Oh ricotta, where have you been all my life?

It's only been a month or so actually, but I was feeling its absence from my diet acutely so made a lovely pot of ricotta this morning. Comfort is gained just by looking at it. I'm also going to use it in making the gnudi tomorrow. Yesterday I came across some lovely fresh figs and am planning to make my coriander sugar-poached fig dish later today... Lats night's marvelous storm gave way to a glorious day today. I went to yoga this morning, and the boys and I just returned from a walk with Percy. They're resting in quiet time right now and both have a birthday party to attend this afternoon. A nice day all around. Hope you are having a good Saturday!

Pizza, gnudi, Charles, John & Donald

Tonight we're going to enjoy pizza, a backlog of Mad Men episodes and some Grgich Hills Zin. Just what the doctor ordered. It is pouring brickbats here- like overflowing the gutters in a major way type of pouring. I'm actually really enjoying it though I'm hoping all my emergent tomatoes don't get knocked off. Sigh. How amazing does ricotta gnudi with chanterelles and spinach sound?! Exactly! That, courtesy of Nancy Silverton and Mozza, is what we're having on Sunday after I pick up some awesome funghi at the FM.

In the meantime, how thrilled am I that Charles Taylor got 50 years? What a horrible human who does not deserve another day beyond the confines of prison. John Edwards, what a fall, what a life disgraced. Was it worth it in any way? Gross. And Donald T, you are the worst of all. Who can believe that he is still going on about Obama's birthplace. At this point I really think we're entering slander-libel territory!

Checking in on the garden

Hydrangeas are pretty nearly a perfect flower. I just adore them: they're so old-fashioned yet never date; the enormous spectrum of hues they can present is fabulous; they're lazy but not. And how cool is this spider!?