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Mar 15 2021

met my first-grade teacher via girltrunks

There is a voicemail message from a woman that says she was my first grade teacher. Her last name is Smith. I returned the call thinking, she is NOT my first-grade teacher as my teacher's last name was Leon. Well, we start talking and I say just that and she said, "That was me.  My married name is Smith." Well...I VERY MUCH REMEMBER her. I told her she was the pretty teacher that was stylish. I swear her voice squeaked in excitement as she said thank you.  Mind you, most teachers dressed rather matronly back then, so she totally stood out with her long blond hair and pretty dresses. 

Anyway, she was interested in getting girltrunks.  couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet her so we end up @Starbucks. She was standing outside and when I got out of my car and walked toward her, she said, "Debra, you look just the same."  I am thinking, I do not look at all the same, but how sweet of her.  We go inside, reminisce and catch up on each others lives. May I just say, it was quite lovely and rather special. 

So, I start bugging my mom to find my first-grade picture. The odd thing is, I remembered EXACTLY what I wore.  Oh, how I loved the outfit, a purple velvet dress with this furry-tie collar thing, not sure what that was about, but I am telling you, I LOVED it!

Then I see the class photo which is quite the humorous thing to revisit after all these years.  Much to my surprise, on the little plaque that accompanies class photos, is her name, "Mrs. Smith."  She will always be "Mrs. Leon" to me.

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Jul 21 2020

garden woes...

Okay...I have been more than a bit remiss in my blogging...it's just not automatic for me and how I wish it were. I have all these photos I have taken for blogging purposes and they sit on my phone waiting in line to be shared, and what a long line it is...ughh.

As I have shared previously, where I live there are all kinds of animals about and for whatever reason they really like partaking of my garden. It seems that they even love some of the flowers no others do. Let's take geraniums for instance - don't really care for them all that much, but I want some color and they are supposed to be a "safe" flowerWell...here was the normal state of my geraniums. I swear there were lots of buds, but the next morning... gone, gone, gone.     

 

Now...on the other hand, check out my Mother's geraniums...they look like shrubs. I have garden envy.

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Jul 29 2019

chilled peach soup from...

...Whole Foods it quite the treat - seasonal, delicious and so refreshing. 


If you are lucky enough to have a Whole Foods close to you, go purchase some. You can serve it before a meal, have it as a meal, a snack or even for dessert. I recently had a luncheon and served it to rave reviews. The season is short for the soup so while they have it, I always have a container or two in my frig. If you don't live close to a Whole Foods...guess what? You are in luck as I found the recipe on their site. Enjoy!
 

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Jul 29 2019

peach cream pie...simple...easy...and...

...so, so yummy. I absolutley LOVE peaches...my favorite fruit hands down and the season is way too short. You might be surprised (or not) to know that peaches are grown in Ohio and the best (in my opinion) are from Bauman Orchard in Rittman, OH.



For many years I have been getting Bauman peaches from Mustard Seed Market & Cafe (one of my favorite natural and organic grocery stores in the Cleveland/Akron area) and I am telling you, I have never had a mealy peach from them which is amazing. I went to Bauman Orchard for the first time last week and purchased lots and lots of peaches so I, of course, had to make Peach Cream Pie for the Labor Day picnic.



This recipe for Peach Cream Pie was given to my family from a family that owns a peach and apple orchard. I am not a huge pie fan but this one I love and it could not be easier to make.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
5-7 fresh peaches peeled and sliced
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 9" pie shell

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well mixed. Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with cinnamon. 

Cook at 450 degrees for 10 minutes then lower the temperature to 350 and cook for an additional 30-35 minutes. It is okay if it is a little jiggly in the middle as
it should firm up when cooled.

Enjoy!

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Jul 29 2019

a fabulous dessert to make with all those new jersey blueberries...

...Pound Cake with Blueberries and Lavender Syrup. The pound cake is outstanding on its own but do make the lavender syrup...well, well worth it. The syrup elevates the pound cake and takes it to a whole different level of delicious. I did not toss the blueberries in the syrup in the event that someone did not care for the lavender. Instead, I simply drizzled it over. I have served it twice to rave reviews...and everyone actually wanted the syrup.

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