Canna Lily

From rhizome clump to five feet tall in 3 months, canna lilies grow quickly and thrive in the heat and humidity here in Florida. By fall, W4D will be hacking them back with his machete. Click here for another view with more detail.

Hello World!

Hello World!
Originally uploaded by flaurella.

Already a chatterbox at 4 days old.

She's Here!

Meet my adorable granddaughter...

Biannca Averi
born June 17th at 11:31 PM
weighing 6 pounds - 14 ounces
19 inches long.

View a slide show!

I know you want to. :))

Summer's Bounty

If you've followed this blog, you already know that W4D (What's 4 Dinner?) is my husband and that he loves to grocery shop as much as he loves to eat.

It was Farmer's Market Day and yesterday afternoon, he arrived home from work toting the following:
watermelon
cantaloupe
blueberries
snap beans
okra
potatoes
spaghetti squash
a couple of pounds of fresh shrimp
and a lemon meringue pie from the bakery.

The second trip to the car yielded red wine, white wine, vodka, bourbon, a cheerful red and yellow bouquet of fresh flowers and an adorable little bouquet of fresh herbs.

W4D is very good about bringing me flowers at least once a week but this was my first herb bouquet. It is so convenient having our little local Farmer's market this summer. Everything is picked fresh same day and we know most of the farmers and the shoppers.

The flowers were lovely and showy but my fave is the little herb bouquet, tied with chives and lily leaves. I spy parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, dill and tarragon.

My kitchen is fragrant.

PSHAW!

Texas' got Baby GATORS. ::snort::

http://www.wesh.com/video/19640878/index.html

Here in Florida, old ladies pet 'em before breakfast.

Pick a Peck

Today, May 20th, is
"Pick Strawberries Day."

I hope you have fresh strawberries at your house, too!

Pass the Panty Liners

My friend Kathleen and I were chatting this morning about some delish mussels she ate as an appetizer that were "so gosh darn good I nearly needed a panty liner." What a delicate way to put it. I have been known to remark to W4D when something tastes so orgasmically fine that it has creamed my jeans, but I think Katzi's expression is better for mixed company. Anyway, now I am hungry for mussels.

While I run off to Publix to get some mussels, here are at least three of my mussels recipes with pictures. All are delish and easy. Click here for Flaurella's recipes and pix.



BTW, my friend Walt who hails from Long Island pronounces Publix as "pube licks." Walter, you are one funny dude. Happy Birthday, there about!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!
Originally uploaded by flaurella.

Cheerful yellow Gerbera daisy in my kitchen reminds me that I am loved. So do several other beautiful floral arrangements in the kitchen, family room and my office..

A day without fresh flowers is worse than a day without sunshine. Thanks, W4D, for showering me with flowers this week and every week.

Portable Bath Tub

Wagon Waggin' Bath
Originally uploaded by flaurella.

Tucker gets a bath in my daddy's Red Flyer wagon

Blue Eyes

Yesterday afternoon at our little local farmer's market I found first of the season blueberries at $2.00 a pound. That's like six times less as expensive than at the grocery store and they were very fresh, picked earlier yesterday. I selected a pound bag and started digging in my jeans pocket for two bucks. As I was getting the cash, I asked the snowbird lady behind the table if they were rabbiteyes, knowing full well the variety but trying to make conversation.

"No Dear, these are B L U E B E R R I E S."

Damn Yankees.

GATORS "Orange & Blue "Spring Game

GATORS Orange & Blue Spring Game
Originally uploaded by flaurella.

This picture was taken at the GATOR Spring game this past weekend by The Gainesville Sun. If you click on the pic and go to the original as posted on FLICKR, (or GatorSports) you can see the notes and exactly where W4D, daughter Kait, and her SO, John, are noted and marked.

I just have one other comment on my GATORS this Spring and that is, "We so totally ROCK!" Don't bet on anyone else to win the National Championship (NCAA for my friends across the Pond) this coming football season. It's raining men, and GATORS! Halleluia!

Still Celebrating

Happy Birthday, Mr. Man.

You get to celebrate right through the weekend.


Party on, Dude!

Gifted Eggs

Gifted Eggs
Originally uploaded by flaurella.

These beautiful eggs were made for W4D by our friend, Linda Gail. She used fresh flowers and leaves from her yard, positioned them on each egg and carefully wrapped each egg in hosery before boiling them in a solution of water and red onion skins.

Hard to see in this picture but the chlorophyll from the leaves tints the flora silhouettes on the eggs a pale green that is lovely against the rich brown and sienna of the onion skin dye.

What a pity to crack and eat them but deviled eggs are calling my name...

Marshmallow Dreams

Oh, Mama!
I wish I had me this here Peep Hat:


Compliments of one of my fave blogs:
COLOR ME KATIE

You know how I love the Peeps!

Two for a Dollar

The Peep Factory

Queen of Peeps New Pet (long story)

There's more if you want to search the Peeps...