Ravioli Night

 Hi,

We've been home for a week now, our colds are gone and we're back into our routines. I don't know about you but when I get sick that's about all I can think about. It sort of consumes me and it's hard to function. I'm so glad to feel better again.

Our youngest daughter Diana married into a large Italian family and one of their Christmas traditions is Ravioli Night. A few days before Christmas they all get together - there were about 50 this year - and they make ravioli from scratch.

Someone makes all the dough ahead of time, then they pull out the ravioli machines and get to work. Everyone has a job, from the oldest to the youngest. Everyone is talking, there's laughter, and some even broke out into song more than once.

This little guy kept watch over the festivities

Diana and Adelaide

Peter and his Nana. Over Nana's shoulder is the 'roller' station. They use a rolling pin to sort of flatten, and cut the ravioli into individual pieces.

Once the dough is at the right thickness, it goes to the table with the molds. The molds are filled with cheese (also made ahead of time), then covered with more dough before being sent to the roller.

Nana and Grandpop - Peter's grandparents

The Patriarch and Matriarch of the family 

Sharaya and Ally filled all of the ravioli molds. For three hours people brought them the dough, they added the cheese and another layer of dough, then it went to the roller. From there they were sent to the racks in the garage.

Every job had enough helpers so I took pictures and hung out with Adelaide when she got done helping. But I was able to sit down and fill about 5 molds.

Beth helped take the leftover dough from the molds back to the table with the ravioli machines but I didn't get any pictures of her. 

I asked one of Peter's aunts how long this tradition has been going on and she said she remembers being a preschooler and helping at her grandparents house (Nana and Grandpops parents) and she is 70 now! They keep track of how many they make and this year it was over 1000! That's happened only a few times over the years. 

This is just one of three trays, or boxes actually. They cover them with baking powder (baking soda? we can't remember and it's too late to ask Diana or Peter - they're three hours ahead of us) and let them sit for a day or two. 

When the cheese is gone, they take all the leftover dough and shape it into noodles. Nothing is wasted!

When it's ready they distribute them to the families. On Christmas day our family all went to Peter's parents and we had fresh ravioli for dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it but trust me it was delicious!

I've never been a part of something like this. It was quite a process, and to have that much family all working together toward one goal was amazing to see. (Thank you Sharaya for some of your pictures!)

Does your family have any long-standing traditions? Have you ever made pasta from scratch? (You may have more information on the process than I do!) If so, please tell us your story!

A Whirlwind Trip

Hi everyone,

How was your Christmas? Your New Year celebration? Chuck and I have been so congested we didn't celebrate New Years this year. The first time that I can remember. 

But we're feeling better now and I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. What a whirlwind few weeks we've had.

We flew out on the 17th, took a red-eye into Newark, NJ and went right to the hotel to sleep. A few hours later Chuck went back to the airport to pick up Sharaya and Ally (Sharaya didn't find out her days off until the last minute and we had already bought our tickets) and that started ten days of celebrating three birthdays and an Italian Christmas!

Adelaide turned three this year and she helped make and decorate her own cake. That was the first big thing we did after arriving.

They got about 5 inches of snow just a few days before we arrived, then got an inch or so after we got there. It was cold and sometimes icy but we were willing to brave the elements to spend time together. 

We spent one day at an outdoor market. Got some coffee and hot chocolate to carry around with us then enjoyed all the shops. 

The sign outside this art gallery read, "More than just Thomas Kincade" and they were right. She was so excited to see all the Disney art! Rooms and rooms of art, scenes from Paris, London, art from Monet and van Gogh. We could have spent a lot more time in here. 

A lot of our time was spent playing games, hanging out, we went out to eat a couple of times, and we got to snuggle with Adelaide and Oliver. We couldn't get enough of those two.

Diana and Peter's birthdays are just a few days apart and are close to Christmas so just before we left we celebrated them together. I want to say, Peter is such a good man and treats our daughter well. We're so grateful for him.

There's so much more but I'll share that next time. We caught colds a few days before we flew home and we're not not 100% yet. 

I hope you're all doing well. I head back to work on Monday and I plan to read your posts soon. Happy New Year!

Our Days Have Been Full

 Good evening friends,

I'm writing this on Monday night, although when I was getting on the laptop almost 30 minutes ago, I uploaded some photos, then noticed the desktop was cluttered with documents and so I started organizing those... and now my sister is calling from San Diego. 

Okay, so now it's Tuesday afternoon. Chuck is at a doctor's appointment and Beth is down in her place watching TV. We've been so busy lately. All good things, but just really full days.

Chuck and I took a drive over the weekend, headed east over the 520 floating bridge and into Bellevue, Redmond and Issaquah. It was nice to get away for a few, just us. Mount Rainier was out in all her glory, so close it felt like you could reach out and touch it.

This is a picture of one of the bridges (Seattle has two floating bridges) that I took a few years ago flying into SEA Airport. The bridge is on pontoons that float in the somewhat shallow water.

Mount Rainier from the bridge

We've been video chatting with Diana and the kids. Adelaide was helping her make chocolate chip cookies.

Beth had a doctor's appointment and needed to get some lab work done so they could check her thyroid.

And Christmas. I am so ready to decorate for Christmas! The other night I fixed some hot chocolate with whipped cream and watched a Christmas movie. I don't know, it just felt right!

Chuck should be home soon from his appointment so I need to get ready to go to our storage unit. We're putting away my greeting card/market displays and bringing back Christmas decorations! We usually wait until after Thanksgiving but for some reason this year, I want to decorate now. Do you usually wait for a certain day to decorate?

Enjoy the rest of your week! 

Closing the Door on 2024

Over the holiday we were talking about how fast this year went by and how Adelaide (our two yr old granddaughter) will graduate high school in 2040. Pretty soon when we talk about "the 20's" it won't be the 20's people my age think about!

I think 2024 has been a year of rebuilding - friendships, trust, confidence. And I feel like we're headed into a year of peace, and prosperity. Not necessarily financial but more mentally, physically and emotionally. I don't know why I feel this way - can't really put my finger on it, I just do. I pray it happens for all of us.

We had a fun Christmas, quiet and not rushed. Sharaya and Ally came over Christmas Eve morning and we video chatted with Diana, Peter and Adelaide. Adelaide and Ally opened their Christmas eve pajamas from us, then we exchanged a few other gifts.

Adelaide trying on her new bathrobe

Christmas morning we all stayed home and had our own family Christmas. Chuck played Santa for me and Beth this year. Do you have someone hand out the gifts at your house?

Among other things, Beth got a new blanket for her recliner, and a tin full of cash. (I think that one was her favorite!) Her back was hurting when she woke up so she sat in a kitchen chair while she opened her presents.

I got Chuck a new speaker for his phone.

Sharaya and Ally came over around 1:00 and we opened a few more gifts, ate lunch and played some games. And of course, we had to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol. It's a tradition in our family!

Today, Sunday, we had just one church service, then Chuck, Beth and I went out for brunch, and headed downtown to see a gingerbread house display. Except these were cities, not just houses. It's put on at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle. The displays used to fill up a huge room but it all had to shut down during covid. They just started it up again a couple years ago. It was small, but impressive! Can you guess the cities? I had to read the sign to know the first one - 

And the details! The displays were very impressive.

And it's all edible!

The bridge opened and closed!

(The cities were India, London, Australia and Paris.) Beth and I have a new appreciation for them since we made our very first gingerbread house this year.

Now we're looking toward 2025. Only the Lord knows our path but I trust Him completely. He only has good things planned for each of us. We just have to pray and trust His answers.

I hope you all have a very happy New Year celebration!