Surprise Salmon Dahlia

What a nice surprise today.

All of my other tubers turned out to be dark red.

Today I got one dahlia in salmon.

Isn't it beautiful?

September is over today and I have moved mountains.

Yesterday I washed all my outside windows on the lower level as well as the storm door and the main entrance. I did the sliding glass door a while back. I found more things to put outside for the annual trash pickup. Everything was supposed to be collected Monday but it hasn't happened yet. Most of the stuff I put outside was picked up by people driving by. I got several things myself from my neighbors' piles. I got a fabulous large step-on stainless steel garbage can for my downstairs kitchen. It cleaned up perfectly and I can't imagine why my neighbors were getting rid of it. I really needed it too. It doesn't take much to make me happy, does it? I've been cleaning out the loft over my garage too. It's just dry storage for stuff I don't need. I have slowly been weeding it out for a long time and it's looking better each day. Will I ever finish? I doubt it! I keep tweeking arrangements I've already done but that's the fun part. See you tomorrow. xo

Crustless Tomato Pie

This looks so good. If you are looking for ways to use your tomatoes on the vine that will soon be gone, you should consider making this tomato pic that is crustless.

Recipe found here.

Dahlias: Thriving On Neglect

I haven't done anything outside lately and this section outside my front door is full of weeds I'll attack one of the days. The dahlias don't care. They rise above to show off their beauty and continue to bloom prolifically.  They really are easy to grow!

EVERGREEN FOG: Paint Color of the Year 2022 by Sherwin-Williams

I really like this color on the walls of this living room. I don't think I have ever seen walls and windows with no trim at all but I like the look in this room. I am going to post the sage green paint photo I recently blogged about below so I can compare these two colors. The article about Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams is here.

The colors are very similar but there is more yellow in this one I shall now call Lemon Sage. I like them both. My blog post about this color here.

Can't Stop Rearranging and Cleaning

My grandmother said it best:

"It's easier to keep up than to catch up!"

Not much has changed in this view except the pillows on the sofa but everything has been moved and cleaned under and over and up and down. I could have hired someone to do it but I really wanted to do it myself so I would know it was done right. It IS possible to catch up and I am determined to keep going until everything is in apple pie order. Have a great weekend, what's left of it. xo

Remembering Webster

Webster The Wonder Dog

He was a big part of this blog, wasn't he?

This is a Waterlogue edit of one of my favorite photos.

Happy Friday. xo

My Favorite Seasoning in A Spray Bottle

I forgot to mention what I used to season my quick stovetop "stew" made from a small zucchini, an onion, and fresh tomatoes. I have eaten it 2 nights in a row. I pour some avocado oil in the bottom of my vintage cast iron skillet and add the unpeeled zucchini sliced longways into thirds and cover. While that's cooking I cut up an onion and add it to the pan and re-cover. Then I slice up a big tomato or two smaller ones and add to the pan. Flip the zucchini when it's brown on one side. Then I cut it into diagonal chunks in the pan and the tomatoes too. Stir to mix it all up and spray with Bragg Liquid Aminos. I have a glass cover for my cast iron pan. It should be ready to eat now. Spoon into a big shallow bowl and enjoy. It doesn't take long to cook and tastes SO fresh. I also have a large bottle of Liquid Aminos for refilling my spray bottle and for using in soups. It has much less salt than regular soy sauce and it's made by the same company that makes the Apple Cider Vinegar I use. I buy the spray in my grocery store. Try it instead of salt. I love it. xo

More information here. 

I haven't tried this but will look for it.

More information here.

Vegetables and My Cookbooks

One of my girlfriends dropped off some veggies from her garden this week. She didn't know what the two large things were. I think the one on the left is a fat zucchini and I won't know what the green item on the right is until I cut it open. It's probably a squash of some sort. Last night, I sautéed a normal zucchini with an onion and one large tomato and had a delicious ratatouille for one. I used my iron skillet and some avocado oil. I might have the same thing tonight because it was quick and healthy. xo

New Kitchen Counter Arrangement in My Cottage

Sorry I missed my daily posting yesterday. I was busy scrubbing down the full bathroom in the basement. I did a lot and haven't finished quite yet but it looks amazing. I had an office meeting this morning and when I got home my electricians appeared just a few minutes after returned home and I parked my car. 

