the witch has arrived!

Today marks the end of the holidays in Italy as La Befana arrived last night. You don't know La Befana? Read more about her here in my post from last year at this time.

As always, I'm sad to have to take down all the Christmas decorations; the house just feels a bit more empty, a bit more somber.

I suppose that's not such a bad thing as it's time to get down to the business of starting this new year and focus is always a good thing.

Friends, I *have* been focusing. Although it is the Italian tradition to return to work tomorrow, I've been quite busy the past few days--and perhaps that's making you feel a bit neglected here.

One of the main things I've been working on, though, is a brand new look and home for this here blog, and I think you're going to like what I've come up with.

But you'll have to wait just a bit longer. In the meantime I've had tons of positive energy from the blogosphere to keep me going, and I'll tell you all about it soon.

Tomorrow, though, I have the honor of kicking off the MotherTalk 15-Blog Tour of Persian Girls by Nahid Rachlin. You don't want to miss it--or this book.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

buon anno!

Wishing everyone . . .

May 2008 be your best year yet!

And remember, don't eat chicken today
or you'll be scratching (for money) all year . . .
pork (to live high on the hog) and lentils (shaped like coins)
are the way to go!

warmest holiday wishes

May your holidays be full of love,

tante belle cose,

and quiet moments to reflect on all that is good in the world.

Wishing you all the very best this holiday season--
why not start with a little Harry Connick Jr.'s When My Heart Finds Christmas?



See you for new year's greetings!

little boy & tiger wishes

I've decided to start my own Christmas Eve tradition here on the blog, and it involves my very favorite Christmas Eve poem.

I know a lot of people will be reciting 'Twas the Night Before Christmas tonight, but a few years ago I found myself enchanted by some lesser-known holiday verses that warm my heart each and every year.

For the handful of readers that were with me last year at this time, you already know about "Christmas Eve" by Bill Watterson, creator of the Calvin & Hobbes comic strip.

This year I've managed to find a scan of the original page with the drawing to go with it:

Gah! I just love it!

If you can't read that, here's the text:

Christmas Eve

On window panes, the icy frost
Leaves feathered patterns, crissed & crossed,
But in our house the Christmas tree
Is decorated festively
With tiny dots of colored light
That cozy up this winter night.
Christmas songs, familiar, slow,
Play softly on the radio.
Pops and hisses from the fire
Whistle with the bells and choir.

My tiger is now fast asleep
On his back and dreaming deep.
When the fire makes him hot,
He turns to warm whatever's not.
Propped against him on the rug,
I give my friend a gentle hug.
Tomorrow's what I'm waiting for,
But I can wait a little more.

I hope you're snuggled up and warm this Christmas Eve too!

Do you have something you read every year at this time?

weekend o' cookies continues

You've now seen four of the six types of cookies I made this holiday season. What? No you haven't?

Well go here to see the thumbprints (with recipe!), here to see the kolaches, and here to see the chocolate chip and ricotta cookies.

Here are the final two starting with the scene of making the butter cookies:

And here they are after baking:

And, last but certainly not least, Michigan Rocks full of dates and walnuts:

And here's a tray ready for delivery:

Well really a red plastic plate covered in blue plastic wrap, tied together with a gold bow. It's easier to see the cookies through the wrap in person by the way.

And now I ask you:

can anything else say "AUGURI!" like a plate of American cookies?

I didn't think so either.

By the way, if anyone would like recipes for these, just send me an email.

So is everyone ready for Christmas or what?

weekend o' cookies

Last weekend was spent baking cookies, and this weekend is being spent delivering them to their new homes. So far all of the Italians have expressed nothing but love for the American biscottini. As if we had any doubt, right?

So as I've already shown you, I made thumbprints and kolaches.

Now here are the ricotta cookies:

and my favorite, the chocolate chips:

Does this look like anyone to you?

More cookies tomorrow! Stay tuned!

12 christmas memories: part V

And now the last installment of my 12 Christmas Memories meme:

10. Best Christmas Present Ever

I know it might seem strange for me to name an afghan as my best Christmas present ever, but it was (and I know Shannon understands). I really wish I had it here with me (it's in storage in the US) so I could take a photo for you. And better yet, curl up with it.

I was around 10 years old when my mom started promising afghans, crocheted by her, for my brother and me. I'd occasionally see her working on the little squares that were to make up mine throughout the year--different shades of pink, flowers, typical girly stuff. As Christmas drew closer and her time was taken up by cookies though, she made it pretty clear that they wouldn't be done for the holidays.

