Italy - Part 3 - Capri

 

Marc and I spent the day in Capri. Just the two of us. Gorgeous! Definitely want to go back again.

Ciao all.

Some scrapping...

Started scrapping some pics from Italy for Bella this weekend. So many more to go... I am wondering if I should do an entire album just dedicated to Italy, or just a few pics here and there for the kids' albums. Don't know yet. Haven't figured it out. Ethan's pages are on the go now. But I am not feeling very creative anymore. My mama had a stroke on the weekend. Very scary. Her heart meds are not working properly, to make a long story short. The miracle is that there was no further damage done to her already weak and fragile heart, and there were no residual clots in the CT scan. All very good. So please keep my mama in your prayers. Hopefully her medical team (and she does have a team) will figure out what she needs quickly and she can come home. We need her.

Ciao all.

Fall Creativity...

I love searching the net.
I love all the crafty/creative people out there.
I love how they willingly post their creations and the directions (shown above).
Found this one on Shanty 2 Chic (posted from another site - name I cannot remember).
1 landscape tie - some paint - some twigs - some raffia. That's all.
This will be my new project this week.
I love Fall.

Ciao all.

Fall...

It is officially Fall. My most favourite season of them all! Why you ask?! Here are a few reasons:

1. It is time for tights and boots and cable knit sweaters and jeans and wool pants! Time for putting away the light colours and bringing out the dark colours! It is time for scarves - the BEST fashion accessory you can ever own!! LOVE Fall clothing.

2. It is also time to switch to more in house activities - like reading good books curled by the fire and baking muffins and quick breads and cooking hearty soups and stews. LOVE Fall cooking.

3. And finally it is time to redecorate. I put away all the little things in my house that are summery and I bring out the Fall basics - the big vases and heavier photo frames and the candles. I put away the pretty silk pillows and bring out the comfy knit pillows. I put away the light comforters and pull out the goose down ones. Each September my house looks brand new. LOVE Fall decorating.

So hopefully you are as happy to see Fall come as I am. If not, too bad. hee hee I am ecstatic enough for all of you!

Ciao all.

My Bella-ism for the day...

Bella lost another tooth last night. She put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy came and left her a quarter for the tooth. Bella's response:

"Hmmm... She gave me 25 cents. You know, she could have given me some more. I had to do some work and pull my own tooth. I think the tooth fairy owes me more money".

Ha ha haaaa

Only my child would write a letter of complaint to the tooth fairy.

She slays me.

Ciao

Italy - Part 2 - Campobasso

 

Just some images from around the big "city" of Campobasso. Taken while shopping one afternoon. Enjoy.

Ciao

Italy - Part 1 - Life on the vineyard and farm

 

I have so many photos - I thought it would be easier to just upload a few mosaics I have created of different aspects of our trip. So this is the first one. Everyday life on the vineyard and farm. Campobasso, Molise is our home. These pics are just photos of the vineyard, the farm house, fig trees, apple trees, the property that is ours, etc. etc. Ethan and Bella were the happiest when they were allowed to roam the farm and just be.

Ciao all.

Home...

I don't know how our vacation passed in the blink of an eye... I am grateful to be home safely, but I am not happy to be home. I hate having my family so far away from me. And now there is a hole in my heart... I miss them. More than words can do justice. I have mentioned this before - Canada is where I live, but it is not my "home". Italy is my home - and more to the point, Campobasso. And this trip confirmed that we won't live our lives solely in Canada. We will own a home in Italy and travel back and forth.

The picture posted above is the reason why we went to Italy. This is my grandfather Carmine. My ONLY grandparent I have left alive. And yes, I was named after him (although my mom insists I was named after the opera Carmen. No. I wasn't. I am the first born of the first born. Naturally, I got my grandfather's name!) Nonno Carmine is amazing. He is gentle and loving and generous. He still works hard (back breaking manual labour) each and every day. He runs a vineyard and a farmhouse on his own. His house is over 200 years old! I don't know how he copes, and yet he does, with ease and grace. It is amazing to watch him in the fields or working with the vines and the grapes. And my children ADORE him! Each and every day they walked down to see bis-Nonno and have fru-frus (wafers) and aranciata (orange drink) with him. He is 84 years old. I am praying that he has many years left in him so that we can see each other again in two years when we return.

Since I last wrote:

1. We traveled up north to Imola and Bologna. Bologna is an amazing city. We walked its streets and soaked in the history. Bologna, like Venice, is built on canals. It is fascinating to walk the dark alleys and peer over the bridges and see these waterways beneath you. We went to the University of Bologna (the oldest in Europe) and walked the campus. We toured the Church of the Seven Churches and marveled at medieval works of art. We shopped. Bologna has GREAT shopping!! And we nearly sweltered to death - it was 42 degrees!

2. From Bologna we went to San Marino. Very nice. Very high up. Very ritzy. Google San Marino and you will see what I mean. While it was impressive, I really have no desire to go back there again.

3. Marc and I went on a day trip to Capri. Amazing. I don't know what to say. It is an island that you have to experience for yourself. The history is mind boggling. The Emperor Tiberius found the island and built 12 villas on it for his summer residence and so began the popularity of Capri. It is gorgeous and expensive and so Mediterranean. The depth and degree of blue of the waters is captivating. Immediately you understand why the Hollywood stars like to holiday in Capri. Oh, and save your Euros - Capri sandals are the best in the world, but they will cost you! As will shopping in Prada, Fendi, Ferragamo, Rolex, etc. etc. hee hee

4. Rome. Where do I begin?? In one day I walked in the shadows of the great Colosseum; I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain; I climbed the Spanish Steps; I tested my faith in La Bocca della Verita; I marveled at the beauty and the sheer opulence of the Vatican; I walked in the Piazza Poppolo and Piazza Navonna; I saw Trajan's column; I saw the Pantheon; I shopped in Fendi, Prada, Burberry, Gucci - and caused us to miss our bus back home (oops!!) ... I love Rome. It is the most beautiful city in the world.

5. I got to travel around some more to all the little medieval towns that surround Campobasso. These towns are all 600+ years old. We saw a town that was built out of a rock that juts out from a mountain - a rock that rises 500 meters into the sky! Crazy! And so amazing.

6. I found a new flavour of gelato that surpasses all others - Marscapone! Yup. So creamy and rich. Just like eating a cheesecake. Ohhh... My mouth is watering. I am going to cry. I miss it.

7. I spent every moment I could with my family - anyone who would have me! I visited and looked at wedding albums and photo albums and listened to stories of my dad when he was a baby/child. I went to the cemetery to visit my grandmother who died when I was only 6 years old and my great-grandparents (who I had the privilege of meeting on my first trip to Italy when I was 10 years old). I met with great aunts and uncles and second cousins. Seriously anyone who would allow me to come and see them! And I loved each and every moment.

8. I watched my children be farmers - feed pigs; chickens; turkeys; dogs; cats; pick tomatoes; drive tractors; kill chickens for dinner; chase lizards; find scorpions; run in the fields; pick figs; apples; plums; get dirty; get hot; and love each and every minute of it all.

9. I ate food that could make you cry. Home made pastas; pizzas; pastries; prosciutto; boconccini; watermelons sweeter than I have ever tasted; gelato and more gelato... Go to Itlay to eat. GO!!

Eventually I will get pictures up. Eventually.

Hope y'all had a good summer.

Back to life.

Ciao.