Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Fabulous, Flavorful Flowers

lowers and food have been a natural combination since as far back as biblical times. You probably have something in your pantry right now that can trace it's roots back to some flower or other.Flowers and chocolate-a classic combination, but even more interesting when combined into one! You can find a myriad of online companies offering artisanal chocolates infused with rosewater, lavender,

Costco Roses

Nothing says romance quite like roses, and in today's economy, you can pinch pennies and please your sweetheart. Costco has the most stunning rose bouquets, and they come in assorted sizes.The Costco florist told me she loves her job, and it's a pleasure to spend her day with flowers. If you really want to impress your sweetheart, come home with one of their wonderfully chef prepared meals and a

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

"Reel" Flowers

I'm a movie fanatic, and love nothing more than settling in some evening with an entertaining movie. (Best if Sam Elliott is in it, but that's a subject for another blog...)While poking around an antique shop recently, I found an old poster for the movie Please Don't Eat the Daisies, (from 1960, starring that perky Doris Day and David Niven,) and it got me thinking: How many other movies have

Monday, September 22, 2008

Moss rose or portulacas

Moss rose (portulaca grandiflora) a morning bloomer... the blooms will go away in the afternoon to show their beauty again the next day. This plant reminds me of my childhood, many houses had moss rose (11 horas in Portuguese) in the garden, they are easy to grow and there are many colors available.This is my contribution to Today's Flowers hosted by Santilli.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Having your (flowered) cake...

Haven't we all been to a wedding and wondered "what was she thinking with that cake?" At one wedding I attended, the cake was so shocking it was all anyone could talk about. With a mini bride and groom and 30 (yes! 30) mini attendants, sugared flying buttresses, bridges, towers, and little lakes of garish blue food coloring, it was a sight to behold!In a past life I was probably the pastry chef

Friday, September 12, 2008

Show me... something that relaxes you

This is what really soothes me: a view of green pastures, farm life, hills and mountains. I grew up on a flat farm but married a man from the mountains! I took this picture on the way to my in-laws' farm. We had to stop along the way because of some unexpected road construction... I was about to complain when I thought to myself... There is got to be something good out of this situation, we had

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Show me... a view!

A view from our balcony. I can see miles and miles away... We have gray skies today which is not unusual this time of the year and Spring is just around the corner! The trees are blooming all over. I can see mango trees, tabebuias of many different colors and sky rises surrounding the city...This picture is part of project Show me that Robert is hosting this week, if you would like to see more

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Show me... a trunk of memories

My mom gave me this trunk many years ago... it has a beautiful story behind it. When her father, my grandfather, made this trunk, her mother, my grandmother, was pregnant with my mom! I can imagine my grandmother wearing her long dress, and my grandfather carving the wood... Well, my grandfather passed away when my mom was only eight years old, and all I know is that he was a tall and very

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Show me... your front door

Welcome friends to my home and stay for a while... We live in a 3rd floor (4th in the US) apartment and the front door is boring, so I am showing here the balcony door too, which has a nice view of the city.If you would like to see more front doors, please visit Robert at Thoughts of a Father.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Show me... your kitchen!

I love coffee, tea, blue stuff, crafts and small things, such as the little guinea fowls in my kitchen. The old coffee pot belonged to my grandmother and I inherited it...Robert at Thoughts of a Father is hosting his first photo project and today's theme is kitchen. For more details on how to participate, please visit Robert.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Annatto flowers - Urucum

Annatto or achiotte, (bixa orellana L.) has the scientific name derived from a Spanish explorer in the XVI century. This plant is grown mostly in South America and Brazil is the main producer and exporter. Known here as urucum or colorau, the seeds are used as a natural red food coloring in the food industry, cosmestics (known as the lipstick-tree), to dye textiles and also for cooking, which I

Saturday, September 6, 2008

I love your china service, Mr. President!

During yet another interminable presidential debate, my mind wandered to a visit I made to the White House a few years ago. Everything about the tour was fascinating, but I was particularly intrigued by the China Room, where all the presidential china is on display. As I marveled over all the lovely patterns, I was especially struck by how many of them included flowers!The James Polk State

Mini Albums!

I know I've been neglectful with my blog. With school starting back up, life's been busy! I do have a two mini-albums and another project to share though. The first is a mini-album for My Creative Scrapbook made with the September Album Kit:The second is a mini, mini album. It's made with a Maya Road Mini Arrow Album. I did this project for Sweet Shoppe Designs using Shawna Clingerman's Outloud

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

The Armchair Garden Traveler

Traveling to, and reading about, great gardens has always been a favorite activity of mine and I've been fortunate to visit so many over the years, both in the US and abroad. Two of my favorites are Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C, designed by the prolific Beatrix Farrand, and the magnificent Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C. The British have their own way with flowers, and I've enjoyed

Show me your glory

I find it hard to glorify nature without glorifying the Creator of all things... in the kingdom of nature there can only be a king... that shows us His glory and all things speak themselves to proclaim the works of God's hands...Ecological Day is a monthly event started by Sonia, at Leaves of Grass, and the purpose is to write and post photos about anything related to Ecology. Let us reflect the