Kate Collins's Blog, page 119
June 2, 2016
How Does My Garden Grow?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Three weeks ago this coming Monday, Mr. L had an accident that dislocated his shoulder. In that one instant, our entire summer went on hold. Of course, we didn't know that at the time. We were unloading the car and he had hands full, and I had even more stuff I was lugging, and down he went on the front step.
At first he said he was okay. He just needed to sit down. But then when 20 minutes went by and his arm still hurt, I convinced him to go to Urgent Care. We weren't even halfway there when he said, "I think I need to go to the ER."
Boy, did we luck out. He was immediately given an ER cubicle and within less than an hour we had the verdict. Of course, Mr. L didn't know what it meant, but I did because I'd once written a story with a character who had a dislocated shoulder. He was in agony, but he said, "It hurts," because that's just his way. They knocked him out, put the arm back in the socket and said, "Six to eight weeks--unless you need surgery." (We find out today.)
So the rest of the summer is now on hold. Even the garden, he said.
Whoa! DEAL BREAKER! Okay, we can't put in the annuals we ALWAYS put in around the pool, but there was no way I was going to go the entire summer without flowers.
My veggie garden. : (We're now three weeks behind and our yard is a wreck. By now, Mr. L would have turned over my veggie garden and we would have planted sweet peas, tomatoes, and potatoes. This year it's a weed patch. (BTW, my weed sprayer is NOT filled with herbicide; it's filled with double strength vinegar (available from Amazon). I don't put poison in my garden or on my grass.)
Allium.Luckily, our perennials are blooming. We've already had two of the rhododendrons bloom, and now our purple puff balls. (Allium.) Alas, we lost three rhodos and an azalea due to winter. But our clematis is thriving, despite the fact we got rid of our old arbor (where it kinda sorta lived) and built a new one (the white one above) just before Mr. L's accident. My brother helped us (well, me) put the stakes in so it won't blow away (again). (Okay, he did most of the work and I helped.) The clematis voluntarily climbed the fence (which it never did before and we always had to coax it to climb the old arbor) and is doing fabulous. I expect triple the flowers this year.
The only HEALTHY rhubarb plant in my yard. The rest are tiny.My mother had a HUGE stand of rhubarb and after she passed away last summer, I knew that if I didn't relocate some of it, I'd never have rhubarb crisp or chutney ever again. But I think I went to far transplanting it, because her stand is next to nothing this year, and only one of the five plants I relocated has thrived.
The roses aren't doing much of anything yet, but I'm hopeful we'll have something beautiful to look at in the next month or so.
I knew Mr. L (who is a flower nut) would NOT be happy with no annuals, so on our errands Wednesday, I took us (since he can't drive) to two garden centers (calling them nurseries makes me think they'll be babies growing in the dirt) where we bought a bunch of stuff -- if we can't do the garden around the pool, we can at least fill our urns and big pots with flowers. Of course, there were a few stumbling blocks. One of the pots had BEAUTIFUL yellow self-seeded pansies (from last year), and Mr.L wanted me to rip them out for petunias. (I LOVE pansies--much more than I love petunias, so in they stayed. I was, after all, doing all the work!) One of the pots had self-seeded lettuce, too. "Rip it out!" he said. Nope, I just planted the new seeds around them.
Self-Seeded leaf lettuce.So now we at least have flowers in our urns and when we sit in our enclosed porch, we can see the four urns filled with colorful petunias, pinks, nasturtiums.
Aren't my self-sewn yellow pansies GORGEOUS?The landscaper we use will come and weed the front and back flower beds (and oy! I had better sell a heck of a lot of books to pay for it), but we will have a tidy yard once again. But I can't wait the 2-3 weeks on their timeline. I will have to weed my veggie patch myself otherwise we won't be eating tomatoes until late October. But it will be a small price to pay.
Mr. Lonely ZucchiniAlthough ... I'm giving up on certain plants because I can't bear it when the groundhogs, bunnies, and other critters eat them. This year I bought a single zucchini plant. We'll see if it will tolerate growing in a container.
Having flowers and enjoying them is a very simple pleasure in life, one I wasn't about to give up no matter what our circumstances.
More stuff to plant.What have you got growing in your garden?
