Julie and Julia , Lemon Merinque Pie and The Garden

I've decided to treat myself to the movie Julie and Julia tonight but have a few minutes before I have to leave and thought we could chat.

In no time ~ you can make one of my favorite pies ~

Lemon Meringue Pie

I make it easy on myself by using the Durkee Lemon Pie Filling Mix like my Grama does .

Follow the directions for pie on the box.

This time I used Oranoque Orchards Pie Crust in the frozen section.

Making your own crust is perfectly wonderful to do ~ if time allows.

Once you've filled the baked pie shells with the filling ~ it's time to make the meringue.
I always double the meringue recipe on the pie filling box.

Put big fluffy piles of the meringue over the pie filling and fluff with a fork.

Bake according to directions on box.
I over cooked it slightly here but it didn't effect the taste at all!

Speaking of delightful eating ~

.....my lunch today was picked fresh from my garden.
I splashed with olive oil, a dash of rice vinegar, pepper and slices of fresh mozzarella.

And speaking of the garden ~
Here are some of the "firsts" ~

The green and red colors on this tomato is just beautiful!

These butterfly's were playing together on my lawn ~ bouncing into each other and flying happily around!

I'm back ~ The movie was wonderful!
It was especially fun as a blogger ~ to see what can happen by simply living out your passion.

I am posting this a couple weeks late.
After coming home from watching a Master chef baking everything from the finest ingredients
AND from scratch ~ put me to shame about using so much boxed and frozen items in my pie!

Then I remembered how many times my family and friends have enjoyed eating my pie.
My pie is worthy of a post after all!

Wonderful Day Kyacking With Franky in Rhode Island

I was so excited when my son invited me for a day of kayaking in Rhode Island ~ a less than 2 hour drive from our corner of Connecticut.
We left at 5:30 am do we have to and I was happy to do it!
The forecast was grey and rainy but the rain held out and we even had bit's of sun shining through.
My son and I feel comfortable just being quiet together at times.
We were mind full of all the amazing birds ~ singing and carrying on.
We found the coolest coral ~ I don't recall ever seeing it before!
The location was amazing ~ a bay on one side where we spent time in the boats ~ and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
After we put the kayaks back on his truck ~ we spent some time on the beach.
We were so hungry for seafood at this point ~ we left about 2pm and went to The Chowder Pot in Branford , Ct.
What a great meal and prices! PLUS ~ they serve baked potatoes at lunch time which racked up some big points for me!

Rhode Island Beach Link

The Chowder Pot

Treasures From Pat

"Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed;
our love to others, and others love to us."
T.Traherne

How did I ever get to be such a lucky girl?
I was supposed to pick a birthday gift from Pat's shop back in March but wanted
to "save" the fun for a special time .
The other day was that special time and in the blink of an eye ~
this Treasure arrived at my door!

AND this absolutely amazing cell or card case and charming "Shop Till You Drop" pin

AND all of these other treats including her hand dyed silk ribbon which is the best you will find.

PLEASE DO double click on the photo's so you can see up close the details!!!

The best part is the love that pours out of her work. It makes me cry every time ~ which my husband thinks is very funny ~ in a good way.

Teddi starts to lick me like crazy ~ not knowing they are tears of joy.

One of my favorite quotes reminds me very much of my special friend ~

whom must be rich in all the very best ways ~ if this quote bears any truth ............

Life begets life.

Energy creates energy.

It is by spending ones self that one becomes rich. s.bernhardt

Thanks you Pat Winter for making my life richer by your friendship.

Road Trip to Virginia ~ Tappahannock, Fredricksburg, Rappahannock River

A few weeks ago ~ I was thrilled to take a road trip ~ just me, myself and I ~to see family in Tappahannock, Va.
I wish I could have traveled by sea but instead ~

it was via the New Jersey Turnpike.
Of course I am used to the usual 1 hour back up ~ always around Exit 8 for some reason.

I only wish I had not been so absentminded about my gas.

I was on empty and miles and miles of traffic ahead in a dead stop.

I did what I always do ~ prayed and asked the Lord for some extra grace for not having filled my tank.

One hour later ~ I made it right to the pump.

HE never lets me down!

I arrived at Tappahannock, Va ~ 9 hours after leaving Connecticut.

