Summer Sundays

~ Sunday ~

Today we will be off on a jaunt with a special little girl.

Mackworth Island~Portland, ME

***

First, we will read this delightful book.

~Fairy Houses~

by Tracy Kane

Then a quick stop for this...

Then to Mackworth Island to visit all of the Fairy Houses and the Pet Cemetery.

I'll be taking plenty of photos.

And return with a full report.

Later this evening, a light strawberry salad for dinner...

...and our evening will end with this~

and a very tired little girl crawling into bed after a fun filled day on the coast of Maine visiting Fairy Houses~ what could be more fun for a little girl of five?

Images:

Google

flickr

my own

Happy Birthday JD

~ Mom and Jonathan ~

Happy Birthday to my wonderful son Jonathan.

I remember this autumn day as if it were just yesterday.

You are so loved and I am proud of the man, husband and Father you have become.

***

Love,

Mom

Tonight we celebrate!

Image:

My own

Loveliness from Mimi Charmante

The lovely and oh so chic Kimberly, creator of the fabulous blog, Mimi Charmante~ recently held a giveaway. I was the beyond lucky winner! I have been a follower and fan of 'Mimi's' blog for as long as I've had my own blog.

This beautiful Mom of four sons {instant Sainthood} is a talented photographer, as you can see here with my new prints!

She also knows her way around dressing up a lovely home.

If you haven't, please visit here and then cruise around until you find some interior shots of this family home!

This past April she went back to France with friends and was able to connect with a very special blog buddy. Lucky for us, when she returned~ Kimberly shared her adventures {and there were some adventures} with us. I dread the day that she has exhausted the gorgeous photos and stories of her wonderful trip!

~*~

This incredible parcel arrived on Thursday. Three of Kimberly's beautiful prints of her trip, and a few of her cupcake notes! Now I want her real thing- can those be sent across the country Kimberly???

I'm heading out Saturday to look for some vintage frames for my prints and know just where they will hang.

There was a little package of French verse confetti and a couple of her lovely business and calling cards. Which I will add to my ever-growing collection of special cards!

Thank you my sweet friend~

You definitely took the sting out of a busy week.

~Now..... back to those cupcakes..."

~Mimi Charmante~

Images:

My images of Kimberly's Photographs

We have a special winner~

~Sharon's snow house~

One of my many favorite blogs is My French Country House.

Sharon lives in France with her family in this beautiful country home!

I especially love this image of Sharon's home in the winter with a blanket of fresh snow.

~A glimpse of Sharon's garden~

It's funny~ after reading Sharon's blog a few times I became a follower. Then I added My French Country Home to my blog roll.

And it disappeared!

{There really are times that I don't know what happens with blogger. Everything goes along beautifully and then something disappears or you can't download an image...and sometimes you can even post. But we love you just the same!}

~Outside of Sharon's home~

So I added her to my blog roll again! And...again it disappeared!
You can't make this up! Gone...not once but twice!
***
I do hope she's here to stay now!
***
So, when I had a special someone draw the winning name for my Lifescape giveaway~
I was thrilled when it was Sharon from
My French Country House!

~I could stare at this view forever~
~*~
Sharon, I will be emailing you a questionnaire to fill out so I can get started on your special Lifescape.
Congratulations!
I'm looking forward to illustrating this for you!
***
A huge Thank~You to all of you that entered my giveaway and to those of you that mentioned it in you posts.

Images:
via My French Country House

Summer Sundays and a Special Birthday~

~Happy Fifth Birthday~

To a very special Water Baby

While having my coffee early this morning, I dropped in on Jeanne.

She was sharing her first Summer Sunday with us!

She got the idea from The Tablescaper {see link below to go visit, if you haven't already}.

What a genius idea for the busy weekend! Find or photograph images that mean summer to you. Not much text needed, so you can get on with fun summer activities!

Here are a few things that mean summer to me!

A seaside cottage, windows open, a light breeze~ just right for curling up with a good book or a short nap!


This beautiful porch~ gleaming floor, white furnishings, bright bouquets of summer flowers, another good book and some lemonade nearby!


And of course, a few great lobster dinners-paired with heirloom tomatoes and some fresh picked then roasted corn!


Long walks along my favorite beach...

~and lots of herbs, plucked from my garden, then creating a delicious dinner around them.


Be sure to visit:

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Add the Summer Sunday button and tell us a few of your Summer Sunday favorites!

My giveaway will close tonight at midnight- and I will announce the winner-chosen randomly, Monday morning.

