It is heavy, it is large.

It barely fit into my kiln.

  



That is what is happening on the inside.  



And this is what is happening on the outside.



I think that Spring has sprung. 

Wishing you a great Sunday

my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

 

An unexpected gift from my garden

My Leeks survived the winter.

They made a simple soup with only a few ingredients: leeks, milk,
a little rendered duck fat (or use home made chicken stock), black peppercorns, salt and bay leaf.





 

My leeks wintered over, packed within a foot of Autumn leaves and covered with several feet of snow.

 A few home made croutons complete the Lunch.


Be well my dear
Blogging Friends.

Gina



Full House Today

It's crowded 

In the Coop:  Ms Buff Orpington, Ms Rhode Island Red, Ms Plymouth Rock, Ms Speckled Sussex and Ms Araucanus.

and crowded in our Country House. 

Have a great week my dear 

Blogging Friends.

I would love to hear from you in English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Polish and don't forget Latin.

Gina 

 

 

Joining http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/
Also joining  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/
Joining  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

 

 



Out of the Kiln

All looks good.

One never knows.

I try not to open the lid too soon.  The kiln takes about 12 hours to cool down. 

This group of tiles, which I painted for a client, will be installed in a new kitchen.  They will be incorporated into a back splash of white Subway Tiles. 

The next layer holds a few small items. Items everyone who comes  to our upcoming annual event, can afford. For the next few weeks,  I will be very busy painting ceramics large and small.

 The last shelf holds one of my best sellers. 

An opportunity for visitors to purchase something handmade, practical and inexpensive... my invention "Fancy Feet" foot scrubbers.


Have a wonderful week my dear
Blogging Friends,

Gina



 

Mein Sonntagstrauss and a small brain teaser

Very small, but sincere Sunday Bouquet

And, it's from MY GARDEN.

Look closely; what is NOT included in this bouquet that you will see in the next photo.

Have you found it?  

Have a wonderful week my dear Blogging Friends and thank you so much for stopping by.  I always enjoy hearing from you.  

Gina

My Winter Greenhouse is waking up

The days are getting longer.

Nasturtiums have been blooming all winter.

My old Geraniums are filling in. 

This one is an Ivy Geranium.

The older the better... gives them so much character.

Every year I plant a few Iceland Poppies into pots so that I can have early flowers. 

Young and old live happily side by side.  

Nasturtiums come in so many fabulous colors.

This one doesn't count.  It's growing on my way to the greenhouse.

I always seed a few Morning Glories in pots.   Gives them a good start. They will trail out of  urns and reach the terrace floor by mid summer. 

All of the flowers in this pot are volunteers...always a nice surprise. 

Have a wonderful weekend my dear 

Blogging Friends.

Gina 


 

Linking to  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

 

Texture and Color

I have named it the European Dry Brush Technique.

It takes at least three colors.

 Base Coat is creamy white.  Add the brightest color next. Tone down with next 2 colors.

Use water based paints thinned 6 to 1 with water  and apply with large, soft brush. Apply color to a 3x3 foot area feathering out towards edges.  Repeat till wall is covered.  

I sometimes add a fourth layer by painting a large flat sponge 
(not dipping sponge into paint) 
with an accent color and applying paint in a skipping, pushing and dabbing motion. 


Walls come alive when treated with this layering of colors  
 technique.  

Have a great week my dear 
Blogging Friends. 

Gina 

Been painting

 I have been painting Dinner Plates 

For a most charming and lovely Lady from Texas.

who loves Hortensias.

Better known as Hydrangeas around these parts.

Hope you're having a great week.

Gina 

The beginning - Innocent enough

You have saved a few seeds 

from the very best of the year before.

They begin to grow

The vines start climbing the fence and sunflower stalks.

And when October comes around you wonder what you're going to do with all of them.  

You put up a stand on Main Street and give them away.

You deliver a few to the local cafe and then  drop off a few at the Pig farmer. 

OR

you can ask Mr G to bake a whole bunch of them, seal them in food saver bags and freeze them 

for a delicious and very nutritious winter vegetable. 

And

then you can bake many, many loaves of  Lakota Squash Bread all winter long.  

The most delicious bread you have ever tasted. 

Recipe follows.

Squash Bread

2 cups of cooked squash

3 eggs beaten

2 cups sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

3 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup light olive oil 

3/4 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup golden raisins

Mix all ingredients

juice and grated zest from one lemon and one orange

Mix together

Add 3 cups of flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda. 

Mix by hand with wooden spoon until all ingredients are 

well incorporated. 

Grease 2 loaf pans 

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes and reduce heat to 300 and bake another 15 to 20 minutes. Test with toothpick.  

Note
You can substitute zucchini for squash.

Happy baking my dear 

Blogging Friends. 

Gina