Late Night Award...

I've received an award from Donna at Donna's Art! I'm honoured to have been given this award. Wow... Thank you, Donna! Be sure to stop by and see Donna... she has such a beautiful garden... adorable dogs... great art work... and she's delightful!

The rules are with this award, that as soon as you receive it, you in turn give it to 7 other deserving blogs. The "BWA" is given for "brilliant photos & text"! I nominate...

All Things Blue

La La Lovely

Laurel Hedge

Belle Maison

Please Sir

Simply Seleta

Tartelette

Congratulations, ladies! Here are the Rules:
~Put the logo on your blog
~Add a link to the person who awarded you
~Nominate at least 7 other blogs
~Add links to those blogs on yours
~Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs
Enjoy your award!

Fall SNEAK Previews...

via email "to the trade" from Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, West Elm ... items will be on sale by July 29th...

Fall Living and Dining... animal... mineral... vegetable... ELECTIC! Are you ready to be thinking about your Fall decor? I know I'm not... I'd rather think about riding my red bicycle along the beach boardwalk!

Awww... smell the fresh salty, sea air and Coppertone!

Portraits of Loved Ones...

Look at my new baby sister...And speaking of SISTERS... My GIFT 17... a WARM WELCOME TO A NEW BLOGGER ... AND... she is Simply Seleta's little sister... after visiting me... pop over to meet and welcome Michelle and her "My Dog Blog: Adventures of Winston the Westie" to blogland!

Look at the Cute New Sheriff in town...Off to play in the rain...
Relaxing in the garden...

In the spirit of giving... I add this to my 29-days of gift challenge... Gift 16... "Winston's Chair"
Melissa @ The Inspired Room just had her 1 year birthday of blogging... in honour of this event... I told her to send me a photo and I would do a virtual painting for her... she sent me the chair photo and I add HER dog Winston! Happy Blog Birthday, Melissa!

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It's always nice to capture a treasured moment with a painted portrait! You can commission me... send me a photo of a child, pet, etc... and I will give you a painting to treasure or give as a gift!

And a GIFT to ME... yesterday Jennifer of PINK HEEL put me IN THE SPOTLIGHT on Fete Nationale... how perfect is that! Learn more about me... FIFI... by reading an interview I did with PINK HEELS... Thank you, Jennifer for putting me IN THE SPOTLIGHT !

Fête Nationale or Quatorze Juillet...

In honour of Bastille Day, the French national holiday... This is my study of Fragonard's "Stolen Kiss" 1788. Read more about Jean Honore Fragonard here . This painting is complete except for the facial details... I have painted and removed the faces several times... the expressions have to be just right... so as of now... it hangs in the home of my mother... waiting to be finished... at least it is in an estate sale frame!

I think I would like to start the day with a cafe creme and Plum and Rosemary Sugar Tartelettes to celebrate the day from my new friend Tartelette...

I think it is only fair... she makes me one of these wonderful tarts and I create her SASSY TARTEY for her... look at that tart ....

TARTELETTE'S RECIPE... Plum and Rosemary Sugar

For the tart shells:

1 stick butter, cut in small pieces1 1/2 cups flour1/2 cup powdered sugar1 egg yolkIn a food processor, combine the flour and butter and pulse until you get a mixture that has the texture of cornmeal. Add the egg yolk and pulse until the mixture comes together in a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate while you prepare the filling. Roll between sheets of plastic wrap and cut out circles larger than your tart shells, fit the dough into the molds and cut out the excess. Prick with a fork, cover with a sheet of parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.

For the plums:

8 plums (you might need more if you use the smaller Italian plums)1/4 cup sugar2 Tb finely chopped fresh rosemaryCut the plums in thin slices. In a non reactive bowl, combine the sugar and the rosemary and rub in between your fingertips to release the rosemary essence. Reserve one Tb of the sugar and set aside. Add the plums to the bowl and toss them in with the sugar. Arrange the plum slices on top of the cooled tart shells. Sprinkle with the sugar that had been set aside and bake for 20 minutes at 350F. Let cool and serve at room temperature.

Happy Bastille Day or Le Jour Heureux de Bastille!

In the Garden with Martha... Painting...

Inspired by a photo of Martha cutting peonies... getting ready for her Peony Garden Party ... I wish I had Peonies in my garden!

TRYING TO SHIP THIS PAINTING TO MARTHA... MARTHA, email me and I'll send it RIGHT TO YOU!

Photo Collage of what does grow in my garden and inspires me to paint...



How does your garden grow... favorite flower in your garden? Or are you like me, and wish you could grow a certain flower in your garden?
Enjoy your Sunday!

Wow... 100th Post...

100 postings of WORDS...

Wordle via Robin at A Bird in the Hand

100 postings of photos or paintings...

ONE lucky WINNER...

JUJUBE'S COASTAL COTTAGE LIFE

CONGRATULATIONS!!!... Pop over to MY ETSY STORE... take a look at my BOOKMARKS... and email me the one you like... along with your address and I will ship it to you!

Thank you to everyone! Love the stories... you're all winners... you all have received fabulous life gifts! All I can give is... another giveaway coming up in two weeks... I'm going to be part of a GIVEAWAY CARNIVAL... you can participate too... read more about it HERE

AND now... I'm a DELIGHTFUL BLOG... pop over... type in "Fifi Flowers" in the search bar and vote! A bientôt... Off to celebrate the day with my family... Have a GREAT Saturday!

Napa Weekend...