Three weeks ago this coming Monday, Mr. L had an accident that dislocated his shoulder. In that one instant, our entire summer went on hold. Of course, we didn't know that at the time. We were unloading the car and he had hands full, and I had even more stuff I was lugging, and down he went on the front step.At first he said he was okay. He just needed to sit down. But then when 20 minutes went by and his arm still hurt, I convinced him to go to Urgent Care. We weren't even halfway there when he said, "I think I need to go to the ER."
Boy, did we luck out. He was immediately given an ER cubicle and within less than an hour we had the verdict. Of course, Mr. L didn't know what it meant, but I did because I'd once written a story with a character who had a dislocated shoulder. He was in agony, but he said, "It hurts," because that's just his way. They knocked him out, put the arm back in the socket and said, "Six to eight weeks--unless you need surgery." (We find out today.)
So the rest of the summer is now on hold. Even the garden, he said.
Whoa! DEAL BREAKER! Okay, we can't put in the annuals we ALWAYS put in around the pool, but there was no way I was going to go the entire summer without flowers.
My veggie garden. : (We're now three weeks behind and our yard is a wreck. By now, Mr. L would have turned over my veggie garden and we would have planted sweet peas, tomatoes, and potatoes. This year it's a weed patch. (BTW, my weed sprayer is NOT filled with herbicide; it's filled with double strength vinegar (available from Amazon). I don't put poison in my garden or on my grass.)
Allium.Luckily, our perennials are blooming. We've already had two of the rhododendrons bloom, and now our purple puff balls. (Allium.) Alas, we lost three rhodos and an azalea due to winter. But our clematis is thriving, despite the fact we got rid of our old arbor (where it kinda sorta lived) and built a new one (the white one above) just before Mr. L's accident. My brother helped us (well, me) put the stakes in so it won't blow away (again). (Okay, he did most of the work and I helped.) The clematis voluntarily climbed the fence (which it never did before and we always had to coax it to climb the old arbor) and is doing fabulous. I expect triple the flowers this year.
The only HEALTHY rhubarb plant in my yard. The rest are tiny.My mother had a HUGE stand of rhubarb and after she passed away last summer, I knew that if I didn't relocate some of it, I'd never have rhubarb crisp or chutney ever again. But I think I went to far transplanting it, because her stand is next to nothing this year, and only one of the five plants I relocated has thrived.The roses aren't doing much of anything yet, but I'm hopeful we'll have something beautiful to look at in the next month or so.
I knew Mr. L (who is a flower nut) would NOT be happy with no annuals, so on our errands Wednesday, I took us (since he can't drive) to two garden centers (calling them nurseries makes me think they'll be babies growing in the dirt) where we bought a bunch of stuff -- if we can't do the garden around the pool, we can at least fill our urns and big pots with flowers. Of course, there were a few stumbling blocks. One of the pots had BEAUTIFUL yellow self-seeded pansies (from last year), and Mr.L wanted me to rip them out for petunias. (I LOVE pansies--much more than I love petunias, so in they stayed. I was, after all, doing all the work!) One of the pots had self-seeded lettuce, too. "Rip it out!" he said. Nope, I just planted the new seeds around them.
Self-Seeded leaf lettuce.So now we at least have flowers in our urns and when we sit in our enclosed porch, we can see the four urns filled with colorful petunias, pinks, nasturtiums.
Aren't my self-sewn yellow pansies GORGEOUS?The landscaper we use will come and weed the front and back flower beds (and oy! I had better sell a heck of a lot of books to pay for it), but we will have a tidy yard once again. But I can't wait the 2-3 weeks on their timeline. I will have to weed my veggie patch myself otherwise we won't be eating tomatoes until late October. But it will be a small price to pay.
Mr. Lonely ZucchiniAlthough ... I'm giving up on certain plants because I can't bear it when the groundhogs, bunnies, and other critters eat them. This year I bought a single zucchini plant. We'll see if it will tolerate growing in a container.Having flowers and enjoying them is a very simple pleasure in life, one I wasn't about to give up no matter what our circumstances.
More stuff to plant.What have you got growing in your garden?
June 1, 2016
Lucky the Lamb and more!
On what we call the Victoria Day weekend, I was lucky enough to have a getaway with eight friends to mark the 35th reunion of our library school class. As always we made a lot of noise. At dinner someone said, ten people (included one hubby), had fifteen conversations going at once! And an unusual guest!