But then while unwrapping gifts, I got to a big old clumsy box that I assumed was a coat. As I lifted the lid, what to my wondering eyes should appear?

My very own pink-and-white flowered afghan.

Even at that young age, I had some idea of just how much work went into every single square that made up that thing, and I just felt so special and loved that my mom would surrender sleep and other more enjoyable activities (which she surely did) to stitch and stitch and stitch just to make it all happen for Christmas.

A warm fuzzy wrapped up in a warm fuzzy, if you will.

Must get that afghan here. Love it love it love it so.

11. Falling Asleep on Pap's Presents

OK, this one isn't a memory so much as a really cute photo that unfortunately I don't have with me to scan for you.

When I was just a wee lass I suppose I became overwhelmed with the Christmas goings-on quite easily and so I stopped to rest just a moment.

Right on top of all my grandfather's presents.

I was out for a few hours, apparently, and he just had to wait to see what Santa brought him.

What a trooper, eh?

It's a really cute picture, I promise.

12. My First Christmas with P

Nothing too spectacular happened, but 2005 was our first holiday season together and that alone made it magical.

On Christmas Eve, we went out for pizza of all things, which I actually thought was a fun tradition to start--only then the restaurant wasn't open the following year. So now I'll always remember that first Christmas Eve all that much more.

It was rather romantic actually as the fireplace was going and we were the only ones in the place besides the owners and their family who joined us after a while. Then we went around visiting some friends in the village but were home by midnight; and despite growing up opening gifts on Christmas day, I just couldn't wait any longer for P to open his, so at my insistence we did gifts around 1 a.m.

He had never gotten a stocking before! Can you believe it? So I was sure to stuff it with all kinds of exciting things like shaving cream and razors.

And I wrapped every single thing individually. Hah!

Then Christmas Day we spent with P's sister and her family (they have two children) and P's parents--always wonderful to see children enjoying Christmas, isn't it?

Like I said, nothing too special for that first Christmas...other than the company of course. And that's really what it's all about for me. Those warm, cozy feelings of love that stick with you for a lifetime as my dear friend Wanderlust Scarlett so kindly reminded me by tagging me with this meme.

Honestly, I can't tell you how much writing this and taking photos around my house has helped me get into the holiday spirit. It's been so wonderful to remember all of the great holiday seasons I've been lucky to have and makes being away from home at this time of year just a little easier.

So thank you, thank you, thank you Wanderlust Scarlett and I wish the happiest of holiday seasons to you all!

12 christmas memories: part IV

For Part IV of My 12 Favorite Christmas Memories as inspired by Wanderlust Scarlett's meme, I'm going to stick with the childhood theme. If you haven't yet, you should also check out Parts I, II, and III.

Now here are three more that come from my earlier years, and since we just talked about cookies, let's stay there for a moment.

7. Jeanie & Joe eating all the kolaches

Jeanie was my great-aunt's daughter and Joe was her husband. That might sound rather extended to you, but since my Aunt Babe lived about 30 seconds away from her sister (my grandmother), our families were always quite close, especially around the holidays--and my Aunt Babe remains one of my most favorite people in the world. She knows everything!

And what are kolaches? My mom's version looks something like this:


Walnut goodness wrapped in cream cheese dough and sprinkled with powdered sugar. I made these this year, but I had to improvise because I couldn't find a square ravioli cutter like she uses. In Italy! I couldn't find the ravioli cutter I needed! Harumph!

So I used a round one, which makes smaller ravioli and that made rolling these babies a lot more challenging. They're still delicious though, and that's what matters, right?

Well kolaches were probably the most sought after cookie at my grandmother's house (she also made them) during the holidays--so much so that my mom used to make a tray just for my grandfather to keep *in his bedroom*. Yes, this grandfather.

Anyway, Jeanie and Joe lived a couple hours away from us, so they came in for the holidays right as they were beginning, which left their visiting time to a minimum. And so, they'd come over, often individually, on Christmas morning, which as you can imagine, was always quite hectic as anywhere from 5 to 15 people would be eating dinner there at noon.

My grandmother always played the perfect hostess, though, despite having a million other things to do--she truly loved their visits.

