making merry

That night we served Thai...umm, they loved it. While we weren't able to pull together a meal (the shame!) we did have the stage ready for the kiddos, and they did not disappoint us: one sax solo, one trumpet solo, one sax and trumpet duet, one kid well-rehearsed with two piano pieces, one with one not-so-well rehearsed piece, and three vocal performances, to include one with original lyrics. Oh, and, one very talented guitar player pulling it all together.

It's about the people, you know.
Of course you know! What was I thinking?

When do you think these children will outgrow this little tradition, the one where they are forced willingly provide entertainment for the parents and distinguished guests (bald guy on the couch) at the annual Christmas party? The oldest of the bunch is fourteen.

------------
Lyrics... created by our exceptional children from Lake Wobegon

I broke a bat on Mark's head,
Somebody snitched on me.
I put a snake in Debra's bed,
Somebody snitched on me.
I broke the screen on Connor's phone,
Spoke to Mom "in that tone,"
Tried to steal Baccio's bone.
Somebody snitched on me.

I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas.....

I broke the spoke on Adam's bike,
Somebody snitched on me.
Cheryl fed me, I said "No like!"
Somebody snitched on me.
I broke the reed on Lucas' sax,
Stole the candy, blamed it on Max,
Somebody snitched on me.

I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas
Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

10

1. I really want to be a more frequent blogger.
2. My daughter has taken a step into the realm of community theater.
3. Which means we have all taken a step into community theater.
4. Community theater is great fun and fosters many positive things.
5. It also requires a huge commitment of time for performers.
6. And their parents.
7. My daughter's parents don't function well without a good daily schedule.
8. We have somehow maintained all of our other commitments as well as some out-of-the-ordinary social outings during all of this.
9. Last night we hosted our annual Christmas party where we usually proudly serve our guests chicken and andouille (direct from Louisiana) gumbo -- it's a tradition our guests have come to expect.
10. We ordered Thai, instead.

corner view

corner view :: one color

O R A N G E

If Thanksgiving had one color, for me it would be orange. In honor of our favorite, commercial-free, family, friends, food, and, eh, football, holiday filled with gratitude, I'm posting images from my archive of that one color, orange.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Corner View is a weekly appointment shared by people around the globe, an appointment started in the spring of 2009 by Jane in Spain and currently hosted by Francesca over at Fuori Borgo. We welcome you to join us.

corner view

corner view :: tradition

Even when the days get short and the free time is elusive, we make this tradition happen.  This is the first year that Young One carved the entire face entirely unassisted. Hooray for that...because as far as American traditions go, pumpkin carving is not among my favorite.

I've seen the Halloween tradition become more and more popular in my corner of Italy over the years. Imagine...the PTA members at Young One's school are meeting several mornings this week in order to carve pumpkins to sell to students as a fundraiser.  Last year, one of the mothers of a classmate of Young One's sent us all anti-Halloween literature via email...it's the devil's holiday.  I just do what any smart person would do...lay low and pass out lots of sweet treats! It's not exactly an issue for which I'm willing to take a stand.

For additional info on the history of Halloween,including some lovely short videos and the infographic below, you should visit History.com.  And you can decide for yourself whether it's the devil's holiday.

Image Source

Corner View is a weekly appointment shared by people around the globe, an appointment started in the spring of 2009 by Jane in Spain and currently hosted by Francesca over at Fuori Borgo. We welcome you to join us.

throwback halloween

We generally have a good time with this beloved American holiday. Here's a quick look at Young One over the years as I have a feeling this era of childhood is drawing to a close for her.

She was the third girl child in the family to wear this sweet Snow White dress.

This Jo Jo costume is still hanging in her closet.

This was our first DIY costume...Frog Princess.

Who doesn't love Jessie?

And this was the first year we went to the dark side of Halloween.

I think this is a vampiress.

This was the year that we finally let her watch one of those pirate movies.

Isn't this the best mummy? It was A LOT of fun for us to create together.

