Intentionally moving about smartly

 

Howdy!

Today we take down the last of the Christmas decor, the tree. We put it up and put minimal decorations and not all the usual bling, it was nice and I'll miss the soft glow of the lights in the evening. The stairs in the house are becoming a problem for both of us, and the basement is where everything is housed.
 

50 degrees on Tuesday, sounds like a good thrift store drop off day. I've cleaned out the kitchen cupboard where the dishes & glasses are kept, organize it, and there is a box of things which are going away. My husband is a hoarder, tossing things out or donating is not something he does. I don't like clutter, he is a clutter king. How many travel tumblers does one need? So between today & Tuesday I should have a nice haul to drop off.

I'm trying to gently encourage him to go through things. I tell him that if for some reason we should have to pack up and go, a lighter load would be better, than dragging all that clutter to the next place. Sometimes it is best to throw an idea out there, and let him mull it over, rather than go on and on about it. I continue to organize, simplify, trying to set the pace by example. It's worth a try.   

 It is supposed to 50 degrees on Tuesday, which is fine for me to move about smartly, but not so good for my winter garlic, which I don't want sprouting again like it did last year. If it does, I may instead plant spring garlic.

 I am finished with the crochet vest, and now the trim will be put on. I've thought about making some mittens, which I've never done before, and I want to start on a St. Patricks day garland, all with yarn & thread I already have. We'll see, I'm ready for a change from the vest.  

Today, I've pulled out of the deep freeze some frozen rhubarb & strawberries from last year. Emptying the deep freeze using up what we have & then replacing with fresh is the order of the day.

A little summertime at the end of February

A simple joy, as it was intended when we purchased the concord grapes from the farmers market in Oct of 2022. We prepared them for the pie filling and all I had to do was pour it in the crust and make the streusal topping.

All the prep work done when the grapes were fresh.

  In my last posting I mentioned the Crow Canyon blue speckled pie pan, and the white enamel bowl with the red trim.   

Crow Canyon Blue Speckleware Pie Pan

Enamel Ware Red Trim

Enamel Ware Red Trim

Concord Grape Pie

Concord Grape Pie with Streusal topping

The posting about the day we purchased the Grapes can be found

Here

I always get a certain sense of joy when I try something I've never done, or accomplished a task which I've never attempted. I suppose we all do. It's just those darn simple things which are so abundant which brings us so much happiness. Now....I'm going to tackle that skirt and sewing machine.

~Faith~

Pie Time

Gerty says it's Pie Time!

My Vintage Pie Vent
 

We love peach pie here around my homestead. Years and Years I've picking up bushels of peaches to make pie. It is so good, and yet the work of doing it has become a wee bit more demanding. While I don't want to give up pie making, as I've finally got the hang of it, I'm taking a shortcut. ( of sorts)

When we would purchase them, we had to get the skins off, and slice them. That required boiling a large kettle of water, and immersing the peaches in there, after first slicing off the top. It didn't take long in the boiling water, and the skins would magically peel off. Then slicing and removing the seed, then making the pie shell.

Now, I just make the double pie shell, and I have found locally Amish Peaches already sliced in a large lovely jar that I can save for other storage items. We can peach pie more often if we want to, and it requires me only to make the crust. 

I've come along way with my pie making! I have a recipe which works for me now, and I stick with it. 

I notice weather has alot to do with the dough. Have you ever noticed that? 

Today, our windows are open, it is cloudy and rainy, the air is filled with moisture. My crust handled and roll out very nice. 

You can find the recipe for the vintage pie crust

Here  or you can look in the recipe box tab at the top of the page.

Thank you for stopping over have a really nice day!