Peachy Pie Bars

     On hot summer evenings, Pop "needs" his ice-cream fix so I thought a complimentary treat would be nice. For no special reason except that peaches are in season, I picked a new recipe for baking this weekend. (The peach crop in our part of the Midwest was hit hard by the severe winter and some of the orchards reported a 40% loss in fruit, but thankfully prices haven't risen sky-high - yet!) Perhaps another reason is that Pop LOVES pie as much or more than ice-cream. Anyway this dish differs a bit from a traditional pie because the crust contain an egg and is crispy yet slightly fluffy.

      Fresh peaches were added to a simmered sugar sauce and spiced with a big pinch of cinnamon and a little pinch nutmeg, and then spread over the bottom crust. The top crust was put in place and sprinkled with a drift of white sugar. A summer plus was that the bars baked in half the time a pie would have taken. After cooling completely, our peachy treat was cut and ready to eat. We thought that perhaps we would be saving calories by eating squares smaller then a pie wedge, but sabotaged that theory by having seconds!

The Sun's So Bright

     Because Dunc loves to hang his head out the window when riding in the truck, Pop thought it prudent to protect his best friend's eyes. A pair of doggie goggles seemed a good idea and fit well, however, Dunc will only leave them on long enough to get a treat and perhaps for a photograph!

Phone Stand

     After we painted the walls in the dining room, I found a simple iron and wood stand to place near an outlet. Its main purpose was an out-of-the-way place to hold my phone while it charged overnight, however I am equally thrilled that the stand became a pleasing accessory to the room's decor. Since the drapes and the area rug are predominately a dark red, I searched through my books and gathered some matching volumes, which then were bound with a wire-rimmed ribbon. A decorative metal milk can that is usually part of my autumn decor, was placed on the lower shelf and filled with a spray of greenery. Love my little phone station!

Miss Molly and the Turtle

     On a recent weekend, there seemed to be more than the average number of box turtles crossing the road, which made me wonder what was on the other side. Anyway we rescued one that narrowly escaped the tires of our truck and brought it home for the neighbor kids, who love wildlife of any kind. Before we turned him over, however, there was a momentary encounter with Miss Molly. I was a bit cautious because I wasn't quite sure what her reaction would be, but I needn't have worried. She only gave that bold wee reptile a passing glance - sometimes she is just the haughtiest little thing!

Bacon-wrapped Grilled Meatloaf

     Not your ordinary Sunday meatloaf, this entree was chosen by Pop from an episode of one of his favorite television series - Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I prepared and baked the meatloaf early in the day, refrigerating it till late afternoon, when it was sliced and a strip of bacon was secured around the perimeter of each piece. The slices were then taken out on the patio and placed on a medium hot grill. On the stove, fresh quartered mushrooms were sauteed in butter for a sauce, sliced onions sizzled to a crisp and potatoes boiled in preparation for mashing with a bit of cheddar cheese. When all the components were ready and piping hot,  a serving of the mashed potatoes was scooped onto each plate and topped with a slice of grilled meatloaf . The mushroom-butter sauce was ladled over and lastly the entrees were garnished with a generous share of crispy onions.  SO not low-fat or low-calorie or even health-conscious, but, oh my, so good!

Pink Farewell Cookies

     A cherished co-worker had given notice that she would be leaving for a position in another office, so of course, a "going away" party was organized. On Carrie's last day, we shared a delicious lunch, lots of laughs and good wishes. I contributed dessert, which was a a lovely box of spice cut-out cookies decorated in white and pink icing. She was thrilled with them and only a single cookie remained at the end of the day...good-bye cutie-pie Carrie!

The Donkeys

     The previous mentioned road trip took us through a small corner of Gasconade County, Missouri. It is pretty country with lots of family farms, hilly vineyards and a smattering of small towns. Occasionally we pass a few horses or cows, and less often sheep or goats, but on this day we happened upon a small herd of donkeys, grazing in the middle of a grassy pasture. We parked on the roadside, called to them, and immediately they lifted their heads to peer at us. Then the friendly little fellows trekked to the fence, where they stared at us and we admired them. After a few photographs, we bid the herd goodbye and were back on our way. I remarked to Pop that I thought they were adorable, but he thought they were asses!

Blue Barn with Quilt Block

     On a road trip that took us through Franklin County, Missouri, we passed this interesting barn on Highway 100. Pop has become accustomed to my penchant for photography, and immediately turned around and pulled off the road. I was intrigued with the overcast sky and the weathered gray and blue siding which served to highlight the brightly painted quilt star high above the barn doors. And I am glad Pop is so well-trained.

Oxalis

     A green and a purple oxalis are Pop's pride on the back porch. The trefoil leaves are delicate - the purple variety has pretty variegation - but the fragile looking flowers are just exquisite. So although these shamrocks were a gift on St. Patrick's Day, these symbols of Ireland continue to delight throughout their growing season.