Snow Day at Casa Somerset

Joe (holding Thomas) Mike, Mark, Michael, Colton and Josh.
The Snow Gang.
Armed with shovels, and full of fun, they dug the cars but not before having a HUGE snow fight!

Josh sledding.... watch out for the lake!!!!!!

Christmas 2009

This was our first Christmas at Casa Somerset!
What a wonderful time it was... we had most of the
family here together. Christmas Eve we had a great ham
dinner, and prime rib for Christmas dinner. Josh made

Granma Dot's cherry slices, and Mike and Josh made her

stuffed cabbage.

Here is the whole crowd passing out gifts and opening gifts in the morning!

My son Josh and his son Eric. Christmas morning.... a new shotgun!

When the family arrived on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, no one had any idea what the weather was going to do. We had SO MUCH SNOW!!!!!

Josh and Tina ended up in a ditch Christmas Eve at the house next door. The towtruck pulled them out on Christmas morning. Mark and Toshia drove here Christmas morning from Olathe in 4-wheel drive. It snowed all day. When they got ready to leave, everyone worked at digging the cars out. They slid off in a ditch just about 500 feet from the house. Once again, the towtruck driver showed up at our house that day! He was a little mad..... :-) So, Michael and Stephanie did not even try in their Honda!!!

We had a great night laughing and teasing each other, and Mike fixed breakfast for everyone on Saturday morning!

Thomas has arrived at Casa Somerset

Thomas arrived last Saturday for Christmas this year. Our first Christmas with our youngest grandchild, and our first Christmas at Casa Somerset! Thomas is a very busy 18 month old. As I am writing this he knows I have pretzels at my desk, I have to stop and give him a treat. He knows a softie when he sees one!!

He has been trying to catch Raphael and Figero since his arrival a week ago. They don't appreciate him as we do. I would put in a picture of them with him, but they will have no part of it. It might have to do with the squeals he lets out every time he spots them!!

He has really made this a great Christmas. He is a bundle of energy. He is so well behaved for his age. He eats well and is our pride and joy. Thomas, and his mommy and daddy, Beatriz and Joe, live in Rapid City, South Dakota, a long way off. We are so glad they all came for Christmas.

Love and Happiness is in the air at Casa Somerset.

Meadowlark Acres

WOW!!!! Who loves fresh baked bread? Suzanne and Dan Frisse were here for the Christmas Home Tour baking bread. The smell took over the house.... it is the smell you know when you walk in. I remember baking bread with my grandfather, when I was 18 years old. This brought back great memories.

Suzanne has taken her bread-making hobby to a new height. Dan and Suzanne are trying new ingredients all of the time to come up with the perfect taste. I went to their home and test kitchen , they were so intense on creating the perfect product. I also found their artisan jellys everywhere.

They grow their own produce on their three acre farm .

Our friend Jasper sent them to our house a few weeks ago ,he was doing a book signing of his new cookbook at Somerset Ridge Winery. They brought two loaves of Kalamala olive bread, whoa.....no hold on the taste!!!

I won't even at this time go into the pizza parties that they have brought to us. If you get an invite to one of Suzanne's Pizza Parties, you'd better grab on.

This is the bread we are having for Christmas and the holidays, and if you want something that people will talk about, you should too. http://www.meadowlark-acres.com/

I thank Jasper so much for sending us such great new friends.

Paola Christmas Home Tour

WOW!!

What a day. Over 250 people toured our home yesterday. The ladies decorated our home to the hilt, and it was enjoyed by all.

We had Dan and Suzanne's bread in the oven putting out a wonderful aroma as you entered the house. We had Louisburg Cidermill Cider simmering on the stove. Add to that, a wood fire in the fireplace, and the smells were incredible!! We had small cups of becerin, like I had in Italy, for the guests coming through. Dennis Reynolds frim Somerset Ridge Winery stopped by to check out all of the acitvities.

Toshia was in Christine's kitchen baking cookies. They were loved by the young and the not-so-young. Mark was taking care of the Man Room with Christine's old neighbor, Rick. Being on a Christmas Tour of Homes is great! It was a lot of work, there is no question about it, but so good to see so many people enjoying your work and your home!

When the tour was over, we had many friends come over and have a pizza making party. Suzanne and Dan's friends, Mike and Michelle, took over Mike's kitchen. We were celebrating Steve and Brenda's birthdays, and Brenda had the idea about friends making pizza. I just ate. Suzanne said she just wished our friend Jasper was there. We wished he had been there as well. What a great crowd last evening! This is why Casa Somerset was born; family, friends, food, VINO too!

Rafael and Figaro entertained everyone yesterday. They are so cute!