Neighbors think I'm crazy...

I've gotten into the habit of meowing to one of our bushes when we come home from work :) That's right! What's that? It's not just the neighbors? You think I'm crazy too?!!!! 

Well, hey! What would you say if the bush meowed back? 

Ah, Ha! Got you there didn't I? :D 

When Italians go on vacation for a month or two in August they often don't know what to do with their pets. Hence, many of them are kicked out onto the street to fend for themselves. Little "Panna&Salvia" as we named her (see below) decided that our garden was as safe a haven as any since she found herself disowned. Panna&Salvia stands for "Cream&Sage". This name came because at first she didn't trust us much and liked to hide in our sage bush :) She didn't come out and make friends until I offered her a saucer of heavy cream! Girl after my own heart. For the record, she completely turned her nose up at "plain milk" only panna will do. 

So, I meow at our bushes when I come home because if she's around she'll meow back and come out for a nice good petting. She's a sweet one! I still worry that she's not street wise enough to make it on her own poor little one... but she's not the worst tradgedy of the summer. One of my friends saved a kitten who had been tied up in a plastic garbage bag alive and thrown out with the trash. I can't believe people can be so cruel! 

Here's Panna eating her cream

Mmmmm! That's good stuff! 

Scary Spiders!!!!

I met this guy in Tuscany.... AhhhhhhhHHHH! I didn't like him so much even though Z said he wouldn't hurt me. He sure looks like he would! Save yourselves!!!! 

Scary Spider Sittin' on the Rosemary

the Family Box!

On our multiple drives to and from Tuscany we have to stop at least once during the 5 hour trip in order to refuel. On one of our return trips we discovered that if we fuel up at the Super ERG we get a Family Box!!! Full of all kinds of little goodies for families - a drink, travel stain removal, cheerios, pasta, hard candy, hand sanitizer, travel kleenex... :) 


We'll, on our most recent trip, we needed to refuel and I was driving. Much to Zeno's chagrin, I didn't want to stop until I found a Super ERG so that we could get the Family Box! :) Of course ;)


"Such a kid..." Zeno moans, shaking his head and smiling indulgently.

Behold! The Family Box

Projects from today and this week

The excitement of Lydle coming to live with us for a while has really inspired us to tackle some projects we just keep setting aside. For instance, this week, we decided to pain "Lydia's" room!

Here are some before and afters - before is the gray and after is the sugar paper blue :) It's a pretty cool color! Even the name, you see, way back when, sugar used to be sold in blue paper sacks. Hence, in Italy this color will be forever known as Sugar Paper :) 

This view before...

This view after :)

Left wall before...

Left wall after :)

Zeno painting the ceiling! 

Grey corner before...

Blue and White corner after! 

Radiator before...

Radiator after :D

Zeno after ;)

All we have left now is to put up the molding around the top of the ceiling where the white and blue meet :) And, of course, paint the trim, but we figure we can do that together with Lydle when she comes ;)

Instead, today, I tackled our "plate project"! We had so many plates going around and there are just the two of us, so I saw this great plate display on a wall and decided it would be perfect for our unfinished kitchen walls. Here is the result - before and then after:

wall before the plates

plates aranged in pattern on the floor... 

And they're up! 

And looking quite nice I must say :)

 Being in the hanging stuff on the walls mode, I took the opportunity to put up a few little knickknack shelves I'd painted and decorate them with teacups and saucers. They turned out quite nice too! 

No more projects this weekend. I'm about to hit the laundry, and tomorrow, hopefully you'll get some footage of the world championships of fireworks!!!

Papa

These weeks have been hard ones on the A&Z home front.  We’re walking through Z’s dad’s last bit of time here on earth amongst us. Here area few pictures of Papa:

If we even think about it, I think most of us hope our transition from our earthly bodies into our heavenly one will be fast, calm and peaceful. Papa has been endowed with a very strong physical body and so over these past 6 months despite doctors’ warnings that he wouldn’t make it much longer, Papa is holding on tenaciously. Through each step his family has been close never wanting him to walk this last time alone even if he might not even be aware of our presence.

I never had much of a chance to know Papa when he was still fully himself, but bits of what I do know inspires my heart with gratitude toward him. Papa was a very intelligent man, an explorer and a world traveler. He was generous to a fault, faithful despite challenges, and a lover of all things beautiful. Wherever I go in Italy where people know him they always inquire respectfully, “And how is the Engineer?”. His life’s work reached as far as Patagonia and the US, the latter where he met and became friends with my Grandpa. It is their friendship that planted the seed that would eventually sprout into the love that Zeno and I share. From the tidbits I can gather, it’s Papa who inspired Zeno with such a deep love and appreciation for God’s creation – the mountains, animals, flowers and bubbling streams… And it is Papa’s heritage that endowed Z with such a strong intellect and inquiring mind open to explore and discover this incredible world and life the Lord has given to us.

And so, Papa, though these last days of physical languishing are a trial, I thank you for all that you have given and I pray that your heart and spirit will be at rest in knowing the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and that you will enter into His rest by His mercy.

Happy Birthday Amore!

Zeno: Living, Bearer of Light, Full of Justice

You certainly live up to your name Amore mio :) You have a passion for the truth and a heart to abolish injustice wherever you may see it. Your life has definitely lightened up my own heart and life through your love and faithfulness. 

"...from this day until death do us part" doesn't seem like it's going to be a long enough time to get spend with you and truly learn all about who you are from the inside out! 

The more I get to know you, the more I admire the man you are and the more I'm inspired to be a better person and impact the world for the Lord through small, daily acts of love and sacrifice. Thank you for all that you are and for giving so much of yourself to others.

God Bless You on this your Birthday and on every day of this new year of your life may your heart continue to grow closer to the Lord's. 

I LOVE YOU!!!

I LOVE YOU! 

did I already say that? 

Ah well, you know I can't help it :D 

TI AMO!!!!