Ready!!!
‘Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house to Gail and John’s house we go!!
the turkey is waiting!!!
____________________________
Filled with gratitude today for family, friends and freedom!!
Tag Archives: gratitude
Over the river and…
Postcard from dawn
‘……………..For the beauty of the skies………………….
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise’
Meanwhile back at the ranch…..episode 21
and the drought goes on…….
even after rain one week ago, the days dawn bright and clear, temperatures too warm by mid-morning to work comfortably in the direct sun;
restricted to watering only twice a week, the lawn has stayed miraculously green.
Confusion rains reigns in the garden
Cecil Brunners
Popcorn tree roses
and this one whose name escapes me, believe it to be spring.
Being November with daily temperatures nearing 90 degrees, the more tender light of fall consoles us;
the hedge roses near the front porch soldier on seemingly unaffected, bathing us in beauty.
our hearts are full of gratitude even as we long for rain.
A day of gratitude
So grateful today for all who have gone before…..
….to those who gave their last full measure of devotion to establish and maintain the freedoms that we enjoy today….
…and to those who came across the sea….the Downs ancestors from England with the Winthrop Fleet in the 1630’s, and the Cresto’s who came from Italy just before the turn of the 20th Century.
Wishing you a day filled with appreciation and good times.
Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!
Filed under Art, Family history, Holidays, Inspiration
Italian Feast…..part 2
Being Italian means serving food at every possible occasion and lots of it…Christmas Eve Eve is certainly no exception.
Following the Bagna Cauda, pasta of course!!
favorite sauces added to the menu by family and guests:
red sauce with Vodka
mushroom ragout
red sauce with sausage and vegetables
red sauce with tuna and peas
pesto
puttanesca
each one delicious!!!
In my world, no meal is complete without something sweet:
zabaglione: egg custard with Marsala
and afogato: vanilla ice cream, with coffee, chocolate sauce,
and whipped cream
heritage honored – traditions kept alive – memories made
Grazie, Cugini!!!
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays
Italian Feast…..part 1
‘Twas the night before Christmas…….Eve
Christmas Eve Eve!
Each year, those of us who are family and those lucky enough to be invited, gather at Gail and John’s,
around the kitchen island for Bagna Cauda.
(I may be the family historian, but these cousins keep alive the Italian traditions of the palate!)
All I would need to make the meal complete:
bagna cauda
cabbage
dill bread
The Bagna Cauda – ‘hot bath’ in Italian: a mixture of olive oil, butter, sliced garlic, anchovies and cream.
The method for eating: dip cabbage in the hot bath with one hand, while taking a slice of dill bread with the other, catching the dripping sauce and cabbage on the bread, and into the mouth it goes – absolutely sublime!!!
Others like to dip carrots, celery, fennel, small potatoes, peppers….
…this is just the beginning…wine is being poured, acquaintances are being renewed, little ones are wonderfully under foot, absent dear ones are being recalled and missed…
….blessing are being counted and appreciated….body and soul are being fed….
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays, Interiors
‘thank you’
Such amazing words, these two….expressing appreciation, gratitude, acknowledging kindness, favor…expressing good will.
I am grateful to our forefathers for establishing a national day of thanksgiving….a day to indulge, yes, but also to ponder all the blessings of life.
I acknowledge you, my followers and visitors, as most worthy of a heartfelt ‘thank you’!
Celebrate the day with thanksgiving!!!
the last full measure of devotion…
Abraham Lincoln’s words still ring true. As a fifth grader at Commonwealth Elementary School in Los Angeles over half a century ago, I, along with my classmates, not only said the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag each morning, but with hand over heart also recited the Gettysburg Address, the Preamble to the Constitution and the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.
We were taught the ideals that make the United States of America a great nation under God, and taught to be grateful to those who have given their lives and those who have risked their lives in service to those ideals.
****THANK YOU!!!****
Filed under Family history, Holidays
Meanwhile back at the ranch…episode 9
the wedding deconstructed……… part 2
golden memories
beautiful gifts from the bride
a most thoughtful and fun gift from an auntie
the gown
candle light
heartfelt wishes
a new family member – another Mrs. W
…………………filled with gratitude!!!
Filed under Fashion, Inspiration
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 