When the weather, inspiration, fruit of the season and mood is just right, then it is time to bake. Or, when you just plum feel better, and you have to do something nice to lift yourself…
I went to bed on Thursday night feeling fine.
But, at 1 a.m. I knew something was wrong.
I normally sleep like a log through the night, but I was wide awake.
I cuddled back up, as best as I could, between Miles and Matty, and tried to go back to sleep, but I felt something strange.
Then, I knew…
When my head began to spin and I couldn't lift it, and my stomach was in waves, fast waves, and I felt like I could fall right off the edge, never to be a part of this world again…
I knew.
Hello inner ear.
Hello vertigo.
So horrible to see you.
(as some of you know, I suffer from this a few times a year, due to a teenage horse fall head injury)
I grabbed my medication, or rather, dragged myself to it. I took one for my inner ear, and the golden one, especially for vertigo. And then, I held on for about 15+ hours. (funny enough, it was going to rain, something that does not happen often here, and the air pressure had changed. Am I am human barometer now?)
On Saturday, I came back to this earth. Still a little wobbly, still a little like my head was waving. But no longer feeling like I was literally going to die. Yes, that is what full blown, actual vertigo, feels like – to me at least.
I shuffled to the kitchen, and saw the heaps of Empire apples Mister Lovee had brought home.
And then I knew, that in slow steps, I just had to make apple pie.
I just had to.
It was a life line, back to my safe world…
I slowly peeled, cored, chopped…
I used this recipe.
One change I made is, where the pastry calls for 6 tablespoons of shortening, I used butter instead.
And then, Sir Cuisinart did the rest.
I love this machine.
He makes everything so easy.
Pop it all in, and then…
Dough? Pesto? Presto!
The recipe is really easy…
For the leaves, I just rolled out the dough and used a sharp knife to cut them out free hand. Then I shaped them and scored some details in with the end of some random kitchen tool. It was actually a corn ear holder thingy.
Very supple dough.
I had never made a double crust pie before, but it really was a breeze, and so much fun to do. Like creating edible art…
A pie for Mister Lovee.
He is such a love.
He is a gemini, so he has one angelic side, and one rotten side.
But mostly, he is fun and hilarious, and inspires me to bake him nice things.
He came in from the store just as I was finishing adding the leaves, and he just LOVED the look of his surprise pie. He asked me to paint the center berries with red food coloring. I told him they would turn black, but he said he would like that, so I said okay 😉
I baked it, putting foil lightly over the pie during the last 30 minutes of baking…
While it cooled, I made stuffed peppers, per Mister Lovee's request earlier in the week. I had so much to do, paintings I was working on, tidying, washing clothes.
But when you get so sick that nothing matters, then sometimes, for that moment in time, nothing does matter but…
Homemade apple pie…
I am still a little funny feeling, so I think that, on this dark rainy lovely autumn morn, I will cozy up with my 3 boys, and have a quiet little day…
See you soon!
Love, Vanessa
I think you should hop a plane and bring me a slice!
In my mind, Mister Lovee did the Purple Pie Man dance… you know, from the Strawberry Shortcake cartoons… aratatatata a ratatataaaaaaaa…
Hope you feel even better today!
Poor you Vanessa. That vertigo sounds so awful, I hope it’s a million years before your next bout. You are too precious of a person to have to suffer like that :(.
On another note, that pie is GORGEOUS! It looks like something you’d find cooling on a window sill of an enchanted cottage in a magical forest. The most perfect fairy tale pie ever!
Lots of Love,
Jenn
Hi Vanessa! This post is a beauty! The vertigo is not. You are so very right about your pie being edible art. It is truly one of the most beauteous art installations I’ve ever seen. Yum indeed. And I love that you used butter. And I love the random kitchen tool. My random thing that I use for art is a quite long awl from the toolbox. I now use it exclusively for poking into the glue or mod podge bottle and coaxing the dollop of glue onto a wee paper edge or something I’m gluing onto something. Then right away I wipe the whole awl end across the paper towel sitting on my lap. This whole awl/paper towel thing makes gluing so much less messy. NO clean up. Hooray. Okay why your art pie took me to gluing with an awl tool I have no idea but in any event have a lovely time with your boys and may the universe sprinkle you with invisible healing magic. *hugs* Norma
Sorry to hear that Mr Vertigo has returned, it’s a horrible thing I (fingers crossed) only experienced it once with an inner ear infection and I really don’t ever want to go through that again. I marvel at your ability to cook pie while feeling poorly, and what a pie it looks so scrumptious.
Hope you’re soon feeling 100%, take care
Oh Vanessa! I am so sorry about the vertigo. It sounds horrible and I can definitely understand how apple pie is a much needed antidote!
I hope you feel better soon 🙂 Taking it easy will probably help.
Take care,
xoxoxo
Jessica
A Woodland Fantasy
Vertigo, is evil. I do hope you are much better now especially after making such a glorious apple pie…… take care love to the boys.
Olive xxx
When the rain is coming here my ear does a pop and then starts a high pitched eeeeeeeeee, so I know where your coming from, do you think your learning something each time you have a visit from Mr V ?
I am finally resurfacing after my anxiety ridden few months, I am extremely allergic to hormonal weed sprays which are everywhere in sept/oct in NZ, just panic 24/7, and nothing you can relax thru or breathe thru. I could smell the spray when I came in the gate this morning, and turned my truck off to hear the sprayers in the orchards down the road going. So Gross! but what can we do, we cant run so we deal.
Much like your vertigo, you know it wont last forever, but a bit hard to see when your in it.
I just try to convince myself that there is nothing like a little near death feeling to make you happier when its gone. The longest part of my recovery is regaining a feeling of trust with my body, like it could go again at any moment.
But baking pies looks like the best therapy ever, I wish I could smell that pie!
It would go perfect with the cup of tea Im having on the couch right now.
Take care Miss V and enjoy the stillness when it returns
much love
xxx
Sheree
Dear Vanessa! I’m so sorry to hear you got struck by this. I’ve only had little bits of vertigo once every almost never and it is so, so miserable at that.
I’m very glad to hear you’re recovering, and hope you are 100% by now.
Your apple pie is so pretty! A real treat for the eyes and I bet it tastes just as good.
Oh Vanessa, I’m so sorry about your visitor, the vertigo. I suffer from it also, and the doc says it has something to do with the change in barometric pressure. My ears rings all the time, but when they go to a high pitched tone, I know I’m in trouble. I take Antivert, and decongestants. Just wondering what you take. Love the pie! After an attack, we need something to make us feel vital again.
At least you had the attack before the holidays. Take care.
Oh, Vanessa, I’m sorry to hear that you had to deal with this. I remember you mentioning it before and I guess it just sneaks up on you. Your apple pie looks delicious. Cakes and pies are things I miss so much since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few years ago. Sometimes I walk through the bakery section in the supermarket while shopping, just to smell those wonderful smells.
Oh, sweet Vanessa, how terrible you must have felt when you knew this wicked vertigo was coming on. I am so very sorry. It sounds like such a terrible thing. I’m glad you are feeling some better. Doing something for someone else is always a spirit lifter. I know Mr. Lovee felt so “loveed” when he saw and smelled that pie! My late father-in-law would sometimes eat apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese. It is actually good! Have you tried that? Oh, and of course a la mode!
Big hugs Vanessa! I hope you get plenty of rest and I’m sure Miles, Matty and Mister Lovee will take extra special care of you 🙂 xx
Im so glad that you were able to get back to ‘normal’..that must be utterly rotten to go through..my mom happens to suffer from vertigo also..but I must say that pie looks sooo delicious..I think I may go out and buy some apples to make a delicious pie..:)
Oh my dear Vanessa,
So sorry to hear that your vertigo has found you again. I am glad that you are feeling a bit better and hope to 100% soon🖤 On another note, your pie looks scrumptious!!!! I wish I was there to enjoy a slice with you. Say hello to the furry babies and The Mister for me.
~~Hugs,
Dena
Vanessa – I am so sorry you have to go through this a few times a year! You must absolutely dread it. I am glad you got through it again and are feeling better. What a masterpiece that pie is! And with all that butter it must be divine! Feeling rotten makes you appreciate the good days so much more. Sometimes we can forget how blessed we are to just feel normal. Enjoy your pie and the boys!
That vertigo sounds like a whirlwind to endure.
Happy you made it through. That apple pie look delish. I always say how I want to make pies and never do. Sigh. Eventually, I’ll get to it.
Your Mr.Lovee is the same sign as my Sean. Gemini are wonderful yet mysterious at the same time.
Over at my blog, I have pictures up of my little one. He is growing by leaps and bounds.
I’m so sorrythat your vertigo is knocking on your door again. I hope that it goes away quickly….Not to come again. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Your pie looks wonderful and oh so tasty…My mouth is watering as I type this comment.
Take care, as I know that the rest of your family will step in where needed.
Baking is Comfort and Balance, for me anyway and happy to see you believe this also. I to, change receipes…rebel call :))))
Beauty is in everything you touch, you have been over doing it I think. Please take care of you…the most exciting season of all is on its way🖤 Debi
That pie looks like it tastes even better!
I’m sorry you have to deal with visits from that nasty Mr. Vertigo….what an awful thing to endure 🙁
Hope you are on the mend soon sweet. Take care and happy baking. I must bake apple pie this week too as my dad brought a bag full of them round to my house. Curried apple soup is also on the menu.
Get better xx
Yes Vanessa…you ARE a human barometer. I can honestly say this because I am also a human barometer.
The seasonal changes in barometric pressure are the worst time for my “Benign Positional Labyrinthitis”. So far, I’ve been lucky this year….just a wee bit of dizzies when I turn my head, but I am on a daily cocktail of meds for my ears now. So, first thing when I wake up, I pop those pills in my mouth even before getting out of bed. AND…I have an extra supply for my purse as well. Vertigo is a terrible and uncontrollable thing that you never, ever get used to no matter how many times you’re hit with it.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
P.S. Now…I have to make an apple pie as I am craving one just looking at your photos.
So sorry you were feeling the effects of vertigo. I do understand that sometimes it just takes stepping back, regrouping, and making apple pie. I fainted yesterday and still today not feeling 100%, but getting OK. So what I had planned has shifted to another day. Oh would a piece of that apple pie help.
I hope, that by now, you are feeling much better. That pie is gorgeous and I’m sure delicious! Mister Lovee is so lucky 😉
hugs to you….
Glad you are almost back to normal…well enough to bake an apple pie that looks so very scrumptious!
I will have to try your pie crust recipe…it looks divine. My pie crust used to always come out flaky but I have no clue what happened over the years. Making it with butter sounds nice and flaky.
Well, today I finally captured the stray mama cat and her two kittens that lived behind our tool shed. My hubby’s carpool guy friend loaned us his cat trap and a can of sardines …and yes…I love cats but they cannot be tamed like most dogs can. So, by 4 P.M. I had made three separate trips to the animal shelter…trapping cat/and kittens one at a time. By 3:45 P.M. the mama cat had finally been trapped. She has been a Houdini in other traps, escaping with ease…but this one worked.
So goodbye kitty cats~
=^..^=
OH yummy yummy apple pie!!!! Did you save a piece for ME??? Oh, probably not but that’s OK…maybe next time. Ooh ooh ooh!! Did you know that Disneyland is opening a new bakery called a Practically Perfect Pastries…or something like that. Me thinks that you and Mister Lovee should hop in your car and come over for the grand opening. We could meet for coffee…hee hee.
I’m very sorry to hear about your vertigo but happy to hear it has left your inner ear. I can’t imagine what that must be like ;-((.
Could you please give your fur babies a BIG GINORMOUS HUG for me.
Toodles Beloved Fanciful Friendling 😉
What a lovely post….and a beautiful apple pie!
What you went through with the vertigo sounds scary. I hope you are feeling better.
Oh, do take care to where your wings next time you feel you might tip right off the earth. I really don’t want you to go away. With that, take it slow and baking is always a good remedy. Blessings.
hope the vertigo stays away a long time.
Your apple pie looks great.
I used to make crusts (using ice water is my secret). I would take the left over edges, roll them out and sprinkle with butter cinnamon and sugar, roll it up jelly roll style slice and bake. My daughter called them bones. (They reminded her of the bone in a round steak cause of how they looked.
I want to do some baking but just can’t right now have something going on with my foot. hate that cause there are so many things I want to do.
Damn V, I wish we were neighbors! I could have taken care of you during your vertigo, and you could have shared your pie with me to say thank you 😉 😉
Glad you are feeling better!
Jamie 🙂
Ahhhhhh! Drool, indeedy! You still have be hankering after those apple pie cookies!! tee hee……time! Where are you when I need you!? tee heee
Hope you are feeling better dearie! Your pie looks delicious & your stuffed peppers sound super tasty. Love & hugs!
XOXO
Oh no, not another vertigo bout…I can’t even imagine dealing with that kind of off-kilter intensity. I was diagnosed a while back with benign positional vertigo, but it only happens for less than an hour at a time, and that’s quite enough. Some kind of “stone” in the inner ear, the doc says. Hubby says he always knew I had rocks in my head. 😉
Your pie looks scrumptious! I was planning pumpkin for Thanksgiving, but the Mice President requested apple as well, so I think I’ll give this one a try…
Hugs from Cadie and Cosmo (the aussie maniacs) to Miles and Matty, and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and Mr. Lovee!
🖤 Carolee
Your pie looks gorgeous! I love the little cut out leaves…
You are just geneious to make such a wonderful stuff!!! Great pics!!!!I love what you are doing here!!!
I am so sorry to hear that you were feeling poorly. I am most hopeful that you have fully recovered now. You are right – some days are just right for apple pie. Yum! Yours looks toooo pretty to eat!!! 🙂 xoxo
I’m a few weeks behind on reading this post but, y’know, things usually happen for a reason and this is the perfect time for me to read it, for a buncha reasons. Thanks for sharing your downs as well as your ups. Hug.