Italian Grapes

My neighbor invited my mother and me to pick grapes from his vine in his back yard.  The vine was brought back from southern Italy. He said there are just too many and he wanted to share. He began to tell us stories of our town and people he knew and so many amazing things. He was born and raised in my area, and then at 17, he moved to D.C. and then New York, and then GERMANY. He lives in Germany now and the property where the grapes were belongs to is partner. I learned so much this afternoon. I am so excited about the grapes. I plan to give some to my professor (she is italian) and Neal as well. And of course I will be keeping some for myself...after we can and jam =)

Farm Fresh

Farm fresh eggs that my sister brought home from the farm. 

I can't wait to have breakfast!

This was the sky tonight. So beautiful. I came in from raking the leaves and my sister yelled, 

"Whoa, look at the sky!!!"

They're Family Too

My lovely pets. They are amazing. I've had them since elementary school/middle school

This is Keyanu. We saved him from the shelter. 

I did research and I am convinced 

that he is a Swiss shepherd -wolf mix...

but my sister is convinced otherwise.

Keyanu has been in the family since I was

in, I believe, 7th grade (2001)

This is Tigger (not a very creative name). I've had her 

since I was in 5th grade (1999).  She is a feisty one. 

In elem school, the first grade teacher found her

when she was about 2 weeks old. 

She gave her to me!

A Family History-Part One-Maternal Side

Albert Guidotti (my grandfather) 1942

Albert Guidotti (my grandfather) 1928 (age 6)

Albert Guidotti (my grandfather) 1928 (age 6)

Albert Guidotti (my grandfather) 1928 (age 6)

Clara (DeNault) and Albert Guidotti's Wedding  1948
(my grandparents)

Albert Guidotti (grandfather) and
Marie (Guidotti) Drogalis (my mother)
on her wedding day 1982

Albert Guidotti (grandfather)
and Speranza Guidotti (great grandmother)
July 1942 

My favorite picture of my Grandfather,
Albert Guidotti,1942

Aldea Paquin, Emma Denault, Clara Languin
(my great grandmother and her (sisters ?)

Anthony Guidotti (great uncle) 1928 (age 3 or 4?)

Clara (DeNault) Guidotti, my beautiful grandmother
 1935 (?)

My grandmother, Clara (DeNault) Guidotti 1935
(age 17)

Clara (DeNault) Guidotti (grandmother)

My grandmother and grandfather in the 1970's

Me and my grandfather, Albert Guidotti
(about age 1)

Lila Guidotti (great aunt)

Marie (Guidotti) Drogalis, my mother 1975

Albert Guidotti, my grandfather

Peter Guidotti (great grandfather) and
Albert Guidotti (grandfather)
July 1942

Peter Guidotti (great-grandfather)
Speranza Guidotti (great-grandmother)
Albert Guidotti (grandfather)

The Things People Will Throw Away!

My dad was coming out of work one day and saw this in the dumpster. Yea, someone THREW this away! He brought it home and knew I would enjoy it...HE WAS RIGHT.

This is my baby. It is a 1928 Singer sewing machine. It was manufactured in New Jersey.

I even have the case and the KEY. The case is a bit beat up, but it still works.

This is the compartment for the notions. It is so cute.

I have the attachments as well. I am pretty sure that this is the original box as well. 

I was able to find the manual online. I printed it out and a use it all the time. I am always learning something new about my machine. I couldn't locate the website where I printed the manual, but this blog offers some manuals for singers. Also, google is a savior. 

Knenobles Craft Show

Well, the craft show was unbelievably crowded so I couldn't really take pictures. I did manage to get two, though...

Neal standing next to the flood level. Knobles was hit hard

This is the creepy van that shuttled us to our car. We were parked about 1/4 mile away from the park. The van just needed a mural of Poseidon and a shag carpet and it would have been a 1970's flash back  =)

St. Patrick's Night...2010

I just found this picture of me and Neal from last year. I was never able to get my fringe to flip like that again =(

My First Tutoral....Pie Crust...and Apple Pie

Apple Pie fit for à la mode

First and foremost I had to remove my rings and put them in my milk glass candle holder

Gather ingredients:

1 1/8 cups all purpose flour, plus some for dusting work surface
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar (for sweet pies only)
8 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into 8 chunks
3 tbsp ice water, plus more if necessary

1 8-10-inch pie dish or tart pan

  Combine flour and salt in food processor.  (Whisk together if you haven’t got a food processor)

 Add butter and turn on machine, processing about 10 seconds or until the butter and flour are blended and the mixture resembles cornmeal. 

