Thankful

This coming Thursday, in the USA, is Thanksgiving Day. It represents the beginning of the Christmas season and a day to be thankful.

Most seem to celebrate by gathering with loved ones and feasting on a wonderful roasted (or fried or tofu-ed) turkey with stuffing and sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes and gravy and cranberry sauce and pies and rolls and………. whatever food you love.

Others celebrate by shopping for Christmas. I did the major day after sale thing (aka Black Friday) only once. I. Will. Never. Do. That. Again.

I’m not a great shopper. That means that the task is not pleasant to me. Online shopping is wonderful.

Back to Thanksgiving. It is a time to be thankful. Well, it’s always time to be thankful. But this is the season that more people give thanks than normal.

Today I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus. He is my best Friend and always good.

I am thankful for my Family, and that includes the Friends that have become my family also. I have the best sons and daughters and grandkids a person could possibly ask for. I am thankful for my husband – even though he broke my favorite mug – he is the best for me.

I am thankful for my health and for my future. I am expecting mighty things to come to pass.

I am thankful for the one daughter I gave birth to and lost too early in life. BUT – I truly am thankful to have been her mom and known her. The memories I have are amazing.

Giving thanks, in general, brings smiles and peace to your heart. It’s a good practice and I believe opens the windows and doors to a better life no matter what your circumstances.

May your mouths and hearts be full of thankfulness this season and always. Give it a go! You may be surprised how your perspective changes over time.

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Enjoy!

Cate B

and another cuppa………

Hey! If you were coming over today to visit with me I would offer you a fresh cup of coffee – or tea – in a Pioneer Woman Mug – and cut you a slice of warm Apple Pie….

After we stuffed ourselves we would probably talk about the weather. It sure was windy yesterday and warm for November. Much cooler today and more on track for our location.

The conversation begins to shift and I can share with you how things are getting much better here in The Burg for me. I really like it here. I don’t see too many people outside the home but that is changing. We spent some time with a friend who became a brother the other day. I saw a whole new side of him that I didn’t see as clearly before.

I love when that happens, don’t you? I’m a bit of an observer (not the kind in Fringe). I try really hard to listen to people as they talk. I tend to hear between the words – their hearts. Not always. It can be hard and a bit foggy at times. I know I can be a bit guarded. I don’t always want people to see too much. That’s not always good. It has to go two ways if you want deeper relationships. Step out on a limb, take a risk, let some walls down. Trust………

Ugh, there’s another one of those “get out of your comfort zone things“.

Another slice of pie? Can I warm your coffee?

I could tell you I am looking forward to Thanksgiving week. No kids to watch (as much as I love them), sleeping a little later, watching a holiday movie that doesn’t involve princesses, Tinker Bell or Octonauts. It will be a week of baking for the holiday. More pies, a cheesecake, some homemade rolls.

Back to relationships. They are so much harder these days than when I was younger. More people work outside the home. Computers and smart phones have become so much of our socializing. But this getting together in person and enjoying pie and coffee with the company of each other, is really a good thing. It’s a slow process to get to know each other. Looking for our similar likes and dislikes. That just means that we need to do it again. Maybe Cinnamon Rolls next time!

If there is a next time. What do ya say? Am I worth it? Are you worth it? I say yes, you are worth getting to know. I hope you think I am………

Till next time…….. Enjoy!

Cate B

Let’s Have Another Cuppa………..

A fellow blogger started posting “if we were having coffee……….” on her blog site now and then. She starts off by stating the above and goes off from there about what you would possibly talk about. I thought it was such a great idea.

Since I like my site to be a place that is homey and warm I thought I’d do that now and then from the standpoint of what I stated in my “About” page: “I call this “Let’s Have Another Piece of Pie” because to me, pie represents more than a piece of incredible sweetness, but a moment of bliss with people you love. It brings to me a type of peace that flows and flutters around a room of nostalgia and contemplative thoughts – even if I’m alone at the moment. Add a piece of good home-made pie to those moments and you’ve got a recipe for joy!”

With that in mind, I actually made a pie yesterday. A savory pie. A Chicken Pot Pie as we call them in the USA.

