Every once in a while, more once than while,
I'd say at least every two weeks or so . . .
I check to see if the Blue Heron is at the pond over at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Sometimes I see him, sometimes not.
He's either standing watch over the carp,
still as a Buckingham Palace guard,
Or he is perched on a lone branch overhead.
Anyhow, in my mind, if I do see him,
To me, It means that everything is going to be okay.

Pastry

2-1/4 cups of flour

3/4 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of butter

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

5 or 6 tablespoons of water

Mix and roll into 2 crusts, bottom and top.

Filling

6 to 8 crisp, tart apples, peeled and cut up

Place in bottom pie crust.

In a separate bowl, mix the following and pour onto the apples:

1-1/2 teaspoons of allspice

1-1/2 teaspoons of nutmeg

3 tablespoons of cinnamon

1/4 cup of sour cream

3 tablespoons of sherry

1 teaspoon of orange zest (from orange peel)

1 cup of sugar or honey

2 teaspoons of vanilla

Place second crust on top and make it pretty.

Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and then for 30 minutes at 350