Painted Porch Floor

I couldn't have done a better job myself laying out the diamonds on this painted porch floor. Whole white diamonds edge to edge and half black diamonds making the border. It takes a lot of math to figure out a pattern using only full diamonds and half diamonds. Very nice indeed.

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15th Century BOOK OF HOURS - Heart-Shaped When Opened

The little book of hours of Amiens Nicolas Blairie, carefully written on a thin Ruling rose, but modestly decorated with some original illuminations in ink (folio 29), has the curious shape of an almond when it is closed. When it opens, the two halves of the almond bloom to fit the contours of a heart, concrete evocation of the heart of the person praying the prayer that opens.

The Book of Hours was a devotional book popular in the later Middle Ages. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. Like every manuscript, each manuscript book of hours is unique in one way or another, but most contain a similar collection of texts, prayers and psalms, often with appropriate decorations, for Christian devotion. Illumination or decoration is minimal in many examples, often restricted to decorated capital letters at the start of psalms and other prayers, but books made for wealthy patrons may be extremely lavish, with full-page miniatures. BNF - L'Aventures des écritures. Matières et formes : Livre d’heures à l’usage d’Amiens

A Lovely

photo for you this morning. I'm running a little behind since I slept late and now I must get ready for a dental appointment. Routine cleaning...no worries. See you later.

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Virtual Bedroom for Tonight

How do you like tonight's virtual bedroom? It looks like a good one to sleep in with ice cold air conditioning. I might not open the windows the way I usually do. Are you holding up okay in this heat wave? So far, so good for me. I even managed a bit of yard work outside this afternoon. Sleep tight and I'll see you in the morning. xo

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Oriental Poppy | Papaver orientale

Hand colored engraving by William Curtis. London, 1788. From the collection of the Smithsonian Institution Library. 

Origin: The Mediterranean, Persia 
Class: Perennial 
Display period: May, June 
Height: 2-4 feet 
Environment: Sun

In Pursuit of The Perfect Bath

This one is certainly a contender. Don't you love the room and the simplicity of the furnishings in this bath?

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Snail Mail My Email | Try It.

This looks like fun. Will you do it? http://snailmailmyemail.org/index.html

Zucchini Fritters - Greek Style

Greek Style Zucchini Fritters
(makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:
2 cups zucchini (grated, and squeezed to drain)
1 handful fresh herbs (such as parsley, dill, mint; chopped)
2 green onions (chopped)
1/4 cup feta (crumbled)
1/2 cup flour (feel free to use whole wheat)
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons oil

Directions:
1. Mix the zucchini, herbs, green onion, feta, flour, egg, salt and pepper in a bowl.
2. Heat the oil in a pan.
3. Spoon the zucchini mixture into the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Serve with Greek cucumber salad alongside.

Tzatziki (Greek Cucumber Salad)
(makes 4 appetizer sized servings)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or strained yogurt
1/2 cup cucumber (peeled, seeded, and shredded, squeezed and drained)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or mint (optional)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 splash ouzo (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Mix everything and let chill in the fridge for an hour or more to let the flavours mingle.

Recipes found here. This is the perfect time of year for both.

Enjoy.