The Peachiest Pie

One of my favorite pies this summer has been peach pie,  and we've enjoyed a few because the season has just stretched out this year.

So, I thought I would share my recipe.

Crust for 1 double crust pie:

1 2/3 cups flour

2/3 cups Tenderflake lard

1 teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons cold water

1 egg separated

Filling:

7 - 8 peaches

1/2 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons minute tapioca

3 Tablespoons flour 

2 Tablespoons lemon juice 

• Cut lard into dry ingredients with pastry cutter.  
• Mix yolk into water and pour over crumbly mix. 
• Stir with a fork, until dough comes together and there is no more loose flour in the bowl. Do not add more water, just keep stirring. =)
• Press into a ball and cut in half. 
• Roll out bottom crust. 
• Beat egg white with a fork, and brush some on the bottom crust to seal. Cover with damp paper towel while it sits, so it remains moist.
• Roll out top crust. Cut a number of slits or a hole in the center. Cover with damp paper towel while it sits. 
• Mix peeled and sliced peaches with lemon juice and combined sugar and thickener. Fill bottom crust, then cover with top crust. 
• Fold top crust over bottom crust and flute. You can also to the reverse, folding the bottom crust over the top crust. Brush with remaining egg wash. 
• Bake in lower third of oven at 400 F for 15 minutes. Turn temerature down to 350 F and bake another 50-60 minutes, or until bubbles come out of the slits/hole. 

tip: if it looks like juices will be dripping over the side of the pie, you can place a cookie sheet underneath, but it's best not to bake it that way from the beginning because it may keep the bottom crust from baking well. 

As I'm writing this out, I realize that the amounts in this recipe do not allow for any waste. If you prefer to have room to play, or are using a deep dish pie plate, use 3/4 cup lard and 1 3/4 cup flour. Same amounts for the rest. If needed, add an extra tablespoon of water but no more. 

For a lattice top, roll out a circle the size of the pie and cut strips. Taking every other one, lay them across the fruit going in one direction. 

Lay the rest of the strips the other way, lifting the bottom ones to braid or weave them in. This does not take long at all.

Fold strip ends into the side. Cut longer ends and fill where needed to create a good edge to flute. A small 'trench' will help keep the juices from running over. 

Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with a dusting of sugar.

At this point you can freeze the pie, (uncovered until frozen)

and have ready to bake another day, from freezer to oven. 

(Increase baking time by about 10 minutes.) 

Pie is done when it bubbles in the center. 

Allow to sit about 1 hour before serving. 

🤍🤍🤍

Aufwiedersehen and Lingering Memories

 

Once again we have said our goodbyes, the number leaving, down to three. 

This may be easier for us, but more difficult for them,

knowing there is no shortcut to Indonesia or back.

As parents we have felt the emotions of letting go, 

and now we see our kids going through the same. 

On September 3 Paeton moved into the dorm at Columbia Bible College nearby

and on September 11 Tehya moved into housing with Lifeteams.

Meanwhile, the rest were in moving mode as well,

joking that our place looked like a refugee camp. 

The scene of bins, suitcases and hockeybags spread out 

always sets off some emotional triggers, as it shows the reality of what will be,

a process that one could compare to labor,

giving birth to new life yet again. 

But before we head into what will be, 

I want to go back to some special moments this summer.

We celebrated Julene's birthday at Revive Social House,

a dreamy setting for a special occasion.

At this moment I'm so thankful for any and every opportunity we took 

for a quick walk around the block,

for a trip to HomeSense or Ikea and a simple lunch out that includes scones. 

She also loves her coffee. 

One day we went to the cemetery

where we visited both sets of grandparents' graves. 

Missing Oma's celebration of life this past January was hard. 

Makenna ... what can I say, but that it's been the best summer with her ever!

We have loved getting to know her as a teen!

My first memory is of when we snuck off to the mall, almost immediately,

and how much fun she had selecting a few things at Ardene's.

I enjoyed seeing her express how we have so much available to us,

feeling it strange to hear people speak English,

and especially not to know everyone who is white. 

I loved seeing how she quickly became good friends with cousins closest to her age.

There is something about family. So much fun they had! 

One Sunday afternoon we took her to the local sunflower fields.

This too, was another way of just seeing who she was.

It seemed like she took in everything with the thought in mind 

that soon we cannot do this, so we will just enjoy everything while we can. 

This girl is also a wonderful baker, always eager to help!

She's a painter, plays the guitar and has a beautiful voice,

You'll see her doing cartwheels almost any time she runs out the back door. 

She and Papa had fun going for bike rides.

She and I got our nails done together

and enjoyed episodes of Downton Abbey whenever we could. 

These memories are like a take home bouquett

that will not fade too soon.

A favorite meal is Sunday afternoon Faspa. 

On this Sunday we made it more of a casual charcuterie style dinner on the porch.

A special memory now. 

We celebrated more birthdays

and a taste of Thanksgiving just before they left. 

My view here filled me with so much joy and gratefulness,

sitting with all of our grown kids around the table

while taking peeks at what was going on at the next. 

After dinner the adults went to sit outside, partly because it really was loud inside.

Wouldn't you know it ... the kids soon followed us out,

figuring they would 'surround' us with a rap/song they had just made up.

The photos are blurry because I took screenshots from a video, posted here 

but the memory is another one I laugh about and cherish for all it tells me. 

