is there any more pie?

We’ve never seen anything like this before.

This is smoke.

The fires in central Washington are far away, but close enough to fill the air with smoke.

Our hearts go out to those folks in Washington who have lost their homes.  You can read more about it here:  http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fast-growing-washington-wildfire-burns-homes-24609109

Our sunny, hot summer days have turned smokey.  Fires in central Washington are the cause.  It’s amazing how the smoke travels, though it is quite far away.

Here’s the link to the map:   http://www.nwccweb.us/information/firemap.aspx

Yesterday afternoon a dark red sun burned through some of the smoke to create an odd glow in the sky.

I watched it for a few minutes, then fell asleep (I was on the dock, recovering from a long day of errands in town).  Story Man caught a 2-pound bass.  Banjo Man cleaned it.  We grilled it for dinner and I beat the guys–once again–in Canasta.

I’m sorry to have been so long in posting.  Our bouncing-off-mountains internet service is often too slow to load pictures.  And I’m too impatient to sit here in the office and wait for things to load, time-out, then load again.

I promise to do better.  I really do.

This morning I was up early, with such good intentions!  My little office is still not organized.  Stacks of music and piles of cords litter the floor.  Zip lock bags of computer stuff are all over my makeshift desk.  I need to hook up the monitor, organize the speakers, arrange the guitars, take out the trash.

This is not very interesting, is it?

I’m sorry.

…for tomorrow morning’s fishing trip.

Story Man has been indispensable this past week.

Because he is young.  And energetic.  And doesn’t have a bad back or bad legs or bad knees.

And because he is a helpful kind of guy.

His uncle was thrilled to hand the power washing chores to the next generation.

After some instruction, of course.

In the kitchen, nothing makes me happier than to make a massive amount of one thing.

 I suppose it’s the cook’s equivalent to running a marathon.

thanks to http://www.emptynest.com

Banjo Man,  Story Man (formerly known as Son #2) and GL (my dear brother-in-law, who looks like Burt Reynolds and plays the lap steel guitar) are getting ready for The Sisters.

It’s an annual event that has been documented on this blog many times.   Festivities include cooking, eating, singing, playing musical instruments, more cooking, more eating, more singing, the 4th of July parade, fireworks on the dock, wine on the dock, fishing, kayaking and general merriment.

This year Story Man is showing a home videotape of the family cleaning out the farm house, their old home.

We will also welcome 4 members of the second generation and one member of the third generation, who is three and a half and will love throwing rocks in the lake.

My French Friend Janou is dismantling her intricate audio/video system (it even has its own closet) to loan me her VCR.

(I love my friends.)

Speaking of my French Friend Janou, have I told you she is a Canasta Addict?  Last year The Sisters, Etc. played massive games of Canasta and then I taught Janou how to play.

Her husband may never forgive me, but that’s another story.

This year’s family Canasta games will be aided by the arrival of a 6-pack card shuffler, which was purchased on Amazon and shipped to MFF Janou (because we don’t have a  mail box).

Anyway, back to the meatballs…

I made 100 of ’em.  Loaded up the Ipod with a new playlist called Songs to Sing Along While Making Massive Amounts of Food, and got to work.

I’m not sure why that was so much fun.  My legs didn’t think so later on that evening.  And my feet complained.

But it was worth it.

(You can find the recipe https://isthereanymorepie.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/healing-with-meatballs/