we started off with cafe' au laits

we started off with cafe' au laits

then

i ordered the croque-monsieur and nicoise salad~

hubby had the spinach and roquefort omelette with a croissant~

*

we escaped all that had to be done for a while

i had to remind myself i wasn't in paris

; )

i love that the talented chef here believes in

 solid unassuming french cafe fare

*

and sensible prices

; )

+

an onsite baker of croissants

*

it ended with chocolate and blueberries

and promises of having more afternoons like this

in

2010

; )

i am headed your way to visit your sweet blogs

*

have fun ringing in the new year

my friends

~

i send you love

one love

*

on a tuesday

how have you been?

was your christmas lovely?

i had a wonderful time

i unwrapped a stack of books christmas morning

swoon!

*

the cold weather has kept me inside

nesting

+

nesting

*

indulging in crab rangoon

and working up a sweet sauce

the sweeter the crab the better the rangoon

; )

*

allowing the poetry of Hafiz to embrace me

Hafiz is love ya know

: )

and

appreciating two flowers

flowers that are the color of happy

with the sun shining on them

just right

*

i am grateful for the emails that were sent to me from the

w.arm i.slands

; )

i heard santa claus was good to you

*

seriously

that's what's up

*

i just wanted to stop in and hand you love

by the armfuls

+

a few sun drenched flowers on a tuesday

*

i will see you in the new year

my friends

*

one love

for a king

you wouldn't believe how much i have been thinking

of you all

: )

especially while listening to

sammy

dean

frank

bing

and

nat

*

Santa

you already know my wish

; )

just please please  remember

the sweet barrios

the beautiful ghettos

the w.arm i.slands

; )

and

every child who is wishing tonight

*

i

believe

*

it's time for me to take my cake out of the oven

and decorate

with crowns of glory

*

to celebrate

 for a king has been born

*

i send you love and blessings my dear friends

what a  glorious year we have had together

*

Merry Christmas

; )

homemade

cinnamon honey butter

2 sticks (softened) salted butter

1 cup honey

1 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

pinch of nutmeg

just blend all the ingredients until smooth(i used hand mixer) and spoon into bell jars

my friend placed the mixture in a plastic bag and piped into jars

not me ; ) lol

i just spooned it into jars and wiped rims cleaned

it's homemade and it looked homemade ; )

if you don't have pumpkin pie spice~ just use 2 teaspoons cinnamon

i doubled the recipe and came up with 8 half pint mason jars of the butter

it's so good on warm bread

*

Happy Holidays, my sweet friends

Peace

in my kitchen

cinnamon sticks

star anise

whole nutmeg

pumpkin pie spice

last night i was standing in the grocery store line

and

i spotted some older issues of gourmet magazines stuffed behind some current less worthy magazines

; )

I bought all 3 of the gourmet magazines

*

in one issue i spotted an article on spices

the spices were photographed so beautifully

me too i thought

*

so as i cook today i snapped away

i also think i will become a spice merchant

when i grow up

: )

how are you today?

*

i wrote a thank you letter in a orange pen earlier

i think it held more love because of the orange words

yes i think that

lol

*

i froze what was left of the turkey on thanksgiving

it's  came in handy today

it's simmering away in a soup

with

veggies

wild rice

and

creme

i also add

a

star anise

swoon!

it takes the taste over the top

: )

i am also whirling butter

with

pumpkin pie spice

cinnamon

and honey

these sweet jars i am filling

will be

gifts for my neighbors

: )

you must try this butter on warm bread

*

i hope my banner isn't too big

wink

*

i wish you were here in my kitchen

after i eased up on hugging you

 we would sip warm drinks

and

laugh

and

cook

*

i send you love

and all the hugs you can hold

one love

*

bouquets

Today is*
finding a pudding steamer and fitted top in a local shop. Swoon!
loving your comments on books, life and william + irene.
you share with me anytime, my friends. i read every word.
you romance me, with placing your grandparents names here. I dig that!
getting pink boxes filled with love.
swapping books xo
christmas bouquets
chocolate fudge ritz crackers
warm blankets
and dumplings with plum dipping sauce
warm coats for strangers
homemade gift tags
holding on to the check tightly, as i hand it over for the heating bill. the poor guy understood my (wisconsin winters) pain lol " i feel your pain lady" ; )
vacuuming our bedroom carpet
and wondering where to put all this stuff i placed on my bed
filling our trash collectors thermoses with Kona coffee
the smell of pine
Nora Jones and her velvet voice
the silence the snow fall brings to the city streets
and gladly giving in to watching the polar express
*
How are you today?
one love~

