What is it?

As I sat on the back deck enjoying fresh brewed Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee (maybe that is what is wrong with this crazy being) watching the chickens peck around in the back field and one lone Red Tail Hawk hawking them I knew today was a day for me.  It was just too darn relaxing at that moment to even think of working in the garden or on the cabin site.  Time to stop, relax and enjoy the day.  The days have been warm with a steady breeze here in the valley.  I must say the evenings and nights are just as enjoyable with the temperatures dipping down in the mid 40s to 50s.  My kind of weather, great for getting work done during the day and a good nights sleep with a cool breeze coming in the window.  All is quiet not a coyote of fox calling at night....but they will be back.  Our meals are always outside this time of year.  The front door and French door is always open for the breeze to enter giving my living room and kitchen an open outdoor feeling.  Even the dog loves summers, he gets to go in and out whenever he has a mind too. 

Breakfast of buttermilk biscuits, sausage, potato cakes, sausage gravy, raspberry jelly and juice. 
Summer means 2 meals a day, breakfast and supper.  Anything else, your on your own!

Back to another reason today was the day for me........I am getting ready for the first firing of the pizza oven and our next door neighbors are coming to help decide the proper technique.  The dough was started early this morning to let it proof and rest until 6 pm.  The longer the dough sets the better the elasticity for stretching it for the pizzas.  My grandson is pretty darn good at it and even spins it in the air.  Kent has been designated the "pizza king", at least by gram.  The times he is not here....well it is a struggle but the end result still tastes great.  Anytime I have company coming for a meal my day is full of planning and preps.  I love company and conversation.  Keep it simple is my main motto.  So pizza, pickled eggs (thanks hens) and key lime cake for dessert.  A little wine, beer and maybe another pot of JMC to top off the evening.

 The key lime cake is my own creation.  I had quite a few fresh limes and a box of instant white chocolate pudding, a poke hole cake!  The topping was half of the pudding whipped into a small container of cool whip.  No slaving in the kitchen,  not from scratch allows me to enjoy the day too.  Plus my favorite saying, ya don't like what we are having.....go to the neighbors!

So light and refreshing!

While juicing the limes my mind gave thought to where I got the antique juicer.  Not far from here, the estate sale of Helen Goodspeed that lived on Eleven Mile.  The juicer is glass and without a chip which amazed me since it was tossed in a small box with other glass items and bought for $1.00.  I had no idea what was in the box but being curious (or a "nib shit"), how's that for an old time saying?) was well worth the buck.  There were a few little things that I kept.  A letter opener, the juicer and a ?????????  which means I have no idea what it is.  Maybe one of you will be able to answer the question, what is it?  It is glass and looks like it was hand blown or crafted.  Not a clue, so please feel free to help end the mystery.  Well, as I was juicing the limes I thought of Helen, she was a cashier for years at the Shinglehouse Bank, located on the corner of  Oswayo St and Honeoye St.  Helen was tall and thin, very stately but plain looking.  She could have been a teacher with that stern look.  Remember what our teachers looked and acted like in the 1950s? I think I was so afraid because it seemed they never smiled.   Micky and Lisa Howard have a furniture store and sell a few hunting supplies along with fishing and hunting licenses where the old hardware store was.  They have made living quarters on  the bank side of the building.  I liked going in that bank, it felt special.  The bank business was moved to a new building on Academy St,  it is nice but no character, quite generic like all new bank buildings.  Makes me wonder why give up beautiful architecture, woodwork and stone just to say something is new.  The older I get, the better old is looking and sounding!

There is the mystery item.

I always wonder how many citrus fruits were juiced on this.  It has 4 slits around the bottom
for the juice to run into a bowl...also the catch any seeds from the fruit. 

Today was peaceful, quiet and filled with thanks for living in our great country with opportunities that many can only dream of.  It was/is the men and women that put their lives on the line to insure our freedom will ring and the flag will always be there.  God Bless them and the USA.