But after a while she noticed that there would always be a huge dent made in the cookie tray in the area of the kolaches after Joe left--and let's be honest, it was mainly Joe who was the culprit. So my grandmother would purposely take most of the kolaches off the tray (she'd leave him a few of course), often literally as he was coming up the walkway.

"Joe's coming! Grab the kolaches!" *was* shouted.

Jeanie was mostly innocent in the Great Kolache Fiasco but she's thrown in this memory because her Christmas morning visits were always such a huge part of the holidays, and also because she recently passed away.

Jeanie was just 62 years old, and her husband Joe passed away last year after a long debilitating illness which included a heart transplant. Their children are around my age, and I think of them more often than ever.

And now with the holidays, wonderful memories of their parents have really come rushing back to me, and I hope they do for them as well.

8. I'm Mary!

OK, let's lighten things up with a fun memory from about fourth grade--when I was chosen to play Mary in the church play of the Nativity Scene.


I was never the one chosen for things like that, and to be honest, I thought one of my best friends who eventually became the angel would be Mary, but nope. I was Mary! Everyone was so proud!

I think we picked names out of a hat or something, so it really was no big feat to have won the non-speaking role. But whatever. I was Mary! I wrapped the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes!

And I do have a photo of it somewhere, just not here. Sorry. Maybe next year.

Also, attached to this memory? I was also the one who got to put the Baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas morning in our nativity scene at home. Woohoo! The benefits of being the youngest in the house!

9. Caroling with Friends

They don't really do the caroling thing around here (not that I've seen/heard anyway), but I do have a fond memory of caroling when I was probably about 12 years old.

A group of girlfriends, probably about 10 of us, went around one evening and sang and sang and sang--and if anyone wonders why I know the words to just about any Christmas song, this is probably why. Seriously, try me.

One blustery December night, instead of going home after school, we all went to the house that would serve as Caroling Central. We got all bundled up (it was *freezing*!), and then walked around town, avoiding slushy puddles and snow piles, stopping at random houses, especially near those that were all lit up, assuming they'd certainly appreciate the effort.

We got invited into so many homes, drank far too much hot cocoa, and even made some cash--which we spent later that night on pizza if I recall correctly. Guess we could've donated the money, but hey, we were 12. And hungry.

Ah, and of course there was a huge slumber party afterwards.

I had almost forgotten about this memory until Wanderlust Scarlett and I got "talking" via email. I'm so happy that she reminded me! I don't have contact with most of those girls anymore, but some of them are still my best friends--and you know who you are--and I'm certainly thinking of you this Christmas.

Ah, small town America in the late 1980s.

Come back tomorrow for the final installment of My 12 Favorite Christmas Memories!

what's cooking wednesday:thumbprint cookies

Or, "12 Christmas Memories: Part III"

(If you haven't yet, do check out Part I and II.)

6. Cookies!

I simply couldn't do a series on my Christmas memories without cookies.

My grandmother always made cookies for the holidays, but my mom? She goes crazy. In addition to making them for the family, she's now started selling trays of homemade cookies and candy--and she's doing so well that I just may have to go to America to help her next year. Go Mom!

And so, making cookies is definitely one of my fondest Christmas memories. From the time I could walk, I was around the kitchen helping make cookies--although for a while there I didn't do much other than steal chocolate chips off the table, earning me the nickname "Cookie Monster" from my mom's friend, her baking partner for many years.

But eventually I worked my way up to working with sprinkles and candied cherries. You know, the Big Time.

My mom made it fun not only for me but also for the friends I was allowed to invite over to help decorate the cut-out cookies--there were far too many stockings and Santas and snowmen and bells and wreaths for just one or two people to decorate.

So at my mom's house, we'd have decorating slumber parties every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just the other day, in fact, one of my best friends and regular participants in the bake-a-thons left a comment here on the blog longing for the days of such innocent fun.

And I'm so with her on that.

(I'm the one without a blurred face; maybe 12-13 years old here? Not sure.)

And yes, in case you're wondering, my niece is fully prepared to keep this tradition going. Just the other day my mom said that she's getting to the age where she can have some friends over to help decorate (she already helps my mom with the cut-outs).

So next year, 9-year-olds at Nana's!

Before this year, I have never done the Christmas cookie thing by myself--why would I when my mom had it covered? But now that I've been here for a few years and have really missed those tastes of home, I decided that this year I'd make some of my mom's recipes and give out trays to Italian family, friends, and neighbors.