And this year we present to you, Zombie Prom Queen. She has just eaten this year's most likely prom queen candidate, thus the blood-stained lips.

Dress and shoes are from our local thrift shop, and we are not quite finished with the prom queen sash, a project that involves glitter.  I am utterly surprised with how well she does with the sparkly silver heels, almost as surprised as with the fact that someone wore them in real life.

Happy Haunting!

December Daily | 19, 21

Run, Santa, Run

We suited up with friends for a charity fun run in Vicenza centro this morning. There was lots of holiday cheer! 

I'm thinking of using the photo of the three of us (not included here) as the cover of the book.

This was a rather slow day, so I used a bit of Young One's artwork to fill the page...and, no, she did not create it on this day. And really, who cares? Can you dig her rockin' Santa? I love this kid.

Four more days left to this project...and a book cover, which could take me six months to decide upon!

December Daily 17

December Daily | 16

December Daily | 13-15

The Weekend.

I hope to add a second page for December 15 that includes snapshots of the party we hosted Sunday, especially the kids performing in the musical review. Saturday Richard brought in mics and speakers and other little elements of technology that I don't understand to prep for the show. Like old times for him. I think he kind of liked it.

I'm struggling with the privacy issues again. Nothing has ever happened, ever. But these aren't all my kids. Trust me, there are big bright smiles behind those turquoise ovals.

See you here soon, I hope.
We have an incredibly busy week ahead with a dance show, a school recital, a 50th birthday celebration, some baking, an arts and crafts play date, and, weather permitting, a Santa run! And this is all before Sunday. It just wears me out thinking about it. There is no place like home.

And, oh, that Prosecco & Chambord cocktail is a perfect holiday treat. Try it!

December Daily | 12

December Daily | 9-11

Some thoughts:

:: The December Daily project originates with Ali Edwards, a graphic designer I've followed online for some time now.

:: With this project I obviously have issues with keeping the design elements closely related from page-to page. I am OKAY with that. I think. I hope. NO! I am.

:: I am clearly struggling with fonts! Not so clear? Maybe it's just an internal conflict. I'll have to revisit font choices when I'm done.

:: I'm creating most of this content, but I did purchase the December date stamp brush and a couple of other related elements for Photoshop here.

:: Everything I know about Photoshop I have learned from talented teenagers.

:: I took the photo of the sunrise on my way to work on December 10th, not 11th. Goodness, I couldn't play by rules that don't allow this. I actually pulled over and got out of the car with my DSLR and my iPhone. Wouldn't you have?  It's coupled with the song Young One and Richard have been rehearsing over and over for this year's family Christmas show. Have you heard the Barenaked Ladies version of this song? Festive!

December Daily | 6-8

Feeling better about this. Getting better at this.
Happy that I am doing this. Happy that I'm recording my thoughts every single day.
Hoping that I can keep up with the pace.
Realizing that I need some new fonts.
Planning to pull out my Bamboo tablet soon.
Exploring printing options for my completed project.

Have a great week, my friends.
D

December Daily

Moving forward, even in the dark. For some odd reason, this whole thing feels kind of cheeky. I wonder why that might be. Or maybe sharing with you is what makes it so. IDK. I do know that each time I see a December Daily project online I think: I totally need to be a part of this.

So. Here I am. Being a part of this project. Cutting my digital scrapping teeth this December 2013. I think my style is a bit more simple than I am allowing myself to be here. I am moving forward with it, nonetheless. I am not yet certain on what I will do with those square .jpg files!


AND!

YES. We are over the moon happy with the subject of December 5 :) I included thirteen different Italian cities in the the booklet, from Venice to Florence to Pompeii to Pisa. It's tucked in a folder in their Christmas box that will be on its way to Louisiana tomorrow. Some little Cajun cousins will be in Bella Italia in June!

yep. it's 31 october.

Yep. We made that.

Yep. We are feeling pretty good about that.

