Monday, July 14, 2014

Tea Time

                       Je souhaite une bonne fête de la Bastille a mes amis at ma famille française!!

  On Sunday I made dinner and dessert to celebrate not only my Mom's birthday but Bastille Day- the French Independence Day which is today -Monday! I chose this dessert which represents the colors of the French flag. I also moments ago (while putting together this post) had the most lovely surprise in that my dear Aunt BiBi just called me from her home in the south of France - La Seyne Sur Mer. It took everything in me not to cry because I miss her so as she was always my favorite aunt. I haven't seen her in her new home town. The last time I saw her was in 2008 when she lived in Le Pouliguen on the west coast of France near Bretagne. She turned 80 last week and let me say you'd never know it. She stays very active and looks wonderful! She gets such a kick out of the fact that I watch Le Tour De France and map out the route and follow it on my atlas of France maps. A bit of an obsession of mine for years now:)

 And I can also share birthday wishes to Bleubeard and Elizabeth! It 's one year for T Stands for Tuesday and I am so glad to have found this wonderful community to share a cuppa with! Please do visit and see what  it's all about-and join us!

 This is the last week of Kristin's Summer of Color Challenge and I've had such a blast working with the colors each week and seeing all the fabulous projects everyone has been coming up with.I will miss it. Thank you dear Kristin for putting another year together along with the amazing prize packages offered each week!

 This week's colors:

Raspberry & Tangerine
with a Smudge, Splash or Pop of Lemon
 
  My journal page began like this:
 A gelli print deli paper was glued to the page along with a strip of yellow mesh at the bottom for some texture. I also stamped a clock image and "Time" image using Distress Worn Lipstick on the page but it doesn't really show.


 The teacup was cut from a gelli print paper. Gold dresden was painted with  Golden Fluid Transparent Pyrole Orange before being glued to the cup. The image is from and ARTchix Studio collage sheet. Some oil pastels were used to outline the typed words and teacup.

 Besides the Summer of Color Challenge I am also joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands For Tuesday and the Simon Monday Challenge for the theme of " About  A Face"-clock, cameo, silhouette, etc.

We've had so much bird action in our yard since Spring including cardinal nests, robin nests and catbird nests. Hubby trimmed our forsythia bushes and found one of the catbird nests last week. We have been able to peek in using a camera and holding it up over the nest to check in once in awhile. The parents aren't too happy when we do but they are not aggressive at all. Here's a pic of the parents to be and the eggs-which I had never seen before:

  I would not have thought they had such bright blue eggs! I think the bird on the left is the male. They were both very nearby and watching me very closely while I took the pic.

  Lastly, here's another yummy salad I made last week:

                                                       CousCous Salad  (recipe at end of post)

 You can also find this recipe and link  along with all my previous recipes by clicking on the "recipes" tab at the top for a list of all the recipes and links so far.

 Thanks so much for all your comments-it's been much harder for me to answer each one lately with all the summer activities, but know how much I do appreciate it-and thank you for the birthday wishes for my Mom last week too:)

 "Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards your dreams. Walk your talk. Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering."
                                                                                                                            Steve Maraboli


                                                            Cous Cous Salad

  1 box Far East couscous-garlic and olive oil blend         handful of chopped scallions

  handful of fresh chopped parsley     one cucumber, peeled and diced

  1 can rinsed and drained black beans            balsamic vinegar

   Make couscous according to pkg. directions. Mix with the veggies and parsley. Dress with balsamic vinegar. Add a bit at a time. After it sets in the fridge awhile it will absorb the vinegar. You can then add a bit more to taste.


39 comments:

  1. Oh wow. I simply adore that birthday cake for your mother. I bet she appreciated it, too. It is lovely to look at, and I'm sure it tasted great, too. Speaking of tasting great, I MUST make that couscous salad.

    I am in LOVE with your SoC entry this week. Of course, why wouldn't I be, since it's got a cup of Tea and the cutest, most adorable tea bag tag. I love ArtChix, and this was a fantastic entry. You did a fantastic job.

    Thanks for joining T this week.

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  2. lovely dessert- I hope looking doesn't have too many calories!, and colors in your journal page.
    Please join me in my new journaling community
    http://poetryjournalmonthly.blogspot.com/
    I'd love to see you there!

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  3. Oh yum! that cake looks divine!
    What a great journal page for T-day, and SOC. Guess I should get with it for the SOC challenge.
    I LOVE cous cous, but unfortunately I am trying to stay off of wheat products, and adding more fruits and veggies to my diet.
    Happy T-day

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  4. What a fab cake and your SOC week 6 is fabulous to me - since i drink all the day tea just right now ..it makes me really happy as happy as your bird-stories and pics... and finally - thanks a lot for the recipe for this salad - will try this out .. seems to be yummie!
    Happy week Linda!
    ♥♥♥
    Susi

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  5. Your journal page is brilliant, I enjoyed reading about all the details and that's a marvellous background. I'd like a pink teacup just like that, wouldn't it be lovely. Pretty teabag image too.
    Loved seeing your different kinds of birds and these bright blue eggs and thanks for the recipe, it looks delicious.

