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Sunday, May 30, 2010

Mosaic Monday ~Rainy Weekend



Spring showers have set in here it seems to stay. No end in sight for now. Luckily there is a lot of color to shine through the gray drizzle.


Things like this delphinium need staking or they will droop right to the ground


These little siberian Iris seem to be able to withstand the rain though


So does that native thimble berry that has sprouted up behind it. Must yank that out before it takes over!


Now strawberries I'll keep


This first daylily couldn't be stopped. It's my only fragrant one...Hyperion I think.


I think the rhodies are used to the rain too


The poppies keep on poppin


More iris and rhodies holding their own.


Now the peonies I do worry about. I will need to cut these and bring them in as they open or they will take a nose dive


What I definitely don't worry about are my backyard birds who seem to be thriving in this soggy weather. Finches are here in droves. Check out that one that seems to be walking on air.


I think I counted 10 on the sock at one point


The clematis is apparently loving the rain too because some of mine have gone crazy this year


If you don't have a clematis in your yard..what are you waiting for? Lots of colors to choose from.


Speaking of clematis...I think the fairies I've been expecting have finally moved in under this little clematis covered obelisk (don't you love saying that word?).


And who wouldn't want to live under this cutie


One day a cute little trellised door appeared beside the toadstool


And then a little tiny birdbath with an equally tiny visitor


And lo and behold...today I nearly interrupted a fairy tea party


Looks like a lilliputian pot of blooming tea


More to come in fairy land! And now another kind of fairy tale....my parents celebrated 56 happy years of marriage on Friday the 29th. Don't they look snuggly here? Could be that they are still so very much in love...or could be that my Mom was freezing her little tooshy off. What do you think? :-)



On a weekend like this one, when June is knocking on the door but it feels like we are clinging to winter, you need a little taste of summer. This fresh flavored salad seemed to fit the bill. I got the recipe in the newsletter included with my biweekly veggie/fruit box delivered to my door by local Terra Organics. They always include recipes to use up the produce of the week, in this case radishes, cucumber and avocados.


Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Radishes, Cucumbers, and Cumin-Lime Vinaigrette
From kalynskitchen.blogspot.com via Terra Organics

1 cup quinoa (rinsed well)
2 cups water
2 avocados, peeled and diced
1 T fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 cup chopped radishes, diced

1 cucumber, peeled with thin green stripes remaining, seeds scraped out, and diced
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

Dressing:
3 T fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. all purpose seasoning blend of your choice (I used Penzey's Murals of Flavor..a gift from my sweet friend Jayne)
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 T extra virgin olive oil

Bring 2 cups water to boil in a small saucepan, stir in quinoa, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until all the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it, because it may take more or less than 15 minutes, depending on exactly how high you have the heat. Let the cooked quinoa cool for a few minutes, then place in salad bowl, fluff with a fork and cool until quinoa is room temperature. While quinoa cooks and cools, toss diced avocado with the lime juice. In a small bowl, stir together the 3 T lime juice, ground cumin, seasoning, and salt, then whisk in the olive oil. When quinoa has cooled, stir in the diced radishes, diced cucumbers, and thinly-sliced green onions. Stir in enough dressing to moisten salad to your liking. Gently stir in diced avocado, season to taste with salt and fresh ground black pepper, and serve immediately.

Enjoy the week and may you have more sunshine than is predicted for me! Go check out all of the mosaics at Little Red House. I'm joining in with my mosaics this week.

25 comments:

Maggie said...

I so enjoyed my few minutes here today there was so much going on. Your clematis flowers are stunning, I have just one white one but love it to bits.
Congratulations to your parents on their anniversary, that beach does look a little chilly!
Have a great week.
~Maggie~

Kathy Walker said...

Beautiful flowers! Spring is such a happy time.
Congratulations to your parents. Fifty six years!! Awesome.

Amanda at 32˙North said...

Hi Suzy,

I totally agree with you - time in the kitchen and garden is time well spent! Your flowers are beautiful.

