Blueberry Pie Oh My!

Greg gave the pie a big thumbs up!Best served warm with vanilla ice cream. Delicious.

Finished pie!

Ready to pop in the oven.

Rolling out the pie crust.

There are many great things about living in Oregon. One of them is the abundance of fresh berries in July. It seems there are stands selling fresh berries of all kinds on every corner. There are also many U-Pick farms in the area. I have grown my own raspberries and blackberries for years but have never been really sucessful growing my favorite: blueberries! I purchased the sweetest blueberries the other day at the stand down the street and decided to make a pie. Let me tell you it was the best pie I think I have ever eaten! It was very easy so I thought I would share the recipe. Pies=good old-fashioned happiness to me! XO

Blueberry Pie

You need pie pastry for a two-crust pie. You can buy a pie crust mix or frozen but I prefer my own:

For a 8' pie:

1 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening

4 tbsp. water

Measure flour and salt into a bowl and mix.

With a pastry cutter cut in half the shortening until the mixture looks like meal.

Cut in the remaining shortening coarsely until particles are the size of giant peas.

Sprinkle with water, a tbsp. at a time..mixing lightly until all flour is moistened.

Gather dough together with fingers and clean the bowl.

Press into two balls.

Roll out one slightly larger ball and line 8" pie pan. (See photo) Roll out remaining ball and cut into 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide strips to form a lattice after you fill the pie.

Filling:

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

5-6 Tbsps. cornstarch

4 cups fresh blueberries

1 tbsp. butter cut up into small pats

Dash of lemon if you like. (I did not)

Mix dry ingredients

Add blueberries to pie crust

Pour dry ingredients over 4 cups fresh blueberries

Sprinle butter pats on top of berries

Cover with strips to make a lattice on top pinching the edges together.

Bake at 4oo degrees for 45-50 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle a little sugar on top if you like!

Wait an hour to cut. It will still be warm. Serve with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream. Enjoy!

Among the lavender

One of my favorite summer traditions is going with my friend/neighbor Ginger to the lavender fields in Hillsboro, Oregon. We missed the Lavender Festival which was last weekend but that was okay since we had the whole field at Bishop House to ourselves! They work on an honor system there. You leave $5 in a jar (cash or check) and cut a basketful with the scissors they provide. It is peaceful and smells lovely. You can hear the bees buzzing away- hard at work. They leave you alone as they are in some sort of a bee trance which is good because Ginger is allergic to bee stings. Every year we run into the Swiss Parade as we are leaving. This year we got to tell the Sheriff that the parade was ready to start and to hit the siren! We then had a fantastic lunch and some laughs! I have a lavender infused house now and lots of plans for my lavender! XOXO

Today I stopped to smell the roses. It felt great! I hope you get a chance to do so yourself! If not literally than figuratively! XOXOXO

Oregon Summer, Oh how I love thee!

The girls at Enchanted Forest in Salem, Oregon

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you looked back and marveled at how glorious it was? I did this past weekend. It was if the stars were aligned and all was right in my world. The weather was near perfect (a bit hot but tolerable Friday) and my beloved Northwest was lit up in technicolor!

On Friday I took Laura and several friends to Enchanted Forest near Salem, Oregon. This is a an annual tradition for the Young Girls and we have done it every summer since Laura was 4. Her BFF Sarah has gone with us for most of those years and all of the girls this year went last year excepting Lizzy. We were able to introduce her to the this sweet place. Enchanted Forest is small and was built by a family and is not as fancy as some amusement parks but they do have a log ride and a forest full of fairy tale scenes. I am happy the girls are still enjoying it and want to keep the tradition alive. I am happy to take them every year! I will be one sad Momma if they outgrow it!

Laura and Lizzy after the log ride!

The next day we went to Portland Saturday Market. I had not been since the market place was remodeled last year. It seems there were even more artisans and sellers than before. The weather was picture perfect and the girls enjoyed a dip in the public fountain. We listened to some music and had our portraits done by the "60 second artist." He sketches a full portrait in a timed minute! I was also able to catch up with my favorite glass artist Brian of B Originals. (He made my fabulous red ring) He sold me some awesome pieces I plan to gift a few lucky July Birthday girls! We capped our day off with a terrific Mexican meal! I had so much fun this weekend that I did not mind spending my Sunday painting the kitchen! It looks awesome but that is another post! I hope you all were able to enjoy the weather and weekend where ever you were! XOXOXO Sending sparkles!

Let Freedom Ring!

I love a good sparkle!

Mississippi Mud Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream-A 4th of July tradition at the Young's!

The Young/ Thompson/Blajev Families

Hydrangeas = July

Laura's nails are decked out for the 4th too!

The House is all decked out for the 4th and is looking patriotic with it's new paint job!

Happy 5th of July! I hope you all had an extra FUN and SPARKLEY Fourth of July! I had a fun day filled with family, food, and fireworks. The 4th is my husband's favorite holiday aside from Thanksgiving and we always host a party. It is a casual event but it lasts all day and is capped off with lots of fireworks out front.

It was a bit cloudy and cool this year but I only recall a couple 4th's that have been warm in all my years of living in Oregon. We are expecing a heat wave this week which reinforces the saying that "Summer begins in the Northwest on July 5."

I will let my photos do the talking for now. I am so very tired. I had a little too much fun on the 4th if you catch my drift. (Think Margaritas!) XOXOXOXOXO