There’s much to talk about this trip, but I wanted to share that my friend, Jackie, has a sheep farm (librarians always seem to have other things going on too!) and we got to see the beginning of her yarn shop, where they will sell their own wool and to meet one of the four-footed darlings who will provide the product.
As it was bucketing rain, we couldn’t go meet the sheep, but Jackie brought Lucky the Lamb in to meet us. We were the ones feeling very lucky! I must also mention the lovely old Border Collie sheep dog, Molly, who was still smart and quick with a toy too.
On our tour, we got to fondle the yarn in various stages.
Ann and Robyn got to hand-dye a skein of yarn each and I’ve been told I will be able to on my next visit: when I return to do some more research for my Camilla MacPhee work-in-progress. Here are the vegetable dye colors I'll get to choose from.
The shop wasn’t quite ready to go, but we did get to see yarn in various stages. I wanted it all at all stages.
I can’t wait to be able to purchase this very chunky wool (feels sooo good!) and make the perfect lap blanket. I will let you all know when the shop is open for business!
More on the reunion in a future post. Until then, isn’t it great to have friends?
Please come by and tell us your experiences with lambs, sheep dogs, yarn and other related topics! Would you love to have a yarn shop? How about a lamb? We always love to hear your opinions and stories.
There’s much to talk about this trip, but I wanted to share that my friend, Jackie, has a sheep farm (librarians always seem to have other things going on too!) and we got to see the beginning of her yarn shop, where they will sell their own wool and to meet one of the four-footed darlings who will provide the product.
As it was bucketing rain, we couldn’t go meet the sheep, but Jackie brought Lucky the Lamb in to meet us. We were the ones feeling very lucky! I must also mention the lovely old Border Collie sheep dog, Molly, who was still smart and quick with a toy too.
On our tour, we got to fondle the yarn in various stages.
Ann and Robyn got to hand-dye a skein of yarn each and I’ve been told I will be able to on my next visit: when I return to do some more research for my Camilla MacPhee work-in-progress. Here are the vegetable dye colors I'll get to choose from.
The shop wasn’t quite ready to go, but we did get to see yarn in various stages. I wanted it all at all stages.
I can’t wait to be able to purchase this very chunky wool (feels sooo good!) and make the perfect lap blanket. I will let you all know when the shop is open for business!
More on the reunion in a future post. Until then, isn’t it great to have friends?
Please come by and tell us your experiences with lambs, sheep dogs, yarn and other related topics! Would you love to have a yarn shop? How about a lamb? We always love to hear your opinions and stories.
Fave Teachers...did you have one?
One of my neighbors is a teacher, sixth grade. This is her twentieth year teaching and she’s one of those teachers you wish you had or hope and pray your kids get.She’s always doing neat stuff with her class. Field trips to the nature center to look at fossils in the creeks, cooking classes in the classroom using fresh local grown veggies, parents coming into the classroom and tell about their professions and how they got the job they love.
And she makes learning fun. If a child has trouble in a subject she stays late to help or gets a tutor to help out. Those kids in her class are your kids. Parents even call her when they have problems with their kids to get her help. I had a teacher in high school who made current events come alive. She taught history but we spent fifteen minutes a day talking current events. We had debates, discussions, newspaper people come into the class and talk about reporting and we visited the newspaper here in Cincy. And she convinced me I could write!
Did she make a difference in my life? You bet she did and not just mine. When we have class reunions we still talk about Miss Johnson. So my question to you today is...did you have one of these teachers that make a difference in your life? A teacher who made the kids in her class her kids? A memorable teacher that helped you when you needed it most? If you did, lucky you!
May 30, 2016
Snow-Capped Peaks Still
by Maggie SeftonThis is one of the views surrounding Estes Park, Colorado. I was lucky to spend the holiday weekend there.
As I'm writing this post it's the early evening of Monday, Memorial Day, May 30th. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Memorial Day 3-day weekend. If you wanted to relax in restful surroundings, I hope you did. And for those of you who wanted action and adventure, I hope you got to engage in action-packed adventures.
As for me, I got a great chance to relax the entire weekend. One of my old friends and her husband invited me to stay the weekend at their rented condo in Estes Park, Colorado. It was a perfect weekend for exactly that. And----it also provided great late Spring weather for the ones who chose adventure. Believe me, Rocky Mountain National Park (just shy of an hour away from my Fort Collins, Colorado home) provides plenty of opportunities for adventurous activities.
