Tis the day after Christmas!

We had a great Christmas.  With most of the extras put away, I feel practically normal.
This afternoon we watched the video of Midnight Mass. There are times when I forget I am a member of St. James Choir. It is such a blessing.
Christmas morning we prepared for our 21 member family gathering.
All went well. No scrapes or bruises. Just the way I like it.
Here are some photos of our great family Hope I didn't miss anyone.

                                  Steve  and Liz   (better photo of  Steve later)

                                     Dylan and  Tricia

                                               Ian and James

                                             James and Summer

                                    Gerald   and Mike

                                              Joe  enjoying a cookie

                                           Zoe                        Better photo of Sergiu later

 

 

Tricia and  Nonna                          Joe the third sitting by the fireplace

More Christmas Photos

                                        Meagan   Alex      John

                                     Summer  Deb  Liz  and John H.

                                               Sergiu     Svetlana and Steve

                                             Ian and James

                                              Mike and Tricia

                                            Dylan and Ian

Lunch can be fun!

We hosted a fun lunch at our home for  friends who spend Christmas in California.
I tried a new recipe ( for me), Italian Wedding Soup. It is easy and quite delicious.
You know it is a success when guests want to take some home.
Michelle brought some fried rice. Also a success, as I grabbed the left overs.

Tuesday we were treated to lunch  by Dorene. I call her Joes "Church wife" as he usually sits next to her in church, and they always have a nice conversation.

In spite of the rush of Christmas we accepted.  Dorene invited another couple  and her friend, Marlene. All attend St. James. We seemed to have a lot in common

Dorene is quite the creative artist. Every room has a surprise.  In the bathroom there is the remains of
dishes and collectibles damaged in an earthquake. She turned them into a work of art.

Stained glass windows ( by Dorene) grace several windows. It is a mini-museum.
Dorene is a kind and wonderful hostess .

We hope to have her over one of these days. Our first attempt was not a success.
She was nearby, but lost, her cell phone was jammed inside the lining of her purse so she thought it was lost.
She drove down a dead end with several no trespassing signs. what could she do but drive home.

We are not giving up. One of these days she will find us.

Thanks again, Dorene for the lovely afternoon.

Oh Christmas Tree

I wish there was a spare room where I could keep the tree so it would be ready for next year!

 

Birthday of Joe cont. The Tradition of Forgetfulness

Yesterday was 100% successful as for those who attended, about 95% successful for food preparation.
It is a tradition that I forget to serve at least one item of food. This time I forgot to put out the sliced apples, appetizers (this was intentional memory lapse)  and gluten-free bread.( sorry James & Liz)

The day went well.  Gerald (Joey) baked a loaf of delicious bread. He is getting to be a chef extraordinaire.    No one was supposed to bring anything but I love when they disobey!
The first people who arrived were treated to a sighting of a deer family. Lots of photos.

I tried something new. I concocted a gluten -free chowder, I placed bowl of baby clams, one  filled with corn and one with cut up bacon. Each person chose their own additions to the potato chowder.
My pot of beans was pretty much untouched. No one believes my story that since the beans are cooked with fennel seed they will not give you gas,
My stuffed red peppers were popular, also salads, roasted veggies, fruit and of course, the deserts.

Our morning continued with the family of deer resting in the back yard.  I just checked and they are now munching on weeds.

        

                                                   Gluten-free Pesto

                                                  Marinated veggies with  Greek yogurt

                                                  Bread baked by Gerald Mackenzie

                                                           Kale and mixed greens salad

                                          Sesame asparagus dish (gluten free soy sauce)

                                        Deb  tosses a fantastic salad

                                                  Pulled pork by Chinh 

                                      My delicious, nutritious beans that no one tried!

Tomato/basil/ cheese

 

A Light Touch

Like sifted powdered sugar over Christmas cookies, the snow has covered all the flaws of our landscape.

                                Here comes the sun

Almost Perfect!

 Sorry chef Ramsey. We can't all be perfect!  Looks yummy to me.

Success or Failure

Baked bread today. I decided to make two batches and fill 10 mini pans.
Bread did not seem to rise properly but still sliced well and looks normal.
Joe loves it but that may be because I plan to use it for St. James Treats!

