WARM AND CUDDLY HOUSE SOCKS

US JOURNAL

December 31, 2013

WARM AND CUDDLY HOUSE SOCKS

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Today is the day to give homage to my new cuddly, super-warm house socks. They were a Christmas gift from Victoria and Kyle; and I’m not sure how they knew, but as you can see, the brilliant colors just match perfectly with my favorite fun pajama pants that are also OH, SO COMFY! The other thing about these socks is that they have the tiny nibs on the bottom that even protect me from sliding down our carpeted steps! Absolutely beautiful, feel great and safe, too. How can you beat that for perfect house socks! Thanks, V&K!

Have a beautiful, great and safe New Year’s Eve!

Colleen

Lopezes' and Snapes' Visit

US JOURNAL

December 29, 2013

Lopezes’ and Snapes’ Visit

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A perfect combination of friends were at our house today.  A couple of weeks ago, both the Lopezes and the Snapes were talking with me at church about wanting to see our house, so I got this brainstorm to invite both families to come for a visit  today!

It was truly delightful to have all of them here at the same time. They are friends with each other, as well as with us, so it was like old home week to have all of us together in the house. They all liked the home tour and validated the concept that we had chosen the perfect house for us, stressing the importance of no yard work. We know we like our home, but it’s fun to hear how other people react to it, too.

Thanks, all of you, for sharing Sunday afternoon with us! Please come over again soon!

Love to all,

Colleen

KAREN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

US JOURNAL

December 28, 2013

Karen’s Birthday Celebration

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Today was an exceptional day!

We had to postpone our friend Karen’s birthday celebration until today because her mom was in town, so today she came with her family to our house in Decatur.  We always enjoy our time with the Kraegers, and today was no exception.

Peter outdid himself in serving a wonderful appetizer of cheese, salami and his famous capanatta that Enzo taught him in Italy (made with eggplant and lots of other veggies). This was followed by a delicious sausage stew, then dessert alla Monica of gelato and blackberries. Needless to say, we did not go hungry. Hans was so satisfied that he found a comfortable chair and fell asleep for 2 hours! That’s good sleeping!

Since it was raining by that time, we didn’t get to take a walk around Decatur. We did, however, enjoy talking about everything under the sun. Before we knew it, it was time for supper, so Peter pulled some of his famous chili out of the freezer. We started all over again, this time ending with a chocolate salami and the rest of our gelato! What another splendid meal!

Thanks for joining us for this special birthday celebration for Karen, all of you! It was delightful! We believe in keeping birthdays going long after the birth day.

Love to all,

Colleen

AFTER CHRISTMAS

US Journal    

December 27, 2013

Memories of Christmas

I hope you’ll like these pics. They were extras at extra special times.

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You’ll see the famous Maggie, Jon’s dog, but adopted by all the Masseys and us! She’s very speedy, so you’re lucky to get a clear picture of her. She’s a darling, though. When she is hungry she clicks her teeth together quickly. It makes a “hurry up with my food, please” sound! We enjoyed our time Christmas night with Jon and her and the whole Massey family. More pics from that day will come, but my camera ran out of battery power after this frenetic picture of Maggie!

You’ll also see the gorgeous Indian Christmas shawl that Monica brought me from her semester abroad in India. I can’t even take a picture of this shawl that does it justice, but you’ll see me wearing it everywhere! Thank you so much, Monica!

Ah, Christmas! Our mantle tells it all! What a beautiful Christmas we have had. Peter took his new magazine out to the back deck to sit in the swing and read. We both love it back there. The view is of our neighbors’ back decks, just like we had in our apartment in Italy! It makes for a close neighborhood. Couldn’t get better.

I hope your Christmas season is blessed!

Christmas love,

Colleen

CHRISTMAS EVE AT K&V'S HOUSE

US JOURNAL

CHRISTMAS EVE, 2013

CHRISTMAS EVE AT KYLE AND VICTORIA’S

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What a lovely evening we had at Kyle and Victoria’s house for Christmas Eve Dinner!

We had not seen the completed back deck; and it has, of course, turned out exquisite! I can’t even dream up how many wonderful times we will all have on that large, welcoming deck! The doors from the living room and dining room were the last touch to be finished. Except for a small glitch of needing to replace one side of one door due to buckling, the doors just make the deck seem twice as big. Half of the deck is covered, which is very nice for me. The other half is open, so those who want suntans will have it made.

All the local family attended this extravagant meal and evening together. We missed those of you who are far away…maybe next time.

Peter and I hope everyone has a great Christmas season and a Happy New Year!