The fast-flowing Fall River flows right through Estes Park and throughout the National Park as well. In late May and early June, it provides challenging opportunities to canoe as well as whitewater rafting adventures. All the mountain rivers in Colorado---including the Cache La Poudre River which flows through Fort Collins---run high and fast in late May and all of June. That is due to the mountain run-off. That's when the late Spring temps increase enough to melt the snow on our gorgeous Rocky Mountains which surround us. That melted snow runs down the mountains to our rivers and streams that rise accordingly. Our mountain climate depends on that spring run-off.
During late May and all of June, canoe and kayak sportsmen/women flock to the mountains to test themselves against those fast, fast waters. The Cache La Poudre becomes a Class 5 Kayaking river. That's the hardest level. For the newcomers, there are many Whitewater canoe and rafting adventures with experienced guides. I hope some of you have the chance to try some of our mountain adventures. Whether adventuring or relaxing, I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday break.
May 29, 2016
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
By Mary Kennedy
From the Cozy Chicks to you!
May 28, 2016
Getting to know Joanne Kocourek
Hi, Joanne! Thanks so much for doing the interview. We all love getting to know the people we hang out with. You are a true inspiration. God bless.
-Where do you live now?
Worth, IL (a small village Southwest of Chicago)
-Pets? Kids? Hobby?
Our lives are blessed with three children who completed our family through adoption. They are all young adults: Joshua, Annalies and Kristen. Josh lives in Southern Illinois. Annalies and Kristen are young adult children who are vibrant and thriving despite being medically fragile and technology dependent (requiring round the clock care). We, also, have a sweet, vibrant 6-year-old granddaughter, Gianna. Gianna fills our lives with love and laughter. Four Golden Retriever service dogs faithfully provide amazing assistance in everyday living and love us unconditionally. They bring love, companionship and joy continually. Their skills and antics are amazing. My boy, Skittles, is nicknamed Houdini as there isn’t anything he can’t open or escape! My hobbies are reading, crocheting and crafting with our Granddaughter. I read hours every day based on limiting physical challenges.-Day Job?
Prior to long term disability, I worked as the RN Manager of Clinical Research for a major academic medical center. Now, I’m home as “Nurse Mom” caring for our daughters.-Upcoming plans?
Lord willing, I hope to have surgery to completely reconstruct both of my knees in the hope of regaining the ability to stand. The decision is hanging in limbo by several surgical teams as the success rate is 50/50. If not, I will continue to adjust to living my life with extremely limited mobility/abilities and supportive Palliative Care providing a bridge to Hospice at some point in the future. As a previously very active adult, I never envisioned being diagnose with a progressive, degenerative life limiting/life threatening disease. While maintaining hope for the future, I’m looking forward to going to visit our son, spend quality time with our daughters and granddaughter, and providing support to other individuals who are walking similar journeys with their children or personally.-What do you do for fun?
Honestly, at present, there is very little I can physically do “for fun”. I’m finding enjoyment visiting with friends who call or visit in person and living vicariously through the books I read. My favorite authors are skilled at portraying settings I can visualize and characters who become friends and a part of my life through imagination.-Do you travel? Got a fav place?
When I could travel for other than medical care, I loved family trips to Disney World and/or Disney Cruises with my family. When traveling for medical care, we always try to take some time to explore an attraction in the region (a plantation in Savanah, GA, Falls or Amish country in Ohio or New York). My all-time favorite trip was to Italy. Our daughters and I represented the U.S. at a medical conference. Florence was absolutely wonderful. We explored the museums and art.-How did you come to reading mysteries?
My introduction to mysteries was as a child. We visited the library often and my favorite books were Cherry Ames, Trixie Belden, and Nancy Drew.-Do you have a fav mystery show? Movie?
Castle and Murder She Wrote are favorite shows. I like many of the Hallmark Mystery movies. I’m glad they are rerunning Mystery Woman and hope they rerun Jane Doe and Father Dowling.
-Do you have a fav book that you reread from time to time?Other than The Bible, I reread The Giving Tree and A Wrinkle in Time.-Do you remember the first mystery you read? The Secret Mansion (Trixie Belden).-Is there a character in a book or movie that you’d like to pal around with? From a book: Zoe Donovan. From a movie: Samantha Kinzie-Tell us anything else about yourself.
