Ciao! I hope everyone had a nice weekend full of Internet connections!
Yes, we lost contact with the outside world (via computer) again on Sunday morning, and it lasted until yesterday evening--and this morning it has been so frustratingly slow to do anything. I'm not even sure if this is going to post when I'm done, but it's worth a shot.
To be clear, I'm not complaining because when I called the Internet provider, they told me it'd be fixed by giovedì mattina--Thursday morning. Look at Telecom coming through early! Miracles do happen!
So what caused the outage? Well, they can blame this:
But in reality, we lost the phone and internet before the *big* storms came--and they were big. Huge. Scary in fact, and they lasted most of the day Sunday and yesterday. 
No complaints on the rain either as it's been so very long since we've had a good soaking, although I could do without the lightning and thunder. I think the pooches, though trembling, secretly enjoyed it all because it meant plenty of Mommy Lap time--Luna on the upper half, Stella on the lower as we stared off into the fog, clouds, and rain (no television allowed when there's lightning!).
So, forced to stay inside, we did a little of this:
Which eventually led to this:
Those are pieces of one of our chickens marinated in olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Stubb's Rosemary-Ginger Spice Rub (sent by my mom) and then basted by P using a brush made of his mother's dried oregano. Yum!
Great family and food time aside, I also got *a lot* of other things done--finished all the translations that were piled up, completed another couple writing assignments, wrote a handful of blog posts, and ran a bunch of errands (in between the raindrops of course). I haven't felt so accomplished in weeks!
I love the rain! Especially when it's followed by this:
And, in case you're wondering, now we're back to this:
And how was your weekend?
P.S. Thanks so much for turning the last post into a wonderful discussion! You have no idea how happy it makes me when that happens.
Labels: family, food, life in calabria, love, puppy love, scenes from village life, weather
35 Comments:
What, no comments yet? I've never seen this happen on your blog before! Great fotos, especially the stormy view from the balcony.And I love the oregano basting brush!!Did you take them with your *new* camera? I'm still agonizing over what to pack. What's your temp like now? It's been in the 90's here and I can't wait to cool off! See ya!!
Well see, I was going to be the first to comment but that photo of the chicken made me so hungry that I got up and made myself a sandwich first! By the time I got back, there was a comment. ;)
Looks like you got the crazy storm we had here on Saturday... crazy rain and even crazier lightning! Yikes! Glad your internet wasn't out as long as you were expecting it to be. Thumbs up for Telecom. Wohoo
New camera? Or still using your webcam? They're great shots!
I love the rain.....not constant rain...but a storm that rolls in and out. I like standing out on the porch and watching it come down...getting the spray on my face...if I was really adventurous...I'd stand outside and get soaked :)
The weekend here was less gray. no rain and too warm for a fire. It rained late one night for a while. I prefer it that way with a bit more sun, please. Is this the window where I place my order?
Did no one else stand in the rain as a child and did you think it stung?
Alexmom, congrats on being first! Still no "new" camera (it's in customs, though, so it's getting closer). Temps are in the high 70s- mid 80s today and for the next few days it seems. Just lovely :)
Giulia, it *was* crazy wasn't it? It's nice to be able to actually say something about Telecom once in a while--gotta take advantage of the opportunity when it arises! These photos are from a borrowed camera--a *very* kind friend is trusting me with this one. I'm hoping to get one of my very own within the next week or so (it's in customs, argh!).
Robin, hah, if I were wanting a lecture from P about catching my death in the rain I'd stand outside ;) I'm with you though--covered and watching it come down in sheets is just lovely :)
Judith, I remember standing out in the rain and it stinging! It's much better if you're fully clothed, I think, so it doesn't hurt so dang much.
I'll see what I can do about your order.
It wasn't really cold enough for a fire here either--we had the balcony door open next to the fireplace...but it was necessary for the grilled chicken ;)
I'm jealous of those storms... I love storms and we don't get them often here. Glad you're back to nice weather though... it's certainly better for the Internet connection.
And as far as having the TV off during the storm, good call... I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes, but in Detroit one year when I was living with my aunt, during a thunder and lightning storm, lightning caused an electrical fire in their wall where the TV was on and caused major damage, not to mention a big scare!
Sounds like a lovely weekend, all circumstances considered. I sometimes wonder how much I'd get done if I had no Internet for a few days... but then you went and spent the time blogging anyway! :-)
I absolutely love a good rain storm. I like the feeling of being inside and being cozy. I had a nice relaxing weekend spent at the farmer's market and some thrift store/yard sale shopping.
Sounds like a nice homey weekend with the fire going and rain outside :)You also got a rainbow to top it all off. That's wonderful.
Shelley, I see lightning again in Wednesday's forecast...hmm...anyway, about the electrical fire thing, I'm never worried about that possibility so much as the TV and decoder (and my computer) getting zapped. We always unplug everything as we're up on a hill, and it's better to be safe than sorry.
Stefanie, yes, but look at how much other stuff I can get done that normally I would've spent blogging...see it all works out for the best :)
Jane, glad you relaxed as well--I've very jealous of the thrift shop/yard sale adventure...hard to find those here :(
Maryann, I guess can tell I love those things too :)
Awesome! I miss those kinds of rain storms, I dunno, they can be kinda comforting if you have the right person next to you, a fireplace, and the with all that thunder, what better excuse to stay home :) Picture perfect :)
Looks like I left Calabria in the knick of time, although I did get rained on for six hours in Palermo. Which I wouldn't have minded if the train and cars hadn't been "blockada" for the same six hours. Eek.
Your weekend looks nice and cosy. I just hope the rain didn't have a detrimental effect on your new hairdo!
