Favoleggiare

Moving Along

2012-01-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

Happiness is not something ready made? It comes from your own actions. Dali Lama

You can not decide your life. But you can make the best with what you have.

Thinking of what is, of the past, and where I am now.

And do you ever realize sometimes you never acknowledge the fact that so many people always wish you well.

A Day of Celebration!

2012-01-06T02:30:00.000-08:00

"The adorationof the Magi"-
Italian Renaissance master Andrea Mantegna.

This morning I woke up realizing I had a very long list of items which I need to do, this year I made sure I wrote my list of Resolutions! I feel as though I am already so behind on my list!

What better day to begin, focused then today. I hear myself telling my son of amost five years old that he can accomplish anything and everything he sets his mind to, he just has to make sure he pushes himself! Now I begin to listen to my own words!

This day in Italy is a huge day of celebration- The Epiphany! This is what adults know this day as, but the children here in Italy know it as the day of the Befana. On this very morning they awake all wide-eyed to stockings full of candy, if they have been good, or black coal (a black sugar candy in chunks).

Growing up in Texas, this day was know as the day of The Three Kings, or the day the Magi/Three Wise Men arrived with gifts forthe baby Jesus. As a child, my mother referred to this day as El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings). This was the official day in which our Christmas tree was taken down for the the year. Older, living in Los Angeles, California I discovered a bread in which every panadería stayed up late and awoke early in the the morning to finish baking this bread. Inside the bread contained a plastic baby, whoever discovered it in there piece would have good luck for the rest of the year.

It does not matter where I am in the world on this dayit is still special!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

I am off to continue working on my list!!

HAPPY 2012!!

2012-01-04T01:27:00.001-08:00

So we are now a new year!
So many resolutions!
I have been sketching and creating! Now I am ready to begin listing my new creations in my Etsy shop, but first I would like to make room.

Beginining on
Thursday January 5, and ending on Thursday February 2nd everthing now in my shop will be on sale for 50% off!

Wow, now is the chance to purchase all those items you have been watching!!

Happy Shopping!!

I Libri

2011-10-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

I libri che mi lasciano senza fiato sone quelli che quando li hai finiti vorresti che l'autore fosse tuo amico per poterlo chiamare tutte le volte che ti va.

J.D. Salinger
Il giovane Holden

The books that leave me breathless persons who when they have finished you would like the author was able to call your friend whenever you like.

J.D. Salinger
The young Holden

LIVING

2011-10-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

So many people wonder why things may happen in their lives, the become bitter and decide that the rest of their lives will just be the same over and over. Many do not realize that they can change how they are effected. You can never change the past you can only create the present and therefore also the future.

One must take the negative and turn it to positive. This my not sound as simple as it is said but if take careful consideration of it, honestly what comes out of the negative? What comes out of the postitive? It can be said that the postive attracts the positive.

Somethings I always knew, some things I have only discovered now, at this moment in my life, I wonder, maybe is has all been something I have always knew. Limits are only set by each individual, you are the only person who can set your limits.

Speak English?

2011-08-23T01:33:00.001-07:00

I am so happy to share my new site with everyone!

For four years now, we have been living in the country-side of Italy. I continue to find it amazing how large of adaily influence the English language has on Italian life.

Whether it be TV, music, or film. The root of most if not all entertainment is English.

As an American I ask myself why would Italian people be interested in

learing the English language?

English is an international language, speaking english fluently

will boost your job perspects, and when one travels it is the international common language.

Facts:

*400 million people speak english vocabulary as a mother-tongue

*English is the most widely used languae for international business

*700 million people speak english as a foreign language

Click on any of the two images To Visit!

So much traffic and helicopters flying over our house!

2011-06-21T02:28:00.001-07:00

Why was there so much traffic, helicopters, and security out the wazoo? Our little town of Pennabilli had a visitor on Sunday, June the 19th, 2011.

It was not ordinary visitor, it was Pope Benedetto XVI!

It was interesting to see the Pope in front of the church were my husband and I exchanged our wedding vows, and the church where both our boys were baptized.

It was a historical day!!

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele- Pennabilli

Domenica, 19 giugno 2011

Now

2011-05-23T01:38:00.001-07:00

Here we go,

To start once more,

I shall try my best,

To this time keep up!!

Everything 15% Off for One Week!!

2011-02-14T02:17:00.001-08:00

For the week of Valentine' Day I am having a 15% off everything in my shop!

Visit my shop- click HERE!

Use- Coupon Code, "AMORE2011"

Masks from San Leo

2011-01-11T04:23:00.001-08:00

These are some photos of masks displayed in the Fortress San Leo. I will post later photos of my trip in the amazing historical Fortress.

This masks made of metal were used mainly for women who were said to be "loud" and eccentric men, condemned to be ridiculed in public. The most extravagant forms, often faces or body parts of animals were masks that were fitted which contained spikes or other elements and often caused severe laceration to the mouth and tongue.

This mask was used as a device to keep one silent in the trial or torture victims, they were gagged in this way and also burned at the stake.

This mask is made of leather, it was used to protect doctors from plague when visiting infected patients. It contains two holes for the nostrils, the eyes are protected by two small windows, inside the beak the doctor would place balsamic perfumes and ointments.

Lost Track of Time

2010-10-21T08:07:00.001-07:00

With my new son, projects, and housework I have lost track of time!

So sorry to my readers, I will post very soon!!

Thank you for being a loyal reader!!!

