sunday banana bread and a mystery tree

Today was one of those lovely days when everything just... worked. Does anyone know what these little white flowers are? They're in bloom here right now (shhh, I picked this tip of a branch this morning when I was out for my run). They're on trees, and are beautifully fragrant - kind of a licorice-y scent, and the branches are kind of rough and angular, like a flowering crab, and the branches are completely covered. They seem to grow anywhere. Anyone?

And any day that includes banana bread is just fine with me. This is the recipe I used, and it is delicious.

Banana Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

more green

 It seems as though a disproportionate number of things in my house are green. It's just such a lovely colour, I can't help myself. I picked up this sweet candle holder at Frenchy's the other day for 75 cents. Specifically to match my little bird on the kitchen windowsill. And it fits my locally made beeswax votives perfectly.

 Inspired by this lovely post over at Tend (aren't those jars great?) I made some herb infused water just before supper. It was very mildly minty with our meal (P and I tossed in several types of leaves), and the rest is still steeping in the kitchen. I'll have the hard stuff with breakfast.

There was some beautiful asparagus with this week's CSA share. To be roasted or grilled tomorrow. Yum. Thomas was completely fascinated with it; touching, smelling, grabbing, and otherwise man(or baby)handling it. It really is one of the most humbling things in the world, to watch your child learn about everything.Those sweet little hands have some serious bruises on them now, though; Thomas was standing on a chair, facing backward, tipped over and squished his sweet little fingertips. Everything's moving fine, but they're pretty tender and have dark purple bruises. Poor baby.

I am really pleased that we have a nice, quiet weekend ahead, complete with dinner plans with other adults! And no kids! I'm really looking forward to it. Other than that, a nice, quiet weekend is in store.

a lot of green

Chive blossoms. Pretty, and deliciously garlicky.

 I love, love, love this time of year. School is winding down, the days and evenings are warm and long, and things are happening in the garden. Since we plan on moving as soon as our house sells, I didn't want to plant a bunch of herbs in the ground and need to leave them. So I plunked them all in clay pots on our back step, and I kind of love how they look together. Above are curry flower plants, and below, some new growth on our lavender.

Rachel has a great tutorial for laundry soap up on her blog. For some reason, I seem to have enough detergent to get me through the next decade or so (including some that I made using a similar recipe), but in case you don't, you should definitely try it out. And I'm super excited that I won a giveaway on Rachel's blog! I've sung the praises of her Baby Wipe Juice before (still love it on T's little bum) and I can't wait to try some of her other goodies. I will definitely post about them when they arrive; hopefully the Canada Post strike won't slow them down too much.

Bee balm, lemon balm, oregano, and a little peek of some summer savory. Yum!

This post made my day today. That sense of home - it's such an important, intangible, sometimes elusive thing.

Lettuces!

These are my stevia plants. I've discovered that a couple of torn leaves in cold peppermint tea is lovely.

I tried making mustard awhile back and nearly keeled over, it was so hot. I've since learned that the trick seems to be at least partly in aging it for at least a week to mellow things out. And after seeing this pretty post, I think I just might have to try it again, especially since it's barbeque season once again!

And perhaps we'll get more than two strawberries this year? I'm hoping.

11 artful activities to try this summer. I think Phillip will enjoy these!

Cranberry Orange Rhubarb popsicles? In pretty jars, no less? Yes, yes, yes, please! Three of my favourite things!

I could peruse this blog all day. Every day. I love all of the white with bright pops of colour. I'm thinking of something along those lines for our new place, when we move. Speaking of which, want to buy a house?

And who is that happy Australian farmer, you ask? I don't know, but I do know that one of my pictures (of my sister's spiced crabapples) was published in this issue of Gardening Australia! Tee-hee!

How's that for a scattered assortment? Happy Thursday! How is your garden growing?

the garden this evening