It's Julia's Birthday

Julia Child was born in Pasadena, California, August 15, 1912.
 She would have been 104 years old today.

Sur La Table

I looked back at some of my posts about Julia.

I remembered I started my Julia craze after I read
Julie Powell's book (Julie and Julia, 365 Days, 524 Recipes, one Tiny Apartment)
about making each and every one of Julia's recipes
from Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Then the movie came out (which I loved). 

I read more books about Julia and her life including Julia's Cats.

I think there are a few more Julia books in my stacks that I should read.

Amazingly enough, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
didn't become a best seller until after the movie came out...
48 years after the book was first published.
This article from the NYTimes is one of my favorites:

After 48 Years, Julia Child Has a Big Best Seller, Butter and All

I remember watching Julia on television. 

I wasn't much interested in the cooking.

I just thought she was a hoot!

Associated Press Photo

I couldn't let the day go by without wishing Julia

a very happy birthday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Make It Pretty Monday

Mosaic Monday

In Time For Tea

I love to give books for special occasions or no occasion ...
To kids and adults.

I heard about Chimpanzees for Tea by Jo Empson in the 
Afternoon Tea Across America group I belong to on FaceBook.

Vincent's mother sends him to the store with a shopping list.
She wants him to be home in time for tea.
Along the way Vincent loses his shopping list.
He tries to remember everything on the list 
and comes home with some unexpected items.
But he is in time for tea! 
Great illustrations and lots of fun.
I think it will be a wonderful birthday gift for the little girl next door.







I decided I wanted to be in time for tea, too.
I was especially tea thirsty and got out one of my favorite oversized tea cups.

The perfect Tea Time Teacup.
It is part of the Leonardo Collection.
Designed in England. 
More fun!

Wishing YOU well, much joy, a good book, and a wonderful cup of tea!

Home Sweet Home

Make It Pretty Monday

No Place Like Home

Mosaic Monday

Tuesday Cup of Tea

You've Been Warned

I was nervous about the rain we had earlier in the week.

We sure needed the rain,

but I didn't want to miss the Rice University Farmers Market Summerfest. 

I put on my raincoat -- sure that it wouldn't rain as long as I had it on!

And I was correct.

The vendors were busy.

 I picked up some tomatoes from the young man in the orange shirt.
He works for Atkinson Farms.
He didn't have any of the sweet yellow tomatoes that I love,
but the red ones will be good.

 Peaches!
Probably the last of the season. 
I was very happy to get them.
They have been delicious.

 I grabbed a beer from Karbach Brewery.
I tried the Hopadillo this time.
The cans are such fun.
The stories are always good.

"He lurks in the shadows, waiting in bold anticipation.
He's surprisingly bitter.
Bitter about something.
Legend has it that he feasts on those with fresh hops 
coursing through their veins.
This dry hopped, 
Texas IPA has a flavor as defiant as the Hopadillo himself.
It's packed with the bracing bitterness of hops from around the world
that this creature craves.
He's coming to get you.
You've been warned."

 I enjoyed my beer while listening to a fine, young trio.

They performed a rousing rendition of Goodnight Irene
and other snappy tunes. 

Not a bad way to end a very rainy day.


*
Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday was this week.
Three cheers for Beatrix, her love of nature, her great illustrations, 
her wonderful books. 
Pure Magic!
*


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

A Whole Lot of Something

It is too hot and humid here.

Not fit for man or beast or the garden.

So, when the latest email from Pier One arrived,

I thought it might help cool me down.

Christmas in July! 

Pier One Email

So far, the cooling down hasn't worked!


2. Last week I was opening my first box from My Texas Market.
This week the kitties are opening their Kit Nip Box.

No surprise that Mina was the first to check it out.
She went directly for the cat-nip elephant.





It didn't take long for Cassie and Teddy to join in the fun.


3. A whole of something has been going on in the water garden.




I wonder if the fish will eat the eggs???


4. In the atrium, an anole was knocking at the door.

"It's hot out here! Let me in!"


5. I finished another lovie. 
This time a panda.




His eyes are a little wonky and his grin is lopsided,
but not bad for the first try. 

So far, I've made three owls -- all delivered far and wide.
Have another owl to make and then I think I might try a puppy.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Saturday Critters

This and That

I googled "subscription boxes" and was really surprised by what google found.

I had no idea there were so many.

There's KitNip for cats, Cat Lady for cat ladies, Blue Apron and Hello Fresh for food.

Bark for dogs. Birch Box for cosmetics.
Art Snack for artists (and wanna-bes).
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I'm sure if you can imagine a box, there is one. 


Why my sudden interest in boxes?
I heard about My Texas Market and decided to give it a try.

They send carefully-curated boxes filled with small batch, 

artisan items from local Texas businesses to subscribers every month. 

I started with their July box that celebrates My Texas Market turning one.

I had a good time opening the box.
A lot of information was provided about the contents.
There's cajeta from my favorite goat farmers at Blue Heron Farm.
Peach Jam from the The Peach Boys (too bad the sample jar is so small). 
A soy cupcake scented candle from Ecobabe.
Cookie mix (gluten free) from Bona Dea.
Cornucopia Popcorn, Patriot Pop.


All Texas artisans and small businesses and
10% of all profits are donated to the Houston Food Bank.
I like that! 

2. The Tour de France has started.
The countryside is so pretty.
Great history.
Armchair traveling at its best.
Let the cyclists do all the work!

Credit: Getty Images/ Chris Graythen)

3. Several years ago, I heard Martin Walker interviewed on NPR and I was hooked. 
I wait patiently (??!!) for him to write another book in his wonderful Bruno series. 
The latest is: Fatal Pursuit. 
Bruno is chief of police in the beautiful village of St. Denis.
The characters are "characters", Balzac is a wonderful dog, the food sounds delicious.
There is history of the area and of France ... this time WWII and a missing Bugatti.
A little bit of everything including gardening by the lunar calendar.
This is a mystery series I really enjoy.


4. Every time I go to the grocery, I always stop and check out the flowers.
If there are carnations, they come home with me.
This time, they are pretty in pink!

5. All wrapped and ready for the baby shower this weekend.
Done! 

 
Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Home Sweet Home

Willy Nilly Friday

Five On Friday

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