We were so sad to know that our neighbor was planning to remove two big trees from his backyard. Sure, these trees were well into the winter of their lives, but they offered a much appreciated deep cool shade in the late afternoon that is quite a treat in the Texas heat.

Now they are gone, and while the shade is not as deep, it's not as sunny as I imagined it was going to be. We most definitely need to plant something in front of my kitchen widow cuz it gets hit hard when the sun is setting. All in all, it's not so bad, but it's always sad to lose a tree.

Thankfully, the fence is covered in roses and honeysuckle so we don't have to see the tree size holes they must have left… we think our pines will be happier too.

That said, it did drive me straight to the kitchen to make a key lime pie.

I have been dreaming of buying one of these babies lately. Now, how to justify the whopping price tag…

Justification #1 I have outgrown my food processor I received as a wedding gift over 11 years ago. I want desperately to make dough for two pies at once, not one. I'm sure I do not to explain why this is better, do I?

Justification #2 The blender I received as gift for the above mentioned wedding whirs a lot more than it blends these days.

Justification #3 the combined price of a bigger better food processor and decent blender comes close (this may be a stretch) to cost of Vita-Mix Super 5200 with both dry and wet blade containers.

Justification #4 the 7-year warranty

Justification #5 Counter space, Counter space, Counter space