Filling My Summer Love Bucket

If you have the time, you must give it away.
That is the statement that floats around in my head, trying to stick to something.
And up until I've been content to fill my weekends with beautiful volunteering and I will continue to do the same.  But in addition to the weekends, I now have 5 additional weekend days to do some good in our community.  Though I plan to do as much as possible to heart the organization of my heart, Fences for Fido, I would like to spread my sparkle out a little more.

Since goals and lists help me stay focused, I have made my Summer Sparkle List. 
Is your favorite organization on the list?  Want to join me in the fun?  Please do!

1. Fences for Fido-

The truest form of pure love,
delivered every weekend to families all around the Northwest. 
Need I say more?
I love them and plan to help out even more...
it's an honor to spend my time with people who live to care for dogs. 
There's nothing better in my book. 
Maybe it's time you joined me?

2. Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital

Run for the Love of Dove~ June 9th~
So, this one I've actually completed, but I figured that it deserved a place on my list any way.  Technically, it was during my summer vacation so it counts.  Plus, Dove Lewis is one of my favs and I plan on helping at other events this summer. 



Salem Harvest-  Sign up for a harvest or two! Then, use my portion of fruit to preserve and give it away to people around me.  ooooo....it would be fabulous if it was apples!  I can smell the applesauce already.

"With more than 3,000 registered volunteers, Salem Harvest is one of the largest all-volunteer harvesting organizations in the state. The non-profit, grassroots organization connects farmers and backyard growers with volunteer pickers to harvest fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. The group was established in January 2010 and is currently managed by a six-member steering committee." http://www.salemharvest.org/index.php

**Side Note:
Murphy- this list would be typed much faster without you licking me the entire time. Geesh!

3. Chelsea Hicks Foundation-
Helping kids?!  This sounds like a fun way to work with kids through my summer months. 

Hospital Helpers
Chelsea’s Closet visits Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Volunteers help with set up and clean up, help children select costumes and accessories, and assist with crafts, snacks and the costume parade. You may volunteer as often as your schedule allows.

4. Oregon Food Bank: Food Repack
"You might be surprised to learn that about 1,500 volunteers visit Oregon Food Bank each week! Food repack volunteers help with the most fundamental part of our mission – getting food to the people who need it most. Many donations need sorting, repacking, labeling or additional processing before they are ready to be sent to hunger-relief agencies. That's where you come in! Help us prepare food to be distributed through our network to hungry families." Oregon Food Bank

5. Portland Fruit Tree Project: Harvest Party
"Portland Fruit Tree Project is a grass-roots non-profit organization that provides a community-based solution to a critical and growing need in Portland and beyond: Access to healthy food. By empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of urban fruit trees, we are preventing waste, building community knowledge and resources, and creating sustainable, cost-free ways to obtain healthy, locally-grown food. Because money doesn’t grow on trees… but fruit does!"
Portland Fruit Tree Project

This one might be a great birthday party for me!  I love a party with a purpose.
Check these projects out and then join me in filling your love bucket up too.

Sparkle in Progress-Year One

I am a work in progress...

Aren't we all?!

Sitting here I think about myself last year-
wanting to change something in my life, but scared to step out alone.
It's easy to make up an excuse to not do something when you're alone.
Especially when it feels uncomfortable,
because having a companion to drag along seems better. 

Really? Dragging someone seems better?!

Well, I used to think so. 

But it's really hard to sparkle while dragging dead weight.

Geesh! That just turns into fake sparkle. Pretend sparkle.
Putting on your moms makeup as a little girl, sparkle. 

It's all sorts on wrong.

Lipstick all over your face and your stuffed animals.

Eyeshadow plastered, caked,
somewhere in the vicinity of your eye lids, or cheeks, or forehead.

It doesn't sparkle...or does it?

That little girl had a few things going for her. 

She was a risk taker.

A bit of a rule breaker too,
because you know that her mom hadn't given her permission.
But that little girl, oh man, she was going for it! 

She was going to add her own kind of sparkle and prance around
like she's competing for Miss America.

She popped on those old tap dancing shoes that her great aunt had given her,
(way too big) and clickity-clacked her way into those judges hearts.

Click.

She danced.

