Italian Capers

Most mornings, I tiptoe downstairs to push the button on the coffee maker. (Every evening, I prepare the grounds and water, so that in the morning, "making coffee" is an easy task.) If My Man has already had his coffee, then I splash some into a mug and warm it just enough to take the chill off. Our crazy 240 watt microwave will make the mug so hot you can't touch it, yet the coffee remains tepid. It's magical. Next, I walk over to the window, open it, and then open the large wooden shutters to see what kind of day we're going to have in this beautiful, though odorous land. Much to my surprise, one morning, I saw the neighbor's mother, Bruna sitting out on the porch. Usually she is busy tending her flowers and not just resting on the porch. She is 91 years old and looks like a well-loved stuffed animal to me. She laughs when I try to speak my "macaroni" Italian with her, but she is a good sport. She always shouts "Ciao" when she sees me. I ...

The McD's is a decent meeting point when you are caravanning on a roadtrip. Who would have guessed our clan would have been the first to arrive at the meeting point? We aren't frequent eaters of such delicacies at home, but, well, there's always the fun of having a beer with your meal....even if it is breakfast. Don't underestimate the thrill of seeing what different countries offer on their menu that we don't...but alas, here in Italy, they don't open until ten!!!! It was a week day no less. Hilariously Mc'Italian.

Thanks for the outfit- I know it's been a while. H loves it and tries to wear it all the time. As soon as it's clean, she wants to wear it again. So, here she is modelling it, and the tickle-fest that followed the photo shoot.

This post is for Aunt DeNise - I told you about my foray into interior decorating a long time ago. I wanted you to see my work : ) Slipcover- doesn't look too sloppy. I never thought I would have so much red in my house. But, in Italy, the choices are limited. So, why not add a splash of color? The curtains provide a wee bit of privacy. Our place is RIGHT on the street. Folks on the road can walk by and look into our house. I am used to that, but that doesn't mean we enjoy it. So, red curtains to go with the slipcover and the pouf. Yep, that's our armoire from our bedroom. It's hanging out in the living room because it wouldn't fit up the stairs. The pouf is that ingenious square of red you can see in the picture below. It opens to a twin size bed- well, cot really. Never mind that it collapsed and dumped its occupant on the floor. It's still ingenious. I love it. Somehow it has gotten sequestered up here in our bedroom- along with what us...

Something I am getting used to- Seeing older women in "housecoats" So many of them, here in the boonies, wear these blue-patterned dresses that button down the front. Along with the uniform, comes the old-lady scornful looks when you drive by. (I will try and get a photo.) Something I am not getting used to- The horrible horrible smells here in the country. Yesterday it smelled like a mixture of body odor and manure. It was awful- sharp, powerful, disgusting. The pungent odor settles over you like a blanket of stink. It's never the same stench two days in a row. Once, My Man almost fell off his motocicletta because the stink slapped him in the face. Mommy-o, what IS that smell???? This child has been hit by the wall of stink. I swear it wasn't me.

I guess I am still amazed by the whole ritual. And by amazed, it's just that it seems so medieval- and so unsafe. As my neighbor explained, "It's tradition." I am certain that rituals from my beloved country supply many a foreigner with these exact feelings. Maybe the first time they see the Fourth of July jubilee? That probably isn't a good example, though. Maybe a good old-fashioned pie eating contest? I haven't seen one, but I imagine that might be weird for someone not of the American heritage. Heck, my french family was surprised when we ate corn on the cob like pigs, so perhaps a simple picnic would provide shock material, who knows? I had heard there are many bonfires to mark the epiphany. Each street has their own, here in the boonies. But, the word "bonfire" doesn't seem appropriate. As per bonfire, I was thinking, you know, the kind you stand around and roast weenies and marshmallows. Not so much. It takes the men (I saw no women out th...

how lovely are your.....teddy bears! When I first set foot in this store- I thought everything looked so modern and, well, strange. They have lamps shaped like giant eggs and furniture that is turquoise and silver. This is a store where the only colors for Christmas are silver, gold, black and red. Seriously, that's it. When I first strolled around and around the circular floor plan, I remember thinking how dreadful I found the bright orange pouf with green accents. When I first took the glass elevator up to the second floor to peruse the sleek lines of the barware, I thought, how cold it all seems. Now I like it! They didn't disappoint me with their tree, either. Talk about a shift in mentation....what is going on????

an American family moved to the Italian countryside. (If you close your eyes, you can smell it.) At first, it was very difficult for this family to transition into a new lifestyle. Everything was so challenging and strange. After a while, things got better- as they usually do. Then the family started to feel more at home in their new country. The Mommy started to speak Italian and the little girl started learning Italian in school. (The little girl would throw out italian phrases to startle her Mommy and Daddy-o....for example, when they would ask, "How was your day at scuola? She would reply "Bennissimo!" as she would run into the other room.) Lots of friends and family came all the way to Italy to visit them. This made them very happy. Despite their new comfort, their capers continued. Mommy-o had a hard time finding time to keep in touch through the blog. But, then came the new year. It was a "clean slate in '08." (No Mommy-o had never been...