Ollie Days

Things have been busy around here.  Our daily routine has changed dramatically since Ollie's arrival.  It's been fifteen years since we last had to train a puppy and I must admit, I'd forgotten how time consuming it can be.

Aren't I just so cute?

Mr. Painted Quilt and I are both amazed at how well things are going.  Ollie has fit into our family seamlessly and it appears as though he doesn't miss his brothers and sisters at all.

Frankie and Ollie are getting on famously.  They went from this...

"You stay right there, Ollie where I can keep an eye on you."

to this. 

They might appear to be fighting but they're actually playing.  Frankie is really gentle with him but can only tolerate the 'abuse' for little bits at a time before heading for higher ground.

Round 1.  Take it easy boys.

Ollie is only eight weeks old and we're amazed at his progress.  Potty training is going really well.  When we take him outside, he knows why he's there.    

He's had a few accidents and they happened right at the back door which is where we take him outside and didn't notice his signal.  He just hasn't figured out how to ask as yet.

During the summer months, our local farmers' market is also open on Wednesdays.  I needed a few things so Mr. PQ, Ollie and I decided to head off and do a little shopping.

I picked up some home made bread, cherry and beefsteak tomatoes, wild blueberries, blackberries and green onions.  I can't wait until our own tomatoes are ripe enough to pick!

Last weekend we purchased some local peaches with the intent of eating some and using the rest to make a peach pie.  Even though it was another hot and humid day, I bit the bullet and decided that I'd better use up the rest today before they got too soft.

Here is tonight's dessert and the easy-peasy recipe follows.

It tastes like peach cobbler in a pie crust and is soooooo good!

Peach Pie

1/4 lb butter

1 C granulated suger

1/3 C flour

10 peeled and sliced peaches

2 - 9" pie crusts

Line a 9" pie plate with one of the pie crusts and cover the bottom with about half the peaches.

In a separate bowl, stir the flour and sugar together to combine.  Add the butter and cut it into the mixture until it looks crumbly.

Top the first layer of peaches with half the mixture and repeat this step second time until all the peaches and crumbly mixture are gone.

Fold the edges of the bottom crust under, just enough to frame the outside edge of the pie plate.

I decided to make a lattice top and to do this take your second pastry crust, roll it out and cut it into strips. 

Weave the lattice strips over the filling and trim the excess.  Press onto the bottom crust to seal.

Bake at 350F for about 45 minutes or until the crust turns brown and the fruit is bubbling around the edges.  Serve cold with vanilla ice cream.

Easy, huh?

The entire time I was making the pie, Ollie kept me company, sleeping on my foot.

Betty, Bea, Rue and Estelle are really making themselves at home around our property these days.  I wanted "free range" hens and that's what I've got!  

Here's their favorite spot...in my rose garden!

Mmmmmm...delicious bugs...and the roses smell good too!

Be careful what you wish for!

It goes without saying that I've had no time at all to spend in my studio.  Puppy training is a full time job and I wouldn't trade it for the world where Ollie is concerned.  

Mr. PQ said that he would Ollie-sit for a few hours tomorrow so that I can prep some hand work to do at the kitchen table while keeping an eye on our little guy.