Tag Archives: quiche

Day 53: Barbara

30 May

Yesterday while we were out for our morning walk we ran into a friend we had not seen in a while. Barbara was out walking her two small dogs and we enjoyed a visit with her in the neighborhood. She introduced us to her dogs, Dixie and Daisy. Daisy is called a “chiweenie” – a mix between a chihuahua and a dachshund. She is a soft ball of fur and practically leapt into my arms. What a little bundle of love! Dixie, her other dog, was rescued from the shelter a few years ago and still is timid around new people.


Sausage and Pepper Quiche

We know what it is like to have a dog that is timid around people. For eleven years, a brown and white mixed breed dog named Grover lived with us. We’d been told that he had been abused and learned that he’d also been “dumped” out of a car and left on his own. When we took Grover home we soon learned that he would run and hide if he heard a man’s voice. It took quite a while before he was able to really relax with us. Even then, I don’t think he was ever able to forget the trauma that he faced before he knew us.

Today I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Barbara for taking these little dogs into her home and giving them a second chance. I know that they are grateful for her love and kindness.

If you are interested in learning more about pet adoptions in Southern Oregon, please contact the Jackson County Animal Shelter at 541-774-6654.

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Day 49: Callie

26 May

As has happened before, I did not know who would be today’s pie recipient when my day began. I had some ideas, but I was not certain.  Instead of rushing things I decided to spend some time tending to the raised bed in my yard.  I can’t really call it a garden because I haven’t managed to grow anything there for a few years. In the past I have had some success with tomatoes and so today I spent a few hours preparing the soil for planting.

Ham, Swiss and Pepper Quiche

While I was working, I thought of my son’s upcoming graduation and realized  that I did not know if he had arranged for a cap and gown.  I went inside and called Ashland High School and spoke with Callie about the possibility of securing a gown at the last minute.  Callie did not seem in the least bit concerned or put out.  She told me that there were caps and gowns still available at the office.  There was not a hint of “so your child is graduating next week and just now you are thinking about getting a cap and gown?”  If you hadn’t already guessed, I decided right then to make Callie a pie.

I first got to know Callie because she worked in the attendance office and when my kids missed a class for one reason or another, I would get a message from her on my answering machine.  It was nice to get that call.  And most of the time I was able to call Callie and explain where my child had been.  I liked that they knew that someone other than me was keeping tabs on them.

Callie has served the Ashland School District for a long time.  She has been an incredible champion for the classified employees of the district and she has also been a great friend to the students.  The few occasions that I visited her office, I found it filled with kids. I think that says a lot about Callie – that teenagers are comfortable around her.

Today I made a quiche to thank Callie for all that she has done for Ashland.  She is a calm presence; always willing to help and support our kids.  We are so lucky to have her.

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DAY 46: Ellie

23 May

Mushroom, Spinach and Pepper Quiche

Quiche. It is such a fun word to say. And I love the company name “Love and Quiches” for it seems to say it all. Today I decided again to make a quiche. As I drove up the street, I thought about who might appreciate a quiche. As I passed Ellie’s house, I knew immediately who I wanted to surprise with a savory pie. And as luck would have it, as I was entering the grocery store (to buy ingredients for the quiche), Ellie was exiting. I tried to casually ask if she ate dairy products – for that is a pretty large component of quiche. When she said “yes” I knew I was on the right track.

Once I got home I began prepping the ingredients – cutting the mushrooms, sautéing the vegetables, grating the cheese, rolling out the crust. I thought you might like to catch a glimpse of the process:



Late this afternoon, I made my way to Ellie’s house and delivered the quiche to her and her family. It was a tangible way to thank and acknowledge her – for her gentle, caring spirit, for her willingness to share her music, and for her support of our community. We are so lucky to have her in our midst.

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Day 44: Karen

21 May

Yesterday I got an email from my friend Karen telling me that she was going to have a yard sale on Saturday. If you know anything about me, you know that I love yard sales. I don’t know when this habit began, but I love to find something at a yard (or estate) sale and breathe new life into it by using it myself or by giving it to a friend.  I think reusing things is an honorable trait and by doing so we help to conserve resources and also reduce what we send to the landfill.

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

A few years ago I met Karen at one of her yard sales.  She had a dress for sale that another woman got to before I had a chance.  As the woman considered the dress I watched and hoped and waited.  Luckily, the woman decided that the dress was not becoming to her and she set it down and I was able to take it home. It is one of my favorite dresses and I felt so fortunate to find it.

I’ve gone to a few of Karen’s sales over the years and in the course of that time we have become friends.  When I heard that she was having this latest sale I begged to be let in early with a bribe of scones.  Karen then welcomed me to view her sale a day early.  And since I know that she is very busy – and preparing to move to Portland – I asked if I could bring her a quiche.  It is a simple gesture to thank her for passing on many of her treasures to me.  I offer my sincerest thanks and I wish her the very best in this move and always.