I highly doubt any of them have ever even seen the cookies I made, so it'll be an interesting experience for all of us.

Yesterday I finished up the last of six types that I made this year, and I've already decided that next year I'll try my hand at even more. My mom had sent me some things like chocolate chips and brown sugar, but since I decided on Operazione Biscotti at the last minute, some cookies just weren't going to happen this year for lack of the proper ingredients and tools.

But look out Christmas 2008!

I'm not going to share all the recipes with you now, or even the photos just yet, but I will let you in on what has to be one of the easiest and tastiest cookies ever for this week's What's Cooking Wednesday. In fact, this is a great one to make with kids because they get to play around in the dough as much as they want and they really can't ruin it.

"Unless their hands are dirty," adds my mom.

The words of wisdom never end I tell you.

These classics will also be my entry in Food Blogga's Eat Christmas Cookies event. Go check out all the great cookies over there--just beware you'll probably leave hungry.

Thumbprint Cookies*


2 c flour
3/4 c confectioner's sugar
1 c butter
1 tsp vanilla

Jelly of your choice (I used apricot and strawberry)

Combine flour and sugar and then cut in butter until well distributed. Sprinkle with vanilla and mix dough with hands until smooth.

Shape into 1 inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet.

Indent centers with lightly floured finger (or thumb!) and fill with jelly.

Bake in preheated 325°F (163°C) oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove to rack to cool.

Easy peasy and tasty too!

*I should note that the original recipe calls for a cup of chopped nuts--I just don't like them in this, so I don't put them in. If you want to, put 1/2 of them in with the flour and sugar in the beginning, and then, after you make the dough into balls, roll them in the remaining nuts. Thanks Christina for reminding me to include this!

Buon appetito!

12 christmas memories: part II

Yesterday the first installment of my 12 Christmas Memories meme revolved a lot around my grandmother. Yes, that wonderful lady was always a big part of what made Christmas so special, and here are some more family memories.

3. Christmas Lights with Pap Pap

You may remember my grandfather from this post. There I mentioned he was curmudgeonly, but if there was one thing that melted his heart in addition to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it was Christmas.

Lights in particular.

I don’t really know when it became tradition, but for as long as I can remember, every year around the big day, an hour or so after dinner to make sure everyone had their lights on but weren’t in bed yet, my Pap Pap and I would drive around the area admiring all the displays--and yes, I do mean DISPLAYS of lighted trees, reindeer, Santas, bear, snowmen, candy canes, wishing wells, you name it and someone within a 20-mile radius had it on the lawn or hanging off the house.

We never did the outside of our house quite so Griswoldesque (no complaints from me on that one!) but I always appreciated the time and effort that others put into it.

And that was something I shared with my Pap Pap, every year in fact.

4. Christmas Eve Footsteps

Remember yesterday when I talked about the Christmas Eve tradition in which everyone came to my grandparents' house after church?

Well 1998 was our first holiday season without my grandfather who had passed away that June, and it was business as usual at the house on Christmas Eve. My brother and I were seated side by side at the table, eating more than necessary I’m sure.

Suddenly, simultaneously, he and I turned our heads toward the back door to our right, expecting someone to come in. We had obviously both heard a noise outside, but didn’t say anything--I figured it was the wind, and I’m sure he did as well--and just went back to eating and talking.

A few minutes later, our heads did the same thing toward the door, and when no one came in, my brother looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Did you hear that?”

I sure did.

Nearly together we blurted out that we had heard twice, minutes apart, the unmistakable sound of someone stomping snow off of their shoes on our wooden back porch, preparing to come into the house. Something that was pretty connected to our grandfather in both our minds; he certainly never entered the house quietly in the winter.

Only that night, there was no one there.

No one that we could see anyway.

5. Dad’s Family Movie Light

Last year for Christmas, my brother and his wife got our old family movies transferred to DVD. Honestly it’s rather strange to me that my family even has these because it’s just so out of character--hard to explain why but it's in the "We're *so* not The Waltons" category. Trust me. It’s odd.

Anyway, from 1970 to 1980, our family is documented. I had never seen any of the movies before they were on DVD, and watching them for the first time was so emotional for so many reasons that I’ll probably write more about that at some point. But right now, sticking on-topic, the point is that one of my favorite Christmas memories has to do with my dad's documenting those family moments.