Much love,

Colleen

Lelli/Peter's Haircut/Little Tart Bakeshop

US Journal    

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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LELLI REUNION

I knew you would want to know that Cati sent me this picture with the two boys and Lelli, their first nanny. This reunion was very special, they said, because they don’t get to see Lelli very much any more. She was with them for almost 3 years, so they came to love her, and she loves them, too. It was so good to see that you got to have this reunion, Lelli. I wish I could have been there.

PETER’S HAIRCUT

I couldn’t resist taking a before and after picture when Peter was going to get a haircut recently. He has the best hair! Jealousy will get me nowhere, though!

LITTLE TART BAKESHOP

There is a farmers’ market in Decatur every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning. One of the places we love to visit is the Little Tart Bakeshop stand. We have grown addicted to the apple tarts and chocolate wholewheat cookies. I’m even thinking I might try to make one of the apple tarts using my biscuit dough with Granny Smith apple slices on top. Who knows?

Colleen

Sweet Navia/Monica and Ben

US JOURNAL

Friday, December 20, 2013

SWEET NAVIA!

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I was so pleased to have Nick call me this morning and ask me to go shopping with him. I had about a 3-hour window before Monica and her friend Ben were coming to cruise around Decatur a little and eat supper with us. However, Nick only lives 15 minutes away from our new house in Decatur, so we got in a good visit.

I took some leftovers to Nick’s for our lunch, and we enjoyed talking about everything under the sun. I really liked the way Nick was not in a rush, just taking the day easily! Afterwards, he said, “So, are you ready to go shopping?” I said, of course, that I was; so Nick put a leash on his pointer dog Navia, and off we all went to buy…Navia a Christmas toy at the nearby pet store. Hmmm, well, he didn’t say where he wanted to go shopping!

Of course, we had to walk past a park, where Nick could take Navia off the leash to chase after the squirrels. She is a speedy dog that runs in bounds like a deer. What a delight to watch her! It’s a good thing for the squirrels that they know how to switch back and forth, because she was ‘way faster than they were!

NAVIA found just the right toy for Nick to get for her that was made out of tire leather. You can fill it with a plastic bladder and fill that with all sorts of chewy things. It was PERFECT! Plus, Nick added a pig’s kneecap (YUCK!), but he just couldn’t resist it. She went straight to it every time he let her go in the pet shop.

When we got back to his house, Nick put the Christmas present away until Christmas Day, and Navia spent her time chasing the red ball that had a tasty treat inside of it. As you can see, she loves that ball…as long as it has the tasty treat, of course!

Thanks, Nick, for the invitation to GO SHOPPING! It was truly a new experience for me.

MONICA AND BEN

Sorry, Monica and Ben, how did we let our lovely time together go by without taking any pictures?! Thanks so much for coming to see us! I’m glad you both like Decatur! Please come back again soon. We will solve some more of the world’s problems when you do. See you in January!

Colleen

LUNCHEON FOR "MATURE ADULTS"

US Journal

Thursday, December 19, 2013

LUNCHEON FOR “MATURE ADULTS”

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This week, our 2 priests at St. Catherine’s and their spouses hosted a Eucharist and Luncheon at the church. Only “mature adults” were invited; but as the event continued, we realized that the term “mature” was in the eyes of the beholder! Some of the people there were having ‘way more fun than lots of people I know who were not so “mature.” In any case, it was a beautiful event. Of course, I always enjoy our Eucharist, and the luncheon surpassed everyone’s expectations.

A very special addition was delightful Christmas songs sung by about 25 four-year-olds from the preschool there at the church. The music leader had done a splendid job of getting the children to “let it all hang out,” and we thoroughly enjoyed their singing combined with all sorts of antics to theatrically emphasize the meaning of the songs. Everyone could tell that the leader had spent many hours practicing and preparing those little ones to put on a four-year-old professional performance! Great job, all of you!

Thank you all for making the event resplendent with the joy of hearing and seeing the children sing and act out their songs, sharing the tables with friends, and tasting THE MOST DELICIOUS MEAL I could imagine!

Colleen Morich

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!

US Journal

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

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We were so glad to be invited to Jennifer’s birthday luncheon at her sister-in-law Cathey’s house! It was fun to be with all the Masseys, as well as Jon and Pat and Bob Pepper; and the meal was outstandingly beautiful and delectable! Once again, we experienced a truly wonderful time with good friends!

Thanks again for including us in such a wonderful event!

Happy birthday, Jennifer!

