Apple Pie Success!

I'm not skilled when it comes to pie crust-making. Like a lot of people (it's a large club). I've just never been good at it. Which is why I only ever make pies that call for a bottom crust, so I can use my super easy press in the pan pie crust recipe.
Well, I brought home from work recently a Betty Crocker fall baking cookbooklet that has an apple pie recipe in it. The picture of that pie kept staring at me every time I looked through that book, daring me to make it. I finally decided, that's it, I am going to make that pie!
So I bought my Granny Smith apples and yesterday when I got home from grocery shopping, I took on the challenge of making an old-fashioned two crust apple pie. As you can see from the picture, it turned out so good! I had to give myself a big pat on the back.
I took on the apple pie challenge and succeeded! Now I wonder why I ever thought it was so hard. I just took my time and was patient making the dough and rolling it out.
I'm not going to post the recipe here because it was just your basic old-fashioned apple pie. But boy, was it good. I'm so glad I made it!

I have been Blessed!

Not once, but twice! Last week I received from our landlords a bucket full of cucumbers and tomatoes that they brought back with them from their recent trip to visit family in British Columbia. I'm going to be posting shortly the canned salsa recipe I made to use up some of those tomatoes. They are SO good!
Then, a few days ago, a fishing buddy of Jay's loaded him up with a whole bunch of fresh produce that came from a u-pick farm his wife volunteers at. We received grocery bags full of fresh green beans, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, and ziploc bags full of frozen strawberries, raspberries, and saskatoon berries(similar to blueberries).
I also ended up with one of these funny looking vegetables. It's called a kohlrabi. I've never had it before, but a little google research told me it tastes similar to a turnip. And I don't really like turnips. I've decided I'm going to make beef stew so I can chop it up and hide it in with all the other vegetables. I'm certainly not going to throw it away and waste it!
Just wanted to share my good fortune with y'all! I'll post that salsa recipe soon. It turned out so good!

Our Trip to the Devonian Botanical Gardens

Okay, so today I'm finally posting the pictures that I meant to post last weekend. Argh! I just get to doing other things and forget, and when I do remember I don't feel like getting on the computer.

Anyway, last Saturday Jay and I went to the Devonian Botanical Gardens which is just outside of the little town of Devon, about a 40 minute drive from where we live. I've been wanting to go there the past few years and finally we made the trip!

We had a good time, though it was too bad that this late in the summer a lot of the flowering plants had already bloomed and were done. But there was still plenty to see as you can tell from the pictures.
I think there are few things I love more than being outside and hearing the wind blowing through the trees. I could have just sat at one of the benches there and closed my eyes and just felt at peace.

It was a nice warm day with a bit of a breeze. Perfect weather. Hope y'all enjoy the pictures!