Luck

Wishing you a little taste of Lady Luck...
may she shine on us continuously throughout 2010!
Happy New Year...Felice Anno Nuovo!

Natale

Auguri di Buon Natale...Merry Christmas...and all good things to you from me!

Neve

This morning we awoke to a silence so beautiful...

is it just me, or is anyone else secretly dreaming of a white Christmas?

Beginning

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here...despite the threat of rain and even snow. Each little village "paese" has their own way of displaying their joy. This is the quaint citta of Asciano in the province of Siena. We stole away last week and took a little side trip where we had the most wonderfully lazy lunch in a small trattoria...followed by a warm hot chocolate Italian style...imagine a cup of melted chocolate that you almost want to eat with a spoon, and do. I hope that you all are enjoying the holiday season...and taking a little time for yourself as well.

E' Arrivato

He is here...finally...we have been waiting and waiting for him. I am now an aunt, una zia, my sister called at 3:30 in the morning her time to chat, she was anxious for his arrival. He took his time, but at 10:42 pm on December 8th...a magical date for babies as it represents the immaculate conception of Mary I might add...he arrived into the world. I cannot wait to spoil the heck out of him...starting with this little one above...made with fabric I designed and had printed. I hope he will be his best friend...besides me of course! Great job B & J, I cannot wait to meet your little one...love to you all.

L'inverno

Winter has officially arrived as of this morning. Thick fog, frosty windshield...the whole shebang. With this close of autumn, I was reminded I didn't tell you all about the olives. How could I have missed that? Well, it is easy to explain...we did not pick olives this year. I know, I have been here in Tuscany for almost 5 years, complained every year about having to work, have even rounded up unsuspecting friends to help, and this is the first time we have not picked. The olive trees we have are not doing so well...they are getting up there in years and and as a result, they are not producing very much. New trees will be planted soon, so, we will have to wait until next year for the full story. However, the olives surrounding our house were picked...just not by us. I cannot say I was disappointed...picking for a day is beautiful in the fresh air with a lunch of sausages by the fire in the fields. However, picking everyday including weekends for more than a month...nope, didn't miss it a bit...