Every time he wanted to take video, he also had to set up a huge, blinding spotlight alongside the camera for adequate lighting. And so, my every early childhood memory of a major event involves squinting into the exaggerated beam, feeling its heat envelop me, and fighting the urge to just look away, pout, and throw a tantrum. I used to be big on those.

And, lest you doubt it, Christmases were *the* main event of our family movies.

Every year up until I was probably five or six years old, I'd put on my (new) pajamas and get ready for my close-up. We made a literal production of hanging our stockings and putting out cookies and milk for Santa --and some pretty cute video emerged if I do say so myself.

And then Christmas morning? Rubbing the sleepies out of my eyes while plodding down the stairs, one hand on the railing to balance me?

LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

And of course filming continued throughout gift opening, catching each and every ooh and aah face (no sound you know) along the way.

And that light was *always* on.

But now looking back, the shocking brightness doesn't seem nearly so bad--the extremes always do fade with memory, don't they? In fact after watching those movies, I kind of wish that light could make a comeback just for one more Christmas.

I'd even buy new pajamas for it.


P.S. Thanks so much to all who voted for me in Write from Karen's Photo Contest: Holiday Cheer!

My photo didn't win, but a fabulous, kitty-themed photo did--check it out at My Life as Mama Jodi. Congratulations Jodi!

12 christmas memories: part I

Christmas celebrators, we're in the home stretch! Are you ready?

First, could you please go here and vote for me (for this photo) in Write From Karen's Photo Contest? I'm running way behind peeps...aiuto!

You can vote here up until 8 pm Central tonight!

Now to keep you in the spirit, I'll be writing about my favorite Christmas memories all this week. I am obligated inspired to do this by Ms Wanderlust Scarlett, who has tagged me to write about 12 Christmas anythings--that is, I could've written about my favorite Christmas carols, presents, traditions, etc.

But I chose my 12 favorite Christmas memories, and I'm going to do it in installments because I want to write more than just a line for each one. I hope you understand.

I'm also going to use this opportunity to share some Christmas photos throughout this week-long meme. I hope you enjoy it!

By the way, yesterday Katerina of Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino tagged me with the same task, so do check out her meme as well.

I'm supposed to tag 12 people to do this, but I'm only specifically tagging the lovely Cheeky because I know she's dying to do this one. For the rest of you, I know it's a busy time so just feel free to participate if you like. If you do, please link to me and Wanderlust Scarlett, creatress of the meme, so we can find your list.

Here we go!

1. Decorating the Staircase

I grew up in a house that virtually exploded with red, green, and gold at Christmastime and I loved it. I loved every minute that those lights twinkled around me and enveloped me in winter warmth--and I always felt a bit deflated once they had to come down after the Epiphany. Every corner was Christmas in my house growing up--even in the bathroom.

I don't know about you, but in my experience, a normally cozy house becomes extraordinarily welcoming and warm with Christmas decorations.

Plus I just *love* sleeping by the lights of the Christmas tree.

*sigh*

I always helped my grandmother put up the decorations sometime after Thanksgiving; in case you don't know, I lived with my grandmother, so when I talk about my grandmother's house, that's my house too.

Decorating was always a big production since everything had to be brought up from the basement, every day knick knacks had to be packed away carefully, lights had to be tested.

We're talking all day, Christmas music blaring fun.

And although every year was special, I'll never forget the first time I was entrusted with the staircase railing. From the first to second floor of my childhood home, there are about 15 steps with a railing that runs up the side--and it's located right in the middle of the house in the hallway.

Other than the tree, and even more than the faux fireplace, *this* was the focal point of the Christmas-themed house.

Holly garland, small white lights, old wooden ornaments that I had painted as a young child, other old-fashioned wooden ornaments that lost more arms and legs with each passing year no matter how carefully they were wrapped, stained glass ornaments I had made as an older child, and some of the funniest looking elves I've ever seen--plastic faces, cloth bodies, knees scrunched to chest--covered the railing for a good long month.

Slight digression: the first year I was in Italy I saw a box of ornaments similar to the old-fashioned wooden ones I always used on the staircase. I couldn't believe it, but they were kind of steep in price, so I let them sit. Then they were still there the next year, just that one box of ornaments that made me think of home every time I saw it.

And I found it in the same spot the following year as well.

Well this year I finally bought them because I now understand that they were waiting for me. I'm so glad they've been patient.

