what am I doing blogging?

Gathering.

Cleaning.

Pricing.

Making signs.

Hopefully selling.

Just a few of the items left on my to-do list

before

the big door opens

for business

tomorrow.

Sometimes I wonder why I put myself

through these things.

Here at a house

full of boys

who like their great big motorized

toys...

I have to rearrange the garage 

to create enough room 

just to hold the stuff.

Even had my man move

his beloved bike

*gasp*

outta there

so I wouldn't have to

work around precious.

One of the many piles 

that have accumulated in my home

while I wait for space

to become available.

I'm not trying to fool anyone here...

this sale will be more of 

the yard variety.

The garage is strictly used for 

very temporary storage...

protection in case of (don't even think it!)

rain...

before it is all

pulled out and displayed

to sell.

That's when all the fun begins.

I love the

 haggling & bartering...

the visiting with neighbors

that I only see

at this annual event.

Why do I put myself through it?

You ask.

It's all about the 

big bucks.

Enough.

Gotta get back to work.

Enjoy your hot summer day.

I hear tomorrow will be a great

day to go garage sale-ing.

All-American Pie :: Cherry

The Bing Cherries

are now in season.

Ever notice

how once you start

popping these in your mouth

it's nearly impossible to stop?

The path to perfection

 starts at the tree 

and goes

directly in your mouth.

The only proper way

to eat a cherry

in my opinion.

But you know what they say...

opinions...

everybody's got one.

So when I asked my guy once

if he had to choose his 

last meal...

what would it be?

I wasn't surprised by the grilled steak

mashed potatoes and gravy

(I don't think a salad made the list)

my shock came when he announced dessert...

Cherry Pie.

What???

(insert a screeching tire sound effect here)

Of course he meant apple

because

a) I never made him a cherry pie

b) apple is my favorite

I guess I assumed the whole family

was in agreement on this...and

c) cherry glob pie ranks somewhere

at the bottom

of my list.

Then again...

I don't know if I ever

ate a real cherry pie.
You know...

from scratch.

With cherry season upon us

I consulted 

Betty.

Soon followed by a call home

to mom

asking the vital question...

how do you hull a cherry?

Mom was sure there were

gadgets available

at the nearest hardware store...

which will always be

True Value to me...

even though it is now

Do It Best.

As our conversation grew

mom also suggested

using the end of a small spoon...

or 

by any chance

did I still own a Tupperware

orange peeler?

I do...

I do... I do

have a Tupperware orange peeler!

It worked like magic

and cost me nothing!

After about fifteen minutes

I had the 4 cups needed for the recipe

cleaned and hulled.

Consulted Betty (again) for crust.

Adapted it to make it vegan

and it was 

THE BEST PIE CRUST EVER!

Here's the rundown

for a two-crust 8-9 inch pie:

2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon salt

5-6 Tablespoons ice cold water

(I put 3 cubes in a cup)

Cut oil into flour and salt until pea-sized particles are formed.

Sprinkle water in 

one tablespoon at a time

until well moistened and

the pastry cleans the side of the bowl.

Divide and Roll.

Mix the cherries with sugar.

I reduced Betty's recipe 

to a scant 1 cup...

followed the rest 

except when it called for dotting butter

I used coconut spread.

That pie went fast.

A retraction is called for.

I now know that I just might pick

a real cherry pie
if I am ever asked to make
a final choice.

the only picture I captured

For those who may have forgotten...

I am on a quest for the

perfect pie this summer.

Apparently

the only goal that I 

am truly dedicated to.

What would your last meal be?

Heck...

let's just ask for dessert first!

what a difference...

Sometimes I shave my legs

and sometimes I don't

Sometimes I comb my hair

and sometimes I won't

Depend of how the wind blows

I might even paint my toes

It really just depends on

whatever feels good in my soul.

-India Arie

Great lyrics from Video.

Honest to goodness

Universal truth stuff

that all women can relate to.

Yesterday I ran outside to

catch the only rays expected to come my way

I was going to post

about how I was determined to make the

most of it...

regardless.

circa 7/11/13

That post got away from me.

Just didn't happen.

When I turned to walk in the house 

after taking that pic

I saw an old friend I hadn't seen 

in a very long time

but as soon as I went to take her picture

she was gone.

In that very moment

the sun sank behind an endless

cloud.

Today...

she was back.

Along with a breeze.

Dry 

clean 

fresh

lovely 

air.

Yesterday

my hope was to continue work

on a zabuton.

(A meditation cushion)

(one of my Old Maid New projects)

The 2 inch padding was

finished...

layers of old towels

old/ratty mattress pads

(cleaned, of course)

hand-quilted together

for a soft and sturdy base.