We all love meeting new friends. I truly appreciate the cozy mystery authors who generously share their talents, books and time with me. Life has been a struggle, ups and downs, nothing is in our control, not one little thing, it is a tough battle, one that has caused us to be tired and worn. At times our hearts are heavy and we struggle to breath in and out, other times we are good and at peace. Just being and being before God is really our only strength, we, as a family, covet the prayers of everyone. I try to not get mired down in the “woe is me” or “woe is us” dumps. This is the reality of the life I live – knowing that as hard as life is many days, as many things as I WANT to whine and complain about – I know at the end of the day, that the fact that we are all still HERE and still alive is the biggest blessing of all. This is not a lesson I take lightly. So we will get through this day, and the sun will rise again in the morning and things will look different. Maybe still hard, maybe a little better. But each day is new and always full of the opportunity for good things. Most of all I thank you, Lori, and the authors who so generously give of their time and talent to fill my days with hours of reading enjoyment and for hanging in there with me through this stage of the journey. The sun will come out tomorrow, right?
May 27, 2016
PEACH SLAB PIE RECIPE FROM ALI BLAKE
By Mary Kennedy
Hi everyone! Ali Blake from the Dream Club Mysteries here. We're busy as ever at Oldies But Goodies,and now that summer is here, we're getting ready to add Peach Slab Pie to the menu. You know what a slab pie is, right? You don't need a fork or plate to eat it. We just cut off a square and plop it on a cardboard "to go" plate and the customers go on their merry way. It's one of our most popular "hand held" desserts. It's perfect for a quick snack when you really want to get back to strolling along the Riverfront, visiting a Savannah mansion, or soaking up the sun at Forsythe Square. And you don't have to wait for "peach season," you can use frozen peaches, as I explained in the recipe below.
The recipe is super-easy. Here goes.Ingredients1box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box3/4cup packed brown sugar1/4cup cornstarch2tablespoons lemon juice 9cups fresh peaches (or you can use frozen sliced peaches, thawed and drained from four 10-oz bags) 1/2roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookiesDIRECTIONS
Preheat over to 400 degrees. In large bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir in peaches to coat. Roll out pie crusts to fit a 10 by 16 inch pan or baking dish. Spoon mixture into crust-lined pan. Break cookie dough half into coarse crumbs; sprinkle evenly over filling. (Wrap and refrigerate other half of cookie dough for another use.) Put pie in oven and immediately reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cook for 20 minutes, cut into squares and serve. Serves 10 to 16 as "hand-held" or large brownie size portions.
Now the best part. If the customers decide to eat in, at one of our little umbrella tables, I top the pie with whipped cream (or cinnamon ice cream). It's also delicious plain and easier to carry in the "to go" version.
I hope you try this delicious recipe!! Bon appetit and thanks for stopping by. In case you'd like to learn more about the Dream Club and what Ali and Taylor are up to, the paperback version of book 3, A Premonition of Murder, is available for pre-order, right now, and it's on sale for $5.92.
Mary Kennedy
Hi everyone! Ali Blake from the Dream Club Mysteries here. We're busy as ever at Oldies But Goodies,and now that summer is here, we're getting ready to add Peach Slab Pie to the menu. You know what a slab pie is, right? You don't need a fork or plate to eat it. We just cut off a square and plop it on a cardboard "to go" plate and the customers go on their merry way. It's one of our most popular "hand held" desserts. It's perfect for a quick snack when you really want to get back to strolling along the Riverfront, visiting a Savannah mansion, or soaking up the sun at Forsythe Square. And you don't have to wait for "peach season," you can use frozen peaches, as I explained in the recipe below.
The recipe is super-easy. Here goes.Ingredients1box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box3/4cup packed brown sugar1/4cup cornstarch2tablespoons lemon juice 9cups fresh peaches (or you can use frozen sliced peaches, thawed and drained from four 10-oz bags) 1/2roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookiesDIRECTIONS
Preheat over to 400 degrees. In large bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir in peaches to coat. Roll out pie crusts to fit a 10 by 16 inch pan or baking dish. Spoon mixture into crust-lined pan. Break cookie dough half into coarse crumbs; sprinkle evenly over filling. (Wrap and refrigerate other half of cookie dough for another use.) Put pie in oven and immediately reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cook for 20 minutes, cut into squares and serve. Serves 10 to 16 as "hand-held" or large brownie size portions.
