What?! Pregnant and Baking!

Those who know me know that I'm a little behind the eight ball when it comes to domestic duties. I like to think it's because I was the fourth child and my mother lost any interest she might have had in teaching me how to cook or clean, but the truth is, I've never been that motivated to learn. It's actually quite embarrassing to not know how to perform simple tasks such as correctly sewing on buttons or say, baking a pie. It's never too late, right? At the ripe ol' age of 41, I baked my first pie. I am a true late bloomer in all respects. Yes, it looks like a 5-year old did it, but it tasted reaaaally good because it was made with lots of loooooove. The recipe is from my sister Caron, who was the only one in our family who received any domestic and culinary fairy dust. (The rest of us just eat out.) Here's the recipe:

Blackberry Pie

1 box piecrust
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 bag frozen blackberries (or go to Costco and buy fresh like I did)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon, lime or orange juice
vanilla ice cream

Follow the directions on the crust box. Mix together sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Pour berries into the crust. Pour sugar mixture over berries. Chop half the butter up into little pieces and sprinkle over berries. Pour lemon juice over berries. Cover with top crust. Sprinkle the rest of the butter over top crust. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, turn oven down to 350 and continue baking 45 minutes. This pie tends to overflow so place a larger pan on the oven shelf under your pie.

So, other than pretending to be June Cleaver, I've been in a big time nesting mode. I'm 33 weeks and the upcoming arrival of Baby A has led me into treacherous, shark-filled waters...yes, I'm cleaning my art room and it is not a pretty sight. I know many of you have tackled this dreaded project and, in fact, may be doing a little spring cleaning yourself these days. There's just something about January and new beginnings that makes us all want to hit The Container Store. Anyway, I've basically pulled everything out and am slowly sifting and sorting and trying to put only that which I need, love, and and use back in. The carnage is just too bloody to show you now, but in my frenzied excavating, I did find a sack of junking goodies that I had never unpacked- some vintage baby cards and gift wrap which I can use in Baby A's book. Yea! So that's a glimpse of what's happening in my neck of the woods: hardwood is being laid, art supplies are being sorted, organized, and donated, and there's a little bit of sweet pie thrown in the mix. Kinda boring, but kinda good too.