The exterior was the next step.

Choosing equally soft & sturdy fabric

(discarded & salvaged upholstery samples)

that were a pleasing pair-up.

Since a cushion has two sides

 I like to have two pattern choices...

because 

one day I might want a 

paisley in earth tones

or 

velvety leaves

to sit my rump on.

It really just depends on

whatever feels right that day.

Meal planning

with Renee from FIMBY.

Did I mention I won her e-book 

Eat This

Meal Salads & Whole Food Dressings 

in an 

online drawing?

YIPPEE!

Oh...

and thank you!

today...in a new light

Went out to dinner with

My sister Tina and Mom instead.

Needed some family time...

 some women time.

Needed to laugh.

When we stepped outside the restaurant 

it was like the old weather front

that had been hanging around these parts

blew away 

and 

blue skies and sunshine returned.

Well...

if I would have known that bringing us together

would have created this change

I would have suggested it weeks ago!

My latest stack

that I have been

reading

rummaging

dreaming

through.

like Blue's Clues...remember that?...my reading chair

But it is so much better

for your eyes

when there is proper lighting.

Everything looks prettier too.

My camera wanted to

take it all in

before anything...

ahem...

another storm cloud floated by

and stole the moment.

click-click-click...

preparing to sing the Alleluia Chorus

But 

it looks like it's here to stay...

dare I say it...

all day!

Keep your fancy drinks

and your expensive minks

I don't need them to have a good time

Keep your expensive cars

and your caviar

All I need is my guitar.

...and a dose of sunshine!

my Keebler fence

A year ago

almost to the day

I took these pictures

naming the file

chaos

Why chaos?

My gardens have a way

of going all natural and wild

this time of year...

nothing to do with the gardener

who slacks on weeding

duties.

And so I mulch

and tell myself

I am taking back control

on how my garden grows.

Ha!

I built a little 

twiggy fence

to give the weeds a border.

The rule:

Flowers to the North

Weeds to the South

It worked for a little while.

I love my little fence.

Looks like elves

erected it.

Fast Forward

to today.

I do remember

planting and transplanting

daisies...

cone flower

lavender...

hoping to let this little area

just

do its thing

without much supervision.

Oh...

and it did.

A few cosmos

reseeded themselves...

how nice of them.

But let me draw your attention 

to the green leaves

near the bottom of the picture.

What am I looking at

you might ask?

Check out this angle.

Or this one.

My Keebler elf fence

took root and is now

sprouting.

That's it.

I just thought it was a cool thing

to show you.

It makes me chuckle

every time I step

out my door.

There's a lesson in

control here...

somewhere.

Maybe

one about

letting 

go.

Maybe nature is trying to

tell me

to mind my own business.

Could go really deep

and say...

maybe...

just maybe, mind you

God is showing me how

some things are out

of my control

and I should leave it

in His capable hands.

Maybe.

All-American Pie :: Strawberry

One of the 

very attainable goals

I set for myself

early in the season

was to find the perfect pie.

My hope

at the time 

was that it would involve

a ride down country roads

to a Ma & Pa roadside diner

remote

quaint

our little secret

kind-of-place.

A place we could call our own

and go to 

whenever we wanted 

a great piece of pie

and a cuppa Joe.

Now that part of the dream

has been elusive.

Oh

it is a place we call our own

alright...

my kitchen.

Drats!

I just want one perfect piece

NOT a whole pie to tempt

before/after meals/for breakfast/as a midnight snack.

Gaining 10 pounds didn't make 

my list.

So far

what I have found 

are definitions to phrases like

FRESH FROM THE OVEN

Yep...

that pie was definitely frozen

and baked in some oven

The tell: soggy crumb topping

and a flavor that screams

preservatives!

MADE FRESH DAILY

second cousin to

fresh from the oven 

leaving me with a 

somethings just not right 

after taste...

maybe those 

mystery ingredients strike again.

HOMEMADE

I know because I made it.

My one rule 

has been

to keep it vegan.

To all my vegan friends:

If you have ever wanted to

explore your vegan talents

stretch your vegan wings

by converting a traditional recipe

and substituting vegan friendly ingredients

but were reluctant to try

start with pie.

Hence the phrase

Easy as Pie.

Even my traditional 

Pat-In-The-Pan Pie Crust recipe

required one change only

(although I made two)

instead of vegetable oil I used canola

instead of whole milk...

almond milk.

As for the Strawberry Pie.

Mine was already up to 

vegan standards.

I did reduce the sugar because

I am sensitive to things being

too sweet.

Mine also called for

red food coloring.