Happy Halloween, my friends.

corner view

corner view :: all the little things

This weekend some friends, Italian and American, gathered together at our home for pumpkin carving and brunch. My girl, who is now 9, was handed the knife to use on her own for the first time this year. In the past we've simply carved her designs.

I wasn't entirely convinced that she was ready for the knife but she insisted, loudly, sincerely, and I gave in to her requests. It's not always easy, this sense of knowing the exact time to take a leap forward with freedoms and responsibilities. And knives.

While most of the children in our social circles are quite a bit older, there is one new little girl on the scene. Goodness, is she sweet. Her dad cut the top of the pumpkin and then allowed her to play in the cavity a bit, taking in the textures and smells of the pumpkin guts.

As I reviewed the photos from the day, the contrast between the baby and the 4th grader struck me and gave me pause to reflect on "all the little things" in lives of little people between those two ages...a collection of which leads to 4th graders with knives in hand, and eventually to first dates and graduations and weddings and...

"All the little things" matter more than any of the big things by providing the bridges from one big event to the next. Don't they? I'm trying to keep that focus.

(At least that's what I think about it today as I ramble.)

LifeIsGood.

Corner View is a weekly appointment shared by people around the globe, an appointment started in the spring of 2009 by Jane in Spain and currently hosted by Francesca over at Fuori Borgo. We welcome you to join us.

TBF: throw back Friday

I know it's supposed to be TBT, but...I'm not much of a trend follower...or setter, for that matter, so I bring you TBF:

Here's Lil' Bit, back in 2007; she is currently cooking up plans to be a "scary zombie mummy" this Halloween. We've even made a stop at the thrift store to gather supplies that will enable us to craft a costume together.

It requires the use of my sewing machine.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.

That JoJo costume still hangs in her closet; I can't bare to part with it. Sigh. I'm a sucker for cute and especially for cute Halloween. Not so much for "scary zombie mummy." Let's just hope the sewing machine doesn't transform me into "scary zombie mOmmy."

Have a great weekend!
xo
D

today in the paese

Even with the beautiful spring-like weather, the paese is pretty empty today. Okay, I think that perhaps Young One and I are the only ones here, celebrating the important holiday the way foreigners are wont to do... all wrong. We should be baking at the seaside or trekking high in some mountain valley, alas, my husband is at work, yes, WORK! today. The kiddo and I declined requests to join friends at the seaside and settled on a trek through our Colli Berici  this morning. We have tentative plans that include him this evening.

And from the streets of the paese...not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Yep. I live here.
Yep. I know how lucky I am.
Yep. I made {mostly} good choices when I was a young person to facilitate my good fortune.
Yep. I believe in that. I also wish everyone had the same opportunities life has given me.

Buon Ferragosoto!

PS. Can you believe these photos are from my iPhone? I love that thing.

corner view

corner view :: Easter

We spent Easter weekend as guests of friends in the hill town of Introdacqua in the Abruzzo region of Italy, where we were able to participate in some of the religious festivities of Holy Week, most notably a tradition that began in the 1800's:  La Madonna Che Vèle (che Vola).

Following mass on Sunday, a statue of the resurrected Christ is first led up the street full of the faithful, until he reaches the piazza where he awaits patiently. (Ironically, he's poised just near one of the only bars in town. I'm not convinced it's completely by chance. Caffe' anyone?)  Soon afterwards, La Madonna appears at the bottom of the same street, dressed in black (missed that picture) and soon begins to make her way up the street.

When she sees Christ, her black robe of mourning is quickly shed and she is joyfully hurried up the street on the backs of four chosen men amid the cheers of the crowd until she reaches the piazza where she is united with Him.  She is so quick that she appears to be flying, hence the name "The Madonna Who Flies."

The emotion was tangible.

Afterwards a (much slower) procession of both statues, led by the parish priest, along with the gathered faithful winds through the streets of the village, complete with recitation of prayers together.

...............

And then it was time for Easter lunch! Oh, the lamb!

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