Colleen

MONICA'S NEW FRIENDS

US Journal

Friday, December 13, 2013

Monica and Her New Friends

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Today was one of those days when we scheduled a lunch around people that Monica wanted to meet, and she made another Caprese Torta (Chocolate Hazelnut Cake) to welcome them to our house. Since Monica is a Sustainability major at her University, we asked Julie, the retired head of the Sustainability Departments at Emory, and  John, the current co-director of Sustainability at Agnes Scott, to have lunch with us. As it turned out, I had been at a conference at the High School here when John was speaking, and we met Julie through our connection with Slow Food.

The three of them talked straight through lunch about their programs and new avenues that they had discovered. Monica thoroughly enjoyed meeting both people, and I won’t be surprised if they figure out a way to collaborate about their passion for sustainability.

We so enjoyed our time with all of you! Thank you for joining us!

Colleen

STORICO FRESCO PASTA

US Journal

Saturday, December 14, 2013

STORICO FRESCO PASTA

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We always enjoy visiting Storico Fresco Pasta in Buckhead for pasta. Mike the owner is a fantastic wealth of information about artisanal pasta made from recipes Mike got directly from lots of grandmothers throughout Italy. He takes any local, seasonal ingredients and combines them to make tasty ravioli and other pasta treats! Ask him in advance if you need the pasta to be GLUTEN FREE! He can have that for you the next day! Mike always helps us choose the pasta we need for any situation, AND how to cook it, AND what sauce or seasoning to use with it. It always turns out just perfect.

Thanks, Mike, you are invaluable in satisfying our handmade Italian pasta fetish, and Peter and I enjoy your friendship and your extensive pasta knowledge!

A presto!

Colleen

ASHA'S FINEST BREAKFAST!

US Journal

Thursday, December 12, 2013

ASHA’S FINEST BREAKFAST

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To know Asha Gomez is to love her. To taste Asha’s recipes for breakfast is to love her and them!

Asha and her staff were amazing when Peter, Monica and I joined about 8 others to taste the delicacies that Asha called “breakfast.” Everything was fresh and tasty beyond belief. Everyone there ooo’ed and ahhhhh’ed over the presentation, as well as the unbeatable tastes. The Indian spices that she used were perfect to put her dishes over the top as exemplar selections for everyone, and Asha’s introduction to her food was so very interesting and enlightening! It was a special day, with exceptional food and a magnificent combination of people with which to share it.

Thanks for the invitation, Asha! GREAT JOB, as usual!!!

Colleen

TERRA MADRE DAY POTLUCK

US Journal

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

TERRA MADRE DAY POTLUCK

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Events are special for different reasons, but our Terra Madre Day Potluck was special for three reasons: 1) The wonderful people that gathered from all over Atlanta, including Slow Food members, friends of Slow Food, students from Emory and Furman University, farmers from local farms, Slow Food Atlanta Board members, and others who were interested in Terra Madre and Slow Food, 2) The outstanding local food that was celebrated and shared…from fried pig skin with pimento cheese to pomegranate salads to a local honey tasting to an authentic Italian CapreseTorta (an unbelievably fantastic cake made with homemade hazelnut flour and chocolate), and 3) The wealth of information about Terra Madre Day (always December 10^th), including fascinating reports from former delegates to the Italian Terra Madre Festival in Turin, Italy, which is held every  other year in October.

Comments from participants were all full of positive remarks about how wonderful it was to be among such a diverse group of like-minded people. They were intrigued and delighted by the creative foods that were brought to share. It was not unusual to hear comments about the impact of the former Terra Madre delegates’ experiences in Turin and how they brought home new ideas and attitudes about Mother Earth and food in general to Georgia. The group was congenial, and those who came as strangers left with friends from all over Atlanta.

Thank you all for participating in this year’s Terra Madre Day Potluck. We look forward to seeing you and many others next December 10^th!

Ciao!

Colleen

WELCOME HOME, MONICA!

US JOURNAL

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

WELCOME HOME, MONICA! HAPPY TERRA MADRE DAY!

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We were so excited yesterday to welcome Monica and her friend Laura home from India! They had THE BEST stories to tell, and we were honored with hearing them first! Basically, the stories went…the most fantastic thing we did was…the greatest event was… the most amazing thing we saw was…the most delicious food we ate was…and the most disappointing thing was the 70-hour trip home! Their whole report was a report of the senses, and it must have been a trip they will never, ever forget.  Thank you sooooo much for sharing some of your stories with us. We look forward to hearing lots more!

Being 2 very blond and beautiful Western women, of course they got lots of attention from the Indians…wanting to take their pictures and touch their hair and skin. They decided to just take it in stride and consider it a compliment.

