BUON NATALE! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Christmas Tree

I think it's somewhat sad to see

The remnants of a Christmas tree

That once was lush and green

A strand of tinsel here and there

On broken branches... Now, turned bare

In a very different scene

It's branches once exposed to sights

Like shiny bulbs and twinkling lights
With a crowning star.....superb

The tree now waits on frozen ground

Dry needles scattered all around
For the trash man, at the curb

The tree once guarded drummer boys
And candy canes and wind up toys
And a new electric train

The tree, with boxes now unwrapped

Beneath the boxes now, lies trapped
It's struggle all in vain

I also know that late next fall

We'll go to the storage in the hall
And retrieve the Christmas trimmings
We'll trim a tree that's green and lush
And from this single act will rush

New Holiday beginnings

F Hutcheson

Midwest City, Oklahoma

Wishing Peace and Goodwill to all of mankind.  Remembering Christmases of the past today.  Staying snugged inside nice and warm and not out in the snowy weather.  Christmas music channel on TV.  Dinner will be cooking soon.  We were not raised with all the riches of fancy things - but we always had food on the table and a Cardoni Christmas was something to behold.  Mother and Daddy always made them so special.  The tree was Mother's pride and joy.  It was bought early and kept in a bucket of water on the patio.  It wasn't allowed in the house until the 20th. Daddy would put the lights on the tree and we would decorate it. Mother always did the tinsel; silver as she called it. Presents were stacked about 3 feet high around the tree. I still have my bride doll that I got one Christmas. I guess my favorite Christmas that I can remember was when I got Go-Go Boots.

The tree stayed up until January 6th - the Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany).  Now days the tree is taken down the next day - they consider Christmas as being over. I'm reminded of the lines from Miracle on 34th Street - "Christmas isn't just a day; it's a frame of mind."  So true.

I just took Axel outside to get some fresh air and I could hear the tree branches hitting each other. I looked up to the  grey wintry sky and it made me think of the Christmas song, "Bleak, bleak Winter".  I've listened to it on the Moody Blues Christmas Album.  It will be the Blue Hour soon and a cuppa tea sounds very warm and welcoming.

Wishing you all a safe and peaceful Christmas.  I hope you are with the ones you love today.

Ciao!   Buon Natale!  

Time Flies Faster as We Get Older

Time seems to flies by us faster as we get older - what's up with that?  So much has happened this year and we are still sorting through boxes and unpacking. I have TONS of THINGS from my childhood, my childrens childhood and life in general.  I am trying very hard to look at it from a different perspective - I have enjoyed it again and now it is time to say good-bye.  I cleaned out two boxes tonight and it feels good. Life is moving on at a higher speed and there is still so much to be done. I plan to stay on the attack and get it done.

WE have been busy going from this to.....

THIS!

Now life as a Nonna can move as slow as a snail's pace for me.  Kayden Sebastian is a wonderful baby and lights up my heart and soul so much. He is growing up and changes come by so fast.  We are enjoying him very much.

The weather has been just beautiful; even if we had to turn on the heater. I've even broke out the sweaters and scarves.  The air is cool and it also brings the sneezing and throat clearing. The pumpkins are out in the church yards, florists and home and garden centers now we are just waiting for the leaves to turn.

Ciao!

SUPER MOON, 5 MAY 2012

I'm not sure where this picture was taken at but I love it. It reminds me of Gubbio, Italy. Wish i could have been there to see the super moon. 

My sister, BIL, niece & husband are in Gubbio and met with the familia today.  My cousin said they had a wonderful time together. That means four of the nine of us have been there to meet the family. That's pretty cool to go back to the home of my grandparents and imagine what they went through to come to America. That's the "stock" I come from. There weren't any cars and modern conveniences to do the normal daily chores. Baking bread wasn't a fun culinary artsy thing to do - it was a necessity to have for meals.

Moving = still moving. There may just be something to be said for contentment. But, feeling "stuck in life" isn't a good feeling. Well, life is moving pretty well these days. Not sure when it will end. Soon I hope.

Ciao!  Buona Note Gubbio!

1.5 years - Seriously

I'd like to blame it on Facebook. It was just too easy in the beginning to get on it and visit with everyone; now not so much. Then it just got to the "out of sight- out of mind" point. Sometimes I'd think of things to say/write and then it would be a fleeting moment. Now is the time to turn a new leaf and do something about it all.

I'm popping back in here for personal release. ha SO much going on with life that it might help me to post it here and get it off my brain. Maybe I'll sleep better at night.

After 35 years we are moving. Most people at this time in our lives downsize - we are upsizing just a little. Moving closer to #1 son and soon to be #1 Grandson. I have felt like a property virgin since we haven't done this in 35 years. Some folks can't believe that we have been in one house for that long - I can't either. It's a funny deal - it just happens. Day after day you back out of the driveway and go to work taking the same path for 35 years. It makes me wonder if I'll have a brain fart and come home one day after work instead of going to the new house (new to us house).