So, if you came to my house, I would set a place for you and cut you a great piece of this pie and I would tell you how happy I am to have you with me. I would also tell you how I tend to be a homebody and rarely make the initiative to get together with people that I love. That is a downfall for me. But when I get together I just love it and reflect back on what a great time I had and my heart gets encouraged by the company.

I would pour you another cup of coffee or tea and ask how you have been. I really want to know. And how about those Kansas City Royals?

I would not bring up politics and hope that you wouldn’t – that just gets me in a tizzy!

More pie? Then I would tell you about my grand daughters that I care for while the kids attend University. I would tell you that I love being a part of their upbringing and giving them a safe and secure second home. I would also tell you that it is hard and some days I feel like I’m not doing anything for the greater good.

I know you would comfort me and encourage me and I would be looking forward to more times like this together with you.

So, next time I may just make a sweet pie. So much more fun with coffee. Thank you for coming by…….

Enjoy!

cate b

Around the Burg…….

We had a great time with Friends this weekend. We drove about an hour to a town that has a population of 159! Say what? Yes, 159. That’s one hundred fifty-nine people.

They have a restaurant that is famous for it’s pie. The lunch was also good. But best of all getting together with Friends is the whole pie! We went with a couple from The Burg and met up with a couple from Springfield, MO. Now the Friends have more Friends. I love to connect people.

After we left the booming town of Collins, with a population of 159, we took the old highway and enjoyed nature! The wildflowers were in full bloom and I was so caught up in the enjoyment of The Creator that I did not take so many pictures. Not to mention the two turtle crossing the road were left behind (much to their delight I’m sure).

Next stop, Osceola Cheese store! Samples galore of all kinds of cheeses. A must stop if you find yourself in western Missouri.

Without further ado, here are some photos.

Enjoy!

cate b

yes we are…..

sorry, Native Americans…….

Clinton, MO – a quaint town with MORE than 159 people

truly a treasure in Clinton

True Love – What Does It Look Like?

Each morning, with a cup of coffee as my companion, I read through the blogs that I follow. Always delightful to see the photos that are posted and the lovely words of fellow writers.

I have a new blogging friend. You can find him here: http://justmebeingcurious.com/ You should check him out. Always thought provoking.

Today, his post worked deep into my heart. It was about love. I got to thinking – “A dangerous past time, I know”, sung by Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. What is love?

Love is a word that, I believe, has lost something along the way. I LOVE peanut butter and chocolate. I LOVE the beach. I LOVE the sun and I LOVE the rain. I LOVE that guy because he looks good in jeans or that girl, etc. and so on. You get the point. That’s not the kind of love I want. I want to be loved back. Peanut butter and chocolate do not love me back.

As a Christian, I know what the bible says love is. God is love. I believe that. But what does that mean? To me, it means He is made of love, He is made to love and He is made to be loved. It’s not a light, on the surface kind of human love. It’s a love that goes so deep that I cannot see the bottom. It’s a sacrificial love. That is because I believe there is no bottom, no end to His love.

I believe that the living God gave the ultimate sacrifice for me, His son, Jesus Christ. I believe the trinity of God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit lives inside me. Therefore I should be full of love. But am I?

There is the beauty of LOVE. God gave us all a free will. I can choose. I chose Him and all He has for me……… but I fail daily. Heck, hourly, by the second. I am a frail human being. I’m not condemned for my failure in this lack of love – although other humans like to condemn me – but God does not. He still loves me.

I can on and on with what I believe, but the point I’m trying to make is – what does it look like to be loved?

I don’t think I need to agree with everything my spouse of forty years does. He doesn’t agree with everything I like or believe. It would be so boring if we agreed on everything. Probably wouldn’t have lasted forty years! But we love each other. Through all kinds of crap and flowery things. Through sickness and health, through poorness and richness. Through great loss and great new life. We choose to love each other. No matter how mad I get – and I do – I choose to love him

Now, why this post? I really want to love others. I want to look at the guy or gal who is full of hate and anger and totally thinks I’m out in left field — I want to look at them and love them. Love them no matter what. It is the hardest thing for me to do. To love someone who doesn’t love me back. Or even like me. But I have it within me to be able to do that.