Love our fireplace.

The warmth of the fireplace is amazing. As I walk down the stairs from the rather cold kitchen, I can feel the warm air floating up the stairs.

Torlai Grocery ...... The start of something big!

            Just open the screen door and you were in Torlai Grocery. Mom kept this going while Dad worked at Bemis Bag Company. Mom had trouble with her leg and while she was in the hospital Dad closed the store and we had a living room.
           Barbara...Martha...Judy...Corky ... Gloria

                              Martha                             Judy                   Barbara

                                                  Judy and Martha

                                               John (Corky)  Torlai Future owner of Springbrook Farms

 

Before King  County had flood control, it was routine to have a flood in the valley.

 Fortunately the flood stopped right at our home. Dad had a cheese room in the basement.

 He used to age huge wheels of cheese.  The room was formerly a wine room.

He wouldn't want either flooded!

 

 

 

Pike Place Market.....Our Stall

                               Our blue truck is next to the yellow van. You can barely see it!

                                       Mom and Dad

                             Dad and John Hammontree. I think John still works a day a week at Springbrook
                                          Farm.

                                Wish I could photoshop my hairdo (yikes)  Barbara ( Bobbie with cool do)


                              My Dad did not want to expand the business but Corky did, so he went on to
                          start Springbrook Farm. It started in a building behind the home on Springbrook
                         Road and moved to acreage off S. E. 196th.
                         Family is working on a blog to celebrate 70th. anniversary of Springbrook Farm.
                            
                          
                         

Faure' Requiem

St. James Choir sang  the Requiem last night. I have the music still going around in my head.
It was a fantastic experience.
As Father Ryan gave his homily I couldn't help thinking about family members and friends that have passed away.
The first was cousin Eros who died at age 18. This was years ago. We saw a photo of him laying in  a casket while we were going through a book. Rather disturbing to young eyes.

I remember when my Dad was given 3 weeks to live.  He was sitting in his favorite chair looking
into space. I asked him if he wanted to talk about it. "I don't mind talking about death." I said.

He looked at me as if to say, this is my death, not yours!  His exact words were, " Go home, Marti,
go home!

I felt very sad and stupid. Thinking it over I still feel stupid.

R.I.P.

RHOSE RHOSEN/ROSA Photos later

German Count Rhose Rhosen was a captain in the army of Frederico  Barbarosa. In 1162, he took part in the third invasion in Italy. His noble family coat of arms was a red rose on a white field.
He fell in love with the weather in Italy and told his brother, who was still in Germany, that he would settle in Rolo in Emilia and then Reggie Emilia.
Count Rhosen was appreciated for his energetic projects and good works but found himself in the middle of a struggle between the Guelf and Ghibellini families. His generosity and piousness did not save him from the vendetta of the enemy Guelf. One day he was murdered. The family was robbed of all possessions.
Contessa Rhosen retreated to a monastery where she survived for a short time. Their only child, Araldo, couldn't cope with the tragedy and left Emilia.
With the memories of his father's murder and his mother's death n his heart.
 Araldo wandered from town to town until he arrived in Maniago. He came to the house of Castello of Conti. Castello felt sorry for the wandering orphan and offered him hospitality. He gave him some uncultered land beyond Colvera and precisely in Frata. This location was called Rusuleto.
Araldo was dedicated to farming and raising sheep. Eventually he married a shepherdess named Fanna.  Araldo and Fanna had nine children.
Araldo lived to the age of 92 leaving 32 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren.
The land he left was of such colossal proportions that it had to be divided. Since the pastures below Monterat had many animals, they decided to build a local residence and transfer all families to it.
This immigration was done in 1228 and was the origin of Casasola (one house).Each family was to eventually have a house, land for garden, stable for animals and land in Monterat for grazing.

The house still has the number 1228 on it.

Betty ( my cousin) and her mom visited the house and saw the number, however they have a different story.
Bonnie ( cousin)  swears this is true and has done much investigating.
I like both stories.

Rosa is my mother's maiden name.

Photos from Casasola via Jeannine K.

These photos were taken by me off the computer screen (Joe disapproved) They will have to do until I can find better ones.