the paths they strolled

william loved irene

and

irene loved william

and if it weren't for their love of photography

i wouldn't have the

memories captured through

photographs

that i do

*

william

+

irene

are my grandparents

and

even though they are now gone

they left for me

 their love of the lens

*

as

i walked along the paths they once strolled

and

stopped in front of the house

william nervously asked irene to marry him

deep sigh

thank you

from the bottom of my heart

*

i raised my lens

*

then

 today

when i turned in my

photographs

of how i see the city

i  dedicated my work

to

william

+

irene

because they loved me

+

i love them

*

; )

warm words

Any journal, woos me!
A red moleskin journal... Swoon!
ONE LOVE*
I ordered "A Family Christmas" by Caroline Kennedy, from a used book seller. It's in great condition and the sweetest book.

Last night as I got ready for bed, I placed my tea on my nightstand, and opened these lovely words.
The random page I chose, was a story by my favorite author, Piri Thomas. I adore that mans work. What a wonderful surprise, to find his warm memory of Christmas nestled inside this book.
"Down These Mean Streets" by Mr. Thomas, changed my life. So you can imagine how I felt, when I saw his name, at the top of the page. ; ) Deep sigh, for beauty.
I read Piri's story, and was so very glad I added this book, to my collection.
*hello alexandria*
Do you have a favorite book, or a particular author, who helped you fall in love with reading? Won't you share, with me?
It is so cold here!
I'm keeping warm, and creating stocking stuffers today.
Peace~

footprints in the snow

I took this photo, the winter of 2008. I strolled along the water and just snapped away, never noticing the painted blue colors of the sky, or the water.

Honestly, I have to admit, I never noticed the single line of footprints in the snow, until I loaded the photo to my computer. What a gift! : )

What I do know and remember about that day is, I needed to be in the fresh air. I wanted to be in the moment, to welcome stillness.

A sense of calm came over me that day, that I will never forget.

I sat there listening to the waves, saying goodbye to the past, welcoming the future. It was cold, but that didn't bother me much. I had come to the water (that calls me so often) to breath deep and be still.

I was where I was supposed to be and it felt beautiful. I was wrapped in love, from the most high and although there were no alters, or pews, or preacher. I felt that type, of warm love.

I never bothered to fix this photo, the shadows, the color. I'd like to remember that day, just the way it was; filled with honesty and offering me, what the day could. It's perfect! : )

Sometimes I am not the greatest at accepting what is offered to me.

My mother has often handed me broken love, or tiny handfuls of, I am doing the best I can. And although I remain silent, without disrespect, this let's her know, what she offers me, basically is not good enough. I struggle with that. That shit reminds me, I am not (yet) the person I want to be.
Let it go Christina.

I remember this day in 2008, it was good enough.
It was more than good enough.
I accept that.
I'm still a student of life, and I accept that the most.
: )
I heart Mondays! It's a day where, everyone clears out of the house. And I can take it slow... Slow.
And blare, Mos Def ; ) Deep sigh for love~
Happy Monday, my friends.
Peace~

to warm you

Hot chocolate is the theme of the night.
Hot chocolate with caramel, cinnamon and whipped cream.
Help yourself ; )
Family night and movies.
pop corn
sweaters
fuzzy socks
creating
and wind
heavy winds outside
and remnants of this weeks snow
I'm hoping you remember, to leave a light on for me. I am making my way to visit you. : )
And thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all the warm comments you left on my last post. You understand love, and I dig that ; ) Swoon!
: )

