This is the teacup that Sadie gave me when I was 6.
When I was a little girl I lived next door to our family business, McDermott Colonial Mortuary in Santa Barbara. My father, Thomas Joseph McDermott was a mortician as was his father, Charles Stephen McDemott. Charles moved from Morris, IL with his wife, Hanora in 1906, to open McDermott Undertaking Co. on the corner of State & Haley Streets. Charles married “Nora” one of three O’Leary sisters of Chicago, all who married morticians.
Snappy footwear, don't your think?
My morning rhythm has changed. Just two weeks ago, I used to get up and mindlessly flip a switch to heat the house before moving on to my coffee ritual. Now, I slip on flip-flops, throw on my black velvet Goodwill robe, the one with an I. Magnin label, my heavy gray work-gloves and shuffle out to the woodshed with the sleepy dust still in my eyes. Continue reading
Dearest Friend,
I have not forgotten you…really! I could give you a list of reasons why I have not written recently. I know I am long overdue. Let’s just say that the move was epic and I will think twice before scheduling a relocation during winter. Snow, sleet, hail, ice, rain, sun…we had it all on the two days I moved out and in. I am sooooo glad it’s over and I’m settled. There are apples on the counter and the first pie will be baked today. I wish you could all be here at Pie Cottage to share it with me.
Love, Kate
P.S. The sweetest little daffodils from Omma were waiting for me on moving day. Aren’t good friends and neighbors just the best?
Morning rites
I was raised in the Catholic church during a time when there were rituals galore. Vestments, candles, incense, the whispering silence of women and men on their knees with rosary beads laced between their wrinkled fingers, the soft musical cadence and rhythm of Latin words.
I’m amazed to realize how much all of this has influenced me over the decades since I was that little girl at the 9:15 mass, crinkly petticoat under my best dress, white lace head-covering attached with black bobby pins over my unruly curly hair, fidgeting…always fidgeting… next to my mom and big brother.
The celebrant raises hands high…bread, water and wine…bells ringing…Hosanna.
My morning communion begins.
I was inspired to write this morning by the framed pencil drawing that is on my wall. It was created by my son, Duncan, when he was in high school. I love this picture not only because it captures so much of who he is, but also the values that I tried so hard to instill in him.
10¢ ENJOY (by Duncan McDermott Graham)
The first thing I see when I look at it are foot prints heading down a corridor to an open door that looks out onto the world. On one side of the corridor there is a shelf full of books. On each of the spines are words; stuff, home, cereal, magic, tales, pictures, things to see, music, etc. And right on the edge of the bookshelf are the biggest words of all:
—10¢ ENJOY— Continue reading
My hands look like this alot! (Photo Credit: Lara Ferroni)
Wow! What a great run of classes and workshops. There are just a few spaces left for the remaining Seattle winter classes. Click here for more information.
I’m pulling back on my teaching schedule as I hunker down to finish my book. That doesn’t mean I won’t be teaching, just not as much as the 4-7 classes a week I’ve been doing for 3 years. Believe me that’s a lot of pie! Continue reading
Me & the 'duck
For those who have asked, here is the recipe for Geoduck Pie in standard recipe form. You can see more photos in the original blog entry here. I’ve made this pie to serve on my table at home and taken it to potlucks. Every time it is tasted it is greeted with oohs, ahs and yums! Don’t let the look of the geoduck put you off as in “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover“. The meat is mild and slightly sweet. Continue reading
Still life: Basket with hats.
The closets of some are filled with shoes. Mine is filled with hats! I love hats. I always have. I’m not sure where it started but I remember just about every hat that I have had and, believe me, there have been quite a few.
The three in the picture are some of my favs. Starting from the left, there’s my gardening hat on top of my old jeans jacket. Continue reading
“Serving pie with the intention of cultivating peace brings us together around the table, where there is a place for all and every voice is respected.” —peacethroughpie.org
Waiting to dig in to pie! (Photo by Alicia Arter)
These inspiring words are found at Peacethroughpie.org, a grassroots movement begun in 2009 by Luanne Stovall and Toni Tipton-Martin. Toni and Luanne are helping to re-establish the tradition of pie socials across the country but not just any socials. They are promoting pie socials for peace. Pie socials are a thing of wonder so read on. Continue reading
Peace Pie (Photo by Stephen Gross)
Today is Martin Luther King Day and it is the perfect day to practice what Dr. King espoused in small and large ways.
Make a pie and bring it to a neighbor you have yet to meet. Make a new friend. Smile and say hello to those you pass on the street. We are not here alone. We are all brothers and sisters.
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