The Pillow

"Let gratitude be the pillow upon 

which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. 

And let faith be the bridge you build to 

overcome evil and welcome good." - Maya Angelou

Undefinable

"You cannot define electricity. The same can be said of art.
It is a kind of inner current in a human being, or something which needs no definition." -Marcel Duchamp

Three Duchamp brothers, left to right: Marcel Duchamp, Jacques Villon, and Raymond Duchamp-Villon in the garden of Jacques Villon's studio in Pateaux, France, in 1914. All three participated in the 1913 Armory Show in New York. Photographer unknown.  Smithsonian collection

Marcel Duchamp (28 July 1887 – 2 October 1968;    was a French artist whose work is most often associated with the Dadaist and Surrealist   movements. Considered by some to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Duchamp's output influenced the development of post-World War I Western art. He advised modern art collectors, such as Peggy Guggenheim   and other prominent figures, thereby helping to shape the tastes of  Western Art during this period.-Wikipedia

True Freedom

“Freedom is an inner awareness, a knowing that nothing can touch the truth of who you are; it is the 'I am' that is within you and everyone.” -Eckhart Tolle

Endless Summer

Our winter their summer in the land down under.

Bells beach Australia

"It's always summer somewhere"."-Lily Pulitzer

Where There Is Love

"Love never claims,

it ever gives;

love never suffers,

never resents;

never revenges itself.

Where there is love there is life;

hatred leads to destruction."

Mahatma Ghandi

Crazy in a Good Way

Here's to the crazy ones.

The misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers.
The ones who see things differently.
While some may see them as the crazy ones.
WE SEE GENIUS.
Because the people who are crazy enough
to think they can change the world
are the ones who do.

Things To Embrace

"Last night crickets sang 

Tonight the fog drips like rain 

 Clouds drift by like waves." -N. Enkoji

The Air

"The air up there in the clouds is very

 pure and fine,

bracing and delicious.

And why shouldn't it be?

- it is the same the angels breathe." ~Mark Twain

Your Words

“Writing is being able to take something whole and fiercely alive that exists inside you in some unknowable combination of thought, feeling, physicality, and spirit, and to then store it like a genie in tense, tiny black symbols on a calm white page.”

— Mary Gaitskill

 

Forgive and Forget

"Not forgiving is like drinking cat poison and then waiting for the rat to die."   
Anne Lamott

Transformation

"Transformation happens when you dare to be awakened to greater heights. When you stay open no matter what. Letting each experience, especially the tough ones, strengthen you and add depth and wisdom."

—  Oprah

Passages

"When we deliberately leave the safety of the shore of our lives, we surrender to a mystery beyond our intent." Ann Linnea, Deep Water Passage

Friendship

Friendship is always a sweet responsibility,
never an opportunity.Kahlil Gibran

Something to Ponder

" Let what you love, be what you do."

Cooking With Pamela Sheldon Johns

On December 19th had a great time at a wonderful cooking event featuring the 

well known cooking instructor Pamela Sheldon Johns.  

I have wanted to meet Pamela since so many of my friends have taken her food and wine workshops in Italy where Pamela lives.  Lucky me to have this opportunity so close to home.  What a fun filled night we had.

My friend Mary and I arrived early and Pamela was already busy preparing

 the "pici" dough for our pasta making adventure.

This "Tuscan Peasant Cooking" meal featured the following menu:
Pinzimonio - Crudite` with olive oil dip
Crostini dello Cortile- Crostini from the Farm Courtyard (topped with organic chicken livers)
Pici Aglione con Le Briciole-Hand rolled pasta with spicy tomato garlic sauce and toasted bread crumbs
Involtini di Maiale-Pork rolls stuffed with ricotta and spinach
Polenta di Mais, Corn Polenta
Zucca al Forno- Baked Pumpkin
Mele al Forno, Amaretti stuffed Baked Apples

Lovely wines and prosecco to accompany the many tasting treats

I love all the stories Pamela shares about her life, how she came to live in Italy and her wide range of experiences as a chef.

This is Pamela Scott **who arranged this lovely event  "An Evening of Food and Wine" .  This was a wonderful fund raiser for "Five Acres" in Pasadena.**  What a nice effort for a great cause. Thank you to both Pamela's for this lovely evening.

Delicious olive oil tasting from Pamela's own olive vineyards.

Loved watching Pamela work her magic with herbs and her "mezzaluna"

Added surprises,  friend Mary on the left, met up with some old friends

We all had fun making "Pici" the tuscan hand rolled pasta

 

A great evening, wonderful food and many good lessons on Tuscan Peasant cooking. After dinner we were all gifted with a copy of Pamela's newest book "Cucina Povera". "The recipes in this book were collected by Pamela during the more than 20 years she has spent in Tuscany."

It's always fun to learn a new cooking skill but even more enjoyable  to
learn from someone like  Pamela who has the real "feel and  genuine love" for the Italian people and their expertise in the preparation of delectable  food.  She presents with such joy and enthusiasm.  If you are planning a trip to Italy  you should definitely consider a side trip to her agriturismo* for a cooking workshop and a lovely tour of the tuscan countryside. You'll be in for a real treat!

*See www.Poggio-Etrusco.com for more information on Pamela Sheldon Johns

** Pamela Scott  pscott@foothillenterprises.com  for information on tours to Italy (she has 30 years experiences in helping to plan trips and Italy is one of her specialties)

***For more information on Five Acres  http://www.fiveacres.org/