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You are here: Home / Baking / Worth the While

Worth the While

06/28/2020 By Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie 19 Comments

Worth the While

Some of you who follow me over on Instagram may have already seen the post I put up with a few pics and a video about the pies I made yesterday afternoon. But, if you haven’t, I hope you won’t mind if I tell you a little story about those pies and to whom I gave them. You see, I have a practice of giving pies, and other things I make, bake, and cook, away. It’s something that brings me joy and perhaps adds a bit of happiness to the lives of others. 

My across the street neighbor has been quarantining in her home alone since March. She is 90 years old. Over the 21 years that I have lived here, I have gotten to know her, and her family when they visit from other counties in our state. One of her daughters was born the same year as me and our birthdays are just a month apart. My neighbor says she knows we would have been best friends had we grown up just across the street from each other, and she might just be right. When her daughter comes to visit, we comment on the stages of aging that we are now in ourselves, and laugh because honestly, what else can we do about all these new aches and pains! Once she shared with me the story of having freshly baked cookies after school from the lady who used to live in my house, or maybe it is I who am living in her house! Either way, it’s wonderful to know that I am just one of the home bakers who have lived here .

We have all honored my neighbor’s decision to adhere to strict quarantining which meant that none of her family or friends could visit. When our county opened up to Level 2, my “might have been best” friend texted me to let me know that she and her husband would be making the trip to see mom. Of course, I asked if pie might be needed and the immediate answer was “Yes!” So, I set to work. Actually, many times I have pies ready to bake in my freezer just for an occasion like this, so all I had to do was take them out. Yesterday I picked two little ones made in 5-1/2″ pans.

An apple…

and a mixed berry with a lattice top.

I set them on the counter while I preheated the oven, and when it was hot, I covered the little pies with sheets of loosely tented and vented foil to protect the tops. (Tip: Loosely cover frozen pies with vented foil when starting the bake to avoid over-browned or burned tops and edges.) When the fillings were bubbling and tops were golden, I pulled them out of the oven and set them on the windowsill to cool. One commenter on Instagram said that it looked like a fairytale! 

Once they were almost cool, I placed the pies into a basket, carried them across the street and, making sure to adhere to social distancing, left them on the porch, and headed back to my house. The photo I was sent in return makes it all worth the while. 

Filed Under: Baking

19 Thoughts on Worth the While
    barbara bond
    28 Jun 2020
     11:27am

    NOW THAT’S A HAPPY FACE!!

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      28 Jun 2020
       11:31am

      Yes it is!

      Reply
        Cynthia Sofie
        28 Jun 2020
         11:58am

        Margaret and Sir Wilfred were my mentors, Girl Scouts and UPY church group, thank you for being such a kind and loving neighbor!!

        Reply
          Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
          28 Jun 2020
           12:10pm

          Such great neighbors!

          Reply
        Catt
        28 Jun 2020
         12:09pm

        Lovely pies and very sweet story! The elderly are often very lonely right now. Thank you for your kindness.

        Reply
          Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
          28 Jun 2020
           12:10pm

          It’s a small thing to do.

          Reply
    Wendy
    28 Jun 2020
     11:58am

    I love your blog!
    Mom will be surprised her picture is on social media.
    We loved your pies! 🥧 They were beautiful as well as tasty!!
    Thank you!
    I hope the masks I made for you and family will keep you safe!! 😷
    Hugs from your “might have been best friend” from childhood,
    Wendy
    PS I’m so glad we are friends now!!😄

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      28 Jun 2020
       12:10pm

      I am too, Wendy!

      Reply
    Shelly
    28 Jun 2020
     12:44pm

    Oh! What a lucky girl to have a neighbor like you! I’m sure this not-so-small gesture of kindness touched her soul. Thank you for sharing this sweet story and helping us remember that even if all is not right in the world, when you have pie, it is bearable. Love you so much!

    Sincerely,
    A crazy Kansas sunflower, transplanted to Vermont, trying to survive and make pie like gramma did!🌻aka Shelly

    Reply
    Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
    28 Jun 2020
     12:55pm

    Love you right back! P.S. Keep making pie!

    Reply
    Ellen Dole
    28 Jun 2020
     2:31pm

    You lift all our spirits Kate. What beautiful, friendly looking pies. I can smell their aroma 1000 miles away. Thanks for sharing your day. 🌸

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      28 Jun 2020
       2:35pm

      You are so kind, Ellen. It is such a small thing…and I’m so glad you can smell it, too!

      Reply
    Lori
    28 Jun 2020
     6:17pm

    I’m thankful a piece of each pie made it to Sumner for her great grandkids to enjoy (and their parents). 🙂
    With gratitude for your delicious gift!

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      28 Jun 2020
       6:53pm

      Oh Lori, this is wonderful to hear!

      Reply
    Mark Williams
    29 Jun 2020
     6:29am

    Hi Kate,

    What a wonderful act of kindness.

    Happy Monday.

    Mark

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      29 Jun 2020
       6:54am

      Thank you so much, Mark!

      Reply
    Amy Wallen
    29 Jun 2020
     10:24am

    Happy Pie Faces are the best kind. You are kindness personified.

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      29 Jun 2020
       10:27am

      Thanks for your kind words, Amy.

      Reply
    Marylinda Epps
    29 Jun 2020
     11:08am

    Mrs. O’Brien (who owned the cottage in the 50s-70s) would be so happy to know what your sweet home has become. Love permeates the cottage along with the sweet, spicy scents of baking pies. Thanks for being such a great neighbor to our Mom. We are thankful for you.

    Reply

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