Morning inspiration. Marc Johns.

I can only assume I came across Marc Johns’ whimsical drawings on Pinterest a few months ago.  It could have been through another source, but I most definitely think it was Pinterest.  I liked one drawing so much I saved it to my computer desktop at work and every time I need a little motivation or laugh, I open the image.

Here it is.

Finally, I’ve saved his blog to my Favorites.  I’m guaranteed a smile every time I open it.

I can’t get enough of this guy’s whimsy.

I would like a hallway in our home to have six or seven of these framed prints.  I know it would give me a smile every day.  And I think it would be a silly welcome (!) to any guests who visit.  ”Hello!  We are funny people and really appreciate a good sense of humor.”

Click here to see the rest.

Maybe these would be super fun for an afternoon party in the park?  Who’s up for temp tats?

And this would be super fun for…every day of your life.

And one last thing.

Impossible [insert your fave savory ingredients] pie.

The first time I remember eating Impossible Ham Pie was at my Aunt Marge and Uncle Eddie’s house in Vermont.  Their house in the country was immaculate and simple and beautiful, with lots of light in the kitchen, maple furniture and Hummel figurines in the living room.  Aunt Marge was a very talented writer, crafter and seamstress.

Whenever my mom got together with her Hanlon Aunts (of whom Aunt Marge was one of three at the time) – her mother’s sisters, there was certain to be some sort of Quiche – likely Impossible Ham Pie.  I loved it even as a little girl when every piece of food on my melamine Cabbage Patch Kids plate seemed to require a dollop Heinz Ketchup before I’d put it in my mouth.

The best thing about the Impossible Pie is no matter your taste, you can add the savory flavors that suit you. This past Saturday, I was in the mood for asparagus, leek and Gruyère, so I subbed it in for the ham, onions and swiss cheese and called it Impossible Asparagus Pie.

Impossible Asparagus Pie

2 C. asparagus (Use top tender parts only, cut on the diagonal)
1 leek (white and light green parts only, cut in half, then quarters and washed thoroughly)
Salt and pepper to taste
Pat of butter
1 C. shredded Gruyère
1 1/2 C. whole milk
3/4 C. Bisquick or Jiffy Baking Mix
3 eggs, room temperature

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly grease pie plate.

On medium heat in a skillet, melt butter.  Add leek and asparagus.  Season with salt and pepper until asparagus is tender–about 8 minutes.  Let stand and cool.

Sprinkle leek and asparagus in pie plate.

Beat remaining ingredients until sooth – 15 seconds in a blender or 1 minute with a hand mixer.
Pour into pie plate.

Bake until golden brown and a knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.*
Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
* High altitude (3500 to 6500 ft.): Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

Take a deep breath.  It smells very, very good.

This pie plate is Emile Henry from Williams-Sonoma, a gift from my mother.  I’m a huge fan.

Mmmm.  Saturday.

Before Kevin and Chris dug in I yelled, “Hold up!  I need to fetch my camera and get a shot of this beautiful pie.”  I most definitely did say “fetch.”

So delicious.
Here is the original recipe, from my Momma (possibly by way of Bisquick at some point in time.)
Impossible Ham Pie
2 C. cooked ham (chopped into cubes)
1/2 C. chopped onions
1/2 Tsp. salt
1 C. shredded Swiss cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 1/2 C. whole milk
3/4 C. Bisquick or Jiffy Baking Mix
3 eggs, room temperature
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Lightly grease a pie plate.
Sprinkle ham, onions, salt and cheese in pie plate.
Beat remaining ingredients until smooth – 15 seconds in a blender or 1 minute with a hand mixer.
Pour into pie plate.
Bake until golden brown and a knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.*
Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.
* High altitude directions (3500 to 6500 ft.): Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

Yawn and ramble on an ode to a dishwasher.

Holy cow.

I’ve been up at 3 a.m. for the past three mornings.

Chris warned me this would happen.

On our flight from New York to Denver, he tried to wake me up and apparently I growled at him.  Like an angry African cat.  I grrr’d and said, “Don’t wake me up.  I’ll sleep if I want!”  And then I promptly fell limp in my seat.  And that was that.  The deed was done.  I slept for three hours on that flight–which in my mind was making up for the 12 hours I didn’t sleep from Paris to New York.

Dianne picked us up from the airport and we drove to her house to retrieve some things we left there for safe-keeping.  She gave us a Tupperware bowl full of pasta and when we got home, we sat on the sofa and ate it and then BAM, I was in bed.  At 3:02 a.m., I was wiiiide awake.

This morning when I woke up at that ungodly hour I decided to make corn muffins.  They were delicious.  When Chris wandered into the living room at half past five, I offered him one.  He sleepily said he’d have some cereal.

Unfortunately, after the corn muffin making and eating, I had to wash the dishes.  By hand.

When we got home we realized our dishwasher decided to take a vacation as well and had not drained from its last cycle and none of the digital buttons on the front panel worked.

A really swell guy named Randy came to fix it this morning and now, that darling Kenmore appliance is up and running.  Boy do I appreciate a dishwasher.  In turn, I now really appreciate Randy.

And this was my favorite news this week.

Homecoming.

Chris and I are home in Mile High after three weeks in South Africa with our good friends Ludi and Amy.  We were in Cape Town, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and Durban.

I have come back refreshed, inspired, humbled and hopeful.  It was a wonderful trip.  The people we met and spent time with in Africa are adventurous and incredibly hospitable.

This weekend, we’ll get our photos off the cameras and on to hard drives and start sorting.

We’ll also finish the rest of our laundry.