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  6. Hello Linda, Happy T Day! What a yummy looking cake you made, how nice to celebrate different occasions with it. I'm sure your mom enjoyed the company and cake so much. You had me crying reading about your favorite aunt, so glad you got to talk to her.
    Love your SOC art this week, so cute and perfect for T Time. These last colors are perfect aren't they, already made a few things with them. Not sure I have anything in these colors for inchies though so paint will have to do.
    Have a wonderful week and thanks for the yummy salad recipe too.

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  7. Lovely desert and happy French Day. Love how your journal page is getting along
    Bridget #4

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  8. Nice use of colors. I love the tea tag.

    Hop on over to see my final S.O.C. post.
    CJ@ProArtz

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  9. What a lovely celebration post ~♥~ Happy Happy all around!
    Those eggs are gorgeous and even brighter than Robin's eggs...
    we have catbirds but I have never seen their nests.
    Your SOC page is wonderful...you really do inspire me dear Linda!
    You also touched my heart by sharing your special connection your Aunt BiBi...
    I am off to check out your French links!
    Oh and now I'm hungry too...thank you very much
    oxo

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  10. Lovely SOC entry!! And Happy T day!

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  11. Your SOC piece is just stunning, Linda! The tea tag is so clever. The cake looks absolutely yummy--joyeux anniversaire to your Mom!

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  12. Wonderful creations and love the colors ~ Great recipe too ~ Happy Week to you ~ xoxo

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. Sounds like there's a lot to celebrate at your house. Happy Everything! And thank you for sharing your bird photos. I love that. :)

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  14. Happy Bastille Day to you. What beautiful eggs, so vibrant in colour oh and that recipe I will have to show DD as she loves Cous Cous but I can't have vinegar I am allergic to it, so maybe something else can be added.

    Happy Tuesday
    Hugs Eliza

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  15. Your journal page is lovely...I adore bright colors, and the recipe sounds wonderful too. Gorgeously colorful cake to celebrate...have a great T day!

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  16. Wow i enjoyed everything you shared. The journal page is to die for and those bright blue eggs GORGEOUS! Hugs! deb

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  17. A beautiful creation, happy birthday to her mother and to the French Republic!

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  18. Such a wonderful post. Lovely page! And what a fun peek into the nest - those eggs are amazing!

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  19. That dessert looks wonderful! So glad you got to speak to your aunt and I love your page : )

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  20. I love that fabulous tea piece, beautiful work! Great to see you had some celebration fun and your couscous salad is perfect for Summer, we eat lots of these too in this season.
    Hugs
    Kat

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  21. Well, I love everything about this post, from the delicious-looking salad and dessert, to the gorgeous art and sweet birds. Happy T Day! :)

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  22. Happy birthday to your mom! I'm glad you got to talk to your aunt since you haven't gotten to see her for so long. Lovely journal page! Happy T-Day anniversary! :)

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  23. Birthday Wishes to your Mom and that is such a lovely piece of cake! It looks so yummy. Your SOC page is beautiful. I see the coincidence my friend Your cup is so pretty love its color. The nest with the blue eggs is sketch worthy. I'm about to check the recipe for this salad. I love easy, and healthy salads in summer.
    Have a lovely week
    Susan

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  24. Thank you friend! I wouldn't be the same without you ;) xo

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  25. Such a gorgeous journal page! Love the beautiful colors. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. :)

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  26. Hi Linda! I love your T-time photos and your yummy salad! And happy birthday to your mom!!!! I love your beautiful work of art that you made this week for SOC! It is so sad that it is coming to an end already. I have really enjoyed visiting your blog and getting to know someone who lives so close to me!!! And I love your photos of the "parents to be, and the nest with the beautiful eggs! HUGS!!!

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  27. Lovely page. I adore that cup.

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  28. Fantastic page, love how you have used this weeks colours especially the raspberry tea cup.

    The blue eggs are so beautiful, thank you for sharing the birds pictures and your recipe :-) xxx

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  29. What a post! Choc-full of lovely goodies. HOT colours, cool birds eggs, and FOOD...what more could a girl want?

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  30. Your french extravaganza looks so delicious!! teacups are a big favoutite with me, and what could be better than a pinkcup!

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  31. Your gelli print background is gorgeous and the gelli cup is a wonderful colour, as are those fabulous eggs! I haven't heard of a catbird before; what an interesting name.
    I have enjoyed popping over every week to see your creations and I thank you for your kind comments on my SoC posts too. :D

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  32. Beautiful SOC work! This post is so nice --- it has a little bit of everything, including cake!

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  33. Super journal page. Thanks for visiting mine BJ

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  34. I really love how your project turned out! You seem to always hit just the right balance between sophistication and whimsy. I love the energy your background brings and I adore the teacup. The sentiment is perfect and my favorite part is the woman on the tea bag! Genius! Thanks so much for sharing this piece with us for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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  35. Linda, I love the piece you created for SOC4 AND T stands for Tuesday - wonderful work as always. I enjoyed seeing your BD cake (yum!) and reading about your birds too. I hope to see some baby pictures when the hatch! Thanks for dropping in on my blog - it was great catching up with you here too and I will try to keep in touch more by visiting here to see what you're up to!

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  36. I love your journal page! The bright pink tea cup is my fave bit!!

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  37. Lovely post Linda.....

    I adore the tea cup art :) it made me smile!

    Karen x

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  38. I enjoyed your post...the yummy dessert, the cup of tea and the beautiful colours:)

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!