Monday, 31 August 2020

T Stands for This and That

Hi Everybody!
The last day of the month has dawned cool and grey, we even had a little rain, and could badly do with more.  Hope you all have a good week and a good start in the new month tomorrow.
Last week I got a beautiful card from David in Canada, which I will show later this week, and on the envelope there was a beautiful ladybird stamp, which I copied into my graphics programme to make into a tag for Tag Tuesday. The airmail sticker was also on the envelope:


And you still have a week to join in our challenge there!


This evening we will be gathering for Elizabeth's  T sTands for Tuesday link       party, so here a warm welcome to all of the ladies of the T Gang.
I have a coffee journal page using cups and pots with my sunrise photos:


The shops in town:


Recently I mentioned damsons to Jeanie, and she didn't know what they were, and now I know that they don't seem to grow in the USA. They are smallish plums which are not too sweet, and wonderful for eating, making jam, and baking into cakes and pies. 



I made a Tarte Tatin, for which there are lot of recipes on the net. You need to place the plums - or other fruit - onto a caramel mixture, butter the sides of the pan and put little cubes of butter onto the fruit:


Then you make a buttery short-crust pastry, place it over the plums, and bake it:


When it's cooled off for a few minutes, you carefully turn it over, using a plate, and then the crisp and buttery pastry is underneath and the caramelized plums on top. The pastry stays crisp because it was baked on top:


It tastes delicious, and is not low-carb but full of delicious, buttery and fruity flavours  - my neighbour enjoyed his slice, too:



And some walking pictures:













Have a great day, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

81 comments:

  1. Hi Val, good morning! Hope you are well and fit and ready to battle through the week! The kids are at school, so just the littl'uns are home, and that will give me a breather, too. Love the pretty tag with the ladybird, and your sunrise cups are wonderful. Great photos, too. Have a nice day, take care, and look after yourself! Hugs, Sarah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sarah, have a great day! Hugs to the kids!

      Delete
  2. Hello Valerie!
    The ladybugs are very cute! Thank you for the delicious Tarte Tatin and for the coffee! LOL
    Very nice photos, the autumn are coming!
    Have a great week! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ella, nice to see you again! Have a great week.

      Delete
  3. Your use of the postage stamp from Canada was genius. I really like how you turned it into an adorable tag, too.

    It appears the shops in town are having deep discount sales, but still more than I would probably pay. You found some lovely glasses and mugs, though.

    What a wonderful walk you shared with us today. My favorite photos today were all the fungi you found.

    I absolutely adore your sunrise cups. They will be great when we share coffee on your balcony (grin). I've never heard of damsons, but that tart looks wonderful. I bet it was quite tasty, too. Sort of reminds me of how you make a pineapple upside down cake. It looks so tasty. Thanks for sharing your tag, your walk, the shops in town, and your incredible sunrise coffee cups and tart with us for T this Tuesday. I hope it is a truly sunshiny day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks E! Lots of shops are doing badly because of Corona and are trying to sell things cheaply to cut their losses. The weather is cool and grey, I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Valerie: I am happy to see that the ladybug postage stamp became the inspiration for a tag. It's puzzling in a way why they are called ladybugs here and ladybirds on your side of the ocean, when they are in fact beetles. By any name, however, they are appealing little insects. Your damson pie looks quite delicious. Too bad we couldn't share a slice together. I would be willing to put in a few extra kilometres to sink my teeth into that. I sometimes think we spend too much time counting calories when we should simply be enjoying them. Wonderful scenes of your local walks. I am sure it is a great pleasure to be able to meander so close to home, and you have cool, fall weather in the offing, so the perambulations will be ever more enjoyable. A delicious hot coffee will be a just reward, and perhaps you will make another pie or two. Your neighbour has his fingers crossed! Gros bisous de ton ami canadien.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks David! Yes, it's strange how names change from one side of the Big Pond to the other. Wikipedia says:The name "ladybird" originated in Britain where the insects became known as "Our Lady's bird" or the Lady beetle. Mary (Our Lady) was often depicted wearing a red cloak in early paintings, and the spots of the seven-spot ladybird (the most common in Europe) were said to symbolise her seven joys and seven sorrows.' And in Germany they are called 'Marienkäfer' - Mary's beetles. I would gladly have given you a slice or 2 of my pie, perhaps in return for some of the delicious meal you described last time! Walking is much easier for me in this weather. I'm thinking about an apple pie this week, yummy! Have a great, new week!

      Delete
  6. This Tart with plums looks very delicious! I'd like try it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Martyna, it is wonderful! Have a great week!

