My 2014 Flower Garden

For my garden this year, I wasn't sure what I was going to do.  I got books from the library, looked at seed packets, I couldn't decide.  While I was deciding, I noticed that things were growing in my garden that were not weeds. They were flowers from last year.  So, I remembered how pretty it looked and that some of them didn't come up.  So I decided to do a flower garden.

Last year, I planted some flowers called Canterbury Bells. I didn't realize that they take 365 days to bloom until after I planted them.  And they finally bloomed!!! I waited two year for these flowers!

Joyfully in Him,
   Diana<3

p.s. I have been experimenting with ink pens and water colors.  I drew this picture and gave it to some of my friends.  I think they liked it!

"Just Feel that Summer Breeze..."

Spring is here.  The crocuses bloomed eight days earlier than last year.  All this 50 and 60 degree weather we are having is doing great for my flowers! Dad and I planted our garden this past Sunday. We planted spinach, carrots, radishes, and three rows of different kinds of lettuce: green leaf, red leaf, and spring mix.
(I didn't take a picture of our whole garden because I'm sure you don't want to see just dirt. So I added my feet and a packet of seeds.)

Dad bought me some lavender for my garden, so I have been waiting for the right day to plant it in there.

Joyfully in Him,
    Diana<3

::Sunflowers::

A month ago, Adam secretly put sunflowers in my bedroom. And when Kelle and I came home from church, we saw the lovely surprise! So I painted a picture of them. It took me a while to do it, but I finally got it to where I am happy with it!!  (when I paint, I sometimes pretend I'm a great french painter!!)

Joyfully in Him,

  Diana<3

I Love Summer!! =]

Here is a video I made of our backyard this summer!!

Joyfully in Him,
   Diana<3

p.s. if you go to full screen, the video will be really blurry.  I don't know why! =] 

Paint Brushes and a Kitchen Aid

I have been doing lots of painting and baking this past week. Using kitchen aids, paint brushes, and all kings of kitchen and artists tools!! How fun!

[number 19]  Banana Breakfast Coffee Cake.
This recipe was gluten free, but I just switched about a couple of this to regular baking items. So, instead of gluten free all-purpose flour, I just use regular flour.

 [number 20] Cinna-Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Theses were so much fun to make!! I actually baked these for my dear Aidan's birthday! (He is my nephew! =] )

And here are my two newest paintings!

 Do you see a resemblance? =]

Our garden has been producing so many tomatoes! I love it!!

Joyfully in Him,

    Diana<3

A Victorian Low Tea

A Victorian Low Tea.  Also known as a really fancy tea party with food that Queen Victoria would eat sitting down. The reason I call it low tea is because you are sitting close to the ground or at a table or in someone's sitting room. On the other hand, there is something called a high tea that originated when farmer's would come and eat supper on really high tables and chairs. 
I thought that it was very interesting!  But we girls had the pleasure of putting on a low tea for some dear friends of ours; and we got to do it Victorian style! It always reminds me of the movie The Young Victoria. 

 The Menu. We had Earl Grey tea and lavender lemonade to drink. Then we had egg salad, chicken salad, and cucumber cress and chive butter sandwiches. And, for dessert, there was buttermilk scones with lemon curd and clotted cream, meringues,  and last of all Queen Victoria's favorite dessert-- Cherries Jubilee Sponge Cake.

 Mom even got out her china tea cups and dishes!

 

 After a lovely evening, I was happily surprised to see that my pink lilies finally bloomed!!

Joyfully in Him,
   Diana<3

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

I could not believe how fast it took me to make this! The whole process took me an hour!
[number 15]

Coffee Cinnamon Rolls

Then on a nice warm summer evening,  Kelle, Jonathan, and I made mini pizzas on the grill!!

 Then I took a little climb in our sliver maple tree!

 And our pool water was 82°! That is the record for this year!!

Another flower bloomed in my garden!! Hurray!! 

Joyfully in Him,
   Diana<3

July 5th and 6th

My birthday!! This day only comes once a year, so I try to make it as special as I can!

Friday & Saturday:  I got up to help Dad set up the tent, played about four games of Monopoly with Jonathan, went grocery shopping with Dad in the Jeep with no top and no doors, started reading Tumtum and Nutmeg, and received some very lovely birthday presents.  Mom set up the kitchen in blue and yellow and with Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh books. I Played with some sparklers, took photos of my two dear nephews, ate the two very first blueberries off my blueberry bush, ::laughed with joy:: as I saw that my garden was producing so many flowers!! And finished the evening watching Lord of the Rings! I *praise* the Lord for giving me so many people in my life that love and care for me! =]

Joyfully in Him,
   Diana<3