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.