Over a Month

2010-09-03T00:16:00.000-07:00

It has now been over a month. I have begun to relax and enjoy the fact that my new treasure is now growing wondefully at home. Thankfully we are blessed with a second angel that sleeps through the night. Like my first child, he wakes only to eat and continues to sleep.

Looking back to my experience at an Italian hospital I can see so many differences between giving birth to a child in an American hospital (LA California) and an Italian hospital (Rimini).

In my next blog entry I intend to continue on this subject of, "Two Worlds and Two Births."

I FINALLY FEEL MORE LIKE MYSELF AGAIN!

2010-08-13T00:32:00.001-07:00

SO SORRY I HAVE HAD MY HANDS FULL!

I AM NOW GETTING USE TO BEING A MOTHER OF TWO WONDERFUL LITTLE BOYS!

CHARLY CAME INTO OUR LIVES THREE WEEKS AGO YESTERDAY IN A HOSPITAL IN RIMINI, ITALY!

Rimini-History

2010-07-05T23:02:00.001-07:00

The city of Rimini, Italy dates back to 268 BC in an area which had previously been inhabited by the Etruscans, the Greeks, and the Romans. It was a road junction connecting central Italy and northern Italy.

It is the birth town of my husband, and in a couple of weeks it will also the the birth town of our second son!

These are a couple of photos that I took on my most recent visit to Rimini.

It is located in Rimini Storico- or downtown Rimini- it is the forum of the ancient city where a church was built in the 10th century.

The existence of prestigious monuments such as:

-the Arch of Augustus- Built in 27 BC- The single gate 9.92m (32.55 ft) high and 8.45m (27.72 ft) wide.

-Tiberius' Bridge- build in Istria stone, it consists of five arches that rest on massive pillars with breakwater spurs set at an oblique angle with respect to the bridge's axis in order to follow the current. It is a bridge over the Marecchia River, which was begun by Augustus in 14 AD and was completed under Tiberius in 21.

-The Roman amphitheatre- Erected in the 2nd century alongside the ancient coastline. The edifice could house up to 15,000spectators.

Wow, what a wonderful beautiful vast history the city of Rimini, Italy contains!

Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. See how.

One Month to Go!!!

2010-06-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Today a complete non-stop rainy day,

Officially began my countdown,

One month to go and then I will be a mother of two!

So much excitement,

The amazing beauty of nature!

My Pregnancy

2010-06-09T23:56:00.000-07:00

So I will be having another boy! He is to arrive on the 21st of July!

The delivery is to take place slightly over an hour away in Rimini.

The days are starting to get very hot, but all is well! The little one if very, very, active. Much more active then my first for certain.

The beginning of this week began with a story in the news in which a child in a hospital here in Italy was taken by a nurse to the nursery. After hours of not receiving her child back the mother asked about her child, only to find out the child had been taken from the hospital.

Midnight of the same day brought the return of her little one, a nurse from another hospital that had desperately wanted a boy, but had never had one, had tried to steal the hour old infant.

This makes me a little nervous, I had just been talking to my husband, I do not know how things work here in Italy. I have to make numerous requests to have my son in the same room with me the entire time I am in the hospital.

With my first, who was born in Los Angeles, California, he never left my side. And I was wide awake during my nights spent there for a couple of reasons. The first being, it was my first experience in a hospital I was nervous, and I certainly did not want anything to happen to my new little one. The second reason was that I was in such amazement as to how beautiful my little one was!

So I am moving right along, before I know it I know the day will arrive!

Another Year of "Artisti in Piazza"

2010-05-19T04:44:00.001-07:00

Last year the program of performing artists included 56 various companies from all over the world! This June we will be having the 13th Edition of Artisti in Piazza in our beautiful medieval town of Pennabilli!

Over ten years ago "Grande festa della fantasia" began, now this year the festival will once again bring artists and artisans from all over the world to perform, and present their amazing work.

It is wonderful for the entire family! I sure am looking forward to my third experience of this wonderful festival!

For information regarding "Artisti in Piazza " take a look!

Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. See how.

SALE! SALE! SALE!

2010-05-07T23:02:00.001-07:00

TWO REASONS WHY I AM HAVING A SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP:

-THE WONDERFUL WEATHER IS FINALLY HERE
-MOTHER'S DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

BEGINNING SATURDAY MAY 8TH UNTIL SATURDAY MAY 15TH

EVERYTHING IN MY SHOP IS ON SALE FOR 20% OFF!!!*

*I have a made a note on a few of my Custom Made To Order items not included in the sale.

Stop by and visit! We can all do a little bit of shopping!!!

This time around...

2010-04-28T03:26:00.001-07:00

.. I think I will try using one of this!

With my first born I was aware of this product, how useful it can be for the little one and the mommy. I just never got around to making or purchasing one.

"Every little one has a need for a nest."

"Boppy. The first nest in the form of an embrace."

This time around I will try it! I wonder if it's the cute advertisment that makes want to try it so much the second time around!

Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Learn more.

Beauty of Nature

2010-04-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

It makes me so wonderfully happy that the beautiful weather has finally arrived! Walking home this morning from dropping off my little angel to school, I wish I would have placed my camera in my purse. A little note of my everyday- I always carry my camera in my purse because I never know what I may see.

Strolling across the sidewalk in front of me in the distance I saw a very long caterpillar. As I walked closer towards the brown fuzzy caterpillar I realized it was six caterpillars. It was as they were holding hands crossing.

