T Stands For Year 12 Anniversary

 

Today T Stands For Tuesday turns 12.  Let me tell those of you who haven't been here all 12 years how this got started.

Twelve years ago, there was a different host.  One day without warning she just quit hosting or even joining in.  A few of us tried to carry on, but there was definitely a lack of focus and stability.  Patty Szymkowicz (extra points if you can pronounce her last name) asked me to take over Tuesday Tea.  My problem was, I didn't want to upset the previous host by taking over something she had created.  Patty didn't feel like that would be a problem, but the previous host was into us drinking tea.  When I joined, I went to The Spice Merchant and bought enough tea to last me a lifetime, since the only time I ever drank it was on Tuesday.  

When I decided to take over as host, I made it clear, it was NOT about drinking tea.  It could be about ANY drink or vessel which would hold a drink.

For our 10th anniversary, 30 (yes, thirty) participants linked to TSFT.  All but two participated in the swap.  I invited Patty to join and even though she is now only on Instagram, she partnered with CJ, who is also on Instagram.  BTW, only two people, Erika and Jo signed up to trade ATCs for Year 12.  I will be making one for both of them, but like everything else in my life right now, I am running behind.

Now I'm wondering if TSFT has run its course.  More than one person has said they don't post on T Day, since they don't think it's right to share the same drinks over and over.  Let me assure you.  It's NOT just about a mug, cup and saucer, or drink.  It's about the camaraderie.  I lead a boring life, so I need outside stimulation.  Did you take a vacation or holiday?  Did you get a new appliance?  Did you get a new pet?  Or for that matter, did you pet sit?  Did you write a story?  Did you take a boat ride?  Did you create a new painting or sketch?  Did you find an incredible quote?  Did you photograph something?  These are the things we want to know, not just your chosen drink or drinks of the week.  I always say I learn something new each week.  

PLEASE join us, so TSFT doesn't die because of lack of participation or lack of caring.

It's time to celebrate and party.  I had planned to take the party outside today, but when I did, it started to rain.  Back inside, the ambient lighting in the dining area is atrocious.

This is what it actually looks like with no adjustment.

My drink of choice for the anniversary is gifted Mountain Valley Water in a green glass bottle.  It is sitting on the gift I received from Elle (eotc).  The vessel I chose is plastic.  I have a set of four and they are all different.  Each has green, red, and blue, but each goblet portion is a different color, etc.  Sorry the photo isn't clear.  I'm having the shakes today.

Now it's time to party.  Please join us.

I've shown you mine, now it's time to share your own drink related post.  It can be photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.  Please remember to visit your fellow T participants.

 

 

ICADs Week 6

 

EDIT: "Failed to publish" has reared its ugly head again.  If you don't hear from me, that's the reason why.

This year each index card will contain paint, book pages or sliver of a page (including sheet music), some form of mark making, a postage stamp, and the word of the day.  

I realized I choose the postage stamp each day because I'm driven by color and I like my stamp to match the color (or predominant color) of the day.  I hope you enjoy these next seven ICADs.

Day 36: Dream

Day 37: Superb

Day 38: Crush

Day 39: Discover

Day 40: Ask

Day 41: Wired

Day 42: Shallow

   I'm once again joining Index Card A Day, but this is the only place you will find Bleubeard's and my ICADs.

Thank you beyond belief for your visit today.  I hope you will continue to join me every Sunday as Bleubeard and I continue this annual journey. 

 

Clean up, row 3

 

I've been cleaning my herbs and removing weeds and even  a small tree from one plant.

It took most of the day, but I have finally cleaned all the weeds from my herbs.  I have lots of dill.  I planted five pots with dill thinking the monarch caterpillars would munch their way through at least four of them.  I haven't seen a single caterpillar, which is disturbing.

 

EDIT: Erika was right.  It's the swallowtail caterpillar that loves my dill.  Not this year, though.

 

Sage I purchased on Herb Day.

More dill planted from seed.

Cilantro, another favorite.  Some have started to flower.  Fennel seeds in small pot aren't doing well.

