This week we had the privilege to hang out with some really amazing people. Specifically, some Carmelite Nuns that were dear friends of my late grandparents. For years my Grandfather built a Christmas Village for the nuns that he then filled with special gourmet treats that the nuns would never buy for themselves. I should probably start by saying that you are really not supposed to buy gifts for nuns but we are Italian and we take presents and food really seriously so my sly grandfather found a way around this rule. Giving food to nuns doesn't really count as a gift. So, anyway he built all of these delightful buildings out of cardboard boxes and year after year the village grew until there was a church, a library, a general store, a bookshop, a print shop etc. etc. etc. Each of these buildings was then filled with gourmet Italian delicacies. Each year he would take the village home after the holidays and repair anything that was torn or falling apart and most years he added another building to the mix. After he passed away my family agreed to keep up with the tradition and go to the monastery every year and set up the Christmas Village and fill it with treats. Unfortunately my Grandfather has been gone for two Christmases now and the whole thing is falling apart. So this year we went and spent hours and hours dismantling the whole thing, silently cursing as hot glue kept melting to our fingers and redid the whole lot. It was oddly magical and I know my Grandfather would be proud that his heathen grandchildren were keeping his traditions alive.
     I cooked almond infused scones for the nuns- that they loved. In return one very special nun Sister Michael came out with some sourdough starter that she was multiplying for her weekly bread making. She heard that I have become an obsessive sourdough maker and wanted to share her knowledge with me. Her starter was brought to San Francisco during the pioneer days and then we brought to Reno in the 1940's where she has been keeping it alive and cooking with is since. I must have been drooling a little because she ran back into the kitchen and came back with a jar for me. It was one of the best gifts I have ever been giving. I love the continuity of it. The fact that this start was important enough to people that they kept it alive for decades and now a small part of it has been entrusted to me. I have made two loaves so far (she brought me back a second jar so I could cook right away without waiting for what I had to divide) and it was maybe the best bread I have had since I left Romania.
I was a small gift but it meant the world to me.

      So, it has recently come to my attention that people are actually reading this blog. This information is shocking to me. I rather thought that this was just one of those things that you send out into the universe with no expectation that anything will come of it. To that end I promise to be more wildly entertaining from this point forward. I would also like to clarify some things while I have your new-found attention! One, this is Jen who is writing this. Aby and I just spend such a ridiculous amount of time together that we have merged into one person who sounds exactly alike. Two, all of the glass and most of the ceramic pottery pics on this site were done by me. The big, giant sculpture was done by Aby. I taught Aby how to work with clay so I feel like I probably deserve credit for anything she has done as well. (That was mostly a test to see if Aby reads my blog) Three, I am aware that there is no physical address on the website. The farm is actually a collection of plots spread out over the Forrest Grove area so you never know where we will be and I would hate for people to show up and have no one there. If you want to come visit just give us a call and we will give you the main address and we can make plans to be there. You can also come see us at the PSU Farmers Market on Saturdays or at Intel where we drop off the CSA boxes. Four, I don't actually have a four but if I think of anything I will let you know. Well, I am off to finish wrapping Christmas presents and then I am off to fix the heat lamps in the barn before the cows break them more. I never knew how curious cows were. OK here is #4- never trust a cow. They are curious. They will explore anything new in their area. They will knock over bags of anything, chew on the walls, take things out of your pockets or off your head, they will dismantle the heat lamps and play with them in the mud. Whew, its a good thing you took the time to read this so you will be forewarned the next time you are hanging out with some cows. Happy Holidays!!