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.

weekend [-ing]

Hello, November. Nice to see you once again.

First fire, first chestnuts.

Hope your weekend was lovely and slow, too.
xoxo
d

a bit of photography magic

"It looks like I am looking at God and He is smiling sunshine." - Young One, age 9

Upon first seeing our gallery of photos from a recent photo session, a good friend of mine said, "You all sure do clean up nicely."

Well, I guess we do.

But I have to tell you...this magic was created by the amazingly talented partnership of Susanna and Joe. You can check out their work here.

I've wanted professional family portraits for a while...okay...nine years! And I finally took the occasion of Young One's upcoming First Communion to schedule a session. While I wanted the focus on her, I am pleased that Richard and I cleaned up a bit and joined in the session.

These were taken in our "back yard" and in a neighboring village. Can you believe the perfect timing of the cherry blossoms? We totally lucked out with an early bloom. And those steps? Goodness. Those steps make me unnaturally happy. And the best part? This is our home. It's the best place to make a family picture.

I cannot recommend this team of Susanna Avery-Lynch and Joe Lynch enough. Funny, kind, respectful, smart...true professionals who work smoothly as a team, before, after, and during the shoot. The prints are perfect, too.

currently

I've been fairly absent from here as of late, but have no fear, I haven't given up on this whole blogging thing. We've just been running quite a bit lately, and when we aren't running I haven't felt very inspired to share much here. Early this morning I had my big camera out in preparation for a morning at the baseball field when I saw this happening.

That, my friends, was the little spark of inspiration that I needed . . . from the cat, no less! #luigithewondercat

Have a great weekend! I'm off to the post office and then to meet a dear friend for a spritz. I hope you have at least one spritz in your weekend.

D

and we're done, just as we start again

go, Baby Girl, go

We are done with the snow-covered mountains of Folgaria until next winter. Young One completed the season with a noncompetitive "race" Sunday, and we said our farewells to the good people at Scie di Passione.

And now that we will be spending more time at home...we have a long list of fun and exciting things planned:

1. Prepare the garden.
2. Pressure wash the patio.
3. Stop ignoring the dust.
4. Remove the snow tires.
5. Attack the spider webs.
6. Clean out the fireplace.
7. Rearrange the closets for spring.
8. Wash and store the snow gear.
9. Put away the winter bedding.
10. Tune up the bicycles.
Okay. I'll stop there as this could be the list that never ends...

But most importantly...
11. Open the grill!

 How is your week shaping up?

Our Reading Log

It seems to be a common theme among blogs I read, occasional posts about "what we're reading." Since I'm a bit of a follower...I offer you our list:

Read-Aloud Chapter Books with Young One
Last Read:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum

Currently Reading:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Young One loves this book and even asked me to read a bit as she got dressed this morning, but we are both having a hard time keeping up with all of the characters who come in and out of the story. This might not be the best bedtime read-aloud choice.

Next Up:
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Big fans of DiCamillo, we are fighting over who will read this one to her.

My List
Last Read:
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Everyone should read this book. It's quick, but it will fill your heart. Just do it.

Currently Reading:
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink (book club)
Desperate times. I don't know that Fink does a good enough job of describing the desperation of the Hurricane Katrina. I don't know that she is supposed to...stick to the facts, journalist ma'am. But really...life is not so easy, so black and white...as was proven by the medical professionals and patients at Memorial. I don't know how much I like this award-winning journalist Fink.

Teach Your Children Well by Madeline Levine
Can I tell you I rushed to the library to find Levine's book after hearing this interview on the radio? I haven't gotten very far into the book yet, but she sure did validate of my beliefs about parenting  in the brief radio interview. Validation is good.

Next Up:
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (book club)
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
One Dead in Attic by Chris Rose
I plan to reread this personal account of the first four months following Katrina written by local journalist Chris Rose; you should find time to read it, too.

Richard's List
Last Read:
Thank You for Your Service by David Finkel
Everyone should read this book that explores the untold effects of PTSD.

The Venus Fixers: the Remarkable Story of the Allied Soldiers Who Saved Italy's Art During WWII by Illaria Dagnini Brey

Currently Reading:
Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home by James Carville and Mary Matalin
He loves Carville and now I think he loves Matalin, too. This one is on my list.

Next Up:
I have no idea.

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

Have we connected on Goodreads yet?

weekend [-ing]

:: Prepping for Saturday Night Dinner ::

:: Alpini Sighting on Sunday ::

:: Me & My Girl ::

:: Bathroom Light  :: (Yes! Ms. L. We both have that little tower in the same room. Great minds, great minds.)

:: Persimmons at the Market ::

:: Bliss for Luigi ::

 :: Love is patient. ::

:: Camisano Market Crowd ::

:: A Christmas Surprise in the Works ::

:: We CAN handle this market that she drug us to this morning. ::

I hope you had a lovely weekend, too. I am feeling pretty grateful as I compose this post this evening, for our commitment to each other and for our connections to others. We spent most of the week in the company of others, friends old and new, and it just felt good and right. We'll do the same this weekend as we celebrate Richard's favorite holiday. I hope this feeling can last throughout the remainder of this holiday season.
xoxo
D

weekend [-ing]

The weekend was filled with good times with good people, including a senior photo shoot with the youngest daughter of a friend and a fortieth anniversary party for a couple who found true love all those years ago when the wife was a senior in that very same high school.

