peace

This hymn is one of my Gramma's favorites. She taught it to me when I visited her in San Mateo during the summers, singing it as she tucked me into bed at night in the "pink" room before we prayed. Even now, after her stroke, she still has a beautiful singing voice.

"Like A River Glorious", by Frances R. Havergal

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do;

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. Yes, amen.

Now to learn to trust .......

oreo cheesecake

I made an Oreo cheesecake last night. It was SOOOOOOOOOO good. That is, it was good if you like Oreos. Because the recipe used 42 of them. As well as 2 pounds of cream cheese and 8 ounces of white chocolate and a half cup of butter. Not very diet friendly (not at all!) and very rich, but oh, it was GOOD.

Icebox Oreo Cheesecake

serves 12 (and I made for 2! what was I thinking .....) taken from Cook's Country

Oreo Cookie Crust

30 Oreo cookies, broken into rough pieces

7 tbls unsalted butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling

1 cup milk

4 egg yolks

1/4 flour

8 oz white chocolate, chopped (or 1 1/3 cups white chocolate chips)

2 lbs cream cheese, cut into 1" chunks and softened

1/3 cup powdered sugar

2 tsps vanilla

1/8 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter in the crust)

12 Oreo cookies, broken into rough pieces

Process cookies and butter in food processor until finely ground (I crushed the cookies and butter together in a bowl using the bottom of juice glass instead). Press cookie mixture evenly into the bottom and sides of 9" springform pan. Refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour.

Heat 3/4 cup milk in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Meahwhile, whisk yolks, flour and remaining milk in a bowl until smooth. Slowly whisk hot milk into yolk mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until very thick and glossy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Off heat, whisk in white chocolate until melted. Translfer pudding to bowl, press plastic wrap directly on surface, and refrigerate until cold and set, at least one hour.

With electric mixer on medium-high speed (or in a bowl with a heavy whisk) beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low and mix in chilled pudding until just combined, about 30 seconds. Pour one-quarter of cream cheese mixture evenly into prepared pan and sprinkle one-third of cookies over surface. repeat process twice, then top with remaining filling. Refrigerate until set, at least six hours (I got impatient after two and stuck it in the freezer for half an hour). Serve.

Audrey Hepburn quotes about home

from How To Be Lovely by Melissa Hellstern

"It's the flowers you choose, the music you play, the smile you have waiting. I want it to be gay and cheerful, a haven in this troubled world."

"What I always wanted, what I still want, is to create a warm and loving atmosphere for those I care about - my family and my friends."


I love that Audrey was a homey type of person. I just love that.

baby curls

baby curls, originally uploaded by Lizi Beth.

Emma's hair is growing.

When she was born she was nearly bald, but the hair was definitely red. Now her hair has gotten longer, and is finally starting to curl at the nape of her neck! I can hardly wait to be able to put little barrettes in it.

just so excited to see the camera

cheese!!!!

a Monday at the end of summer

Rain, falling leaves and using up the last of the monster zucchinis from a friend in zucchini bread. Candles, coffee, housework and unpacking from the weekend.

a divergence ...

a rooting jar, hanging in our window

... from posts all about Emma, that is (and yes, I did just go look up "divergence" to see if it really is a word, which it is, and if it means what I want it to, which it does).


I love Crate & Barrel. I mean, I love Crate & Barrel. Not obsessively, but I have a very strong affection for that store. I even registered there for our wedding when there weren't any C & B stores in Fresno. Walking in and seeing rows and rows of shining glass, white porcelain and china, and the brilliant colors of the crisp linens brings me such joy. It also brings memories of the first time I was introduced to it by my Gramma, walking in carefully and holding her hand lest I break something, enjoying the smell of candles and wood. The vivid colors and all that white china, the pots and pans. The gadgets I had no idea what they were for. It is such a wonderful place .....

So, imagine my delight a few weeks ago when I found out that there are others who share my love!


"the feeling of being with [my mother], in that store, surrounded by so much cooking possibility, stuck with me. Contained within the shelves there, packed away amidst the plain white plates and jelly jar glasses, were meals as yet uncooked, conversations unspoken, a whole future of smells and tastes and togetherness."
"... being surrounded by anything food-related -- kitchen ware included -- brings me a calm usually reserved for places of worship."

-Emily Franklin, Too Many Cooks

There is something so exciting and yet restful and calming about a store that is devoted to homemaking, entertaining and cooking. And I can't get enough.

six and a half months

six and a half months, originally uploaded by Lizi Beth.

little gem

In the last month she has learned to smile (with a kind of scrunched up "cheese!" smile) when she sees me pull out the camera.

She makes our every moment so precious. Just sitting here at the computer is taking myself away from her soft little hands, her ever learning, sparkling and laughing eyes, her range of faces as she begins to figure out emotions.

trying to grab the camera

so pleased with herself!

cheese, again

are you finished yet mommy? I'll keep smiling until you're done!

a sweet and summery idea

Martha Stewart's website features a tutorial on how to make plump tomato pincushions. They look so cute and sweet and so very summery.

I just had an idea that would bring them into fall ........... make little pumpkins! Not even as pincushions, just little decorative pumpkins (instead of the petite ones that you can buy to decorate with but aren't supposed to cook). They would be adorable on a mantle or in a big bowl. A fun project that you can keep for years to come, and one that might be fun for little hands to help with.

Of course, you could also make a big bunch of soft tomatoes to put in a bowl on your table. They might make cute little baby toys, too ............

Ah, so many ideas!

so lovely

I saw this post in my blogroll this morning - oh, it is so lovely! The photos (all shamelessly borrowed from the post) are from a stationary boutique - Luxe Expressions - in Atlanta

Wouldn't it be lovely to translate these into an apartment? Duponi silk drapes, sheer organza draping the ceiling, glass doors, lots of rich colors, gilding and white and a bit of brick to keep it all grounded ....... *sigh*

the plan for today is:

p.s. i got the bathroom painted, and we walked to the library. Emma was holding on to her hat the whole way there and back - so cute! I have no idea why she did it (she never has before), but everyone who saw her thought that she was adorable.

1. clear my inbox,

2. paint the master bathroom,

and 3., take care of Emma.

We might go swimming (because Summer is ending and I want to try to get as much pool time in as we can before that happens) or to the library, too. We'll see how far we get. I have a feeling that mostly I'll be taking care of Emma, but maybe I can make use of her naps ......