Baby steps. One step at a time. Pick myself up, minute by minute, and try again. To love. To love as I am loved.

I just pulled a pumpkin pie out of the oven – made with honey and love. Have a piece with me and let’s talk about love.

Enjoy!

cate b

Happy Birthday To Me

I have written before that I just love my birthday! I’m beside myself with joy. I rarely get presents simply because that’s not how we roll in our family. We enjoy each other and eat and if any one wants to buy gifts we do – not because we have to. Such freedom to love.

So, today is my birthday and I am older! I went out for Pie with my good friend D.

I had Gooseberry Pie for the first time in my life and I loved it. Tart and yummy! And this pie shop is so quaint. http://www.uppercrustpiebakery.com/

Myself - ackwardly trying to take a pic with D — Myself – ackwardly trying to take a pic with D

And then we went to 10,000 Villages. If you haven’t been to a 10,000 Villages store then you really need to find one. They are so much fun to see the crafts from all over the world and the history of these stores can be found on their web site: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/about-history/

And because it’s my birthday I give to YOU a weekend song:

Ugh!

I’m sitting here with a pile of papers on both sides of me and my Macbook. Yup. The papers are printouts of writings I’m trying to edit and eventually put into a book. This is so hard for me. I can see in my head how I want it to look but the carrying out of this project is difficult for me.

During my career in elementary school through high school I found this part of reports and such the most difficult. I just want it to be done. I did not establish good research techniques back then and it is so hard now. I was handed a set of encyclopedias (google that word if you do not know what they are) and a library card and left totally on my own to figure things out. Sigh. That was pretty much my childhood in a nutshell. The results of such an upbringing? I have incredible insight and abilities to figure things out on my own. Which, by the way, only leads to more independency. I have within me the ability to achieve really good grades but was average because of the lack of drive……

Lunch sounds good right about now. Oh look. The sun just came out. Maybe I’ll…… wait.

I need to get this going! It’s not even Writer’s Block – I have it written. I just need to put things together. Add and subtract words and thoughts……. pie sounds good too today.

Wait! I saw this refrigerator:

Isn’t it great? I may need this….

after I complete this book!

http://theverybesttop10.com/2013/06/10/amazing-refrigerators/

Enjoy!

cate b

I May Need to Make a Pie

I love to make pie. I love to see the faces of people who eat pie. It’s so wonderful and fulfilling to produce a baked good that gives others such joy! I had a brilliant – NOT! – idea to make and sell pies. I made many at Thanksgiving and reaped in the money. But each time I do that I am constantly thinking, “What, are you crazy?” It’s a lot of work and I put love and creativity into each one. I’m not so sure it’s worth it as a very small home business. I suppose if I had a commercial kitchen and people who loved to make pie as I do we could have a team thing going and really do well. Not so sure I want to do that. So, I will make pies whenever the demand for or the orders come to me. No problem.

So in 2 days I will be in a car with my husband and son and daughter and their daughter (a 2 year old) on a journey to the east coast. We will stay with our other son and family and I will make them a pie! And we will eat that pie! And we will enjoy that pie! And I will go to the beach and rest and contemplate about that pie and all the joy it brought people and I will be at peace (at piece).

This one is Strawberry Rhubarb. One of my most favorite!

Enjoy!

cate b.

Speaking of Pie …….

Kirk's Inspiration — Gotta have a piece of the pie.

My youngest son, Kirk, suggested this pie to me. I love to come up with new recipes inspired by family and friends. I’ll post the recipe further down.

Speaking of inspiration ……. I live in a mid west city that is just that. The culinary aroma of Kansas City, MO is wonderful. I’ve never seen so many different styles and types of food in one small area – maybe New York. And because of the diversity here I believe it inspires even more diversity. You can think I’m weird, I’m OK with that. What I’m saying is that this area seems to send off a “vibe” of creativity that can boggle the mind. I, myself, have come up with flavor combinations that I never would have tried in my last town.