Not needed when you're using

fresh from the field Michigan Berries.

Yummy!

Making

baking

cooking 

that which is at its peak

makes such a difference.

PLUG:

Visit your Farmer's Market!

I even simplified my 1983 recipe

with one that was quite

similar on

All Recipes

using the 

Most Helpful Comments

feature.

That pie was 

super easy.

Another of my high criteria.

I will keep you posted

as my search continues.

But wait...

Are you holding out on me?

Have you already discovered 

THE place

for which I seek?

Please share...

Pretty please

with strawberries on top!

It'll be our little secret.

the 4th on the 5th

I've discovered something

about myself

where picture taking is 

concerned.

It occurred to me during

Kierstin's dance recital a while back

that it would make such a wonderfully sweet

blog post.

Seriously...

how could I miss?

Well

I could miss out

by watching through a lens

rather than

sitting back and experiencing

taking in the moment

for my own selfish pleasure.

Since then I find

I am often without my camera

and must explain

with my mental lens

which has proven 

not to be the most reliable

albeit

the most enjoyable for me.

There you have it.

Staying in the now

if you will.

Or
as in this case
staying in the yesterday
where a small group gathered
for dogs and brewskis
Mom's newest fave
cheese and carrot casserole
Angella's
jalapeno pepper poppers in a bowl
AMAZING!
Cheesy potatoes that earned me a hug
from James.

A front yard

filled with leftover debris

from the fireworks show

that

had my boys (sans Josh)

running back and forth

from garage to yard

in batches of three 

with onlookers asking

Why don't you just bring them all closer?

To which James replied

Because we wouldn't want them to accidentally

catch on fire.

Seemed logical

especially in the light of past

mishaps.

Their efforts

yielded a few honks from

the cars passing by.

Apparently

the highest of praise.

Joe's final thoughts on the whole experience

I don't know what it is

but it is so cool

to  blow shit up.

Gasp!

Yes

he said the "s" word.

Boys!

As I wandered the yard

this morning with my camera in tow

I started

playing the rewind

in my mind

hearing the laughter

of goofy family stories that were told

and retold

to elicit the much expected response

from their audience.

The food

that was shared and enjoyed

and also created the

Oh...I'm stuffed

chorus

that it does each time we gather.

The plans.

Setting up the croquet course

unpacking the corn hole

tidying the patio and 

getting the cushions out for comfort

only to have 

first the humidity and then the rain

put a stop

to that

and Plan B was made...

sit inside and enjoy the air and food

and drink.

Did I mention 

laughter?

Storytelling?

Eating?

With the big finale...

sitting out in the cooler night

to watch 

the show.

Fireflies and fireworks.

Not before mom

had Rudy

go out and take the flag down...

she is a stickler to the patriotic rule

down at sunset...

or before...

whichever the case

Mom was there to assist in the

taking down

the proper folding

then unfolding because it got a bit damp

and I hung it to dry first...

never touching the ground 

of course!

One last picture.

Deserving to be last

since it was my last

all natural defense against the

dreaded 

blood suckers of the night.

My citronella plant.

Rain and mosquitoes

seem to get along just fine.

Plans.

Way over-rated.

Happy July 5th!

summer reigns

oops

that was a typo

Freudian in many ways

since I do love my summers

but this years' solstice

ushered in 

the rain.

Everyday.

Don't get me wrong

we have had lovely moments

of sun

as well

but each day we have experienced

torrential downpours.

Today appears to be no different.

Which I'm sure the farmers

will complain about...

last year drought

this year water.

Which leaves me wondering...

Has there ever been the perfect

growing season?

My little garden says

"Yes!"

I answer with reservation

 since the excess moisture has

brought with it

some strange specimens

like a hardy crop of

toadstools

throughout the lawn

but, oh...

that lawn is lush and green.

I didn't capture the

slug

(you're welcome!)

that came in the house

via D.O.G.'s

tail...

eeewww!

A thick layer of 

moss

on the north side 

of our yard...

that feels like

a luxurious carpet ride

under my feet.

Perfect for the fairies

that come to visit.

With these unusual suspects

in the yard

I visit my garden daily

not to water

but to pull a few weeds

and to 

vigilantly check for

any signs of

slugs or bugs

who may try to set up house.

So far I only found

a bunny

in the oregano

which I am more than

happy to share.

What about summer?

Did I find my summer

during this hiatus?

Well...

I did find calm and a good nights' sleep.

I did discover and finish

two good books.

I also noticed that there was

more conversation

as the boys would leave their respective

screens to spend some time with mom

(who was doing this solo)

As for summer...

it's coming slowly.