Cilantro I've been picking to enhance my dreary meals.

 

  This and

 

  this are what it looked like before I started.

Lavender I bought on Herb Day.  Note the dark brown pot.

Rosemary I purchased on Herb Day.  I'm not sure what plant is in the white pot.

Sad dill.

This is yarrow, also purchased on Herb Day.  Looks like I didn't get rid of all the weeds in this pot. The plant in the pot on the right died.  It was marjoram purchased after Herb Day.

This is spearmint overwintered in the house.

This is my new thyme I bought after Herb Day.

This lavender was purchased after Herb Day.  It is a different variety than the other I bought.

My oregano was also purchased after Herb Day.

More rosemary purchased on Herb Day.  The white pot on the right held chives that didn't overwinter well inside.

These chives overwintered inside and may make it.  The plant in the center is Russian sage purchased on Herb Day.

More lavender from Herb Day and milk weed planted from seed and overwintered outside last year.

My spider plant (or airplane plant) that has overwintered inside three years is doing well.  Genovese basil (on left) is ready for harvest.  Sweet basil (on right) isn't doing as well.  Both planted from seeds.

More dill and a plant even Pl@ntnet can't identify.

Can you?  I think it's a weed.  It's definitely NOT oregano.

This is peppermint.

Another milkweed.  Behind it are the remains of an $8.00 bee balm I bought on Herb Day a squirrel took a liking to.

My comfrey is doing better after the beating it took during a recent storm.  I hope for more flowers soon.

Had I known my bee balm would overwinter outside and come back looking so good, I would never have purchased a new one for squirrel food!

Thank you for sticking with me through this.  I will be by to visit as soon as I have a bite to eat.  Yes, I have been at this since I took the photos.  I am about to collapse, but I must visit everyone before I sleep.  I am grateful for your visit.

 

Dill butter

 

My internet friend Mae Sander asked what I do with my herbs.

Mae wanted to know, so here is one thing I make.

I make dill butter.  I use salted butter (real butter only in my house) and chopped some dill to make this.

I decided to spread it on a croissant that I cut in half. 

It isn't beautiful like Martha Stewart would make, but it still worked.  I didn't let the dill dry long enough, and didn't chop it as well as I could have, but it still tasted delicious.  Be sure to allow it to sit a day before unwrapping it.  That way, the dill and the butter have a chance to turn really dilly.

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you enjoyed my use of one of my herbs.

 

The Garden Map

 

Today I'm joining Halle of Halle's Hobbies at Art Journal Journey.  Halle is challenging us to think about Botanicals, which is her theme for July.  Because I have multiple media, I am also joining Creative Artiste's 117th challenge, where the theme is always Anything Mixed Media Goes.

I wasn't sure this would scan because the leaves stuck high above the base/substrate.  To get the leaves flat, I practically stood on the scanner cover.  Detail shots are below.

The background (or substrate if you prefer) is a page of a free image from a 2009 Somerset Studio magazine I found in my stash.  To that I added two images from my stash, clear washi tape, and the leaves from a gifted floral bouquet.  

 

I first removed part of the stem.  I then adhered the leaves using Crafter's Pick glue to the stem and a couple of the leaves.  Once they were secured, I added the extra image from my stash and the sign language which covered the stem.  I held the sign language in place using clear washi tape.

Materials used included the free background, floral leaves, a triangle from my stash, sign language from my stash, and washi tape.

Thank you for your visit. I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey and Creative Artiste. 

T Stands For Cat Mom

 

 The last time I visited The Spice Merchant, a new mug caught my eye.

It's when I found this great mug.  I wish I had gotten the Doodles mug too, but hindsight is always 20/20.

When I saw this Cat Mom mug, I thought of Elle and how we spell "mom" and "mum."   And before you ask, NO, I am NOT a cat mom.  I am STAFF, as my cats will tell you.

I've shown you mine, now it's time to share your own drink related post.  It can be photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.  Please remember to visit your fellow T participants.