Guests in the Garden…

The best thing about spring in the garden is…

It’s still chilly in the evenings.

And you get to share the beginnings of flowers turning up with impromptu guests.

Crocheted shawls come out after dark.

As we chat and laugh and listen to music.

(can you see how humongous those cactus/cacti behind my easel continue to be, far left?)

I whipped up a bunch of treats and drinks.

I bought a big french bread, took out a little of the bread insides and filled it with thinly sliced roast beef from the deli, horseradish cheddar (white), lettuces, tomatoes, sweet onions, mayo and dark mustard.

Then sliced it up.

I filled another tray with roasted bell peppers, jalapenos, artichoke hearts, stuffed olives and mushrooms.

I served some olive oil rosemary bread on the side and chocolate cake bites for dessert.

Oh and a platter of sliced vine ripened tomatoes with sliced mozzarella and avocados drizzled in balsamic.

Yumm.

A little Grey Goose with lime juice, grated lime peel, mint and tonic water.

It’s fun to step out of the box once in a while.

And sample the punch, so to speak.

Even though my head now hurts today, haha!

Pellegrino and lime.

Cheap champagne soaked strawberries from the garden.

No, it isn’t Cristal.

But still…

Sweet and lovely.

Once I was at a wedding, and they were serving champagne, and it was surprisingly good.

I asked and asked and couldn’t find out what it was.

Since normally you get expensive dry champagne that is just awful.

(to me it’s awful, haha)

Finally I found someone who told me it was…

Get this…

Asti Spumante!

Then again, I think it’s not actually/technically champagne?

But more of a sparkling wine?

Whatever the case, it’s good with sweet strawberries.

Just chop up some strawberries, drizzle lightly with sugar if they need it.

Then fill fluted glasses with strawberries and slowly pour champagne over.

The strawberries soak up the champagne a little, yummy!

So delightful.

Running around, setting things up for a little soiree in the garden.

Red and pink love.

Are you so sick of hollyhock shots yet?

I wished the garden was in massive full bloom.

But tufts here and there did the trick.

Green cool strolls and lots of noshing.

I just love evenings as such.

It was a good time for all.

Don’t you just love sitting around a table.

Eating good food, sipping lovely things…

Laughing big belly chuckles.

Talking and just enjoying?

 

I love times like these.

 

Happy weekending!!

See you soooon.

 

I have to go clean my room now.

(I have been attempting this for a week, but then I find something wonderful I had forgotten about and spiral into doing other things)

Do you think some of your childhood flaws stay with you forever?

My room will forever look like…

As my sister says –

Like a drag queen lives in there and is trapped under heaps of hats and shoes and baubles.

🙂

Could be worse I say.

 

Plus, on several occasions people have thought Vanessa Valencia was a chosen stage name.

Haha!

How silly/hilarious is that?

 

 

Love, V

 

 

ps:  Tori Amos has a new album coming out this month.

Two tracks have been released.

Selkie is soooo beautiful, below.

The more I listen to it, the more I fall in love.

She turned 50 a few months ago, isn’t she amazing?

Makes you realize 50 is quite young.

And the creativity goes on and on.

Age doesn’t matter.

It just doesn’t.

Whoever put caps and constraints on age was a real numbskull.

Why do we even listen to such pure nonsense I ask?

🙂

 

Such a lovely tune…