      Delete
  7. Lecker dein Pflaumenkuchen so zu machen, da swürde mich jetzt auch reizen.
    Dein Mairenkäfer bringt bestimmt viel Glück,süss hast du es wieder dargestellt. Die Landschaftsfoto sind so schön und schon herbstlich aus!
    Ich wünsche dir einen schönen Nachmittag mit Kaffe und Kuchen!
    Lieben Gruss Elke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danke, liebe Elke, dir auch einen schönen Nachmittag, bleib gesund!

      Delete
  8. Your tag is adorable with all the ladybugs. After all that walking, the plum tart must have been so delicious. Those red oak leaves have me worried. Autumn already or are they poison oak? Happy T Day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks CJ. The plum tart was indeed delicious. It's going towards autumn, it was so hot and dry this year again! Have a fun day!

      Delete
  9. I love your adorable tag and beautiful journal page! Your tart looks fantastic too. Thanks for taking us along on your nature walk, beautiful photos. Have a great week :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Martha! Have a great week! Stay Safe!

      Delete
  10. Hi Valerie, I really enjoyed your post today. that stamp is really awesome and cool you can make the image into your tag-I would not even know how to do a graphic program. and your journal page is too awesome with the cups from your photos.
    Your cake looks so good-I love the way it was baked and then flipped over-very pretty-I would love a gluten free version to try this out.
    beautiful photos on your walk hugs Happy new week and new month ahead. we are sooo dry here too but as I am typing this up I hear the thunder hoping we get some rain Happy T hugs Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathy. You could surely bake the pie gluten free, it's good. Fingers crossed you soon get rain. Happy T day!

      Delete
    2. It just started pouring here hard and fast. Larry's out with the trailer so could have waited a couple hours til he got home-but we so need this rain

      Delete
    3. I'm happy for you, we need Rain so much, too!

      Delete
    4. thanks hope you get some soon

      Delete
  11. the nature is slowly reading for the autumn:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gorgeous Lady Bird art and I love what you did with the coffee cup a pot using your own photos.
    I always enjoy your fantastic photography.
    Have a great day ☕

    Hugs ❤

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your ladybird tag, and coffee themed page Valerie! Great photos too, the tart looks delicious, and we have seen a few toadstools recently. Autumn is here!
    Alison xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alison! Yes, it looks like autumn is really on its way! Have a great week!

      Delete
  14. That tarte tatin looks absolutely amazing. So appetizing. It will be a challenge for me to make.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. It's very delicious and easy to make.

      Delete
  15. I love your adorable ladybug tag Valerie and what an awesome coffee themed AJP! Using your gorgeous sunrise photos is so cool! Your tarte tatin looks very delicious and your walks are beautiful, love that first photo, very peaceful.
    Enjoy your week, Hugs Tammy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tammy.Ladybirds are pretty little critters. The pie was very delicious indeed. I love walking through the woods. Have a great week!

      Delete
  16. Lovely tag. Your baking looks delicious! I see fall in your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Aww I love your ladybird tag, and that tart looks amazing, he's a very lucky neighbour. Take care and have a great week, Sue xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sue! My neighbour drives me once a week to Aldi to get my shopping!

      Delete
  18. Your ladybird tag is amazing, I love it :)

    Your Tart looks delicious and I'm sure your neighbour loved his piece.

    Lovely selection of photographs which I thoroughly enjoyed.

    Take care of yourself, and have a good September!

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  19. The way you describe it, I bet that damson plum dessert tastes fabulous. It certainly looks so.

    I'm sorry to hear that COVID is up in your area. Stay safe and well, dear Valerie.

    Happy T-Day! Hugs, Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like your damson plum pictures -- someday I hope to be in Bavaria at the right time for real Zwetschgen Datchi. Meanwhile I did make a cake with local plums of whatever type we have here. My favorite for eating are Santa Rosa plums, but we never seem to see them any more.

    I also like your coffee-sunrise collage.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mae, damsons are always special. Hope you make it to Bavaria some day!

      Delete
  21. Your ladybird tag is beautiful, and your walk in the woods looked really good, signs of autumn coming there. Your plum tart looked wonderful, shame we can't smell via blogs!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I often regret not being able to smell or eat food via blogs!

      Delete
  22. We have hot weather the next 4 days and then it drops 25° Yikes. I really like your lady bug art but that first art with the coffee is just gorgeous. I wish I could have a bit of your baked good. Yummmm Some of your photos look like fall. Have a good evening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The weather here has changed and autumn is on its way!

      Delete
  23. Your tart tartin looks delicious! I have never heard of those small fruits but they certainly resemble a plum. Your tart tartin has a lovely golden brown crust. It sounds like a difficult dessert to make but you nailed it.
    I loved seeing your shop windows as always.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kate. It's not difficult to make, but very delicious! Have a great week!

