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Monday, May 16, 2011

The Lovely Month of May

It's May.  It's May!  The lovely month of May . . . .

. . . but  Camelot it's not here at That Old House.

Instead I'm hoping, along with so many other members of the Mothers-of-the-June-Brides League, to keep my lists and to-dos complete and up to date and not give in to the temptation to hide in a corner with a blanket pulled over my head.

I exaggerate.  Although those lists and to-dos are sliding a bit out of control.
On Sunday, at our church's 50th anniversary celebration,
as I talked with an old friend who came back from Florida for the event,
I realized I hadn't yet ordered the Kransekake for Alida's wedding from a bakery in Brooklyn. 
 You see Edith, the friend, is Norwegian, and a Kransekake is a Norwegian wedding cake  . . .
and that's how my mind works these days.  Odd little synapse firings going off at random.

Edith tells me I should make the cake myself.  It is endless graduated rings
of what is almost pure almond paste, and the rings are crazy fragile.
My mother made the Kransekake for my sister's wedding.  For my wedding, she went to Brooklyn.
Which involved much less cussing.

But, back to May.
It is so deliciously green in this part of the world.
This isn't our house's best side.  But the grass sure is green!

 The azaleas are still in bloom, the leaves on the trees are that wonderful fresh tender green.
 By the time the month is well along, all sorts of wild and wonderful colors and blossoms
will crowd each other in the borders along the stone wall behind the house,
and the ancient rose bush outside the powder room window will be loaded with buds and blooms.

Confession:  These shots are from two years ago!  It was too rainy Sunday to snap pictures.
What's happening in your gardens?

I teased you on Saturday with a glimpse of something, something I ordered that is on its way
to That Old House to take up residence.  Here's a bigger glimpse:
UPS says it will be delivered before the end of today, Monday.
And then I'll show you the full reveal.  :-)

 Speaking of reveals, I got a sewing machine on Saturday!
My daughter Anne says that if God had a sewing machine, this would be the one.
And as soon as I get it threaded I"ll bring you along for a test drive.

Visit Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday!  Click here!
I think right about now is her two-year anniversary of hosting this fun meme.
How many of us learned how to make collages, prompted by Mary?  I've got a folder full of them!

 
And yes, the lyrics are the lusty month of May, but lusty didn't really fit my theme
for today, and lovely did.  Poetic license.  My apologies to Mr. Lerner!  -- Cass

16 comments:

  1. Cass,

    Did you get your sewing machine?

    The pictures of your house and gardens are beautiful. I vote for Brooklyn!

    Carol

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  2. I've just discovered you and I love your house. It looks like a dreamy bed and breakfast! You WILL get it all done, one step in front of the other! Thanks for visiting Buttermilk Cottage and please come back often.
    Best,
    Susan

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  3. What an interesting cake. I have not heard of that before. V

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  4. Your garden is looking very lush, do you get much rain? It is unusually dry here at the moment and the grass looks half dead!! Hopefully our English weather will revert to its usual wet and cool soon! Hope all the wedding plans are going well! xx

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  5. Congrats on the new sewing machine!
    That kransekage looks good. We have one for every occasion and festoon it with tiny Danish flags. I have a set of pans, but I have never used it. It's insurance against the day I can't find a Danish baker.

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  6. Wow, I love that Norwegian wedding cake, and I would opt for the bakery too. Beautiful photos, Cass. It sounds like you have a busy month ahead of you.

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  7. Yes - I would be headed to a bakery if I needed one of those cakes. :D
    Have a great week.

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  8. Cas, I didn't know the Kransecake....where do I find the recipe????...how beautiful is the month of MAy??? Hugs and happy week, Flavia

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  9. Cass, I can't even imagine trying to make that little tower of delight......as if you have nothing better to do, right. I'll be thinking about you as the "big day" approaches. I can't wait to see photos regarding the wedding. BTW Cass, you read and listed my blog, See Nancy Run, on your blog list. Thanks so much. As you know, Blogger has been a little out of sorts lately and now that blog won't come up in its entirety. HOWEVER, if you have a minute, check out my other blog which is brand new called I'm All Astonishment. Today's post is also about gardens. Have a great week!

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  10. That cake looks beautiful but I think I'd be buying it as I'd probably break every layer! Your yard looks very lush and green. We have had days of rain and cold here and the grass is green but the leaves need sun to pop them out! May is not very beautiful here in eastern Canada. Enjoy your lovely spring days.

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  11. Brooklyn, go to Brooklyn, you don't need more stress. Can't wait for your reveal and to see the new sewing machine!

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  12. I have never seen one of those wedding cakes before, but Brooklyn is the way to go. We don't need you cussing your way through it!

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  13. Congrats on the sewing machine! I can't wait to see it!
    What an interesting cake,too. I've never seen one of those kind before, but it's striking!

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  14. I'd say GO TO Brooklyn- that's why God make bakers~ I can't wait to hear what kind of sewing machine GOD would like~ You are a DEVIL for making us wait to hear!;>) Hugs=Diana

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  15. Your house is so pretty---it must have already had it's paint job as it looks great!

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