Here in Wheatridge/Denver at Penny's daughter's home so this will be a brief Domestic Entry. Just warning in case you all were hoping for more of the usual exciting revelations.

Penny's family consists of Denise and husband Burke and children Jayne and David. They live in a lovely comfortable house. I love it's rambling layout and spacious yard and gardens and many bathrooms. Do I sound like House Beautiful yet?

Denise is an Attorney with a Denver Firm dealing with Environmental Issues. Burke is a Financial Consultant and, more important, a Master Wood Working craftsman. Almost all the wood creations in their house are done by him including a magnificent cherry floor which I believe entailed buying up the equivalent of an entire cherry orchard.

He is the nephew of the late Burke Marshall who was a significant figure during the Civil Rights Days as well as other issues of social change. So we are in the correct political atmosphere. We were discussing this when we heard Ted Kennedy died. Perhaps one of the last of the old guard Liberal good public servants remaining.

Jayne is off to Colby College in Maine and we are baby sitting David, a sophomore in High School (Colorado Academy). Among other things he is a star Soccer Player.


Received message from friend, Kathy, who was in Colorado recently and she too was taken by the cloud formations. This is one of the few places where the clouds and the rocks equal one another....Interact with equal drama. She used the word voluptuous to describe these sights and I thinks that's perfect.

Literary Notes: Now that we're not dashing about the State I have time to catch up with all the New Yorker Magazines. Was looking forward to reading Part II of Ian Fraiser's essay of traveling across Siberia. Now, There's a Travel Blog!!!! I particularly liked that the "handsomest town" they drove through was, Blagoveshchenie, which means Annunciation.



Also reading "This Is How" by M. Hyland reviewed a couple weeks ago in the Times. Very powerful ..... I'm not sure I should finish it.

Recipe: This is sent by Chrissy from Pagosa Springs. She is a Vegan and a Music Promotion Entrepreneur. This should show that Vegans also can have fun. Some of you may want to get permission from your Health Care Giver before trying. This is definitely an All American Classic.

BUTTER COOKIE PIE

CRUST:

24 Nutter Butter sandwich cookies
5 Tbsp melted Smart Balance butter spread
9" Chocolate pie crust

FILLING:

1 (8 oz.) package softened cream cheese
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tsp vanilla
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 bottle of Hershey chocolate...any size

RECIPE:

Step 1: Crust
Crush cookies in a zipper style plastic bag with a rooling pin, or with a food processor or ball peen hammer. Mix cookie crumbs with butter. Spread evenly all around bottom of chocolate crust and press with bottom of a glass. Squeeze 2/3 bottle of Hershey Syrup over cookie crumbs.

Step 2: Pie Filling
Mix cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer until well blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip until blended together. Spoon onto Hershey Syrup layer

Step 3:
Freeze 4 hours or until firm. Let stand 1/2 hour until pie is to be cut. Garnish the top of the pie with remaining Chocolate Syrup. Can also drizzle chocolate on serving plate (as you have seen at the best restaurants).