I thought it was amazing and wondered if it is normal for them to walk or crawl like this. Reading up on them I found out they do not have very good vision, they can only see poorly resolved images. They determine the distance of objects by moving their heads from side to side.

It was so lovely, I had never seen anything like it before! Yes, it is the little beauties of nature that make my day whole!

Pizza Night Friday is Here!

2010-04-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

One of the first things I realized when I began living in Italy is that I had never actually eaten an actual "Italian Pizza". I remember I was taken aback when I was first served my first pizza in Italy, it certainly was far from the "traditional" Italian pizza I thought I had eaten in New York.

For one thing the dough is completely different, it is actually very thin! No Pan Pizza or Tombstone pizza here!

Some of the most common selections one will find are:

-"Margherita"- which is basically the tomato sauce (Pomodoro), Mozzarella, and origano.
-"Prosciutto e Funghi"- contains pomodoro, mozzarella, cooked ham (prosciutto cotto), and mushroom (funghi).

My favorites are:
- "Tonno e Cipolle"- which contains pomodoro, mozzarella, tuna (tonno), and onion (cipolle)
- "Mezza Luna"- pomodoro, mozzarella, ricotta, prosciutto cotto, pomodorini, and ruccola

And my favorite made at home pizzas:

- Veggie- Pomodoro, mozzarella, zuchinni, and eggplant (melanzana)
- Pomodoro, mozzarella, sausage (salsiccia), and onion (cipolle)

I have realized it is not that difficult to make the dough portion, even though I have still not mastered the ingredient ratios, I can extend the dough pretty nicely without using a rolling-pin, just my two hands.

My husband who is alot more advanced in the kitchen, uses his two hands up in the air, making a perfect round pizza, most of the time better then those found in pizzeria!

Pizza Fridays always gives us something yummy to look forward to at the end of the long week!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

The Easter Hat!

2010-04-08T01:46:00.001-07:00

For Easter week I constructed this felt hat for my son! He just loved the ears which are wired therefore can be shaped however he pleases.

Since my son was home for the holidays, I got a little sidetrack from my work. That's okay because he sure was a cutie for the week of Easter!!

I hope everyone one had a wonderful Easter!

Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Learn more.

One's Trade

2010-03-17T05:07:00.001-07:00

I just realized how beautiful it is to have the passion of one's trade in there everyday life. Wow, to be so fortunate as to actually get paid for what one enjoys to do.

In the beginning of the education and everything else that comes with it, it can be difficult. But if you love what you do, that's a wonderful gift in itself.

I found this lovely image, it took me back to when my mother first taught me to sew. A part of myself and of her is now always present in every project or job!

Painting- Fancois Bouche- La Sarta- 1746.

Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

So Sorry!

2010-02-28T23:42:00.001-08:00

I am so sorry I have not kept up with my blog! An amazing thing happened to me, after three years of being a full-time mother, wife, house-cleaner, and gardener, I returned to the work-force.

For the past week I worked a 45 plus hour week. For a couple of days I get to relax!

Wow, my first official job in Italy, I was amazed that so much was different. No birthday party celebrations at the work-place here! No morning or afternoon breaks, but we do get an hour and twenty-five minute lunch break!

I am working for a family owned company that produces garments for some of the most well known Italianand other fashion lines. I might see Roberto Cavalli, Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein, or Prada hanging on a rack! It is really exciting!

I am just begining to adjust working full-time again, and being a mother and wife. I have to remember it is no longer just my-self and my career!

Life, moving along.

2010-02-05T01:53:00.001-08:00

So much has happened since my last doctors visit! This coming week I have my second visit coming up! I am looking forward to it and my continued experience with my Italian doctor.

I am proud of myself that I have watched my diet, and have been successfully staying away from yummy, yummy, chocolate.

This week, my three year old begin staying from 8 am to 3:45 pm in his pre-school. So glad the week is almost over! The first day sure was terrible, for me that is. Amazing how much happier he seems, we can see more of a wonderful light in his eyes! He sure enjoys it, I am so happy for him!! It sure gives me more time to work on my projects and clean the house at a slower, more detailed pace.

With a possible full-time job coming my way (I am still keeping my fingers crossed) and the second baby coming soon, my husband and I thought it was time to let the little one have a little more time with his friends.

I still look forward for the arrival of 3:45 so that I can pick him up from school and play a little before he takes his nap. (I was surprised, they do not take naps during the day at his pre-school.) But I sure was not happy the first day, as we arrived home, I was ready to play but he was ready to take a nap!

Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

The New Addition to Our Family!

2010-01-20T02:25:00.001-08:00

Here he is! Even though I thought it was too early to tell the gender of my second child, my doctor could clearly tell it is a boy! Wow!

Everything is going well. Like my first pregnancy I have been very fortunate not to have any sort of nausea. Of course I do tend to get tired more often, it sure is hard to get out of bed some mornings.

And Italian foods seem to be doing me so good! I remember during my first pregnancy, by my eighth month, I was ready to see my little one!

I am still only at the beginning! Today marks my 14th Week!!

Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. Get it now.

Eating Right!

2010-01-14T01:39:00.000-08:00

For me and the baby, I am changing my eating habits! It is not as easy as it sounds!

Fortunately my husband is amazingly helpful! For a week now I have been limiting my chocolate intake! It has been a struggle but I can only allow myself to eat one small piece of chocolate a week.

My weight if very important because during my first pregnancy, I began slightly over-weight. It basically was a big issue throughout the entire pregnancy.

