GNOCCHI FEST: In Progress ii

Oops! Forgot to take any good pictures of the finished products! We were so hungry by then, we just chowed right down. We topped the gnocchi with a browned butter sauce, to which we added pine nuts, sage straight from the garden, freshly grated nutmeg, and lots of Parmigiano Regiano. Our side dish was Zucchini Carpaccio, drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil, scattered with mint and thick curls of Parmigiano. And those four empty bowls? They held almond panna cotta topped by peaches from a tree in Outdoor Woman Muse's own garden. We didn't like it at all...

P.S. By the way, that's Outdoor Woman (our hiking, kayaking, caving, animal-loving and chicken-raising muse) who did the mixing, tasting and snake-forming. On the left at the shaping table is Fiber Woman (also known as Mini Muse) who is our bonafide, full-time artist and maker of all things fabulous from fiber. On the right is Wisdom Woman, our vision-questing, Wisdom U.-attending, and Harley-riding Muse. And of course, that's me at the sink - Wordy Woman.

GNOCCHI FEST: In Progress I

GNOCCHI FEST: Before

ISN'T IT TIME YOU TOLD YOUR STORY?

In case you haven't heard, there is a wonderful organization here in the U.S. called Story Circle Network. It was founded about 10 years ago by author Susan Wittig Albert, author of three (soon to be four) different mystery series, including my personal fav, the China Bayles herbal mysteries, set right here in the Texas Hill Country. Susan is a lifelong mentor and champion to other women writers, especially writers of memoir, and firmly believes that every woman has a story to tell. I bet you have one too.

Story Circle Network's goal is to assist you in finding your voice and telling your story, via workshops, reading circles, writing circles, mentoring, on-line classes, book reviews, monthly publications to which you can submit your writing, and much, much more. Hard to believe it was just two short years ago that I first moved here, had just started blogging, and was struggling to find my own voice. That's when Susan invited me to attend the SCN national conference, held every other year right here in Austin. It turned out to be a life altering event for me. Not only did it introduce me to a slew of interesting women, including one of the Muses, it also allowed me to attend a panel on blogging, where I learned so much that now, two years later, I've been invited to sit on the panel myself, at this coming February's conference!

There are so many extraordinary stories to be found in our ordinary lives, and those of our friends, sisters, mothers and grandmothers. If, like me, you feel that it's just a sin for them to slip away, untold, unnoticed, and unshared, then maybe it's time for you to join the circle. Here's hoping I see you at the conference!

PICTURE CATCH UP IV: Belated To Do That I Mostly Done Did

Alrighty now. We're pretty much caught up on the photos I haven't been able to post, ever since John screwed up...Oops!...I mean upgraded my computer.

PICTURE CATCH UP III: Hippie Farm Girl

My first attempt at making Spicy Pickled Okra. Mighty tasty, if I do say so myself. I used a mix of red and green okra, hence the rosy-hued liquid. Left me feelin' all pioneerish!

PICTURE CATCH UP DEUX: La Canterra

Favorite things from our Sisters' Getaway to San Antonio: The cheese and fruit platter that awaited us, for no apparent reason; the darling leaf-shaped soaps and other little luxuries in our bathroom; the view out over my sisters' toes as we sunbathed or sat in the hot tub; and of course, winning at Shanghai (our favorite card game). Didn't get a picture of that last one - I was too busy scooping up my winnings. Should have quit while I was ahead.