      Delete
  24. Hi Valerie what a wonderful way to use the card that David sent you,love it and I love your journal page well done on your beautiful work my friend and oh all that food is making me hungry lol xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, seeing food makes us hungry, I know that feeling!

      Delete
  25. Must not let Hubby see this. He will bake right away!
    Happy T-day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor hubby! Let him bake something if it makes him happy!

      Delete
  26. That is fabulous stamp - still looking for something 'ladybird'! Love your sunset coffee set and a look into the windows! Your tart tatin looks superb and having got up very early this morning I'm already feeling hungry again! There were lots of Oohs and Aahs for the pics of the woodland - you have to imagine those!!! Happy T Day, Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Chris. The tarte tatin is very tasty, it would make a good breakfast! Have a good one!

      Delete
  27. Those coffee cups are amazing on that journal page! Wow. Such great crafts, but your Tarte is my favorite. Wow. Now I want to make one - it looks so yummy. Love the picture of the shops - I so want to go to them! Fun post!!!! Hugz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nancy! The Tarte is indeed very yummy, and quick and easy to make. The shops here are always nice to look at. Happy T Day!

      Delete
  28. Lovely artwork and photos. Your dessert looks delicious. Happy T-Day!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy T day Valerie. I love both the tag and how you used sunrise photos for coffee images. Now that is clever. And I also appreciate the lesson on damson plums. I have heard of them also, but have never seen them. They are tiny. I bought some plums (prune variety) the other day and hope to do some baking also. Hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday and start of the new month. Hugs-Erika

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Erika! I always look forward to damson time! As kids we used to climb the neighbour's trees and help ourselves, and she didn't mind as she didn't like them! I love plums in baked goods, so have fun baking! Happy T Day!

      Delete
  30. What a great postage stamp, I love the way you turned it into a tag. Your baked treat looks so yummy and would be great with my coffee this AM. The square plate and matching charger are so pretty, I enjoy your shop window finds. The photo from the bank looking out at the water, are all those some kind pots or traps? They look like crab buoys ~ so many though? Enjoy your day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen! That pie was really good, I think I'll make an apple pie this week, yummy! The shops here are always full of lovely things, which I mostly can't afford, but they're still nice to look at! The photo shows a lake used for regattas and sport races, they're some sort of buoys to divide up the lanes. No crabs here in the lakes unfortunately! Happy T Day, take care of yourself!

      Delete
    2. That makes a lot more sense!

      Delete
    3. Indeed!😁😁💖😁🦀🦀

      Delete
  31. Love that ladybug piece!
    And the foodie shots are definitely making me hungry.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strange isn't it, when we see food we want to eat! Have a great week!

      Delete
  32. Beautiful tag and it's wonderful to receive such amazing Happy Mail from David and Avril, I can't wait to see how you use all those goodies (forgot to mention it when commenting on your previous post!) Loving your T Day references with your pretty coffee art and great finds in the shop windows 😁. You captured the fungi and autumnal leaves wonderfully in your photos too. I'd love a piece of that plum tart with my cuppa, it looks so yummy - wishing you a very Happy T Tuesday! Hugs, Jo x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jo, I will send you a slice.... happy T day!

      Delete
  33. HMMM I remember damson plum jam as a child, I wonder if I can get it here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's available in England and Germany but I don't know about other places.

      Delete
  34. that tart! I want to have that big piece that's left lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear, too late! I just ate the last piece with my coffee! Next time! Happy T Day!

      Delete
  35. That looks delicious! I'd love to come for tea at your house if you were serving this! (Or even not!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you ever come I will bald a huge one for you!🥮🥧☕

      Delete
    2. That should have been bake and not bald

      Delete
  36. Your coffee shapes on your sunrise images are striking, your tart looks delicious, and I'm drawn to the woodland and lakeside paths. It looks like Autumn is coming. Happy T Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a good idea to use the stamp with the ladybird. Result: a beautiful tag.
    I enjoyed going on the walk with you and seeing the funghi on the trees and all the other beautiful autumn scenes.
    Your damson tarte tatin looks really delicious! Thank you, I will have a piece too.
    It's a bit like pineapple upside down cake. I might make one of those this weekend....
    Happy T-Day,
    Lisca

    ReplyDelete
  38. Your post is a feast for the eyes Valerie!! I am loving how you created your tag from the stamp! Great idea. Hope you are well xx

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. All your comments are much appreciated! Please be aware that by leaving a comment you are voluntarily sharing your name and / or the details of your blog.