Christmas Dokie

What's a Christmas Dokie?

Well here are the kids making some Christmas dokies!






Here's the gingerbread man version of a Christmas dokie. Wear do I get dokie from? Francesca of course! She pronounces cookie "dokie". :)

Happy Fall!

A couple days ago, on the first day of fall, we set out our home grown-pumpkins on the front porch. I was hoping to grow a lot more than this but it's the most pumpkins I've ever had on my front porch and the first time I've successfully grown any.

My pumpkin-pie!

I think fall is treating us well so far...

There are 4 Cinderellas, 3 Connecticut, and 3 Luminaria.

Further decorating shall commence...

Around This Place

Some praying going on, mostly done by this fellow...

Talk about blonde highlights!

Coleus and succulents

Fresca enjoying fresh air and the flowers in the front yard.

Peek-a-boo!

St. Francis

Francis... the male version of Francesca's name... and my dad's middle name.

Me vs. Spaghetti Sauce Canning

I won!

It all began Sunday around 3:30pm...

Actually it all began a few days ago when I received an abundance of tomatoes from our neighbor's garden.

To peel the tomatoes, dip them briefly in boiling water...

Then an icy cold bath... the peel slips right off.

Francesca enjoyed some tomato while waiting for her mommy to hold her...

Here's a portion of the 20+ pounds of peeled home grown tomato goodness...

Here's some of them seeded and squeezed of most of their juice.

I ended up with 40 oz of tomato juice.

Soon Jason will enjoy some home-made bloody mary's.

Mommy holding her precious tomato stained princess...

More ingredients to be added:

onion, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper...

More yummy natural vitamin c and lycopene...

There's my new monster of a pressure cooker! After I cooked the sauce and ladled it into the 9 jars, it was about 8:30. Once I got the pressure up to 11 pounds, they processed for 25 minutes.

All processed and ready to be put up!

Tuscan Inspiration

My house is in dire need of some interior (and exterior) designing. We've always been interested in Victorian style but this house just doesn't quite fit the bill. I've been considering transforming it into a Tuscorian Villa! Ever since I discovered that exposed beams are common in Tuscan homes, I thought, hey, I have 3 rooms with those beams... maybe we're on to something here. I am a quarter Italian and love the food...

So I surfed online for Tuscan ideas and checked out some books from the library. The library didn't offer any books dealing solely with Tuscan decor. I did find one with a charming story packed with beautiful photos, of a California couple that restored a Villa in Tuscany. Bringing Tuscany Home isn't about the restoration but about the different aspects of the Italian countryside they fell in love with. They have their villa in Tuscany and Mediterranean style home in Marin that is heavily influenced by their love of the Tuscan life. The author, Frances Mayes, is the author of the popular novel and movie, Under the Tuscan Sun.

I like just about every major feature to Tuscan style. There's the textured walls, old world style fixtures and furniture, warm - earthy colors, wood accents, tile, rich fabrics, Trompe L'Oeil, etc. The major structural disadvantages I face are lack of high ceilings and arches. And the only Tuscan accent I'm not crazy about is wrought iron.

This week I will tackle a gnocchi recipe

Maybe next week I'll paint my living room with a faux textured look with the ragging off technique. But then again tackling the plant eating pest in my garden may be the priority over my Tuscan living room.

Vertical and Square Foot Gardening

Here's the beginnings of our garden this year. We decided to try out square foot and vertical gardening. Check out the source book here:

http://www.amazon.com/Square-Foot-Gardening-Garden-Space/dp/1579548563/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241843919&sr=8-3

The author claims that the pounds of food harvested per square feet are much more than the "typical" gardening. This is the first time I've worked with such an organized garden space. I do say that I like it! We went with two really long 1-square foot rows. 

So far I have planted 3 different beans, cilantro, sweet basil, Thai basil, Italian parsley, bell pepper, Italian pepper, serrano, jalapenos, Thai pepper, cantaloupe, watermelon, 2 different cucumbers, a few different tomatoes, carrot seeds, and probably more I am forgetting.

This is just next to the garden, the site of last year's jumbled garden. I still plan on prepping and planting in this "triangle" soon. Here will go the large and sprawling plants such as zucchini, corn, and pumpkin. Plus I will plant sunflowers and a zinnia flower bed.

Here are those said plants, just waiting for more dirt to dig into.

Our Easter Sunday Time

note: ok, so as I wrote these captions for the pics, they were lined up nicely in the correct spaces when I previewed the post but after posting, it doesn't quite match, oh well!

Easter Sunday was a nice day, the weather was perfect, the music at Mass was equally perfect (thanks Jason), the baby was quiet and snuggly at church (thanks Francesca), the boys were handsome and happy (thanks Zachary and Vincent) the food was grand and dessert divine, (thanks mom and Easter bunny) And of course we owe everything to JESUS! Thank you FATHER SON and HOLY SPIRIT!

Here we begin with Easter Sunday morning. The kids psoing with their Easter baskets. 

Francesca's first Easter basket!

              Vincent and Fresca having fun!
Zachary's cute smile warms my heart!

                                                       Francesca's sitting up pretty well!



Easter egg hunt at St. Michael's with

 Sr. Angela directing kiddy traffic.

              Kiddos in front of the altar.
Such a good big brother!
                       Enjoying the beautiful day in 

               St. Michael's courtyard after Mass.

                       
                                                                                    Got a pic with Monsignor Gus!
                                            

                                         

 

                                            Look at those wii little smiles!

Francesca holding her Easter lamb from

Gramma.


             The Easter dinner table before.
And after.
   We had deviled eggs, pasta, veggies, salad,              bread, shrimp, wine, sparkling wine and cider, 

   banana-pineapple cake with cream cheese

   frosting and CANDY.

  Gramps and Fresca.
                                    
My bro.
             The boys on a hunt for eggs.
                           Gramma and baby Francesca.