One Year of Marriage

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark 
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 
Within his bending sickle's compass come: 
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

-Shakespeare's Sonnet 116

I love you, S, more than ever.

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's tough having a day-after-Christmas birthday, so we've always tried to make my Mom's birthday extra fun for her. I'm not with my Mom today but I'm hoping the song (below) will bring a smile to her face! There is something about this song that I just think is so sweet. It's doesn't align with my usual taste in music but whenever I listen to it, it touches me.

 Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.

Merry Christmas!

May your day be filled with the people you love most in the world, many blessings,  and much joy. Have a beautiful Christmas!

(Here's how I tied up my cards in a bow.)

(Recognize the chalkboard in our card?)

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve, and hello from Napa Valley! I thought I'd share some photos before we head off to breakfast in the wine cellar of our B&B (the breakfasts have been one of the highlights of our trip--so scrumptious). This area is so incredibly beautiful and we are having the time of our lives! 

A beautiful hilltop home, or possibly it's a winery

This lake appeared as we were driving through the mountains on Saturday

My handsome husband

The Culinary Institute of America, where we attended a fantastic cooking demo

Rows and rows of grapevines

And more...

The hills and vineyards from the perspective of Castello di Amorosa

A quick iPhone shot of me at the cooking demo

The views are breathtaking!

       We've been loving the fireplace in our room--it's keeping us toasty in this chilly weather!

Headed West

My parents' house, all lit up for Christmas--we will miss being there this year!

 Photo by Noah Zinsmeister

Tonight, we are driving to Atlanta to stay with a good friend, and first thing in the morning we will be at the airport, at the start of our belated honeymoon/Christmas trip/one-year anniversary celebration! I won't be blogging very regularly over the next few weeks, but I will be popping in occasionally.

I hope that all of you dear readers have a joyful, love-filled, beautiful, and happy Christmastime.

Cookbook Giveaway Winner!

Today I'm announcing the winner of the Finger Lakes Feast cookbook giveaway! The lucky winner is.....

Felicia Klots!

Felicia was a roommate of mine in New York City, where we shared an absolutely tiny (but adorable) apartment for a few months. Our kitchen was also our dining room which was also our living room which was also our piano room (so it goes with life in New York). But we both embraced it--often I would come home on a Friday to find the kitchen smelling heavenly and Felicia busy making dishes for the traditional Jewish Shabbos dinner, with every inch of counter space filled with some ingredient she was using. I remember once she made cold salmon with a special dill sauce that was incredibly delicious! I know she will put our cookbook to good use. Congratulations, Felicia!

Thank you so very much to everyone who visited this post and entered the giveaway. All of the comments were so thoughtful and kind and supportive. If you find yourself feeling especially bummed that you weren't the lucky winner, I would shamelessly direct you to our Amazon page. And if you're interested, I would be more than happy to sign your copy, too! Just email me, or leave a comment, and we can find a way to do that.

Thanks again to everybody who participated--I wish I could send you all a cookbook!

One Day Left in Cookbook Giveaway!

If you haven't already, I'd like to remind you to enter the giveaway to win a free copy of Finger Lakes Feast, which I co-authored with my father and photographer brother. It's not too late! I will choose the winner from the pool of commenters on Sunday night and announce the winner on Monday.

As an additional bonus, my dad and brother have agreed to sign the giveaway copy as well! Finger Lakes Feast was a true collaboration--none of us could have produced this book on our own--so it's only fitting that we all sign the giveaway copy.

You can enter the giveaway by visiting this post and leaving a comment. Thanks so much--and good luck!