Vegan Blueberry & Lemon Muffins...

 

Happy Fall!

 

Cooler fall days and nights have already arrived here,

and one of my favorite fall things

is baking...

 

 

In my tea post last week,

I raved about how good my Blueberry Lemon Loaf was,

and a couple ladies wrote and asked for the recipe....

 

well, the embarrassing part was,

I couldn't remember where the recipe was!

 

I thought it was a magazine

and I looked high and low...

 

well,

I did find it....

 

In the

 Joy of Vegan Baking

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

 

The combination of Lemon Zest and Blueberries

is amazing...

 

and it is a simple, moist and fluffy cake,

which if you do vegan baking

you know,

can sometime be challenging...

 



 

 

I hope you love them as much as me, 

Happy Baking....

 

Thanks for stopping by...

The Last Garden Stroll of Summer...

We have shared a lot of garden strolls

this summer...

 

But fall is knocking on the door...

 

Are you ready for summers

last dance...

 

 

we have had a very uncommonly

dry year...

 

and it has taken it's toll...

 

in the background you can see the Hydrangea,

have already lost all of their vibrant colors..

 

 but the roses are still happy...

 

a quartet of Bonica Roses

sit at the corners of my little formal path...

 

they were grocery store roses,

bare root in plastic bags,

for about five dollars each,

 

they never fail to look stunning...

the days are turning more golden...

 



the sun is lower...

 



 

the garden more back lit,

sometimes dazzling in it's twinkling light...

 

other times,

soft and shadowy,

 

when I forget how early the sun is setting these days,

and don't get out to take pictures early enough...

 



 

the last of the Lavender is blooming,

 

since we are not the ideal climate for Lavender,

I plant several varieties,

informally...

 

then when I lose a bush or two

(which I often do)

a new bush is easy to slide into the bare spot unnoticed...

 

it also spreads the blooming season out :-)

 

all creatures great and small

are preparing for the cold days ahead,

fattening up...

 

 

bee's are trying to salvage

the last nectar from these tattered Bee Balm...

 

I haven't the heart to cut them,

they are always a buzz with bees and hummingbirds...

 

having a sweet drink...

 

see that tongue...

 



 

I am gathering too,

soaking it all in...

 

 

Today I am joining...

Bloomin' Tuesday

Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday

Wow us Wednesday

Feathered Nest Friday 

Pink Saturday

and

Saturday Show Off

 

Thanks for strolling with me today,

I always enjoy your company...

Tea for One...

 

For tea today,

I thought I would share with you

the prettiest of my summers garage sale finds...

 

 

a sweet tea for one set...

 

AFTER I took all my pics

I realized I had forgotten to show it off from the side...

 

but,   I am sure you know

a tea for one set has a little teapot which nests

on top of a matching cup...

 

purple roses!

swoon...

a fun three footed cup...

 



 

since purple was the theme of the day,

I made a blueberry crumb cake...

 

I think this was the most delicious cake EVER...

 

I don't think the recipe was anything special or unusual,

except for the addition

of the zest of one lemon...

 

amazing!

dangerously so...

 



 

A pair of Sceptered Isle Roses,

 

vased in a vintage cruet jar...

purpled over time by the sun...

 

the simple pleasure of tea...

 

today I am joining...

 Tea Time Tuesday

Martha's Favorites

A Return to Loveliness

and

Show and Tell Friday

 

***

I posted the recipe for the

 Vegan Blueberry & Lemon Muffins here...

 

Thanks for sipping with me today...



Blue Skies and Pink Roses......

I've been holding back on you...

 

 

I took these pics

of my Eden Roses a couple weeks ago...

 

I almost added them to my Wednesday

 garden stroll post...

 

but thought to let them stand alone...

she deserves center stage :-)

 

she has been a steady friend,

always greeting me at the back gate with a bloom...

 

wishing you a weekend,

filled with blue skies

 and pink roses...

 

Today I am joining,

Saturday Show Off

&

Pink Saturday

 

 

Thanks for visiting me today....

Late Summer in the Garden...

 

Well it's about time I took you on a garden stroll...

 

We have had a dry summer,

a sixty day dry spell was just broken last Sunday night,

with a soft overnight rain...

 

it was a pleasure to wake up to the trickling sound

 of water running through the rain gutters...

 

I'm sure the garden was pretty happy too...

 

 

I've been tucking winter Pansies

around in the empty spots on the patio...

these Beauty Berries are beginning to plump up,

they will be bright purple before you know it...

 



mostly, flowers are fading,

and seeds are blowing...

 



(Bonica Rose)

 

the Roses are holding strong...

 (Tiffany)

(Sceptered Isle)

 



 (Mary)

 (Mortimer Sackler)

 

 

the Hydrangea's petals have become firm to the touch

and are ready for drying...

 

I have never tried drying this fancy petaled one before...

 

 

these are a common splash of color for winter vases and baskets...

 

this has been the year of the frog!

 

our little ponds were filled with egg sacks last spring

and the frogs are everywhere...

 

I didn't even notice this one until I was cropping my pics...

 

this little guy on the other hand stood right out...

 

they are Pacific Tree Frogs,

this one is full grown,

about the size of a quarter...

 

the baby ones who have just lost their tails,

are only about the size of a garbanzo bean...

 

Hoppy Trails...

 

Today I am joining...

Bloomin' Tuesday

Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday

Feathered Nest Friday

and

Show and Tell Friday

 

Thanks for strolling with me today...

Surf, Sand and Forks...

Hi Everyone!

 

Well yes,  it has been a longtime since my last post!!!

 

I have no grand reason,

I have simply been goofing off :-)

 

For the last week and a half,

my Mr. has decided to join me

and soak up the last of the summer sun...

 

 

last week we took a day trip to the shore...

 

Port Angeles,  Washington...

 

In the Strait of Juan de Fuca...

 

It is a long trip for us,

but we had both been wanting to go see the tide pools...

 

sea anemone...

 

lots of barnacles...

 

and beds of mussels...

 

we got there a little later than planned,

 

and the incoming  tide chased us to shore...

 

but it was an amazing day,

the beaches were incredible...

 

there are always some

drool worthy beachfront cottages...

 

 I am enamored by that TINY room in the tower,

an indoor version of a widows walk,

 I would imagine...

 

 

Forks,  Washington

was just a short drive further...

 

Forks is the inspirational setting

 for the books of Twilight...

 

although the movie wasn't actually filmed there,

the town has played into the theme a bit... 

 

it is a very small logging town...

 

 I can't help but wonder,

if this is the actual place

where time stands still,

since the clock in town square has no arms :-)

 

\

it's other claim to fame?

 

It is the rainiest city in the continental U.S.

with an average rainfall of 120"...

 

love on the beach,

written in mussels shells...

 

 

Fall is nipping in the air here...

 

I am ready to snuggle in,

I hope you have had a wonderful summer...

 

hello to all my new followers,

and thanks to all my old friends for waiting out my absence!

 

I have much visiting and mail to catch up on!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!