on photography... and love

On photography*
Camera: Canon 50D
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Although I didn't get great photos of the kids, for the Christmas cards. I did get photos that drip with emotion. And that is what it's about, for me.
I love when kids and adults alike, don't pay attention to me when I have a camera, in my hand. lol
It's true. We all know the best photos appear, when we lower our lens the subject relaxes. We quickly capture that shot, and It is the photo that usually goes first, and warms the heart of the photographer the most. Photography blows me away. I am not an expert, and shoot really old school, but I certainly hope you can see the love I feel, when I place photos here.
Thank you, for the kind words you leave me.
On love*
My daughter threw a snowball at her brother, and I stole this shot. I hardly ever get to photograph her, she is shy. So bear with me, I don't get this moment often.
She is lovely inside.
my sweet girl has a few aches and pains, due to being a ballerina.
the ballet slippers, now hang on my bedroom door.
she's tall and proud of it
she has mad game on the basketball court : )
and makes the boys blush on the playground, when she calls out "i got next!"
i hope she stands face to face with fear and fear runs for the hills.
i want her to be more than me
be better than me
i love her, ya know
eh naw!
she is handling being a teenager like a champ. remember I said that! lol
i want her to know everyday is not all happiness
but when she is sad, i want her to reach out toward hope...
may it be, her dads hand, her paint brushes, her camera or her Bible.
see the world baby...
by train
car
boat
or bicycle
see the world
stand on a mountain
walk in fields of flowers
cry in a cathedral
laugh from the belly
share a meal with people of other faiths and cultures.
and always take time, to show love and compassion, for others and their journey
no need to become a chef. just learn the recipe, of always making room for another, at your table.
don't worry! worrying never makes anything better.
stand for something
buy red shoes for no reason
and love
welcome love
love is just the coolest thing
Happy Friday!
One love~

bring it home

I was suppose to invest in a new pair of boots and a winter coat today.
Hmm...
And then I started looking at books on line, and everything else went to the bottom of the list.
I So don't need another gorgeous book, but when I finally saw 1 in stock, it just popped into my cart. Yes, that out of stock deal, is cause of me. Bliss! I'm sure they will have more by tonight. : )

I certainly would wear an old winter coat and older winter boots, if it meant a few new chapters of love. Swoon!

I don't have word any words of wisdom, but I do feel, if a pink reindeer tickles your fancy, then bring it home... Yes mam, I brought her home. ; )
One love~

=

+

=

; )

armfuls of winter

It's snowing here... We are awaiting 14 inches of snow or more.
So we bake and knead and sew and write love letters, inside of Christmas cards.
The snow is falling heavy.
It's beautiful.
Fat snowflakes fall upon red mittens.
And anxious children, drag sleds from dusty attics.
Winter serenades me, along with Coldplay~ "All winter, we got carried oh away over on the rooftops, let's get married." I love that song*
Help yourself to the cookies, especially if you love soft, gooey, chocolate chunk cookies with toasted pecans, coconut and oatmeal. Even if you don't like all that stuff, just pick out what you don't want. The cookie dough will melt in your mouth and warm you.
One love~

for you *a gift of jewels giveaway*

Won't you join in on the "gift of jewels giveaway" over at Se'lah's sweet blog. My rose filled photograph is up for grabs, so head on over and put your name in the drawing ; )
You are the sweetest of souls, Se'lah. Thank you so much for having such a cool gathering. You mean the world to me. 9 is our number, for one day we will walk the mile, and tell da future grandchildren, of Bob's gates.
One love~
PS: Happy Monday, my friends.
xo

sunday

A slow, slow sunday here. Sitting by my window, enjoying my coffee.
I am loving the morning.

This is the $25.00 Christmas tree, that my adorable husband thought was the end of the tree cost. Bless his heart...
The poor tree was a Charlie Brown tree in a box.
Little did hubby know, we girls like to fill our trees, and rid it of the holes and bare spots.
: )
I wish you a beautiful sunday... Won't you be kind enough to leave a light on for me. I am headed your way to visit.
Oh yes, it would mean the world to me, if you come and visit for some love tomorrow.
Yes mam, it would.
One love~

the stockings await

I am hoping you are enjoying your evening.
I hear St. Nick is getting ready, to make his rounds to fill shoes and stockings,with sweet goodies and uhem...Books ; )
We even put a stocking up for doggie miles.
: )
One love~

snowy rooftops and the in between

The rooftops are dusted with snow. I think it might be in order to welcome St. Nick, this weekend. Our stockings are hanging over the fireplace. Sweet!
I had to meet a deadline of writing an article, on Christmas stollen cake. My grandmother made these beautiful, powdered loaves of heaven, each Christmas. I am no expert on them, but I know for many, Christmas isn't complete, without these cakes.
So the last few days, I have spent way too much time in my pajama's, looking at a blank computer screen... Stollen cake... write something...you can do this..

