In the beginning...

When I was single, I took a risk and flew to Louisville, Kentucky (didn't make it to the Kentucky Derby Museum) to speak at a conference for theater critics and bought for a modest sum, a book about pies ("Baking with Jim Dodge") at a fundraising silent auction. That book inspired me to bake pies, but you need to round up friends to help you eat them. One of my friends from my single days, Rosalie Marley, reminded me that March 2014 was going to be pi month, something that wouldn't happen for another 100 years. Although I'd say 3-14-15 is sort of Pi-ish, too.  Here's the email she sent me via Facebook.

I know you are into making Pies, and that March 14 is Pi day. Well, I just realized that this spring will be Pi MONTH! 3.14 (month.year). Just wanted to bring it to your attention in case you'd like to observe with a Month of Pies - and maybe put together a block of recipes Pi Month won't be around for another 100 years...

Since I don't expect to be around in 2114, this was my one chance to take on the challenge of 31 pies.

This weekend, I am missing not having a pie refrigerator. Yes...in my single days, I had two 3/4 size refrigerators. One came with the loft I was living in. The other I brought and it became the pie refrigerator. I got rid of that one when I got married. It was old and not very energy economic.

Two years ago, we moved from our condo to a new place where the appliances are even older than the ones I was using. Eventually, we will need to replace the washer and drier with something more energy efficient, but with this pie challenge coming up, I am missing my pie refrigerator. Our regular refrigerator is full after two pies and I need to make two more (tomato pie and a nectarine-blueberry pie). We've almost finished the passionfruit pie which got my husband's approval. The passionfruit is from his own plant.

So I began looking into buying a small refrigerator and making a list of things that it would be nice to have for this pie challenge.

Dream refrigerator: Samsung model #RF268ABRS French Door Refrigerator $2,399.00
More reasonable: Frigidaire 4.4 cu ft. Compact refrigerator #236299 Model # LFPH44M4LM $179

Two new long oven mitts. Short won't protect your arms when you're getting out cobblers and pies. I have two old and very stained ones that I got at Ikea. I think they were on sale.
Dream mitts: Marimekko Hauki Long Grey Oven Mitt $28 each.
More practical but boring: Chef Revival Oven Mitt $21.95 each.

Stay Fresh Pie Keeper $19.95 for 2
An added thought would be the Progressive Collapsible Pie Carrier for $29.95

Because of our chocolate (Ian) and no-chocolate (Jana and the dogs) household I was thinking mini pies would be nice so either the Libbey Just Baking set ($29.95) or the Libbey Just Baking mini pie plate set ($29.95)

I have a green marble pastry rolling pin (free from Freecycle), but I don't have a marble pastry board ($29.11).

I am curious about this NaturalStone Deep Pie Dish ($19.95) although I usually use glass.

As this is a geek project, I thought I'd need some geek-themed pies so I'd also like:
Death Star sphere mold ($9.99)
Dinosaur cookie cutter set ($39.99)

I'm calculating that I'll need at least 36 (3 dozen eggs), probably more since I will make a custard or two.
I'll need 62 cups of flour. I might not bake every day since in March not everything I love to make into pies is in season and some of the recipes have come from my trips to Hawaii.

I'll also need to clean up the dining room and kitchen for real baking production every or nearly every day.

So at present, my ideal budget would be:

$2,399.00
$179
$28 x 2
$19.95
$29.95
$29.11
$9.99
$39.99
Subtotal: $2753.04
Tax: $247.77
TOTAL: $3000.81

So let's round it down to $3000. If I get a Kickstarter campaign up, then I'll add 10 percent for the Kickstarter and Amazon fees. 

Now a more reasonable budget would be:
$179 for the compact refrigerator
$19.95 Stay Fresh Pie Keeper 
$29.95 for the Libbey Just Baking set
Subtotal: $218.90
Tax: $19.70
TOTAL: $238.60

With the Kickstarter and Amazon fees for a Kickstarter campaign, I'd put that up to $265.00.

I've put in a proposal for Kickstarter so I'm waiting to hear back if I need to make adjustments.