Darlings, please join me in welcoming my new “niece” into the world. Ella Jo Dubail was born at 4:48 this morning, which just so happens to be her daddy’s birthday as well!
Congratulations Joe and Taunya on your sweet baby girl. And Ella, whenever you need some extra special pampering, just come on over to Auntie Danielle’s and we’ll fix you right up.
Image source, still from Marie Antoinette, Columbia Pictures 2006.… Continue reading
Hello my darlings! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! My apologies for my silence yesterday, I spent a long weekend on the island with my family, the sunshine, and the barbeque. Saturday dawned gloriously, dazzlingly sunny, reminding us all in Seattle just how beautiful our emerald city can be. We spent most of the morning dashing madly up and down the street for our neighborhood’s annual multi-block garage sale. I could not believe the treasures that some families were practically giving away in front of their gorgeous Queen Anne homes. My sister is in town from NYC, and we celebrated with a family day of croquet, beer, and feasting up on the farm. Here are a few of the sights, smells, and tastes:
Our triumphant haul including a vintage bunt pan, mixing bowl, dutch oven, serving plate, brass vase, and a solid steel block plane for Jacob.
Everyone enjoyed … Continue reading
I am not a cake person. I’ll take a bubbling apple pie, or tart strawberry-rhubarb crumble any day over the starchy, cloying trollops that usually pass for cake. This preference does not apply, however, when it comes to my family’s traditional birthday cake. In fact, I’ll take this cake over the aforementioned desserts. Any day.
I must be breaking all kinds of family code by giving away this highly guarded recipe, but it is really too good to be kept in captivity. Over the years, I have released it on select test groups who now join me in the worship of its ambrosial flavor and moist crumb.
Following tradition, I made this cake for our combined birthday. This gave me a chance to test run my new prized possession: a vintage Foley Sift Chine triple screen I’d pounced upon at a recent estate sale for a measly 5 bucks. … Continue reading
Hello my dears! I hope you all had an absolutely wonderful Christmas weekend! If it was anything like ours, I’m certain you’ll need at least a week to recover. On that note, today I’d like to share a few of the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells that have filled the last few days.
Unorthodox as it might seem, on Christmas Eve my sister and I whipped up a huge sushi feast including both fish and veggie rolls, sashimi, inari, and the all important warm sake. It was delicious and, though we had every intention of beginning the holidays with a light meal, nearly everyone gorged themselves into sweet fishy oblivion.
On Christmas morning, after several bulging stockings had been pillaged, we all trooped out to give the animals their Christmas breakfast. As it turns out, rabbits really do love carrots.
There are few things more depressing than the end of … Continue reading
Hello lovelies! Today I wanted to share just a bit about how I’m spending my days of late.
Some of you may remember this post from the summer in which I mentioned my ridiculously driven and multi-talented mother and NWLA. There is always something that needs doing at the academy, particularly with the recent upgrade/relocation to The Cultural Center in Langley. This is a huge undertaking, both physically (the space is a revamped B&B, complete with 6 guest rooms, a giant restaurant-grade kitchen, several living rooms, dining room, and new offices) and philosophically (the grand purpose of The Center is to bring cross-cultural understanding and dialogue through events, exchange programs, and classes). I am currently helping out with this grand endeavor on a part-time basis and will be spending the remainder of my time painting (once I have unpacked my studio, oh Lordy).
Meanwhile, Jacob and I are … Continue reading
Welcome to dizzy swallows! My name is Danielle. This is a place for me to share everyday pleasures, my art, recipes and other juicy little tidbits.
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