Some of my inspiration here in KC has come from the likes of Christopher Elbow and his phenomenal flavor combinations in his chocolates. Yes, i said chocolates! Best I ever had! Blanc Burgers and Bottles inspire me with their combinations in their burgers! And then there is Soda Vie – unbelievable flavors of homemade soda – particularly the Fennel flavor I had at a wedding. It’s endless here I think. I have had my senses awakened the last three years and there is no turning back.

So about the pie my son inspired. I call it Kirk’s KiBerry Pie.

The crust I got from The Pioneer Woman – Ree Drummond who apparently got it from Sylvia.

Sylvia’s Perfect Pie Crust

Added by Ree on June 19, 2009 in Desserts, Pies

Prep Time 45 Minutes
Cook Time

Servings 1

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

1-½ cup Crisco (vegetable Shortening)
3 cups All-purpose Flour
1 whole Egg
5 Tablespoons Cold Water
1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
1 teaspoon Salt

Preparation Instructions

In a large bowl, with a pastry cutter, gradually work the Crisco into the flour for about 3 or 4 minutes until it resembles a coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat an egg with a fork and then pour it into the flour/shortening mixture. Add 5 tablespoons of cold water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir together gently until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Separate the dough into thirds. Form 3 evenly sized balls of dough and place each dough into a large Ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin, slightly flatten each ball of dough (about ½ inch thick) to make rolling easier later. Seal the bags and place them in the freezer until you need them. (If you will be using it immediately it’s still a good idea to put in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes to chill.)

When you are ready to use the dough to make a crust, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for 15 minutes. On a floured surface roll the dough, starting at the center and working your way out. (Sprinkle some flour over top of the dough if it’s a bit too moist.) If the dough is sticking to the countertop use a metal spatula and carefully scrape it up and flip it over and continue rolling until it’s about ½ inch larger in diameter than your pie pan.

With a spatula, lift the dough carefully from the surface of the counter into the pie pan. Gently press the dough against the corner of the pan. Go around the pie pan pinching and tucking the dough to make a clean edge.

Now, you want to bake this in the pan before adding the filling.

While crust is cooling combine:

1 package of softened cream cheese (8oz)

vanilla (about 1 tsp)

Granulated sugar (I did it to taste – sorry)

Heavy cream (Sorry again – I gradually added the cream til good consistency)

Combine til smooth and thick.

Put 1 layer of sliced kiwis and strawberries on bottom of cooled crust.

Pour filling over and top with more fruit.

Refrigerate and enjoy when completely cold.

Ta Da!

I am sorry for not having detailed measurements but i literally “threw it together” as my son spoke of this delectable combo. I hope it works for you or better yet that you can improve it and win a contest and go to Jamaica or somewhere pie related.

I am a very creative person – meaning my mind is always creating – whether my hands carry it out or not is another story. But boy, is my mind busy. I love to bake and as I’ve mentioned in previous posts I love the whole concept of PIE. It just puts a smile on most people’s face when you say the word PIE or the sentence, “I’ll bring a pie”.

What’s Your Passion?

A dear friend asked me today what makes me come alive. What things do I do that excites a passion in me. It didn’t take long to answer her. I love to bake, and I love the great outdoors. I smile when I make pie! And I get absolutely giddy when I walk in the woods or along a beach and discover every bit of creation I possibly can! And on top of that, I LOVE to make others aware of these discoveries. I’ve actually had to restrain myself from grabbing someone by the shoulders, shake them, slap their head and say, “Wake up! Can’t you see or smell all this delicious nature all around you?!?!?! Or smell and taste this wonderful pie – and savor every bite?!?!?!?!”

Whew! That just got me going all over again! What is your passion? What makes YOU come alive? Why not take the time, right now, to stop what you are doing and THINK – what is it that makes me come alive? And then go another step – do it. Take that first step to do what you have a passion for (if you’re not already doing it). It may be small at first but no matter, just begin. I do believe your life will become so much brighter because THAT passion is what God put in you to begin with and HE gets happy when we do what He made us to do.

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Ingredients

Preparation Instructions

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