Now the best part. If the customers decide to eat in, at one of our little umbrella tables, I top the pie with whipped cream (or cinnamon ice cream). It's also delicious plain and easier to carry in the "to go" version.
I hope you try this delicious recipe!! Bon appetit and thanks for stopping by. In case you'd like to learn more about the Dream Club and what Ali and Taylor are up to, the paperback version of book 3, A Premonition of Murder, is available for pre-order, right now, and it's on sale for $5.92.
Mary Kennedy
PEACH SLAB PIE RECIPE FROM ALI TAYLOR
By Mary Kennedy
Hi everyone! Ali Taylor from the Dream Club Mysteries here. We're busy as ever at Oldies But Goodies,and now that summer is here, we're getting ready to add Peach Slab Pie to the menu. You know what a slab pie is, right? You don't need a fork or plate to eat it. We just cut off a square and plop it on a cardboard "to go" plate and the customers go on their merry way. It's one of our most popular "hand held" desserts. It's perfect for a quick snack when you really want to get back to strolling along the Riverfront, visiting a Savannah mansion, or soaking up the sun at Forsythe Square. And you don't have to wait for "peach season," you can use frozen peaches, as I explained in the recipe below.
The recipe is super-easy. Here goes.Ingredients1box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box3/4cup packed brown sugar1/4cup cornstarch2tablespoons lemon juice 9cups fresh peaches (or you can use frozen sliced peaches, thawed and drained from four 10-oz bags) 1/2roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookiesDIRECTIONS
Preheat over to 400 degrees. In large bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir in peaches to coat. Roll out pie crusts to fit a 10 by 16 inch pan or baking dish. Spoon mixture into crust-lined pan. Break cookie dough half into coarse crumbs; sprinkle evenly over filling. (Wrap and refrigerate other half of cookie dough for another use.) Put pie in oven and immediately reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cook for 20 minutes, cut into squares and serve. Serves 10 to 16 as "hand-held" or large brownie size portions.
Now the best part. If the customers decide to eat in, at one of our little umbrella tables, I top the pie with whipped cream (or cinnamon ice cream). It's also delicious plain and easier to carry in the "to go" version.
I hope you try this delicious recipe!! Bon appetit and thanks for stopping by. In case you'd like to learn more about the Dream Club and what Ali and Taylor are up to, the paperback version of book 3, A Premonition of Murder, is available for pre-order, right now, and it's on sale for $5.92.
Mary Kennedy
Hi everyone! Ali Taylor from the Dream Club Mysteries here. We're busy as ever at Oldies But Goodies,and now that summer is here, we're getting ready to add Peach Slab Pie to the menu. You know what a slab pie is, right? You don't need a fork or plate to eat it. We just cut off a square and plop it on a cardboard "to go" plate and the customers go on their merry way. It's one of our most popular "hand held" desserts. It's perfect for a quick snack when you really want to get back to strolling along the Riverfront, visiting a Savannah mansion, or soaking up the sun at Forsythe Square. And you don't have to wait for "peach season," you can use frozen peaches, as I explained in the recipe below.
The recipe is super-easy. Here goes.Ingredients1box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box3/4cup packed brown sugar1/4cup cornstarch2tablespoons lemon juice 9cups fresh peaches (or you can use frozen sliced peaches, thawed and drained from four 10-oz bags) 1/2roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookiesDIRECTIONS
Preheat over to 400 degrees. In large bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir in peaches to coat. Roll out pie crusts to fit a 10 by 16 inch pan or baking dish. Spoon mixture into crust-lined pan. Break cookie dough half into coarse crumbs; sprinkle evenly over filling. (Wrap and refrigerate other half of cookie dough for another use.) Put pie in oven and immediately reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cook for 20 minutes, cut into squares and serve. Serves 10 to 16 as "hand-held" or large brownie size portions.
Now the best part. If the customers decide to eat in, at one of our little umbrella tables, I top the pie with whipped cream (or cinnamon ice cream). It's also delicious plain and easier to carry in the "to go" version.
I hope you try this delicious recipe!! Bon appetit and thanks for stopping by. In case you'd like to learn more about the Dream Club and what Ali and Taylor are up to, the paperback version of book 3, A Premonition of Murder, is available for pre-order, right now, and it's on sale for $5.92.
Mary Kennedy
May 26, 2016
Spring = Rhubarb Season!!!
