Sunday, July 12, 2020

Sunday Afternoon




Outside my window the trees wave in the wind. It's not warm, but at least it's not raining. I clipped a bouquet of all the sweet peas in bloom for the kitchen windowsill. I'm hoping that my fearless clipping will result in a profusion of blooms. 

Our wedding cake was a towering three layers of my mother's fruitcake covered with royal icing. I dislike fruitcake, but that was the tradition. At least Tim liked it. I digress. The royal icing decorations were of sweet peas, made by my Auntie Ruth. It was a beautiful cake for looking at. All to say, I do love sweet peas.


The house is so quiet. We've had a fun and busy week with our Vancouver family staying with us. Miss Iris is a busy, busy 13-month-old who is an absolute delight. Today, after they left, I wandered around the house and garden, hardly knowing what to do with myself. So I cut some daisies and put them on the table on the patio. They are pretty flowers, but they stink. Our outdoor carpet is always covered with rose petals blown in on the wind. It's barely warm enough to sit outside, and if I do, I have a blanket and a sweater handy. 



Once Iris figured out that the piano made noise, she frequently crawled over, pulled herself up, and looked pleadingly at someone to open it. Not content to stand and play the keys, she was happiest when I pulled out the bench and sat with her on my knee. She banged away while I played simple tunes with one hand. 


I love soup at any time of the year. In summer, I love to add freshly snipped basil or other herbs to my bowl. Vegetable soup is a favourite. 


A couple of weeks ago Tim and I visited our son and his family while they were out camping. We enjoyed making smores over the campfire. Rather than graham crackers and chocolate (which rarely melts), Katie had McVitie's Hobnobs. I had never heard of them, and found them delicious! Yesterday I tried making some and they turned out quite well. I used this recipe from Bon Appetit. , and added chocolate to the bottoms. Oh, and I had Lyle's Golden Syrup in the cupboard and used that in place of honey. They are faintly sweet and slightly salty. Most delicious. Apparently they are a British classic. 


I think this poppy is an anomaly - it's growing along with the peony poppies that come up in my garden. I never planted any like this, but I like it a lot. I've marked the plant with a twist tie to collect the seeds later. 


Poppies spring up everywhere. They are easy to pull if I don't want them, but I rather enjoy their spontaneous appearance amongst the vegetables - here the squashes. I plant marigolds at the ends of the garden beds, for looks and because they deter some insects. 



During this week of Iris visiting, we often took tours around the garden. She curls her little nose and sniffs the flowers. The lavender is full of bees and she moves her little finger in circles and buzzes along with them. She is the sweetest thing in my garden.


The sun is shining and I've pulled a 5-story volume of Agatha Christie off my bookshelf. I'll make a cup of tea, accompany it with a Hobnob, and read outdoors for awhile, where the hydrangeas grow through the railing.

Wishing you a peaceful beginning to a new week.

36 comments:

  1. Your weekend sounds perfect. We love hobnobs and how creative to find a recipe and make your own. Yum! Those pictures of little Iris are just so cute. Her cheeks are so kissable. Sweet peas, they have such lovely memories attached to their sweet fragrance. I'da loved a peek at your wedding cake with the sweet pea motif. I do love fruitcake.

    And now you settle in with your five-volume tome of Agatha Christie and those delectable treats. Enjoy, enjoy! I've been reading Miss Marple's A Murder is Announced.

    Thanks for a lovely visit....
    Brenda xox


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  2. Iris is so darling wearing that little watermelon blouse—perfect for the garden. And the piano playing is delightful. Perhaps she'll take a real interest in it one day. (That's what I hoped when my grands were playing my piano. Alas, it didn't take.)

    That volunteer poppy is spectacular. I hope that seed collection is successful because more of them would be a delight.

    Hope the warmth of summer returns. It's been very nice here for the most part.

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  3. Sweetpeas are a cheery flower. Adorable child, the piano playing will be for a life time.

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  4. Sweetpeas are such a delightful flower. They grew wild on the Burke Gilman Trail in Bothell/Kenmore area that we used to walk. Iris is such a cutie. Our JJ is enjoying making sounds on the piano. He's 15 months this week. Love your patio and the views you have. It looks quite peaceful there. This has definitely been a cooler than usual summer even here in the hotter part of our state. Those cookies do remind me of English biscuits or digestives. Hope you have a good week!

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  5. Your little Iris looks such a sweetie. All my grandchildren played our piano sitting on my lap and to this day 16 years later they still like to play it when they visit, but they don't sit on my lap now!! They are all taller than me, but they love music.

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  6. Baby Iris looks like a sweet toddler now. How they grow! I think that I will plant some sweet peas next year. They make lovely scented flowers for cutting.

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  7. Iris is adorable! Your sweet peas are so pretty!

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  8. Love your posts - thank you for taking the time and sharing.

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  9. What a delight to see little Iris in the garden and enjoying the piano. I am starting to get excited as we make plans to see the family. I love hobnobs they are indeed a classic here and a definite go to biscuit. I have never thought about making them myself. Love the sweet peas.

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  10. Your flowers look absolutely lovely . A cup of tea and one of those cookies would be just about perfect. Enjoy!

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  11. The delicacy of the sweet peas is so beautiful set against the light. Mine are finally flowering.
    Yes, HobNobs are a very British biscuit, though not as popular now as they used to be.

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  12. Iris and flowers go together just so nicely!! She must be just a couple of weeks older than my little grandson "Rigo" who is visiting right now. I love to carry him around the garden for a tour. He likes crawl through the gravel and the mulch and whatever! He's also pulling himself up, but not walking yet...