I've been working on these for the last couple of years. This home has so many memories for us. The boys grew up here - they don't care about that anymore. We have good neighbors - who aren't happy about this venture of ours. And the convenience of being close to work is just great.
But, it's time to move on and you just know it when the time comes.

I hope to have the patience of Job when it comes to all the finer details of moving. I am in sit back and wait mode. They need to tell me what to do next. I think I have done everything I need to do. Seems like we are wasting precious time - but I guess it will happen all in good time.

We survived the storms over the weekend. Nothing like sleeping through sirens at 4:00 am. Luckily, DH heard them and got us up. We watched the weather only to learn that the major storm was 20 -30 minutes NORTHWEST of us. It took another hour to get back tot sleep. Glad it was a weekend and not a school (work) night.

I'm off to go through files to see what get's left behind for the new owners - when that happens.

Cioa!

Mesta Park Holiday Home Tour -2010

Once again I enjoyed the Mesta Park Holiday Home Tour. These houses were built in 1910 and celebrated their centiniall this year. Five home owners volunteer their homes to be on the tour. They are decorated for Christmas and have some of the most spectacular floral decorations. They marry in the home owners personal belongs in their decorating. It is all so very interesting and fun to see.

This is Janie and Mark's house. They have lived here since 1996. They have been renovating ever since. They still have a few ideas for the THIRD story floor left to complete.

This is a nice and cozy living room with a gas fire in the hearth.

Dinner's ready! The dining room is right off the living room. There are french doors between the living and dining room. I wish you could see every room because this is a beautiful home.

This is what they see when they look out their living room window. At night the musical light show is another Splendiferous (thanks fancy Nancy) view.

Get ready for this!

The house was built in 1910. During the 1940s it was a boarding house for women only. Today three of the women that lived in this house at that time came to see it on the tour. They were just lovely. We had to take a picture of them with the Janie and Mark. The lady (3rd from the left) was married in this living room. When we suggested taking a picture by the Christmas tree she said, "Oh, let's do it in front of the fireplace. We had so many pictures taken there." She even had one with her to show Janie and Mark. It was even more special when she told us she came down from Tulsa just to see this house.

The ladies said the owners, Ma and Pop Davis lived on the third floor, the girls lived in the rooms on the second floor and BOYS WERE NOT ALLOWED UPSTAIRS. Smoking wasn't allowed either. This was so exciting to meet these ladies and share this experience with them. I think it made them feel good to see how Janie and Mark have taken care of their old homestead.

On that thought - Ciao!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful......

Even though we aren't officially into Winter yet - some days a good bowl of Pasta e Fagioli is necessary and rewarding. Today we have beautiful sunny blue skies - but the wind will blow you to kingdom come. (Not kingdom.com). Perfect day for clothes to dry on the line, let it be said - let it be done.

Enjoy this recipe and let me know how you like it. I was lucky enough to have enjoyed it on a perfect Autumn day by the chefs themselves and plan to make it soon. I brought home pasta from Delallo's for this soup.

ZUPPA di PASTA e FAGIOLI

Mary Ann e Riccardo Roani

Ingredients:

4 16 oz cans Cannellini beans

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

2/3 C. olive oil

1/4 t. chopped garlic

1/4 t. oregano

1/2 t. dried basis (or 2 fresh leaves chopped)

pinch of tyme

1/2 T. chopped parlsey

1/2 T. black pepper

1/2 t. red pepper, crushed

1/4 lb pancetta - Italian bacon

1 stalk of celery, chopped

6 C. beef broth (or chicken, or half of each)

1 23 oz can of Italian tomatoes (Marzano or Cento)

3/4 - 1 lb of Ditalinia pasta (depending on how much pasta you want in the soup)

Cook onion on olive oil until translucent. Add garlic, herbs and all seasonings (being careful not to burn them). Stir in the pancetta and chopped celery - cook until pancetta begins to brown. Add tomatoes (break them up with your hands) and cook for 20 minutes. Add broth and bring entire mixture to a boil. Add beans and bring to another boil. Simmer for 30 minutes on low.

Boil the pasta (al dente) in a separate pot and add to the soup and serve with grated cheese of your choice.

Buon Appetito!

Ciao!

Almost Home

It's been a long trip and I can tell you that Pennsylvania is a beautiful state. I got to see Penn State's Beaver Stadium. I am ready to be home. I need a hug from Axel, Primer and Angelo.

I got to see most of my family in Pennsylvania, attend a wedding, meet 3rd cousins for the first time and drive a lot of miles. I've had enough solitude and am now ready for my husband and kids.

Ciao