Would you like a peek behind the curtain? A verbal diorama of life as a Martha-used-to-wannabe?

We left off yesterday with lemon squares. They were in the oven.

It occurs to me that I haven’t touched Proud Mary (remember her? my spinning wheel?) since about two weeks after I got home from the Festival in early May.

Geez, I think, maybe I should reacquaint myself with the process so my new, cool spinning friends won’t think I’m a spinning equivalent of a poser — a tangler maybe?

I actually have to dust off the wheel. things are not looking good.

Neither am I, by the way. I had been mowing the lawn and doing all sorts of yard work. I was in a t-shirt over a wet bathing suit with bits of grass stuck to my legs and my stink is rising.

Anyway, I give Proud Mary the once over with the dust rag and sit down to do a bit of spinning. One of my cats becomes wildly interested. When I am not battling his claws, I am battling the roving which is blowing in the cold wind coming out of the air conditioner.

On top of these external challenges, there is always the monumental speed bump of my memory – or lack thereof.

I cannot remember anything. Not only can I not remember anything, I can’t remember where I put the handy Learn How To Spin book I bought along with the wheel.

ergh … frantic searching, cursing and frenzied movements ensue …..

I did manage to find the book, remember how to do it, get the lemon squares out of the oven and shower all in a matter of 35 minutes. It was a close call.

note to self: schedule your meltdowns a bit earlier in the day.

onto the Lemon Curd Squares! click on picture for a larger view!

Here is the recipe I promised:

pre-heat oven to 350&#176
sift together
1 cup of flour
&#188 cup contectioners’ sugar
add and combine:
&#189 cup melted butter

Press the mixture into an 8×8 greased baking pan and bake 20 minutes.

Meanwhile combine:
1 cup sugar
&#189 teaspoon baking powder
2 slightly beaten eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest
&#189 cup coconut
Pour these ingredients over the warm crust and bake 25 minutes. Chill. Cut into squares and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

I have often been accused of being a ‘Martha’. And I do mean accused.

When people say this, they never mean Martha in a good way. They are generally referring to Martha’s relentless pursuit of perfection. Her seemingly effortless knack for home-keeping and entertaining. Her smug, superior way.

I do try to keep a nice home. I do like to entertain – including cooking & baking. I do own an inordinate amount of pottery and bowls.

Witness, however, my apples.

One keen-eyed reader noticed the fruit in the pumpkin hat picture.

“Come one Ann, at least peel the stickers off the store bought apples when making a presentation.”

the stickers have saved me.

I have a Spinning Guild Meeting tonight. I have made lemon curd squares to take along. I plan on cutting these up, putting them on a lovely hammered aluminum tray and dusting them with confectioners sugar.

It is a new recipe and if it is a Good Thing, I will share it with you tomorrow!

I have often been accused of being a ‘Martha’. And I do mean accused.

When people say this, they never mean Martha in a good way. They are generally referring to Martha’s relentless pursuit of perfection. Her seemingly effortless knack for home-keeping and entertaining. Her smug, superior way.

I do try to keep a nice home. I do like to entertain – including cooking & baking. I do own an inordinate amount of pottery and bowls.

Witness, however, my apples.

One keen-eyed reader noticed the fruit in the pumpkin hat picture.

“Come one Ann, at least peel the stickers off the store bought apples when making a presentation.”

the stickers have saved me.

I have a Spinning Guild Meeting tonight. I have made lemon curd squares to take along. I plan on cutting these up, putting them on a lovely hammered aluminum tray and dusting them with confectioners sugar.

It is a new recipe and if it is a Good Thing, I will share it with you tomorrow!

This has been a highly productive weekend. When my friend Carmel and her family visit, we usually spend a great deal of time hanging out & catching up. This time however, we were a hive of activity! As you all know by now, Carmel had requested two baby fruit caps in exchange for her solemn promise to learn how to make one on her own. A small price for a knitter’s soul.

On our trip to Rochester I cranked out a berry hat and on Saturday I knit this:

Not only did Ms. Carmel make good on her word, but her children were bitten by the knitting bug! Here are some pictures of her efforts – learning the knack of double pointed needles and her results:

By far one of the best things about the weekend was both of her children learned how to knit! They also enjoyed some guest-blogging