I snapped these lovely flowers on the way to bootcamp class this morning. I just love the colours together. After one too many margaritas last night, I nearly didn’t go to class, but I felt better for a workout and I got a picture of these beauties. Win and win!
I take a Six Word Saturday every week and post them here and on Instagram under #sixwordsaturday. Want to join in? Hurrah! You can also give me a Six Word Saturday in the comments.
Happy weekend.
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Juneberry Muffins
Every year for a short period of a week or two, our little tree in front of our house produces lovely juicy purple berries. The birds love them and every time we pick them I am sure there is a gang of mockingbirds waiting to pounce.
We gather what we can and bake them into freezable goodies, this year I made lots of muffins. The berries look like blueberries, but a bit bigger and not quite so blue, they have a very subtle taste of almond when they are baked in a muffin. Almost like I have added a touch of almond essence which I don’t, but I am sure it would complement the juneberries very well.
Juneberry muffins with streusel topping.
(makes 6 large muffins)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk (you may not need all of this)
1 1/2 cups berries
Topping
2 tbsp white sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp flour
3 tbsp butter chilled and chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a 1 cup measure add the egg and the oil and fill to the top with milk making 1 cup of wet ingredients.
Mix the liquid into the dry ingredients until just combined then add the berries.
To make the topping rub together the ingredients to resemble crumbly breadcrumbs.
Put the muffin mix into your tin and gently push an even amount of topping onto each one before baking.
Bake at 400F for 25 mins or until a skewer comes out clean.
I would use this recipe with blueberries or raspberries too.
Serve with a nice cup of tea, a coffee or freeze a few for later.
Have a fab weekend!
Through The Lens Thursday 23. Sunset.
This week’s ‘Through the Lens Thursday’ was ‘Sunset’, so all week I have been checking the skies like a crazy person around 8.20pm every night to see if we have a pretty sunset. I caught a couple, but I think I like this photo best. You can just see the moon peeking out and I like the silhouette of the buildings.
This was a new photo taking experience for me, I had no idea which numbers to use to get the sunset and my camera did a bit of complaining (ie refused to take lots of photos, until I got the numbers right!).
Here are those numbers ISO 1600, 18.0mm, f/16.0, 1/160s.
‘Through the Lens Thursday’ is hosted by Greta of GFunkified and Alison of Writing Wishing and I am enjoying taking photos with them every week! Next week is ‘Deep’.
Photo a Day May 2014
May saw my eldest turn into a teenager, a trip to the zoo with school, the weather got hotter and hotter and school finished for the summer. Here are the photos I took as part of the Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day project.
June has started, but it is not to late to join in. You know you are tempted! Come on, it’s a fun project and I love to see the whole month of photos all together, like this… 
1. Begins with J… A custom necklace for my good friend.
2. Snack.
3. Collection. Shelves of vintage cameras at a local antique shop.
4. Us.
5. 4pm. I was at school and spotted Mr Y’s art project on display. Clay doughnut anyone?
6. From Down Low.
7. Taken from Above.
8. Blue. Trellis detail.
9. Favourite. Flowers from the school plant sale are always a favourite.
10. In the Garden. The garlic is doing well.
11. Mother. Best Mother’s Day card!
12. Ready. This guy was ready for his close up!
13. I Spy. At the zoo.
14. Lines. On the slide.
15. From where I walk. A dew drop on a Dandelion leaf.
16. Create. My Project Life album is coming along nicely. I am no scrapbooker, but I love to print and put my photos in albums.
17. Bag. On an adventure in the stream, we needed a bag for any treasures we found.
18. Something I drew. An idea for a purse or tiny bag.
19. Alone. I am sure I am not alone in loving vintage Ladybird books. This one is from 1969, it is as old as me!
20. Waiting. For the cookies to cool.
21. Card. I made for my friend’s wedding.
22. Free. All of these CatsEatDogs bracelets are free from metal.
23. Black + White.
24. Sunrise. I totally got up at 5.45am to get this.
25. Neighbourhood. A sunny day in the neighbourhood, the plants are doing well.
26. Pet.
27. Meal. Tortilla Soup.
28. Unique. My blog is unique!
29. Negative Space. New dreamcatchers waiting to be necklaces.
30. Side View. The cactus is sprouting.
31. Sunset. Thank goodness the sky was a good one for this prompt! Thank you sun.
Do you take a photo a day? If you blog them, put me a link in the comments and I will pop over and have a look.
