Flowers, Tea, Blackberries, etc.

Had the best helper to pick mint tea at my parent's home.  Lily!  She loved using the scissors at first and then putting the tea into the bag was fun as I handed it to her.  So much sun; grandma and grandpa's hat was a bit big.  She didn't quite know what to do with that opening in the hat.  She's getting so tall- is 3 1/2 years old.

 Thanks, Lily for the tea!  I steeped it tonight and am trying to grow it on my own.  It's getting there.

 Tea in the making...

 My mom also is one of the best gardeners I know.  Almost any good of what I'm doing I've learned from her. The above vase was one of my firsts a couple years ago.  The flower blooms on and off- have had this since Christmas!

 Here are my mom's flowerbeds.  These pictures don't capture it all.

 Just beautiful!

 This planter is so full!  I think my nephew and niece like to water it.  At least they like to do that when I'm around.

 My dad is also an artist.  Mom's a gardener; Dad's a woodworker.  This bird is happy living in this birdhouse that he made.

 Gave Mom these bowls over the past couple years.  Interestingly they've made a nest of bowls!

 Made a brief trip to PA to be with family and visit my grandma as her health isn't good.  She's 90 plus; I hope I have as full of a life as she has.  It was an extra special treat to spend time with these three and many of the rest of my family.  Here are Lily, Garrett, and Vanessa (their mom- my sister-in-law) picking some blackberries.

 More plants and flowers; the caladiums are gorgeous!

 More...

Back to the blackberries.  Garrett at 1 1/2 is learning to pick the black blackberries.  He's got a bit more to learn.  Isn't he the most handsome boy?  :)
Pottery-  well, it's good to be back and I plan to do that most of the weekend!

Kiln Dust Question

 Bisque firing and I'd like your wisdom about something.  First- not sure why the color is different in these two pics.  Different angle while taking the picture?  Still the pots have this beautiful pinkish bisque color.  All with the firing went well.  Am thankful!

 No cracked or broken pots.  :)  Here's my question.  As I unloaded the kiln I noticed this 'kiln dust', for lack of better words.  It's a thin dust that covers most of the pots.  Maybe it's from using a new furniture set--- of shelves and posts.

 On some of these I noticed a similar (maybe the same) dust as I unloaded these posts.  I wonder where it's from.

A bit hard to see, yet here it is- a faint dusting on my fingers.  Do I need to wipe down each of my pots before I put glaze on them?  Will make and test glazes first of course.  Just wondering if this dust will affect the pots as I dip them into glaze and then fire them.  Hmmm  Thanks ahead of time for sharing your wisdom!  It's great to learn from you blog readers...

Lime Meringue Pie- Homemade!

 Will unload the bisque kiln tomorrow.  It's cooled and all looks well.  Made this lime meringue pie from scratch (except for the graham cracker crust which is all natural too) tonight.  Recipe is from my mom, who is the best cook I know.  Here it is, pre-under the broiler.
Didn't have lemons, so I used limes.

 I was lucky that I even got to clean the mixing bowls.   Yum!

 Even used this old mixer that my mom used when I was a child.  I remember it.  It's still working- and I'm 35 + years old.  :)  I grew up eating this pie.  Some years asked for it for my birthday instead of cakes.  It's better!

Am already wondering why I don't make this more often!  Now, I will.  No, it's not burnt; just put under the broiler for a second too long!
Thanks for the recipe, Mom.  Will have pie for breakfast!

Mom's Lemon/Lime Meringue Pie

Filling:
 1 1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cup water
3 egg yolks
3 Tbsps butter or margarine
1/3 cup lemon or lime juice
1 Tbsp grated lemon/lime rind

Mix sugar and cornstarch in pan
Add water and stir til smooth.
Boil for 1 minute while stirring.
Slowly stir half hot mixture into beaten egg yolks.
Put egg yolk mixture back into pan
Cook 1 minute more (stir!)
Take off heat (stir)
Blend in butter/margarine mixture and lemon/lime juice and grated rind
Pour into pie shell.

Meringue:
3 egg whites
4 Tbsps. sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Add cream of tartar to egg whites and beat by hand.
Add sugar to egg mixture and beat by hand.
Beat with a mixer until the meringue is stiff.
Be careful to not beat too long!
Put over the filling in the pie shell.
Place under the broiler and watch CLOSELY!  It will brown quickly....
Chill.

Days Like This

 Two posts in one day!  I LOVE days like this.  A wonderful, lazy day--- Quiet, peaceful, with much silence.  Went on a walk even in this humidity- and the kiln continues to fire.  Here is part of dinner--- homegrown potatoes from my parent's home and salmon!  It's good that I like it dark; the fire usually isn't that hot.

Homegrown peas are risotto are still cooking.  The salmon and potatoes will have to wait a few minutes to be eaten. This is part of my food for the week- yum!  Think it looks much better in my pottery.