Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Now I'm Stitching Some Folky Birds

Sorry this is so wrinkled. Bad blogger alert! I've been gradually working on it for weeks and I guess it just got stuffed willy nilly into my handwork bag when I was doing the prepared evacuation stuff. As I've been working on it, the wrinkles are falling out a little. No sense in trying to iron it though. It's just gonna get stuffed back in a bag unless things change soon.
Sunburst quilt and my very weird toes
The appliqued birds were a concern, but they look like they are gonna work just fine. Kinda funny faced, these birds, but perhaps a bit folky too? It's nice to see this project finally starting to come together. There's a long ways to go with it but every bit of stitching will eventually get to a finish some day in the future. There's been times I've definitely wondered if I had what it took to do this one. I've had such a hard time with this particular project, not being able to 'see' what needs to happen next. Originally this one was going to be an 'all applique' quilt, but now I'm reconsidering. Hopefully getting this middle piece done will help me make a more informed decision about where to go next.
Still more to do.....
We are still at level one {lowest} evacuation notice but the fire does continues to spread slowly in our direction. There's been an inversion and lower temps which helps keep the fire activity at lower levels, but still, not much containment so we are all very much on edge. The smoke in this valley has been almost insufferable and we are all very weary of not getting to see our lovely blue skies. My mom and dad left for Portland this morning which will hopefully give them a break and my mother-in-law left last weekend.

Much of the fire coming toward our town is in very rugged terrain, we are not a heavily populated area and plus, fire fighting resources remain in very high demand elsewhere. All of that just makes it a wait and see kind of situation for us. Basically the fire has to get down a lot closer to the Alta Lake housing area {scary for them as about 50 homes burnt up there just last year} before they will be able to put much manpower into making a serious dent in the forward movement of this particular part of the fire. And that's only four miles away from us.*whine, whine, whine....
Nectarine pie
Many new homes have been built up there since last years devastation and so many barely moved back in. Some for less than a month! I cannot even begin to imagine their distress. So I read, stitch a little and well.., yesterday I made pie. Gotta have some comfort food in these trying times. At some point I'm gonna have to pull myself together, get back in the office, and do a boatload of that book work that's piling up. But for now?

I use the same crust recipe my grandmother used, which uses oil and makes for a more rustic looking pie. The recipe is 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup oil {she used vegetable oil  but we use canola or olive oil}, 1/4 c. milk poured directly into the oil, and a dash of salt. Pour the liquid over the flour and salt; mix well with a fork. Add a tiny bit of water if the dough doesn't want to stick together and roll out into two crusts {top and bottom} between two sheets of wax paper. One layer of crust at a time of course! 

The filling for this nectarine pie is easy peasy: 4 1/3 cups of peeled, sliced nectarines, 1/4 c. cornstarch and 1 1/2 cups of sugar. Stir the cornstarch and sugar into the nectarines until they are well coated. Pour nectarine mixture into bottom pie crust and then cover with top layer. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until bubbling. About that--I cut a hole in the center and also make about 6 slits before baking, but it always helps to put a sheet of aluminum foil on the rack directly below the pie to help catch the wayward dribbles. It's a really fabulous pie--hot, cold and anywhere in between if you like pie like I like pie.*wink

31 comments:

  1. Have never had a nectarine pie before - peach & apple are my favorites. Love the quilt center - I'm guessing it'll be a medallion style quilt?

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  2. Pie for everyone. Our local news is filled with the anniversary of Huricane Katrina -- followed very shortly by Huricane Rita -- she was our wake up call. Disaster all around, but people do pull themselves up, are pulled up by others & life goes on. I hope the fires are being put out & safety soon surrounds all of you in the Northwest.
    I love your birds.

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  3. Every time I see your applique, it calls to me to try my hand, too. We are following the fires and hope the situation is contained soon. Thanks for the nectarine pie recipe. I love them but never made a pie with them. Just chicken salad. Yum.

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  4. Have all the pie you want!

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  5. Peach pie is one of my favorites (we won't talk about how many favorite pies I have), so I imagine nectarine pie is transcendent.
    Stitch, eat pie, repeat.
    Hoping you get enough rain to put out all the fires.

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  6. Your folky birds are looking good. Your pie sounds so yummy. Keep safe and I hope that the smoke & fire are very soon put out/under control.

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  7. I have never had nectarine pie - but then I'm not sure if I have had a nectarine!! sounds like the fire is getting closer, hope it turns or you have a good rain or whatever is needed! I can understand you mom and dad leaving the area - it must be very stressful for them too having just lost a house last year. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to leave! the quilt reminds me of some that I see from New Zealand and Australia - hard to describe - primitive folk?

