Romantic Roma

To ensure that we return, Steve and I tossed the appropriate amount of coinage into the appropiate fountain.


The olive trees were beautiful


The forum - in the very way back is where Julius Ceasar was stabbed.


The Coloseum


Needless to say, these are not all of the pictures that we took - just the tip of the tip of the proverbial iceberg!

Andiamo (let's go) to Pisa and Orvieto!

I realize this is not the greatest picture in the world of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, it was the best I could do under the conditions!


Yep. Still leaning.


Here are beautiful olive groves along the way to Orvieto


Orvieto is charming. It is a town carved into a "mountain." I would go back here in a heart beat.


While in Orvieto, we had lunch at a wonderful restaurant in a grotto. The truffle pasta might have been ONE of my favorite dishes!

Forever Florence

The beautiful countryside.


the city bathed in the warm glow of a sunset (do I wax too poetic?)...


and the promise that if you touch a certain pigs nose you will return.


We also saw the tomb of Michaelangelo.


The inside of the duomo of Santa Maria was magnificent.


I have no idea the name of this statue but my husband has decided it should be called "Unfair Fight."


I think that Dante (as depicted in stone here) would agree that flying for 11 hours jammed in a too small seat should be added as one of the circles of hell.

Ah, Venice

Home of Carnival and mysterious masks....



Charming canals...



Winding, narrow streets lit from above...


Romantic gondola rides...



St. Marks sqare that features a statue of St. Theodore slaying a dragon (I wonder if his Mimi called him Theodorable?)...


Oh yes! And that dashing young Italian chef who is planning on opening a restaurant in Alexandria VA


This is the one to whom I promised Erin's hand in marriage. I don't think that it would hold up in a court of law because there was molto wine and limoncello involved in the entire conversation. That and my Italian was about as good as his English.

Frankfurters in Frankfurt

In Frankfurt, one eats the frankfurters presented without a bun - just two little pieces of baguette. That of course did not bother me one iota.

Caio my little friends

We are home and very very tired. But we had a fabulous time! I have so many favorites that it will take me a day or two to sort them all out.

I can tell you that my first meal in Europe was in Frankfurter and I had....(wait for it)....frankfurters. I of course took a picture and will share soon.

Bon Voyage

My next post will be filled with giddy descriptions of our trip to Italy - we leave tomorrow! To say that I am excited would be a gross understatement.

Please pray for our safe travel.

I have decided to Knit

Yes, just like that, I have decided that I am a knitter. No-I have decided I want to be a knitter. Hence the fearless knitting in 2008 button there at the right.

I am in the process of knitting a red scarf in a basket weave pattern. I have no idea upon whom I shall inflict said scarf. It's not the greatest in the world, but I am having a good time doing it! My friend Sue knit me a darling purse for Christmas and inspired me. She assures me that I can do this so: onward!

I am better....I think

I think the strep part is fine - now it seems to be the antibiotic that is getting to me! I have not been able to sleep at all since I have been taking it. Weird.

Today I started my list for packing. As we all know, I love a good list. For that matter, I love a bad list; I just love lists. I have my carry on packed with one outfit and jammies in case my suitcase ends up in Iberia (even though Spain is close by) and I have to punt the first night. How horrible would it be not to get my suitcase and have to buy all new stuff?!?!?

I have not yet picked out my reading material for this trip. The problem is that I read too darn fast. I can knock off a paperback or 3 on the way to Oklahoma! I really do not want to have to cart that much reading material with me. I am downloading a book from iTunes (THANK YOU MAUER FAMILY) for my iPod. Please suggest something to read on the trip/and or listen to...I need lots of suggestions!

Once again, Life proves to be unfair.

I leave for Italy in 6 days.

I have strep throat.

It's time

Yep - a short year ago I was resolving to continue my intense dislike for TO and all things Dallas/Texas related. While frivolous at best, that was a resolution that I was able to keep all year. This year maybe I will work on something a little more substantive.

These are in no particular order just in case you were wondering.

Have more patience with the people who disagree with me. I am so busy thinking, "Will you please just hurry and see it my way!" that I am not truly listening to what the other person is trying to tell me. Who knows, I might change my mind (then again, I might start to like Dallas too).

Quit joining groups/clubs/things and then be resentful of the time they take. Either be all in or all out.

Take a trip with my sistah. The last time we took a trip together it was in the back of a Ford station wagon on the way to Colorado Springs. Maybe Santa Fe or some artsy fun place (and I know she loves Santa Fe!) Hope you think this is a good one, Dawn, since if you don't it is really going to mess with the success of this one!

Lobby for a Sonic Drive-In to be built within a 25 mile radius of my home. This is a purely humanitarian effort to make the lives of the people in my community better.

