Nectar & Light

hello friends.  i hope your week has been full of laughter and love.  i need some time.  some time to breath, some time to step back and reflect; some time to be.  there is so much i have been wanting to say about this little break - but as i sit here - i am at a loss.  things are good - but there are some matters that need my full attention right now.  thank you for your supportive and heartfelt comments - i read and reflect on every single one.  i am hoping to return towards the end of october with energy anew and the holiday shop.  in the meantime, be well and i leave you with a little love...

zucchini bread:

{from my good friend and neighbor kim - i make it every september now - LOVE it!}

~ 3 c. flour

~ 2 t. cinnamon

~ 1 t. baking soda

~ 1/2 t. baking powder

~ 1/2 t. salt

~ 1/2 t.  nutmeg

~ 2 c. sugar

~ 2 c. finely shredded zucchini {peeled and seeded}

~ 1/2 c. cooking oil

~ 2 eggs

use a non-stick spray to coat 2 loaf pans and pre-heat the oven to 350.  in one bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg - set aside.  in another bowl, combine sugar, zucchini, cooking oil and eggs.  slowly add flour mixture and stir until moistened but still lumpy.  divide the better between loaf pans and bake 50-60 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

* especially good lightly toasted with butter in the morning for breakfast...

some things i am loving:

~ the canon;

~ emergence;

~ the lovemakers;

~ drug rug;

~ lightning dust;

~ sid vintage;

~ gemma redux;

~ serpentine mineralis;

~ eddie borgo;

~ and marcello, peter and steve.

xoox~jla

p.s. but you might hear the occasional tweet over the next month...

good morning.  as i write this morning, i sit at my dining room table, a steaming cappuccino to my right - the cool, mist of a breeze billowing my sheer curtains about the room as if a dancing to the music of the rainfall.  i love rainy mornings.  i love the grey that pushes it's way across the sky - an envelope of comfort - and the sound - oh the sound of rain - the incantations of the great mother as she nourishes the earth...

we have had such a lovely, cool summer and more rain than i can remember - as such, we have had a beautiful bounty of certain greens in our garden.  handfuls, potfuls - of basil.  one of my favorite things to do with basil is make pesto.  it is something we love to eat throughout the year and in so many ways... i love, love, love to mix it with mayonnaise and use it as a spread on melts and sandwiches {like the open face egg sandwich above} - add a bit more olive oil to it and toss it with pasta or roll chicken in it, then breadcrumbs and bake it - it is incredibly versatile and versatility works for me right now - so very much.

note* we prefer a very rustic pesto - feel free to use the traditional pine nuts as opposed to the walnuts if you like.

pesto:

~ 4 c. fresh basil leaves {rinsed and patted dry}

~ 1 c. raw walnuts

~ 2 cloves of garlic {if you are sensitive to garlic - adjust accordingly}

~ 1/2 t. salt

~ 1/4 t. pepper

~ 1 c. pecorino 

~ 2T. olive oil

add the basil leaves to the food processor and process until finely chopped.  add walnuts and process.  add remaining ingredients {except olive oil} and process until throughly combined.  while the processor is still running pour the olive oil through the opening in the top and continue to mix until combined.  taste and ensure the salt/pepper amount is to your liking - adjust accordingly.  do remember that if certain flavors are not coming through immediately that they will intensify as the pesto ages.  you can keep fresh pesto in an air tight container in your fridge for up to two weeks.  you can also freeze it.  i recommend doing so in serving portions - about 1/4c each - either in freezer baggies or ice cube trays.

some love to leave you with this weekend:

~ completely smitten with lindsey's new letterpress and gocco print - she discuss the inspiration here and it is available here.

~ i have been prepping my little italy images for something special; having them all in front of me again is inspiring me so much.  i have found myself drawn to black and white 1960's italian films like la dolce vita, divorce italian style, 8 1/2 and la notte - i feel as if they will have a major impact on my work over the next year.  and of course i had to have a pair of persol's...

~ jen invited me to breakfast on tuesday - it was lovely...

~ spending time with the september issue of vogue, the august issue of marie claire italia and this site...

thank you all so much for the support of my shop this summer.  the holiday shop will open mid to late october and will feature a new calendar, note cards {very likely featuring some of the most popular la dolce luce prints} and a few surprises...

we are heading back to boulder for a very quick trip this weekend {more business than pleasure i am afraid} but we will be able to stop by composition in denver and see jen11 before it closes - i am so excited - have a lovely weekend!

xoox~jla