Amanda

Small City Scenes said...

What a super nice blog you have Love the mosaics--pretty flowers. Yep we got rain rain rain and I think the flowers are feeling the effects. I know I am!
I get a box of goodies from Klesick Family Farm here in Stanwood. Yum is the word.

Thanks for visiting my blog. MB

Small City Scenes said...

Oops I forgot to mention that I have fairies in my yard too. Not quite so elaborate as yours but now they have seen what could be. MB

Janice said...

What fabulous flowers Suzy. I love Clematis, don't have any at the moment, I'll have to do something about that!

Americana Lady said...

Clematis is so gorgeous! Thanks for sharing such a lovely and colorful page including your parents. The embodiment of love and loyalty! Keep you flag-a-wavin'! Joan

luna said...

Wonderful flowers, thanks for sharing!

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Suzy, that is just the sweetest picture of your parents! I can tell they are very much in love and congratulations to them on their 56th anniversary!

Love the looks of that quinoa salad! It is so hot here that all I want is salad.

Your fairies have found a wonderful home. They don't seem to mind the rain at all.

Rajesh said...

Very beautiful and lovely flowers.

Regina said...

Wow Suzy all are gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing.
Happy MM. Enjoy the great week.

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hey Neighbor! At last someone who can sympathize with me on the crazy weather! The rain is driving me crazy!
Your garden looks fabulous though! Tommorrow is supposed to be the break before the next system blows in... hope you have time to enjoy your gorgeous garden:-)
Bella

Rettabug said...

This is such a beautiful post! You make me want to run out & buy clematis right now!

Did you happen to watch my link to Martha Stewart's video on keeping peonies in the fridge for up to 6 months so they'll bloom later? Here is the link:

/article/guide-to-peony-forms

Rettabug said...

trying again:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/guide-to-peony-forms

Michelle Smiles said...

Gorgeous flowers...and I love quinoa. That is an interesting recipe...might have to give it a try.

Icy BC said...

You have such a gorgeous garden. I'm jealous..I have black thumbs, nothing grows when they come into my possession..

Carol said...

All that rain, your garden is growing gorgeous blooms, Suzy!

The Quinoa salad looks good. i have a bag of it, i never got to use it yet!

Congrats to your folks, 56 years! That is a fairy tale! She may have been freezing her tush off, but she has your daddy to keep her warm :)

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Beautiful clematis, garden blooms and even a cookie recipe to boot! What a gorgeous post, Suzy!

EG CameraGirl said...

Your mosaics are beautiful and I LOVE your clematis!

Olga Poltava said...

Beautiful garden photos and mosaics.
I made quinoa salad this week, but it was a different recipe. I'm going to try this recipe as well. Thank you.

Cynthia said...

First ... I LOVE seeing all your beautiful flowers, and the detail on the poppy foliage is amazing. ... What an adorable fairy garden, from the detail on the toadstool cap to the door and the delicate glass teapot.

Congratulations to your parents on their anniversary. That a remarkable feat in this day and age.

Debbie said...

I'm back! Just love all your clematis! What a beaufitul yard you have. Love the fairies. I love your blog, and will keep coming back.
Debbie@houseatthelake
xxxooo

Unknown said...

Love this beautiful post. But I must say a very Happy Anniversary to your lovely parents. My vote is that they are very much so in love. I may have been cold but the look on their faces and the body language is just beautiful!

Thank you for the visit and kind words the other day. Blessings ~ Debbie

Mary said...

Wonderful! And congratulations to your parents! Thanks so much for sharing. :)

Marsha said...

I don't know how I MISSED this post! I am so glad I am finally catching up on comments to find your little fairies have moved in under the clematis. The gate, birdbath & tea party are so adorable - I can't wait to see more.

This whole post was filled with sights to warm my heart...beautiful flowers, your parents celebrating 56 years and mini tea parties. I enjoyed it very much!

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