Here's the snowman that to my eye is identical to the one I remember from the staircase ornaments:


I just loved decorating that staircase, and my grandmother knew it because even when I was in college and she had all the other decorations up by the time I got home for break, she left the staircase bare for me.

Rolling out that garland, wrapping lights around it, and then positioning the ornaments just so--definitely one of my fondest Christmas memories. I simply adored how that decorated staircase lit up the heart of the house with a warm glow throughout the holiday season, and I loved that I was responsible for it.

2. The Christmas Eve Routine

Around 4 pm, we'd have dinner--something to hold us over until after Mass, which was usually around 7 pm. It was always fish of some sort as we weren't allowed to have meat until after we went to Mass. Yes, those were our household rules.

But before we went off to church, there were lots of preparations for after church. This is because after early Mass, much of the extended family and friends came to my grandmother's house for a few hours. There was always ham, potato salad, pickled eggs, deviled eggs, and many trays full of cheese, olives, pickles. Ah, and also suppresata and ringed bologna.

And raisin bread. And various nuts. And fruit. And chocolates.

And the trays of homemade cookies, of course.

And I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the foods; Christmas Eve was a feast second only to Thanksgiving in our house, and a lot of people had to eat standing up because the kitchen was always spilling over with well-wishers.

For those wondering about the lack of typical Italian food, don't worry. It came the next day in the form of homemade ravioli, spaghetti, rigatoni, meatballs, and more.

In conjunction with this memory, perhaps a 2(a), is my memory of the first Christmas without my grandmother in 2001. She had passed away less than two months before, and it was so hard even being in that house without her, let alone at the holidays, which were without a doubt her favorite time of the year.

My dad absolutely wanted to keep that Christmas Eve tradition alive and so before church, I ran around getting together all the trays and plates and cups and everything that we'd need because, of course, other than my grandmother, I was the only one who knew where everything was and how everything was supposed to go.

I do miss those Christmas Eves, but I also know they don't really exist anymore without my grandparents there.

But oh what memories I'm so lucky to have.

ghost of christmas past (revisited)

The newly-crowned Princess Wanderlust Scarlett has tagged me for a most glorious Christmas meme--to write about 12 of my favorite Christmas things. I'm choosing to write about 12 of my favorite Christmas memories over the years.

I will fulfill my meme-ly duties in due time, but for now, Scarlett's tag reminded me of a general Christmas memory post that I put up last year around this time.

Since many of you weren't around then, and since I rather enjoyed rereading it when I looked back, I'm reposting it in its entirety with a touch-up to the photo--which I am submitting for Write From Karen's Photo Contest 5: Holiday Cheer.

Submit your Holiday Cheer photo by 4 p.m. CST on December 14th
for a chance to win a $25 Mastercard Gift Card!

Now let's revisit "Ghost of Christmas Past" from December 17, 2006:

I am a loyal reader of Petite Anglaise, and her December 13 post has been resonating with me for days now. Petite is separated from the father of her young child, and in this entry, she admits struggling to make Christmas special for Tadpole, as she calls her daughter.

If you've read my 100 things about me, you know that my parents were divorced when I was very young. And so, I've been in the shoes of Tadpole--having adults around me trying to make everything seem normal when, it turns out, I suppose it wasn't (whatever "normal" means anyway).

So the more I've thought about Petite and Tadpole, the more I've been thinking about my own childhood Christmases--and the more I've felt the need to write this post.

By Christmases (plural), I mean that we had two every year. If today were 20 years ago, this might have been the morning that I woke up at my Mom's house, opened gifts, and then prepared for our Christmas dinner, which usually included my father and his family.

That's because one or two weeks before the big day, we had "Mom's Christmas," a full celebration only a little early. More than the early gifts, though, the highlight for me was the unveiling of Mom's cookies--chocolate chips, Michigan rocks, ricotta, kolaches, butter pressed, pizzelles. Of course, some time in the weeks before, we had decorated the cut-outs, which involved a couple of my girlfriends and a slumber party.*

Man I'm missing home (and childhood) right about now.

Anyway, some of the reason behind having two Christmases was that my mom is a nurse and always worked Christmas day; on actual Christmas morning, she usually came over to my father's house for a little while.

But I'm sure the bigger reason was that with two full holidays, nobody missed out on a family Christmas experience. In fact, as kids, we were blessed with double the fun.