More fruits and vegetables, less sugar, sweets, and chocolate! Indulgence, such as fried chicken only once a month! It is a novelty here in Italy, and my wonderful chef husband does make some wonderful fried chicken!

(I am safe from double cheeseburgers and curly fries from Jack-in-the-box! Ben and Jerry! Chocolate covered doughnuts! Just to name a few items that I would fall weak to in the states!)

New Year, New Adventures!

2010-01-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

So the new year has now arrived! I have already begun my first big adventure! We are now expecting our second child! The baby is now three months old.

I recall how much research, reading, and question asking I spent so much time on, during my first pregnancy. Can you believe, after weeks of careful searching, on my first visit with my gynecologist I had a list of questions in our first meeting! I chose carefully, and we were very happy that it was a great choice.

Now my second child will be born in Italy! Wow, just in my first visit I already saw a difference!

As I was called in for my first visit, my doctor came out to call us in. We walked into a room with a desk, which is the doctors office and a patent's bed, and other medical items.

After I was asked a few questions, I was then asked to remove my clothing from my bottom half, then sit on the bed. Wow, I was waiting for the gown!

Then using a long prong like thing which was inserted, I could see my lovely little one on screen. No slimy stuff on the tummy here!

All in all it went wonderfully well. I am very interested in my future visits.

Giving birth in California and giving birth in Italy, it is still giving birth to a wonderful gift of nature!

More to come!

The New Year

2009-12-31T07:12:00.001-08:00

Christmas came and left as always. Now we have the new year to come!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, wonderful, New Year!!

Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-23T23:35:00.001-08:00

We had a lovely snowfall the week before Christmas Day. But we then had rain and tornado like winds drove all the snow away. I wonder if it will be a white Christmas this year.

Our Christmas tree, this will be the first tree that my little angel of almost three will remember!

HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO ALL!!

Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

Those days are here!

2009-12-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

So the holidays are now upon us! We received our first snowfall yesterday morning and it has continued on until today.

This Friday at the local theater, my son will have his first dance/singing show! He will not give me a sneak-peek, so I have to wait until I see him on stage. As a parent, wow, that is something so, so, exciting!

I am also running crazy with projects and making Christmas gifts, there is not enough time in the day!

I hope everyone is having wonderful holidays!

The Simple Things of Live- Mexican Food!

2009-12-02T02:55:00.001-08:00

Continuing to get use to the absence of the simple things in life. I do miss my Mexican food!

Growing up in Texas and living in the United States my entire life gave me the freedom to have Tex-Mex or Authentic Mexican food literally at my door-step and every corner.

Now, one hour away and costing an arm and a leg, it can be found in grocery store.

Notice how it is also written in German.

So when my wonderful husband comes home with a treat, such as last week. This is the closest we can get to our Mexican night.

Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. Check it out

The View

2009-11-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

For the last two days this has been the view, in the morning and afternoon, from our bedroom window.

It looks as though we have a lake out there! I think it is kind of cool, but scary!

Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.

Altars and Churches

2009-11-14T00:00:00.001-08:00

I continue to be fascinated by the wonderfully beautiful churches and altars I encounter everyday.

Strolling along the street no matter which direction I am walking I am sure to encounter altars placed their by individual people from the community.

Each altar and church each have their own beauty and individual detail!

Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.

Discoveries

2009-11-04T04:10:00.001-08:00

Since living in my new home for almost three years I have discovered so much. You would have thought that someone who was born in raised in Texas would have had some familiarity with horses or cows.

Florence was where I saw, up-close my first horse. And last week I was up-close with three cows and a calf.

Wow, I feel as though I have been making some new discoveries not only of myself but so much in general!

Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

A Surprise From My Walk

2009-10-26T06:28:00.001-07:00

The above photo is what encountered on my way back from the store on sunday morning.

I wonder if our cat made some new friends.

I wonder where they came from.

Windows 7: I wanted more reliable, now it's more reliable. Wow!

Excuse me!

2009-10-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

So sorry to my readers! The entire household has been sick. Winter is now upon us.

Our son was out of pre-school for two weeks, now that he returned, he is no longer excited about it. His first week, he was amazing, not a single tear. This week though every morning he cries. What a knot in my heart.

Well, and I have found out that I am addicted to Tumblr. So easy to use and so addictive!

So please excuse me for not updating lately.

Before Italy

2009-10-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video.

Before moving to Italy you can see me here in action! My work-space and two tri-corns I was constructing for the opera 'Rosencavalier'

You can see me @ 0:02.

Oh the opera! The sell was a huge success! Happy for them!!

October

2009-10-09T06:09:00.001-07:00

This is my most favorite part of the year!

I love the cold weather, the winter clothes and hats!

This year we purchased a stove to help keep the house warm. I just love the smell and watching the smoke coming out of the chiminey!!

Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now.

Hello!

2009-10-02T04:41:00.001-07:00

I thought it would be nice to share a little bit about myself!

* I have been sewing since I can remeber! I can even partially sew with the lights off!

* I am not myself if I am not creating.

* I have a huge interest in costume history. And fashion!

* I love to read!

* Once I use to do kickboxing , not professionally!

* My husband and I met in Los Angeles.

* After graduate school I was considering moving to New York, but got an amazing job offer in Los Angeles.

* States I have worked in- Texas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and California.

* I hope to take up kickboxing or yoga once again.

* After living my entire life of 34 years in the United States, I now live in Italy!

* My husband is a chief. It is in his blood!

* The internet is the only connection we have to the outside world!

* The country-side is now the home of me, my husband, my two and a half year old son, and our cat CheChe.

NOW TELL ME ABOUT YOU!!

The photo above is an old wagon that can be found in the corner of the garden my son and I visit. I am not sure how old it is.

Bing™ brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.

Time Sure Flies!

2009-09-28T08:47:00.001-07:00

My little angel in the world.

This morning was a trying day for me.

My son spent his first two and a half hours at school.

Wow, it sure seemed more like five hours.

Watching him play at the center of his classmates.

And this image of him, so small, standing in front of this huge door.

Time sure flies!

Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now

Lumaca

2009-09-22T05:45:00.001-07:00

After our day of rain I encountered this cute lumaca or snail. I was later told that this is the type that is good to eat. I have always thought escargot to be a delicacy.

After huge rainfalls in Italy I have occasionally seen older farmers walking around with their pails collecting snails. Even though lately they have not been found in abundance as once before, many people still collect and eat them as a tradition.

One has to have vast knowledge in their preparation, some of the contents of their stomachs can be toxic to humans. Therefore it takes days to properly prepare them for a meal.

Snail shells have been found throughout archeology to have been eaten since prehistoric times. The Romans considered escargot as an elite food.

They are low in fat and high in protein. But, I think I will pass, I like my image of the cute lumaca!

Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now.

This Time of Year!!

2009-09-19T22:59:00.001-07:00

The days seem to be changing.

We had at least four days of rain, and autumn weather.

I love this time of year!

Knitting projects have just begun!!

The pumpkins in my photo are those of my father-in-law's garden!

Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. Click here.

A Quiet Spot.

2009-09-09T04:44:00.001-07:00

This is another one of my favorite spots. It is an amazing rock garden!

I love how the ancient walls encase it.

"A Garden of thoughts!"

Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. Find out more.

The Art of the Kitchen

2009-08-31T22:01:00.001-07:00

After years of concentrating on my career- work and school, I have always been closer to my sewing machine, then the kitchen. Now with over two years of living in Italy I have learned that cooking and eating is an art in itself!

It didn't help any that my husband is a chef and creating in the kitchen is in his blood. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom it has been essential for me to start becoming friends with the kitchen.

It has certainly been an eye-opener living here, the wonderful art of eating is present in every Italian household. First the various course meals, then identifying all the American stereo-types of Italian food.

After living in America all my life I have realized what Italian pizza really is! And no one eats bread with spaghetti, and there is no such thing as spaghetti meatballs in northern Italy.

The Fig Tree

I am mostly learning from my father-in-law, and my husband. (Sometimes I am still intimidated by my husband when he is in the kitchen.) And I can understand when he gets frustrated with me. When we began dating he could always enter my apartment and make an amazing dinner with what was in my fridge!

Now I am starting to try new things! I have always been hesitate to make marmalade, and torta, and dinner in general.

Figs and tomatoes I picked from my father-in-law's garden.

With the abundance of figs and tomatoes in the house I felt it safe to attempt fig marmalade, a fig torta, sun dried tomatoes, and tomato basil soup!

Yes I am starting small, but I am slowly learning, I am on my way of becoming a friend of the kitchen and understanding how eating can be an art!

Hotmail® is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Try it now.

Garlic Anyone!

2009-08-28T00:33:00.001-07:00

Wow! I had no idea how many people are huge garlic users here in Italy. It is a must have in any Italian kitchen!

Several weekends ago we visited my father-in-law and helped gather the garlic he had grown. I sure felt naive. I was not aware that the head of the garlic is actually the root!

Look at that!

We gathered a whole wheel barrel of garlic! Yummy. I wonder how long our portion will last!

Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. Find out more.

A Walk Through Town

2009-08-07T03:20:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was such a beautiful day I decided to take a walk through Pennabilli, the town we live in.

I can never forget it's wonderful beauty, but sometimes historical meanings tend to be forgotten.

The door pictured, just below the arch way. (Imagine driving through here!)

This is posted next to the door pictured above, it states one of the Popes actually lived at this very home.

A visit by the Dali Lama.

Walls with many years to show.

An enclosed circular window. I wonder what that was for!

Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

Nature and History

2009-08-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we visited a beach! Coming from California, I am still confused about the whole private paying beaches opposed to the free public ones!

We were able to find a lovely spot to spend most of our day!

I was fascinated by this old abandoned building right next to the beach. Wow, I wonder what it had been? Who lived there? What stories of people and the ocean had it seen?

This brick wall lay beside it in the sand. Could it have once been the walls or gate around the building?

I found it intriguing.

Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

Tree Creature??

2009-08-01T15:00:00.001-07:00

Can you guess what this creature is??

I found it in a tree in our yard.

It was climbing and climbing.

It was there for awhile!

Oh!

It's just Baby (CheChe) our cat!

She was later scared to come down and my husband had to assist her!

Get free photo software from Windows Live Click here.

Birth

2009-07-25T23:58:00.001-07:00

Many visits to the hospital would follow for him after his premature birth.

Her first visit to the hospital was for the birth of her son. Her mother had given birth to her in the home of the local midwife.

Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Store, access, and share your photos. See how.

Supplements.

2009-07-20T23:12:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day! I visited the local tabaccheria (tobacco shop). It Italy they do not only sell tabacco, they sell magazines, lottery ticket, school supplies, and many other things.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the August Flair, and Marie Claire issue already in the stand. What is so special about these issues?? Most fashion magazines sell a supplement pack which includes the august issue and another which features the new collections.

This is one of the wonderful perks of living here. In the states to purchase the Marie Claire with supplement, if it can be found would cost almost twenty dollars. Here I purchased both magazines and their supplements for only three euros each! (That's $8.60 in US dollars.)

Now I can't wait to find the time to cruise through them!!

I think Flair is an Italian publication. Their supplement features detailed photos, mostly each page has a theme.

Marie Claire's supplement is amazing! They present alphabetized designer pages with photos from the runway!

Lovely layouts!

I was so excited, I just had to share!!

Bing™ brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.

A Summer Day!

2009-07-15T08:01:00.001-07:00

This past sunday we had a wonderful visit at the river!

It was an amazingly beautiful day!

We had a picnic and just enjoyed the water and the weather! We found this lovely little spot!

We encountered this tree, I wonder how old it is. I just thought it was amazing!

The beauty of nature!

Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone.

The Beginning

2009-07-09T23:06:00.001-07:00

Birth and an awaiting destiny,

A life with a determined journey.

The year 1973 brought the birth of a boy in Rimini, Italy.

He was the second male to parents who had lived an amazingly romantic life together. Over thirty years later, they divorced.

She was born in Texas, USA to an amazingly strong women who longed to live a romantic life. The child was born into a family of three males. Since her father was never present, she can not recall when her parents divorced.

Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. See how.

The Sunflower

2009-07-07T05:19:00.001-07:00

Travelling though the country-side this past weekend I as pleasantly surprised by the numerous sunflower fields. I was amazed that the actual seeds grew in the head of the flower. I guess this is something elementary that most people know, I know now.

I decided to learn some more about this lovely flower. I was really surprised that they are not only important for cultivation of sunflower seed and oil, but also for scientific reasons!

They are native of the Americas and grow annually and they can grow as high as ten feet (three meters)! The actual flower is called the head the circular head mature to sunflower seeds. (The kernels are lined up in the head packed inside!)

The flowers began to arrive in Europe at the beginning of the 16th century, and the oil became popular during the 18th century. The first domesticated sunflower was around 2300BC, in the north part of Mexico. The Aztecs, and Otomi of Mexico and also the Incas used the sunflower as the symbol of the sun deity.

After the Chernobyl disaster, sunflowers were used to remove uranium. They have the ability to extract toxic ingredients such as uranium, lead, and arsenic, from the soil.

In 1979, H Vogel proposed that the pattern of florets in the head of a sunflower is a model pattern expressing polar coordinates. Their florets are arranged in a mathematical model.

Wow! So the sunflower is not just a pretty flower!!

Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. See how.

Italian Actors

2009-07-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

After over two years, I am still amazed by the huge influence American movies have in Italy. A few nights ago I was able to enjoy a movie which included two classic Italian actors! Adrian Celentano and Renato Pozzetto!

Italian movies are in a different humor very different from American. Every single night one can find American movies coming out on television, of course in between dubbed episodes of Scooby Doo, Cold Case, CSI, and Without a Trace/em>EM<>, just to name a few.

Adrian Celentano, began his career as a singer, heavily influenced by Elvis Presley. He is also an actor, and director, and he frequently casts his wife in his movies. His musical career includes 40 albums, the first in 1965, his first film, La dolce vita in 1960.
If you would like to refresh you memory, here is a clip:

Renato Pozzetto began as a comedian. In collaboration with his childhood friend, he first became famous with satirical style songs. He is mostly famous for his Mianese accent and stuttering, shy way of speaking.

Two talented actors! I always enjoy learning more about Italian actors!

Would You Like To Be A Super Hero?

2009-06-29T08:23:00.001-07:00

Mikiep's Give-A-Way!

The winner recives a Custom Illustration! Wow!

The winner picks who the person will be to be portrayed into a Super Hero!

Mikiep is a fellow Etsian and Blogger you must make sure you visit his shop. And of course you have to enter to win this amazing prize!

You can click on the enter to win above to enter. And to stop by his shop to see his amazing work you can click on the print below.

This is my most favorite item in Mikiep's Etsy shop!

"The Little Seamstress"- Print- Mikiep

Good Luck Everyone!!

Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone.

My Angel!

2009-06-26T03:33:00.001-07:00

In Italy, June the 24th is widely celebrated for San Giovanni Battista. It is further celebrated for those who are named Giovanni.

My lovely angel (I like to think of him as my angel) Giovanni is slowly changing, he is now two and a half. Now I know what all the fuss was about the terrible twos!

No, I think it is wonderful that his character is beginning to come out more and more everyday. I think it has been slightly difficult for him, as it has been for me, to learn three languages at the same time. He completely comprehends the three, but he does seem to mix up his English, Spanish, and Italian. He was born in Los Angeles, he has already flown to Texas, Ireland, and Italy.

I think all that he can remember so far is Italy. It is a completely different culture. In September he will begin pre-school. He is very excited, being all day with mommy, of course he always enjoys being around other children!

He is growing quickly! I decided to share some of my most favorite recent pictures of him.

At the beginning of those hot summer days!

He woke up every morning running to put on his winter boots. He would not take them off until it was time to go to bed.

He loves to find a hiding place then call, "Momma, Momma" until I find him. The first time he hid in the laundry basket, it took me a while, I was not expecting it!

In this lovely days we try to eat outside in our wonderful patio as much as we can. We were getting ready for dinner, I had begun to set the table. What do you know there was Giovanni sitting on the table waiting for me to see him.