Clackity.

She twirled.

Clickity.

She spun. 

Heck, she sang her own shows tunes!
"I'm a Yankee Doodle dandy. She's my Yankee Doodle joy!
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, born on the Fourth of July!"

Oh, and did she smile! 

Then when her performance was over,
she looked at the judges...Snuggles, Princess, Melinda the Bear...and...Mom?

She giggled nervously.

She knew that she was in trouble for the makeup.

But then...magic.

The judges applauded!

One was brought to their feet even!
Giggling too!

Oh, the little girl giggled a little too. 

And then, a jeweled crown was placed upon the girls' head,
by the best judge and told, "Lori, you sparkled!"

Ah. Finally.
Sparkle doesn't have to be perfect.
You don't even need a plan!
All you need is heart and determination to be the best you possible. 

I'm not there yet...not by a long shot, but I feel sparkly.
I feel it, not in the expected places like my heart (though it's there)...
I feel it in my feet after baking all day long.
I feel it in my hands after twisting ties on a fence.
I feel it in the people I'm with. 

Today as I reflect on my journey over the last year,
I encourage you to try something, anything really. 

Let that little girl (or boy) dance.
Sing and clickity-clack their way in the world.
And if you must, and I do, sing at the top of your lungs!
Mine will be some kind of show tune.
What will your song be?

Heck, I'll even sing with you until you break out on your own! 

But sing! Dance!

And above all else, let your sparkle out into the world. 

Together we can illuminate the good.

Sparkle on.

Marionberry Pie = Heaven

Ah Marionberries! How I have missed you!
Oregon's own beautiful berry that makes all other berries seem sub par.
Well, at least that's what my family believes.
Marionberries are our favorite berry,
and as soon as the berry becomes ripe,
I immediately head out into the berry fields to pick as many as I can fit into my bucket.
Then, as soon as that bucket is used, I head out again. 
Somehow there never seems to be enough marionberries in jars of jam, freezer bags, or in the stomach of family and friends to make it through another year.
I hope that with my fierce berry picking and preserving them for the winter, I'll be able to satisfy every ones marionberry needs.

But first things first...a pie for Dad.

Marionberry Pie
Recipe modified from Joy of Baking

Short Crust Pastry:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoon granulated white sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, chilled, and cut into 1 tbl. pieces

1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Berry Filling:

6 cups marionberries

2/3 cup granulated white sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces

Directions modified from Joy of Baking:

Short Crust Pastry:
1. In a food processor, place the flour, salt, and sugar and process until combined.
2. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal (about 15 seconds).
3. Pour 1/4 cup water in a slow stream. If necessary, add more water. Do not process more than 30 seconds.
4. Turn the dough onto your work surface and gather into a ball.

5. Divide the dough in half, flattening each half into a disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about one hour before using.

6. After the dough has chilled, remove one portion of the dough from the fridge and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry into a 12 inch circle.

7. Fold the dough in half and gently transfer to a 9 inch pie pan.

Make the Berry Filling:

1. In a small bowl mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice.

2. Place the berries in a large bowl. Add the sugar mixture to the berries and gently toss to combine.

3. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie shell and dot with the 1 tablespoon of butter.

Put Pie Together:

1. Remove the second round of pastry from the fridge and roll it into a 13 inch circle.

2. Fold the dough in half and gently transfer to the top of the 9 inch pie pan.

3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Put a baking sheet on the oven rack. (The pie plate will be placed on the hot baking sheet to catch any spills.)

4. Bake the pie for about 20 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Continue to bake the pie for about 35 - 45 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown color and the juices are bubbling and thick. If the edges of the pie are browning too much during baking, cover with a foil ring or aluminum foil.

One of the things that I LOVE about this recipe is that the crust is so easy to handle. Though I love my family recipe, it is quite temperamental which has caused be great distress in the past. I will still be making the beloved crust, but this is a nice change.

 

And, the review is in:

"Great crust and just the right amount of sweetness and tartness!"

from my Dad, and my Mom agrees.

 

So I say that this pie received a 5 star rating...if I do say so myself, and I do.

Happy Baking,

Lori

**My mom added the bunny,

because everything is better with a bunny.