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  13. Sweet Peas are so lovely and their scent is amazing. My annual ones are slow to start blooming but the perennial ones are doing great. If you plant them once they self=seed forever. Too bad they have no scent.
    Iris is adorable. I miss having little ones around.

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  14. Each of your photos are a treasure ! My goodness. I have to find hob nobs.. I must!

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  15. Oh hobnobs, sweetpeas, and your little Iris are all so very special. Love visiting your garden. I am passing along the hobnob recipe, as I know someone was looking for one recently. Thanks!

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  16. I can't believe that sweet Iris is old enough to be wandering around the garden and banging on the piano. Her watermelon top is super cute!

    I'm intrigued by the hobnob cookies. I don't know if they're the same ones, but Prince William's wedding cake was made of McVittie's biscuits: http://british-emporium.com/index.php?tag=recipegroomscake

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  17. Iris is a beautiful little girl! She's going to grow up interested in so many things! I love reading A. Christie! Enjoy your evening! Hugs!

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  18. The beauty of your flowers is only surpassed by the adorable beauty of Iris! She is so sweet and I want to kiss her cute chubby cheeks every time I see a photo of her. Enjoy every moment as you know how fast they grow!

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  19. Oh, little Iris! She is cherubic and she makes me smile. I love her watermelon top; it is charming and cheerful. I am vicariously enjoying your cool-ish temperatures while I read here.

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  20. Glad you had a good time with your family. I can imagine your pleasure from being with Iris. Lovely. Enjoy your reading and garden. Peaceful days. B x

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  21. OH! Lorrie, this was such a sweet, beautiful post, your dear Iris is so adorable, since finding out the piano makes beautiful music, she is probably adding a small one to her Christmas wish list.~wink
    Your flowers are so lovely, I have tried to grow sweet peas with no luck I think our climate is to hot and humid!
    ,
    I can only imagine the wonderful memories you and your family have made and tucked away in your hearts. I know that empty feeling when loved ones leave it always takes me a few days to adjust, the reading will help.
    Thank you for visiting and for your beautiful comment.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  22. Iris is a beauty! Its fun to watch them grow and explore at this age. We make s'mores with the fudge strip cookies. It's easier than a graham cracker and chocolate bar! Yum!

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  23. Dear Lorrie,
    Your little Iris is such a little Beauty. How wonderful that you are able to have her visit with you. I can see the two of you sitting at the Piano. Why not record both of you playing... a charming memory revisited when she gets older.

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  24. I love visiting you, Lorrie! Your sweet peas are so pretty, but that little Miss Iris stole my heart!
    What a gorgeous view you have from your patio...I’m swooning from the beauty. Now I must look up the Hob Nob recipe. They sound like they’d be perfect with a cup of tea. ❤️

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  25. I don't know whether I have commented here or not Lorrie. Every time I try to comment it suddenly vanishes in mid sentence and tells me my comment was published - curious, sorry!!!!

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  26. What a wonderful post, Lorrie! Your granddaughter looks very sweet indeed.
    The photo of your patio is beautiful and the "fence" created by the conifers in the background is impressive.
    The soup looks delicious. You add basil, I add parsley and spring onion... almost to everything.
    Your hydrangeas are a delight. The ones in my (husband's) photos are from Lake Maggiore.

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  27. That photo of Iris holding the flower in her little watermelon top is darling. So summery and sweet!

    Your sweet peas are such pretty colors and that poppy is gorgeous.

    Have never heard of hobnobs, but they look tasty.

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  28. Lorrie - I can tell you miss your family (and who wouldn't miss adorable Iris?) Those eyes just make me melt! Your pea flower arrangement is simple and sophisticated! Thanks for the Hobnob recipe - as you know, my husband is a Brit, and this is one of his favorite cookies. They are almost impossible to buy, even on the web, so hubby is excited to give them a try from scratch. Enjoy your peace and the beauty of your garden!

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  30. Everything looks wonderful! And look at that little face, so lovely. Glad you and your family are doing well. Take care. Kit

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  31. Oh, that darling Iris, such a charming name! I had to look to see if this was somehow written in March instead of July--it's too cool there to sit on your beautiful patio without a sweater? How can that be possible? We are sweltering here in Tennessee!

    I'm not sure I've ever seen this particular view from your patio, what a gorgeous garden view you have! We have never been able to grow pretty sweet peas and the pictures I see of those of you who do have them make me want them so much. They always look like watercolors. I would have loved your wedding cake as I love good homemade fruitcake. And almost every British novel I've read always has some fruitcake in a tin in the kitchen to be cut for tea. I've wanted to try putting royal icing on my own but RH is afraid I'll ruin his favorite treat.

    Are you feeling a little lost after Iris went home? I always do when my granddaughters leave!

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  32. Such a cute visitor! I can only imagine the sweet times. Your porch is inviting!

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  33. Dear Lorrie, your garden is looking wonderful and Miss Iris is the prettiest flower in it, how you must miss having them around after being able to spend time together at the piano and outside. We love Hobnobs, they are indeed a British classic and I always have a pack in the pantry for those days when there isn't any homemade cake left for afternoon tea.
    Wishing you a joyful, peaceful week and much enjoyment of tea & biscuits with Agatha Christie.

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  34. Gorgeous flowers and beautiful baby.

    You are able to visit and go visiting, and etc.? Without fear of the Wuhan Virus?

    Looking for signs of Autumn
    🍁🍂🍁 🍁🍂🍁 🍁🍂🍁 🍁🍂🍁

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  35. I've always liked sweet peas.

    Miss Iris is a cutie, wonderful photographs.

    All the best Jan

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