And the best part was that all of this seemed completely normal to me even though I knew the other kids at school weren't having the same deal (suckers!). Now, as an adult, I see that this was the plan. And it worked.

Don't buy it? My testimonial not enough?

Take Exhibit A, then, depicting what the two Christmas set-up made my normally curmudgeonly grandfather (may he rest in peace) do to himself one year:

See, Christmas miracles do happen.

*These are not the actual recipes my Mom uses. As you can surely understand, these are top secret and under heavy guard. I did, however, try to find some that are close to hers.

decorate your own virtual gingerbread house!

Well it looks like November caught up with me. Near the end of the last week, I started getting awful stomach cramps and they lasted pretty much through the weekend. And then I got feverish. And nauseated. And muscle-achy. Etc. Blech.

Basically I and most of the school age children in the village have fallen ill with a nasty version of the stomach flu. You see, I had the privilege of riding the bus with them several times in the past couple weeks...to and fro from the Internet café.

If you don't know, the public and school bus are one and the same around here. Lucky public, I know.

Anyway, I'm very behind on answering comments and emails because I've been spending a lot of time sleeping, but I did have a chance to look at some of my favorite blogs over the weekend. So glad so many of you are still posting like mad!

One thing that I saw and had to share was a post on London Southern Belle with a link to Home Sweet Home--and a virtual gingerbread house that you can decorate yourself!

I probably won't decorate my own house too much this year because I have moving boxes everywhere, not to mention puppies, so we're a bit crowded; this gingerbread house was just the thing to help get me in the holiday spirit.


Never one to skimp on decorations (hi Scarlett!), I used about 90 percent of the little available doodads on that site. Too much fun!

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did--and, by the way, check out Allsorts, the blog with Home Sweet Home as that Jenny B Harris is one crafty woman.

And for those in Italy watching Sky--Happy Lost Season 3 Finale tonight! Woohoo!

P.S. Be sure to head over to Sara's Ms Adventures in Italy for today's Dolce Italiano recipe (Sicilian Pistachio Cookies) and comment to enter the drawing for a free copy of Dolce Italiano by Gina DePalma. See full contest rules here.

thanksgiving in italy

Happy Thanksgiving...

from our table to yours!

This photo was actually taken last year, but it was our Thanksgiving feast and the first time I had prepared one by myself. And it was complicated from the start.

First, we were supposed to have our own turkey, raised by P, but two weeks before Turkey Day, a sly fox got the bright idea to have her own feast early. So we had chicken instead--just as well as my grandmother never made turkey as she didn't like it anyway.


Then, considering many of the traditional Thanksgiving foods aren't even available here, I had to get stuff flown in (think cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes--yes, I know you have them in north and perhaps central Italy but I can't find them down here). Other than that we had filling/stuffing (mom's recipe!), mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and peas.

Well, *I* had all those things. P didn't go near the sweet potatoes or cranberry sauce. Maybe this year.


We'll be having our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday since P's working today (and, accordingly, so am I)--remember it's not a holiday here. But I hope all of you have a wonderful day; I'll catch up to you on Sunday!

Thanks for the Thanksgiving funnies Gil!

Today I'm thankful for:

All the Thanksgivings I've spent with my family, both at my mom's and grandmother's house. Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday--it revolves around food and being grateful. How can you go wrong?

And you know what? I don't have even one bad memory from any Thanksgiving, which is pretty impressive considering I come from a family of divorce and otherwise unhappy marriages. Indeed for the most part I had a happy childhood anyway, and for that I'm truly grateful.

And hopefully I'll get to have some more Thanksgivings with my family as the years go on--and P will be forced to try all the foreign foods. Hah!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who is celebrating!

what's cooking wednesday:trick or treat tomato eyeballs

Happy Halloween!

Some of you have asked about what's going on in Italy for this "holiday," and I'm sorry to report: niente. That means nothing.

In some parts of the country, they are starting to get children involved with costumes and whatnot, but no one around here does any such thing.

This could be because I don't have kids yet...because if you think my kids are going to miss out on trick-or-treating, well, you've underestimated me and my weakness for candy.

I'll even have the good stuff shipped in from the US and distributed to the neighbors (for distribution to the children, of course, with other healthy treats encouraged too):

Added bonus is that the kids around here most likely won't have to cover up their awesome costumes with big ole coats like we always had to do where I grew up....

Anyway, back to the business at hand, I'm keeping up the Halloween theme for this week's What's Cooking Wednesday and giving you a quick, fun idea for a holiday treat.

