i want to live here!

Tracery Interiors, Atlanta Homes Mag

yummy light, monochromatic, windows to die for, and worn, rustic wood to warm it all up.

but alas...i live in the desert.

why?  why?  why?

biscotti di prato recipe - piu delizioso

biscotti di prato because it originated in the italian city of prato.  it's a love acquired no doubt from my italian heritage.  and hands down this is the best biscotti recipe ever.  it comes courtesy of my niece (hey, sarah jones!) who got it from the mother of the owner of a little coffee shop she used to work at.

here's the recipe

biscotti di prato

cream 1 1/2 sticks butter

add 1 1/2 cups sugar

beat and add 6 eggs (save 1 egg white for top)

add:

2 - 4 tsp anise extract (i use 4 very generous tsps.  it is, after all, anise)

2 tsp of vanilla

2 cups minced nuts (walnuts or pecans)

4 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1 to 1 1/2 cup chopped craisins (you can omit these)

cream mixture together.  shape dough into 2 loaves.  paint with egg white

baked on greased cookie sheet 35 - 50 minutes (yep, you gotta watch it)

to quote wiki..."these cakes are large biscuits, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still hot and fresh from baking in the oven"
so don't forget to slice and twice bake (or they won't be biscotti!) about another 10 minutes.

delizioso, squisito, prelibato.
p.s.  i'm back...i think.

winter solstice

it's no secret.  i hate winter.  that season of dormancy, darkness and cold.  motivation escapes me.  not a single fiber of my being is alive.  my time is spent curled up in a ball trying to keep my bones warm while my spirit plummets. seasonal affective disorder. it's the winterizing of my soul.  as the daylight wans i teeter into that dark, cold abyss.  my soul falls dead asleep without feeling or hope.   nature uses this time to rest.  to reflect, rejuvenate, and  replant.  i am now, slowly, taking my cues from nature.  and as the days begin to lengthen and the light begins to brighten i find myself waking up.

and for this i am grateful.

turn out the lights the party's over

done.  finito.

because about now my beloved christmas decor has turned into christmas clutter.

i need to get back to normal.

whatever that is.

christmas 2010

at carrabbas.  before the nutcracker ballet.

christmas eve dinner.  prime rib.  might have to be a new tradition.

its christmas morning.  where are those bouncing ball?  we've got presents to open!

happy will.  and apparently bumpa likes little people too.

drew was happy too...but was still looking for that nerf recon.  (yes, he found it.)

wessie got to building right away.  cool stuff.

geez nana...clothes...that all you got.

yea skechers twinkle toes rock!

elise was happy...she hadn't found her clothes yet.

now if we could get the rest of those bouncing balls home from michigan,

 we could wrap this christrmas thing up.

cause this nana has cooked her goose and needs to cuddle.

with this. (since the boy i live with went hunting...again.)

but i'm not complaining cause this keeps me nice and warm too.

with sleepytime herbal, lemon zinger, mandarin orange spice, cozy chamomile, peppermint, white hot chocolate, double chocolate, cafe mocha, and caramel apple cider.
and if this mormon momma gets to feeling edgy
she's got her eye on the butter toffee, hazlenut, raspberry chocolate truffle decafs.
thanks again babe...i love it.  but you should know if you keep up this hunting pace,
my new keurig will be getting the best of me.

christmas baking



UPDATE:  i'm out of biscotti...i'm out of pizzelles.
mom, can i borrow your pizzelle maker?

is finally done.  8 loaves of biscotti, 3 sheets of toffee, 7 pumpkin spice jar cakes, and about 18 dozen anisette pizzelles.

we are in sweet overload over here.

except for elise.  we can never get enough of her sweetness.

 
while baking she says to me, "nana, you're cute".
yep, full of sweetness and sass that one.

additions

i wish i could be one of those bloggers who posts everyday but things have been busy around here.  real busy.  and all this busyness has included a couple of new additions.

addition number one is by far the most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition to come into our lives, well, since the last most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition.

introducing

natalie olivia

natalie came into the world on tuesday, december 7, 2010 at 4:43 pm.

7 pounds and 11 ounces of pure joy.

i am most blessed.  she has filled my heart during a time i was afraid it was breaking.

and while natalie and mom and dad were resting in the hospital

this sassy little creature spent the night with me.

she let me take two pictures and then proclaimed,

"ok nana, that's enough".

during all this busyness i was drooling over christmas ball wreaths.  i had to have one.

i liked the more abstract ones best.  i didn't want my balls all lined up.

(in contrast to the days when i needed all my "balls" lined up and the boy i live with gave me some telling advice..."all your 'balls' are swimming on different ponds.  get used to it".)

so i made me a christmas ball wreath.  and my balls are not all lined up.

additions are a very good thing.

not quite the same

decorating for christmas 2010 has been a struggle.  i love this time of year.  celebrating the birth and life and ministry of christ and making my home reflect my heart has always been a joy for me.  but this year my dad is facing his final journey.  much of my time has been spent pondering all he did and gave and sacrificed for his family.  my dad is a remarkable man.  he is tough and stern.  right is right and wrong is wrong.  principled and strong, he is passionate about many things.  he loves deeply.
his lessons have served me well and taught me much.

this year my dad probably won't be able to make the trip to my home to enjoy our traditional christmas festivities and to share in the love we have for each other...
a love and a legacy that has grown and flourished, in part, because of a man i call dad.
but daddy, i don't want you to miss anything.  you will always be a part of my life.

so here is a little bit of christmas 2010 at the ball home.

siblings

the first time in a very long time that my three siblings and i had a chance to get together...just the four of us.  no spouses.  no children.  not that their spouses and children aren't wonderful...they are. 
but it was so nice to just have us.
and while the occasion that brought us all together is a sad and painful one,
i am so grateful for the time we had together.
i love you bobby.
i love you charlie.
               i love you jo.      

headed out

in the morning.  to here.

chick trip 2010

just outside of palm springs.

to laugh, eat, shop, cry and laugh some more.

because that's what best friends do.

and these two girls are the best.

to quote donna, "i'd clean sewers with these two."