a walk in town

Always looking for a way to make the use of my time as profitable as possible when my children are at their private lessons.

Charlotte has a new piano teacher this year. This means she takes a 45 minute private lesson twice a week, and a 45 minute group theory class once a week. I only have so many errands to run while I am out, so I may chose to read, do handwork, or take a nap (after all, one of the classes is at 4:15 in the afternoon), while I am waiting for her.

I was glad the gorgeous fall temperatures allowed for a walk this morning while she had one of her lessons.

It was more of a walk in town rather than in a neighborhood, as I am accustomed.

Around the YMCA, through the city park, and across the parking lot of the city pool/tennis area, mainly I walked on the sidewalks.

 I wanted to share this sand sculpture that was created in the park for this past weekend's special event. 

The detail was amazing.

flat pastry cake topped with blackberries

In other words, the French meaning for the word galette.

I like to call them rustic tarts, but since we are studying French things, galette it is for now.

  Comfort food in simple form; make a buttery crust, throw in two cups of blackberries and a handful of raspberries, add three tablespoons of sugar and 3 teaspoons of cornstarch (I also tossed in about one tablespoon of flour because my berries were juicy), fold the edges of the crust around the mound of berries and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes.

 Of course, I will serve it with vanilla ice cream.

pleat...to smock...to sew

Once upon a time

someone sold me a pleater that was practically brand new,

never again must I run to find someone else to do my pleating for me when the fabric is purchased, the pattern is bought, and the project is begging to be smocked and sewn.

Joining up with needle and thREAD  today,

right smack dab in the middle of September.

I am now on to the smocking on what will be an autumn skirt for Charlotte to wear just when the leaves will be turning those gorgeous colors of fall.

In between reading The Story of the World/Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer to Charlotte,  I am pilfering bits of time to read Martha Peace's book,

 It's high time to admit,

"I am the older woman now".