This past weekend we visited my father-in-law, I heard he had a present for Giovanni in celebration of San Giovanni Battista. What a present! Unfortunately it was cold and it rained all day. I know the first time he enters his pool he will not want to get out!!

His first pool! Wow!

He loves to pretend he is a robot! He gets upset because his hand will no longer fit through the toliet paper rolls. We have to slit them down the center, so he can continue using them as his robot arms.

Here you can actually see him saying,

"I am a robot!"

He loves to dance, he loves his books, and he always enjoys flowers!

He is an Angel!!

Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

Luxury of Space

2009-06-22T03:14:00.001-07:00

Reading the most recent issue of Italian , CasaAmica, I just could not get these images out of my mind.

What attracts me to them is their unique use of space and location.

This hotel is called, "Helix Hotel".

It is lovely how it is located on the surface of the ocean.

This photo is the interior of the hotel. When I saw this photo I was whisked back to my visit to the "Guggenheim", in New York City!

This is the winner of the Millennium Yacht Design Award 2009, it is entitled, "Origami".

It is entitled this because of how it transforms, it was designed by three designers.

This next image is from an ad for a company called, Flaminia. It is lovely but, I would be very apprehensive to use this bathroom!

This bathroom is slightly better. It is located in home in Bali.

Your outdoors, but your not outdoors!

Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now

The Fruits of One's Labor

2009-06-18T23:17:00.001-07:00

One thing I found very interesting when I first moved here was almost everyone grows their own vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Also their own chickens! (We are usually stocked up with eggs from family and friends!)

Oh! Also their own marmalades, grapa, beer, and wine of course!

These photos are from a visit to my father-in-laws house. He is a gardener, (hopefully one day I can be slightly as good) engineer, electrician, builder, Renaissance man! He is self-taught in various disciplines. If he has a need for something, he figures it out himself!

These are his chicken, what a lovely roaster!

He sure enjoys eating tomatoes!

What wonderful tomatoes!! There is an additional section of tomatoes on the other side of his yard.

And salad of course! I am not sure how many different types he grows.

Additionally he grows, strawberries, garlic, onions, zuchinni, and various fruit trees. It's always a nice delight to visit!

This weekendend we will be visiting to help pick the garlic and salad. I is an amazing feeling to eat food you have picked with your own hands!

Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now

Beauties of Life

2009-06-15T06:34:00.001-07:00

The loveliness of nature,

The recognition of a newly found delight,

The acknowledgement of ones labor,

The beauty of natures gifts.

These are a few of my weekend pictures. I have learned to always carry my camera with me.

I never know what I may capture travelling through the Italian country-side!

Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

My Herb Garden!

2009-06-11T23:06:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I transferred the basil plants into their new residence of the herb garden. The seeds which had grown to a size where they needed more room. So they can now fill the last remaining hole in my herb garden!

Previously we had planted some arugula, I think we might have planted the seed in abundance and too close. They are growing slightly.

I have come to be a huge fan of arugula! Living in Italy, it is vastly used in salads, pastas , pestos, and pizza, to name a few of its uses.

Shortly after we moved into our house, my husband and I cleaned up our herb garden. The previous tenants had started it but it had not really been planned or maintained it nicely. When cleaning we left the rosemary, sage, lavender, and rose bush as they were.

Here you can see my little herb garden right beside my husband's grilling area.

BBQ or herbs anyone??

Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone.

Fleur

2009-06-07T23:20:00.001-07:00

If one were to find a beauty as so, one would really know.

We have passed though days, with years gone by.

All we see is to our own delight.

Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone.

The Day Is Soon To Come

2009-05-29T03:35:00.001-07:00

This morning I took a walk to Giovanni's soon to be pre-school.
I knew this day was going to arrive.

It was a wonderful joy to see him at the center of all the other children. Pre-school in Italy, I wonder how different it will be then pre-school in America. I am sure to find out.

The first difference I already have, in Italy, religion in school is vastly present.

The huge day arrives in September. I am sure it will be harder on me, not to spend my days with him, then it will be for him. He is certainly ready, he was so excited this morning, he didn't want to leave!

Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out.

A Photo

2009-05-26T02:41:00.001-07:00

I was searching though some of my photo disks and I encountered this photo.

It doesn't matter how long ago this was taken, or how many times I have seen it, it always makes me smile!

This photo was taken the first few months we were here in Italy, we were in Florence visiting family friends.

There is just something about this image of my husband's face, how my son is sticking out his tongue, and the horse. All the poses at the same time, and it was not planned, or staged.

It wonderfully displays the spirit of our family and the wonderful playful characteristics of my husband and son!

I love this photo!

An Addition To Our Family!

2009-05-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

Here name is CheChe and she is the new addition to our family.
She came into our home at 40 days old! She is a cutie!
(Her name was chosen mostly by our son, it was either that or Baby.)

My son, Giovanni is already smitten with her!

The Basil is Growing!!

2009-05-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

The Basil is growing! As I mentioned before I am attempting to see if I have a green thumb.
It's a beauty! From only a seed, now my basil has grown to this!

As you can tell, I am really excited! This gardening thing can be something wonderful!

The first rose!

2009-05-17T01:17:00.001-07:00

This is the first rose of the season. Wow, I am so excited to have rosebushes. It will be a beautiful spring and summer season. Our yard is basically a forest floral, herb garden!!

I can not take full credit for the rosebushes, which are situated sporadically through our yard, they had already been planted when we moved in.

Once a Year Celebration!