Of mine, I think I like 13, 19, 26 and 31 best. Got a favourite?
I hope your week is going swimmingly, see you tomorrow for Through The Lens Thursday.
Weekly Photos 22/52
This week has been a hot and steamy one, the future of the St Louis summer. My plants are loving it though including my newest addition, five little tomato plants which I got from my friend in exchange for some edamame plants. I love that I can trade veggie plants!
Friday was the last day of school for the boys, so that is the end of 3rd and 7th grade. Almost three months off with no real plans, I wonder what we will get up to? Are you off for the summer? Got plans?
1. Flowers rained off the trees after a storm on Monday.
2. Delicious Tortas De Aceite.
3. An early morning shaft of sunshine.
4. Dewy dandelion clock in the early morning sunshine.
5. 1972 in a local wall.
6. Juneberries off our tree, maybe heading for a pie? Or muffins?
7. Curling garlic scapes.
We are looking forward to a week of late starts, Swingball and maybe a trip up the Gateway arch in St Louis. I hope you have a lovely week.
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Six Word Saturday
Six Word Saturday is here again! Just snap a photo, put six words on it and blog or Instagram it with #sixwordsaturday. Done and done.
I was walking to a yard sale this morning and as I sauntered through the woods I literally stopped in my tracks right in front of these rays to admire them and of course snap them. It was a misty morning and the sunrays used this to their perfect advantage.
In case you were wondering, I bagged a load of beads and beaded vintage jewelry at the aforementioned yard sale. Once I had filtered out the 1980’s clip on earrings, I had a nice selection to play with. Yay for early morning yard sales!
Happy Weekend.
Taking Stock May 2014
Today I have a little list to complete. Pip at Meet me at Mikes came up with the master list and I have included a blank list at the end of the post, fancy a go?
So on this final day of school for my third and seventh graders, here are my thoughts in list form. I love a list don’t you?
Making : Frothy coffee.
Cooking : Roast cauliflower and lentil curry seems to be my go-to meal of the moment.
Drinking : More water, need to drink more water.
Reading: The Goldfinch. Still. It is taking me ages, nearly finished though.
Wanting: Activity ideas for the summer break.
Looking: At the pile of magazines I need to read.
Playing: Catch in the back garden and trying not to destroy any sunflowers with stray throws!
Deciding: What to do over the summer…
Wishing: For some rain on the garden.
Enjoying: Snow cones on a hot day.
Waiting: To meet the kids at lunchtime as their last day at school is a half day.
Liking: Making new jewelry and wearing it.
Wondering: Which book to read next? Got a recommendation?
Loving: The sunshine and the clouds floating by.
Pondering: Whether to change my jewelry name to Girl Fifteen or keep CatsEatDogs?
Considering: Whether to get up early tomorrow and check out a yard sale locally?
Watching: ‘An Idiot Abroad’ on Netflix.
Hoping: Season two of ‘Derek’ (on Netflix also) is as good as the first.
Marvelling: Our growing garden and sunflowers.
Needing: String to tie the beans plants to their poles so they get the hang of climbing upwards.
Smelling: Honeysuckle as we walk to school.
Wearing: My favourite striped maxi skirt and elephant t shirt.
Following: Tinkerlab and Artchoo for all of their amazing ideas and art activities.
Noticing: How dry my skin is feeling no matter how much moisturiser I slap on.
Knowing: More every day.
Thinking: What to do with my old blog?
Feeling: In need of a hair cut.
Admiring: People with lovely grey hair (I am letting mine go natural/grey).
Sorting: Photos to put in my Project Life album.
Buying: Vintage beads and buttons whenever I find them.