Furloughs have become a part of life for us,

 a time when we are happy to put some of normal life on hold,

to be intentional, seizing the days.

It's a time for them to get in their medical appointments,

and restock on items they can't get where they live,

to renew relationships, 

to share with their sending churches and supporters,

and to rest from the stress that comes from living in a foreign culture.

 

Despite goodbye tears,

I'm learning just how blessed we are

to be able to share in this venture as a family

and to experience God's amazing grace in all of it. 

Hello September

 

I'm always a bit sad when long summer nights get shorter by the day

and the sunrays begin to have a fall feeling, 

even knowing that I love fall with all it's vibrant colors.

But before I say goodbye to summer,

I want to show you how my golden rudbeckias have grown in these two years.

They bring a lot of joy to me. 

I've enjoyed switching up arrangements from the garden every week.

The globe thistle is one that lasts a long time in a vase and sometimes

I see the stems are not even in water anymore 

and they have turned into beautiful dried flowers. 

This sedum and hydraengea arrangement brightened up my table for a while. 

My mom's rose bush, which we call, Oma's roses, has had it's best season ever!

And the scent is amazing!  If only it could be bottled.

I cut several bunches of panickle hydraengeas and they usually didn't last long

but they sure were fun to photograph! 

The globe thistle again, with some whispery daisies that I don't know the name of. 

Okay, I looked them up, but the name is not one I'll remember. 

It took a long time for my mix of wild flower seeds to sprout among my lavender 

and,  even when they did it was hard to tell if they might just be weeds,

but eventually they came up. Mostly gangly poppies. 

And here I am back to the black eyed susans, 

almost crawling into my bedroom. 

I will miss their cheery good morning,

but it's so good to know they will come up again next year. 

A Sunny Saturday on the Sea

We were very excited when our new neighbors (as of two years ago) 

invited us to go with them for a day on their boat.

We drove in together to North Vancouver and parked at Mosquito Creek Marina. 

I was enthralled with the beauty of these little houses on the marina

along Jerry (Kanaka) Nahanee Way.

It felt like a little taste of Europe. 

In modern style. 

We had a fun tour of the boat and watched them get set to launch.

There's a rhythm they have by now. 

We passed by some well known landmarks in the Burrard Inlet

and headed toward Second Narrows Bridge, 

which looked so beautiful from the water. 

Another view, with the wake.

We continued cruising up the Indian Arm, past Deep Cove. 

Our lunch was a jointly packed lunch of chicken, potato salad, carrot salad,

rolls and cheese. Why does everything taste better when shared like this? 

We stopped off at the home of our neighbor's sister

who lives right on the coast, with only water access.

We had a lovely visit there. 

On the way back I enjoyed the view and the sun on the bow. 

The mat felt like a bed and when I laid back, I fell asleep.

I don't know if that is being good company,

but that's how comfortable it was. 

I do not often share about times with friends,

but they are such an important part of life,

going through the hard and the good -

 there for each other in many ways. 

Old friends and new friends ...

and all who come by here, so very special. 

A Grand Weekend in August

One weekend we had Ben and Kari's kids here, 

with Makenna and Evy added in for parts. 

Friday night we joined thousands of other locals 

for the annual symphony in the park.

There's nothing like musical selections of our favorite classial movies,

such as Phantom of the Opera, Bring him home from Les Miserables, 

 or Nessun Dorma floating into the open air.

Members of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra danced the tango while playing Libertango. 

Amazing talent all around. 

Saturday morning we enjoyed waffles with vanilla custard, strawberries,

and/or homemade raspberry syrup with whipped cream.

Teddy was especially full of smiles. 

Jade spent some time trying to figure out what to do 

with the rope she asked Papa to tie to the tree. 

We all played pickle ball. No pictures. 

Whatever paints I had, got hauled out to paint rocks. 

I found little notes (typed on my old manual typewriter) 

alongside some special rocks set aside as gifts. 

Makenna and Lacey tried out our bikes and blue tooth helmets.

It feels so crazy that they can just take off on their own now. 

My favorite memory of them is finding them looking through my fridge/freezer,

late in the afternoon, looking for Eggo waffles!!

When I asked if they wanted some blueberries to go with the whipped cream,

they replied with ,"No, nothing healthy."

I love this pre/early teen stage. 

Dinnertime included Papa entertaining them with stories. 

Sunday morning we all headed to church.

They get themselves ready on their own

and help each other where needed.

This reminds me of the salon they set up one afternoon.

After the younger ones had their hair and make up done at the "salon"

they rummaged through the dress-up bin and came up for a fashion show.

I have a feeling these days are fleeting.

Especially when I see those little princess dresses getting rather small. 

They all love games ...

whether they are outside games, or board games.

Notice that some winners know how to do the winner's dance quite well!

It was a weekend that came up spur of the moment,

so easy and fun! 

 

Sixty-Five

August 17, 1957 was a bit of a scary, but exciting day for my parents. I was two weeks early. My dad only had a bicycle to take my mom to the clinic I was born at, a small place in Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay. He was right there, all in, assisting the labor nurse. I was born with the cord around my neck and quite blue, but on that day I breathed my first, and have seen God's continued hand on my life through every season. 

By this time I've learned that the seasons are short, so we need to pray through the hard and savor the good in each. Don't rush. The only thing that lasts forever is God's Word, His faithfulness and His abiding love! I have no idea how I'd manage life without knowing this.

So very grateful for His care from the moment I was born until the moment He calls me home.