Saturday, November 24, 2007

Pumpkin Pie Memories

The EDM challenge this week was very appropriately to draw a favorite food. So here is my EDM challenge #146, Ken's Pumpkin Pie, done in graphite in my sketch book.
The challenge for me with this was was more about choosing what to draw and then finding the time in between preparing for the holiday and enjoying the holiday to make a sketch. But I did manage to get in this sketch before the pie was completely gone. I chose the pumpkin pie not only because our friend, Ken, makes delicious pies, but also because of the associations I have with pie and our friendship with Ken. We have been celebrating Thanksgiving with him for many years now. Making a pie has become a ritual as one of his contributions to the feast. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving at our house without Ken and one of his wonderful pies!

Another ritual we have is to go out the day after Thanksgiving and select our Christmas/Yule tree from a local Christmas tree farm. No matter what the weather, this must be done. We trudge around in the cold among hundreds of fraser firs looking for the perfect tree to take home. Every year we are fooled by the size. The trees always look much smaller growing in the field than in the corner of our living room. This year was no exception. It was bitter cold. And the tree we picked is huge. Huge. And then there is the issue of our springer spaniel, Sammie. Also known as He Who Cannot Be Trusted. Last year as a puppy he spent his time in a crate when we were away from the house. Then this past summer he let us know in no uncertain terms, that he really didn't want to be in a crate when we were away. Now we have a ten foot tree in the living room where He Who Cannot Be Trusted has easy access any time he wants. Our plan, and it's the best we have come up with so far, is to place the very dreaded canister vacuum as a barrier around the tree when we go out. Sammie is very afraid of the vacuum cleaner. It just might work. I'll let you know.

8 comments:

Crumpled Paperbirds said...

Very rich shading, so plastic!! Great!!! I like the bit of a cream on the top:)

juj said...

Wonderful story and beautiful drawing! I have had lots of experience over my lifetime with the HWCBTs - hope the vacuum works for you. One year we had to tie our tree to a hook in the ceiling and had no ornaments lower than 3 feet off the ground. All the packages were on the mantle and shelves.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful drawing and funny story! I have a canny Scottie myself; we have resorted to a table-top tree but your tree is probably much lovelier!

Linda said...

:-D Great drawing of pie (aren't friends who cook well just THE BEST!?) and funny story about He Who Cannot Be Trusted. I remember one year we had to run eyehooks into the wall and tie the tree up. (It was the cat -- she still had clawes at the time and loved to climb the tree, causing the dog to chase her ... oh it got nasty.) Good thinking with the Dread vacuum cleaner as a deterrent.
:-)

Ann said...

Thanks all for the comments :) Yes, friends who cook are the best kind. And the tree is still untampered with, although all the ornaments aren't on yet. And the vacuum has been doing guard duty. I'll post a pic when we get all the ornaments on, in case we need it for evidence later on. I'm enjoying all the pets and Christmas tree stories!

quirkyartist said...

But what happened to my post where I said how delicious it looks and asked if you have a recipe? Did I bungle that one?

Ann said...

Hi Wendy, I don't know I didn't see that post. Googleey hooeee I guess! Actually Ken used the recipe on the can of Libby's Canned Pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling, just canned pumpkin) and he makes his own crust. I'll see if I have a can in the pantry and email the recipe to you. It was delicious!

Anonymous said...

Very nicely done. Love your shading and your commentary. Great story!

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