Getting: Ready to list new jewels on Etsy.
Bookmarking: Photography tips whenever I find them.
Disliking: The humidity which I have to look forward to until about October! Phew.
Opening: My diary to see what I need to do today.
Giggling: At The Steve Wright Show which I am listening to on the BBC iPlayer over the interweb from the UK.
Feeling: Lucky.
Snacking: On Sweet Olive Oil Torta ‘Torta de Aceite’ from Spain, very delicious, wonder where I can get more?
Coveting: A fixed lens for my big girl camera.
Wishing: For successes everyday.
Helping: My neighbour mow her grass.
Hearing: The dog snore and music from the radio
Here’s the blank list…go!
Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Needing:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Feeling:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Buying:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Coveting:
Wishing:
Helping:
Hearing:
Through The Lens Thursday 22. Home
This week’s Through the Lens Thursday prompt is ‘Home’. Here is a little part of my home but a part which sums it up nicely. I am just waiting for my sweet peas to grow and flower so I can fill this little jug with flowers from the garden.
IOS 1600, 28.0mm, f/4.0, 1/80s.
Happy Thursday!
My Favourite Things
I am participating in a super fab blog course called ‘Blog with Pip‘ which is taught and supported by Pip Lincolne of the Australian blog ‘Meet me at Mikes‘.
Along with the other students I am joining in a group post called ‘My Favourite Things’. If you pop over to Pip’s post, the rest are at the end, along with mine!
So, My Favourite Things are? Well, all sorts really, want to see? Okay here we go.
Vintage 1970’s wrap skirt
Vintage anything, my latest find was this 1970’s wrap skirt. It is floor length and I love it!
Fresh Coriander/Cilantro
Being able to go into the garden and grab the herbs I need for those nachos or that pasta dish. Growing things, especially food, is the best.
Itch by Simon Mayo
Reading aloud to my youngest son, I am aware that he soon won’t want me to read to him so I am hanging onto this for as long as I can. At the moment we are reading ‘Itch’ by Simon Mayo and it is very good, very exciting and suspenseful.
Moi
Taking photos, even of myself in an old mirror in my back garden! I am wearing a Seed summer poncho and a wood necklace by CatsEatDogs. Both favourites too!
Library of Flowers Willow and Water
I have recently discovered ‘Library of Flowers‘ and they have the most beautiful scents in adorable tins and bottles.
Library Books
Talking of libraries, one of my most favourite places is the library. We borrow so many books, DVD’s, CD’s and even video games from our local library, I don’t know what we would do without it. That reminds me, I need to go today and get a book about rocks and minerals for Mr Y. Do you use a library? They are the best, like shopping for free and full of one of my other favourite things – books.
Frothy Coffee
Frothy coffee in the morning, but not first thing. I have a cup of tea when I get up, coffee is for when I get back from the gym around 10am. It has turned into a crazy ritual, make coffee in the Chemex, froth the hot milk in my metal frother and enjoy.
Vintage Wooden Beads
Last but not least, one of my top favourite things is finding old beads I can re-use. I am loving wooden beads at the minute, so these were a joy to discover.
That was a selection of my faves, do you have a list? Or do you have one or two firm favourites?
Weekly Photos 21/52
The garden is growing and the seeds are sprouting. I have given the Edamame a teepee to grow up and the sunflowers are 12 inches tall and hanging onto bamboo poles to direct them skywards. The surviving sweet peas also have a teepee and hopefully the birds will leave the remaining plants alone and I will have the sweet smell of my all time favourite flowers through the summer.
I am enjoying my new blog and painted an idea for the title which I am not sure I will use! I had a good time practicing my brush script while doing it though.
1. Girl Fifteen gets painted
2. We found a leaf which looks like a pair of lips!
3. Chalk crossing.
4. Vintage Ladybird book.
5. Potato flower.
6. Gooseberry.
7. The last seed husk.
8. The latest summer footwear!
Have a fab week, work hard and be nice (as you always are!).
Clare Davis Etheridge 