Hello. My name is "Get Away From the Christmas Tree"

North Carolina State University's Number One Fan

Fall 2007

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold,
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

- Robert Frost

The Standards for Decency Have Just Been Lowered ...

Photographed in Blowing Rock, NC on October 12, 2007.

A Deer Visitor

Last night, this little guy walked out of the woods to check out our parched yard. He drank from the pan of water I had left for him and then skipped away. I am sure he will be back later to eat my azaleas.

Easy as Pie

I once bought a book called Pie Every Day by Pat Willard while on vacation in Seattle. Sadly, I make pie only about 3-4 times a year.

Here's a recipe for a really good one:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Splenda for Baking
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 flour
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks beaten
1 baked pie crust

Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Mix milk and egg yolks together and whisk together with dry ingredients. Pour into a double boiler and cook until thickened. Cooking times vary; however, 10-12 minutes should be enough time. Pour into baked pie crust.

For the meringue, combine two egg whites with 1 tablespoon of Splenda for Baking and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar. Beat with electric mix until soft peaks form. Spread on pie.

Place pie in a preheated 300 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until top is browned. Enjoy!

Dog Days of Summer