{ is it really july }

Weather: We could not have asked for a more beautiful day here. It is sunny and warm with a perfect breeze. We have had the windows and back door open all morning. The sounds of outside are filtering through the house; happy birds that live in our overgrown Bougainvillea plant, cars passing by and the whistle of the afternoon train heading north through town.

On My Mind: How is it that one day something can really bug me and other days I could care less? My house is clean, with the exception of toys all over the living room floor. Goosie is down for her nap and I would usually rush about picking things up. Today I am able to glide past them as if they are tucked away neatly where they belong. Go figure.

Daily Knitting: I pulled out yarn for a new project. Shame on me!

Cooking: Goosie and I decided we should make pie today. I had purchased some peaches and had some apricots laying around that needed to be used. I pulled out (and dusted off) The Pie & Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum. If you are unfamiliar with this book, I highly recommend it. It is 2" thick and chock full of information and wonderful recipes. I especially love her Flaky Cream Cheese Pie Crust recipe. Anyway...

I learned something new today about peach pie and how to avoid excessive liquid. Ms. Beranbaum is a genius! Here is an excerpt:

"Place the sliced peaches in a large bowl and sprinkle them with the lemon juice. Sprinkle on the sugar and salt and toss them gently to mix evenly. Allow to macerate for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 1 hour. Transfer the peaches and their juices to a colander suspended over a bowl to capture the liquid. The mixture will release almost 1 cup of juice. In a small saucepan (preferably lined with a nonstick surface), over medium high heat, boil down the liquid to 1/3 cup... Pour the syrup over the peaches, tossing gently."

What started out as peach/apricot pie quickly became a fruit menagerie; I did not have enough fruit filling. Luckily, fruit is usually abundant around our house. Goosie decided we should add blueberries. I decided to add raspberries and an apple for good measure. I promised someone a small slice when she wakes up from her nap.