Hello Friends welcome to July 4th 2021.Pete Passed away in May it was a total shock.

I'm going to attempt to do a Blogg its been a while I've started a few over the past year but something always happens so I dont get to finish. Like everyone the pandemic has been a scary challenge for Me as well, I know for so many of you. So far we are the lucky ones we made it this far. sad to say so many haven't.

TODAY 

I thought I would celebrate by posting the photo above that I created this morning befor it got to hot, its going to be in the 90s today and we dont have air in our sun room. I'm  posting  a recipe for the 4th as well. 

 

Cherry Pie and the 4th of July

Cherry Crumb Pie

Crust:
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 Sticks unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons ice water

Filling:
4 Cups cherries, pitted and sliced in half

or 2 cans cherry pie filling
1/2 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
Pinch of salt

Crumb Topping:
1/2 Cup sugar
1 Teaspoon cinnamon
1 Stick unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1" pieces
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
Pinch of salt

To make the crust, combine the butter, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a food processor with a steel blade and pulse just until it resembles course crumbs. Slowly pour in the ice water and pulse just until combined and a dough ball forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

To make the filling, combine the cherries in a bowl with the sugar, lemon juice, flour, zest and salt.  As you mix you'll notice quite a bit of liquid puddling in the bottom of the bowl.  Strain the mixture into a colander before placing in the pie shell.

To make the crumb topping, combine the sugar, cinnamon, flour and salt in a bowl or food processor.  Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly and set aside.

After the dough has chilled, roll it out on a well-floured surface into about a 12" circle. Place in a 10" pie dish and crimp the edges.  Pour the cherry mixture into the dish. Cut the tablespoon of butter into several pieces and dot the top of the filling.  Using your hands, crumble the topping over the pie so that small and large clumps form.  Place the pie dish on a sheet pan (to catch drips) and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 50 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.  Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing. Makes approximately 10 servings.

My favorite pie it just goes with the 4 of July in my mind..

one of my favorite photo's.

Christmas in July 

because I'm into that.

Summer flowers 

We had one of the most beautiful back yards in our neighborhood as far as I was concerned.

Pete's favorite flower

 he loved roses but I was far from an expert when it took to caring for a rose.

I lost my Love in my senior years  Pete May 20th he was my first love when we were both teens. we rekindled about 10 years ago on Facebook and I moved in with him we lived in a retirement community in Florida 8 years,  after the sad death of my second love Bill our relation ship lasted 55 years. It was a wonderful relationship we just really connected we had an amazing life together. So now here I am starting a new life all over again. Its not easy starting over but it can be done. my family has been very supportive of me and my crazies. No one knows how hard it is being with someone almost all your life its quite an adjustment. at least for me it is.  I moved back to Illinois it all happened so fast its like a blur I moved back so quickly I didn't even have time to catch my breath no one forced me It was all me. I was ready it had become very hard trying to take care of everything inside, out side, my self and Pete who was sick for a few years he was struggling to survive. Pete wanted to hire people but I wanted to do it that's the way I am I didn't want to get bored living down in Florida.  

Lizzy our little yoriki who was sick We were going to the vet trying to help her survive. We lost her a couple weeks ago actually a month after Pete. she is united with Pete. Lizzy was 14 years old and I really miss her. Pete had her for 5 years befor I entered their lives.. It wasent all sad we had a lot of fun together Pete I and Lizzie. Also with the neighbors in the community that we lived in. I was so lucky to have experienced the retirement life in a wonderful community.

 

Our computer  arrangement set up in our kitchen.

where we bonded watched tv and enjoyed are life.

I  took a lot of pictures of animal life in the Villages

He is know as a wood stork and I love his graceful ways.

Above

 A sunset from last night 

we dont see to many way to many trees in our neighborhood.

Just a few random photo's I hope to add more some day.

THANKS FOR LOOKING SEE YOU NEXT TIME.