Dorothy Jorgensen Wallin

If I could only be half the person she was....

Don't ever mistake
Silence for ignorance,
Calmness for acceptance,
Kindness for weakness.

 

Dorothy Jorgensen Wallin-Display from courtney wallin on Vimeo.

Summer Revisited

I've been waiting for a rainy day to put this together... 

Today was perfect.

And, for better or worse, I now have closure on summer.

2014 Summer from courtney wallin on Vimeo.

100 years

One hundred years ago today an amazing man entered the world. He was fun and loud and bossy and passionate and generous. The ideal Italian. He has been gone a long time, but his legacy lives on. I see him in the eyes of my little girl. She has his eyes, and his sweet wife's namesake.

He was so proud of his Valentine's Day birth day. I spent Valentine's Day at his house each year with my cousins celebrating him. As I baked cookies yesterday in his honor, I decided I needed to do something more. I wanted to share a little piece of him. So, I compiled old photos that I have of him. 

Lewis Bleggi 100 years from courtney wallin on Vimeo.

Also, when I was in junior high, I interviewed him. Some of my questions are silly. My very favorite part of the interview is at the very end when he says my name. I can still hear him calling for me in his boisterous voice, "Oh Courtney." I only wish I would have known him more.

Lewis Bleggi Interview circa 1989 from courtney wallin on Vimeo.
(Be patient with this. The sound will begin 30 seconds after you press play.)

Happy Birthday Grandpa Louie. Hope you are enjoying a fun celebration with all those you love. I love you. Till we meet again.

Wow, wow, wow!

We said "I do" 15 years ago. I know it's cliche, but it feels like yesterday. Wow!

We headed to the mountains to celebrate. I pedaled to what felt like above the clouds. Wow!

We were then pampered at Stein Eriksen Lodge. Wow!

Girl Scout Cupcakes

Find out how to make these yummy little morsels here.

just another ordinary miracle today

I was delighted when a dear friend of mine invited me to photograph the surprise arrival of her husband following a 6 month deployment. Wow! What a moving experience. I am so happy for this family to be reunited with one another after such a long time. Their happiness is contagious. I've been smiling all day. I hope this puts a smile on your face too. :)

Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are our favorite "egg free" cookies. I have even (successfully) substituted half whole wheat pastry flour into these. ;) Don't over cook these tasty morsels. Error on the side of chewy.

1 ¼ cup flour

½ tsp baking soda

pinch Salt

¼ cup butter, softened

¼ cup sugar

½ cup honey

1 cup chocolate chips (or a mixture of pb chips, m&ms, reese’s pieces, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix dry stuff (flour, baking soda and salt) together in a big measuring cup or a small bowl. 

In a medium bowl, blend butter, sugar and honey together with a rubber spatula or a mixer on low speed.

Mix in dry ingredients. Add chips and mix until everything is all creamed together.

Use a couple of soup spoons or tablespoons to drop blobs of dough onto a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper.