First Place in the Baking Contest

When I saw "Marty's Cell" ring on my cell phone during the OSU game Saturday, my heart fell and I quickly figured something was wrong. I was soon relieved to hear that Shayla had some very exciting news. When we dropped Shayla off Friday on our way to Columbus, Marty told me she was going to have Shayla make an apple pie again this Saturday and they were going to enter it at a festival, but I never thought any more about it. Imagine my surprise when Shayla said, "I won first place in the baking contest with my apple pie!" That was really cool I thought, but then she added, "I got $50.00!" and I was shocked!! That was a HUGE help with her savings for her wii game. She's only about $44.00 shy now. (When you're doing chores for quarters at a time, it takes a while and I think it's a FABULOUS lesson!)
There were six entries in the competition and here Shayla is with the second place winner. She was the only "kid" and Aunt Marty insists, with the exception of paring the apples which Uncle Jeff did, Shayla really did it all.
Grandma Nonee and Paw Paw Joe went to the festival with Aunt Marty and Uncle Jeff and it looks like they all had a grand time!

If every child in the world was a loved as Shayla is, what a glorious world this would be!

Aunt Marty has used this recipe since she was in high school (must have been about 2005 perhaps, hee hee. She has so much energy!). I probably shouldn't give away Marty's "secret", but she felt the strategy would be for Shayla to use a homemade crust and to deliver her pie to the judges while it was still warm. Gotta love that Aunt Marty!!!

Apple Crumb Pie
By Shayla Thomas age 9 ½

Pie Crust
1/3 c. shortening
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 T. of water
Mix first 3 ingredients together until crumbly. Add water and stir with a fork just until mixed.
Roll out and put in pie dish.

Pie Filling
4 to 5 large baking apples
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
¾ cup flour
1/3 cup butter

Pare apples. Cut in eights and arrange in pastry lined pie dish. Sprinkle apples with ½ cup sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon mixed. Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup sugar, and 1/3 cup butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake in a hot oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Then lower oven to 350 degrees and bake for another 40 to 50 minutes until tender and bubbling.


There was also a lot of horse riding going on back at "the ranch". Once again Marty and Shayla competed against each other in the "trail division" where they set up a variety of obstacles they each had to take a horse over. This time Paw Paw was the judge. Of course he wasn't bias (cough, cough). No one was surprised (except Shayla) when she once again won First Place in the family horse competition! (wink) And gee how this would all be so different if Christi were alive! I'm thinking there would be TWO first places, smile, or maybe she would have always been the judge.

We spent Sunday bike riding with Marty and Jeff. They also took us to an Equine Rescue Center which was fascinating to tour. The Humane Society has about 25 horses they rescued or which were dropped off. It really was interesting. Shayla was so glad to know the horses were alive, getting proper care and not being made into dog food. I know Shayla wishes she lived closer so she could volunteer there.

Shayla cracked me up when she told me she learned something really surprising on Saturday that no one ever told her before. She said, "Did you know Aunt Marty and Grandma Nonee are sisters?!" (I can just see Christi looking at me like, "Mom!") Two days later, I'm still laughing! Love ya, Shayla! I told her, "Can you believe Grandma trusted her sister, who was only 15, to be my Godmother?! Isn't it neat we picked her to be your Godmother too?!" Shayla assured me we made a great choice. (PIC: Shayla's Great Aunt Marty holding her in the hospital for the very first time. Feb. 12, 1999)