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Day 42: Karen O

19 May

At one point today Karen O entered my mind and I thought that I might surprise her with a pie.  And then I thought that she might appreciate a quiche more because she is a very busy woman and might need help with dinner.  As I prepared the vegetables I thought back to when I first met her and realized that I have known Karen for more than 25 years. She was a friend of my husband’s and became my friend as well.  Though we don’t see each other often, there is never a distance between us.  One of the things I like most about her is that when she asks you a question, she listens to the answer.

About ten years ago, my daughter, and a group of girls, took a course with Karen that helped them navigate the transition from being a “girl”  to becoming young women.  At the end of the course, my daughter and I participated in a Mother-Daughter weekend that Karen organized.  There were about 8 mother/daughter pairs at the workshop.  It was an emotional weekend for many of us – for our little girls were now stepping into the realm of womanhood.

I appreciated all the effort that Karen put forth to make the weekend special.  She had arranged for yoga instruction, arts and crafts, meals, and live music.  As darkness fell at the end of the second day, we were shown a labyrinth and told that we all were to walk the labyrinth and when we found our path, we were to exit.  One by one women and girls entered, walked and exited the maze.  When it was my turn, I began walking and kept on walking.  Finally my daughter, who had already walked the maze, came up behind me and asked me why I was still walking.  I told her that I could not find my way out and she stepped in front of me and told me to follow her. She then lead me out of the maze. It was one of the highlights of the weekend for me – for I felt that we were not just parent and child, we were becoming friends.

I want to thank Karen for all that she has done to recognize the importance of coming of age rituals.  In this modern world we tend to overlook them and they are too important to ignore.

 I forgot to take a picture of the quiche I made so instead I am posting a picture of me with my grown up daughter in Copenhagen last December.

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Day 40: Darte

17 May


I met Darte about fifteen years ago.  She was (and still is) an artist and she was getting married; I was a caterer and was thrilled to be asked to cater a wedding. We met and talked about what kinds of offerings she wanted to have at the reception. I liked that Darte gave me plenty of freedom to create a very special occasion.  In fact, I think it was a memorable event for both of us.

It is funny how you can live very near your friends but still find it hard to find time to visit with them.  Darte and I live less than 10 miles apart but we seldom see each other, and that just seems wrong. Why do we limit ourselves to occasional visits with friends when we can (and maybe should) find time to see them more often.  What important things are we doing? Or are we just lazy?

Tonight I tracked down Darte at a party and gave her a spinach and pepper quiche.  I think that sometimes artists find it hard to find time to cook because they are creating “works of art.”  Meanwhile, I am creating works of art as well – but my “art” is much more temporal.

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Day 35: First Grade with Gail

12 May

About twelve years ago my son entered first grade at Helman Elementary School in Ashland.  He’d had a great year in kindergarden and we were excited about the new year.  Early in October the first parent-teacher conferences were held.  We scheduled an appointment and when the time came we set off to meet to talk with the new teacher.  As we walked to the school my son said, “I think my teacher is going to say that I need to be left back.”  Left back?  When I asked him why he thought that he wouldn’t say much. When we arrived at the classroom we met Gail.  She was smiling and greeted us warmly.  I asked my son to tell Gail what he’d just told us.  After he did, Gail asked him why he thought that and he told her that the girls at his table were already reading and writing and he couldn’t do either of those things.  Gail just smiled and said, “Well, girls usually are faster at reading and writing than boys.  But what you should know is that those girls are in second grade!”  My son did not realize that  he was in a blended first/second grade classroom and had been worried that he was way behind when in fact he was right on course.  With Gail’s reassurance he never worried about being left back again.

This year, my son and Gail are both “moving on” together.  He is graduating from Ashland High and Gail is retiring.  They are both embarking on journeys that are exciting, scary and new.  I have no fears for either of them as they face the future because they are both wonderful people -and have the skills necessary to succeed – they are smart, caring, and positive.  I look forward to hearing about their adventures – wherever life may take them.

Today I made Gail a Spinach and Pepper Quiche.  I thought that a gift of dinner might come in handy – and she said I was right.  Isn’t it great when things come together like that?


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Day 18: Miss Carolyn

25 Apr

There are people we know who are part of the fabric of our lives.  Carolyn is one of those people for me.  She has a daughter who is the same age as my daughter.  Over the years we spent many hours together working on school related projects whether they were fundraisers, yearbooks or celebrations of one kind or another.

If you had a child in Mt. Ashland‘s MARA program a few year ago, you know Carolyn.  She spent many a weekend in the ski lodge at Mt. Ashland helping with the various races that were held and she didn’t even ski!   She was there for your kids and mine as they tested their skills on the challenging race courses of Mt. Ashland.  She gave up much of her free time to help with this sport.  Sure, she was there to support her kids, but at the same time she was there supporting countless other kids as well.

This morning I brought Carolyn a quiche as a small token of our appreciation of her service to all of us.  Carolyn, thank you for your gentle nature and your giving spirit.  The world needs more people like you.

And to everyone, Happy Easter.

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