Pinky

Most of the day yesterday was taken up baking a lemon meringue pie. Lemon meringue is my favorite. My grandmother always baked one when we visited. She knew I loved it, and now I can't bake my own pie without thinking of her. 

My luck with pies is kind of hit or miss, especially with the crust. Fortunately, lemon meringue has only a bottom crust and so all sins are hidden. Still, I'm trying my best for a flaky, and not soggy, crust. Also, I'm striving for custard that sets up perfectly, so it doesn't run when you cut into it, nor is it rubbery in its "mouth feel." Finally I'm seeking meringue that is light and fluffy and melts in your mouth, also without being rubbery. The "weeping" of meringue (when it forms those little syrupy droplets) doesn't bother me, but I know it warrants demerits at the state fair, and so I try to avoid it. So with all those little challenges, my pies often fall down on at least one count. Yesterday's pie was perfect. I have no explanation for this, other than plain dumb luck...and maybe a little bit of practice.

With that finished, and the kitchen cleaned up, I had some time to sew together the Charm Stars. First this one...

Sadie slept through these fabric choices, and so she felt she needed to critique my own selections. This is how we learn.

Purrsonally, I might have chosen a different pink for that corner piece.

And then this one...

There was still some time left in the day, and so I did the most recent Tiny Tuesday block. Smitty helped by reading the instructions to me as I worked.

Are you ready fur the next part?

This block was created by Libby who blogs at Life on the Hill. It was so simple and turned out so cute. This block would be easy to resize too. I could see a whole quilt made from these...or make multiple small ones to create a single block. Here's what I did with it.

And then it was set in a straight setting.

After that, it was time to get ready for family arriving. We had such a nice quiet Fourth, with lots of good food and laughter. On the menu, Mike grilled and smoked two flank steaks. I made a dill potato salad. Erik and Mae contributed a delicious radicchio mixed salad made with all CSA veggies. Matthew and Lyndsay contributed a watermelon, which was a nice refreshing choice. Everything was tasty.

Today is going to be an easy-going day. I'll get out and fill the bird feeders, but then I think it's going to be an NBS day. Next on the list is to make the pink Paintbox Pizzazz (awesome alliteration) blocks. The only thing left on my list of "monthlies" at that point will be the July Garden Sunshine blocks. It looks like I'll be able to get an early start quilting the Solstice to Solstice quilt.

Sadie already has co-opted it for her purrsonal fort, and so I should probably get to it soon before it is lost forever.