It's Berry Season!

Strawberries weren't that great this year, but I baked a blueberry pie yesterday, and it was yummy. 

Don't know why I chose to photograph the pie with the edge hanging off the counter.  Hmm.

It's from Martha Stewart's Pies and Tarts book, my fave.  I think the crust is the best part. Check our her pate brisee recipe.  (It's pie crust; she has to be all fancy and use the French term).  I learned the easy way to make pie crust from her television show.  She uses a food processor.  So simple. 

Martha insists that you cut out botanically correct leaves for the top crust.  I'm basically a rule-follower, so I did.  All of the pastry is brushed with a heavy cream/egg wash.

It's a little sloppy.  I was in a hurry.  We were going to the great Zocco's for wonderful Italian food, and my brother hates it when I'm late.  I'm always late.  I do break the "be there on time" rule, most of the time.  I'm working on it.

I Love Roses

What is it about them?  The romance, form, fragrance, abundance and longevity of blooms?  I have 19.  Here are what my favorites look like this year:

Livin' Easy.  Indeed.  It smells heavenly, blooms early, starts out soft orange then changes to a beautiful pinky-orange-coral color.  I never would have chosen this color due to my obsession with pink and white.  My dear friend Tina gave it to me when my beloved cat died. 

Lady Elsie May.  Never stops blooming.  It's a bright coral pink.  It's gotten HUGE.  I'm a "go big or go home" type of girl, so I don't prune it back.

Lovely Fairy Rose.  I don't know why I love the little clusters of blooms on fairy roses, but I have four of these in various colors.  This one is the biggest and best.  I love the carefree way it drapes.

And lastly, Dr. Huey, maybe because he came back from the dead.  If it's good enough to be rootstock for fancy roses, it's good enough for my garden.  It's a lovely, darkish red color, a rambler and only blooms once.

I'd like a couple more but I'm running out of room.  I want an heirloom rose that a local rosarian has offered free and another rugosa, for the hips for fall interest.  I have a serious rose addiction.