How could it be that a month has flown by and I’ve not sat down to write about pies? Actually, there are many reasons, most notably my Dad’s hospital stay and subsequent recovery. This experience has been exhausting for both of us and I guess this is my main excuse for not writing. However, that has not kept me from baking!
Dad is getting stronger each day and as you can imagine, much of my summer has been focused on his care and recovery. However, if you know me at all, you know that I have found time to make quite a few pies. Truly, I think that baking has helped me to keep a positive focus.
The first pie I made during this last month was a quiche for my Dad’s surgeon, Dr.Monte Stewart. I greatly appreciate all of the time and care that he gave to my Dad. (I also brought Banana Blueberry Muffins to the nurses at Asante Ashland. They were so wonderful… I can’t thank them enough!)
A short time later, I made a gluten-free blueberry peach pie for my friend Marcia because she is always doing things for others. I found her at home recovering from a minor surgery and really in need of a pick-me-up. It made me glad that I was able to do that for her and I just love when this project works out like that!
Yet another quiche was delivered to a friend who is caring for her ailing husband. I love them both dearly and any time they allow me to bring food I feel honored to be allowed into their close family circle.
At the end of July my Dad celebrated his 79th birthday. As he was (and still is) in a skilled nursing facility, I brought him a pizza “pie” to share with some of the other clients there. When I walked into the dining room, I overheard a woman named Linda say to her friend, “She’s (referencing me) is my new best friend.” Then Linda wheeled herself over to my Dad’s table and quietly waited. After I served Dad and his table mates, I turned to Linda and said, “Are you my new best friend?” She seemed surprised but then smiled as she realized I’d heard her… and then graciously accepted a slice of pizza.
After the pizza was served, I gave out slices of Raspberry Peach pie. The moans of delight coming from those folks was music to my ears!
Then there was the Paleo-Peach Pie that I made for a friend who is experiencing major challenges. This pie was my way of recognizing and supporting her during this trying time. Here is the
recipe that I found on
http://www.scrawnyWOD.com.
Last week I made another raspberry peach pie… and delivered it to my friend Robbin. Years ago she was part of the Conservation Commision (her area of expertise is water conservation) and more recently she has been helping my friend Claudia with estate sales. A short time ago I was at one such estate sale and found several pie dishes there. When I asked Robbin how much they were, she took them to Claudia to ask. Later I found out that Robbin had bought them for me! I really don’t know what she thinks I need pie dishes for….but I wanted to thank her for thinking of me just the same!
As we chatted, I told Robbin that years ago another woman had told me that she had quit baking (and began painting) because she saw baking as a “temporal” art. For a while that made me sad because it’s so true. The things that I bake are here today… and gone tomorrow (if they last that long).
Yet temporal though they may be, over the last few years I have learned that some of these gifts of pie are remembered long after the pie has been eaten. Perhaps like the butterfly effect, each pie, though small, may have more impact than I can ever realize. It’s not a bad thing to hope for anyway!
The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.
Rabindranath Tagore
And lastly, a silly picture of my family… I am one lucky lady!
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Tags: "Temporal" Art, Asante Ashland Hospital, Banana Blueberry Muffins, Butterfly Effect, Dr. Monte Stewart, Marcia, Paleo Peach Pie, Pizza Pie, Raspberry Peach Pie, Robbin, www.scrawnyWOD.com
Pie a Day Give Away 
Glad to see your post! Missed them! Thanks for all you do for so many. Sometimes I think you are hiding the angel wings you surely must have under your dresses. When you get a chance would you email me djlwright@yahoo.com your Dad’s full name and address. Silas and I would like to send him some cards.
You are too sweet! I will send the address… thank you both for thinking of him!
What a wonderful post! Sounds like your dad had more than the usual gall bladdar surgery….so sorry, but glad he’s progressing. That “family self-ie” was PERFECT! So nice to see each of your faces, and together! God Bless! Ellen
Great family photo Karen!
Thanks Gary! It was fun to take!