A brightly coloured weekend in Napa Style with Michael Chiarello recipes... $50 + $5 shipping or matted & framed (11 x 11) $100 + $10 shipping EMAIL ME

Baby Back Ribs with Espresso BBQ Sauce...
Ingredients...
Serves: Serves 6For the ribs:
3 racks of baby back ribs
Gray salt and freshly ground black pepperFor the sauce:
1 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup espresso
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlicor
2 cups Tuscan Bar-B-Que SauceDirections Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.Cut each rack of ribs in half. Season with salt and pepper. Stack the ribs on a foil-covered baking sheet, in two piles of 3 pieces. Bake in the oven about 2-1/2 hours, or until tender, rotating the ribs every 30 minutes.Remove the ribs from the oven and cover them with foil to keep them moist and tender.For the sauce:In a bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, and espresso.Place the olive oil and garlic in a small sauté pan. Cook over low heat for about 1 minute, or until it turns a golden brown. Remove from heat. Add to the honey mixture.Place the honey mixture in a saucepan and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes to blend the flavors.To complete the ribs:Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, or preheat a grill. Brush the BBQ sauce on both sides of the ribs, and arrange them in a single layer.Turn and baste the ribs as they cook. Remove when the ribs are glazed and carmelized, about 15 minutes.

Grilled Fennel Spiced Vegetables...

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds medium size Yukon gold potatoes, halved lengthwise1 bunch medium size carrots with tops, halved lengthwise with the tops trimmed2 large bulbs of fennel, stems and outer layer removed3 small green zucchini 1 lb. large crimini (brown) mushrooms, cleaned1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil plus some for drizzling2 tablespoons toasted fennel spiceGray Salt and black pepperOne half of a lemon

White Wine California Citrus Sangria...

Ingredients

Serves: 8 to 10 Servings3 bottles pinot grigio 1 1/2 cups brandy 3/4 cup orange liqueur 1/2 cup sugar 1 orange, thinly sliced 1 blood orange, thinly sliced 3 kumquats, sliced 1 lime, thinly slicedDirections In a large pitcher, combine the wine, brandy, and orange liqueur. Pour in the sugar, stir or shake the pitcher thoroughly to mix. Add all citrus slices at once. Allow the mixture to sit for 1 hour before serving to allow the citrus flavor to come through.

And for DESSERT... Grill Peaches on the bbq... remove, slice them or not, sit them on top of French vanilla ice cream and drizzle with carmel sauce! DELICIOUS!

Studying these recipes today... should be ready to go by Sunday... YUM! Who's come over? Will have to double or triple recipes!

Viva Design Las Vegas...

I keep receiving email to come visit Las Vegas Design Markets...

is Vegas the HOT ticket for DESIGN?

Latest Email from one of my "To The Trade" accounts... Robert Allen and Beacon Hill coming to the Las Vegas Design Center...

The Industry's leading Furniture & Accessory Brands in their showroom include:

Amy HowardAvery BoardmanBolier & CompanyBrown Jordan (Boston)Castilian ImportsChelsea House Christopher GuyClarendon CourtGuy ChaddockCurry and CompanyDeljou Art GroupDiane Watts
Drexel-Furnishings E J VictorFerguson CopelandFicks ReedFine Art LampsFrederick CooperFriedman BrothersJohn RichardHeritage FurnishingsLasting ImpressionKindel Furniture LaBarge
Lexington Lillian AugustMaitland-SmithMcKay CustomNiermann WeeksOggettiPaul RobinsonPayne Street ImportsThe Phillips Collection Pride SasserRosenbaum Fine Art
Sarreid LTD.SchonbekSoicher-MarinSouthwoodSpeerStatton Furniture COSwaimTrowbridgeVisual ComfortWoodland FurnitureWright Table Company

7 x 7 acrylic on archival paper... $50 + $5 shipping or matted & framed $100 + $10 shipping EMAIL ME

My painting is inspired by the Larry Laslo collection for Robert Allen Design...

Hmmmm... Maybe it's time for a BUSINESS TRIP... I haven't been to Las Vegas in years... but if I were to go... I'd like to pop over to the Lake Las Vegas resort for a round of golf! Looks like a replica of the Ponte Vecchio on the Arno... and is that a minature "Love Boat" cruise... hmmm

Aren't Gifts Wonderful...

Photo tips that work for me... Give the gift of Home Decor... a nice hostess gift... frames, candlesticks, vases...

via Pottery Barn...

via Bliss Living Home...Or give the gift of an Original Paintings meant only for that one special person... here are some gifts I have painted for family...

Rooster Memories at The Farm... acrylic on archival paper Rock on Rick... acrylic on archival paper

Pebble Beach... acrylic on archival... this is a signature hole... now the hole is minus the famous tree on the right side of the painting.

The 18th Hole at Cottonwood Country Club... acrylic on archival paper and yet another golf course (below)… Framed St Andrews for my hubby... acrylic on canvas... YES... I have lots of GOLFERS in my family.

AND NOW... How about a GIFT FOR YOU! Saturday will mark my 100th post! So I will giveaway a present.... hmmmm... shouldn't I be getting a present for all my hard work... hmmm... ANYHOW... Leave a comment about the best gift you have ever received and I will randomly pick a WINNER and post the name on Saturday! Comments will be accepted until July 11th, 8pm PST. The WINNER will receive a HANDPAINTED BOOKMARK by moi... you can view some of my bookmarks in MY ETSY STORE... If there is a particular one you like... let me know... I may have something very similar to give to you! Make sure I have a link or email address for you... GOOD LUCK!