Three Pies for Three Guys

 

Over the weekend, I hosted a family gathering to celebrate the September Birthdays.

 

My two son's and my son-in-law's.

 

The logistics of getting everyone together for each birthday was difficult with so many busy lives, so one special day was chosen.

 

Of course they wanted pies.

 

Not birthday cake.

Pies.

Apple pies.  

 

 

So as I peeled the apples, I thought of these special guys in my life and how fortunate I am.

 

There is something very wonderful about having sons.

 

There is a special pride watching them grow into strong, independent, responsible young men.

 

They definitely deserve pies.

 

 

 Baking pies is something that does take some time, though.

 

It is a true labor of love.

 

 

Much like raising boys.

 

When you think of everything that goes into it.

 

First the apple tree needs to be nurtured, then the apples matured and picked, the wheat grown and harvested, the flour milled, the spices gathered and ground, and everything put together in just the right proportions.

 

The apples have to have their tough skins peeled and the rotten parts cut away.

 

The sweet spice and the sour apples must be balanced.

 

A little butter is added to soften things up.

 

The pie crust needs to be carefully blended to hold together through life's rolling.

 

 

 

And then after molding this creation, you hope it all comes out alright.

 

Maybe not perfect, but with charming flaws.

 

 

Tempered by life's fire, you hope it is the perfect blend of tender on the inside, but tough on the outside.

 

Strong enough to withstand the heat, but tender enough to stay kind, honest and just.

 

With just enough humor to add some spice.

 

 

And in the end you get to savor the results of a true labor of love.

 

Baking pies and raising sons.

 

Who knew the recipe was the same?

 

 

 xx

 

To make these mini pies just use your favorite pie recipe and cut the cooking time by about half. I used oven to freezer mini casserole dishes.

 

You can find my apple pie recipe in my baking section.

 

 





Columbus Day

Exploring Life as Columbus Explored the Planet

Today we celebrate Columbus Day – the day that Christopher Columbus proved once and for all that the world was round, the day that the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria sailed the ocean blue to discover the ‘New World’. We mark this day on our Calendars in order to remind us of the importance of this day.

Veneration of Columbus in this country dates back to Colonial times. The District of Columbia, capital cities of Ohio and South Carolina, and our own Columbia River are named after him. The term “Pre-Columbian” is used to refer to the peoples and cultures of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus.

There was very little faith in Columbus for his desire to find a route to the new world. It was a sudden twist of fate that gave Columbus the chance to follow his dreams. Just as he was being sent away, denied his request, the decision not to fund his voyage was suddenly reversed, changed by a political decision at the very last minute, a  true reversal in fortune. But the fortune lies mostly with us, as Columbus believed he was discovering Asia, was stripped of his glory when his settlements turned barbaric, and died a broken and disgraced man, not long after discovering America. Thanks to the devotion of his descendants, his name was once again honored for the true accomplishments and sacrifices he made. This was a true monument to faith.

And like Columbus, we all navigate the uncharted waters of our lives, going on faith, marking the calendars in our minds with important moments in time. We stand on the shore and look back on these milestones that commemorate our lives; the birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and funerals. All are equal in importance for their own special reasons and all are uniquely personal in each of our lives. These are just the common ones. There are many more, according to every individual experience, a roadmap of your life.

One of the milestones for me this year has been our wedding anniversary. This year we celebrate one of the ‘big ones’. He still makes me laugh. I still bake his favorite dessert. We still call each other ‘Honey’. Our marriage has survived moving cross country, building a home, four teenagers, two recessions, job stress, sickness and health. We always know we have each other’s back, but with the freedom to disagree, like a good government. Now that we’ve come so far, we’ve almost formed a whole story. We’ve earned the right to celebrate this one as a major milestone.

This year I have also experienced the loss of my dear Father from his long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, with my Mother gone not long before him. When both of your parents are gone, this creates a shift in your thinking. You realize that there is no generation before you. You are now the elder generation and it is up to you to carry on the legacy for the next generation, another important milestone.

But it’s not the milestones that are the most important markers in our lives; it’s what you do on an ordinary day that really determines the quality of your life. Our lives are not defined by the sum of our choices; it is the daily commitment to them that distinguishes who we are.

 And when all is said and done, it’s not the big things; it’s the little things that you remember the most. The long ago promise, the walks in the rain, the laughter and tears you share with one another.

So as we travel the journey of our lives, like Columbus, we find that the world is not at all flat, but actually comes full circle from one generation to the next, defined by the choices we make, one day at a time.

 This article was featured in The News Tribune http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/10/08/2324279/exploring-life-as-columbus-explored.html

 

Potting up Fall Pansies

 

Every Fall I pot up a few Glacier Pansies. These little charmers will bloom even in the snow!

 

I painted these little pots to highlight the sweet pansy colors.

 

 

 

 

To paint your own, you will need:

 

Several 5 inch circumference unglazed terra - cotta pots with saucers.

 

Exterior Latex (Flat or Satin) paint in off white.

 

Small cans or samples of Exterior Enamel (Satin) paint in  primary colors (I used red, green and yellow).

 

1 inch flat paint brush

 

For each pastel color, I simply measured out some of the white latex into a plastic cup (about 1/2 - 3/4 cup)  and added a small amount of the enamel paint to tint. (Start with a teaspoon) Mix well.

 

I tinted 3 colors

 

Red = pink

Green = mint

Yellow = lemon

 

First I painted new clean pots with the white exterior latex paint and let that dry.

