Welcome to our May newsletter!
Sorry for the delay in posting the May newsletter! My home was broken into and my laptop was stolen (among many other things...) and its been a slow process getting back to square one. The thief was caught but my laptop and other small electronic items are long gone so...onward and upward...
May at the Cottage
It’s May at the cottage and flowers are blooming, the veggie garden is planted and herbs are coming up! I’ve been composting and planting and mulching on the weekends and still feel I'm behind even though May has just started. My fingernails are a mess! Nevertheless, I love working in the dirt, so who cares? C'est la vie!
Take a peak at what’s coming up in the garden:
Tulips, more tulips, and, well some allium just starting to bloom!
Recipe of the Month
Lavender Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Prep Time: 10 min + 4 hours chilling
Cook Time: 10-12 min
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup lavender sugar
1/4 cup powdered (or regular) sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon extract
A pinch of lemon zest
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp of salt
Wax paper or plastic wrap
Directions
Gather ingredients.
Measure wet ingredients and mix well.
Add in lavender sugar.
Mix in flour.
Take dough and place on plastic wrap/wax paper. Roll dough into log shape.
Chill for 4 hours, or freeze logs in Ziploc bags for up to 1 month.
Remove dough from fridge. Let thaw if frozen.
Cut cookies from log.
Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper-lined (or Silpat) cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Remove from oven, let cool.
Tip: if you don’t like lavender, you can substitute other herbs like lemon balm or rosemary.
Flower of the Month
April's showers bring May flowers and for me that means peonies. To celebrate, this month's flower of the month is Peonies. I just love peonies and look forward to their sweetly scented, lush flowers.
Easy Craft for May
Feel the urge to be crafty but just don’t have the time, the skills, or the inclination? Me too! This craft is for you (and me)! Have fun!
Easy Painted Glass Vases
What you need:
1 or more glass vases from a craft or thrift store or yard sale
1 or more 2 oz squeeze bottles of acrylic paint, your color choice
1 bottle of sealer
A box you can throw away when done
1) Wash your vase inside and out thoroughly and drain until dry
2) Hold the vase open side up, squeeze the paint into the bottle while slowly twirling it around to evenly coat the glass inside.
3) Turn the vase upside down in the box and prop against the corner of the box so the extra paint will drain out.
4) When dry, flip the vase right side up and squeeze the sealer into the vase while slowly twirling it around to evenly coat the inside.
5) Turn it upside down and prop it in the corner of the box until dry.
6) Enjoy your new waterproof vase!
Tip: drying time will vary. For a truly unique look, you can swirl 2 colors at the same time!
What’s in our Store
Outdoor antique fair season is finally here in the Midwest! Our favorite and the one we attend is the Tri-State Antique Market in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. It’s held the first Sunday of the month from May until October. The first show of the season is today, but since it is raining (More! Again! Will it ever stop?) we did not attend despite all the goodies we have accumulated over the winter months.
The next show is June 5th, and, weather permitting, we will be there. In case you missed us and to tide you over, here’s some of those goodies in stock at our webstore: Lavender Garden Cottage.
Save 20% on your purchase at our
webstore through the month of
May with coupon code:
Thanks for reading and makes those cookies! Yum!
Debi
proprietress of the
Lavender Garden Cottage
Great flowers in your colourful garden.
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