I'D RATHER BE GARDENING: About that 'Sweet Summer Love' .....

Clematis, that is. Back in May I did a short post about it here. I promised I would post an update on its performance, so here 'tis. 

'Sweet Summer Love' Clematis, new this year from Proven Winners

I paid a whopping $26 for it and I must say I'm a little disappointed. But then again, with a little more time I expect to see a much better show in the years to come. 

Close up of first year 'Sweet Summer Love' Clematis

My front yard is deep and this arbor is situated quite far from my front entry. I'd prefer something with more impact, and viewable from the street and my walkway so that I can enjoy it more while coming and going. I'm thinking maybe a climbing rose, but I don't want something that will swallow up my lovely arbor. Do you have a favorite climbing rose or other vine that you might suggest?

My cutting garden (click to enlarge)

Here is what that garden looks like now, in late July. Its a new garden and you can read more about it here. 

Zinnias and Bee Balm (click to enlarge)

The perennials I transplanted there are going great guns right now, as are the zinnias. Thanks to Mother Nature and her fabulous rains and unusually low temperatures this summer, gardening has been even more of a pleasure this year!

My cutting garden in Mid May 2014 (click to enlarge)

What a difference a few months can bring! This was my cutting garden in late May. You can see the new clematis quickly growing up the right side of the arbor. I need something that blooms with those tall Gladiator Allium - to hide their ugly foliage! I intend to divide and transplant some tall bearded iris there very soon. Now is the time of year to do that, you know. Hoping that will do the trick.

I think a vine on the arbor that blooms in early summer would be nice. You know, in early June after the spring flush of bloom is past.

Clematis 'Jackmani' (click to enlarge)

I really think I'll move the 'Sweet Summer Love' clematis to my back deck. Maybe it could make friends with this Jackmani. 

Purple Passion! (click to enlarge)

I kinda like purple, can you tell?

New beads! (click to enlarge)

Actually, I like all colors, especially if they are bright and cheerful like these new beads I'm now making for my Etsy shop!

New buttons and pendants, too! (click to enlarge)

I've recently began creating lots of new buttons, beads and pendants for you to include in your own creative projects!

Birdies, bees and butterflies galore! (click to enlarge)

I am having so much fun making these! 

I listen to audio books by British authors on Librivox.org while creating my pottery, which really seems to take me to the English cottage gardens of my dreams. Especially if the reader is British, too! Right now I'm listing to "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell, one of my very favorite 19th century British authors.

Speaking of which, its time to get back into my studio. You know I really LOVE making my pottery, but sometimes, just sometimes, well, you know....

I'D RATHER BE GARDENING!

NOTE: You may have noticed I have made my blog wider and my photos are larger. Please let me know if you are having problems viewing my blog properly. I tried to choose a size to target most technology, but I'm not very technical so it will be interesting to see if my new size was a good idea or not!

Those Sweet Little Patty Pans PLUS A Patty Cake Recipe Card!

"It is all ready to put into the oven. Such lovely pie-crust; 

and I put in a little tin patty-pan to hold up the crust; 

and I made a hole in the middle with a fork to let 

out the steam - Oh I do wish I could eat my own pie,

 instead of a pie made of mouse!"

 The Tale of the Pie and The Patty Pan by Beatrix Potter

In Miss Potter's amusing tale a little dog called "Duchess" inserts a small patty pan inside a large meat pie to "hold up the crust".  But what exactly are patty pans? 

Image courtesy of SparrowSalvage's Etsy Shop

Well, it appears that patty pans, also called petty pans and queen cake tins, are darling little molds used to make such delicacies as madelines, teacakes, petit fours and meat pies. They can also be made from glass or china, but more often they are made from tin. 

Image courtesy of Johnnys Selected Seeds

Thus we can now see how the sweet little patty pan squash came by its name! And today I have a delightfully yummy recipe for a Patty Cake that I'm happy to share. My favorite way to use patty pan squash!

Patty Cake - so yummy! Click to enlarge.

I found my little scallop-edged patty pan mold on the cheap at a Big Lots or someplace like that, can't quite remember, but I know it wasn't from an expensive specialty shop.

Image size is 4 x 10 inches. Click to enlarge/download.

Very few ingredients and very easy to make! Just click the recipe image and download to your computer. I recommend printing on cardstock using landscape setting.

New porcelain creations! (click to enlarge)

I even painted a ceramic platter with chipmunk and bunny playing Pat-A-Cake. Looks like some birds are about to swoop down for some of that Patty Cake!

New veggies! (click to enlarge)

And remember my EARLIER POST which included a sneak peak of my bisqued veggies? Well I finally glazed them and they came out of the kiln this morning looking just yummy!!! The pieces with the swirl designs are actually a sliced Tri-Color Beet and I blogged about them HERE. I grew them one year and that post also has a link to a great recipe for BEETS WITH ORANGE JUICE.

Listing all of the above ceramics and more tomorrow in my Etsy shop!

I hope you enjoy my recipe - won't you please share your favorite patty pan squash recipes?