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
My mother always grew rhubarb. I admit, I wasn't a convert until I made rhubarb crisp for Mr. L (and my parents). Rhubarb tends to be bitter, but put enough sugar in it and it's De-Lish! So if you come across rhubarb (and now I have a very nice stand of it in my own yard thanks to transplanting parts of the crop from my mother's yard), it's time to make not only my favorite rhubarb chutney, but also rhubarb crisp.
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups sliced fresh rhubarb or frozen rhubarb, thawed
1 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, optional
Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add the rhubarb and apples toss to coat. Spoon into an 8-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, butter, flour and cinnamon until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and fruit is tender. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Yield: 8 servings
Do you have a favorite rhubarb recipe? If so -- please share!
My mother always grew rhubarb. I admit, I wasn't a convert until I made rhubarb crisp for Mr. L (and my parents). Rhubarb tends to be bitter, but put enough sugar in it and it's De-Lish! So if you come across rhubarb (and now I have a very nice stand of it in my own yard thanks to transplanting parts of the crop from my mother's yard), it's time to make not only my favorite rhubarb chutney, but also rhubarb crisp.
3/4 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups sliced fresh rhubarb or frozen rhubarb, thawed
1 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, optional
Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add the rhubarb and apples toss to coat. Spoon into an 8-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, butter, flour and cinnamon until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and fruit is tender. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Yield: 8 servings
Do you have a favorite rhubarb recipe? If so -- please share!
May 25, 2016
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR
BY MARY JANE MAFFINI aka VICTORIA ABBOTT
MJ here. I was away this past weekend at the best college reunion ever—reports to follow next week— and returned home all mellow and well-fed and happy, to discover that the dogs had encountered their nemesis.
Let’s step back and say that there is a policy about not letting the dogs dash forth into the blackness ahead of the human. However, this policy appears not to have been enforced in my absence. The human (for the sake of anonymity, we’ll call him “Dad”) was carting a collection of plastic containers to the recycle box when the pooches shot by him. The signs of excitement had been there, may I add. As well, there had been indications of a skunk. I had been suspecting a certain neighbor smoking dope, although others preferred the skunk theory.
Dad described the Sunday midnight incident, including dialogue. All the dialogue went like this: NO NO NO!
Daisy and Lily vanished into the bush. NO NO NO! Seconds later a panicked skunk fled and bolted between “Dad’s” legs. I will try to refrain from mentioning that the commands WAIT! And STAY! appear not to have been employed. Seconds after the skunk raced between “Dad’s” legs, Lily dashed between “Dad’s” legs followed by Daisy. They probably figured they would finally catch up with a squirrel. NO NO NO! By this time plastic containers were scattered all over the lawn.
The pooches cornered the poor skunk, by the large rock, and naturally misinterpreted the cues of the white stripe, the back turned and the lifted tail. NO NO NO!
Lily got it full force. “Dad” couldn’t let her back in the house, until he had Googled some remedies on his tablet (I am not making this up). The dogs wailed at the door until he found that tomato juice and vinegar are effective. Of course, we didn’t have tomato juice. He mixed up a combo of pasta sauce and cider vinegar and bathed Lily before she could be let in again. She was well and truly rinsed (and probably delicious) before re-entry. Hours later, the household got to sleep. Don’t ask me where “Dad” let the traumatized Lily sleep. I’d be embarrassed to tell you. Let’s just say it’s my bed too and I wasn’t there to get a vote.
You’ll be glad to know that neither dog has suffered any ill effects (naturally it was Victoria Day and the vet was closed). Daisy and Lily would absolutely do the same thing in a heartbeat. All luckily our sofas, chairs and bed had cuddly dog blankets on them, since washed with Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover. The pooches had a second bath with that. They still are pretty aromatic and as a household though, we do really still reek. You get a bit used to it, so I am really glad I have no meetings set up for the next few days. Victoria and I are off to an awards banquet on Friday (The Marsh Madness is nominated) and we may be doused in Febreeze.
Here are the girls, happily sleeping it off under my desk. Gee, thanks.
I have heard that spraying is not good for skunks and if you ask me, the little “Mouffette” (French for skunk as skunk as now a bad word here) was the only innocent party in this whole fracas.
Why not come by and tell us your skunk successes and horror stories? Sympathy for the skunk or “Dad” and dogs also accepted.