For your chance to win your own personal Lifescape watercolor!

Images:

My own and google search

Quinoa~ {Keen-wah}

~Quinoa Salad~

Last night I made a delicious quinoa salad.

Diced red onion, yellow and orange peppers and cucumbers.

Add lots of fresh sliced strawberries, chopped raw almonds and some grape tomatoes.

A drizzle of ginger dressing and you have a healthy, light meal.
I also added lots of fresh chopped herbs~ parsley, dill, basil, tarragon and chives!

Sorry- my camera batteries were dead- so I got this image online. My salad looked so much better than this. It really did! This one appears to have some diced chicken in it which would also be a good source of protein.

~Quinoa~

Read about the benefits of quinoa here.

Quinoa~ {pronounced Keen-wah}



Not a grain- actually it's a seed. Related to the spinach family.
Quinoa has a wonderfully nutty flavor that is very versatile.
It is a great source of protein and fiber and contains the essential amino acids.
It's high in calcium, potassium, iron and zinc among other important nutrients.
It really is a 'complete food'.
***
I don't follow a recipe for this type of salad. I use whatever I have in my refrigerator- but the fresh strawberries really add something special.

I always make extra quinoa to have on hand. It's works well in soups and stews and I spoon it onto leftover veggies for breakfast...
So, if you haven't tried quinoa- head to your health food store and pick some up.

Rinse the seeds with cold water and let it come to a slow boil then reduce it to a simmer for about 13 minutes.

I used 1 cup of quinoa to 2 1/4 cups water.

A light rinse under cool water and it's ready to use.

Give quinoa a try- I think you'll like it!

***
Don't forget... my giveaway closes this Sunday~ June 13th!

Read all about it here!



Image:
google salad search

Stand Tall~

My Mother was a stickler for good posture! Growing up she was constantly reminding my sister and I of the importance of good posture...shoulders back-standing tall.

Early ballet classes helped to drive that plea home. After years of seeing a fabulous chiropractor and the reminders of my dear Mother- I know and FEEL the importance of keeping the shoulders back and opening up my spine.
I start private Pilates sessions next week and am very excited to be starting something new and challenging.
After several private sessions I'm sure I will feel comfortable joining the classes-but for now, I'm looking forward to having this time all to myself.
***
Did I mention that standing tall with good straight posture also takes pounds off our appearance? Just one of the few benefits of standing tall.
***

If you haven't already, please check out my GIVEAWAY here.


Images:
Google search and my file

Thanks Jeanne... and a Giveaway!

~ Jeanne ~

What is any better than blatant self promotion? When a good friend is taken with your illustrations and creates a post about them!

My sweet and gorgeous friend Jeanne posted about my Lifescapes here.

***

If you haven't visited Jeanne ~ please do so now.

I am lucky to be a co-conspirator with her fabulous brain-child

The B-Well Report.

Please come visit us there also and make it part of your daily blog visits. We are treading our way to better overall health and well-being. We would love to hear from you.

***

It amazes and thrills me daily that we meet and connect with such wonderful people through blogging. I just know that I will meet some of you in person one day.

To celebrate the summer, good friends and what blogging has meant to me, I am holding a giveaway!

***

My gift to you will be a personal 11" X 14" Lifescape.

All you have to do is visit Jeanne at Collage for Life. Leave her a comment and then come back to me and tell me what your Lifescape would include and become a follower.

~Would you want a Lifescape about your life?

~A special surprise gift for a friend or relative?

~Would it contain all of the memories of a special holiday or vacation?

You get to chose~ it's your Lifescape!

Read all about Lifescapes here:

http://collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/2010/06/loving-lifescapes.html.

Thanks Jeanne~

This giveaway will close on Sunday June 13 and the winner chosen randomly.

P.S..... If you mention my giveaway on your blog, you will receive an extra entry.

Bend and stretch...reach for the stars***

~Yoga~

~ Pilates~
***
I am enrolling in Yoga and Pilates classes to strengthen my back and overall core and well-being.
I have taken yoga classes in the past and loved them- loved the flexibility, enjoyed the peacefulness of the classes... a mind cleanse if you will~ and how strong I felt.

I have never taken pilates before and I'm looking forward to it.
I will give them both some time, space out the classes and see which one I want to
become more involved with.
***
I would love to know your thoughts on pilates~ I'm there for the yoga classes, but pilates~ I'm not so familiar.
***

Images:

webstarter