Facebook

If you know me, you know that I was completely against facebook when it was first launched. I had many friends asking me to join...I always said a very firm "no"...why would I want to put my life out on the internet? But then, slowly slowly, I found that my friends were not sending as many emails as before, or were not calling me as much. I was totally out of the loop and could not understand why...that is, until I joined facebook. Now I not only use it almost daily to find out the current gossip and even weather in Georgia and beyond, but it makes me feel closer to my roots. I love seeing faces from all parts of my life on a daily basis, learning what everyone is up to, and keeping abreast of all my favorite people and products out there in the world.

Thus the natural progression...Laura Fair is now on facebook! I know, I started feeling guilty about adding what seemed to be "business" to my personal page, the only solution was to open up the official "Laura Fair" page. Now I can update you without guilt on the goings on of my designs and new product launches. So come on over and "like" me if you are there...and invite some friends too! I am even planning some giveaways and special prizes for those of you who like me the most...yes, I am not above resorting to bribery!

Fanciullezza

While I am oh so patiently waiting on the paint to dry for one of my newest Laura Fair projects...I thought I would learn a new word in Italian so that I might write a little update on the last weeks here...fanciullezza or infanzia...childhood...as in reliving one's.

So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us.
~Gaston Bachelard

I seem to have found myself in this limbo state many many times over the past weeks. We all experience it from time to time on different levels...that nostalgic feeling of carelessness and wonder that washes over you...and the sensation of letting go and absorbing a childlike moment can be so freeing and so therapeutic. Of course, I did not quite think about this as I planned the activities...but the reward I unintentionally received was surely worth it!

Yes, I went to the circo, circus! And I saw camels, goats, yaks, horses, zebras, lasso toting cowboys, showgirls, magic, clowns, and even an elephant. I ate popcorn and cotton candy and laughed and clapped and whistled and sat in awe with my mouth open wide. And the dachshunds...just another of my adventures...to a dog show where you can only imagine the sounds of all the little yippee dogs and the smells of the big ones...hee hee.

I even had the opportunity to teach my precious students some painting and later on in the week we took una gita, a field trip. I will save that for another post, as I have so much to tell...but will leave you with this thought that has been so reinforced within me. Take advantage of the smallest things that are offered around you. Act silly...don't worry about the thoughts of the person next to you...let yourself go...or you might never know how much joy you could bring to yourself...or to others.

San Biagio

Yesterday was a fascinating day here in the Italian Catholic calendar. A day dedicated to San Biagio, or Saint Blaise in English, who became famous as a miraculous healer when after touching a child with a fish bone caught in his throat, the bone astonishingly melted.

We drove over the mountain to the tiny hamlet of Pierle to attend services honoring this former hermit made saint. The little church was packed to the gills with people who came from miles around to honor him. Even the high priest from La Cattedrale di San Donato in Arezzo was in attendance.

After the mass, we all waited our turn to be blessed by the priest. Holding two candles in a "V" against my throat, the priest quietly voiced in Italian,
"For the prayers and the merits of San Biagio, God will free you of throat ache and any other aches."
I walked away from the priest a little affected I must say...uneasy on my feet, but in a good way. I, luckily, have not had the pain of a sore throat or worse this season, and hopefully after this...I never will. We departed the church with two precious packages of blessed bread, apparently to be used throughout the year should such a problem arise, and a little book about the adored Chiesa di San Biagio a Pierle.

(A little comment...I did order roasted sea bass for lunch and had nary a problem with the bones...I had to giggle a bit when I thought about the coincidence, but note that I am a believer.)