Art By Kate

Kate got herself enrolled in an after-school art class this winter. She came to me with the form from school and declared that she wanted to be in it, regardless of whether any of her classmates or friends were in it with her.

The form said "1st grade through 5th grade."

I said, "What if you're the youngest and everyone else is much older?"

"I don't care." Kate said. "I want to be in it."

So I waited a week and then asked her again. Because sometimes kids change their minds after you take away the stimulus.

"Yes." Said Kate.

So we signed her up.

This is what she painted on her first day. Her only comment was, "I forgot to paint the banana yellow."

There are five more sessions. I can't wait to see what she'll create next.

Truly Scrumptious Pumpkin Pie With Streusel

In the spirit of fall, I made a pumpkin pie last week. I don't usually care for pumpkin pie but this one is amazing, not the least because it's not very pumpkiny under all that wonderful nut streusel. 

I found the filling and topping recipe here.

And this is the recipe I used for the crust:

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 cup Crisco
• 3/8 cup butter (or 1/2 cup butter and no Crisco)
• iced water.

Method:

1. Rub fat into flour+salt.
2. Freeze for about 1/2 hour.
3. Fill with pumpkin filling and bake according to the recipe.