Pioneers and Pie

This is Jed and his favorite little friends. 

Pioneer fam minus Jed.  He had already started trekking with his pioneer family.

James and his little family.

Handsome boys don't you think!

The rain has stopped for the most part and summer is here.  I am amazed at what all this rain has done for my little bit of Paradise though!  It is absolutely gorgeous!  I love how green it is, and how beautiful the fields, and mountains look.  Even the Dyers Woad is a beautiful yellow:) I am always a bit envious in Jan. and Feb. when photos of summer come up on my computer screen.  I can't believe there is so much color in the world as there is in the summer. 

We have had a great few weeks, and I really need to get caught up on my blogging.  I have about 10 post just rumbling through my head waiting to be posted.  And the new recipes I've tried are delish!!  Just wait.  I'll get them out there ASAP.

June 15th through the 17th we spent three days with the youth of our stake on a Trek as we call it, pushing and pulling handcarts in the mountains above Hardware Ranch.  We all donned pioneer garb, and left the world as we know it for some serious hard work, and fun times.  I was so proud of Emma.  She sewed her pioneer skirt, bonnet, and apron all by her self.  You know me.  I don't sew.  I hot glue.  Emma had cute pleats and everything in her skirt.  She was one hot little pioneer gal.   The first day of the Trek,  even our little boys got to join in the fun.  James had a vignette (or vinegrette as we lovingly started to call them) where he played the part of a young father who's wife had died in the night after giving birth to twins.  He had to take his little family from handcart to handcart and give the "new babies" to other families to take care of since he couldn't do it on his own.   Jake and Seth were the cutest little pioneer boys, and played the part of sad big brothers well.  

The second day after we had climbed our "Rocky Ridge" and were starving because of our scant rations that day, our Stake President's wife told us a story of her ancestors handcart experience. They had come from England across the Atlantic Ocean and were struggling as most Saints in those days did.  They were discouraged and beaten down, but knew they needed to head forward to Salt Lake, but didn't know if they could make it.  One of the woman said if the Lord would give her a "sign" then she would go West with the rest of the saints.  The little family was hungry and destitute.  One of the daughters left the family in search of food when she stumbled across a beautiful pie right in the middle of her path.  To this family the pie was the sign from the Lord that they needed.  Their own little piece of Manna.  

After the story was told our Stake President and his wife magically presented each handcart family a lovely and might I add delicious pie to share.  It's amazing how something so simple and lovely let's you know that Heavenly Father loves us.  Just another one of those Tender Mercies we seem to witness on a daily basis that let us know that we have a Father in Heaven who really does watch over us and wants us to be happy.  

Today I was again amazed by a simple pie.  My garden is one of my favorite things in the world if you haven't noticed.  This week my strawberries have come on.  They are so pretty and red. Just picking them, you can smell that yummy strawberriness.  I decided to make a fresh strawberry pie for Sunday dinner and I can't think of anything more summer than this.  We licked our plates clean!  Strawberry Pie really is Manna from heaven on a warm summer day.  So here's to pioneers and Strawberry Pie.  Where would I be without either one of them:) 

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Pie Crust

3 c. flour

1 1/2 c. Crisco

1 T. sugar

1 t. salt

3 T. corn starch

Cut the Crisco into the other dry ingredients until it resembles small peas.  To the dry mixture add:

1/4 c. cold water

1 egg

1 T. vinegar

Mix gently until combined and roll out.  Makes 4 single crusted pie crusts.   Bake in a 375' F. oven for 20-30 mins.  I always make the whole batch and freeze the extra dough balls.  All you have to do is thaw them out on you counter for an hour or two and you've got pie crust.  Don't bother making pie if your not going to make homemade pie crust.  The purchased variety is just down right yucky!

A lot of fresh picked lovely strawberries

Danish Dessert

Fresh whipped cream