Midweek Musings - Great Expectations

Great Expectations!

This is an exciting time for our family.  Philippe and Amanda are expecting their first child, a baby girl! Our first grandchild, Georgia Grace (Gigi)!!

And Adrien will be here for Thanksgiving, his first time back in Atlanta since he left for college in August.

Our lives are filled with joy!

This past weekend, with the help of my BFF, Gloria from Long Island, and Carolina (a lovely young lady with a passion for tea), I hosted an Afternoon Tea Baby Shower for Amanda.

Glorious Gloria Ladling the Lemon Curd!!

Carolina, Queen of the Cucumbers Sandwiches!

Vanilla Raspberry Trifle

Perfect for a Tea Time Baby Shower

2 Large Packages of Instant Vanilla Pudding prepared as directed

1 Tbs Vanilla Extract

1 - 12 oz package of frozen raspberries, partially thawed

1/2 cup raspberry jam

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup Chambord (Raspberry Liquer)

1 16 oz pound cake sliced into 1/2 inch-thick slices

2 6 oz containers fresh raspberrie - reserve 15 to garnish the top

Prepare the Pudding as directed.

Puree partially thawed raspberries with raspberry jam in food processor to make sauce.

Whip heavy cream together with sugar and Chambord.

In a 4-quart trifle assemble 4 layers in this order:  1 cup pudding, 1/4 of the fresh raspberries, 1/4 of the pound cake slices, 1/4 cup whipped cream, 1/2 cup raspberry sauce.  Top last sauce layer with remaining whipped cream and garnish with reserved berries.

Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.

Among many other beautiful presents, Gigi received a lovely collection of books for her library.

From Grand Dad Denis, a colorful fold-out book of nursery rhymes.

From Nana*Starr, the book that tells the story of Anabelle Applewhite, the tap-dancingest girl in Fiddler's Creek, Tap Dance Fever.

And, of course,  Gigi's first pair of shiny black tap shoes!!

It was a fun afternoon spent with old friends and new family members.  By all indications, there are a lot of loving folks just waiting to meet that little Gigi!!

Thanks to all of you that participated in this fun event!

The signs of a successful tea party!

And now, with hearts full of thankfulness, we begin our Thanksgiving preparations.  By special request from Adrien to his Aunt Gloria, we are having an Italian Thanksgiving this year!!

On the menu...

Spicy & Creamy Butternut Soup with Cranberry Coulis

Three cheese Lasagna with Aunt Gloria's That's Italian Marinara Sauce

Eggplant Parmigiana

Broccoli Salad

Succotash

Denis' Focaccia

Later that evening we'll have dessert hour with Philippe & Amanda and her parents, Donna & Joe and her brother Jared.

Pumpkin Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

Pecan Pie

Brownies

And if we're lucky, our first holiday sing-along with Adrien at the piano!!

Adrien will celebrate his 19th birthday this weekend with a tea time gathering for his friends.

I expect that we will have a splendid time over the next few days, celebrating all of our blessings.

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Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all,

Starr

Midweek Musings - Owl Days

Owl Days

This beautiful creature was perched right outside my bedroom window this morning.  

This time each year he comes to visit.  Of course, I don't really know if it is the same Mr. Owl, but I like to think so.

Owls always remind me of my favorite cartoon from my childhood called I Love To Singa.  

Owls also remind me of my son, Adrien, a Freshman at Rice University, home of the Rice Owls.  In one week from today he'll be back home in Atlanta for Thanksgiving.


Today, I will ponder on all things Wise.  Like Mr. Owl.  


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I had my annual check up today and, as usual, my doc and I had the discussion about my slightly elevated cholesterol levels.  I am resisting taking medication for this.  He heard me today.  He's going to send me info about getting on a Red Yeast Rice regime.  I'll be doing research on this and I'll publish what I find right here on Starr-Style.  My doctor is wise.


I visited Arlington today and and brought a fall bouquet.  Normally I would have done this way back in early October, but with the Road Trip underway at that time I had to wait until now.  My parents were wise.


And today, I salute all of the Wise Women that I know or have known.  All those wonderful women that have moved into their third stage of life.  The women in my family and community who have reached the fullness of years and have a keen appreciation for each day.  This November, 2009, I celebrate my own rite of passage into this brilliant, golden light and pray that I go forward with vigor into this uncharted territory.  