But there's a catch--you have to go here to find the recipe for

Trick or Treat Tomato Eyeballs

Why not whip up a batch and then head over to Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun to celebrate?


Also, check out the true ghost stories over at Tui's True Spooks Blog Carnival. Make sure you turn the light on first though! There's some creepy stuff in there.

And, since it is the last day of October and I've yet to post my Monthly Musing, I'll give you a little bit of why I love this wonderful month as we say good-bye for another year:

Sweet sweet October
Only a few words to say
How much I love you...

Sweaters, fireplace fires,
My birthday, delicious soups,
And this year, puppies!

What do you love about October?

ghost stories...grab a flashlight!

As I’ve told you, my friend Tui of Mental Mosaic is organizing a Halloween-themed blog carnival:

True Spooks…Share Your Ghost Story

I'm now late submitting this (sorry Tui!) but I've been trying to post this for three days--Internet problems AGAIN. I hope she'll still let me in!

I don't know how long this connection will last, but at this point, I have such low hopes for being able to get through NaBloPoMo. Keep your fingers crossed for good Telecom Italia vibes please!

Anyway, keeping with the Halloween theme, I also received word from somepinkflowers that there's a Halloween party going on over at Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun, and I thought telling some ghost stories would be a fun way to particpate.


So here is my contribution to the Halloween festivities--three, three, three true creepy stories for the price of one!

I.

When I was a teenager, I used to joke with my family that there was a man living in my closet, which was really a cubby hole that ran the length of the top floor of the house on either side of the upstairs bedrooms. I used to hear strange noises, things shuffling, falling, just weird stuff that I was always a bit too afraid to investigate in the moment.

I really did think it was possible that someone could live in there, especially if he smuggled up food from the kitchen every now and again. Did I mention my grandmother was no longer so sensitive to small noises around the house after having as many as eight people living there at a time? Hell she might’ve even just thought it was the friend of a grandchild or something grabbing food if she saw him….

I didn’t go exploring in the cubby all that often anyway, and like any good storage space, blankets and pillows were part of the mess. The Man in the Closet would even have his choice of stuffed animals, so you know, it *was* possible that there was someone in there.

Well it was all a funny joke until one day my goddaughter, who was about two years old at the time, and I were up in my bedroom. She walked over to the cubby hole door and pulled it open, probably to get my old Barbies out or something.

With a loud bang, the door pulled back and slammed shut immediately (virtually impossible to occur on its own because of a really sticky door handle) and she was left standing there, staring at the closed door with an open mouth and wide eyes.

I grabbed her and ran downstairs (greeted by laughing family members, of course). She was too young to explain what happened, but I never did hear strange noises come out of there again.

II.

Switching locations to southern Italy, I had been in my house for a few months, just about that time when you’re used to all the natural noises a five-hundred-year-old house makes.

Well one November night, I heard footsteps on my wooden stairs, slow and steady, and heading toward my bedroom which is on the bottom floor of the three-story house. The stairs are connected by iron rails, so someone walking on them creates a very peculiar noise--the stomp against the wood, but also a ting because of the iron. I turned on the light but didn’t see anything, and eventually (eventually!) went back to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I was greeted by the top of a coffin propped against the house in front of me. My elderly neighbor had passed away during the night, and he was already set up in his house for a couple days of viewing before he would be buried.

I heard the footsteps for two more nights and haven’t since.

III.

This one is from a very good friend of mine here in the village who, trust me, isn’t one to normally believe in this kind of stuff, so I sure believe him.

When he was a teenager, he was hurrying to get home after a summer night out, and so was speeding up the winding road into the village on his motorino (like a Vespa). He saw a light flash before him on the otherwise pitch black night, and realized as he got closer that it was an old man holding an old-fashioned lantern standing right in his path.

He swerved at the last minute, but hit him anyway; his bike went one way and he went the other.

As he made his way back to the bike, he looked around for the man or the light or anything, but saw nothing. He thought that maybe the man had tumbled over the side of the road, panicked, and went home.

When he got up the next morning, he asked his grandmother about the news in the village, if anything had happened the night before, but there was nothing of interest.

Later, when he told others of his story, it turns out that plenty of people around here have seen that man with the lantern, lighting up the pitch black road for late travelers home--but no one knows who he is or why he hangs around.

Have any ghost stories you'd like to share?