 

I then painted the pots lemon or pink, using very light strokes so the white would show through.

 

I painted the inside of the pots the opposite color. (If I used pink on the outside, I used yellow inside and vice versa)

 

   I let them dry.

  

I then painted over the rims of both the pots and saucers with mint, again, using very light strokes, so the colors underneath show through.

 

The paint will dry in a matter of minutes.  

 

 

 I just mixed and matched the pots to the saucers.

 

The paints have a chalky effect on the terra-cotta that is quite charming.

 

If you buy 5 inch clay pots, you can slip a 4" bedding plant right into the pot, plastic pot and all. Then you can change them to suit the season.

 

Of course, no matter how careful you are, the paint will start to chip and weather and grow moss. If you like this look, leave them out in a protected place - under the eaves or on a porch.

 

Or you can take them inside for the winter and replace the Pansies with African Violets!

 

 

I was inspired to paint these pots from similar painted pots I've seen in photos of France. For a true French look, paint the pots all in French blue.

 

But I am far from France!

 

 

This is Beatrice Euphemie Vintage Cottage Style!

 

My Grandmother, Beatrice Euphemie would have painted inexpensive pots, and improvised a plant stand out of a cast off baker's rack, just like this.

 

She had 8 children and many grandchildren, but she had beautiful gardens.

 

All around her big white farmhouse, she had flowers of every color, but her favorites were Red Geraniums.

 

I can still remember sitting on her large front porch drinking her home-made root beer and eating a slice of her lemon meringue pie, while visiting one beautiful summer day with my Dear Mother.

 

Of course we got the whole tour of the gardens first, ending out back with the vegetable garden and orchard. That is where she grew her prized Gladiolas.

 

She would let me and my Dear Mother pick armfuls of them in every shade of sherbet.

My Mother had a large, hand painted floor vase just for the Gladiolas.

 

My Grandmother would stand by in her flowered house dress and apron, clippers in her hands, ready to prepare the flowers for the bucket of water. We promised to bring the bucket back in payment for such beauty.

 

Next, the apron was held up as we were encouraged to pick tomatoes as large as a softball, cucumbers, squash, and Grandpa's prized peaches. We were only allowed 1 for each family member, a special treat Grandpa shared with all.

 

You would bite into one and it was pure Ambrosia!

 

 

Oh, how I loved those summer days.   

 

Now that was heaven.

 

xx 





Early October

 

 

October light in the morning is guilded and burnished.

 

It has a timeless quality.

 

Turning everything it touches into a work of art.

 

 

Even these old dried roses I had casually placed by this unfinished window, suddenly become breathtakingly beautiful.

 

 

I have been waking up late this week. Luxuriating in the late morning sunshine streaming through the windows. Maggie waits patiently to be let outside.

 

We have been working hard this week; me, packing things for storage.

He, stacking wood.

He took this week off work.

It's his 'vacation'.

 

 

But he loves stacking wood.

 He loves the solitude and fresh air.

He says it clears his mind.

It makes for a good night's sleep.

 

 

I love having him around.

We've been enjoying these lovely October mornings.

 

 

A true luxury that we enjoy now, in the 'Autumn' of our lives.

Something we never had raising 4!

 

 

And something we really cherish.

 

We have been busy all week with our tasks, but the mornings are just for us.

 

 

So, while we say goodbye to summer and start to prepare for the colder months ahead,

 

We take some precious time to enjoy the lovely October light.

 

 

 

 

A reminder of these lanquid Autumn years we are sharing together.

 

Enjoying each other's company.

 

 

 

And counting our blessings as we share the simple things in life.

 

I hope you are enjoying October's beautiful light

 and sharing the simple things in life with those you love 

 

xx



First Signs of Fall

 

 

It rained very early Saturday morning. But only enough to leave the newly stained deck, puddled up with water.

 

Maggie and Ling Ling wanted to go out, but didn't want to get their feet wet.

 

This is where I found them, waiting to be rescued. 

 

 

This tiny bit of rain did nothing to relieve the two months of rainless days we have had. We have broken the record for the driest August and September ever recorded.

 

This is very unusual for Western Washington where it is known for it's rain!

 

I have managed to keep my roses blooming in this dry spell by diligently watering.

 

But you can see my grass has turned brown.

 

 

We stopped mowing the back 'pasture' and have let the Hawk weed bloom. The dogs love to roll in the dry grass. It gives them a good back scratching!

 

 

 Whitey loves this dried out circle of grass where we tried to re-seed after burning some brush from our ice storm last winter.

 

Why do the white dogs love rolling the most?

 

 

There is still some green in the front yard after you pass under the cedar trees. The evergreens are dropping their needles early in this dry weather and every day I go out and sweep the walkway and stepping stones. Soon, the ground will be covered in beautiful gold as the oldest needles are shed before winter.  

 

 

But one benefit to all of this sunshine are the blackberries. This year, I have a bumper crop. My freezer is nearly full of delicious black jewels, just waiting for my culinary creations!

 

 

We are getting just the barest hint of Autumn in the forest, as the golden rays play with the shadows.

 

 

The light is soft and diffused. The air is still and pungently sweet with the first decaying leaves.

 

The birds quietly twitter.

 

I heard my first owl of the season.

 

 

The hills are still cloaked in dark green.

 

But the barest touch of gold glimmers.

 

 

And as the sun sets, the full moon rises and off in the distant hills an elk bugles his ancient song.

 

xx