Oddly enough, their main reason for stopping by here on their way to Monica’s home was that Laura is graduating from college this spring and is very interested in the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy, where Peter studied last year! He showed Laura pictures and told her all the ins and outs of the University and its application process, and she finally just said, “STOP! I’m leaving for there RIGHT NOW!” After which, her jetlag set in, and she took over “Monica’s room” for a short nap, relieved to have it all decided! Have a great time, Laura. Let us help with contacts and knowing the area.

Today is Terra Madre Day! A celebration of Mother Earth’s local foods! Julie Shaffer and I are hosting a Potluck tonight, and as of now, there are 54 people who have signed up, and 5 more have given a verbal YES! You will hear more about that tomorrow. It’s going to be FABULOUS, and Monica’s excited to come back and help us with it! We’re excited about that, too!

Welcome home again, Monica and Laura. You are always welcome at our house!

Colleen

Star Provisions Cheese Tasting/Marietta Diner with Brenda and Heidi

US Journal

Sunday, December 8, 2013

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CHEESE TASTING AT STAR PROVISIONS

We’re always pleased to join Tim the Cheese Guy at Star Provisions at his monthly cheese tasting. We always have a great time and learn about pairing cheese and wine. This Friday, we really enjoyed the Comte cheese. You can hardly find it here in the US, and Juhl’s British firm gets it for Tim. Great job, Juhl and Tim! Thanks!

BRENDA AND HEIDI

My dear friends Brenda and Heidi met me at the Marietta Diner today…another attempt at having them come to Decatur failed! I had boxes and packing supplies to take by the Masseys, and I needed to pick up our Christmas tree from our St. Catherine’s Church. What I didn’t know I would have time to do was to go to the Christmas Shop that was happening at St. Cat’s! What a lot of beautiful things were there, mostly hand made, and I couldn’t resist getting handmade scarves for my friends. The scarves were made by a lady who was giving all of the proceeds to a school for autistic children…guess where?...in Decatur! I was eager to help out their cause and to be prepared with beautiful Christmas scarves. Now, I just hope I can convince myself to give them away!

Heidi and Brenda loved their scarves, and we always enjoy our time together. The food was eclectic and delicious. We almost had too many choices to make. We’ll go back there. As we left, our sweet waiter took our picture with the Santa Claus statue, and we all promised that the NEXT TIME we get together, it WILL be in Decatur. I’ll send out some dates tonight, girls. Thanks for a lovely visit.

On my way home, I sent Peter a message to ask him where I was supposed to take the toilet seats,(that we were donating to Habitat for Humanity) and GENE responded (OOPS!), “We usually put our toilet seats on our toilets!” I called Gene an ugly name, enjoyed a good laugh at my expense, and found the Habitat Donation center after Peter sent me the address.

Peter left soon after I got home to go back to Marietta to watch the game with Fred and the boys from church. I walked to town to get some cash and ingredients to make banana bread. We are going to a potluck tomorrow for our Slow Food Board meeting, and we will take that and some other tidbits that Peter has gotten at the Farmers’ Market.

Everyone take care of yourself and enjoy your Christmas season!

Love,

Colleen

RED VELVET CAKE

US Journal

Saturday, December 7, 2013

RED VELVET, HERE WE COME!

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There’s really no need to deny the attraction of desserts, but Kathy out did herself with the desserts that she prepared for the bunch of high school chums that gathered at her house after a fun and delicious meal at Little Hawaiian Restaurant in Carrollton this week.

Her house was characteristically full of Christmas decorations at every turn. Everything looked exquisite! And, as you can see in the pictures, we didn’t hurt a bit from the beautiful choices of fantastic sweets.

Thank you all for a lovely reunion! A special thank you to you, Kathy for hosting the dessert course in your Christmas house!

Love to all!

Colleen

Kraegers' Visit to Decatur

US Journal

Monday, December 2, 2013

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The Kraegers’ Visit in our New Home

It was definitely the right thing to do to complete our Thanksgiving festivities with a visit from Hans and Karen on Saturday. We decided to walk around town and ended up having lunch at Chai Pani, in Monica’s honor. She’s coming home this weekend, and she LOVES Indian food as much as her dad does! We’ll take her there when she gets home!

After a yummy lunch, we strolled around town and ended up back at home…hungry again! So, Peter put one of the potpies he purchased earlier in the week into the oven. We had a delicious pot roast potpie, chased by some of the left over pumpkin, blueberry and apple pies from our Thanksgiving Dinner #2, and we ate and talked until 10:00PM.

It was a memorable time with great friends. Thanks for joining us in christening our new townhome, Kraegers!

Love, Colleen