Non-Traditional Alpini

Aniko, my friend from Torino, and I have decided to become Alpini!

What do you think? Do we fit the part?

A Summer Candlelight Dinner

Hooray for summer!!!! Hooray for sharing a summer candle light dinner with the one you love! A few weeks ago we thought summer was really upon us. With the heat and humidity we were feeling like eating nothing but fresh vegetables and fruit… yesterday I was walking around town in the evening with my winder coat on and my princess-blue umbrella to protect me from the hail and cold rain… Come on Summer! You can make it!

Washer Women of Milan!

A few weeks ago, my friends Rachel, Natalie and I had a free day together and decided to stroll around and explore near the canal... we should have guessed there was no such thing as a "free" day. We ended up where the women of Milan have washed their cloths in the Grand Canal for centuries! Why is it that our cloths never seem to come out bright white? It must be the smog...

Welcome to Vienna!!! - take two

The trail we were hiking continued along twisting and turning past quaint vineyards and a farmhouse where they had fresh, raw honey (Honig)! Unfortunately they weren't open, else we would have taken some home. We saw a young wild deer, a rabbit, and, of course, many more snails and slugs...

We came upon an area that claimed to be the oldest area in Vienna and boasted to have at one time hosted Albert Einstein! Zeno is sitting on the oldest windowsill in Grinzing! I found it to be delightfully cute. It reminded me of a little hobbit window!

By this time, we had begun working up quite and appetite. Fortunately, we didn't make reservations as this restaurant! The Schiefer - very similar in Italian to the word "Disgusting". We had a good laugh at that and made a bet that they didn't boast many Italian patrons.

Instead, we found a little Mom-&-Pop place, laid-back, family style with good hearty German food. Outside the entrance Zeno and I couldn't resist perching upon the old-fashioned farm tractor. Zeno looks much more like he would actually know what to do if it started up! I look exactly as described, perched... how does one sit on a tractor properly anyways?

It was absolutely delicious and filling. Just what we needed after our exploration into the outskirts of Vienna. It was so good, in fact, that, as you'll notice, we received and unexpected visitor who was hoping that some of the kitchen scraps might fall to him... meow!

The atmosphere was fun too. We were in a quite little corner with a good view for taking in everything that was going on, but we could here merry singing taking place in the rooms adjoining ours and see the kitchen help bustling past with trays full of savory food. Of course, to top off the evening, we shared a slice of both apple and cheese strudel. Yum!

Buongiorno Amore!!!! Can you think of a more romantic breakfast than to have it served by a smiley old Viennese gentleman in the setting of a magnificent castle?

The Castle Schonbrunn to be exact. Our last tourist exploration before we have to head home. Though the day threatened rain, it never fully made it's appearance until we had to leave. Perfect timing! For the rest of the time the wind blew the clouds through the blue sky putting on a spectacular dance for us.

The wind did make picture taking somewhat of a trick... just a minute, let me get my hair out of my face... there we go!... no, hold on again... there, how's that... one more time, ok... did you get it?... still had a strand across my face? ... ready, set... did you get it? Ok, that's good enough?

WHEW!

Then, guess what?!?!!? We got to go through a real garden labyrinth!!!It was so great! Throughout the labyrinth there were little areas where you could do an obstacle or solve a riddle, play an oversized set of chimes by dancing on tiles on the ground... On this one, you had to climb the pole and ring the chime. While we were there a few men came along with their wives/sweethearts and gave it a go. After great effort one of them did make it to the top! Hooray! While we watched I urged Zeno to try, but he was a little bashful and said he'd rather not... until the others left and then he shimmied up to the top of all three poles and rang all the chimes without barely breaking into a sweat!!!! He just didn't want to show off... Except for me. That's my Amore!!! See how the sunshine broke through the clouds so magnificently as he rang the final chime? Even the skies were impressed!


I did it too!!! Notice my red face belying the fact that for me it took quite a lot of work... and even had a bit of assistance from my handsome photographer (Quick! Take the picture already!!!!).


So that was our last hurrah in Vienna exploring the grounds of the Schonbrunn Castle. The only part we didn't have time to see was the zoo. Though, from some of the looks we received from our fellow guests as we ran through the labyrinth I think they thought that's where we'd escaped from...

