How long is TOO long?

Blogging Community: how long is too long to be gone from the blogging world then come back? Say it's been a year-and-a-half since one posted... it's okay to pick up there, right?

I'm going to pretend like everyone just said yes, because I want to come back! My time in Virginia is coming to an end all too quickly and this blog has covered so many great parts of the first half of our journey here. I'd like to round it out...., and then probably cry every time I look at old posts because I'M GOING TO MISS IT HERE SO MUCH!

It's impossible to cover a year-and-a-half in one post (and just sounds awful), so here are some of the highlights.

First of all, we got a puppy!

Sorry for the weird digitized eyes. I promise she's a real dog.

 This was baby Sabrina a few days after we got her from Adopt a Stray Rescue back in February.  She came from a wonderful rescue organization, and we are so thankful for all the hard work they are doing to get in-need animals into loving homes.

Now she's a big 40 lb, 6 month old, energetic, cuddly, somewhat fraidy, water-loving pup. She keeps us and Eliza on our toes, but she's the most perfect pup we could ever hope to have!

Oh, and we had another giant snow... just 16 or so inches. Noooottt something us Mississippians are very good at dealing with, and apparently neither are puppies.

Also in the last 2 years, I've gotten very involved as a member of the Junior League of Charlottesville. It's an organization of amazing women doing amazing things, and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it. (Cue my tearing up and anxiety every time I talk about leaving...)

 

 

 Most recently, we spent our last Charlottesville Easter Sunday at Christ Church and then had lunch with our law school fam (again, cue tears). These people are wonderful friends and we are all going to have children who come to UVA so we have an excuse to be back in C'ville as often as possible.  

 Some of us even already have a head start on the kids. This little angel is about to be a big sis!

 Oh yeah, and I made this roast. Pears, rosemary, cipollini onions, oh yes. Happy Belated Easter!
 

And speaking of sisters and babies... MY LITTLE SISTER IS HAVING A BABY! I'm still a little in shock, but could not be more excited for her and her hubs, and guess what that means?! I get to be an Aunt! I seriously cannot wait to spoil that child.

So there's the very quick, very abbreviated summary of what this blog has missed. Even if all family, friends, and readers are lost to the rest of cyberspace, I'm excited to be back documenting our last days in Thomas Jefferson's great city.

XO,
Dianna

Seasonal Decorating

 

Well despite the fact that the forecasted high for today is 79 degrees, fall really is in full swing here in Virginia. We're having a strange dose of Indian summer this week, but the weather channel is promising that next week our temperatures will match the yellow, orange, and red that has taken over this area of the country. The Davis household, too, has taken on all the great autumnal hues of the season with mums, pumpkins, wreaths, and some pretty framed paper telling us exactly what time of year it is adorning our faux-mantel (faux, because it is actually the shelf that houses our speakers, but those aren't very pretty so I cover them up despite my husband's contention).



The letters were really easy and minimally time consuming to make. I started out with a few sheets of pretty paper measuring 12x12. Some came from my craft closet and the rest I bought from the single sheet bins at Michaels. (Be sure to use a coupon if you go; they ALWAYS have them available online!)

 

 

I cut the sheets down to 8x10 and 5x7 squares to fit my frames. This takes a little planning to make sure you get your paper in the order you want.

I also picked up some stencils from Michaels while I was there. I loved the font for these, but there are so many possibilities of how you could do this! If only I was artsy and could free hand... *sigh*

Use high gloss craft paint in a dark color to get the letters to stand out from the background. Mine is of course Martha Stewart.

 

The next step is pretty self-explanatory. Paint in the stencils and don't worry if your lines aren't exact. I think the homemade look adds charm to these little guys.

 

Annnd... VOILA! Frame them up and display!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I cannot get enough of this time of year. I think decorating our little apartment is just my way of trying to bring some of the beauty out there, in here. Have you ever stopped to think about how strange and magnificent it is that the earth is at its most colorful right before it becomes the most bleak? God crafted the seasons to take us from the radiant heat of summer into a bold and crisp fall that transforms the earth into fiery color just before everything dies and becomes dismal and barren; and then from the nothingness He brings new life in spring with some of the sweetest shades imaginable. Who else could have thought to order life this way? Who else could have known how to precisely purpose the world like this? Only one; and to Him I am in awe.

I hope you're getting a chance to take in this beauty in like I am! With any luck Joe and I will be out and about in it again soon.. I think there may be some apple picking in our future!

Love,
DD

Linking up this project here:

 

Mardi Gras King Cake

Recently, I took on the task of making a from-scratch King Cake to celebrate Mardi Gras.  This would have been the first pre-Lenten season without one, and just because my proximity to New Orleans and the splendid Gulf Coast has changed does not mean traditions have to. It was quite an undertaking, but I’m admittedly proud of the result!

One popular way to decorate is with colored sugar crystals. You can buy them at some grocery stores and baking shops or make your own like I did! Just make sure you give the sugar ample time to dry before putting it on your cake... and, yes, unless you want your hands to be multi colored you should wear gloves.

The Sugar:

• Granulated Sugar
• Food Coloring

I just started with 1/4 cup of sugar in a bowl and added drops of food coloring.  Mixing with your hands, is the best way I know to combine and spread out the color evenly. Just keep adding sugar or coloring until you reach your desired color.  Spread sugar on a flat surface to dry (Could take a few hours)

The Pastry:

•   1/2 cup milk
• 1/8 cup butter
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup white sugar
•  2 egg
• 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

 

In a small pot, scald the milk then remove it from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of butter. Wait a few minutes to allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water with 1 tablespoon of the white sugar. Let the mixture stand until it becomes creamy, which will take about 10 minutes. When yeast mixture is bubbling, add the cooled milk mixture. 
Next, whisk in the eggs and stir in the remaining white sugar, salt and nutmeg. If you have a stand mixer you can transfer the mixture to your stand bowl then beat the flour into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time. 
When the dough comes together, either use your dough hook attachment to need the dough or pour it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic... this will make for a good arm workout as you knead for 8-10 minutes. 
Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume. This will take at least 2 hours but you can also let it sit overnight.
After the dough finishes rising give it a good punch!

The Filling:

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Before making the delicious filling grease or line the cookie sheet with parchment. Now, combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, flour and raisins. Pour the melted butter over the cinnamon mixture and mix until crumbly.... try not to eat it all.. I know it will be hard but save some for the cake!
Now, roll the dough into a large rectangle (approximately 10x16 inches or so). Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough and roll it up tightly like a jelly roll, beginning at the wide side. Bring the ends of each roll together to form an oval shaped ring. Place the ring on a prepared cookie sheet. Then, with scissors, make cuts 1/3 of the way through the ring at 1 inch intervals. Now to wait again...let the dough ring rise in a warm spot until doubled in size which will take about 45 minutes. Don't forgot to preheat your oven while the dough is rising!

Had lots of fun trying to wrangle the filled dough into this guy... but I think he's looking pretty yummy, even pre-oven!  

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or less (I baked mine the full 30 and it could have done to get it out a little sooner). Push the doll into the bottom of the cake. Frost while warm and pour on colored sugar crystals over the cake.  I added my colored sugar in sets of 3's, but decorate however you deem festive! Beads, masks, just go crazy... It's Mardi Gras!

The Frosting:

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon water

Hope I got your taste buds tingling!

Laisser les bons temps rouler!
DD