      Place mixture into a bowl and sprinkle with 3 tbsp of ice water. dd more water as necessary. 

     Use a wooden spoon to gradually gather the mixture into a ball; if the mixture seems too dry, add another ½ tbsp ice water and mix until you can gather into a ball with your hands. 

        Wrap ball of dough in plastic wrap, flatten into a disk and place in freezer for 10 minutes (or 30 minutes in fridge) to ease rolling. At this point you could also refrigerate the dough for a day or two, or freeze it almost indefinitely.

  Unwrap dough, lightly sprinkle its top with flour and roll out onto a lightly floured board or countertop; if the dough is too hard, let it sit for a minute or two (it should give a little when you press your fingers into it).

After the dough is rolled, place in pie dish. DO NOT STRETCH DOUGH.  Cut edges to be sure there is no extra hanging over. Pinch the edges.



I didn't document the making of the apple pie, but here is the recipe. Mmmm

Makes 12 Slices

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thin wedges (enough for two layers)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small dice

1. Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 450°F.

2. Put the cinnamon, sugar, salt, and sliced apples into a container and shake apple slices to coat with mixture.

3.Layer apple slices in circular arrangement to cover bottom of pie crust.

4. Pour heavy cream into 2-cup glass measuring cup. Add eggs and vanilla and beat with a fork or small whisk to combine. Pour half of egg mixture over top of pie. Layer remaining apples in pie and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Pour remaining cream mixture over top of pie. Dot with butter.

4. Bake 10 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 350°F, and bake 45 minutes more, or until filling bubbles rapidly and edges of crust are nicely browned. Check pie during baking; if crust is browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil. Cool pie on rack at least 2 hours before serving. This pie is best served the day it is baked. Store covered with paper towels and plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

Craft Fair

I am off to the craft fair tomorrow. I can't wait. I have to remember my camera so I can take pictures and get lots of ideas!!!  Photos to come...

Pie

I can't wait to go home this weekend to bake some apple pie. I found a great recipe and my university just had an apple festival so they were giving away a TON of apple! Photos to come.

Not crafted...but still cute!!

My future sister-in-law,Ashley, is expecting and I have baby fever. I didn't craft these, but I couldn't resists buying them. These were great wal-mart finds. I intend on buying more onesies and embroidering them.

Ashley loves giraffes, so of course these outfits have them.

I fell in love with these shirts. Mekhi won't fit into them at first, but he will surely grow into them.

Tell Me About Yourself

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Taken from Smile and Wave
Name: Jennifer
Birthday: January 25, 1989
Birthplace: Langhorn, PA
Current Location and what is cool about where you live?: Millersville University. I am three miles from Lancaster, PA which means that one of my favorite antique shops is close by
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Naturally blonde until I dyed my hair brunette and the blonde never returned
Height: 5"7"
Right Handed or Left Handed: Lefty
The Shoes You Wore Today: Mary Jane Crocs of course
Your Weakness: Vintage Crafts
Your Fears: Public Failure
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Get married in the summer
Thoughts First Waking Up: Oh good, I can hit the snooze
Your Best Physical Feature: Eyes...when I first wake up
Your Bedtime: 2 am right now because of my course load
Single or Group Dates: either one, as long as I am out with Neal
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Do you believe in yourself: I struggle with this one.
Are you a Health Freak: A Health Moderate.
Do you get along with your Parents: Usually
Do you like Thunderstorms: YES!
Do you play an Instrument: Does the radio count?
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: Yes...and I miss it
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: A mom!
What country would you most like to Visit: Ireland
Number of Piercings: two in each ear
Number of Tattoos: None to date...I'm working on that
favorite thing to waste $ on: Fabric, crafting supplies, vintage and thrift store finds
favorite place to eat: My dining room
favorite date night: thrifting
something you are passionate about: People's stories.
something random that you totally hate: over priced anything, fads, popularity

Silhouette...

I really needed to share these...I came across them online and I felt the urge to get them out there!!!!