Maybe next time we'll make it to the part of the castle where we belong, but for now, we're happily back home in Milan. That is, after planes were delayed, after Amanda was bumped from her flight to the next... our adventures once again brought us back home.

Welcome to Vienna!!! Or as the locals write it: Wien!!!

During the last week of April I had the opportunity through work to visit Vienna in order to attend a Continuing Medical Education training seminar. It was an exciting opportunity for me to meet Dept. of State Health Unit medical providers from all around the world. I mean literally ALL over the world and even from places I couldn’t begin to place on the map let alone pronounce. I was the youngest attendee both from the literal perspective and from the experience perspective. There was one amazing woman who had begun working in Ethiopia before I was even born… Wow! She has some pretty incredible stories. And now I have many contacts to go to when I run into new and/or questionable situations through work.

However, the most exciting part of the trip was: Zeno flew up to spend a long weekend with me! We were fortunate that my trip coincided with an Italian holiday, so using low-budget airlines, Zeno was able to join up with me Thursday evening. Unfortunately, it being a business trip, I was in sessions all day through Saturday. But we still adventured out together in the evenings to explore the new city together. During the day, it was so sweet, Zeno scouted out possibilities for us in the evening so that we would waste no from my transition from class to adventure.

During the day there was a gargantuan open air market, which, unfortunately I missed, but Zeno was able to grab some snap shots and he found some wonderful spices for us… which, in fact, he’s using now as he whips us up a gourmet dinner – Yummy! My tummy can hardly wait!

On Saturday evening, we went hiking just outside the city through a small vineyard and farming area called: Grinzing. The rain threatened to catch us, but in the end, threaten is all it really managed to do. And we had a terrific hike on the: Stadtwanderweg!
























View of Vienna from a hilltop in Grinzing – you can see the Danube to the left (though, I will share with you from a first hand viewing experience: it’s not blue…)









Because of the rainy weather and damp trails, we were nearly the only hikers out and it was so serene and peaceful. However, there were a number of animals out including a little wile capriolo, a few slugs, and tons of snails!!!! I’ve never seen so many snails! You had to watch your step or you might end up accidentally stepping on an entire family. At first, I thought it was a little gross, but then, after following Zeno’s lead and taking a good look at the little guys, I found that they’re actually kinda cute!

Dancing! Dancing! Dancing!

1. Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

2. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

3.Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.

4. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

5. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

6. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150

Recently, my good friend Shelagh and I have been learning individually and together what it means to “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Phil. 4:4) and to “Praise His name forever” (Ps. 72:19).

There is no other meaning to the words “always” and “forever” than always and forever! This means on the days when you awake to the dawn with health in your body and joy in your heart just as on the days when you awake with a headache and dread for what the day might hold. This lesson goes right along with another lesson I’ve been learning which is that: it’s not all about me… now, I’d like to think it is sometimes! But truly, it’s all about God. Our lives are made to be a fragrance of praise and worship to and for the glory of God!

Praise Him with dancing! Say’s Psalm 150. What a beautiful way to praise the Lord with your life! I discovered this for the first time when I had the opportunity to have a dancing lesson from Elise at a the Milan Women’s Retreat this past April. Dancing felt so free and beautiful! (Granted, we didn’t have mirrors to watch ourselves, so we tried to copy Elise and imagined that we looked as lovely and graceful as her. In reality, I think it was likely closer to what my little brother Jesse once said when he came in to watch my three sisters and I following a Pilates DVD. “You guys look really silly” he said…).

Inspired by all of these various lessons along with the message that was the emphasis of our April retreat: Living Life to the Fullest; I have been looking into taking classical dancing lessons! We'll see, if I’m able to find a good school, lessons will begin this October. I’m quite excited to see what the Lord will do!

Let me introduce my dear friend Shelagh!

You probably notice that we're both wearing crowns. That's because we're sisters in Christ and daughters of the King of Kings! Shelagh is originally from South Africa and God brought our lives together here in Italy. Shelagh is the first close friend God brought into my life here in Italy and through the lessons God has taught us in the past and the ones He is teaching us now in the present, we have had a very unique opportunity to both challenge and encourage each other. Right now, Shelagh is going through a huge challenge as she walks through cancer and accompanying therapy. Her life testifies daily that though her challenge in these days is sometimes bigger than she can handle, it's not too difficult for God upon whom she depends for all her strength and hope. It will be a huge blessing to have you praying along with us as Shelagh continues through this time.