butternut squash ravioli.

i made my first batch of homemade ravioli last night.

i used this recipe as inspiration.

for my pasta, i usually follow the recipe on the back of the Bob's Red Mill bag of semolina flour - substituting 3/4 cup of whole wheat flour for semolina flour.

for the filling, i simply roasted the butternut squash until tender and then mashed it with a fork and seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic pepper.

after feeding the pasta through the pasta roller, i laid one piece out, placed a few dollops of filling and then laid another piece of pasta on top, pressing the pasta down around the filling with my fingers to seal. 

i kept some square and then cut others with biscuit cutters in different sizes.

after cooking them in water, i placed a few in a skillet with melted butter and sauteed for a few minutes.

the rest i simply served with tomato sauce. 

although my raviolis were not too pretty, i found them very tasty!

we had a beautiful couple and their children over last night.

it was a lovely evening filled with lasagna, homemade bread sticks (which the little boy loved to use as a weapon), and cookie bowls!

the best part was the conversation with our new friends.

we are so thankful to have their friendship here in this little town of amelia courthouse.

my mom never fails to have an easter basket for us even though we are all above the age of ten...but i'm not complaining.

along with our easter celebration, we celebrated my brother's huge achievement at sunday lunch.

my mom's coconut cake...tasty and pretty!

spring.

a time of resurrection.

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Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stood and looked in. 

She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 

"Dear woman, why are you crying?" the angels asked her.

"Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have taken him."

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. 

"Dear woman, why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?"

She thought he was the gardener. 

"Sir," she said, "if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him."

"Mary!" Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, "Rabboni!"

origami crane garland.

i made these little cranes about three years ago for my wedding.

i didn't end up using them for the wedding but have kept them around.

the other day i decided to thread them with string to make a lovely little garland to hang in the guest room.

i think it is quite sweet!

here are step by step instructions on how to make an origami crane.

to make a garland, simply run thread through the center top of each bird with a needle until you have a nice chain of birds.

today we dyed easter eggs.

i haven't done this since i don't know when. 

the kid and the adult perfectionist came out in me all at once.

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on a rather blissful note, today my big brother found out he passed the bar.

my entire family is ecstatic!
he has been working oh so hard for this and has been quite the example of perseverance.

we are so proud of him and so excited to see what the future holds!

yesterday we revisited maymont park in richmond.

we have two little visitors staying with us while they are on spring break.

i get to play mom for a whole week!

am i ready for this??