.
See, the turkey breast turned out beautifully.
Juicy, not too dry,
because it is wrapped in foil.

I use the Cultivated Wild rice, not the cracked,
for this recipe.

I dice and add a red pepper (I used an anaheim ancient sweet pepper -
but you can use a red bell pepper as well,
a medium red or vidalia onion,
broccoli flowerettes cut into smaller bite size pieces,
and slivered almonds to taste
(that should be toasted, if you have the time),
to the cooked and cooled Wild Rice.
Then I add 3/4 bottle of
Girard's Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing,
(you could make your own with the Ramen Noodle packet)
one minced garlic toe, and a palmful of
Italian Seasonings.

See how pretty it is?

Jacob wanted the bottled Coca-Cola from Sam's.
(It turned out that it is from Mexico,
so it processed with sugar, rather than corn syrup.)
Just like the good old days.

I'm using my new dishes from The Pottery Barn.
Although the plates look like they are paper,
they actually are china, and my cup
appears to be plastic, it actually is glass.
Everyone got a kick out of that.
We are so green....

I hope you give this salad a try.
Everytime I take it somewhere I am asked for the recipe.
It actually tastes better the next day.

I'm off to check out the other Blue Monday offerings
and all of the great projects of

Robyn


Friday, July 3, 2009

Happy 4th of July!


Happy 4th of July!!!



After a week of unseasonably cool weather,
(which I am certainly not complaining about)
The garden is starting to
grow buds and blooms as well as foliage.

Last weekend Jacob and I
hoped to pick strawberries....
Only to discover
that the fields are not open on Sundays :(
But, we stumbled upon
the nicest little
farm market.
(and wouldn't you know it,
I didn't bring my camera)
Along with freshly picked strawberries,
they had a small petting zoo
and a greenhouse.
I couldn't resist this pretty
variety of Clematis.
Her name is Anna Louise.
She is purple with a reddish stripe
on each pedal.



I also bought this Bittersweet vine.

As you can see, it likes it here!
It already has made itself at home!!!

The Cleome is starting to bloom....

I think that Miles has found a bunny....

My mailbox planter
full of Petunias
has filled in nicely.

Thanks for visiting my garden today.

Visit Tootsie @ Tootsie Time
&
Artie @ Color Between the Lines
& of course
Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound

Hope you all are having a
Safe & Happy 4th of July!

Hugs from
Robyn & Jacob

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Blue Monday!

Saturday was an iffy day. The skies were overcast.
It poured rain in the early morning hours.
The weatherman predicted that it would clear up by One.
We had planned this event for weeks. It was postponed
once already due to rain.
We decided - What the Heck!
Let's go for it!

We planned to cruise on the St. Croix River
for the afternoon.
My friend Mary & her husband Gundy
own a nice little houseboat
in a slip at the Sunnyside Marina.
Located in Stillwater, Minnesota.

This is the historic lift bridge.
It is very controversial right now -
with all of the bridge issues
we've had of late in Minnesota.
There have been plans to replace this bridge
for many years.
However, the Sierra Club has their concerns,
and each state MN & WI have their concerns
over the budget.
I digress. Let's just get on with the cruise!

If you enlarge this pic you will see that a wedding
is taking place on the waterfront.
Stillwater is a cute little town,
with fun little shops and many restaurants.
(It even boasted a few famous residents.
Jessica Lange and Sam Shepherd.)

Our boat didn't have to wait for the lift bridge to rise.
We just squeaked by underneath...

Here is another shot of the lift bridge's pulleys.
Jacob thought you would like to see this.
We didn't stick around long enough for me
to get a pic of it rising. Maybe next time....

However, I thought you might like to see
some of the homes
that dot the river bluffs,

or maybe a speedboat zipping by....

This home belongs to the owner of....
Anderson Windows.

And I was told that this is his daughter's home.

With my gift of gab - I set the camera down
and didn't get all of the shots I should have
for you - Like pix of our gracious hosts,
and their boat, and many of the guests,
and the wonderful buffet that Mary prepared for us.

Please join me in sharing Blue Monday
with another gracious host,
She's just a click away.

Robyn





Friday, June 26, 2009

Short & Sweet: Foodie & Fertilizer Friday

Today's contribution is going to be
just like me....

Short & Sweet.

I had to work today...
I know what you're thinking,
But it's Friday - and you don't work on Fridays.
Well, we still haven't hired a new Assistant
so it's just me, and patients were scheduled,
so what can I do?

Needless to say, dinner was Culver's.
Jacob found this cute little heart
in his package of cheese curds
and he gave it to me.
I just love him so.

Today is also Fertilizer Friday.
Notice I watered my herbs.....
Look at all the new healthy growth, Tootsie.

And as predicted - the Tiger Lily has bloomed!

And once again, Miles posed for the camera.
He really did. He noticed my camera, then mosied
over to the flowers and waited for me to take his pic.
So I have to show him - because I think he loves
his new found celebrity.

Well, I am off to visit Gollum
for more Foodie Friday goodness.

Robyn

Monday, June 22, 2009

Three or More!!!

Out in the Sunporch
I have a tiny little collection.
A collection I started many years ago.
As you know,
Jacob loves the Antique Stores
& Flea Markets.
It gave me something to look for
while he was looking for
"his junk".
I created rules for this collection.
Only metal - not glass.
They all had to be different -
if at all possible.
& I couldn't spend more than $5.00.
And I could only buy 1 at a time.
Then they became popular.
They were featured in Country Living,
Country Home & BH&G's magazines.
Then the prices shot up...

It's my Flower Frog Collection.

I have 3 or more of the cage-type,
and 3 or more of the pin-type...
and a whole lot more in the jar behind.
Visit Tam
to see more
really neat collections.

Jacob added a little color to the garden
with a few of his blue-green insulators.


And this hydrangea
has a bit of blue poking through, Sally!
See more blue by clicking here.

Robyn

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Share a Garden Sunday

I ran out between the raindrops
to capture pictures of the garden.
I want to share them with you,
because today is
with Artie.

This is Sven or is it Lena?
I forget.
It is a shrub rose that was developed
by Bailey's Nursery in
collaboration with the
University of Minnesota.
It is supposed to be a heartier variety
to withstand our winter months
without any fuss or muss.

Remember the next few shots
were taken during cloudy, rainy skies.
Not a peek of sunshine.
Look at this weeks "Grow" sign.
It's almost buried in foliage.

The Sage is blooming perfectly,
the Spiderwort is hiding....

The Tiger Lilies look like
they will be blooming soon.
Maybe even by next Sunday!!!

Notice the raindrops beading up on the leaves
of this Lady's Mantle -
just like quicksilver.

Looky here - I'm going to have me some tomatoes!!!!

The Scarlet Runner Beans
actually survived the Bunnies...
(Keep your fingers crossed.)



I'm going to have lots & lots of Stella D'Oro's!!!

The Little Bit Shady Garden....

To round up this "rainy day" tour
You can see that this Annabelle Hydrangea
is going gangbusters this year.
I see a wreath in my future!

Let's check out more Gardens...

Robyn