Continue my obsessive love of shoes - it's good to have one you know you can slam dunk.

Others that are between me and God for now. Those are the really important ones...and the ones that will take all His help to keep.

Blessings in the New Year. I love all of you!

Christmas Excitement

For those of you who have missed the tales of Midnight Mass, let me just give you a few highlights:

The eggnogs were a hit! We named one the virgin eggnog and the other the trollop eggnog. If you have read the posted recipes then you completely understand.

Betty should have had a shot of something prior to the service - perhaps it would have prevented her from passing out in the front row and completely throwing her husbands game off as he tried to preside over the service.

The Advent Wreath is not safe close to the choir. Or maybe the choir is not safe close the the Advent Wreath. My hair is a little singed and my ear a little tender from being too close to week two's candle.

Again with the Advent Wreath and the Choir: Helen's sleeve proved to be made of completely flameable material. Fortunately, Bill was there to smother it. Thank God he did not breathe on it because he had discovered the trollop eggnog at the reception prior to the service. It wasn't really flaming, just seriously smoking which was enough to freak us all out!

In spite of the excitement, the service was lovely. There were french horns and violins in addition to the choir and it was great fun to have all of that when "Joy to the World" was sung as the recessional.

Hope your Christmas was fun!

Only one week left

You thought this was a shameless plug for my birthday didn't you. How crass.....

One week until we talk about the ubiquitous New Years resolutions.

DC and Old Durham Church

The National Christmas Tree. While it was cool to see it in person, I was somewhat under-whelmed. I guess I expected George and Laura to be standing on top of it waving to us as we passed by. They weren't. Bummer,


Here is our little church's front doors. I have a somewhat burning desire to paint them red every time I walk up the path.


This is the window I look out while I sit in the choir. I like the ever-changing view with the seasons.


The church was decorated for Christmas even though it is only the fourth Sunday in Advent. At least there is no baby Jesus in the manger. I would have to protest loud and long.

Good Nog - Bad Nog

UpdateGranny's no-fat- no sugar version is amazing! I am never buying the stuff in a carton again! And I suppose you could add the real "nog" if you wanted to.

In the interest of playing fair, I am posting both recipes for Egg Nog. The first recipe is from Granny, the second from a nice lady in Bartlesville Oklahoma named Mary Martin. No - not the one of South Pacific and Peter Pan fame - although how cool would that be?

Guilt Free Egg Nog - Fat Free, Sugar Free

In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups skim milk with 1 -ounce package instant sugar free vanilla pudding mix.
Stir well until thickened.
Add 2 more cups skim milk and 1 cup egg substitute (like Egg Beaters); mix well.
Stir in 2 to 3 teaspoons rum extract. 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg until the mixture is well blended, smooth, and coats a spoon.
Refrigerate over night . Serves 10

Cook's note: Add Splenda to taste if you like a sweeter nog. If it thickens too much, simply stir in more skim milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
Enjoy

When I have egg nog I always think of Grandma, she loved it! And she always wanted a little "Nog", its the only alcoholic thing she ever drank. We always used Brandy instead of Rum - but its good either way.

Staats Ranch Egg Nog - Full of sugar, fat, and booze

2 quarts milk
6 eggs, separated
3 cups sugar
12 ounces bourbon
6 ounces rum
1 1/2 quarts whipping cream

Beat egg yolks until thick. Add bourbon and rum very slowly in a thin steady stream. Stir in sugar. In a different bowl with clean beaters, beat the egg whites until tiff. Fold whites into yolk mixture and stir until smooth. Add milk. Whip the cream and fold in. Refrigerate 24 hours to ripen and thicken. Stir before serving and sprinkle with nutmeg.

I think Grandma would have liked this recipe. Certainly plenty of "Nog" in there!
I am taking both recipes to the Vestry hosted Pre-Christmas Eve party at the request of Fr. David.

Coming soon: Pictures of the National Christmas Tree taken yesterday on our twirl through DC!

My friend Sharon

This is my friend Sharon who makes me laugh so hard I cannot breathe. I look crazed and confused (what's new) in this pic. She said she felt like this was our prom pic and that nearly did me in!

In the Spirit

Today at work we received a huge bag of handmade pillows and a box of kids books. The mentally disabled adults at the center next door to us made the pillows and picked the books so kids who come for sexual abuse treatment can have a pillow and a book.

Kinda made be feel like a big ol' schmuck and a huge ingrate.

Another reason to behave at the mall:

You never know who will be behind you on the escalator.

My kind of tree.....

Go to this site to see more cool trees, including one of beer bottles that is quite lovely

How beautiful

How beautiful...
on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
Isaiah 52:7