I had a list for them and they efficiently solved all of my problems in an hour's time. I had two GFI outlets in my kitchen that haven't worked for ages and I am thrilled to have them back. I had to completely rearrange the counter space to the left of my sinks and I am very pleased. I haven't had outside lights for almost a year and I kept putting off the repair. That was all fixed too. 

My basement door is just around the corner from the portrait you see on the left. The rest of my living room leads to the hallway for two bedrooms and a full bath. I am feeling good about my productivity this week and it's only Tuesday afternoon. xo

Brown & White Staffordshire Platter

This Staffordshire already had the plate hanging hardware attached so it was on my wall within minutes of bringing it home.

It's right at home in my kitchen nook.

Beatrix Potter Kitty in Boots

I found an interesting New Yorker article about a new book being published based on a “lost” Potter work about a cat: “The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots,” which she had begun and abandoned two years earlier, in 1914. Several manuscripts of the story were discovered in 2013 in the Potter archive at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Read more here. Beatrix Potter complained to her publisher, "I do not draw cats well." I disagree and think her original drawing is quite charming.

Side Table with Blue and White Platter

This tin box on a stand has a top that rusted when one of my potted geraniums overflowed and I didn't notice right away. I have always admired Staffordshire platters on custom-made stands. I remembered I had a rectangular one and it turned to be the perfect size for this stand.

I thought my photo above was somewhat boring so I made three different "watercolor" versions using the Waterlogue App and I like each one. Have you downloaded it yet? It's free!

Isn't technology amazing? xo

Best Spiral Staircase

Spectacular interior. Photo found here.

I tried to find this grand house with no luck.

The spiral staircase looks as if it goes on forever.

Everything is hand crafted with no power tools.

Such a work of art.

xo

My Entrance Vestibule

I worked indoors today to I tackled my linen closet. I donated some household items on Tuesday and noticed the section with bedding was very sparce. I have linens I haven't used in ages because the fitted sheets don't fit my thick mattress. I honestly don't remember whether or not I have shown you this new arrangement in my entrance vestibule. Little by little I am beginning to see real progress with my endless organizing, donating, and rearranging. My hard work is paying off but I can't stop until old man winter makes me. xo

Quote About An Open Fire

I made this illustrated quote back in 2009. I found the empty frame with dogs in one of my old books and added the quote by Dorothy Draper. See my old post and a photo of her here.

Sage Green Paint on Doors and Trim

I love the room that can be closed off with these sage green french doors. It is such a soothing neutral color that goes with everything. However, the furnishings in the room are without color and that brings out the beauty of the trim color even more. It's all very inviting, isn't it? via

Dahlia and Missy Watercolors Using Waterlogue

I haven't used the WATERLOGUE APP for such a long time. I transformed that black and white dahlia I posted earlier this week into a watercolor and here it is for your Sunday morning❤️

Missy went home on Friday after 10 days with me. She was the perfect houseguest 🐾🐾and I think she would approve this watercolor edit of my favorite photo.

Currently Watching: DOCTOR FINLAY

I am loving this series with 4 seasons. I am on the last one and will be SO sorry when it's over. It is a Scottish series with lovable characters and stories. I know many of you have mentioned Doctor Finlay on Acorn TV each time I post about something I have been watching. 

You were all right; I love it♡

Here is the link for a very old original Doctor Finlay's Casebook from the 1960s on YouTube. It is a full-length episode. Enjoy.

Tomato Zucchini Pie (Recipe)

This recipe is really called Tomato-Milpa Pie but suggests Zucchini as a substitute if you don't grow the Mexican squash called Milpa. The first thing you do is bake the empty pie crust so this is a perfect opportunity to use a frozen one and save yourself some work. It gets baked again after you layer it with your homegrown or farmer's market tomatoes, half-moon zucchini slices, and fresh corn kernels.

I think this is the perfect "end of summer" recipe! Enjoy. xo

A Wonderful Farmhouse and A Cobbler Recipe

Just wonderful only I wouldn't want to mow around all those rocks in the lawn. I'm sure they must have a backstory. via

I really like this cobbler recipe saved from an old newspaper clipping. It could be used on any seasonal fruit and the peaches are especially good right now. via