Well, since you asked I'll tell you that our weekend was spent going to a local Octoberfest and eating German food that was tasty, but nowhere as delicious looking as your chicken. Then going to the local apple orchards in search of the "perfect" apple-- and unusual jams and chutneys. And ended up with a trip across town to my fav custard creamy whip ice cream stand while it was still warm enough outside to eat our cones sitting out in the sun. In a word, our weekend was all about food.
Sounds like you made the best of a stormy weekend. Got a lot accomplished and enjoyed some great mommy time with the pups. I love the oregano brush...what a brilliant idea!
Sognatrice: I hope you don't mind, but I linked this post today from my Phoctober series. It just seemed like a good fit, even though I recognize you are not deliberately Phoctobering.
Oh girl, I think I am in love with your weekend!
beautiful photos - sounds like a lovely weekend :)
Sometimes an interruption like that can be a great thing, especially with rainbows at the end! We used to live in a more rural part of the state, and would routinely lose power and phone service with every big thunderstorm, or when there was more than 5 inches of snow (which was pretty frequent). We always took the opportunity to go for a walk in the snow, or to snuggle with the candles all hauled out.
Sounds (and looks) like you had a great weekend.
I too love how the sky looks before and after a storm.
gorgeous photos.
It is storming here now (thunder, ligthning, rain), so I took everyone's advice and just unplugged my laptop.
My son and I went out to play in the rain one day (several years back) (no thunder, and lightning of course). We had our bathing suits on, umbrellas, that we mostly swung around and played with, and we jumped in puddles and danced around ( I also had on shorts). We had a great time (but we haven't done it since. Rain being wet and cold and all).
We lived in an apartment at the time, and I was weirded out by a guy who came up to us about two weeks later, and told us how much he had enjoyed watching us dance in the rain.
Nothing wrong with that, it was just that somehow it hadn't occurred to me that people could, and would, see us.
So I am sure that if Sognatrice went out dancing in the rain, more than P would have something to say about it.
i feel you should feed me
that yummy looking chicken
because
i spent so much time reading the comments
on your last posting
that i am fainting from hunger.
:-)
wasn't it interesting?
very well done!!
i LOVED reading all that!
clearly i need to bring a snack
when i visit your blog...
Your pics were fabulous!
Stay safe... and dry! :o)
The cooking in the fireplace looks like cozy fun.
Roamer, I definitely agree :)
Italian Woman, the hair is fine, thanks, although it definitely wasn't straight during the rainstorms--that would've required far too much work for a relaxing weekend!
Ally, ooh, sounds like a weekend I'd enjoy too! Recently some friends who live in Germany brought me sauerkraut, so I'm a happy camper! But oh to go apple picking....
Karina, I was pretty impressed with the oregano brush the first time I saw it too. The ingenuity around here really amazes me sometimes.
Maht, of course this is great for Phoctober! In fact, I should've mentioned it myself. Dang it. I have another 20 days or so to get on that....
Flutter, hah, me too!
Erin, thanks, and it sure was :)
BLC, I love getting stranded in the snow. Of course that'll never happen here, but I have fond memories from the mountains of PA *sigh*
NYC, the sky is always amazing, but never more so than when you see it change so drastically and so quickly. I could stare at the sky for hours...and sometimes I do ;)
Taffiny, sounds like you created a beautiful memory for your son, but yeah, could've done without the creepy comment (I agree it was kind of creepy). I think if I danced in the rain, I'd have to stick to my balcony where there's really only a chance of 2 other people seeing it. Of course I'm sure they would, and then there'd be chatter....
SPF, it's my fault really. Usually food only makes an appearance on Wednesdays (and usually there aren't so many comments on one post!). I'll try to space those out better next time ;)
Weimie, thanks, and I'm trying to stay dry; they say it's supposed to rain again today. Guess we've hit rainy season a bit early this year?
Sueb0b, it really is--and who knew they sold those little grill thingees to fit inside perfectly?
We have another grilling thing (but it's too old and nasty to use anymore) that is actually two layers of wiring (grid pattern), one on top of the other, and the handles stick out from the fireplace. So you put what you're cooking in between the two layers and close it at the handles, and then just flip the whole thing to turn the food. I don't know if these exist everywhere (I'm not very schooled on grilling techniques in the US or elsewhere), but it really is pretty cool. We have to get another one soon :)
Hmmm...Eddie Rabbit songs?
Looks like you still had a great time despite the storm...that bbq looked fabulous!
Cowgirl, well it was the song that I was singing the entire weekend...Eddie Rabbit rules (or at least he did in the early 80s or so) ;)
Love the pics, and can sympathise with the dogs (my cat behaves much the same way in the rare thunderstorms we get here).
Still, that downtime can be nice in the right company.
Rob, I completely agree with you...and truth be told, I also don't mind the dogs cuddling up either. They've gotten so darn independent otherwise ;)
Wow, beautiful pictures. I love a good rainstorm. I wish we had a fireplace to cozy up to when it's storming or just on a cold winter night. Lucky girl.
Beautiful pictures! And it looks like it was kind of a perfect weekend. I love it when my plans are changed do to weather and we just have to stay home and do simple things. It's a gift.
Erin, I'm extremely lucky and I know it--and if there's any way you can work in a fireplace, I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Jen, you're exactly right. Sometimes exactly what we need is that mandate to enjoy :)
That was lovely, I quite enjoyed it.
Just the way I'd have done it too... but with a good book as well.
Grazie Bella for the warm inside on a rainy weekend and the rainbow afterward.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
PS - Are you sure I didn't send that last picture to you? That's what it looks like here!
;o)
I am a succer these day s for any photo with a rainbow!
Sharon, I only wish I had more to share with you!
Scarlett, I was definitely thinking of you on that last photo...and I suppose I should've mentioned that there was a book involved in the weekend (as well as a couple *great* documentaries on the History Channel) :)
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