But instead~ I belted out tunes, along with the movie "mammma mia"(yes in pj's) pressed too much coffee, and really don't remember taking my winter hat off today. Are you feeling the ensemble yet? Eh naw!
The mailman rang with a parcel, we spoke a while about his grandmother, having foot surgery. Bless her heart.

Back to work I went...Not really.
I grabbed the camera~ Canon for you lovelies that asked about my camera equipment. Canon and imac. I adore that marriage!
So then I got down to business...
Not so much...

I made a grilled cheese sandwich. Swoon!
Then of course I needed to take a break and read Martha Stewart's, Holiday "Sweets" magazine. Have you seen it? Omgoodness! It's love~ page after page of it.

I called in a spice order... hubby will pick up my whole star anise tonight. Yes!
I started decorating the tree- donated the fresh one, the teenagers allergies, couldn't handle it. I have a new Charlie Brown tree~ nice!

And yes, I finally met the deadline for the memories of Christmas stollen. ; ) I remember my grandmother folding the dough, and at the very end she would allow me, to place the candied fruit atop. I remember her smile, the most. ; )
I am hoping you are well~
Peace~
PS:Don't forget to enjoy, all the in between stuff of life.
xo

yum and jumping in puddles

Today was smooth african coffee, and those buttered biscuit cookies, with dark chocolate on top ; )
sipping the earthiness in my cup
i welcomed morning in my tiny corner of my world
thoughts of a easy christmas eve dinner
maybe a pasta
or a gumbo
we've talked about mini cheeseburgers i did for a party last year. they were gone in 10 min ; ) i dig that!
how about a rustic paella placed on the grill
smokey, inviting and chocked full of goodness
one of the above would be a great start to build a simple menu around
simple and beautiful~
wine and cheese
and a few pairings*
maybe a cheese board (creamy) ~ a preseco or cava
a fresh mozzarella or manchego~ a merlot or gamay
i recently placed a french saint agur with a syrah and it was so incredibly received, i beamed for days! it was loved just as well, with a simple riesling
*
these are just a few of my opinions, i am far from the sommeliers who i admired, and so want to be one day, when i grow up! ; )
again, i must say... cooking is opera to me, it's ballet, it's paint splashed on a canvas, it's the shutter of a camera, it's jumping in puddles.
how are you today?
one love~

welcome december

Thanks so much for all the sweet and thoughtful comments, on yesterdays gift ideas and post.
I adore Christmas.
I have a secret though, I give mostly books (new or used) food, etsy love, and vintage finds.
*
I love reading! Shh...I devour about a book a week. Swoon!
*
One of my most loved cookbooks is "The Fannie Farmer cookbook" ~Marion Cunningham. Hands down if I ever learned to cook from a book, it was from this classic cookbook.
*
For the bird lover~ Bird Songs. I saw this book at a local bookshop the other day and it was glorious!
*
My new favorite cookbook~ "Falling Cloudberries" by Tesss Kiros. I love cookbooks that are like warm novels. And this is a book you want to run the palms of your hands over. Add this and a few knitted items, from your favorite etsy shop, and that's sheer love.
*
"Einstein's Dreams" by Allen Lightman~ is a breathtaking book. If you haven't read it, please do. Add a bottle of wine and a box of chocolate shortbread. this book hangs the moon for me.
*
"The polaroid Book" I adore that little powerful book.
*
I have to admit, I scour the antique stores and second hand stores at this time of year-I once gave my grandmother a old book of poetry by, ee cummings and a set of vintage skeleton keys, tied together with lace. This remained next to her bed always, and it made me smile each time I saw them, on her night stand.
*
I flip over homemade gifts. If you can make it, it's all the more treasured, in my book.
*
A few friends of mine are helping Santa out, by answering letters to children who have written him. Now if that isn't the sweetest gift. ; ) I dig that!
*
I would love to talk a bit about wine and cheese in my next post. Just a few pairings, maybe? We'll see if I am brave enough. ; )
My daughter picked Relyn's name, as the winner from yesterdays giveaway! ; ) Yay! Please email me your snail mail addy, and I will mail you some love. ; )
Peace~