I have one dog snoozing in my lap and the other napping soundly on the floor. My cup of tea is next to me and the doors and windows are open to catch the warm breezes on this beautifully sunny Autumn morning. I love working from home. 🙂
Yes, there are piles of laundry to be folded and pots to be scrubbed and papers to be sorted and floors to be swept, but life is good.
Yesterday dear friends came over to help us drench goats and trim their hooves. What a hilarious time we had chasing and wrestling goats together, ending our day exhausted but happy. You can read about it here.
The weather has been so gorgeous that I’ve made time to go for extra walks with Fletcher and Luna, wandering through golden grasses and fading wildflowers, finding new beauty in browns, russets, and soft greens.
I’ve been doing a lot of writing recently, both personal and work-related, and it suddenly hit me that I am what I always dreamed I could be: a writer. That makes me smile. Life is such an unpredictable, haphazard, surprising thing and it’s so wonderful when in the midst of sadness or pain or illness or grief or loss or disappointment you can suddenly see a dream come true.
Admittedly I had envisioned myself as a novelist, someone quirky and splendid like Jo March in Little Women, clad in funky hat and voluminous nightgown, scribbling away in her attic hideaway until the wee hours of the morning.
Perhaps that will happen one day, but for now I’m ridiculously happy with the work I have, writing about things dear to my heart: travel, country living, delicious food, music and art. I love it.
I had another dream come true this weekend. I got to go to my first classical music concert in Australia: the delightfully talented and down-to-earth Attilla Sautov and The Mueller International Chamber Orchestra. We turned it into a Girls Night Out and had such a grand time sitting in the restored town hall listening to gorgeous music and gabbing like mad at intermission.
I sat back in my squishy seat and closed my eyes in sheer bliss as they played lush pieces by Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn and Paganini before ending the evening with jaunty dances and czardas by Brahms and Monti. It was wonderful and I went to bed that night with a very full heart.
I’m in a bit of a pie-making phase at the moment, unable to resist the smell of apples simmering with butter and spices and brown sugar. Mmm. My latest one is a Spiced Caramel Pear and Apple Pie. I love the tender slices of gala apples and green pears laced with cardamom and ginger in a simple caramel sauce. Such a splendid thing to have on the back porch at the end of a long day.
How about you, dear one? Have you had any little or big dreams come to pass recently?
Spiced Caramel Pear and Apple Pie
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
4 large apples, cored, peeled and sliced
4 large pears, cored peeled and sliced
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2-3/4 cup dark brown sugar
enough pie dough for a double-crust pie
1 egg, beaten
sugar for sprinkling
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Melt butter in large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Add fruit and let sit until butter begins to simmer. Add spices and stir occasionally making sure it does not burn.
- Cook until fruit is browned and begins to caramelize (about 10-15 minutes).
- Add brown sugar and cook another 5-10 minutes until mixture is rich brown and butter and brown sugar have formed thick sauce.
- Let cook slightly (5 minutes) then pour into prepared pie pan.
- Top with remaining pie dough and cut slits in to for steam to escape. I like to top crust with cut outs of leaves or hearts or anything.
- Brush pie with beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar. This gives it a pretty sparkle when baked.
- Bake 35-45 minutes until crust is beautifully browned.
- Serve warm.
Im currently on a topsey turvey rollercoaster ride in my life. Surrounded by uncertainty ,fear and sadness. But through these most recent days I have found old friends from 10 years past, 2 years past and recent friends and new ones too. Im still reaching out for new life experiences when they present, and taking them……I totally understand your concept of looking at life in a positive light…..accepting what life serves you with an optimism of learning or “it happened for a reason” or as a valued life experience and then surrendering to it willingly……….. and …………when dreams come true, well …..thats the Iceing on the cake ………………………………………..
 My dear friend, I’m so sorry you’re going through this painful time. I’m really glad that you have such good people in your life to comfort and cheer you on as you soldier through this. Sending a big hug and much hope for better things soon.
The pie simply a work of heart, I would love to smell it! I love the pictures of Australia…and that pup!
 Thank you so much! 🙂 I’m so glad you stopped by. The pie did smell SO good. I can’t wait to buy more apples and pears so I can make another one. 🙂
I don’t like pies but this looks divine.
 Thank you, Ayngelina. I know pies aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I’m delighted that you like the looks of this one. 🙂
You are absolutely a writer – a beautiful one at that!
 Thank you so much, dear Erin. 🙂 You’ve been such an inspiration to me with YOUR writings.
Oh Krista, if you only knew! We’re on the cusp of something that might possibly be one of the biggest adventures of our lives and would definitely be a dream come true. =)
This post made so very happy for you. I love that realization of even the smallest dreams coming true. Wishing you much peace and happiness. XO
P.S. That pie looks amazing, very inspiring! =)
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 Oh Breanne, I’m SO excited to hear that!!! I can’t wait to see what unfolds for you guys. It makes my heart happy to see YOU happy. 🙂 xo
I just love the idea of using all those spices in a pear and apple pie. I really don’t think there’s anything better, dessert-wise, than an orchard fruit pie. I know what you mean about that feeling of contentment that comes with writing…very happy for you!
Thank you, Elly. 🙂 I’m so glad you stopped by AND that you don’t think it’s crazy adding all those spices. 🙂 They really work so well together. 🙂
I’ve had so many big dreams come true over the last year or so. My biggest frustration with myself though is that I’m always dreaming, so as soon as something “comes true” I’m already dreaming about the next thing, and I don’t stop to celebrate!!!!! Congrats on having your dream come true darling!Â
 It’s so interesting you say that, Andi. 🙂 I’ve watched as one dream after another has come true for you, and wondered how you could take it all in. 🙂 I pictured you nearly bursting with happiness. 🙂
i have so many dreams, i don’t know where to start. i may have some kind of dream ADHD – i keep changing my mind on what i want in life! LOL! Several things remain constant, though: my passion for food, travel, and family!
that said, can i dig in to that pie now? Hehe. Looks delicious! And congrats on making your dreams come true!
Loved this post, Krista…you are an amazing writer and I would love to see you write a novel! I know I’d hardly be able to put it down. (And I was a huge fan of Little Women too! 🙂 )
Your pie is magnificent, my dear!
I haven’t baked anything in a long time but pies used to be one of my absolute favourite things to make! I have to say that none of them ever came out as perfect-looking as the one you’ve shown here – goodness! I can smell it from up here in Norway. We have all these wonderful walking trails through the woods in our neighbourhood and I’m dying for the weather to improve so I can enjoy them. I’m so happy that you’re happy! =)
Your puppy is sooooooo cuttteeeeeee! Â I miss having a puppy though an adult dog is great, too. Â Just not as adorable.
How nice that you’re taking sime time to chill out. Â You travel so much I’d think that you’d be exhausted well before now. Â We have some travel plans coming up soon. We’re to attend a “destination wedding” in Death Valley in California near Las Vegas. Â I’ve never been so am kind of excited though the grooms make it sound extremely rustic to the point that we’re supposed to bring our own food… and water. Â
We’ve decided to spend a week so will go to Sedona in Arizona to look at nature. Hegui wants to take a day-trip to the Grand Canyon too. And I’ve scheduled a show in Las Vegas for one night, so it should be fun.Â
 So happy for you, Krista, your joy is radiating from your words – and thanks for another great recipe 🙂
This pie looks to die for, absolutely amazing. Love all the spices and brown sugar in this recipe! The chamber orchestra performance must have been so moving, too.
This looks like something I really ought to one day try for it looks and sounds so very delicious. Beautiful photos, too.
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