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Matthew 2:1-12




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I wish you a Wise Day,
Starr

On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 42 - Back Home In Atlanta

Wednesday, November 11

 On the road for 6 weeks.

42 Days.

"Home, James.  And don't spare the horses."

Asheville, NC

Fresh with dew, the award-winning gardens of the

White Gate Inn

That morning the beautiful silver Tea Urn in the upstairs foyer had perfectly brewed tea for the guests.  And our choice of a lovely bone china tea cup.

Before breakfast, I serenaded Denis on the Player Piano.

The Dining Room was all aglow with candlelight.

A young man and woman joined us at breakfast that morning.  A military couple taking a break from their duties at Fort Bragg.  The conversation was lively, mostly about our respective travels; babies, the young woman was an OB/GYN working in a busy maternity ward on base where up to 15 babies are delivered each day, and of course some reflections about the recent incident at Fort Hood.

Breakfast was elegantly sufficient, indeed...

Fresh Strawberries tossed with Vodka & Black Pepper

Creme Brulee Oatmeal

Almond & Mascarpone Tart

Leaving Asheville that morning, we added the last two vintage theatre marquees to the collection.

And one last splash of North Carolina Fall Foliage...

Our last stop was in Highlands, NC, where we stopped in to the Mountain Fresh Grocery for a sub made with farm fresh vegetables.

Excited to be so close to home and looking forward to some good old home cooking, we stocked up on gorgeous, fresh produce...

Oh, we were so close now!!!

The Majestic North Georgia Mountains.

3,600 Miles

My Hero!!!

We had chased the color for weeks, and now, we would enjoy it all over again in our precious Atlanta.

"Home Sweet Home"

We Did It!!

Thanks to every one of you that shared in this truly amazing adventure!

We love you!

Denis & Starr

Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, we prayed that You would give Your Angels charge over us, to bear us up and lead us safely, to keep us throughout our journey and bring us home safely, and cause us to be a blessing every where we went.  And so, we Thank You now, Amen.

On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 41 - North Carolina

Tuesday, November 10

North Carolina

We had some morning rain on this driving day, the first time for this trip.

Before long it cleared and we took to the scenic route once again...

A couple of old Road Trippers.

Lunchtime...

They sure do know how to make Buttermilk Ranch Dressing in
Beautiful Downtown Roaring River, NC.

Served on ice cold iceberg lettuce, it was the freshest and most delicious, crunchy salad.  Perfect with a great grilled cheese & tomato on whole wheat.

It was raining in earnest as we made our way onto the Blue Ridge Parkway....

We were singing and dancing in the rain

during a pit stop at the Parkway Craft Center in Blowing Rock.

Now you tell me....

Can you find the 2 Turkeys?

Denis was the Man, maneuvering us through the mountains in the rain.  We were happy when we saw the exit for Asheville.

Asheville, NE

For our last night, Denis had booked us The Dorothy Parker Room at the White Gate Inn on East Chestnut Street.

 www.whitegate.net

The fire in the front parlor was warm and welcoming.

The Dorothy Parker Room

A comfy bed.

A warming fireplace.

A perfect writing desk.

We took a quick catnap and then downtown we went.  Asheville was quiet on this rainy evening.  We window shopped and added to our collections of...

Cute Knitting Shops.

And storefronts that remind us of The Roop.

Excellent Italian food is what we craved tonight.

We found it at Cucina 24 on Wall Street....

www.cucina24restaurant.com

We cheered to our successful Road Trip!!

For starters, I had Cauliflower Soup with Pistachio Butter.

For Denis, a Salad of Baby Arugula, Poached Pear, Gorgonzola Dolce, Walnuts & Pickled Onions.

Butternut Squash Tortelli with Sage Brown Butter and Amaretti Crumbs for me.

For Denis, the Chef's Vegetarian Special

Grilled Eggplant

Barletta Bean with a Spicy Red Pepper Glaze

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Rosemary

Dessert Tonight

Heavenly Pumpkin Cheesecake

Italian Espresso

When we returned to our room at the White Gate Inn, we had a gift waiting for us.  In a delicate gauzy bag, a small bottle of Pillow Mist in a gentle fragrance was hanging on our door.  It included a little card with this sentiment....

A flock of sheep leisurely passing,

the sound of rain,

soft winds across an open field,

a pure sky,

O' Pleasing Deity,

Peace of the soul,

May the gentle fragrance of our pillow mist evoke soothing slumber

and bodies refreshed... ...