Computer in a bad place so I'm on Hiatus

Wine...............

I just heard a story about two men who were caught trying to sell  cheap wine for  extraordinary wine.
This is difficult to fathom. They waxed the bottles and passed them off as wine that cost $11,000 a bottle.
First of all, who would pay that much for a bottle of wine?
 (Let's see..Michael Jordan for one...I just saw the home he has for sale.)
  This fake wine earned them over a million dollars.
However, they are now in jail without wine or money.  So sad. I can hardly hold back the tears.

My experience with wine was a bit more simple. My Grandparents had a field near their home that was lined with grapes. I remember as a child wanting to taste one but the  grapes were off limits.   Nonna and Nonno were very generous with everything but the grapes.
 Nonno had a room lined with barrels of wine.  He aged  some and drank some early.

My Dad  bought grapes from a farmer.   I remember stomping the grapes. He had a wine cellar in our basement. It was also off limits. I think it was  my Dad's thinking room. He used to write in the quiet of the cellar.

My Dad was a believer, as many Italians are, that wine is part of a meal.  I didn't want to hurt his feelings so whenever he left the room I would pour the wine back in the bottle.

Not to make this a sad story, but I saw many people swaying and stumbling from too much wine. For this reason,  it never appealed to me.
When I hear stories about how healthy it is to drink wine I wonder if I missed out on the wine vitamin.
But then, I am not exactly young, and I've lived this long without it.

Recipe for Died and went to Heaven Chocolate Cake..Enjoy

1- 3/4 cup  all purpose flour
1 cup gran. sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder (European works also)
1- 1/2 tsp.b.powder
1- 1/2 tsp. b soda
1 tsp.salt
1- 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 cup packed brown sugar ( I don't pack it..plenty sweet)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup olive or canola oil
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup hot strong black coffee

ICING
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 T. buttermilk

Lightly oil  12 cup bundt pan or coat with non-stick cooking spray. Dust pan with flour, invert and shake off excess.
In large mixing bowl combine (whisk) first five ingredients. Add  next 5 ingredients: beat with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Whisk in hot coffee. Batter will be thin.
Pour into pan . Bake at 350 degrees 35 to 40 minutes until tester comes out clean (I use tooth pick) 

When cake is cool drizzle with icing. If you like more icing double recipe. (Don't need it)

Died and went to Heaven Chocolate Cake

Our friends Michele and Chinh are taking us out to dinner tonight in celebration of Chinh and Joe's
birthday.
I decided that I should make a fresh cake ( I had one in freezer). The carrot cake in freezer is my favorite.
Joe hinted this enough to get me in the kitchen to bake. I haven't made this cake in years so hope it pleases the "Master".

Mushrooms...edible or deadible!

These are some of the many mushrooms in our yard. The area where they seem to thrive is woodsy.
They seem to appear suddenly..like a demon needing a victim.

This is my Halloween offering. Scary.....ooooh

                                The first is over 6 inches in diameter

                               This looks bigger but is about 51/2 inches in diameter

                                   This is #1 upside down.       

                                           About 2 inches diameter............

Saved the best for last. Joe's pics.

Even better Fall Colors...Coulon Park in Renton

Joe & I were tired of working....yes, we actually have a lot of work to do around here, so we decided to take our walk out of the neighborhood and over to Coulon Park in Renton. What a treat!

                                            This is the Top of Ivar's Fish Bar....must smell good!

                                                                     Joe

                                               Beneath the helicopter was a platform with trainees aboard.

                                       

Good News, Fall Colors and Biscotti

I just heard from our niece, Jeannine. The dinner/auction in memory of her brother Tony raised almost 28,000 for Brain Cancer Research. all proceeds go to Fred Hutch & Swedish.

The photos are just some of the colors in our yard. Liz gave me the hydrangea for that reason and it is
a pleasure to behold.

Music was beautiful Sunday at St. James. I am so happy to be part of the choir.

I tried making gluten free, low carb biscotti.     Had a few crumble but most stayed together.

Dante Alighieri A fun night..thanks to Nick Minotti

We attended the Dante Alighieri meeting & Pasta bash as guest of Dr. Nick Minotti.
Nick gave a presentation on the superstitions of Italians. It was very entertaining and well done.
My father, being a very strict catholic, was not superstitious. Still, listening to Nick, reminded me of a few stories  from Grandparents. I think my mom did the throw salt over your shoulder thing (if you spilled salt) My cousin Signe mentioned that she never puts a hat on the bed. This is actually an interesting one...Remember seeing photos of priests always wearing a hat (many years ago). The only time they removed the hat was to give the Last Rites.
Don't have your bed facing the door.
Don't put loaf of bread  upside down. It is disrespectful to the Lord.
There was the don't walk under a ladder and black cat superstitions.
The evil eye is interesting...Peacock feathers ...evil eye.  Green eyes....oooh scary.  Old ladies...scary.

Well I'm sorry, our bed faces the door, If I bake bread I have to put it upside down to remove it from baking pan,  I love peacock feathers, I'm an old lady and I have green eyes....Be careful. Don't mess with me!

An Artist In the House

Actually, the artist was in our field spray painting mini- portions of decor  for Great Music For Great Cathedral.
I sat on the bench near the kitchen door and listened to the sound of the spray can rattling.  I wanted to see what Daniel was doing but didn't want to bother him.  I did sneak behind his car and take a photo of him.
When I looked at the photo I read  " battery weak" so I enlisted the aid of Joe and put in a new battery.
This time I was not so sneaky. The only photo I was able to get is one of Daniel aiming the spray can at me.
(The life of a Paparazzi is not easy.)

I have seen his work before and know that these bits and  pieces will turn into a  beautiful work of art.

We are  fortunate to have such a dedicated, talented man in our choir.
Thanks Daniel!

Ave Maria..............

Not sure I want to post this.
Just received a phone call from a family whose mom is dying. The daughter is planning the service and asked me to sing for it. She said her mom always wanted Martha to sing Ave Maria at her service.
It is a compliment, but everyone who knows me realizes that I am not crazy about singing Ave Maria. I have done it so many times and I feel there is better music for a funeral service. My voice is much lower than it was when this lovely woman heard it.
The family will call back when she passes, so we'll see what happens. I sang a little bit of each of  the most popular Ave Maria to see which one she wanted. Seemed  rather surreal, but then I have had many of those experiences. You just do something and wonder who this person is doing it.

I'll ask for the Lord's help and I'm sure it will work out.

Great News!

Liz just phoned..MRI  looks great. Dr. is happy, nurses are happy and Liz is ecstatic. Of course, family is relieved and thankful...happy, happy, happy.