I had never been here but could feel I belonged.

Many of my ancestors from both sides of my family were from this area ~ fishing the Rappahannock River and raising their family's up and down this stretch of Va.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Tappahannock.

This is a very small town and I didn't expect much but was pleasantly surprised!

It was spotlessly clean ~ many offerings for free including breakfast, pool, gym and computers in the lobby area.

The little Historic District was lovely.

This is the Rappanhannock River ~

I stopped my car under the bridge and tried to picture my ancestors going up and down this river.

It felt so wonderful to be here ~ kinda like having a dream of a place you loved when you were a child.

I felt like I was revisiting instead of visiting for the first time.
I had a wonderful visit with my family all day Saturday.

They are wonderful folks ~ down to earth, country through and through.

I left at dusk for the hour ride North to Fredricksburg, Va.

I arrived at dark so it took me a while to find my Inn ~ The Kenmore.

Many of the streets are one way so it was hard to find at night.

I was starving when I arrived but the only place that was still open to dine was the bar.

Oh darn ~ I felt funny going to a bar alone but hunger ruled. I remember thinking at 50 ~ I can do anything!

I ordered a salad ~ leaving my glasses in my room so the bartender had to read me the menu to me ~ how embarrassing.

After I ordered ~I noticed my glasses were hanging out of my shirt the whole time!

It was a very nice place and what interesting people !

I will start at one end of the bar and work my way around ~

- there was a woman who's Dad had been a pilot for many of our presidents.(Nixon was his favorite)

- A well known 80 something year old piano player and his attractive wife, (on his way out of the bar ~ he played a short but beautiful tune on the bar piano)

- a young couple who were celebrating there 1st wedding anniversary ~ both lawyers,

- a young cute curly haired kid who seemed to have consumed one to many energy drinks,

- a man who's brother in law almost beat the the Iron Chef on the Food Network.

We all had SO much fun and such lively conversation ~ I didn't get back to my room till midnight!

It was the most unexpected end to the most wonderful day ~ back where my life had began generations before me ~ I was home.

Now if only this could have been my house!

This was the chandler above my bed ~ (pic's of the room didn't turn out)

The dining room where breakfast was served ~

The front porch of my dreams ~ (I thought of my pal Pat Winter when I was sitting here)

After breakfast ~ I checked out early ~ left my car at the Inn as parking is difficult ~ and walked to the downtown area.

The homes along the way were beautiful......

with beautiful gardens to match.

I walked around for 2 hours in the 100 degree heat ~ waiting for the museums and shops to open

(it was Sunday)

...and ended up with a case of heat stroke!

I made it to one museum when I had to find an air conditioned restaurant and sit there for over an hour until I was up to driving.

I still had to drive to Lancaster, Pa that day so headed out on the road ~ ton's of traffic as I was in the Washington DC area ~ and prayed once again for God's grace and help to get me to my destination.

Here are a few other pic's I took in Fredricksburg before I got sick ......

gorgeous magnolia's.....

lovely alley ways ~ so common in these southern towns.

Even the trees are steeped in history.

By the time I reach Baltimore, Maryland ~ I started to feel better.

Just as I was within 20 minutes of my hotel in Pa ~ a terrible storm hit the area.

The black sky turned everything dark as night. Since I drive a convertible ~ I was concerned about falling trees.

I passed several but those wonderful angels kept me safe.

By 7:00 pm ~ I was rocking in the wooden rocking chairs on my hotel porch ~ as the sun pecked back out just in time for the sunset.

I reflected on the last few days, it truly did feel like such a wonderful adventure.

Tomorrow morning ~ I would be waking up in my beloved Amish Country.

Breakfast at the same place we always brought the kids. Their childhood seems as though it lives on here ~

I see their faces in the children whose glance I catch.

I feel their tug on my leg and hear there excitement as a Amish Buggy rides by.

Maybe it is these memories that draw me back to this place time and again ~ as much as it is my love for the people here.

for more info on the places I visited ~

http://www.baygateways.net/general.cfm?id=138

Rappahannock River

http://www.essex-virginia.org/ta_walk.htm

Tappahannock, Va

http://www.visitfred.com/

Fredricksburg, Va

http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/site/default.asp

Lancaster County, Pa