2009-05-15T05:55:00.001-07:00

Imagine if you will street performers and artist markets non-stop for five days in a row!

This will be my third "Artisti in Piazza" in a row. Artists and artisans travel from around the world to Pennibilli to participate.

With various venues for performances, numerous artisans, talented musicans, and a photo contest, these are just a few of the activities that make up the five day celebration.

It is so familiar to the Promanade in Santa Monica, the Artist Markets in Los Angeles, walking down Hollywood Boulavard, or even that little cobbled street in Bolder, Colorado, and music festivals.

It reminds me of the States. Take a more in depth look at Pennabilli's Artisti in Piazza!

A Fountain

2009-05-11T23:30:00.001-07:00

The garden is called, L'orto dei Fruitti Dimenticati or The Orchard of Forgotten Fruits. My son and I have been avid fans of this garden since we have lived in Italy.

It contains fruits, flowers, trees from around the world that have been placed together in this orchard.

This orchard is my favorite spot for two reasons:

When we first moved to Italy as Fabio (my husband) worked , Giovanni (my son) and I would spend hours laying on the grass under the tree planted by the Dali Lama.

Second, the orchard contains a bronze statue of a mother snail with her child on her back. As Giovanni has grow, I have taken pictures of him with the statue. The stages of his growth have been documented with this statue.

The pictured fountain had never contained water. It has just been a structure made of wood in the shape of a fig leaf, with metal pipes as veins. Yesterday was the first time I had seen it with running water.

It was a beautiful sight!

Growing Basil

2009-05-10T23:52:00.001-07:00

My attempts to have a green thumb continue. I thought it would be wonderful to grow basil in our herb garden. So my father-in-law gave me some seeds to begin. I made sure to take some notes from him regarding the process.

I want to add how amazing he is as a gardener. He grows his own vegtables and fruits, he also has his own chickens for fresh eggs. It is amazing how he build his own green house and irrigation system on his land.

So, we will see what happens. Wish me luck!!

Do I Have a Green Thumb??

2009-05-06T00:26:00.001-07:00

This is the first time that I have lived in a house with the freedom to maintain a garden. My gardening research has already began.

And one day last week my husband brought home some gardening tools, my first tools! I had another surprise this weekend when he built the pictured box, to keep my tools organized. (On the bottom left you can see the two plastic gardening tools for my son to help me in the garden!)

The house we moved into had some remnants of a herb garden, some lavender, and some sporadic rose bushes.

I began by cleaning out the herb garden. I found that we had rosemary, and sage growing. My plan is now to add arugula, and basilico.

I would also love to grow more flowers along the walk way. I have to keep in mind though I am new at this, so I shouldn't plant more than I can handle.

Lovely Visions of Spring

2009-04-29T05:40:00.001-07:00

On my walk this morning, I was so facinated by these flowers.

They are just so beautiful. The two colors are amazingly beautiful together, and their form!

I felt it was a visual beauty, I just had to take a picture!

Pennabilli

2009-04-27T07:08:00.001-07:00

Pennabilli was created by the union of two castles in the 11th century. "Penna" which is now Roccione and "Billi "which is now Rupe.

The walls and gates enclose the ruins of the two castles and several Renaissance mansions.

It is a lovely small comunity. The history of this place is amazing. Most if not all of the people living here have lived here for centuries.

During holidays we get many visitors from all over Europe. Every summer the town hosts, Artisti in Piazza, it is a week long fesival in which performers and artists from around world travel to Pennabilli to perform.

In my picture you can see a portion of the "Billi" castle that is now used as a nunery.

Tejana in Italia

2009-04-27T02:05:00.001-07:00

I decide to start up an additional blog. This one will be of my adventures in Italy.

In this new blog, I will write of lifestyle, culture, family, and travel. It recounts episodes of my daily life.

I will give it a go and see what happens!

Favoleggiare

Moving Along

A Day of Celebration!

HAPPY 2012!!

I Libri

LIVING

Speak English?

So much traffic and helicopters flying over our house!

Now

Everything 15% Off for One Week!!

Masks from San Leo

Lost Track of Time

Over a Month

I FINALLY FEEL MORE LIKE MYSELF AGAIN!

Rimini-History

One Month to Go!!!

My Pregnancy

Another Year of "Artisti in Piazza"

SALE! SALE! SALE!

This time around...

Beauty of Nature

Pizza Night Friday is Here!

The Easter Hat!

One's Trade

So Sorry!

Life, moving along.

The New Addition to Our Family!

Eating Right!

New Year, New Adventures!

The New Year

Christmas 2009

Those days are here!

The Simple Things of Live- Mexican Food!

The View

Altars and Churches

Discoveries

A Surprise From My Walk

Excuse me!

Before Italy

October

Hello!

Time Sure Flies!

Lumaca

This Time of Year!!

A Quiet Spot.

The Art of the Kitchen

Garlic Anyone!

Pubblicità

A Walk Through Town

Nature and History

Tree Creature??

Birth

Supplements.

A Summer Day!

The Beginning

The Sunflower

Italian Actors

Would You Like To Be A Super Hero?

My Angel!

Luxury of Space

The Fruits of One's Labor

Beauties of Life

My Herb Garden!

Fleur

The Day Is Soon To Come

A Photo

An Addition To Our Family!

The Basil is Growing!!

The first rose!

Once a Year Celebration!

A Fountain

Growing Basil

Do I Have a Green Thumb??

Lovely Visions of Spring

Pennabilli

Tejana in Italia