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  8. Your appliqué is wonderful - so graphic and friendly. I hope the fires are contained soon. It must be so anxiety provoking for you...

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  9. I love this applique project of yours. I love the birds and the flower and the happy trees in the corners. I'm sorry you are having such a stressful time. I hope things change about that soon! The pie sounds fabulous! I love pie too :0)

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  10. Fingers crossed the fire situation ends soon. In the meantime I love how your appliqué project is coming along. Wish I had the courage to start something similar.

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  11. Love what you have going there! The birds make me smile! I can't imagine having the stress of a possible evacuation!

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  12. Reading this in the morning I wish that I had a slice of that pie for breakfast :)

    I like your birds :)

    Oh I wish that you all would have days and days of rain and put an end to this misery :( Thank you for the update ...will continue to pray!

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  13. Your quilt is coming along nicely and that pie looks delicious.
    Sorry to hear about the fire returning. I hope things don’t get too bad for you.

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  14. I am so sorry that you are having to worry about fires for weeks on end. The stress of it all must really be wearing you down. If I had to deal with that, I would be eating all the comfort food I could get my hands on! Keep quilting and sharing and know that we are out here sending you good wishes!

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  15. Your quilt is coming along nicely ... Your pie crust recipe looks exactly like mine ... I got the recipe from a TV show years ago and I have been using it ever since.

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  16. I like the birdies on the quilt. This has a very sweet color plan & will be fun to see it grow. Hopefully, rain is in the forecast for your area. We have a message board from a local church--that I pass all the time. They said to pray for relief & it is a great reminder that weather is constantly messing up somewhere. so I have been thinking of your family & surrounding communities on a daily basis. Love from the rainy/super hot & humid/low temp Midwest. That was just in a 48 hour period!! Glad Mom and Dad are safe. Have you seen the "new" antique botanical quilt by Dawn the Collector/Aunt Reen for the Virginia museum?? Some interesting applique happening there!! Happy weekend

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  17. I like anything with birds, especially quilts. I love your quilt colors too!
    Never had a nectarine pie but it sounds delicious.
    Fingers crossed for a rain storm to put out those fires!

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  18. The applique piece you are working on looks very much your style. I like it a lot.

    I have never heard of using nectarines for a pie. Must be similar to a peach pie. Wonder if they would be good for a cobbler. Seems like they would.

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  19. Your folky birds are super-cute. It will be fun watching this one develop. That nectarine pie looks like delicious comfort food. Have never tried nectarine pie but will be looking for some at the next farmers market. I hope the smoke has cleared out of the Portland area for your folks.

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  20. So sorry to read about the fire near you, it must be awful to go thru this again after last year. Love your project, very special. Take care.

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  21. Oh I love your quilt..I have been praying for all of u in fire zone...it must be so frustrating and scary... If anything I can do or u need anything..just email me...also love the birds! Lots of hugs Mary

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  22. We cannot get any relief from the smoke lately either. I cannot imagine how stressful that must be around your area. As much as I do not like rain, we NEED it!

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    1. Forgot to say, I adore your folk art birds.

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  23. Your applique piece is wonderful!
    Hope you get rain or something to fight the fires.
    Are you near Portland? My hubby left yesterday to go there to help his parents.

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  24. I am glad you are still hanging on, Audrey! I'm saying a prayer right now.

    And, I love those birds too! This quilt has always been looking really good to me -- I love the colours and all the fun shapes. Relax, it looks great!

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  25. Hope the fire will keep out of populated regions, so sorry for the bad situation.
    Yoru sunburst project is coming along so well and the pie looks delicious.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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  26. Love the birds. I'd probably love the pie. I've made plenty of peach pies but never a nectarine one. What an interesting crust recipe with the oil...my grandmothers both used lard and swore that is what made the crust flaky.

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  27. cute cute birds and that pie look delicious!! I love nectarines too

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  28. lovely applique design and work! don't apologize and i do not consider it whining at all...serious situation there with lots of ramifications depending on how things go....keep calm and quilt on!

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  29. The birds are working well - I keep thinking I must try applique (well, I think that every time I see one of your quilts!) and the pie sounds tremendous! You're not whining - you're letting off a little bit of steam while dealing with a stressful situation - and why not?

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  30. Your applique looks wonderful.. wrinkled or not. :-) The birds are really cute and folky - love them. Hope you enjoyed the pie and your stress is manageable in this difficult situation.

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