Retire in Style with Lolita

My grandchildren and I walked to a nearby park to pick blackberries. We picked enough to make Blackberry Crumble. Please click pictures to enlarge. Fresh pick of the day! The Perfect Blackberry Crumble 6 cups fresh or frozen blackberries (if frozen, thaw slightly) 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or sweeten to taste, use less sugar if the berries are very sweet) 2 tablespoons cornstarch 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 1/4 cup white flour 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup uncooked, old fashioned rolled oats 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder (optional) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the blackberries in a large mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl combine the sugar and cornstarch. Blend thoroughly. Sprinkle the sugar and cornstarch mixture over the berries and gently combine with a rubber spatula. Spray an 8x8 inch pan with cooking spray and pour the berry mixture into the pan. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 minute...

Most people are introduced to orchids through phalaenopsis orchids or Moth orchids. Please click picture to enlarge. The Vanda sanderiana, commonly called the Waling-waling, is one of the most beautiful and popular orchid species from the Philippines. It is a strap-leaf orchid species. It’s large in size and is very colorful. Because of its beauty, the Vanda sanderiana, is described as the “Queen of Philippine Orchids.” Please click picture to enlarge. This photo brings back memories of my visit to an orchid farm in Davao City, Philippines several years ago.

I was pleasantly surprised to find my "Black Prince" starting to bloom. When I bought this last June I nicknamed it "Sitting pretty". While the hens and chicks around were busy producing rosettes, this one seems to just sit there quite elegantly watching the scenery. Then last week when I got back from a two week visit in Toronto I noticed some activity. A rosette had formed and had started to come out followed by another one this week. Please click picture to enlarge.

I have so many teapots collected through the years. I love them. I like using a different teapot and teacup for different teas and to match table setting as well as to suit a guest's preference. Some of my teapots were gifts, some bought brand new, and some bought from thrift shops. I don't entertain as much as before anymore. And I don't want my teapots just sitting in the cupboard or display shelves. So those that I do not use anymore for brewing tea have been recycled as planters, fresh flower containers, and for silk floral arrangements. These silk floral arrangements were used as table centerpieces during my granddaughter's recent baptismal party. Please click pictures to enlarge. Currently these are my teapots that are being used regularly for brewing tea.

Blooming and Flowering Teas are truly a unique experience. You can create a beautiful magical, moment, a moment to savor, simply by brewing tea. Please click pictures to enlarge. There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. ~Bernard-Paul Heroux

I am so happy to finally succeed in nurturing and propagating Jade plant. My Jade garden is on my bedroom window sill. It is a south-west facing window. It gets a lot of sun from around 2:00 PM till sundown. Please click picture to enlarge. Last May I bought the "Mother plant" and a month later I felt there were enough healthy leaves and branches to start propagating. I blogged about this in one of my June posts. Please click picture to enlarge. These Jade plants were started from cuttings and some from leaves. Please click picture to enlarge This Jade Pillow is from Beijing, China. Jade signifies power and wealth. My bedroom window sill is my Wealth Corner as per Feng Shui. Jade plant is also called Money plant. Please click picture to enlarge.

There are several snails and tiny green worms that are eating the leaves of my plants! I decided to severely prune and trim the leaves and rearranged my containers and moved them to the cemented patio. Away from what I believe is the source of those snails. I have not seen any slugs yet but I am sure they are there somewhere. This is the first time I have seen those small green wormy things that seem to love the leaves of my Alpine Columbine. I noticed the snails did not touch my succulents and the citrosa geranium or mosquito repellant plant . I feel bad that I have to trim off all the leaves of my hostas. Unfortunately the snails (and slugs) love them. There really is no such thing as slug or snail resistant hostas. Citrosa Geranium or mosquito repellant plant or Citronella plant. Please click pictures to enlarge. Some call it scented geranium. Not too crazy about its scent but they seem to ward off flying bugs including mosquitoes. And slugs and snails do not like them! I w...

The first Monday of August is known as British Columbia Day, BC Day or B.C. Day, in the province of British Columbia. It is a statutory holiday and gives Canadians in the province the chance to celebrate their achievements or relax with friends and family members. In British Columbia many people use the long weekend to make short trips out of town and into one of the areas of beautiful scenery in this province. Some go camping, while others walk, hike or plan canoe trips. Many families go for a day's outing and picnic to favourite parks. My family went on a picnic at Queen's Park, New Westminster. After our picnic lunch the kids went to play in the nearby water park and playground with their parents. The rest of us went for a stroll through the lovely wooded area to the delightful rose garden. This garden is a very popular destination for wedding entourages during the months of June and July when the roses are in full bloom. There were still many roses in bloom and we th...