Citrus Parmesan Couscous

This recipe is adapted from Heidi Swansons http://www.101cookbooks.com/.

Served this at Heidi's (not Swasons) 40th birthday party a couple weeks ago, it all just came together and a few folks have requested the recipe so here it is.

2 cups Israeli Couscous
4 1/2 cups boiling seasoned water (I used McKays Chicken)
1 cup fresh peas (blanched, chilled), or frozen if not in season.
Goat Cheese
Slived Almonds (I toasted them)
1 Medium Orange, zest and juice
1 shallot, chopped
1/3 cup Parmesan, freshly shredded ( I used more )
2 TBLS rice wine vinegar
2 TBLS honey
1 inch of peeled fresh ginger, finely minced
1/2 cup good quality olive oil
several big pinches of sea salt

Add couscous to water, cover until all broth is absorbed.

For Dressing:
Combine orange juice, zest, shallot vinegar, honey, ginger, and Parmesan in bowl, whisk in olive oil, taste, season to your taste.

Fluff couscous, add peas, and crumbled goat cheese, add dressing, Toss in Almonds, Chill, and Enjoy.

I suppose any fresh green veggie could be substituted, this is fast, easy and delicious.

On it's Way to Someone Special

Remember the "Fling" I had several months ago? Well, that one "Fling" turned into 2 "Flings" and that 2nd "Fling" is heading west to a very important friend.

I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.

Beaded Frenzy

While Jill was here I added to my beading frenzy.

She left with me, 3 Icicle dolls and 2 Dotee Dolls to embellish.

Trips to the bead store was a must. My yarn stash is much more complete.

I added substantially to the bead stash, and completed 1 of the Dotee Dolls while she was here.

Question? What is more addictive beads.....yarns?

"Holiday Friends" Here and Gone

Jill's Perfectly Pedicured Feet
Leisa Quote at beginning of our friendship....
"if I could have any part of your body it would be your feet"

Jill and Paige came north from Florida to surprise Heidel for her 40th. Dan and I were lucky to have them stay with us. We were able to laugh and cook and create for a whole week, it really doesn't get much better.

This is how perfect a friend she is...Dan calls her today on her way out of town to ask if she misses him yet? You know it was fun if he could deal with all the upset to his strict schedule and enjoy it.

They left this am....goodbye "Holiday Friends" I can't wait for our next adventure.

Paige remember .....Paco is your not,boyfriend!

This Child Turned 15!

this one right here...she should still be 4 as far as I am concerned. She is the youngest of all the nieces and nephew and she was never supposed to grow up!

I took the day off on Friday picked her and her brother up at school and spent the rest of the day with them.

During one of my fast dashes into a shop to pick up special orders for customers, she grabbed the camera and shot many self portraits. She has been doing this as long as I have had a camera, it is always fun to upload and see what she has been up to.

We had a fun day and are looking forward to many fun days at the Cottage this summer!

Happy Birthday little Miss Em & Em!!!!

Ian Be-In has left a Trail

Ian, aka Milkweed loves to visit us at the shoppe. A week or so ago he came with many matchbook type cars in tow. He stayed, he played, he snuggled, he even took a little nap on the birdseed bags. We all had a great time.



Several days later while potting up a custom container for a customer. We found this buried in the Geranium. Ian loves to place his cars in the plants, he says they need a home.




We found several more over the next few days. We will return them as we find them - one by one.

A Trunk filled With Hibiscus

Last week my good friend and I made a quick trip to Kalamazoo to visit some of our favorite annual growers. We were both desperate to be inspired for the upcoming(now here) gardening season.

We were both having a hard time getting excited, was it the long winter, is it the cold, rainy spring, or are we both just overworked and tired?

So the quick trip was born, up at the crack of dawn, at the Nursery as they opened the gates.

Inspired we were, good deals were negotiated and a trunk full of Hibiscus followed us home.