We welcomed fall with cooler temperatures, rain, minestrone, ciclamini in the flower pots, and smoke billowing from chimneys. When the rains finally stopped the air was clean and crisp and free of the smog that normally blankets this area. I love the rains for this reason.

And how can you not love that fall bouquet I found at my local flower shop?

And the bonus to this weekend...a holiday tomorrow :)

Hope your weekend was lovely as well.
D

on being free

Around this time of year we are generally bombarded with commitments to others, both social and professional. Actually, it continues throughout the year, and in some cases our entire weekends are booked months in advance. These are not necessarily commitments related to Young One's activities. {Sigh.} It's difficult to refuse invitations to explore or to be with others, but we are doing it. Yes, we are. We are committed, together, to reclaim and protect our free time. I hope our gaggle of extroverted friends understands.

Neither of us would ever shirk from professional responsibilities, but those lines are often blurred for us, making this even more complicated at times.

Being free, without obligations, does not mean being available to others. That's a new concept for us.

Right now our absolute favorite place to be is our front patio, and while we enjoy the company of others in that place, we are just as content with just the two of us. Hello. We each like to be out there alone, as well, reclining in our spiffy new French chair, my back-to-school gift to myself this year.

We need downtime to be able to be our best selves.

........

If you are passing through the paese and see us out there, please accept our invitation to stop by for a drink. We'd love to see you. We do enjoy your company. We likely can feed you. We even have enough bug spray for everyone. Just understand that when we aren't up for that outing with all those people...that it has absolutely nothing to do with you. We are introverted homebodies who have been masquerading as social extroverts. This gig is up.

#protectingourfreetime

the waw-waw, part 2

The next day I picked up Young One and her friend AC from summer camp and since it was Friday we made a stop for gelato before heading home. You know, to celebrate the end of a great week at centro estivo. These kids are STILL on summer break!

A favorite topic of conversation for them is "when we were little," and this day the conversation drifted to birth stories. Young One was delivered by emergency Caesarean section and that girl loves the drama associated with her entry into this big beautiful world. She especially loves to hear the story from Richard, again and again and again. He's a great storyteller.

She's retelling the part about her mamma's belly being cut open by the doctor when she turns to me and asks with great sincerity, "So I know Daddy was there with you and that you were scared, Mamma. Is this when he had to take off his underwear, and, you know?" It was accompanied by hip gyrating motion. The gelato was being devoured the entire time: two scoops, in a cone, stracciatella & pistachio.

 

I suppose Sara wasn't clear about the timing of the entrance of the waw-waw.

I ordered some books.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Block Party in the Paese

Each year a few people in the "old" section of the paese, not to be confused with the "new" section or the people not on the hill, organize a block party. With our summer schedule, we usually miss it. Not this year. We three were there in the company of 137 of our neighbors.

I remember the only other time I attended, the summer we first moved into the paese: I felt extremely uncomfortable and completely out of place. No one cared to chat with us; we stuck closely to the other expat family in the hood. The evening went on and on and on.

I've been happy to be able to avoid the festa since then.

Can you spot Richard?

But I have to tell you, we have officially turned a corner here in the paese, folks. We know people, they know us. Locals are not afraid of us. They know that we are not leaving. They know we are good people. We are, indeed, good people.

Last night several strangers approached us to introduce themselves. Many mentioned the volunteering that Richard did at the local sagra in May. Just as that would leave an impression in the States, it did here. I also met a journalist from the Giornale di Vicenza who lives here who quickly connected me with a local photography group.

Did you see Young One?

There was a light dinner that was put together by the organizers. Lots of wine. Deserts that everyone contributed. Recognition of the oldest, youngest, and newest residents. A few raffles. And a DJ. And a lot of happy people, young and old, dancing the night away. The piazzetta in the paese was rockin'.

And we were completely a part of it.

Five years...that's how long we've been here. We've come a long way.

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

PS. The photos and videos were taken with my iPhone 5. I love that little thing.

Posted with Blogsy

Louisiana Summer

 

Life.Is.Good.

 

........

I'm using the Snapseed app for editing images from my DSLR on my iPad. Lovin' it. I'm also using the Blogsy app and am having a good experience with that, too.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Corner View

Corner View :: Five Things about Me (Right Now)

1. I picked up my husband from Louis Armstrong International Airport late last night after a week apart.

2. The longer we are together, the more I miss him when we are separated.

3. I believe separation is good for us...in small doses.

 

My Dad & His Siblings / 1951

 

4. This weekend we are separating from everyone else in the family to spend two nights, just the two of us, in New Orleans. This is equally good for us.

5. We will celebrate our ninth year of "wedded bliss" Saturday. We were married by an officious Italian man in a small government building in Pozzuoli in a translated ceremony. We are still not sure if that was entirely legal, but we do have a certificate with a stamp. Neither of us believes much in those official documents, anyway, especially for things like love and marriage.

....

For more corner views or to link up with us, visit Francesca.

 

Posted with Blogsy