The Day the MINI Coopers Came to Town
Just another day at the American Gothic House. When you live in the American Gothic House you never know who — or what — is going to turn up on your doorstep. Case in point: yesterday, a group of 15 MINI Coopers, driving in two groups from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, converged in Eldon, […]
Aldi Fever: My Love Affair with a German Grocery Store
The connection to past and present, lit up in neon. I love Aldi. Aldi is a German-owned discount grocery store chain in both Germany and the U.S. (Aldi U.S. has 1,000 stores in 29 states. And, a little known fact, Aldi also owns Trader Joe’s.) Marcus introduced me to Aldi when we were still dating. […]
Deer Poop Pie
This is what “House Arrest” looks like. Who knew that living in Iowa could be so perilous? Perilous to my dog Jack and to my wallet, I mean. One thousand dollars spent between two veterinarians in two different towns and we are still not quite sure what has caused the incessant vomiting in my little […]
Pie: Agent of Change
My friends Stacy and James from Portland, Oregon visited me at the American Gothic House two weeks ago. It was my second weekend of business with the Pitchfork Pie Stand and immediately upon their arrival in Eldon I put them to work on the pie production line. They were naturals, falling in love with pie […]
Back on the Bike
I haven’t baked pie in a week. I haven’t blogged in a week. But one week after the bunny incident, I can at least say I have gone for a bike ride. How could I not? The day was warm — almost hot — at 75 degrees. These summer temperatures were undoubtedly some kind of record breaker for Iowa, […]
Interfering with Nature
Just as making 231 pies hasn’t been enough to heal my grief from Marcus, yesterday’s 10-mile bike ride to Selma was no cure for the heartache left by Mr. X. Not even close. So I went for another bike ride this afternoon. I left the house earlier this time which meant warmer temperatures and more […]
Pie Heals. Just When You Think it Doesn’t
Pie heals. Pie heals. Pie heals. Pie heals. Pie heals. How many more times do I have to keep saying this? And how many more pies do I have to make before I heal? According to my calculations I’ve made 231 pies in the 14 and a half months since Marcus died. And yet there […]
Essential Pie Tools
I opened my Pitchfork Pie Stand at the American Gothic House two and a half weeks ago and have been reminded that making pie in large volumes requires more than my usual two tools of a rolling pin and a mixing bowl. I have also discovered some new, indispensable items…some you can purchase, some you cannot. 1) Transport […]
Humble Beginnings of a Pie Business
Follow the sign in the yard. This way to the PITCHFORK PIE STAND. The weekend weather report says there will be rain, so we moved the pie stand (which, thus far, consists of one big table) into the living room of the American Gothic House. Regardless of the day of the week, the sign on the […]
A Funeral in Front of the House
You can run but you can’t hide. From grief, I mean. I was reminded of this on Saturday when at 8:00 a.m. I saw Brenda Kremer, owner of Kremer Funeral Home in Eldon, walk up the path to my house with two men in tow. All were carrying folding chairs. I knew why. I was […]