Can she bake a cherry Claufouti, Jimmy Boy?

Dot sent me this dishtowel for my birthday. Isn't it pretty?
The pie cherry tree was ready to be picked. We didn't get the net on it this year, as it's being used over the chicken yard (we have midnight marauders of raccoons and possums). The birds took pity, were generous, and saved some cherries for us.
I baked just possibly my most "homely" pie ever. But it was tasty anyway. Just like my Mama always said "it's whats on the inside that counts". How can you go wrong with real butter, and fresh cherries?

There were 2 trays of dried cherry raisins.



And a cherry claufouti, which Jimmy boy just loved.

All of this was prior to our buying a new bathroom scale.

...............oops.

Family Reunion 2010

Jim and I took Tori and went over a day or so early.
It gave Jim and Dad a day to garage sale,
and Mama and I, a day to cook and chat.

I took this berry jello layered dessert.


Tori made the Savannah Sour Cream poundcake recipe,
except we put the batter in these festive little papers,
so people could have individual cakes.



There were fresh berries and whipped cream to put on them.
I also made some barbeque/pulled beef and pork sandwiches, in buns.



There was a decent turnout, but some of our older generation
weren't able to attend,because of health issues,
and we missed our Canadian cousins.
(Am posting lots of pix for you, Martha!)



Aunt Laurel and Laura Lee

There was a rousing little game of baseball among the "mini" cousins.

Cousin Debbie

Uncles

Aunties






Multi- generations

Three generations.

Little Miss Adelie is named after her Papa's Mother.

From our oldest "firecracker"

to our youngest...

It was good to be together.

Exploring Birthdays

Someone just turned 2! Guess who? And peek a boo!

Hola Dora! How do we get to the birthday party?

Well, first, you go ACROSS the bridge...

Then you go OVER the mountain....

And AROUND the corner... and THEN you'll be at the party!

These two had a great time together this year.

The older one amazed at the little one..."She can TALK now!"

Big brother is showing how to take down that pinata

The birthday girl gave it her best!

What do we need? Backpack, Backpack....

This guy never leaves home without his light saber!

The sun actually warmed things up and Sarah, brought out the 'screen.

(We haven't had much call for that this year)





Things were very festive

Muchas Gracias, Dora. Wonderful party! Delishioso!

Pearls and Scallops for Miss Floribunda

I finally got the studio cleaned up enough to unearth the sewing machine. It was actually really nice to have the work table cleared off to use for a proper cutting table. My plan was to make a little dress with a crocheted bodice. The plan changed and decided to just make a plain dress....

And crochet a little capelet/cami, that coujld be worn over it, if desired. That way they could be laundered separately, and it would be more versatile.

I didn't have a pattern for the capelet, and am more of a knitter than a crocheter, so it's nothing to write home about...[or blog for that matter]

But it was kind of fun to create. If I were doing it again...I would create it more curved like the dress bodice, and would make the dress first, but life's a learning process right?

I do like the real shell, mother of pearl buttons.

I had never tried making scallopy lace edging before, and it turned out to be my favorite part, both in the actual crocheting of it, and the final project.

The BuZZzzzzz

The clover fields were all in their glory, as we drove past on our way to Jen's.

little bee nectar mini-markets on every corner

And high rise condos taking in the panoramic views.

The beekeepers have their hives in place, to take advantage of all those lovely blossoms.

On the home front, we had a swarm, that needed a home. I would have loved to have obliged, but contrary to how this picture appears....it was way up in a pine tree....higher than our orchard ladder will reach. (My zoom was at full capacity here) I probably would have tried something stupid to get it, but cooler heads prevailed and Jim forbade me to try. Sooooooo, our neighbors down the road with the big log house, who are loggers with tall equipment, I'm sure now have a new swarm to add to their collection. Forgive me if I sound bitter. I know we are not to covet our neighbors hives...but everytime we get a swarm high in one of our trees...I watch it give up on my hospitality and swirl it's little mini cyclone cloud self across the draw to their place. And their number of hives, just grows and grows. (We had 3 swarms come and go, here last year).
Maybe, a spoon full of honey would sweeten my disposition.

*Oh boy, that's stings worse than a bee...I just read the verse of the day, it's about loving your neighbor as yourself and not having a grudge against them. Do you remember the song from Fiddler on the Roof "Tradition"?

Well imagine that tune as you read this...CONVICTION, Conviction, Conviction.....

Father's Day

Sunday evening we "floated" into Salem, for a baseball game. It was pouring BUCKETS, until a few miles from the ballpark.

GO Volcanoes!

It didn't rain a single drop on us even with the ominus clouds looming over our heads.
We were prepared, with umbrellas, hoodies, quilts.......

Which gave the appearance of a unibomber cult.

The kids really had a fun time, and have been asking when we'll be going back.

There were huge plates of super nachos

and foot long hotdogs.

Josie's opinion is that there should also be foot long buns.

Thanks for making all of the arrangements, Kate.

Our peeps, as far as the eye can see.

Papa enjoyed himself.

Tori said, Papa must really like it, he's really LOUD.

????

Since it was Father's Day, I didn't pinch him too many times

for his emotional outbursts.